Get to pulling this Thursday’s books, and then let us know what you’re looking forward to most, what you’re dropping, what others should be buying and anything you’re thinking. Be heard, because we need you, iFanbase!
What are the iFanboys buying? Check it out here: Conor, Ron, Josh, and Gordon the Intern. And what about the rest of the staff? What are they buying? Dave, Jim, Paul, Mike and Sonia.
The long and winding road of Secret Invasion comes to an end this week, just in time to kick start Marvel’s next big event! *sigh* Also, for those of you who didn’t get enough Batman last week, Batman #682 is out with more Grant Morrison goodness. There’s also another issue of Criminal, the next chapter of Justice Society of America, a Punisher one-shot by Jason Aaron and a new Hellboy mini-series! Looks like quite a week.
This week Ron has to write the Pick of the Week!
Bonus Question: What’s the last good prose book you read?
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Wow Conor….I’m guessing you did this ahead of time and set it up for midnight…Or you just did this now, either way: Impressive, again this is why I love this site so much. 100% dedication to make the people happy.
But enough of the Wizard of Oz melodrama: ITS TIME FOR COMICS!
Batman #682, JSA #21, Hellboy: Wild Hunt #1 (and a special guest star, Incredible Herc #123!!!) So good, it makes you wanna slap your mamma!!!
BQ: The Road by Cormac McCarthy, easily the best I’ve read all year as well. You will find no better father/son relationship or post-apocolyptic drama then here folks.
Very much a Marvel-dominated week for me. Only two DCs and just as many indies.
BQ: I’m sure I read something more recetly, but I keep thinking of "The Time Traveller’s Wife".
@ TheNextChampion… I agree that THE ROAD was terrific, it’s really a book that sticks with you. But the most recent thing I’ve read is RANT, by Chuck Palahniuk, who’s always great.
I Can’t wait for the new issues of THE BOYS and THE SWORD. I’m also anxious to check out Vertigo’s new HAUNTED TANK.
Bigger week than I was expecting. Haven’t been able to work much since my show was running. Not much money in the bank. Hmm, guess I’ll have to skip out on X-Infernus. I loved Darkchylde in the New X-men story, but that’s just not enough facetime for me to care enough to pick up another 3.99 book. Too bad most of mine are 3.99 this week. Damn, I’m giving into the machine.
BQ: Choke by Chuck Palahnuik. I’ve always liked the writer but didn’t even know about that one til I saw an ad for the movie with his name attatched to it. Went and grabbed it from work like the next day.
I’m excited for Secret Invasion… to end.
BQ: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was the last prose book I read, a few months ago, and it was great.
Sometimes I love weeks like this, I have only three books Batman (ugh), JSA and Jonah Hex. I can’t decide whether I should check out this X-Infernus event (I recently jumped onto Uncanny X-men)
Only four books this week.
BQ: Yesterday, I read The Cheese Monkeys by Chip Kidd, which was really good until the completely baffling ending. There’s a sequel, so maybe that explains something.
Not a huge week, but it looks like a quality over quantity week for me! Criminal! Batman (please give some answers), JSA, Jason Aaron Wolverine & the one I’m most excited for — Aaron on Punisher!!! Damn!! Did I say I’m excited?
BQ — I think I’m reading 5 novels right now, & about 4 trades to go along with all the weekly comics (what? who’s got ADD?) so, I don’t remember the last novel I actually finished … lol. I’m reading Coronado by Dennis Lehane (Mystic River) right now, which is a bunch of short stories & there is one in it called "Running Out Of Dog" & it’s fucking brilliant. One of the best things I’ve ever read. Get your hands on it!
Bendis is telling people to read SI #8 before New Avengers. Just a heads up.
Looking forward to Criminal, Secret Invasion, Jonah Hex and the Punisher Special.
BQ: The Afghan Campaign by Steven Pressfield
Batman
SI
Justice Society
Trinity
BQ – I agree with Templar, "The Time Traveller’s Wife" was phenomenal, but the best book I read recently was "Childhood’s End" by Sir Arthur C. Clark.
Nice stack o’ the monthlies this week…Solomon Kane and Necronomicon are two under-the-radar minis I’ve really been enjoying.
BQ: Child 44. Post-WWII Russia. Oppression, conspiracy, murder mystery. Taut stuff, definitely recommended. As is Lush Life by Richard Price.
