lavaturtle's comics-filled 2021

I've been reading a lot of comics in the last few years, and I've decided to split them out from my main thread. I'm hoping this will avoid cluttering my main book-oriented thread with a bunch of comics, and also let me organize my comics into their own categories. This will be a bit of an experiment, so we'll see how it goes!

Here are my categories:
- Currently-running comics
- Old storylines
- Bought at an event
- Anthology
- Indie (non Big 2) publishers
- Non-fiction / memoir
- 2021 Hugo nominees

My main thread is over here.

Currently-running comics
This is primarily for the comics on my pull list, but will also cover any kind of "oh, let me catch up on that big event from 6 months ago" reading.

Comics read:
1. Marauders (2019-) #15 by Gerry Duggan & Benjamin Percy
2. Marauders (2019-) #16 by Gerry Duggan
3. Marauders (2019-) #17 by Gerry Duggan
4. Firefly: New Sheriff in the 'Verse Vol. 2 by Greg Pak
5. Spider-Woman (2020-) #1 by Karla Pacheco
6. Spider-Woman (2020-) #2 by Karla Pacheco
7. Spider-Woman (2020-) #3 by Karla Pacheco
8. Spider-Woman (2020-) #4 by Karla Pacheco
9. Spider-Woman (2020-) #5 by Karla Pacheco
10. Spider-Woman (2020-) #6 by Karla Pacheco
11. Spider-Woman (2020-) #7 by Karla Pacheco
12. Spider-Woman (2020-) #8 by Karla Pacheco
13. America Chavez: Made In The USA (2021-) #1 by Kalinda Vazquez
14. Marauders (2019-) #18 by Gerry Duggan
15. King In Black: Marauders (2021) #1 by Gerry Duggan
16. America Chavez: Made In The USA (2021-) #2 by Kalinda Vazquez
17. Marauders (2019-) #19 by Gerry Duggan
18. The Old Guard: Tales Through Time #1 by Greg Rucka and Andrew Wheeler
19. America Chavez: Made in the USA (2021-) #3 by Kalinda Vazquez
20. Marauders (2019-) #20 by Gerry Duggan
21. The Old Guard: Tales Through Time #2 by Kelly Sue DeConnick
22. Marauders (2019-) #21 by Gerry Duggan
23. Planet-Size X-Men (2021) #1 by Gerry Duggan
24. The Old Guard: Tales Through Time #3 by Brian Michael Bendis
25. America Chavez: Made in the USA (2021) #4 by Kalinda Vazquez
26. The Old Guard: Tales Through Time #4
27. Marauders (2019-) #22 by Gerry Duggan
28. Marauders (2019-) #23 by Gerry Duggan
29. Spider-Woman (2020-) #9 by Karla Pacheco
30. Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour (2021-) #1 by Tee Franklin
31. America Chavez: Made in the USA (2021) #5 by Kalinda Vazquez
32. Marauders (2019-) #24 by Gerry Duggan

Old storylines
In 2020, I finally read the "House of M" event. If I do something similar in 2021, or pick up where I left off on some old series, that will go here.

Bought at an event
Every time I go to FlameCon, I come home with a big stack of cool comics, most of them extremely indie. Obviously conventions are on hold right now, but just in case, here's a category for any comics I buy at an event.

Comics read:
1. Pilgrimage by Alison Wilgus

Anthology
I love comics anthologies for showcasing a huge variety of art styles and subject matter. I've backed some really cool ones on Kickstarter. All comics anthologies go here.

Works read:
1. Marvel's Voices: Indigenous Voices #1 by Jeffrey Veregge
2. Heartwood: Non-binary Tales of Sylvan Fantasy ed. by Joamette Gil
3. Marvel's Voices: Pride (2021) #1
4. DC Pride (2021-) #1
5. Women of Marvel (2021) #1
6. Marvel's Voices: Identity #1

Indie publishers
There are some really great comics being produced outside the Big 2 (Marvel and D.C.) publishers. This category is for exploring some of that work.

Comics read:
1. Eat the Rich #1 by Sarah Gailey

Non-fiction and memoir
I've enjoyed reading some graphic novels that are autobiographical and/or about historical events. Those go here.

Hugo nominees (graphic story)
This final category is for 2021 Hugo nominees, specifically in the Best Graphic Story category.

Possibilities:
- DIE, Volume 2: Split the Party
- Invisible Kingdom, vol 2: Edge of Everything
- Monstress, vol. 5: Warchild
- Once & Future vol. 1: The King Is Undead
- Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation

Okay! This thread is up and running.

Hope you enjoy your 2021 reads!

Have fun with your comic reading challenges.

Enjoy your comics challenge!

What a fun challenge! Happy New Year and best wishes with your 2021 reading.

Marauders (2019-) #15 by Gerry Duggan & Benjamin Percy
Category: Currently-running comics

This issue has quite the shocking beginning! It also does a good job wrangling the dozen-plus characters involved, giving us a little time to get to know who they are and what they're about.

I do hope the Marauders comics starts being about the Marauders again soon; the X of Swords event has really taken over these last few issues to the point where the only plausible connection is "Storm is there, I guess?"

