Pretty much every post of this blog is, in truth, "what I'm reading." However, it's pretty much always on the Marvel side of things and there are, despite my unending affinity for Marvel, plenty of really great books out there that aren't Marvel. Clever readers that you are, you'll likely recognize some of the creators, as I tend to follow creators more these days and they never seem to disappoint. Let's just name a few.
Batman
The most well-known book on my what-I'm-reading list, though I haven't read it in a couple issues (got a little thrown by some of the recent events in that universe, which I'm not so up-to-date on at current). Scott Snyder writes a really fine book and it's a fascinating take on the character. Some good stuff. I didn't hate Batman Incorporated either and I'd like to read Batman '66 but I haven't really had the time (I love Jeff Parker though and I've heard good things so maybe at some point).
Pretty Deadly
Kelly Sue DeConnick, Emma Rios, Jordie Bellaire, Clayton Cowles, goodness, it's a list of truly wonderful people. The first issue just came out this week to resounding numbers and I highly encourage you to read it. Not a superhero book, though it certainly already has supernatural elements. It also has a real Western feel to it. Very cool first issue, gorgeous book with really pretty writing and an intriguing story. Looking forward to issue two. Pick up book one, though, if you haven't already.
Velvet
I fell a little behind on Ed Brubaker's Fatale (though I have every intention of catching up at some point), though I heard wonderful things about it and Brubaker has just about never disappointed before. Velvet is his newest creator-owned book and it's pretty neat already. It's a spy book, still in Brubaker's noir-obsessed tone, and with an already interesting protagonist in Velvet Templeton. Art by Steve Epting (who Brubaker worked with back in their prime Captain America days) and gorgeous Bettie Breitweiser colors to make it all come together. Really looking forward to this book as it continues.
Sex Criminals and Satellite Sam
Two different Matt Fraction books that are, perhaps, a little less family-friendly than I tend to recommend. Sex Criminals, as you might imagine, is proving itself the less family-friendly of the two but it's still pretty clever writing with some quirky ideas and mostly likable main characters. Chip Zdarsky's art is clean and pretty and fits the tone well. Satellite Sam is a bit more intensive, following the mystery around the death of the lead actor in a 1950s space television show. There's a huge cast of characters (which makes it a little head-spinning from issue to issue) but the writing is tight and Howard Chaykin's art is my absolute favorite from him that I've ever seen. This one is a little risqué but, even if it didn't revolve a bit around sex, I wouldn't recommend it for a particularly young audience because I think it requires a little more patience and enthusiasm for characters, period pieces, and/or writing. Really good book though.
Lazarus
Greg Rucka and Michael Lark have created a fascinating dystopia predicated on the idea that pretty much all of the wealth in the world is held by a few families. They have so much wealth, in fact, that they were able to bioengineer one of their own children to be the family's protector. For the Carlyle family, their youngest daughter Forever is her family's Lazarus, capable of fighting and strategizing and, you know, coming back from the dead for her family. It's left her feeling a little unsure of her humanity, which comes at a bad time for the Carlyles as they're embroiled in a bit of an internal struggle for power. There's a lot to really like here. The ideas are pretty fantastic, the world is very well-created, and the characters are interesting. Michael Lark's art is fantastic, perfectly matching the tone of the writing and the seriousness of the characters.
Crossed: Wish You Were Here
This is the only book I'm reading that's free to read online. Si Spurrier's take on Garth Ennis' original series (I never read that so you can definitely pick this one up just from Spurrier's take, though I'm sure Ennis' work is phenomenal) which focuses on a group of survivors of some sort of horrible epidemic that makes people worse than zombies. I used to have fears of zombies but, after reading this series, that all changed. It can definitely get worse. This is another one definitely not meant for kids. Very good writing, very good characters, extremely compelling story, it's all here. Like I said, it's free to read but definitely not for everyone. Looking forward to Spurrier's next free-to-read series, Disenchanted, which should actually be live by the time this posts so maybe click that link and check in? This one is supposed to be, after a fashion, about fairies and other similar fantasy tropes, but in a very, very dark and bleak world. It goes live today (10/28) so I trust it's there now (I'm writing this Sunday night, okay?).
The Walking Dead
Robert Kirkman's most well-known series is certainly still as intense and good as ever. This is typically just about the fastest read I have, one that constantly surprises me when it ends. Well-written, well-developed characters, always interesting plot, plenty happening to keep it fresh. I've heard from a reliable source that Kirkman's superhero comic Invincible is actually better, but I've not read that yet so you'll have to deal with this pretty stock suggestion.
Uncanny
It's hard not to draw comparisons to X-Men with Andy Diggle's new Uncanny series, particularly with a name like "Uncanny." Of course, it's less like X-Men and more like "criminals with mutant powers," or even like "questionably good people caught in a bad situation or, perhaps, bad situations with questionably bad people and all of them may or may not have mutant powers." Okay, it's maybe a little bit long for a tagline but that doesn't make it any less apt. Good writing, questionably likable characters, a plot involving criminals and double-crosses and regular crosses and just so much. Good stuff.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Okay, don't just rule me out now, alright? TMNT creator Kevin Eastman has returned to the Turtles and is delivering a heckuva story for us. The characters are largely the ones you remember, though, depending on what iteration you've seen, they may be a little more intense than you remember. Really broad, sweeping story that involves most of the Turts universe at any given time and that constantly draws you in. The art fits really well with the tone and it's a pretty mature story for a property that has had something of an identity crisis over the last couple of decades, trying to decide who it's for. For the record, I also really love the new Turtles cartoon on Nickelodeon.
Sandman
Guys, if you haven't read Sandman, you should really do that. Obviously this is a bit of an older series but I've never actually read it all the way through. I had read the first few arcs several times over in the last few years but hadn't ever kept going; not for lack of interest, just from lack of ability. I'm working my way through the whole series now and GEEZ, it's just really good all the way through. Beautiful and thought-provoking story with amazing characters and a full history and world all its own. Neil Gaiman's writing is as strong as ever and the art, despite the revolving door of artists, stays consistently wonderful throughout. One of the most timeless and meaningful comics available.
I'm sure there are more I'm not thinking about right now but these are the biggest ones I can come up with off the top of my head. This blog's intent, of course, is to review Marvel comics but that doesn't mean that's where my interests stop. These are my favorite non-Marvel titles at the moment though I'm willing to read just about anything so there could always be more that come up from time to time. I'd recommend all of these to just about anyone. Support indie comics and all that, a message I never really have time to give in a blog about the biggest comic company around.
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