Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe Again

I love Deadpool and this collection.... was very... shit. It was shit. In order to kill off all the Marvel characters, their IQs and powers suddenly shrink and they are no match for Deadpool... puhleaze. At least be inventive about it. I probably would have enjoyed this more had the deaths been more thought out and not so quick. I just can't buy that they would all fall like dominoes. They didn't even show the hulks death, just his body. Ugh. For true Deadpool fans only.

Saga of the Swamp Thing

I'm a sucker for Alan Moore so I figured it was high time I got around to reading this. Also, I've never read any Swamp Thing, so I was overdue in checking this out. I very much enjoyed this collection! This volume contains issues 20 through 27 and first debuted in the eighties. Not only is the writing stellar but the illustrations speak for themselves. Swamp Thing is breathtakingly haunting and watching him battle for his humanity sucks the reader right in. When Swamp Thing discovers his origins and realizes he may not be who he thought he was, he essentially gives up and it takes some crazy circumstances to motivate him from his earthly slumber. I'll definitely be reading more after this. I'm hooked!

Mary Wept over the Feet of Jesus

A quick, thoughtful, and interesting comic series on prostitution and religious obedience in the bible. Chester Brown does a fantastic job bringing to life the stories of Ruth, Mary, and other famous prostitutes mentioned in the Bible in a comic format that is engaging and well drawn. There is a lengthy afterward and notes section where he talks about his appreciation of prostitutes, the stigma behind them, and the inspiration for the creation of the comic. A fun read, even for those who aren't super practicing Christians. It may offend some, but hey, it's in the Bible.  

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

So many aspects of the movies and other Batman comics I have read make much more sense now after reading this. The fact that this is 30 years old is astonishing, it still feels so fresh. The story is great, the asides told through television interviews and bulletins are genius, and the illustrations are out of this world. The comic picks up with the mutants causing more and more trouble in Gotham, Batman has been in retirement for a decade but feels he must put on his cape and save Gotham from itself. Understandably not everyone is happy to see him back and many are quick to lay Gotham's problems at Batman's feet. He has to battle evil, save face, and try to stay healthy and fit (which is hard because he's legit old now). Throw in the fact that Harvey Dent is let out (they fixed his face, no more two sided evil nature!) and there are rumors that the Joker is sane enough to do interviews on television, and that a young girl has started tagging along as Robin and you've got one hell of a great graphic novel. Solid from start to finish.

Sex Criminals: Volume Three

Decidedly my least favorite of the three volumes, this collection focuses on Jon and Suzie essentially declaring war on the sex police. Determined to take down these cops once and for all they decide to track down other people with magical sex powers to persuade them to team up with them. This doesn't quite go to plan though and they find themselves with a couple more enemies, including a really bizarre sex monster with vaginticles. Amusing, although I could have done without the authors inserting themselves randomly into the story (kinda messed with the flow of the story). I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Above the Dreamless Dead

Visually and emotionally haunting. This is a fantastic collection of WWI poetry that has been brought back to life by talented artists and cartoonists. The poems are touching enough, but when they're put in comic format like this, it's in a class of it's own. This collection is great for those who wish to better understand WWI and the brutality of war. It's not pretty, it's graphic, scary, and gritty. A great resource for teachers and others who are looking to get a better grip on the atrocities of war. It would be great if other poetry collections were given this same illustrated/comic treatment. It adds a whole new dimension.

The Walking Dead. Book Two

Man, you gotta love comics, especially ones that feature the Walking Dead. If you're a fan of the show, you'll love the comics. If you're a fan of the comics, chances are you'll love the show. It's amazing that AMC was able to turn such a stunning set of comics into an amazing tv series that follows along the original story line (pretty well) and even amplifies the human suffering and the emotional toll it takes on the survivors. It's gritty, gory, and addicting. What are you waiting for?!

A must read for fans of Zombies, comics, or the tv show.