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The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020 and beyond
Rather than monthly threads, we’ll just keep bumping this one throughout the year. Below is the primary schedule, but feel free to plan your own binges and discuss them here, perhaps someone will join you in a read thru.
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? Obviously you'll want to edit the below spoilered example checklist to fit your needs. Spoiler:
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Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
This year I’m really going to focus on reading some of the classic runs that have languished in my to-read piles for years or even decades.
For January and it’s TV/movie theme, a couple choices will be making more progress on Preacher, and the Miller/Romita Jr mini-series Daredevil, The Man Without Fear. That one is only 5 issues iirc, and I resolve to read it all tomorrow. |
Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
That Daredevil mini is pretty good.
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Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
Comic # 1 - Free Comic Book Day Bob’s Burgers
I went into this not really expecting too much, but I actually enjoyed the stories in this issue. 2. Transformers # 4. The conclusion of the first four issue mini series |
Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
A few January titles:
Superboy and the Legion: The Early Years: OK collection of somewhat disjointed stories of the early Legion. Paul Levitz has done better. Jango Fett and Tie Fighter: Interesting takes from the opposing side, including the concept that Tie Fighter pilots are patriots who are just defending the Empire. Nothing memorable so glad I borrowed them on Cmx unlimited. Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer: Another of the Hard Case Crime series. Good stuff. |
Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
Originally Posted by PhantomStranger
(Post 13663881)
That Daredevil mini is pretty good.
But for now, I still want to concentrate on things I haven’t read (or at least think I haven’t read, apparently). Locke & Key is on deck now. I’ve read the first mini before and loved it, but plan to read the whole thing over the next week or two. |
Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
Latest read is the first issue of Aliens: Dead Orbit by the brilliant artist James Stokoe. Beautiful, story seems the usual of the franchise, but I’m looking forward to more.
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Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
I restarted the Dynamite version of Game of Thrones. I watched the whole series but only started the first book, and the comic seems to be a middle ground, covering a little more depth than the episodes at 24 issues per book. They’re currently midway through the second book so I’m not sure how long this is going to take or if they’ll wait for Martin to release more books or follow the show. Good art, if a little on the cartoony side.
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Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
So my main 2020 comic related resolutions were to try to read 100 comics a month, concentrate on the classics I’ve been putting off, and to steer away from the OCD of my monthly checklist.
Well, I was two for three there. Topped 100 comics, with a fair amount aimed at classic stuff that I’ve put off like Simonson’s Thor run, but went back to my checklist, and even expanded it a bit. I’ll get my January list into here soon. February’s challenge of Eisner/etc award winners synchronizes nicely with my goals. |
Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
Given that the writer of the early Transformers comics, Bob Budianski was honored one year at Botcon for his contribution to the mythos, for my first comic of the month, I read Transformers # 5. Shockwave had taken over Decepticon leadership from Megatron. That’s some different than the Shockwave of the cartoon.
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Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
Mixing in some Romance comics with my award winning month. Found an old DC digest of Dark Mansions of Forbidden Love today, seems appropriate for a Valentine’s Day with Jen at work.
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Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
For February I finally started one of my white whales, Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing. Liking it one TPB in.
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Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
^ I envy your virgin reading experience.
A little late, but the March theme, in our normal rotation these past 5 years, would be pick any publisher outside of DC and Marvel to focus on this month. |
Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
Originally Posted by Trevor
(Post 13696109)
^ I envy your virgin reading experience.
A little late, but the March theme, in our normal rotation these past 5 years, would be pick any publisher outside of DC and Marvel to focus on this month. |
Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
Originally Posted by shadokitty
(Post 13697361)
Most of my comics are from the big two, but I do have a couple that I can read this month.
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Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
Fwiw, and a little late, but I guess the annual ‘to be determined’ Challenge for April should be pandemic/apocalyptic/contagion books. Plenty of choices, especially in the zombie category.
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Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
Originally Posted by Trevor
(Post 13716074)
Fwiw, and a little late, but I guess the annual ‘to be determined’ Challenge for April should be pandemic/apocalyptic books. Plenty of choices, especially in the zombie category.
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Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
My make-your-own month is going to concentrate on Hoopla.
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Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
Pretty much skipped last year in this arena. But with a new year approaching, it’s time for future failed resolutions to be made. Plus I’ve been re-organizing my comics lately, so I’ve been reading more and reading goals are on my mind.
Trying a December thing with a minimum goal of one holiday single issue per day. |
Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
January 2021 focus will be TV/movie/book adaptations/inspirations
Have lots of runs to choose from, as it seems like pretty much every comic series has been turned into a show or film. |
Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
One of my goals for 2022 is finally plowing through one of the biggest backlogues ever seen.
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Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
Originally Posted by PhantomStranger
(Post 14033502)
One of my goals for 2022 is finally plowing through one of the biggest backlogues ever seen.
I’m two for two on the dailies so far! |
Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
So I’m just thinking out loud here, but I’m torn on how to post my list here. I’m committed to reading daily this year, and having documentation.
