Maus

Maus is among the most critically acclaimed of all seqential works - it won a Pulitzer Prize - but I put off reading this book for a long time becaause, quite frankly, the artwork didn't appeal to me. I saw the hardcover on sale recently (Amazon currently has it at 34% off) and decided it was time to give it a try. I'm sorry I waited so long to give this a read.

The artwork, as it turns out, fits the subject matter quite well. The story is so compelling and characters are so interesting, that this has become one of my favorite books. I believe that it transcends comics, and I recommend it to anyone. In fact, I've already loaned my copy several times to people who don't normally read comics (my Mother, coworkers) and they've all loved it...

Mouse Guard Volume 1: Fall 1152

Given my recommendation of Maus above, people are going to start to think I have a thing for mice...that's not the case but I do enjoy this book. I met David Petersen at the 2007 Paradise Comics Toronto Comicon and was really impressed with the art so I bought the hardcover off him.

The story is a nice light read. I think it's a nice introduction to comics for kids and also enjoyable for adults. It's not on the same level as Maus, but then what is?

Runaways Volume 2

As with Volume 1, this is another great piece of writing by Mr. Vaughan. Adrian's artwork only gets better with this volume and is worth the price of admission alone. I have to mention, I love the unintentional plug for this very website in this volume - see if you can find it (it's in the bonus features section at the end of the book).

Runaways Volume 1

Basically any book written by Brian K. Vaughan is a keeper, but this one is extra special. It's a great story that has something for comic book fans and non-comic fans alike. This is the story about some students that find out that their parents are evil. They run away, and we follow them as they try to foil their parents' plans. Adrian Alphona's artwork is a perfect fit with Vaughan's story, and the large format makes it that much easier to appreciate Adrian's art..

I happen to own two pieces of artwork in this book. My favorite is one of Adrian's sketchbook pages that can be found in the bonus features section.

The Watchmen

I gave The Watchmen another chance recently, and what a great read! Basically it's the story of some real life people who get inspired by early comic books to form their own hero team. The book is written retrospectively, as the group comes together again years later due to the death of a colleague.

Fearful Symmetry is very well done, and must have taken considerable planning (the issue is completely symmetrical, in case you missed it). I won't spoil it for those of you who haven't read it, but the ending is perfect for the series.

WE3

What a great concept. The military decides to develop animal cyborg super soldiers, and then decommissions the project. The animals decide they aren't going to take it. It's a quick read, but you can draw it out by paying special attention to the detail in the beautiful artwork by Quitely.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The highly anticipated final chapter in the Harry Potter series - and, for me at least, it lived up to the hype! I won't ruin it for anyone who has yet to finish, so I'll just say that the action starts almost right away and I couldn't book the book down from about half way through! I highly recommend it. This is now my favorite book in the series!

Gears of War

Gears of War is bridging the gap between Halo 2 and 3 nicely. The gameplay is challenging enough on the Hardcore and Insane difficulties, although the storyline is relatively short. The online game is among the best out there, and the newest maps are a lot of fun.

Lego Star Wars II

Although it's not the most difficult game out there, it is a lot of fun. The premise is similar to that of the original Award-winning game, except there is a lot more to explore. Plus, it features all the characters that I remember from when I was a kid.

Lost Season 2

Lost started to get a bit out there in season 2, and I think I preferred it before it went all X-files, but it's still very cool. I only watched the first half of season three on network TV, and it's starting to get WAY out there. I decided to watch the rest of that season when the DVD set is released this winter.

Harry Potter Series

This whole series is fantastic, and my only complaint is that they don't seem to be coming out fast enough for my tastes. Of course, once Rowling finishes the final installment, my only complaint will be that there aren't any more on the way.

This series is truly masterful (not just for kids), and for those of you that haven't picked them up yet, I encourage you to do so. Every book is great, but if I were pressed to pick a favorite, it would be Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, followed closely by Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.