2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
In the year 2008 I finished 12 books.

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Author: Grant Morrison
Type: Fiction
Format: Book

Interesting take on the roles of the Joker and Batman in regards to insanity. Questions which character is insane, as well as if the asylum or the real world is the stranger place to be.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

Author: Frank Miller
Type: Fiction
Format: Book

Man, this is dark. I totally dug the older version of Batman from the same vein as Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven. Nice to see the dynamic with both the Joker and Superman to put Batman in perspective.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Heroes, Volume One

Author: Various/Tim Sale
Format: Book
Origin: Borrowed From Friend

Adds an extra layer to the Heroes story, without being distracting or contradictory. Big emphasis on the girl that can see online communications (Wireless). The entire saga is rich with interesting characters that spin offs like this are inevitable.

Rating: 7 out of 10

I, Robot (The Robot)

Author: Isaac Asimov
Type: Fiction
Format: Book

WAY ahead of his time, Asimov had clarity in his vision of how people should interact with robots. The 3 Laws of Robotics was really forward thinking. These short stories put those laws to the test with such linear robotic thinking.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Spider-Man: Birth of Venom

Author: Jim Shooter/Tom DeFalco/John Byrne/Louise Simonson/David Michelinie
Type: Fiction
Format: Book
Origin: From Library

I knew this story pretty well already. The Venom origin was quite creative and when you add Todd McFarlane's art to it, it makes a complete package. (I really didn't get excited about it until the McFarlane part)

Rating: 9 out of 10

Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt

Author: J. M. DeMatteis
Type: Fiction
Format: Book

I remember seeing the gruesome images of this story as a kid. After reading this story, it became distracting how Kraven would repeat the same things over and over again. Although the intent was to prove how he was going insane, it was actually making me insane. I thoroughly enjoyed the game of cat/mouse or spider/rat. Kraven was a great character that had been underutilized.

Rating: 8 out of 10

The Death of Superman

Author: Dan Jurgens/Jerry Ordway/Louise Simonson/Roger Stern/Jon Bogdanove/Tom Grummett/Jackson Guice/Brett Breeding/Rick Burchett/Doug Hazelwood/Dennis Janke/Denis Rodier
Type: Fiction
Format: Book

This story stinks. Yeah, there was a lot of great action, but it just kept on going and going. I thought Supes would never die.

Rating: 3 out of 10

Wolverine: Origin (Marvel Premiere Classic)

Author: Paul Jenkins/Joe Quesada/Bill Jemas
Type: Fiction
Format: Book

Every comic book fan wants to know where Wolverine came from. A little disappointing. He likes redheads and has a long running rivalry with Sabretooth? Not a surprise. Not exactly ground breaking, except what his family was like.

Rating: 7 out of 10

X-Men: Days of Future Past

Author: Chris Claremont/John Byrne
Type: Fiction
Format: Book
Origin: From Library

A little too pedestrian. I did get a new appreciation for Kitty Pryde.

Rating: 7 out of 10

X-Men: Mutant Massacre

Author: Chris Claremont/Walt Simonson/Louise Simonson
Type: Fiction
Format: Book
Origin: From Library

Read a couple of the comics in this series, but never the whole thing. Older characters and situations had a new feel to them. Introduction of Kitty Pryde made me like her a little more. The begin of Angel's downfall certainly foreshadows things to come.

Rating: 9 out of 10

X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse Epic, Book 2

Author: Fabian Nicieza/John Francis Moore/Scott Lobdell/Jeph Loeb/Larry Hama/Chris Bachalo/Warren Ellis/Tony Daniel/Salvador Larroca/Steve Epting/Terry Dodson/Roger Cruz/Andy Kubert/Adam Kubert/Mark Buckingham/Ken Lashley/Renato Arlem/Ian Churchill/Val Semeiks/T
Type: Fiction
Format: Book

One of the better alternative timelines I have read. This version of Magneto is the type I would like to see more often. Very regal. I found Wolverine to be distracting, but Cyclops/Havok were awesome. McCoy was a pleasant surprise.

Rating: 7 out of 10

X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga

Author: Chris Claremont/John Byrne
Type: Fiction
Format: Book
Origin: From Library

I know the story well, but have never read it. Liked seeing the Hellfire Club, but outer space folks bored me.

Rating: 8 out of 10