A monthly list kept in whatever personal place I chose (notes or maybe a spreadsheet), with that pasted into this thread will be the baseline. But I want to post daily updates, not because I think anyone here will care, but for personal accountability. It will be a mix of singles and trades, so posting in those reading threads would be disjointed; I’d rather have it all in one thread. Would personal reading threads be silly? Otherwise the next best option seems to be bumping this thread daily, or updating one post daily. Trying to figure out what would help me stay on target best….. |
Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
I'm reading Sex Criminals right now. I wish there was an adaptation, then I could count it!
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Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
Originally Posted by majorjoe23
(Post 14035316)
I'm reading Sex Criminals right now. I wish there was an adaptation, then I could count it!
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Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
Originally Posted by majorjoe23
(Post 14035316)
I'm reading Sex Criminals right now. I wish there was an adaptation, then I could count it!
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Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
Originally Posted by Trevor
(Post 14035366)
Maybe Jack Black and Mos Def can make one for you?
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Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
Didn’t want to jinx myself too early (so doing so now I guess), but I’m sticking with my minimum one physical issue and one appearance of Swamp Thing per day.
Still struggling with the best way to track my reading. Keep hand written notes. Have a spreadsheet to track reading that I started in December. Also have this and another comics forum (Classic Comics) where the post formatting is mostly similar, so plan to post in both for accountability. But now I’m also planning to finally buy CLZ to catalog my collection, and it likely has a reading tracker too perhaps. Paralyzed with too many options as usual…. |
Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020
Originally Posted by Trevor
(Post 14045663)
Didn’t want to jinx myself too early (so doing so now I guess), but I’m sticking with my minimum one physical issue and one appearance of Swamp Thing per day.
Still struggling with the best way to track my reading. Keep hand written notes. Have a spreadsheet to track reading that I started in December. Also have this and another comics forum (Classic Comics) where the post formatting is mostly similar, so plan to post in both for accountability. But now I’m also planning to finally buy CLZ to catalog my collection, and it likely has a reading tracker too perhaps. Paralyzed with too many options as usual…. |
Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020 and beyond
I didn’t want to post until I knew I had accomplished at least close to my goals, as I seem to fail my reading goals every year. Notes and piles are still a mess so a detailed list is not soon coming, but I seem to have accomplished my four main goals for the year so far.
1 - read one issue/appearance of Swamp Thing a day 2 - read one recent physical single issue a day 3 - complete my usual monthly checklist of ~30 genres/publishers/formats that I collect or subscribe to and want to read monthly to try to ‘get my money’s worth’ 4 - almost by default, completing the above three goals should put me at 100+ comics per month (OGNs and large issues are counted as one comic per 20 pages) |
Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020 and beyond
Daily template:
day of week month date physical single issue, Swamp Thing full reading order, then any others issue and # - notes issue and # - notes issue and # - notes |
Re: The DVDTalk Comic Book Challenge thread, year 2020 and beyond
Comic reading January 2022
Daily template: day of week month date physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others physical single issue - notes Swamp Thing # - notes monthly checklist genre/format - issue # - notes, (x) where x equals equivalent number of 20 page comics if over 1, for counting purposes, goal is to always top 100 each month January 2022 Saturday January 1st physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Beyond the Breach #1 - good enough to keep reading House of Mystery #195 - issue released after HoS 92, but was done a few years earlier; contains a Bernie Wrightson story with a Swamp Thing prototype, later brilliantly brought into continuity by Alan Moore Holiday - Adventures of Superman #474 - New Year’s story Action #810 - New Year’s story dollar/giant - World’s Greatest Super-Heroes Holiday Special - this 2018 Walmart 100-pager had one new Flash story and then several Rebirth-era reprints Sunday January 2nd physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others No Holds Bard #1 - can see this gimmick bothering me in time, but for at least one issue, I had a ton of fun with this book written in iambic pentameter. Shakespeare and his page have secret superhero identities and must rescue the Queen. Behemoth has been mostly a miss as a publisher for me, but I enjoyed this one and will check out at least one more issue. House of Secrets #92 - the story that started it all, C Alien - Alien: Dead Orbit #1 - such amazing art Avengers - #1 - starting a monthly read through of the classic originals Monday January 3rd physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Black Manta #1 - not completely sure what’s going on, and think I regret buying the first five issues without reading the first Swamp Thing #1 - volume 1 obviously Bone - #1 - have started this wonderful series many times and always get distracted a few trades in, gonna finish it this time Boom - Adventure Time #1 Tuesday January 4th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Shadow Doctor #1 - notes Swamp Thing #2 - notes Comixology - Mage #1 - notes Comixology Unlimited - Peacemaker #1 - love the