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tobin_elliott's reviews
540 reviews
Origins of Marvel Comics (Deluxe Edition) by Chris Ryall
No one else considered this book would be around, read and re-read, fifty years later...no one but the man with the ego, Stan Lee. He called it good, and he called it right.
And then, even more, he foresaw the world fifty years on, "...the endlessly spreading virus of too much reality..."
Nobody writes like Stan wrote, which likely isn't a bad thing. And nobody (at the time) promoted themselves in such a spectacular, yet self-effacing manner as he did. But re-reading this book, fifty years on, I found I enjoyed the heck out of his style. Stan was an idea guy, and he needed the equally impressive geniuses of Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko and John Romita and all the rest to pull those stories out of his head and give them life.
They do so here.
This is a fun book, and a look back to a mythologized time where all the magic coalesced and the New Age of Marvel was born.
And, unlike that first time I read this book, this time? Yeah, I read it in one sitting, because I don't have a three week trip ahead of me.
But, for that entire time I read this again? I was that skinny little kid in his parents' living room, almost twelve years old, and falling under the magic spell of Ringmaster Stan Lee.
Thank you for that.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Okay, this one?
This was a TRIP.
Fifty years ago (plus some months, I know it was summer), my parents were planning a trip to drive from Ontario to Winnipeg, Manitoba, roughly a 24-hour straight drive, but we'd be taking a week, then spending a week there, and then a week back home. I was not yet quite 12, and I had what I thought was a sizable comic book collection, and a couple of SF books, but I'd seen Stan Lee's Soapbox talks about this ORIGINS OF MARVEL COMICS book. But, at a time when the average paperback was somewhere around 75 cents to $1.25, that $7.95 price tag was STEEP. I somehow cajoled my parents into agreeing to allow me to buy it for the trip. It was supposed to last me the entire three weeks.
I still remember my stepfather walking into the living room the night before we were to leave and catching me. I'd just thought I'd read the first couple of pages and leave the rest for the trip, but he'd caught me halfway through it. And man, was he angry that they'd spent all that money and I was almost finished it. "You aren't getting another one, so you'd better be ready to read it a few times!"
Little did he know.
I read it four times over that trip, and enjoyed it every time. I've read it a few times since, too.
Today, I picked up this newly-released 50th anniversary edition, filled with bonus material that's fun, but doesn't match the rollicking tone or the alliterative depths of Stan the Man. Though, it does serve to straighten some of Stan's more self-aggrandizing fables about the creation of some of the most popular comic book heroes on the planet.
I did get a kick out of how everyone—myself included—considered this "just another book" back in those innocent days of 1974. And then, I flip to Stan's prologue, originally on page 9, now on page 47 in this new version, and read some of the things he wrote.
This was a TRIP.
Fifty years ago (plus some months, I know it was summer), my parents were planning a trip to drive from Ontario to Winnipeg, Manitoba, roughly a 24-hour straight drive, but we'd be taking a week, then spending a week there, and then a week back home. I was not yet quite 12, and I had what I thought was a sizable comic book collection, and a couple of SF books, but I'd seen Stan Lee's Soapbox talks about this ORIGINS OF MARVEL COMICS book. But, at a time when the average paperback was somewhere around 75 cents to $1.25, that $7.95 price tag was STEEP. I somehow cajoled my parents into agreeing to allow me to buy it for the trip. It was supposed to last me the entire three weeks.
I still remember my stepfather walking into the living room the night before we were to leave and catching me. I'd just thought I'd read the first couple of pages and leave the rest for the trip, but he'd caught me halfway through it. And man, was he angry that they'd spent all that money and I was almost finished it. "You aren't getting another one, so you'd better be ready to read it a few times!"
Little did he know.
I read it four times over that trip, and enjoyed it every time. I've read it a few times since, too.
