Ultimate X-Men: vol. 11: The Most Dangerous Game, vol. 12: Hard Lesson , and vol. 13: Magnetic North , by Brian K. Vaughan et. al; vol. 14: Phoenix?, vol. 15: Magical, vol. 16: Cable, vol. 17: Sentinels, and vol. 18: Apocalypse, by Robert Kirkman et al; vol. 19: Absolute Power, by Aron Coleite et al
Yeah, I went on a bender. Kirkman is an interesting writer... *eyes The Walking Dead: vol. 1, which has been in her tower of read-soons for months* Somewhat confused that it didn't really end... I tried to figure out which of the Ultimates books comes next, but failed. Will try again later, probably with the assistance of an all-knowing comic-book-shop-managing pal of mine.
(152/200, 86/100; 153/200, 87/100; 154/200, 88/100; 155/200, 89/100; 158/200, 90/100; 159/200, 91/100; 160/200, 92/100; 161/200, 93/100; 162/200, 94/100)
Ultimate Spider Man, vol. 22: Ultimatum, by Brian Michael Bendis et al
I liked this one a lot. A satisfying conclusion, artfully staged.
(163/200, 95/100)
Sister Pelagia and the White Bulldog, by Boris Akunin
This mystery is set in provincial Russia, pre-communism, and the main characters are Orthodox clergy. So slow for the first 50 pages that I almost gave up on it, but once it picked up it was just lovely. And all the boring slow stuff does turn out to be germane later.
(156/200)
Unnatural Issue, by Mercedes Lackey
Fluffy but deeply enjoyable. I frequently start off a Mercedes Lackey book with eyerolls, but she quickly sucks me in... by the end of this one I was giggling, sighing, cheering, and muttering.
(157/200)
Astro City: Family Album, Astro City: Life in the Big City, Astro City: Confession, Astro City: The Dark Age, vol. 1: Brothers & Other Strangers, Astro City: The Tarnished Angel, and Astro City: Local Heroes, by Kurt Busiek et al
The worst of these was still pretty good, and the best ones are amazing. Seriously. The best comics I've read all year. Meta, but deeply in love.
(164/200, 96/100; 165/200, 97/100; 166/200, 98/100; 167/200, 99/100; 170/200, 100/100; 173/200, 103/100)
Trail of Blood, by Lisa Black
Suprisingly good as randomly-borrowed forensic thrillers go. The main character was really appealing (I particularly liked the way she and her cousin related to each other) and the historical bits were fascinating but not gruesome. I mean, there was plenty of gruesomeness, but it was described in such a way as to up the psychological suspense, not to up the gross-out factor.
(168/200)
Perfect Example, by John Porcellino
Unputdownable. Also funny, sweet, perceptive, and sad.
(169/200)
Ultimate Fantastic Four: The Fantastic, by Brian Michael Bendis et al
Gawkily promising enough that I'll try the next volume or two.
(171/200, 101/100)
The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2010, edited by Dave Eggers and Valencia/Michigan 826
Nonrequired is my absolute favorite of all the Best Americans - I love almost everything they select, and I love that they don't take themselves too seriously (though they do take the process seriously). Gives me hope for the future, etc etc.
(172/200, 102/100)
Irredeemable, vol. 1, vol. 2, and vol. 3, by Mark Waid et al
Dark but compelling tale of the pinnacle of superheroic might, gone bad.
(174/200, 104/100; 175/200, 105/100; 176/200, 106/100)
Anonymous Rex, by Eric Garcia
(Evolved) dinosaurs masquerading as humans, in a classic-but-contemporary noir setting. Often funny, sometimes touching, sometimes irritating, consistently weird. Not good weird or bad weird, per se - just weird.
(177/200)
Avatar, the Last Airbender: The Art of the Animated Series, by Michael Dante Dimartino and Bryan Konietzko
Soooooooooo pretty. If you loved the show like I did, you will find a lot to ooh and aah over in here. The text was pretty interesting too, for those of us who like reading about behind-the-scenes animation stuff.
(178/200)
