Let's Get Literate! Marvel Unlimited and Other Terrifying Abysses

[renay]

Well, since I got carried away about all the books I'm looking forward to (I have since read one of these books, it was AMAZING so clearly I have great taste), I've since banned myself from Edelweiss. Every time I try to go there it redirects me to Ace of Base's "I Saw the Sign", which'll hopefully have the result of convincing me not to type the URL for any reason ever. I didn't link to it, either, because I like everyone here and don't want to send you down that dark path, especially of the university presses. Don't Google it. Just move on, and enjoy a long life filled with experiences and way less mindless drooling over books not out yet, many of which will be hella expensive textbooks.

I've also acquired a Marvel Unlimited account. I want to read ALL the Captain America in order to be able to cry the maximum amount of tears when Captain America: Civil War drops. But I want to do it in some semblance of order to prevent confusion. I realize this is hopeless, yes. Let me have my dreams! So many comics!

(I'm also tempted to read Iron Man but everything I've heard about Superior Iron Man has made me livid so probably not the best idea.)

Reading the last week:

• Young Avengers Vol. 1: Sidekicks by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung
• Rat Queens Vol. 2: The Far Reaching Tentacles of N'rygoth by Kurtis J. Wiebe, Roc Upchurch, Stjepan Šejić
• The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs
• The Last Colony by John Scalzi

Right now I'm reading Young Avengers based off Memory's rec post; I finished Sidekicks and have moved on to the next volume. Young Avengers so far seems to be about Tony and Steve being Grump Dads and Jessica being like "eh, kids, what can you do?". Meanwhile, the teenagers blunder around and eventually figure things out for themselves and snark each other while being emotionally supportive besties. It also has Kate Bishop and Eli who I sure do hope continue to sass each other, and my very first comic experience of the hug and fly thing Tony and Steve do. I'm hooked, it's all Memory's fault. THANKS FOR THIS NEW ADDICTION, MEMORY.

I've been buying several books, and have multiple ARCs, and all these books are ones I really want to read, but my brain has been like, "Well, what if we DON'T read the books you've been excited about for over a year and instead read no books at all?" So I fell back on comics and nonfiction.

Rat Queens, Vol. 2 was fun and dramatic and full of gore and sex. Although I preferred the story in the first one I found the second one more intimate and resonant character-wise, so on the whole it evens out. This continues to be one of the greatest fantasy comics about complicated pasts and friendships between women I read. Hannah is still my favorite character, although I was super happy to learn more about Dee and her past (did not see that coming!), and see some resolution to some of her problems, although I suspect that's not the last time we'll deal with it. The comic plays with how our pasts influence us and shape our current engagement in the world across multiple contexts, from being less respected and how you learn to distrust the world, to having respect but wanting a different kind that seems inaccessible.

The artist switch was a bit odd, because the new artist seems to handle the action a little differently, but I've now had training via Marvel in dealing with artist change ups, so it'll be fine by the next volume, which probably won't be until 2016. *weep*

The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy was a pretty cute overview of Tumblr fannish culture. The art was definitely adorable. I found it most useful on the convention advice side of things, since it includes a lot of practical advice about attending cons, interacting with other fans and talent, and having a plan for the con and also self-care. Other than that it generalized and I feel like most of this stuff you can pick up by diving in and watching people interact. I got immediately thrown out when the book encouraged people to leave constructive criticism on fanwork with no conditions to be "helpful" (NO WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS). And it didn't seem to pay attention to Livejournal culture much at all. Is Livejournal culture just Tumblr culture now? Have we been subsumed? Have we accepted this reality? I'm out of the loop. So, good overview, but it's a pretty slim volume that likely didn't have a lot of room for nuance.

And since my brain was doing that weird dance of not wanting to read the books I was DYING to read (wtf), I tricked it and reread The Last Colony to break me out of my funk. I suspect this happens because I'm afraid of new books not living up to my (extremely high) expectations and want books that I know will hold up. I'm preparing for The End of All Things, too. I'm super tempted to read it serially, but also know my book money is limited and I need to save it for the hardcover I'm getting. I'm already resigned to missing the tour, because I didn't realize I should have gone to the indie bookstores around me that have author events and begged, "PLZ INVITE HIM." Well, notes for the future.

The Last Colony still holds up really well, except toward the end where it jumps around a lot keeping the reader unaware of what's happening beyond vague strokes for maximum surprise at the end of the novel. Looking back on these books it really does feel like the world building in the OMW books is more hefty, with some depth and weight that his standalone work doesn't have (even though I like those works, too). I end up always wanting more world building from him because I really enjoy it when he digs in and goes to town on it, but also see the value in a light touch for wider commercial appeal. I'm pretty excited about a sequel to Lock In, because the base is there and all he has to do is build on top of it, which means I will be a super happy camper.

I'm currently reading Uprooted and will finish it this week. I'm over the moon about it, which I'm sure is a surprise to exactly no one reading this.

Comments

[bookgazing]

I've got to start Young Avengers (loved the issue they included in the first Hawkeye trade). I own it and everything.

[renay]

You really do. Picture me looming over you with a sad face. #EFFECTIVE

[goodbyebird]

ooooh Young Avengers rec post, thanks! I'm playing Marvel Heroes 2015, and I am actually very much leaning towards playing Clint instead of the Kate skin you can put on him, bc Clint's got the Hawkeye look (swoon tho, he is verreh handsome. *koff* And covered in bandages *koff*) and Kate's only got the YA costume. I'm more emotionally attached to Hawkeye, but reading the YA comic could change that and put me back on the ladies' team ;D

Very happy to hear you're still reading comics btw!

