I’ve been busy lately (see other posts), but I still have the urge to read when I have a few extra minutes and at night when I’m trying to get to sleep. Here are the books that I’ve FINISHED in the last week or two…

The Maxx: Maxximized, Vol. 1 (2014)

I had a few issues of The Maxx when it was new, and I remembered liking it, so when I spotted this IDW reprint of the first four issues (on sale through Comixology), I jumped at it. The book is by Sam Keith and William Messner-Loebs (with fantastic colors by Ronda Pattison.) About 100 pages. I read it in a single sitting. Cool, weird story, and the art is fantastic. I’m certain I’ll grab the next volume next time it’s on sale!

Doodle Drawing – Imagine, Explore, Create (2016)

Created by Sarah Skeate, this book is an excellent resource. Using three ballpoint pens (a red, blue, and black), Skeate shows the reader a ton of different techniques for crafting, shading, embellishing, and having a lot of fun with drawing. I bought this primarily to give to my granddaughter when she gets old enough…but I’m probably going to keep it! (Ha! Maybe I’ll buy ANOTHER copy for her…) It’s great for people who want to enjoy drawing and make a bunch of entertaining doodles! Definitely recommend this one for people just getting into drawing, art enthusiasts, or for people thinking about making zines!

Congorilla #1 (1992)

I bought this book because it looked ridiculous and had Steve Englehart listed as scripter. (He wrote some fun issues of The Defenders.) I was hoping for something either retro-1950s or ‘70’s exploitation---but what I got was just kind of silly in a not-too-interesting sort of way. The artwork isn’t bad at all (by Neil Vokes and Jay Geldhof), but for whatever reason, the story just didn’t grab me. I had two other issues in my pile when I was buying books last time, but I eventually put them back and just took issue #1. Made the right choice. Not particularly interested in seeing how this mini-series ends...

Area 88 #5 (1987)

Written and drawn by Kaoru Shintani. This title was one of the first manga books I picked up when I first started SERIOUSLY collecting comics back in the ‘80s. (I only had a couple of issues, but I was happy to have them!) The book’s title, Area 88, and the art on the cover here make it look like this will be a science-fiction book (which I would have loved), but this is actually a soap opera about pilots fighting over career positions and love interests, punctuated by scenes of flying jets… I love the art, though. I picked up something like six issues from the 50 cent bins, so we’ll see if I eventually connect with the characters or story. Regardless, it is worth owning these for the cool manga art, if nothing else…

Judge Dredd Funko Universe (2017)

I’m into weird shit. I love bizarre, nonsensical, freaky stuff (like Fantagraphics’ Centrifugal Bumble-Puppy and Bob Burden’s Robot Comics), so when I see something like THIS, I’ll give it a shot. I already enjoy Judge Dredd stories, but having the 2000 A.D. anti-hero toned down into a family friendly humor book… Well…. I think I’ll stick with the more traditional version. (The art isn’t bad here, but the book is mostly forgettable.)

The Justice League of America: The Silver Age Volume One (2016)

This is a digital collection that I bought off of Comixology, with all the stories written by Gardner Fox. The collection includes issues from The Brave and the Bold, Mystery in Space, and the Justice League title, and I got it hoping for some batshit-crazy nonsense. I GOT THAT, but for some reason this book was a bit of a slog to get through. It’s weird stuff, but it FEELS formulaic. It’s somehow...boring weirdness. I hate to be negative, but I’m not sure I would recommend this collection for most readers.

FCBD 2019: A Sheets Story (2019)

Here’s another title that we’ve had laying around the house for two years but which I’ve never read! It’s written and drawn by Brenna Thummler, and I really liked it! The story is subtle, but the art is cool, indie-style work, and the simple ghost story is fun. I’d be happy to read more Thummler work, if I run across it! Good stuff!

That’s it for this review list! I still have a ton of comics to look through, plus all them WORD BOOKS that I’ve got littered around the house. If you’ve got a book or comic you’d like to recommend, let me know! I’m always searching for something different!!!

Later!

---Richard F. Yates
(Primitive Thoughtician and Holy Fool)

[P.S. - The images in this post where all taken by me of either the physical or digital books that I own and read. The images are included for review purposes only!]

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