Trevor

What's a Comic Book Challenge?

- monthly threads to encourage more reading and discussion
- a way to figure out "what do I read next?"
- motivation to try different genres
- motivation to keep reading and make progress on our unread piles
- a place to get recommendations

How does it work?

- we pick a genre (or company, or title, or whatever) for a month
- we post in this thread and talk about what we plan to read and read throughout the month
- you could keep a spoilered list in one post and update it all month, or post as you read
- in theory the lists could be kept in a separate thread to allow for fancier formatting while avoiding clutter

What makes it a "challenge"?

- well, unofficially, the goal is to read 100 comics a month, but that isn't stressed
- the group discussion will challenge and encourage you to read more (the main goal of most participants I imagine)

Who can participate?

- anyone and everyone!
- you don't have to list your reading or even post at all to participate, but what's the fun in that?
- quasi-technically, anyone on the planet who reads a qualifying book for the month is a participant, whether they know it or not

When does it start and end?

- it begins at dusk on the last day of previous month, and ends at dawn on the first day of the next month
- this bonus time allows for possible "double counting" cross-Challenge content
- content eligible for both Challenges has the bonus of being able to be counted for all 24 hours of the last/first days of both Challenges

How does counting work?
- as with every other 'rule', we're pretty liberal and you can count any way you want really
- in general, a comic book counts as one
- for graphic novels and oversize books, feel free to count one for every twenty pages

Who wins?

- there are no losers, the person who reads one page a month is equal to the person who reads 20 books a day

What is the schedule?

January - TV/Movie/Book
February - Eisner/Harvey/Etc Winners
March - Rotating Company
April - TBD (random idea every year)
May - Make-Your-Own
June - Reality
July - Science Fiction
August - Fantasy
September - Outside-Your-Comfort-Zone
October - Horror
November - Comedy
December - Holiday (w/ bonus Thanksgiving and New Year's time)

Want a personal checklist to help you pick stuff to read?

Feel free to edit my checklist to fit your needs.

Read something from my:

Comixology -
Dark Horse digital -
DC -
FCBD books -
Groupees bundles -
Humble bundles -
Marvel -
original graphic novel -
physical collection -
physical single issue -
treasury edition -

Trevor

Old threads for ideas:

The first horror challenge, and our first comic Challenge here.
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/comic-book-...er-2014-a.html

Year two
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/comic-book-...er-2015-a.html

Trevor

My list

I'm going to set up the October thread later today.

Also, I'm working on a personal checklist to use each month, to help me get my money's worth out of various aspects of my collection. So far, I've come up with this:

Read something from my:

Comixology - Chaos!: Smiley the Psychotic Button 1, Hack/Slash/Eva: Monster's Ball 1
Dark Horse digital - Dead Island 1
DC - possibly nothing
FCBD books - yes
Groupees bundles - Grumpy Cat I Know What You Did Last Summer, I Just Don't Care
Holiday books - possibly nothing
Humble bundles - possibly nothing
Marvel - Battleworld Marvel Zombies
original graphic novel - possibly nothing
physical collection - possibly nothing
physical single issue - Battleworld Marvel Zomibies 1
Treasury edition - possibly nothing
TwoMorrows - possibly nothing

jjcool

I was all set to write that I am not really a fan of horror in general, sacrilege I know, but reading through the old threads gave me a couple of "duh" moments. I have reached my goal of reaching the point in the comics where The Walking Dead television program left off. I do have a few more of the hardcovers that I could read through this month. I have also been meaning to start the Hellboy Library Editions. Have the first one sitting on my shelf, and I was bouncing between that and the first TMNT Ultimate collection to read this week. Opted for the Turtles, so I will crack open Hellboy when I am done. I have also been meaning to check out Hellblazer. I really liked the tv show. Can anyone comment on whether the tv show was pretty faithful to the comic? Basically, if I liked the show, will I most likely enjoy reading the book, is what I am asking.

davidh777

Hmm, I haven't read my new Walking Dead TPB yet so I might as well wait now.

I don't have a lot of horror on hand, but I do have some Creepy and Eerie, and House of Secrets.

The Walking Dead 151-153* (TPB 26)

majorjoe23

If you liked Hellblazer? You will probably like the comic but I'd say it's darker and more British.

jjcool

When you say "darker" do you mean darker humor, or just darker in general? Part of the appeal to me of the show was the humor in it.

majorjoe23

I'd say both. It was a mature-rated comic, compared to the PG-13 of the TV show. The Garth Ennis written issues are particularly darkly humorous, like his later run on Preacher.

jjcool

Interesting. That has me intrigued. Thanks for the posts.

sven

Dang I read Wytches a month early. I didn't think it was very good anyway though.

Trevor

Maybe we can try something different this year and pick a book of the month? I know there are only a few of this doing this, but it could stimulate some discussion. Obviously, things like theme nights and a daily choice won't work here as well as the film Challenges, but maybe just one story? Any thoughts or suggestions?

HyperWeather

I ended up reading nothing that counted for my challenge last month, and something that counted for this month a month early, so not sure what I'll get to but I'll try again to get a few.

davidh777

Maybe a free issue on Comixology? Or a popular series? It's tricky because access varies.

Trevor

Maybe the Dark Horse horror samplers?

They are free on Comixology and Dark Horse, have quite a bit of popular content (Hellboy, Aliens, Harrow County, etc), and eclectic enough to perhaps have something for everyone. Maybe a small range like this would encourage more discussion than a single book? Or not. Maybe pick one of these freebies?

davidh777

That would work for me

jjcool

So I ordered the first Hellblazer collection. While I was waiting for that to come in, I started reading the iZombie omnibus. I had forgotten that I had picked that up a while back. I am a big fan of the show, and I am enjoying the book so far. A bit different from the show, but still with the same attitude.

HyperWeather

iZombie is a lot of fun, I read through it all in preparation for the show to begin (before I realized they were so different), but then was happy because got to enjoy both separately, since the show is awesome.

I picked up Locke and Key Vol. 1 from the library today, hoping to get to it this weekend.

malazar

I have started reading the Uzumaki deluxe collection by Junji Ito. I had watched the live action movie during a previous Horror Challenge. Not surprisingly, it has been really weird so far.

Issues Read: 17

Uzumaki 1-17

majorjoe23

My list:

Kill or be Killed #3
The Walking Dead #159

Issues read: 2

jjcool

Finished the iZOMBIE omnibus last night. Really good read. Definitely a bit different from the tv show, but still the same vibe and attitude, which I really liked in both. Jumped right into Book 10 of The Walking Dead.

Trevor

So much for best laid plans. As October neared, I was really getting into my comics and decided to minimize my horror viewing and read multiple comics a day for October. Horror comics are perhaps my favorite genre, and I have a huge backlog of titles to read. Well, after reading a few books on the first of the month, I switched into movie mode and only read a single book the rest of the month. Maybe next year....

November thread finally up fwiw.
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/comic-book-...er-2016-a.html

davidh777

I got some great horror deals during the month but didn't even finish my Walking Dead TPB