I Read Comic Books discussion

It seemed like we had fun last month with the You Pick format so we're trying it again!

For this month, pick a book that you would like to read, where the writer and/or artist is a person of color.

If you have any recommendations for this prompt, be sure and drop them below!

The BotM episode will be a Patreon exclusive, released on March 27th. Just like last month, the podcasters will pick one of your picks to read and discuss - be sure to let us know early what you've chosen!

I’m going to read Séance Tea party by Reimena Yee. She is a Malaysian author who wrote and illustrated the book. I heard about it on an IRCB episode and I am looking forward to reading it

I am tossing up between Concrete Park, Vol. 1: You Send Me or Eve #1

Not sure what to pick yet, been looking for good source lists.

https://www.sequentialartistsworkshop...

This page looks high-quality and links to more source including this Goodreads list.

If you're looking to get two books checked off your list, a bunch of the Reading Challenge books would fulfill this prompt!

I haven't decided what to pick myself yet, I've got over 500 books on my 'comics owned unread' shelf at this point and I'm trying to bring that down in 2022!

There are actually a wealth of options for this month’s theme. I’ve been looking for an excuse to read March , John Lewis’ largely autobiographical account of the Civil Rights movement during the 50s and 60s. My only hesitation in bringing up March in the context of this thread is that it’s a three-volume work. I was also thinking about reading N. K. Jemisin’s Far Sector , which features a newly-chosen Green Lantern, Sojourner “Jo” Mullein.

I will be reading "Far Sector" as well. I know next-to-nothing about Green Lantern, so I hope this stands alone.

I'll also be reading Incognegro: Renaissance, which is the second book in this series.

Ed wrote: "I will be reading "Far Sector" as well. I know next-to-nothing about Green Lantern, so I hope this stands alone.
."

You'll be fine. It's a murder mystery set in space. It has very little to do with the Green Lanterns.

Ed wrote: "I will be reading "Far Sector" as well. I know next-to-nothing about Green Lantern, so I hope this stands alone.

I'll also be reading Incognegro: Renaissance, which is the second b..."

It is very standalone, with the differences between Jo's ring and normal GL rings as a minor plot point. It seems Jo is now joining the more mainstream DC Universe, but Far Sector doesn't require you to know anything about the Green Lanterns before reading it.

I am planning to read Run: Book One, which I have been meaning to read since it came out. The March books by John Lewis are probably my favorite books I have ever read so I am really looking forward to checking out Run.

Ashleigh wrote: "I am tossing up between Concrete Park, Vol. 1: You Send Me or Eve #1"

I have changed my mind and am reading LaGuardia by Nnedi Okorafor

I’m going with Gene Luen Yang’s Dragon Hoops. It’ll be a double-dip on the list but I’ve been wanting to read it and my library hold fortuitously came through.

I'm going to read March: Book One this month.

Canavan, Far Sector was fantastic!! I hope you enjoy it!
Paul, same with Dragon Hoops - it's a long read but totally worth it.

Edited: I read Shortcomings by Adrian Tomine.

I just finished Séance Tea Party by Reimena Yee. This book was delightful. It is a wonderful story of growing up, magic, imagination, exploring identity, friendship, loss, joy, and so much more. I am so happy I read it. This was an IRCB recommendation from Kait I think and I will also highly recommend it.

The Outside Circle by Patti Laboucane-Benson and Kelly Mellings and Surviving the City by Tasha Spillett and Natasha Donovan are two excellent books about the modern Native experience (both set in Canada).

I did read "Far Sector" and it was very good. I know exactly nothing about the Green Lantern, and it was fine. I didn't need to know anything about that.

When someone who doesn't normally write comics writes one, it doesn't always turn out well. But NK Jemison did a fine job.

I read Djeliya by Juni Ba. My first reading of this book made it seem like the story was all over the place, but I did a second skim-through and I'm glad I did. There were bits and pieces of backstories and sidestories that all tied into the final climax of the book, and once I understand how they all fit together, the story was very good. The art style is incredibly unique--I think I was more focused on my art my first read through than the story.

KaitLphere wrote: "I read Djeliya by Juni Ba. ..."

I loved the art in that, but didn't really get the story.

I also just read Bumperhead by Gilbert Hernández, which fits the theme, though I didn't plan it that way.

The Hernández brothers have written so many books that it is hard to know were to start with them. But this one stands alone perfectly fine. It is essentially a coming-of-age story of a guy in Oxnard, CA who is into punk rock. Partly auto-biography, I think.

I read Far Sector. Highly enjoyable, finished wanting more. The first Green Lantern book I've ever read, earlier commenters were right, it's good as a stand alone.

I have some quick thoughts about N. K. Jemisin’s Far Sector . I read this not knowing much about DC’s Green Lantern universe. The last GL issue I read was probably way back in the Bronze Age. I’m a bit concerned that this hole in my reading resume may have hampered my understanding and enjoyment of Far Sector, but perhaps it didn’t — a number of individuals have stated that this volume stands on its own fairly well.

Let me get the art (by Jamal Campbell) out of the way first. I give it a passing grade, but no more than that. I think the art work often looks really cool, but it fails (for me at least) on a rather fundamental point: I too often found myself struggling to make sense of the rather chaotic action. (“Hmmm. So what exactly is going on in this panel?”) I’m honestly not sure what aspect of Campbell’s artwork elicits my confusion — perhaps it’s his colors (particularly his reds) which often seem to meld together into an indeterminant blob.

Kudos to Jemison for her rather ambitious world-building. I’m impressed by what she’s tried to do with the series and empathize with the viewpoints she’s expressing, particularly those having to do with class and power. Jemison doesn’t take pains to hide the fact that the intrigues and machinations that charactize Far Sector don’t differ from those taking place on 21st century Earth. My one big problem with Jemison’s writing is my feeling that she’s bitten off more than she can chew in the alloted number of issues. I thought that the initial issues did a pretty decent job of patiently laying out the particulars of this three-species society. But as the series continues many of the more intriging aspects of the Far Sector remain unexplored. It’s as though the author were trying to cram 10 pounds of ideas into a 5-pound bag. Indeed, by the time we get to the final two or three issues, when revelation follows revelation at a rather dizzying pace, reading becomes less a pleasure and more of a chore.

✭✭✭½

I've been meaning to read it since it first came out so I used this opportunity to finally read March: Book One by John Lewis. I liked it very much. I intend to finish the rest of the trilogy before the month ends. John Lewis is a remarkable human.

Read a bunch of different stuff but I'll give my shout out to the recently released Squire, it has a girl with a sword! Who needs fantasies about becoming a part of the government propaganda machine when you can be a tough short girl with a sword???

I read Bitch Planet, Vol. 2: President Bitch. They (De Konnick and Leandro) certainly know how to bring an arc to a climax. Good stuff.

Tom wrote: "I read Bitch Planet, Vol. 2: President Bitch. They (De Konnick and Leandro) certainly know how to bring an arc to a climax. Good stuff."

Are they ever going to finish this series?

Chad wrote: "Tom wrote: "I read Bitch Planet, Vol. 2: President Bitch. They (De Konnick and Leandro) certainly know how to bring an arc to a climax. Good stuff."

Are they ever going to finish t..."

Absoutely no idea. Given the way Vol 2 ends, a Vol 3 had to be envisaged.