Holiday Update

Obviously, I've been on holiday recently and haven't done much with the blog, or with anything for that matter. But hey, the good news is with leisure time comes reading time and for me that equates to loads of comics and trades. So, I figure I'll type about that this time around. Allons-y!

First things first, my monthly pile of shame. Yes, that cantankerous stare and those accusing glances coming from my shameful pile of unread comics each month has finally been dealt with. Amazing Spider-Man is coming along nicely since the relaunch, though it's noticeably slower paced than it used to be. Ms Marvel is consistently excellent, too. Uncanny Avengers kicks ass but I'm having trouble recalling everything that's relevant from the past 20-odd issues. Unfortunately, I've decided to drop both Wolverine and Fantastic Four. The titles aren't bad, they just aren't my flavor of comics and I've never been a huge fan of either, so when it's time to cut a title or two, these are first to go. I'm probably going to be cutting more severely in the not-too-distant future as well. That'll be harder. Moving along!

I'm delighted to announce, proclaim and gesticulate to all who'll let me that I finally completed both The Complete Ben Reilly Epic Book 4 and the Untold Tales of Spider-Man Omnibus. Both books have been on my other pile of shame-that being trades, collections and omnibuses- for quite some time. Both books were worth picking up purely for their merits, but seeing as the writing was so good, the stories so engaging, the art so gosh-darn beautiful and the pages so glossy, they were a must-read. On a side note, I've managed to turn a friend into a Ben Reilly fan practically overnight with The Complete Clone Saga Epic Book 1. Then straight away Book 2, followed in quick succession by Book 3. I'll have to tell Zach 'Spideydude' Joiner about this! Now that I've finished with all of that, I've just gotta get started on my Spider-Man by Roger Stern Omnibus.

Speaking of stuff I've yet to read, I've visited some of the local big city comic shops and snagged some great swag, which I keep in a comic short box, not a bag. Well, that was almost a complete rhyme. Anyway, so far I've picked up Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #127-129, Web of Spider-Man #52, #54 and #55 (but sadly not #53) and Amazing Spider-Man #574. As for collected works, I've acquired Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: Ghosts of the Past and Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man Vol 4 and Vol 5. The Fourth Masterworks volume is something of an accomplishment for me as I've not found it anywhere online for under $50 dollars and that was a used copy! Pretty happy with that one. I also grabbed the Spider-Men trade paperback on a whim.

All in all, I'm very satisfied with my holiday reading and frivolous purchases, in no small part thanks to my wonderful partner, for not only putting up with my hobby but for also encouraging it. She even picked up some comics of her own which was awesome to see. We must be picking up each others bad habits.

Until I stop loving the comics medium and convert to a newspaper enthusiast, I remain

frogoat