[renay]

I only learned this Marvel Heroes thing existed the other day when you posted about it and I was FASCINATED. If only I wasn't banned from these types of games forever and/or had a system effective enough to run them. Because you're right, that is a very handsome video game character. >.>

I'm still reading comics, and will probably be trapped here...forever...I feel like you are to blame for some of this. *squints*

[goodbyebird]

Banned? Noooo, whyyyy? And yeah, I can see it being a big drag on a lot of computers, but the graphics can be turned way down tho. (you should see Bucky in this game, wowza. His default comics costume is so shiny I don't even feel the compulsive need to go and get the movie version right away. And Rhodney/War Machine is coming later this year, and also Pepper as Rescue is slated as a team-up and they're hoping to do Kamala Khan next year bweeeee ALL MY FAVES)

I feel like I have no blame at all really; I should work harder on that! And I do sincerely hope you're picking up Bitch Planet btw.

[renay]

It's because with those types of games I tend to get...addicted. And then I don't come up for air or other self-care requirements. But it LOOKS pretty cool. :D

You were like the gateway. You opened the door and then whistled off to the side, knowing that I would step through and everyone on the other side would IMMEDIATELY INCEPT ME INTO EVERYTHING.

I definitely want to read Bitch Planet! My pull list was maxed out, though, so I'll read it in trade. :) ALTHOUGH, what with Secret Wars, soon I'll be able to reorganize my list completely. It's a contender!

[goodbyebird]

ahhhh... in that case, yes, maybe steer clear. I can confirm it is indeed very addictive. But perfect for me as it is mostly brainless and has all my faves.

lol I do not remember this! But then, also, you are putting a pretty damn big effort into luring other people in, so not like you can point fingers, missy!

I'm pretty bad at keeping up with most comics and especially the ensemble ones, because frickin events happen all the damn time and shake everything up again. Only one I am tempted by is A-Force bc ALL THE LADIES. And beccatoria praises the 161 or whatever number that whole universe is. Sooooo many comics.

[renay]

put it this way. There's a game for iOS called Cow Evolution. I lost six hours to it once and only realized once my head started hurting from lack of food. I'M A PROBLEM.

I really can't because I got into comics and then slowly started sucking in all my friends. It's fine. NONE OF US ARE BLAMELESS.

[goodbyebird]

Ouch. Yep those games sure can suck you in. What I do is set an alarm and put my phone out of reach. But then when I'm home I have zero work to do so also can easily binge on those type of games.

BADGE OF BLAME FOR ERRYBODY :D

btw I started reading the new Bucky run, and it is... weird? Does it get less weird? It is very weird. Are you still hanging in there? Maybe I should just try Brubaker's run instead, still haven't gotten to that.

[readingtheend.pip.verisignlabs.com]

Kaaaaaaaaaate Bishop! How I cherish her! I read the whole Marvel Civil War event this past month, and one of the highlights was that we got to see Clint Barton seeing Kate Bishop in action for the first time ever. (He was impressed. Like obv.)

[renay]

Ugggh I'm not emotionally prepared to read the whole Civil War thing yet. MAYBE LATER. I can't deal with reading about Steve and Tony's divorce right now. Maybe I can tough it out once I get to those points in the Captain America comics.

[thebaconfat]

I was so disappointed about the Rat Queens art switch (but even more disappointed about the reason for it, ugh). Like, the new art is still pretty great but some of the faces in particular are not as distinct and the backgrounds aren't as detailed. But it's still really quality and the comic is still pretty much my favourite thing right now. Also I want to point out that the new artist also draws/writes a pretty cute lesbian BDSM erotica comic.

And yeah, I agree with you that this volume wasn't as tight story-wise and the pacing was all over the place, but I really loved learning more about Dee and Violet's backstory bits were amaaaaazing.

[renay]

Yeah, I was also very sad about it for both reasons you mentioned. There was a panel in this volume where all their faces looked exactly the same and I was like nooooooo. So much of what made the first volume great was the nuance in facial expression attitude. I'm hoping it's just growing pains.

This volume felt a little less cohesive as one event. That's where my main issue was. But the character stuff definitely more than made up for it. Violet's story really surprised me in good ways, and Dee got to be super rad. I'm still so tempted to go add it to my pull list so I don't have to wait for trades, but ugh, dollars. ;___;

[marenfuga]

Young Aveeengeeeers <3333

Reading whims are the worst. I've been reading Drarries non stop since I finished Uprooted. No idea why. I've tried to trick myself into reading romance novels, 'cause that seems like the closest fit, but my brain's like "yeah, good try, I'm sure that earl is a real catch. NOW GIVE ME MORE AWKWARD DRACO MALFOY"...

[renay]

Oh, reading about a grumpy, socially awkward wizard over and over again via Harry Potter fanfic? What could have brought THAT on? ;)

[marenfuga]

...

you're a genius o.o

[(Anonymous)]

Uprooted is amaaaaaazing. Definitely a top book for the year for me.

-Maureen

[renay]

SO TRUE. I expect to see it on tons of lists in December/January. If not there's no justice in the world.