Today, I picked up this newly-released 50th anniversary edition, filled with bonus material that's fun, but doesn't match the rollicking tone or the alliterative depths of Stan the Man. Though, it does serve to straighten some of Stan's more self-aggrandizing fables about the creation of some of the most popular comic book heroes on the planet.
I did get a kick out of how everyone—myself included—considered this "just another book" back in those innocent days of 1974. And then, I flip to Stan's prologue, originally on page 9, now on page 47 in this new version, and read some of the things he wrote.
But even as I pen these imperishable words...
...this volume. Call it a sampler if you will. Call it a few delicate drops of literary elixir gleaned from a bottomless sea of superhero sagas. Or call it, perhaps, a remedy, a pictorial tonic to relieve the awesome affliction that threatens us all: the endlessly spreading virus of too much reality in a world that is losing its legends—a world that has lost its heroes. (emphasis mine)
No one else considered this book would be around, read and re-read, fifty years later...no one but the man with the ego, Stan Lee. He called it good, and he called it right.
And then, even more, he foresaw the world fifty years on, "...the endlessly spreading virus of too much reality..."
Nobody writes like Stan wrote, which likely isn't a bad thing. And nobody (at the time) promoted themselves in such a spectacular, yet self-effacing manner as he did. But re-reading this book, fifty years on, I found I enjoyed the heck out of his style. Stan was an idea guy, and he needed the equally impressive geniuses of Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko and John Romita and all the rest to pull those stories out of his head and give them life.
They do so here.
This is a fun book, and a look back to a mythologized time where all the magic coalesced and the New Age of Marvel was born.
And, unlike that first time I read this book, this time? Yeah, I read it in one sitting, because I don't have a three week trip ahead of me.
But, for that entire time I read this again? I was that skinny little kid in his parents' living room, almost twelve years old, and falling under the magic spell of Ringmaster Stan Lee.
Thank you for that.
The Reigns of Terror: Volumes 1-3 by Jack Reigns
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
It's a crime that this collection has no reviews. Horror readers, where ARE you???
This slim volume packs a solid punch. A baker's dozen of horror tales, four from each of the Kindle collections, FAMILY, THE WOODS, and GHOSTS, plus a bonus tale included in the hard copy collection.
Reigns doesn't mess around. He sets up a situation quickly and cleanly, gives you enough character info to move forward, then proceeds to slap the reader around gleefully.
I read a lot, and I read a lot of horror, and what I find far too often is the same old same old being trotted out again and again. The same tropes. The same scares. The same themes.
So, when I come across a collection where the author digs new ground, explores some mostly unused trails, and gives me something fresh? I appreciate the hell out of it. And I do here. Honestly, of the thirteen tales here, there's probably ten or eleven that made me jealous, because I knew I'd never come up with something that simple, yet that diabolical. So Reigns, while entertaining me, also earns my respect.
The standouts for me were
- The Box
- It's a Girl
- A Long Drive (likely my favourite of the bunch)
- Labour Shortage
- The Superior Hunters
- Burnout
And this is not to say the other seven weren't amazing. They were. But the ones above just hit me the exact right way.
Absolutely a collection worth picking up. Nice, quick hits of horror.
This slim volume packs a solid punch. A baker's dozen of horror tales, four from each of the Kindle collections, FAMILY, THE WOODS, and GHOSTS, plus a bonus tale included in the hard copy collection.
Reigns doesn't mess around. He sets up a situation quickly and cleanly, gives you enough character info to move forward, then proceeds to slap the reader around gleefully.
I read a lot, and I read a lot of horror, and what I find far too often is the same old same old being trotted out again and again. The same tropes. The same scares. The same themes.
So, when I come across a collection where the author digs new ground, explores some mostly unused trails, and gives me something fresh? I appreciate the hell out of it. And I do here. Honestly, of the thirteen tales here, there's probably ten or eleven that made me jealous, because I knew I'd never come up with something that simple, yet that diabolical. So Reigns, while entertaining me, also earns my respect.