Well I’m definitely getting Batman #682. I hope the dude at Jester’s lets me have a variant cover again!! Hooray!! #683 and #684 are all coming out before the end of the month!! It’s about damn time they started pushin them Batmans out!!
Nonetheless, this week is looking really light.
I guess I might as well check out what this Haunted Tank mini series is all about?! Vertigo stuff is always interesting, (especially if you’re a guy who doesn’t really read super-hero comics unless Batman or Superman is involved).
hmmmm… in that case, maybe I see what this Jonah Hex is all about? I hate jumping into a series when I don’t know who anybody is. I’m sure it’s not like jumpin into a Superman or Batman title where everybody always already knows everything and everybodies’ origins just from being raised on American pop culture. Well I guess that is why they invented Ebay
Wow, I’m getting desperate here! Bongo isn’t putting anything out this week and Dark Horse doesn’t even have any Star Wars titles to fall back on (really desperate)!!
Oh my God, I’m actually looking at what is coming out on the MARVEL RACK!! What is wrong with me?! Well this Punisher Xmas one shot doesn’t look like it should burn my eyes out of my head all too well. I always did have a little space in my heart for the Punisher even though Marvel is definitely my least favorite publisher (I like BONGO better)!! If I ever got desperate enough to jump on to a Marvel title, and DC would probably have to totally go bankrupt and burn down their offices before I did such a thing to myself, it would be either Punisher or Wolverine…
Aight, I will stop rambling on now. To make a REALLY long story sound KINDA short, this is a sucky week for comic book readers. I’m almost not even upset that I have to wait all the way until Thursday to read my copy of Batman #682 just because that is the only comic I really WANT!!!!!!
I just finished Manhunt about the chase to capture John Wilkes Booth and his conspirators. It was delightful, and a total page turner. So good.
Really looking forward to JSA this week, and more Sandman.
BQ: I finally read American Gods (which was amazing)
First, last week was truly a good week for comics. I enjoyed reading my stack both in going to and coming back from my in-laws for Thanksgiving. What a way to travel.
I’m looking forward to this week too, especially Secret Invasion’s conclusion. Though slow at times, I’ve really enjoyed this event – particularly when compared to Final Crisis. Also looking forward to: the new Hellboy, Batman, the Haunted Tank (can’t wait to see how they reimage this classic), Jonah Hex (what a consistently great comic book), JSA, Sgt. Rock, Astounding Wolf-Man (I’m diggin’ this book more and more – one word: awesome), ASM, and Immortal Iron Fist.
BQ: Hands down the best prose book I’ve read recently (maybe ever) is "Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Awesome biography of Lincoln and his cabinet.
SI, Marvel Zombies, and the new Proof trade for me.
I am nearly finished with John Hodgman’s "The Areas of My Expertise," the reading of which makes me feel like I am insane. I also recently finished "The Man Who Heard Voices," about the making of "The Lady in the Water," the reading of which made me feel like M. Night Shyamalan is insane.
I’m loving this two weeks of batman in a row, thought the last issue was pretty good and interested to see where Morrison goes with it.
BQ: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, its an interesting look at the restaurant business from someone who saw a lot of things go wrong in the kitchen.
Looking forward to the conclusion of SI, the new Hellboy, and JSA.
BQ: War of the Ancients bok 1 by Richard Knack. I have never been much into fantasy, but I love the Warcraft lore.
I have to admit my eyes lit up with glee when I saw the next trade of Proof coming out. w00t!
BQ: I think the last good prose book was "Crooked Little Vein" By Warren Ellis. Bout half way through Children of Men now.
excited pretty much for everything every week i have had since like 4 weeks ago has been pretty good
bq: the time travelers wife. i loved it
really looking forward to JSA, Wolf-man, Secret Invasion(i honestly don’t think theres anyway i won’t be disappointed with this book), Criminal(this is the finale people should be excited about), Batman and Spider-man.
think I’m gonna give the new Hunted Tank and the johnny DC supergirl a try, too.
BQ: The last good book i read was The Gunslinger and I’m almost finished with The Drawing of the Three, the second Dark Tower book and the books have been awesome so far. my girlfriend wants me to finish all the books so we can talk about how Stephen King ruined her favorite book series with the ending to book seven.
@josh: Manhunt sounds great! I’m gonna try and pick it up some time.
A small, but dense week for me.
BQ: Some They Can’t Contain by Buddy Wakefield.
