I have a somewhat large comic book collection & to keep track of it all, I've made an Excel spread sheet to keep track of it all. I normally update it every few weeks, since I buy comics every week: they tend to pile up if I don't. Well, I haven't updated the spread sheet for almost 3 months. I was looking at the comics which I collected which I've moved them to an empty short box I have & I've almost filled that. This posting to share with you all what I've been reading for the last few months.

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Marvel

- Fantastic Four: I've read this series on & off for years. I had stepped away from it but had come back to see what Mark Millar & Bryan Hitch would do with their run on the book. I enjoyed their first story but the current one I'm on the fence about. I do like their redesign on the way the cover looks, It's very snazzy.

- The Invincible Iron Man: I picked up this series, which launched shortly after the movie came out, mostly because I'd enjoyed the movie. The series, written by Matt Fraction, is enjoyable. The story is Ezekiel Stane (Obadiah's son) taking his revenge on Tony & Stark Industries for death of his father.

- Captain America: I started reading this book at the time it's main character kicked the bucket & keep reading to see where writer Ed Brubaker was going with the story. He just finished up the Death of Captain America storyline: the new Cap has excepted his role & twist with the red Skull should be interesting to see where he goes with that.

- Captain Britain and MI13: one of the Secret Invasion tie-in books I'm reading (I'm not read the main story but a lot of the tie-in stuff). It's interesting to see a different take on the MU.

- Avengers: The Initiative: one of the better books to come out of Civil War. Issue #13 has been one of the better single issue stories I've read in recent years. Long Live, Emery Schuab! This book has become tied up in the Secret Invasion but has still retained much of what makes the book enjoyable.

- Mighty Avengers: a book that has changed since Secret Invasion has started. I've seen hide nor hair of any of the members we had when the book started. It's turned in a book where Bendis can do back story stories or stuff with Nick Fury's rag tag bunch of would be heroes. i don't mind that group but the book does have the name "Avengers" on should at least one of them appear?

- New Avengers: Much the same story of MA just sans the Fury subplot.

- New Warriors: a job book that at times has suffered from some bad art (there have been times that I've found it hard to tell members apart if their not in costume). This book to has also become tied up in the Secret Invasion but it's been on the outskirts so it's that's been ok with me.

- Runaways/Young Avengers: It's another Secret Invasion tie-in book (There are a lot of those, aren't there?). I mainly read this just so I could know what's happening in Runaways. It was an ok story but nothing all that earth shattering.

Speaking of that book...

- Runaways: a book that relaunches for the third? fourth? time. It needed something after Whedon's chronically late storyline (it started off good but lost momentum). The art changes to a more cartoony style which takes some time to get use too. It's been an ok story & looks to be leading to something good.

- Guardians of The Galaxy: a good book that followed up to 2 good mini series (Annihilation & Annihilation: Conquest). The book has picked up some threads Secret Invasion & used them quite well.

- Wolverine: The "Old Man Logan" storyline has been one of the more geekerific storyline that I've read in awhile. I've been liking this more then his FF run.

- Big Hero 6: A mini-series for Japan's main Super Hero group. An enjoyable first issue, looking forward to seeing where this goes.

- New Exiles: was a big fan on Exiles but not so much as the relaunched series. It's just not grabbed me like the other series did.

- Marvel Apes: an enjoyable book that has gone beyond what could have been a real clunker.

- House of M: Civil War: The story of how Magneto came to rule that alternate dimension. I've been enjoying this & the past revisit to the HoM universe (House of M: Avengers).

- King-Size Spider-Man Summer Special: One of the only Spider books I've picked up recently. I really enjoyed it. You know it's going to be good from the first page. 95% of the book is good, there is a story in the middle that seems misplaced. It just didn't fit with the rest of the book. One last comment: Inside it's shows how the marriage of Mary Jane & Peter can work.

- The Age of The Sentry: Tales from the The Sentry's adventures from the 1960's. The book is written half by Jeff Parker & the other half by Paul Tobin. Both were enjoyable tales, looking forward to rest of the series.