Marvel's Voices: Indigenous Voices #1 by Jeffrey Veregge
Category: Anthology

I really loved Veregge's art in the intro "The Watcher". "Echo: Hitting Back" made me want to know more about that character, and I liked the tie-in to the larger mutant universe in "Mirage: Multifaceted". "Silver Fox: Blue Moon" wasn't as much to my taste, and felt like I was missing some context. I had no idea there were so many Native American / First Nations characters in Marvel Comics!

Pilgrimage by Alison Wilgus
Category: Bought at an event

This short vignette offers a glimpse into an interesting future, where humans are presumably living in space somewhere... but it's mostly about a couple of people visiting a shrine to an early Mars lander. I like the quiet, peaceful ambiance of the art style.

Heartwood: Non-binary Tales of Sylvan Fantasy ed. by Joamette Gil
Category: Anthology

I really wanted to like this anthology more than I did. It's a beautiful book, with amazing cover art and gilt edges. It's a great concept; there aren't a lot of comics centering non-binary folks. But most of the stories weren't that interesting to me, or felt like half a scene from a larger story.
There were a few stories I did really like: "The Beast in the Garden" (by Ver), "New Leaves" (by Emily Madly and Maria Li), "The Lungs of Jeju" (by Sunmi), and "Shuvah (Return)" (by Ezra Rose and Jey Barnes).

>17 lavaturtle: Short stories in any format tend to be more difficult to do well: longer than a one-pager with punchline but not enough room to fill out details. I've found the same even with acclaimed anthology series such as Flight. I'm glad you found some parts to like.

Marauders (2019-) #16 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Currently-running comics

The Marauders are back! The long-delayed confrontation between Kate, Emma, and Shaw is well worth the wait.

Marauders (2019-) #17 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Currently-running comics

The gala sounds exciting! I'm not a big fan of the whole Crucible thing -- it kind of creeps me out -- but I have to admit it was well done here. I really like the plot that seems to be going on in Madripoor.

Firefly: New Sheriff in the 'Verse Vol. 2 by Greg Pak
Category: Currently-running comics

This volume isn't quite as strong as the first one, although it's always nice to see our favorite characters.

Spider-Woman (2020-) #1 by Karla Pacheco
Category: Currently-running comics

What a fun setup! I liked how this established who Jess is when she's fighting, or arguing with rich teenagers, or raising a super-infant. And an interesting hook for the next piece of the story!

Spider-Woman (2020-) #2 by Karla Pacheco
Category: Currently-running comics

Oh, wow. There is certainly some dubiously ethical science going on here! I don't have the context to understand the impact of the stuff about Otto, but the testing montage was fun.

Spider-Woman (2020-) #3 by Karla Pacheco
Category: Currently-running comics

Poor Rebecca! Her dad just gets dodgier and dodgier. And what on earth is going on with Jess's mom??

Spider-Woman (2020-) #4 by Karla Pacheco
Category: Currently-running comics

I loved the complicated family relationships and backstory here. Miriam Drew is a great character, and there was a good mix of serious drama with bonkers action.

Spider-Woman (2020-) #5 by Karla Pacheco
Category: Currently-running comics

I liked the big battle, and the series of vignettes afterwards also worked really well. And it's so exciting to see Carol Danvers!

Spider-Woman (2020-) #6 by Karla Pacheco
Category: Currently-running comics

Fun space adventures! And Jess is... not coping well D:

Spider-Woman (2020-) #7 by Karla Pacheco
Category: Currently-running comics

Oh man, poor Jess. And poor Carol!

Spider-Woman (2020-) #8 by Karla Pacheco
Category: Currently-running comics

This is a fun romp through several different locations while Jess tries to get her bearings. It's great to see Octavia again, too.

America Chavez: Made In The USA (2021-) #1 by Kalinda Vazquez
Category: Currently-running comics

I like the mix of backstory and front-story, and it was fun to see Kate and Ramone again as supporting cast. The ominous narrator sure is ominous... who could it be??

Marauders (2019-) #18 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Currently-running comics

I really like what they're doing here with the political situation in Madripoor. Cool action scenes and social commentary -- that's how I like my X-men!

King In Black: Marauders (2021) #1 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Currently-running comics

A great little one-shot adventure. Very "Marauders-y", with the high-seas adventures, rescues, and alliances with other mutant factions.

America Chavez: Made In The USA (2021-) #2 by Kalinda Vazquez
Category: Currently-running comics

This issue is mostly about America's backstory with the Santanas, and it's... not light reading. I'm intrigued about what the ending means, tho...

Marauders (2019-) #19 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Currently-running comics

Some more fun hijinks in the ongoing Madripoor situation. I liked the Morlock connection here.

The Old Guard: Tales Through Time #1 by Greg Rucka and Andrew Wheeler
Category: Currently-running comics

I loved this great pair of vignettes. "My Mother's Axe" was super cute. And "Zanzibar and Other Harbors" reminded me just how much I love Joe and Nicky as a couple.

