Polite Dissent

I seem to have been reading more trade paperback collections and graphic novels recently. Almost all were enjoyable, but several stood out at the head of the pack:

Finder, Volumes 1 and 2.
I’d heard good things about Finder for years, but never had the chance to read it until recently.
Every few years I’ll finish a comic series and be blown away, thinking to myself that “this is what comics should be.” Finder is one such series. It’s a fascinating, intelligent read and Carla Speed McNeil has clearly put a tremendous amount of effort into the book. Not just the art and story, but in the creation of the underlying setting. This series is definitely worth your time and effort to read. I purchased Finder from McNeil’s website.

As an aside, I like collections that include annotations in the back, letting the reader gain insight into the whats and whys of the story. McNeil includes a nicely thorough lists of annotations in both volumes mentioned here. Tow great graphic novels with annotations include Leah Hernandez’s Texas Steampunk series: Cathedral Child and Clockwork Angels.

Bone Sharps, Cowboys, and Thunder Lizards
What is there not to like? Dinosaurs, conniving scientists, and history, all combined in a near impossible to put down package. The era depicted in this book has always been one of the most fascinating in the history of paleontology, but it’s one we hear little about. This book corrects that oversight. Johanna has covered this book recently (and better) as well.

The Essential Moon Knight
The most fun I’ve had reading a super-hero book in quite some time.

Seven Soldiers, volume 1 and 2
It reads much better in collected format.

Marvel Romance
What can I say? I have varied tastes.