LogFAQs > #978044927

2023 Roundup - Total Read - 66
Manga - 7, Stars - 0
Comics - 40, Stars - 4
Strips - 10, Stars - 0
Books - 6, Stars - 2
Artbooks - 1, Stars - 0
Euro Comics - 2, Stars - 0

Star Qualifications:
-Ending makes me tear up
-Text or art pulls at my soul

Book Highlights
First - Old Gods and New about Jack Kirby's creation of Fourth World, finished on 1/6. Really interesting book, though I didn't appreciate the spoilers for the slightly more obscure "part three."

Starred - East of Eden and The Dying Earth; EoE was amazing, perfect ending, and Dying Earth was just great sci-fi.

Last - The Dying Earth again, finished on 10/27.

Comics Highlights
First - Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers, aka that obscure "part three." Unfortunately cut too short, only 14 issues IIRC. Finished on 1/8, and still a firm believer that Kirby is "King."

Starred - A Rose for Ecclesiastes from Heavy Metal; Judgment Day!, By George!!, and In Gratitude... from EC Comics. Rose is technically a short story but had accompanying art in HM, which I think was really gorgeous and effective; and the EC stories were just solid social commentary/sci fi/fantastic. Al Williamson could really draw it all, good-looking guys and gals as well as great monsters and vistas.

Last - My World by Wood, 12/29. Not my favorite of his work, but certainly a striking piece--definitely earned its praise.

Manga Highlights
First - Baron, finished on 3/21. Genuinely one of the craziest manga plots I've ever read and one of the least focused on the title character to boot. The artwork makes me think "dependable."

Starred - Surprisingly nothing really blew my mind last year!

Last - Bleach, 15 volumes or so done as of late November/early December. The redraws/censorship/funny TL kind of annoys me but it's all for the sake of friendship--I think my buddy is on v18, probably wait until he hits 20 to catch up again.

Strip Highlights
First - Krazy Kat 1916-1918, finished 1/30. Still holds up, lots of beautiful pages. I should read the next three years soon...

Starred - Zilch, strips are usually solid in consistency but nothing mind-blowing or tear-jerking.

Last - Popeye v2, finished early December. Pretty good strip, he's fun to read but I liked him a little better as a sailor full of grit vs comically overpowered.

Artbook Highlights
First and Last - Kirby Art and Style, 3/23. Too many promotional images, artwork too small! It didn't turn me off artbooks per se but it sure looks that way from my list, lol.

European Comic Highlights
First - Megalex on 6/19. I dunno, I vaguely recall lots of weird futuristic body "horror" stuff...some guy grew wings...maybe a sex scene...the cover is the most memorable thing, lol.

Starred - Nothing!

Last - Latah on 6/20. I think this one was alright, some kind of Vietnam War/jungle warfare mixed with "something is stalking the squad!" and a twist ending.

In Conclusion
Oh I dunno, not sure what I'll start 2024 with. I want to re-read Hitman again this year but I'm waiting for the first omnibus in the summer. More Heavy Metal would be nice, I'd like to check out Astro City, some more strips, European comics, get through my stack a bit...
I do have another Kirby book sitting on the stack, maybe that for symmetry... :)