America Chavez: Made in the USA (2021-) #3 by Kalinda Vazquez
Category: Currently-running comics

Oh wow, so that's a big reveal. Assuming we can believe what this new character is saying... I'm super intrigued!

Marauders (2019-) #20 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Currently-running comics

I loved the send-off for Storm; it was really sweet and funny.

The Old Guard: Tales Through Time #2 by Kelly Sue DeConnick
Category: Currently-running comics

The framing of the first story was interesting. The second story was okay, but not as exciting as either of the stories in the first issue. Neither of these have characters I'm as invested in.

Marauders (2019-) #21 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Currently-running comics

The Hellfire Gala! It was fun spotting a bunch of characters from various Marvel comics. I really like this concept, but the sudden jump to an ominous ending was weird.

Planet-Size X-Men (2021) #1 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Currently-running-comics

So, this is a big plot twist! There were a lot of characters I didn't really recognize -- presumably from X of Swords. Interested to see where this goes.

The Old Guard: Tales Through Time #3 by Brian Michael Bendis
Category: Currently-running-comics

The first story is a sweet little vignette. The second story is another interesting angle on Joe and Nicky as protectors/avengers of vulnerable queer folx through time.

America Chavez: Made in the USA (2021) #4 by Kalinda Vazquez
Category: Currently-running-comics

I have such mixed feelings about this plot. On the one hand, it's interesting and dramatic and gives the characters a lot to deal with. On the other hand, it completely negates what happened in the previous run of America! I hope they can find a way to reconcile these plots.

The Old Guard: Tales Through Time #4
Category: Currently-running comics

I like the mix of contemplation and action in both of these stories, which use the protagonists' special abilities to good effect.

Marauders (2019-) #22 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Currently-running comics

There are really two stories here, both about fallout from the past. The dive into Wilhelmina's past seems like it might be going in kind of a cliche direction, but we'll see... I thought the retcon of Lourdes's past was an interesting choice, and fits well with the ongoing drama between Emma Frost and Sebastian Shaw.

Marvel's Voices: Pride (2021) #1
Category: Anthology

So many stories in here, showcasing the breadth and range of queer and trans characters in Marvel comics. I loved almost all of them. I think the She-Hulk one is my favorite, but I also enjoyed many of the cute romance vignettes. The in-universe historian intro was a cool lens / framing device. And the reprint of Northstar's 1990s coming out was certainly educational.

DC Pride (2021-) #1
Category: Anthology

There's a real range of stories in here, some to my taste more than others. I loved the cute Harley Quinn / Poison Ivy story, and the Flash story was great too. The art pages (I refuse to call them "pin-ups") between stories are a nice touch.

Women of Marvel (2021) #1
Category: Anthology

I really liked the mix of more serious stories (like "Saturday Morning in Harlem" with Misty Knight) and silly one-pagers (like "Good Hair" or "She's Got The Look").

Eat the Rich #1 by Sarah Gailey
Category: Indie publishers

This issue is like the first act of a horror movie, where you kind of know what's going to happen, but the characters take a while to stumble into it. I like the mix of creeping horror, the ridiculousness of the super-rich, and the vulnerability of our protagonist and her boyfriend.

Marauders (2019-) #23 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Currently-running comics

The opening again feels like some very important plot must have happened in a different comic that I haven't read. Hopefully as the Hellfire Gala is over, it will become easier to follow the story by reading just Marauders. I liked the main adventure, and it was cool to see Tempo in a more prominent role. Wilhelmina's plot development was satisfying, and I hope it heralds some further changes with her former faction.

Spider-Woman (2020-) #9 by Karla Pacheco
Category: Currently-running comics

Several things happened here... but none of them really felt like they were about Jessica Drew. Not the strongest issue IMO, definitely the middle of a story. And the running gag in the letters page didn't really work for me.

I was really interested to see that Penguin Classics are releasing classics editions of Marvel comics. I am intrigued to see what they will look like, in the black Penguin Classics format.

>51 JayneCM: Interesting!

Harley Quinn: The Animated Series: The Eat. Bang! Kill. Tour (2021-) #1 by Tee Franklin
Category: Currently-running comics

Super fun, super cute, just what I'd expect from this Harley & Ivy story! I love the animated series, and this is a lot like it.

America Chavez: Made in the USA (2021) #5 by Kalinda Vazquez
Category: Currently-running comics

I guess we're really going with this new retconned backstory for America? Huh, okay. I do like the further development of the Santanas and America's relationship with them. Not sure we really needed another version of "hero has fictional disease and got superpowers as a side effect of treating it", given that Spider-woman has a very similar plot...
Aside from my feelings about the choices this whole mini-series made, this particular issue was decent, and tied things up well.

Marauders (2019-) #24 by Gerry Duggan
Category: Currently-running comics

The main story here is okay, but the art style for the characters' faces feels really off. They don't quite look like the right characters, and the extra lines around the eyes always makes it seem like they're making a weird facial expression. Cool cliffhanger, tho! And I'm intrigued by whatever's going on with Lourdes.

Marvel's Voices: Identity #1
Category: Anthology

I liked this assortment of short stories, some with characters I've seen before, some with characters that are new to me.