Mount TBR 2013 Reading Challenge discussion

#83 - Fantastic Four Visionaries: George Pérez, Vol. 1 by Roy Thomas and George Perez

Fairly early work from Perez, who's content here to mostly imitate Jack Kirby. Due to lots of fill-ins during the course of his run on the FF, there are gaps in the story flow, but nothing that can't be figured out from the recap panels. Pretty much a slow period for the FF, with Thomas' writing being some of the most repetitive that he's ever done == Johnny getting (literally) hosed at the same point in every fight (which occurs at the same point in every issue) is just one example.

#84 - Death Is Not the End: A Novella by Ian Rankin

An Inspector Rebus story that was in part repurposed later for Dead Souls. Rebus's old girlfriend asks him to try and find her missing son, a task that leads Rebus down the path of memory and sideways into another case. It's a quick read, but lacking somewhat in energy.

#85 - Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne, Vol. 1

Byrne's actual start on the FF series, which is notable for eschewing long story arcs initially, sticking to a few running subplots within a series of standalone stories that are generally done in one, and solid lightweight attempts at SF in the FF context (and when he chooses to tackle a story with a fantasy theme, the FF tend to come a cropper as it's out of their wheelhouse.) While there are certain imperfections in the book (notably the maintaining of the sexism toward Sue), the biggest issue is Byrne's depiction of Benson, Arizona...which really isn't the run-down near ghost town Byrne depicts it as; apparently he took his clue from the song used in the film Dark Star.

#86 - Marvel Comics: The Untold Story by Sean Howe

Surprisingly disappointing, between the minor errors, a lot of repetitive commentary, and instances of compression -- much is glossed over or ignored. Also, far from being "The Untold Story," a large part of the book is a restatement of events and data that have been hashed over in one medium or another for decades.

Wow-you're getting really close to the summit! Great progress.

Bev wrote: "Wow-you're getting really close to the summit! Great progress."

Thanks. :) I've slowed a bit, but I expect to pick speed back up again.

#87 - Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne, Vol. 2

More done in one or two stories from Byrne, who brings in an X-Men connection for his oversized 250th issues...along with Captain America and Spider-Man. I'm not as big a fan of Byrne's take on the FF as many are, especially as much of his art here is starting to show the sloppiness that would plague it more and more as he continued to churn things out without any assistance.

#88 - The Spirit Archives, Vol. 1 by Will Eisner

The earliest Spirit stories show the clear influences of pulp and comics, but even as the stories hew close to the cliches, one can see Eisner's design sense and humour creeping in. Be warned, though, that portrayals of other than caucasians is pretty awful, with the African-American Ebony being a prime example -- even though Eisner gives him a lot of good business, the dialect is horrendous and the depiction truly heinous.

#89 - The Dynamite Art of Alex Ross

Basically a big art book with text pieces about the various projects Ross has worked on for Dynamite and Dynamic Forces. I'd have liked to have seen more of the background and preliminary work, as Ross does make very good use of models and props, but there's a wealth of interesting art and design here.

#90 - The Saga of the Bloody Benders by Rick Geary

I wasn't familiar with the story of the Benders until I read this. Geary's story-telling has a deceptive simplicity to it, but much of the character of it is in the drawings -- the imagery manages to be quite disturbing in its homeliness, turning this into some of an American Sweeney Todd. That Kansas has cheerfully celebrated this murderous, mysterious family is just icing,

#91 - Homage to the Himalayas by Olivier Föllmi

Photographs of the Himalayas and Himalayans from the former official photographer of the Dalai Lama. It's certainly an interesting book, though some of the images do feel a little generic at times. n the other hand, there's some gorgeous imagery as well. In an odd choice, the photo captions are all at the back of the book.

#92 - The Black Diamond Detective Agency by Eddie Campbell, from a film script by C. Gaby Mitchell

Campbell's scratchy artwork is very well suited to this story, but unfortunately the story is precisely what lets the project down rather badly. It's a mystery-thriller set at the turn of the 20th Century, beginning with a train bombing that brings the titular detective agency into the story. Things look cut and dried at first -- the bomber appears to be one John Hardin, who proclaims his innocence...and goes on the run to prove it. Except John Hardin isn't who he appears to be.... Normally, the story would stick entirely with the fugitive, and his pursuers, but here things start lurching from set-piece to set-piece, and throwing in character after character until things are simply confusing and we've lost sight of the central characters. It becomes frustrating to read, and while things are finally resolved, the ultimate culprit is a cipher who apparently was working for shadows. Campbell has worked on much better projects than this.

