Thankful

Last year for Thanksgiving I threw up a list of comics-related stuff I was thankful for. That's a fine and fun sort of exercise, but I wanted to do something a little more focused for the holiday this year, yet at the same time a bit broader. Instead of talking about one or even several specific things in the world of comicbooks that fill me with gratitude, I'd like to express my thankfulness for comicbooks in general.

Because even after all this time, and in spite of all the negatives in the industry and all the shitty titles out there and the million other reasons to be discouraged, I still find myself as enchanted with this medium as ever. Maybe more than ever, if only for the very fact that comics maintain their shimmer and appeal in the face of all the nonsense.

Right now, the number of titles that excite and challenge me is a little stunning. And there's some awesome-looking stuff on the horizon, too. In addition to putting out a few of the best superhero comics currently on the shelves, Marvel has made some extra-enticing announcements lately, from Ms. Marvel to Silver Surfer and everything in between. Image continues to be the jam (especially when it comes to sci-fi), the reborn Valiant has proven itself a reliable source of good material, and Dark Horse and BOOM! each produced one of the single best series of 2013 (Dream Thief and Six-Gun Gorilla, respectively). My point is, there's awesome coming from all sides, with even the mostly disappointing DC making several solid contributions from their Vertigo imprint and out-of-continuity Batman books. Things are good, and they seem to be getting better.

And I'm thankful for that. As someone who spends so much time and energy thinking and writing about comicbooks, I'm endlessly grateful for the vast variety of grade-A titles available these days.

When they're at their best, comics are gorgeous art packaged with interesting stories, so that the words and pictures can be revisited repeatedly, together or individually, without running out of new things to offer. I'm seeing a lot of that lately, issues and entire runs that I'm eager to dive into a second time, or third or fourth or whatever it is. It's almost overwhelming, because new great shit comes out constantly, but the old great shit stays great forever, and begs to be reread, newly appreciated, explored and understood more deeply. Having too much to read is the best kind of problem, though. So thank you, comicbooks, for overfilling my life with quality.

Let's eat.

Thanks

It's Thanksgiving! So here's what I am thankful for right now, comics-wise, in no particular order:

1. I got eleven new comics yesterday! That's a big haul for me. Only read Uncanny X-Force #34 so far which means I get to read ten other issues throughout my holiday. Huzzah!

2. The announcement of Riley Rossmo's Dia De Los Muertos project. I love that guy like crazy, and several of the writers are people with whom he has done excellent work before. Also it'll be unusually-sized.

3. My dad is reading some of the Marvel NOW! titles that I'm not. So far he has picked up All New X-Men #1 and Fantastic Four #1. My dad is the reason I read comics and love comics, so I'm pretty excited to eventually get his take on the series he ends up following. Or not following, as the case may be. It's been a while since he regularly picked up new comicbooks every week, so hey. Score 1 for the Marvel NOW! project, amiright? There's a "lapsed reader" those guys can definitively claim. Although, so far, all he's said about the above two issues is that they were confusing. So maybe he'll re-lapse. Is that the same as relapse? Does relapse apply in this case?

4. My guest room closet where I get to keep my longboxes. I also have torn out pages from comicbooks which were damaged or I have multiple copies of taped up on the walls. And a couple pin-ups. It's real cozy in there, and it's all mine (except the shelves around the top).

5. There are sequels to both Who is Jake Ellis? and Witch Doctor. The Witch Doctor one technically isn't out yet, but it comes out next week, and Where is Jake Ellis? #1 came out last week. Both of the original series were a ton of fun, so I have high hopes for Round(s) 2.

6. The Valiant Comics resurrection. I may only be reading 2 titles (so far), but I am rooting for the whole damn company. Good luck to the die-hard fans who are using enthusiasm and good taste to live their dream and produce excellent comicbooks.

7. I have too many things that I own and haven't read. I have too many things that I love and haven't reread. I have far, far too many things I have never read and don't even own yet.

8. The $5/pound of comics deal on Black Friday at the Austin Books and Comics Sidekick Store.