![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Comics of 2013
Dec. 29th, 2014 11:43 pmBetter get this finished before I have to post the 2014 retrospectives.
In 2013, I read 70 volumes of graphic novels. What can I say, I joined a new library and hit a motherlode of titles.
Series I discovered:
20th Century Boys - I know so many people who list this in their top five of all time. I marathoned this over three weeks or something. All I can say is, you were right, why did I not read this earlier? It's all about ordinary people being heroic, and the nostalgia of childhood, and the challenges of adulthood. Science fiction, unbreakable friendships, rock music, and saving the world.
Pluto - A retelling of the classic Astroboy story arc "The Greatest Robot on Earth", through the eyes of the robot detective who was one of the supporting characters. An ambitious project, but the result is a tense and moving story.
Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Promise - Loved this sequel to the TV series, and loved getting to follow the characters again, dealing with the aftermath of the war.
Thermae Romae - An architect from ancient Rome is transported to modern Japan, where he discovers and brings back advancements in bath houses, whose love both peoples share. Funny and enlightening.
Yakitate!! Japan - Basically a sports manga except with baking bread instead of scoring goals. Started off deeply fascinating - so that's how you make a 324 layer croissant! - but devolved into silliness by the umpteenth volume.
Series I continued to enjoy:
Runaways - Ordinary kids with extraordinary powers, trying to survive in a superhero universe. I wish things could have stayed the same for the gang as in the early volumes, but if the series was continued one day I would still read on.
Yotsuba&! - Getting to read the new volume is always one of the highlights of my year. I just wish it happened more than once a year. Yotsuba messing around with blue paint was adorable.
Standalones I enjoyed:
The Heart of Thomas - A shounen ai classic about love and tragedy, finally released in English in a beautiful hardcover edition.
Orbiter - A science fiction story about the mystery behind the last space shuttle, but also about the dream of space. A collaboration between Warren Ellis and Colleen Doran.
X-Men: Days of Future Past - I'm often surprised how short these classic stories are, but it's hard to live up to the size of the shadows they cast. Still glad I finally read it.
Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Lost Adventures - Short comics of side adventures and missing scenes from the series. Delightful fun.
In 2013, I read 70 volumes of graphic novels. What can I say, I joined a new library and hit a motherlode of titles.
Series I discovered:
20th Century Boys - I know so many people who list this in their top five of all time. I marathoned this over three weeks or something. All I can say is, you were right, why did I not read this earlier? It's all about ordinary people being heroic, and the nostalgia of childhood, and the challenges of adulthood. Science fiction, unbreakable friendships, rock music, and saving the world.
Pluto - A retelling of the classic Astroboy story arc "The Greatest Robot on Earth", through the eyes of the robot detective who was one of the supporting characters. An ambitious project, but the result is a tense and moving story.
Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Promise - Loved this sequel to the TV series, and loved getting to follow the characters again, dealing with the aftermath of the war.
Thermae Romae - An architect from ancient Rome is transported to modern Japan, where he discovers and brings back advancements in bath houses, whose love both peoples share. Funny and enlightening.
Yakitate!! Japan - Basically a sports manga except with baking bread instead of scoring goals. Started off deeply fascinating - so that's how you make a 324 layer croissant! - but devolved into silliness by the umpteenth volume.
Series I continued to enjoy:
Runaways - Ordinary kids with extraordinary powers, trying to survive in a superhero universe. I wish things could have stayed the same for the gang as in the early volumes, but if the series was continued one day I would still read on.
Yotsuba&! - Getting to read the new volume is always one of the highlights of my year. I just wish it happened more than once a year. Yotsuba messing around with blue paint was adorable.
Standalones I enjoyed:
The Heart of Thomas - A shounen ai classic about love and tragedy, finally released in English in a beautiful hardcover edition.
Orbiter - A science fiction story about the mystery behind the last space shuttle, but also about the dream of space. A collaboration between Warren Ellis and Colleen Doran.
X-Men: Days of Future Past - I'm often surprised how short these classic stories are, but it's hard to live up to the size of the shadows they cast. Still glad I finally read it.
Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Lost Adventures - Short comics of side adventures and missing scenes from the series. Delightful fun.