new TV series; this, not so much Wednesday January 5th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Shadow Doctor #2 - notes Swamp Thing #3 - notes Conan - Conan the Barbarian #1 - starting a monthly read through of the classic originals Creepy/Eerie - Creepy #1 - starting a monthly read through of the classic originals Thursday January 6th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others The Me You Love in the Dark #1 - notes Swamp Thing #4 - notes Dark Horse Digital - Resident Alien #1, Stranger Things #1 - notes Friday January 7th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Strange Attractors #1 - notes Swamp Thing #5 - notes DC - Shazam #1 - C digest - Dennis the Menace Pocket Full of Fun #39 (5) Saturday January 8th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Almost American #1 - notes Swamp Thing #6 - notes FCBD - Stranger Things (2019) Sunday January 9th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Beyond the Breach #2 - notes Swamp Thing #7 - notes Grendel - Grendel: Devil by the Deed - starting a monthly read through of the classic originals Groupees - Red Sonja: Break the Skin (2) Monday January 10th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Elvira Meets Vincent Price #1 - campy fun Swamp Thing #8 - notes Halloweenfest - Hawkeye (2021) - notes Hellboy - Seed of Destruction #1 - starting a monthly read through of the classic originals Tuesday January 11th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Dark Ages #1 - not sure why I bought this Marvel event book, but it was alright Swamp Thing #9 - notes Hoopla - I Luv Halloween volume 1 (9) - notes horror - Harrow County #1 Wednesday January 12th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others The Last Book You’ll Ever Read #1 - notes Swamp Thing #10 - notes Hulk - Immortal Hulk #1 - notes Thursday January 13th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Lucky Devil #1 - notes Swamp Thing #11 - notes humor - Plop #1 - my gateway into collecting comics Friday January 14th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Marvel Voices Heritage #1 - notes Swamp Thing #12 - notes Humble Bundle - Revival #1 - Chunky app Saturday January 15th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Giga #1 - beautiful Swamp Thing #13 - notes Image - Nailbiter #1 - C Sunday January 16th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Giga #2 - notes Swamp Thing #14 - notes Justice League - The Brave and the Bold #28 - starting a monthly read through of the classic originals Monday January 17th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Giga #3 - notes Swamp Thing #15 - notes magazine - Mad #22 - notes Tuesday January 18th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Giga #4 - engaging story and jaw dropping art Swamp Thing #16 - notes manga - Astro Boy vol 1-2, pg 1-205 (10) - DH app Wednesday January 19th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Thor #20 - Bought this for a friend who couldn’t find it at cover price. It’s one of those silly ‘new character introduction so let’s charge quadruple on day one’ books. Decent, but not worth more than cover. Swamp Thing #17 - notes Marvel - Hawkeye #1 - C Thursday January 20th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Nita Hawe’s Nightmare Blog #1 - Enjoyed it, but will likely wait for digital sales/collections. Swamp Thing #18 - notes Micronauts/Rom - Micronuts #1 - starting a monthly read through of the classic originals Friday January 21st physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Tales from the Dead Astronaut #1 - notes Swamp Thing #19 - notes Nexus - Nexus #1 - DH app Saturday January 22nd physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others My Bad #1 - more Mark Russell humor; I’m sure I’ll overdose on it eventually, but haven’t read much of his stuff yet Swamp Thing #20 - notes original graphic novel - Zatanna and the House of Secrets () - too small Sunday January 23rd physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Shadow Doctor #3 - loving this series Swamp Thing #21 - notes physical collection - The A-Team: Shotgun Wedding - slightly entertaining, but going into the trade/sell pile Monday January 24th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Elvira Meets Vincent Price #2 - notes Swamp Thing #22 - notes promotional - DC Sampler #1 (1983) - notes Tuesday January 25th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Elvira Meets Vincent Price #3 - notes Swamp Thing #23 - notes Scout - A King’s Vengeance #1 - notes Star Trek - Star Trek: Boldly Go #1 Wednesday January 26th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Elvira Meets Vincent Price #4 - notes Swamp Thing #24 - notes Star Wars - Star Wars #1 - notes Story Bundle - Twilight Zone #1-5 (5) 3D - Speed Racer 3-D #1 Thursday January 27th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Bolero #1 (2) - Blind buy based on a recommendation of my LCBS owner. Very interesting story setup, and lovely art. I’m in for another. Brave and the Bold #122 - Swampy’s first appearance outside his own book, not counting his ‘House of’ precursors treasury - SuperFriends () - notes Twomorrows - Back Issue #1 () Friday January 28th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others Duck Tales #1 - finding these reprints of recent IDW material at Dollar Tree Challengers of the Unknown #83 - notes Usagi - Usagi Yojimbo Classics #1 (2) - notes Valiant - Harbinger #0-1 (2) Saturday January 29th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others The Rise of Ultraman #1 - notes Challengers of the Unknown #84 - notes issue # - notes Sunday January 30th physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others The Rise of Ultraman #2 - notes Challengers of the Unknown #85 - notes issue # - notes Monday January 31st physical single issue, then Swamp Thing full reading order, monthly checklist item(s), then any others The Rise of Ultraman #3 - notes [b]Challengers of the Unknown #86[/ b] - notes issue # - notes |
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