The standouts for me were
- The Box
- It's a Girl
- A Long Drive (likely my favourite of the bunch)
- Labour Shortage
- The Superior Hunters
- Burnout
And this is not to say the other seven weren't amazing. They were. But the ones above just hit me the exact right way.
Absolutely a collection worth picking up. Nice, quick hits of horror.
Grim Vol. 2 by Stephanie Phillips
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
This will teach me to let a backlog of trades go unread.
I enjoyed Grim Vol 1. Cool idea, good art, decent storyline.
Volume two? Same cool ideas, same good art, and zero story. Characters wander aimlessly, random things happen for...reasons.
...and now I have two more volumes to plow through. Let's hope this improves.
I enjoyed Grim Vol 1. Cool idea, good art, decent storyline.
Volume two? Same cool ideas, same good art, and zero story. Characters wander aimlessly, random things happen for...reasons.
...and now I have two more volumes to plow through. Let's hope this improves.
DMZ, Vol. 10: Collective Punishment by Brian Wood
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The individual character studies are coming a bit more often now (then again, there's only two more volumes to go, so I assume this is the last) and I'm part of this is to allow the regular series artist an opportunity to catch up a bit.
These are interesting stories and, in a couple of cases, actually shocking developments. I enjoyed this, but I'm now really invested on where Wood's going to take it as he completes the series.
These are interesting stories and, in a couple of cases, actually shocking developments. I enjoyed this, but I'm now really invested on where Wood's going to take it as he completes the series.
Revolution In The Head: The Beatles Records and the Sixties by Ian MacDonald
Did not finish book. Stopped at 36%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 36%.
Nope. Can't do it.
I did enjoy the opening that wove the creation and rise of the Beatles along with the events and state of the world at the time, and the echoes of the impacts through the following decades. However...
Between the obvious disdain MacDonald has for Harrison, and the ponderous wading through each song and discussing chromatic scales and G7th chords and other musical minutiae that, I'm sure, is fascinating for someone who understands that language—I don't—I just had to bail.
Though I would have to admit, I was constantly amused at the thought of what Lennon would have said about this detailed look into every single song. I'm sure he would have laughed and passed it off as rubbish.
DNF, so no rating.
I did enjoy the opening that wove the creation and rise of the Beatles along with the events and state of the world at the time, and the echoes of the impacts through the following decades. However...
Between the obvious disdain MacDonald has for Harrison, and the ponderous wading through each song and discussing chromatic scales and G7th chords and other musical minutiae that, I'm sure, is fascinating for someone who understands that language—I don't—I just had to bail.
Though I would have to admit, I was constantly amused at the thought of what Lennon would have said about this detailed look into every single song. I'm sure he would have laughed and passed it off as rubbish.
DNF, so no rating.
Not Till We Are Lost by Dennis E. Taylor
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The first three books in this series are some of my favourite SF. Great big nerdy fun.
Unfortunately, the fourth installment, HEAVEN'S RIVER went on too long and outstayed its welcome. And now, we have a fifth, audio-only installment that...well...only has flashes of the fun the first three have.
In this one, we're treated to several different storylines, a planet of dragons and the doom they're facing, the creation of a dangerous AI and the doom they're facing, the exploration of a series of wormholes and the doom they're facing, and a solo adventure of one Bob chasing a lone explorer...and the doom they're facing.
Taylor rides a fine line between the science heavy nerdom of Andy Weir and the universe spanning big ideas of Asimov and Clarke. At his best, his wit is sharp and his science is cool without being overwhelming, and the big galactic canvas is a wondrous thing.
However, this installment seems to very much forget the average reader and finds Taylor at his most self-indulgent. The science, while kind of cool, was mostly overwhelming and overly complicated. The big galactic canvas was there, but it took a back seat to 4 to 7 year old storylines, or gave us a throwaway story (the dragons).