Speaking of Jeff Parker: Marvel Adventure: The Avengers & X-Men: First Class are also written by him & are awesome. In the few issues of MA:TA Parker has been splitting up the book between him & Paul Tobin, similar to how TAoS is but both stories in MA:TA connect to each other in someway.

I have 3 Back Issues:

- What If... Wolverine led Alpha Flight: I picked this book up to add to my growing WI collection & I noticed who drew it: Bryan Hitch. I must say that over the last 14 years he's art style has definitely has changed. It's virtually unrecognizable as his art.

- X-Men Millennial Visions: a one shot book that had been looking for awhile. It's the first appearances of a few character that later one show up in Exiles. Plus, I like seeing alternate/possible futures.

- Ant-Man's Big Christmas: I picked the book up on whim & was really surprised at how good the story is.

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DC

Action Comics: One of the more Awesome books out there. Writer Geoff Johns hits it out of the park every month!

Justice Society of America: Ditto.

Ambush Bug: Year None: a humorous journey through the various DCU events of the recent years.

Superman/Batman #51 & 52: Mini versions of the Justice League & Injustice League invade the normal DCU & hilarity ensues!

Booster Gold: one of the better solo hero books out there!

The Brave & the Bold: always some interesting team-ups in this book. I also like that each issue can be read on it's own but also adds to a larger story.

Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds: I think I had a medium sized Nerdgasm when I read this. It's that awesome! Now if Issue #2 would only come out.

Tangent Comics: Superman's Reign: one of the more interesting five week events from the late 90's return with an equally as cool mini-series. It's nice to see these characters again.

DC Super Friends: an odd kid comic.

Top 10: It's back with what it's calling "Season Two" after few years away. This time without Allan Moore doing the written duties. The book is good but the art is a bit weird, it's a mix of painted art & just colored art. Me noticing that took me a bit out of the story, but it was fine issue none the less.

I also picked up some back issues:

- A few issues of DC Comics Presents, every issue Superman teaming up with someone: In Issue 50, He teams up with Clark Kent. Some strange space anomaly is involved. In Issue 51, He teams up with The Atom (Ray Palmer) & time travel is involved. In Issue 57, He teams up with the Atomic Knights. The story wasn't exactly what the cover promised. I wanted to see the "great Atomic War of 1986". But sadly it's only part of a dream. In Issue 71 we get a great story that take place partly on Htrae (Bizaro World). I also picked up the 1st Annual for the series which takes place on Earth 1, Earth 2 & Earth 3. In the issue we get to see the first outing of Earth 3's only hero: Alex Luthor, He also meets his future wife for the first time.

- I picked up the Justice League America annual for 1990. It features the one & only appearance of Justice League Antarctica. It was an enjoyable tale, not as funny as some had built it up to be.

I also picked up some Graphic Novels/Collected Editions:

- I also started with the America's Best Comics Primer, you get 6 issues from that imprint for 5 bucks! It was a nice overview which lead me to buy the first volume of Tom Strong, Volumes 1 & 2 of Top 10 & Top 10: The Forty Niners. I liked the all besides the Forty Niner book. I also liked the stuff in Tom Strong's Terrific Talesbook but I haven't found that so I didn't buy it.

- The other book I bought was Animal Man: Deus Ex Machina, an enjoyable set of stories. My favorite issue was the last issue, not a lot of action but lot's to think about. The other stuff I really enjoyed was the events in Arkham & in the Comic Book Limbo.

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Other Comics

- Atomic Robo: Robot built by Nikola Tesla for the Allies in WWII. Has a vague Hellboy fell to it but an enjoyable book none the less. AR is published by Red 5 comics.

- Assignment: Earth: The Star Trek spin off book from John Byrne. It reminds a bit of Doctor Who mixed with a some Men in Black elements.

Speaking of the good doctor, I've been picking up the Doctor Who comics that are being put out by IDW: not really like the modern Who comic, The Doctor Who: Classics book is quite enjoyable. I also like the first issue of Doctor Who: The Forgotten, the modern Who book was more like this I wouldn't be think about dropped that book.

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Lastly, I said that this was almost 3 months on comics. It has taken me almost an hour & a half to type this all out for you to enjoy.

And I'll end this like I end my posting on my blog: Stay Jazzy!

-Brian/L!

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