9 books is a pretty packed week for me but I got to finish SI..despite myself.
BQ: just finished Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace.
@Josh- Manhunt sounds good, Tales to Astonish was fantastic.
I’m looking forward to Spider Man, JSA, The Sword, and the wrap up to Secret Invasion.
BQ: World War Z: The Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks. It follows a Zombie infestation from the initial infections to an all out global war throught 10 years and is told through mock interviews. It was really good and is a quick read.
spiderman, criminal, glad batman is out again this week, look forward to that follow up.
bonus: The Road by cormac mccarthy. pretty intruiging.
@Kimbo, how was infinite jest? I keep wanting to pick it up but it is so loooong!
This week is going to rule
Bonus: Hey Rube by Hunter S. Thompson
SI #8
Batman
Doctor Who
Iron Fist
Pretty slow week for me. But fairly excited about what I’m picking up. Most likely I will try picking up something new. We’ll see how it goes. Any recommendations?
BQ: Myths, Lies and Down Right Stuipidity by John Stossel. I love that guy, and he rocks the mustache like nobodies business.
Um, a light week for me with only five books: Spidey, Bats, Iron Fist, JSA & Wolverine.
Bonus Question: Spin State by Chris Moriarty – Great SF Noir (that’s science fiction not san francisco) read. Just finished reading it and it was awesome but probably not everyone’s cup o’ tea. Synopsis: While fending off the romantic advances of an AI, Major Catherine Li investigates the death of Hannah Sharifi, a scientist born from the same genetic mold as she was.
New Criminal and Hellboy? Wooo!
BQ: I just read the first of Mike Carey’s Felix Castor series and it was pretty good. It’s basically him writing Hellblazer again. I also finished up reading John Hodgman’s latest book which was hilarious.
Huge Week . . . WOW.
For Me…
Amazing Spider-Man #579
Batman #682
Criminal 2 #7
Immortal Iron Fist #20
Justice Society Of America #21
Astonishing X-Men Hc Vol 02 Dm Ed
Proof Tp Vol 02
For My Brother. . .
Cable #9
Hulk Family Green Genes #1
Marvel Zombies 3 #3 (OF 4)
New Avengers #47
New Exiles #15
Punisher Max X-Mas Special 2008
Secret Invasion #8 (OF 8)
Secret Invasion Front Line #5 (OF 5)
Weapon X First Class #2 (OF 3)
What If House Of M
Wolverine Manifest Destiny #2 (OF 4)
X-Men Manifest Destiny #4 (OF 5)
For My Girlfriend. . .
Jungle Girl Season 2 #2
Lords Of Avalon Knights Of Darkness #1 (OF 6)
Nyx No Way Home #4 (OF 6)
Sword #13
X-Infernus #1 (OF 4)
Only three books this week. Is it just me or does it seem like forever since the last Zorro book came out.
BQ: umm… those are the ones without pictures right? Hmm, Hitchhiker’s guide I think was the last one.
This is one of the weeks that makes me wish I wasn’t such an X-fan. But X-men Noir looks awesome; Manifest Destiny & X-Infernus feel kind of obligatory, which means I might wait on them. Also, as much as I love Criminal, i had completely forgotten that this arc hadn’t finished yet. Hope it’s a good conclusion.
BQ: "The Given Day" by Dennis Lehane. Dense, rich historical novel about Boston in the early 20th century — anarchists and pandemics, scheming Irish cops and Babe Ruth. Amazing book.
@malakilii- I got this thing back in March and just finished it two weeks ago if that tells you anything but definitely worth it. Once you start to get into his humor he’s hilarious.
@ohcaroline- living in Boston now that sounds pretty interesting, I’ll be picking that up for sure.
This BQ rules Conor.
Thank god SI’s coming to an end. I can’t wait to get to the next event so the bitching can reconvene anew. and, yeah, Batman’s pretty cool, too.
BQ: Just finished "Modern Hydronic Heating for Residential and Light Commercial Buildings" by John Siegenthaler. It’s basically a big pile of technical jargon and formulas for load calculation and design. I highly recommend not reading it.
BQ: Naked by David Sedaris
I wish I had more money for comics. Stupid economy.
BQ:Almost Moon by Alice Sebold; disturbingly good. I’m also in the middle of "About a Boy" by Nick Hornby, one of my favorite prose writers.
