She-Hulk - Volume 1

This volume of She-Hulk assumes that you know the back story of Jennifer Walters, so I talked with my coworker prior to reading this and found out that she is the cousin of Bruce Banner, who gave her a blood transfusion when she was injured really bad and that caused her to have a milder version of what Bruce has, causing her to be SHE HULK. It seems based on the art in this story, that she is green 100% of the time and can use her strength and healing powers whenever she wants, so its pretty much like she is a bad ass woman who if she wants to show her strength, like for example, splitting a table in half with just one finger, she can. But she can control her powers, so she is able to be a lawyer to regular joes and also superheros as well!

The storyline for this volume is cool - She finds an old case file hidden in the back of her folders, realizes that she and a bunch of other superheros and villians are all being sued for something, and doesn't remember what the case is about. When she goes to talk to these people about the case, finds that there has been some sort of sorcery attached to it. The case is a trigger word and causes anyone that talks about the case that is involved to lose their minds and try and kill whoever is talking to them about it!! Crazy. And cool. She-Hulk is really awesome, independent, strong and speaks up for herself and those that need her (intelligence OR powers!)

Hawkeye - Volume 1

 

'My Life as a Weapon' intruduces us to, Clint Barton aka Hawkeye, a self made Avenger, doesn't really have 'superpowers' per-say but is incredible at using the bow and arrow, (kind of like Oliver Queen in Arrow, but Clint Barton is cooler in my opinion). The young Kate Bishop is his partner in crime. Even though she is a lot younger than him, she isn't really his sidekick or his protege, because she is already crazy good at bow and arrow and fighting and defending herself, but she also is usually the one helping Clint get out of any trouble that he has shimmied his way into. The two work together to steal from the rich and help those in need. A modern day Robin Hood and Little John duo. They are really cool together, and Matt Fractions writing makes this story really humorous and fun to read. Not as serious or dark as you would expect, but still really gripping and intense.

Prophet - Volume 1

I did it. I read it. I didn't not like it, but I also just didn't get the story enough to care, truthfully. I can now say that I have read it, and for those that like Farel Dalrymple's art, I can understand why you would want to read this because it is visually beautiful. The writing is just too fucking cryptic for me to get into.

Not much to say about this because I didn't retain a lot of information from this story.

In Real Life -- Graphic Novel

At the beginning of In Real Life, we are first introduced to a character named Anda, a charming young middle school girl who starts playing a massive multiplayer video game called Coarsegold Online. Anda quickly learns a lot more about real life through the game than she expected.

Written by activist Cory Doctorow, there are not-so underlying themes of economics and poverty in the book, which is really awesome, but unfortunately the story wraps up so quickly in the last quarter of the book that it seemed really rushed! I found myself wishing for an extension so that the story would have progressed more organically.

That being said, I did really enjoy this. The coloring is absolutely beautiful and I found the characters to be extremely endearing. Plus, what could be more sweet than rosy knees! Super glad I read this book. Great for all ages!

Further Readings

Instead of doing individual things for each storyline again because I already have previously, just a note that I have read further in the following stories....

Saga - ALL CAUGHT UP AND IT SUCKS SO MUCH TO NOT BE ABLE TO BINGE READ SAGA ANY MORE. Seriously. It sucks. This story is so awesome and I am now pissed that I have to wait like 2 months for each issue to come out just like every other joe on the planet.

The Life After - Read the second issue of this story and still pretty down with it, I wish that I had more time to read everything that has been put out as of right now, it is a really interesting story. Kind of has a twisted Truman Show vibe to it, because it seems like there are big guys controlling everything from behind the scenes. Could get pretty good I think, would like to continue reading it.

Letter 44 - Damn. I wish I had more time to read this story, I am so down with it. I am now up to issue #7. Have debated waiting until the trade of volume 2 comes out but I don't think that is until June so actually I will have a really hard time doing that. The seventh issue seems like its going to start breaking down the characters more so we can really get a sense of who is on the mission and where they come from/background stories of all the main people.

Gotham by Midnight - Have now read up to the second issue which is good, I will say its good, but I don't necessarily think that I will keep reading it because there are too many other story lines that I am interested to keep reading this one. I understand the eerie vibe it is going for and can recommend the story to someone who is interested in that kind of scene but I don't really feel personally that I need to keep reading it for myself.

The Woods - Had only read the first issue of this, but have no read the first volume, so I'm not completely caught up but have read enough to know that I am into this story. The writing is catchy, the characters are likeable, the environment they are caught in right now is mysterious, and I am still wondering what the heck is going on enough to be interested in the story. Bit of a Lord of the Flies vibe meets Jumanji?

Batman Eternal - I HAVE TO GET CAUGHT UP WITH THIS STORY IT IS HURTING ME. I am now 10 issues behind the current one that was just put out, and desperately trying to catch up with this story while not completely disregarding every other comic/graphic novel/thing in my life. Its crazy good, and I am really needing to know every answer immediately.