#93 - Angel Reborn by Yukito Kishiro

The first volume in a revival of the Battle Angel Alita series, which James Cameron has been threatening a movie of for a decade. Unfortunately, I haven't read the original series yet,although the simple story here sketches in a fair bit of background. The story revolves around the revival of a warrior cyborg by a mad scientist, and her subsequent involvement with the chaos of the flying city of Tiphares.

A great deal of the book involves physical action, and is unfortunately hard to follow -- I had to keep flipping back to try and make sense of things, and in a couple of places just had to give up.

I'll try a couple more volumes of this, but as yet...not drawn in.

#94 - The Final Solution by Michael Chabon

Essentially a tale of Sherlock Holmes (although never named) in his final years, attempting to solve one last mystery. It's well written, and, in the audiobook, beautifully read by Michael York, but it's pretty much a frippery with an uncomfortable nested theme (given the ultimate mystery, the final scene, and the title in combination.)

#95 - Iris Wildthyme: The Panda Invasion by Mark Magrs and Iris Wildthyme: The Claws of Santa by Cavan Scott

Iris, Panda, and the time-traveling London double-decker come in for a double handful of trouble and a great deal of chaotic fun, first in a story that takes place concurrently with the Doctor Who TV movie (and thus includes a plethora of Easter Eggs) and sees Iris' accidental spilling og gin into the bus engine unleashing alternate dimension Pandas to wreak havoc on San Francisco. The other story pretty much does a number on the subject of Christmas, complete with some scurrilous punnery. Grand stuff. Who knew that Jo Grant would turn out this way?

#96 - Doctor Who: Project: Twilight by Cavan Scott and Doctor Who: The Eye of the Scorpion by Iain McLaughlin

First the Sixth Doctor and Evelyn take on vampires and the London underworld while starting off the Nimrod arc, which involves much screaming and gruesome sounds, thuggery, and a not too thrilling story. The second takes place in Ancient Egypt, with the Fifth Doctor and Peri acquiring a new companion. Nicola Bryant basically plays Peri as she did on TV, which leaves her as faintly annoying. The new companion, Erimem, is a chipper girl, which cn get a bit wearing. The second production is delivered with great enthusiasm and great soundscapes, unlike the first, which is mixed atrociously.

#97 - Doctor Who: Colditz by Steve Lyons and Doctor Who: Primeval by Lance Parkin

Seven and Ace wind up in Colditz Castle during WWII and must contend with scientist Elizabeth Klein, who decides she wants the TARDIS and has plans to use its abilities to change the world...and more. Klein made a return in a later trio of episodes spinning out of that concept.

In Primeval Five travels back to the deep history of the planet Traken, home of companion Nyssa, seeking help with a mysterious illness that's killing Nyssa via her psychic abilities. In a period just before the first Keeper Of Traken arose, the Doctor discovers (as he always does) that there's more for him to sort out than just his dying companion. Not as good as Colditz, as it's not so much a battle of wits as a battle of cunning against the big shouty megalomaniacal entity. In many ways typical of the Fifth Doctor, but a bit wearing.

#98 - Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich

One of the between-the-numbers books, in which Evanovich lets the humour run rampant and the "Unmentionables" run amok. Diesel is back, and in search of his brother. Grand, goofy fun.

#99 - Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich

I'm ending up going through these quite out of order, but enjoying the ride anyway. This time bounty hunter Stephanie plum has to deal with an identity thief who's trying to take over the life of her beloved Ranger, as well as trying to cope with the usual collection of people in her life, from the stolid Morelli to her madcap Grandmother. Lightweight, certainly, but enjoyable.

Sound the trumpets!

#100 - Concrete Volume 1: Depths by Paul Chadwick

I hyad heard about Concrete over the years, but don't think I'd seen more than a short story prior to this. I bought several ofthe collected volumes at a sale last year, and now seemed the right time to crack the first. I'm glad I did -- these are rather engaging stories about the human condition, from the perspective of a man who is, as he puts it, *apart*. The writing is excellent, and the artwork is charming. I'm looking forward to the next volume.

And now...on to Mons Olympus!

Thanks! :) Let's hope I can do it in the next four months!

Congratulations! Excelsior!