One of the horrible things about having a blog is that you meet new friends who like nothing more than taking up your time and ruining your life. But in a good way. As an example, I met up with Vahid and Dustin for a while at Powell's during TequilaCon, and suddenly I have a list of 20 books I want, but won't have time to read. But I'll end up making the time anyway, hence the "ruining my life" part. It's the same for most bloggers I keep tabs on... they're always recommending a book or movie or food or something cool that I'm dying to see/read/experience, but just don't have time for.
But the worst offender would have to be Avitable. The bastard regularly throws out questions, comments, or recommendations which waste hours and hours of my valuable time. He'll drop a Buffy reference, and suddenly I'm consumed with watching all 144 episodes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer on DVD. He'll start talking about Warren Ellis' blog, and suddenly I'm clicking over and wasting precious time going through his extensive archives. It's like I'm on remote-control or something. I don't know if it's because Avitable and I have similar interests (scary), because we're on the same mental wavelength (terrifying), or because we are somehow sharing the same brain (explains a lot), but the guy is responsible for more lost time in my life than the next ten people on my list combined.
A few days ago he sends me off an email asking about a few comic titles, wondering if I read them. On the list is Robert Kirkman's Invincible, which happens to be one of the greatest comic books ever. Since I only buy the trade-paperback collections, I haven't read it in a while. For some reason, while trying to fall asleep that night, I'm remembering what a great read Invincible is and pondering why in the heck I haven't looked at it recently. Next thing you know, it's 1:00am and I'm digging through my comic collection trying to find my Invincible trade-paperbacks. Then, because they are so damn amazing, I spend the next five hours reading them until I realize that it's time to get up and get ready for work.
Naturally, I'm practically useless all day while trying to operate on no sleep, which only means I'm that much further behind in my work. Even worse, Avitable has to tell me of another Kirkman creation, The Walking Dead, which he assures me is fantastic. So now on top of ruining an entire day of my life, he's intent on ruining future days as well (since I've just ordered a crap-load of Walking Dead books).
Not content to contain the destruction to myself, I'm spreading the love by adding Robert Kirkman's Invincible to my Dave Approved list. It's fresh. It's funny. It's shocking. It's invincible!
Even if you are not a hard-core comic book geek, this is one book you really need to check out. I'd highly recommend starting out with the Ultimate Collection: Volume One hardcover (which collects the first 13 issues/3 trade-paperbacks). On top of containing some of the best super-hero comics ever printed, it also has the totally mind-blowing issue #11, which reveals one of the biggest plot-twists in comic book history (seriously, I'd stack it against Watchmen any day!). It's Sixth Sense good, and blew my mind so badly that I probably read it a dozen times before I could wrap my head around it.
I remain hopeful that Invincible will be released as a movie one day (I think it was optioned by Paramount last year?), so experiencing the book before the film happens is an absolute must. Even if you don't want to buy it, request it from your local library and prepare to be amazed.
Wow, I had no idea that Peter Parker's boss also had a secret identity.
J. Jonah Jameson actually looks pretty good in spandex. But if I were him, I'd lose the 'stache. Just makes him look like a high school guidance counselor.
Posted by Eric Spitznagel on March 20, 2007 | Reply
Karl... It starts out a bit slow (yet interesting) but will blow your mind around issue 7... then completely destroy your mind at issue 11. Worth a read.
Jeff... It's all Avitable. He's to blame for everything.
Avitable... No doubt. I can't believe the initial premise, and find it amazing he keeps the book fresh after the big reveal. If only Lost and Heroes would take note. THAT'S how you build a great serial show.
Yellojkt... Oh yeah, I enjoyed Supreme as well. The Chris Sprouse issues were sublime. I do think Invincible kicks it up quite a few notches, however.
Shari... Good luck with that (and stay away from Avitable at all costs!).
RW... Wait a second... you STOPPED during that absolutely brilliant time in comic history?!? And on Silver Surfer?? That's kind of... disturbing. In any event, I can't recommend Invincible highly enough. It may just get you back into comics!
Bogup... I think everybody agrees Avitable is a bastard, yes.
Iron Fist... I haven't had time yet, but they're next on my list! If they turn out to be any good, I'll be sending them your way!
Dan... Yeah. Vacuous. The guy who quit his job and lived the dream of riding around on a motorcycle for six months. No material to influence me there...
No kidding - I really believed you couldn't improve on SS. I read them all and figured that was top of the line. Nothing ever came close afterwards.
Admittedly, especially looking at some of the graphic novels over the last ten/fifteen years, I was wrong.
But you'll have to admit, it took a lot to catch SS.
Okay, I'm off to Green Brain Collectables down the street to see if they have the TPB...
Posted by Gary LaPointe on March 21, 2007 | Reply
Like you're one to talk! Remember how you talked me into buying Me Talk Pretty One Day at while we were in Portland? Ya, was listening to it on the Treadmill yesterday and started laughing so hard I had to cut my run short.
I'm so getting fat again, and it is so your fault.
Avitable has been ruining my day consistently ever since I met him. Of course, now YOU'RE ruining my day, too, with your CUPID, and cool comics and such.
Damnit, Dave, I've got stuff to do.
Posted by Tracy Lynn on March 21, 2007 | Reply
You made me gain 10 lbs by cluing me in on the Golden Oreo secret, so I have no sympathy for your lack of sleep due to enticements!!!!
I totally want to read Invincible! The Vol. 1 Hardcover has been on my Amazon wishlist since the beginning of the year. Kirkman is so kickass! His Marvel Zombies trade is one of the best ever.
So I forgot to tell you I did pick up volume 1 of Invincible after reading this and I really enjoyed it. It takes a few pages to get into in and catch the subtlety of his writing but I really liked it.
So I went back the store today for volume 2 and I saw "The Complete Invincible" which was the huge hardcover 12.7 x 8.4 inch format. But it was $125 which had the first 24 issues and some extras. I couldn't do it, so I just got the volume 2...
I knew it'd be cheaper at amazon but I do like patronizing my local store. BUT if I had known I could have gotten it for $79 I might have picked it up that way. But I do like getting it slowly a story at a time and savoring it. If I would have gotten the other I probably would have read it all at one sitting.
(In hindsight, I should have just originally got the first hardcover that you mentioned above)
Posted by Gary LaPointe on April 29, 2007 | Reply
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