COLE HOGAN
Arts Writer

After reading Karol Kudyba’s article regarding the proposed New Year’s resolution to read more comic books in the Jan. 6 issue, I felt compelled to write a response.

This response could easily take the stereotypical, scathing, incessant-attention-to-meaningless-detail “Comic Book Guy” route, but since the days of being made fun of for reading comic books are dead and gone, I merely seek to add to Kudyba’s list of recommended reading.

As Kudyba stated, comic books do offer a form of escapism, especially for those who may have grown up in a small town. It is an approachable medium. Anyone who is opposed to comic books has at least read the comic strips in any newspaper or browsed through a few panels of Jughead eating one too many hamburgers.

I have been reading comic books for upwards of a decade so I’m aware that jumping into a series at any issue other than No. 1 can be a daunting task for anyone not well versed in the world of comics. No one wants to start watching a television series in the middle of it, right? You wait until the whole season is done and then mainline all of the episodes at once like some unproductive Bizarro clone of the efficient student that is yourself.

The situation is the same in the world of comics. While I enjoy getting a new book every month, those books are going to come all together in a singular trade sooner or later. So, whatever path you choose to take — reading along every month with a continuing series or reading the accumulated book when all is said and done — I have created a small list from DC, IDW publishing, Image Comics and Top Shelf Productions, submitted for your approval.

Sea Bear & Grizzly Shark

Written and drawn by Jason Howard and Ryan Ottley and published by Image Comics, Sea Bear & Grizzly Shark is exactly what you think it is. Jaws in the woods and bears in the sea, people dealing with the consequences of the great displacement… fun stuff.

Essex County

Written and drawn by Canada’s own Jeff Lemire, Essex County has come together as a collected trade of all issues, along with some interesting extras in the back. This very Canadian story consists of personal complexity, mystery, memory and hockey. All within and originating from the community of Essex County, brought together with unique sprawling cartooning. Published by Top Shelf Productions, Essex County is a work you will fly through.

Richard Stark’s Parker

Richard Stark, also known as the author Donald Westlake, created a fiction series about the thief Parker and his criminal activities. Starting off with book one, The Hunter, set in New York in 1962 and carrying on from there, Parker extracts revenge from those who have wronged him in numerous ways. More prominently known for his work at DC, Darwyn Cooke has adapted the Parker stories into graphic novel form, drawn with retro yet simplistic style. IDW publishing provides us with this cool, slick criminal tale in an on-going graphic novel series. The second book, The Outfit, is out now.

Superboy #1

Jeff Lemire takes a successful stab at the first installment of a new Superboy series. Drawn by Pier Gallo, brought to you by DC, Superboy is infused with the writing Jeff Lemire is critically acclaimed for, but applied to the adventures of Conner Kent (that’s Superboy). Lemire pays homage to Essex County in what is a great start to a great run. Plus, Superdog Krypto is always around, and what Super-anybody fan doesn’t like that?

Flash Rebirth

There are a lot of speedsters in the DC universe, and Flash Rebirth explains the whole lot of them along with the reappearance of Barry Allen (The Flash) who was dead for years. Barry Allen has escaped the speed force, which is an extra dimensional energy reserve. The reason for his return, the capabilities it presents and the results of such are explored vigorously. There’s a lot going on here but all is explained in Flash Rebirth.

Origins are retold and re-examined in this story written by the ever popular Geoff Johns and drawn by Ethan Van Sciver. This is one of the most nerd-worthy books.

Mind you, these are only my suggestions. There is a whole world of affordable entertainment available in the ever expanding world of comics. Whichever universe you explore, you are sure to be entertained in one way or another.