It all felt like Taylor was tasked with creating an Audible Exclusive novel and decided to do a set-up for the next book. While the threat is clear and massive, it literally doesn't show up until the very end of the book.
I've mostly loved everything Taylor has written, but while it doesn't feel like the Bobiverse is played out, it does feel like it's become overly complex. Yes, I'll read the next book (because you KNOW there's a next book), but I'm really hoping it's the final book in this series.
Either way, it'll be the final book for me.
Unfortunately, the fourth installment, HEAVEN'S RIVER went on too long and outstayed its welcome. And now, we have a fifth, audio-only installment that...well...only has flashes of the fun the first three have.
In this one, we're treated to several different storylines, a planet of dragons and the doom they're facing, the creation of a dangerous AI and the doom they're facing, the exploration of a series of wormholes and the doom they're facing, and a solo adventure of one Bob chasing a lone explorer...and the doom they're facing.
Taylor rides a fine line between the science heavy nerdom of Andy Weir and the universe spanning big ideas of Asimov and Clarke. At his best, his wit is sharp and his science is cool without being overwhelming, and the big galactic canvas is a wondrous thing.
However, this installment seems to very much forget the average reader and finds Taylor at his most self-indulgent. The science, while kind of cool, was mostly overwhelming and overly complicated. The big galactic canvas was there, but it took a back seat to 4 to 7 year old storylines, or gave us a throwaway story (the dragons).
It all felt like Taylor was tasked with creating an Audible Exclusive novel and decided to do a set-up for the next book. While the threat is clear and massive, it literally doesn't show up until the very end of the book.
I've mostly loved everything Taylor has written, but while it doesn't feel like the Bobiverse is played out, it does feel like it's become overly complex. Yes, I'll read the next book (because you KNOW there's a next book), but I'm really hoping it's the final book in this series.
Either way, it'll be the final book for me.
The Haunting Of Clandestine House by Celina Myers
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
While this wasn't terrible, it wasn't good, either. It commits the mortal sin of falling into the "forgettable" range.
Hannah seems to have the thinnest of motivations, and for such a slim story, the first half is taken up with far too much set up of her wanting out, of getting the house, of traveling to the house, of walking through the house, and of describing the layout and furniture of the rooms that really play little to no role later.
When the creepy starts to happen, if feels a bit too little too late. The scenes aren't horrible, though the dialogue could be better. Again, not horrible, just flat.
The ending seemed rushed, though it wasn't a bad or unsatisfying ending.
Honestly, it's a book that feels like it could have been good, that it was almost there. But not quite.
And, just three days after finishing it, it's already fading from my memory.
Hannah seems to have the thinnest of motivations, and for such a slim story, the first half is taken up with far too much set up of her wanting out, of getting the house, of traveling to the house, of walking through the house, and of describing the layout and furniture of the rooms that really play little to no role later.
When the creepy starts to happen, if feels a bit too little too late. The scenes aren't horrible, though the dialogue could be better. Again, not horrible, just flat.
The ending seemed rushed, though it wasn't a bad or unsatisfying ending.
Honestly, it's a book that feels like it could have been good, that it was almost there. But not quite.
And, just three days after finishing it, it's already fading from my memory.
Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
And here it is...it took eight volumes of this series, almost the halfway point, but this one easily earned the five star rating.
Butcher is now not just paying lip service to previous outings while telling an engaging story, he's now paying off previous events, showing the benefits and consequences of previous action, while also firmly setting the path for future novels and storylines.
His character work here, especially with Charity, is exceptional. Butcher's gone from wielding a battle ax to a surgeon's scalpel with his writing.
I absolutely loved this book. I finally get why fans love this series so much.
Butcher is now not just paying lip service to previous outings while telling an engaging story, he's now paying off previous events, showing the benefits and consequences of previous action, while also firmly setting the path for future novels and storylines.
His character work here, especially with Charity, is exceptional. Butcher's gone from wielding a battle ax to a surgeon's scalpel with his writing.
