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Thoughts From a Comic Book Newbie
A couple of weeks ago my wife and I had dinner with our friends Mandy and Nikki. We began talking about comic books, though I don’t remember how we got on the subject. We might have been discussing recent comic-book-based movies. Nikki mentioned that the comic shop she went to was around the corner from our house.
I used to be into comics when I was younger, but stopped following them sometime around the end of high school. I have quite a few friends and acquaintances that are into comics still, common among us geeks. Curious, I asked if I could join her on her next trip.
I began researching popular writers and artists, trying to figure out how to jump into series that have been going for so long. I spent a lot of time on Multiverse Comics, Bleeding Cool, and /r/comicbooks.
I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was afraid that I would get a few issues and realize that it was too childish for me. But, I created a small list of series to check out (The New 52 DC reboot made this easier). I went with an open mind and asked questions. I was genuinely very excited.
I ended up picking up the new Batman 1-4, All-Star Western 1-4, The Red Lanterns 1-4, and Transmetropolitan Vol. 1 (to satisfy my cyberpunk needs). Once I got home and had some time alone I decided to settle into Batman before going to a New Years Eve party. I ripped through the first issue and was in complete shock. Not only was the material plenty mature, but it was rather deep and the art was astounding.
I quickly devoured all of the material I had picked up, though I saved the entire Transmetropolitan volume for Sunday (this turned out to be my favorite, by the way). Now I sit here, waiting for Wednesday (new comic book day for those of you newbier than me) and making lists of other series I will check out. I am already creating a pull list for the comic shop around the corner.
I still have other questions, such as, without a reboot, how do I get into Marvel comics? How do people store their comics (I was going to get plastic covers and long boxes)? I have put my reading list below.
Current Reading List
- Red Lanterns
- Batman
- All-star Western
- Transmetropolitan (all volumes)
Planned Current-Series Reading List
- Batman and Robin
- Batwoman
- Action Comics
- Detective Comics
- Justice League
- Supergirl
- Nighthawk
- Animal Man
- Stormwatch
- Suicide Squad
- Red Hood and the Outlaws
Other Planned Reading (Past and Ending Series)
- DMZ
- Planetary
- The Authority
- Transmetropolitan
- Locke & Key
- Critical Millennium
- Fear Agent
- Y: The Last Man
So, it looks like I have a new hobby to pour myself into. Thanks to Nikki for letting me tag along.
msg:
Matternet creates unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can be used to ferry medicine and other goods to remote places such as rural villages in Africa. In such places, people often have to walk 20 miles to a clinic to receive treatments as simple as blood tests or pills. With Matternet, UAVs can carry the payloads instead from point to point or to automated ground stations. At some point the ground stations will be so plentiful that the UAVs could transfer items over long distances.
via VentureBeat: Singularity University graduates a class of tech world changers
"Perfection is the realization that, if the parts of your life you wished were different didn’t exist, the part of you that is growing and expanding to make them different wouldn’t come into being. Your life would actually be much poorer without your difficulties and challenges. For the simple reason that you wouldn’t be growing into the person who can overcome them."
— What Does It Mean That Your Life is Perfect? A manifesto by Michael Ellsberg (via heyamberrae)
(via heyamberrae)
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ExpressionEngine
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“If you hate your parents, the man or the establishment, don’t show them up by getting wasted and wrapping your car around a tree. If you really want to rebel against your parents, out learn them, out live them, and know more than they do.” - Henry Rollins
word.
(via peternyc)
INFJ-
Why you want one: They’ll sit-inside-and-read-Dostoevsky-with-you-on-a-rainy-day, they’re good curators of interests and they’ll find something interesting to do and plan the whole date out (to the second).
Spoiler Alert: Icy-cold exterior.
Where to…
(Source: philolzophy)