Batman, Criminal, and JSA are my most anticipated books this week. Also need to pick up Guardians of the Galaxy and Proof from last week. As much as I love Hellboy, I’ll be trade-waiting on the new arc, as I just can’t afford as many singles these days.
BQ: The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon. Just really interesting and well-written characters in an alternate history setting. Chabon is probably one of my favorite modern writers. Right now I’m reading Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, which is a fascinating account of the 1892 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It’s non-fiction, but reads like a murder-mystery page turner.
Amazing Spider-Man #579
Batman #682
Criminal 2 #7
Enders Shadow Battle School #1 (OF 5)
Hellboy Wild Hunt #1 (OF 8)
Justice Society Of America #21
Marvels Eye Of Camera #1 (OF 6)
New Avengers #47
Secret Invasion #8 (OF 8)
Solomon Kane #3 (OF 5)
X-Infernus #1 (OF 4)
BQ: Homicide: a year in the killing street.
thanks for the recommendation Conor
bq: the twilight series. I admit that with my head held up high
Glad I saw that comics come out on Thursday! I would have looked silly arriving at my shop tomorrow.
@edward – You’re welcome. I love that book.
Sort of a weird week.
BQ What We Talk About When We Talk About Love- Raymond Carver
Stoaked On: Amazing Spider-Man, Criminal, Jonah Hex, The Sword
Kinda Excited For: Batman, Astounding Wolf-man, The Boys, Justice Society of America
Suspect: New Avengers, Secret Invasion, Crossed, Immortal Iron Fist
B.Q. A People’s History of the United States (in progress…)
Excited for Secret Invasion and X-Infernus!!!
Also, looking forward to reading more Astounding Wolf-Man, Moon Knight, and What If?
@conor, the corner is next
@edward – I haven’t read that! It’s on my list.
Wow, light week… just Batman and Noble Causes.
BQ: I just finished Lunar Park by Bret Easten Ellis and that was pretty damn great!
Secret Invasion and New Avengers top my list this week.
BQ: Just finished the fifth Dresden Files book. They’ve all been fun reads. Once I finish the series, maybe I’ll finally get around to reading American Psycho.
Most looking forward to reading.
Batman 682
Punisher Max X-Mas Special
Criminal #7
Justice Society of America #21
Last Novel: Beloved by Toni Morrison
Definitely most looking forward to Batman and the Sword. I am curious what direction the Batman series is going to go from here. Being a huge Batman fan, it’s been a while since I felt so much anticipation instead of dread. As far as the Sword goes, that title never disappoints. It has quickly become one of my absolute favorites.
Also curious about Secret Invasion, but It seems to me instead of a real conclusion, it’s going to lead into more Invasion and more crossovers — oh well, lets see what happens.
I would love to see Illyana/Darkchylde back in the main universe more. Here’s hoping X-Infernus does that.
For those who aren’t reading Necronomicon, it’s a very interesting story. If you can’t find the back issues, take a chance on the graphic novel when (if) it comes out. It is worthwhile reading.
Also pulling ASM, Broken Trinity Witchblade, Darkness, Jonah Hex, JSA, Solomon Kane.
Volume wise, Indies win the week for me. Can’t wait to see what my top of the stack will be. (must finish last week of course. too often life gets in the way. but this website now motivates me to keep up. here’s to no longer being a month and a half behind all the time.
The JSA/Kingdom Come specials have really got me excited for the final two chapters of the One World Under Gog storyline. So I am looking forward to that quite a bit this week.
Also excited to see what happens in the fallout of Batman RIP.
I only have like 6 books this week. Pretty damn light though it looks to be fun reading, including Secret Invasion’s conclusion. Which should be tits.
BQ: Evelyn Underhill’s Mysticism. Which was pretty fascinating as a means of trying to understand the romanticism of religion and belief in irrationality. As a modern day reader of an early 1900s text, natch.
*sitting patting his fingers. Notices it’s 2:21pm and there is no comics for another 24 hours*
*slams table* WHAT THE HELL DID PEOPLE DO WHEN THERE WERE NO COMICS!?
only 13 books this week….thought there was gonna be more but it’s probably cause I’m waiting to see the talk about X-Men Noir and X-Infernus and also trade-waiting for the What Ifs.
BQ: It’s probably been 5 months or so but I finished Harry Potter Book 6 and Brad Meltzer’s Book of Fate pretty close to each other.
Ever since I started listening to the podcasts, I haven’t had time for regular books.