I absolutely loved this book. I finally get why fans love this series so much.
Elric: The Making of a Sorcerer by Michael Moorcock, Walt Simonson
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
There's a lot to love in this ambitious prequel to the main Elric series. The writing is very typical thought-provoking-while-also-somewhat-loopy Moorcock. I think the main thing that hampered this was creating a story that didn't negate all the hundreds of thousands of words that chronologically came before it, while canonically come after it.
It's tough to do, but I'd say, for the most part, Moorcock pulled it off. Of course, it also suffers from the main plot point being Elric's father deciding who is his successor, when anyone who's read any Elric knows the answer. But this one was about the journey, not the destination.
As for the art. Well. Walt freaking Simonson, doing what may be his finest work. I can't tell you how often I turned the page to see an overwhelmingly gorgeously rendered scene. Simonson's a fantastic artist, any anyone who's read his Thor run knows this.
But this? This wasn't even next level stuff. This was far and away beyond anything he accomplished in Thor...and he accomplished much then. I can't say enough about the art. Simply stunning. To the point where, I'd always said P. Craig Russell was the definitive Elric graphic novel artist. Now? I may have to change that opinion.
It's tough to do, but I'd say, for the most part, Moorcock pulled it off. Of course, it also suffers from the main plot point being Elric's father deciding who is his successor, when anyone who's read any Elric knows the answer. But this one was about the journey, not the destination.
As for the art. Well. Walt freaking Simonson, doing what may be his finest work. I can't tell you how often I turned the page to see an overwhelmingly gorgeously rendered scene. Simonson's a fantastic artist, any anyone who's read his Thor run knows this.
But this? This wasn't even next level stuff. This was far and away beyond anything he accomplished in Thor...and he accomplished much then. I can't say enough about the art. Simply stunning. To the point where, I'd always said P. Craig Russell was the definitive Elric graphic novel artist. Now? I may have to change that opinion.
You Can't Take It With You by Marcus Hawke
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This one took me entirely too long to read, but there was a sadly tangentally connected event that occurred in between the two sessions it took to read this short novel, and it truly did help to drive the ending home for me.
So, I read the first part, which is very much about Monty turning into the character pictured on the very gorgeous cover. And I enjoyed both the story, the backstory, and the interestingly different take Hawke brought to the vampire myth.
Then, life intervened for a week, and I couldn't get back to finish the book until today. In between, someone I've known for decades, and loved as long, passed away unexpectedly. So, as one does when one reaches a certain age, the matters of death have been on my mind.
Then I came back to this book as it took an interesting and more philosophical turn toward the end. And honestly? Maybe it was my mood, maybe it was the thoughts that had been roiling in my head, maybe it was also the very personal and informative afterward Marcus Hawke ended the book with.
Whatever it was, this book checked all the boxes for me. Maybe I'm taking the book too personally, but regardless, this was the right book at the right time for me.
Of course, it's also written by Marcus, and I've both enjoyed a couple of his previous works, and also been thrilled that he just gets better and better with each release.
Read this.
So, I read the first part, which is very much about Monty turning into the character pictured on the very gorgeous cover. And I enjoyed both the story, the backstory, and the interestingly different take Hawke brought to the vampire myth.
Then, life intervened for a week, and I couldn't get back to finish the book until today. In between, someone I've known for decades, and loved as long, passed away unexpectedly. So, as one does when one reaches a certain age, the matters of death have been on my mind.
Then I came back to this book as it took an interesting and more philosophical turn toward the end. And honestly? Maybe it was my mood, maybe it was the thoughts that had been roiling in my head, maybe it was also the very personal and informative afterward Marcus Hawke ended the book with.
Whatever it was, this book checked all the boxes for me. Maybe I'm taking the book too personally, but regardless, this was the right book at the right time for me.
Of course, it's also written by Marcus, and I've both enjoyed a couple of his previous works, and also been thrilled that he just gets better and better with each release.
Read this.