Due to my spouse seeing how much I spend on comics and an urge to buy better comics, I have decided to be super-selective about which superhero comics I read. Harnessing the Awesome Power of Maths, I have determined that I can afford to read 10 ongoing titles. So I get to read 10, and only 10, titles published by either Marvel or DC as well as one trade paperback a week of my choosing.
A complication of this is that I am forced to drop an on-going title if I want to try reading a new on-going title, an act of very tough love. Being financially responsible is the worst.
I will be adding Secret Six and dropping Wonder Woman.
Why Secret Six: One of my all-time favourite comics was the last volume of Secret Six. It featured a loveable group of despicable rogues having adventures that were at once bonkers fun and deeply disturbing. It was hilarious and complex, featuring people who were obviously crazy and willing to do terrible things, but also loyal and loving and capable of always surprising acts of nobility. It was kind of perfect. This new series of Secret Six has the same writer as the previous iteration, namely Gail Simone, so I'm really hoping it catches some of the same tone and magic. After the first issue, I am encouraged, but it's hard to judge. The cast of this volume of Secret Six is largely new, and the plot of the first issue is a throwing together of strangers in a bad situation machine, so the character work and relationships that drove the previous iteration haven't really developed yet. There is also, I think, some growing pains associated with a new creative team learning how to work together with new characters. But I think I can see the foundation of the comic I want to read here and a collaboration that will be pretty amazing. I'm willing to give it a chance to become the Secret Six I so desperately want.
Why not Wonder Woman: Because it's over. I mean, Wonder Woman is not literally ending, but the creative team that has steered and defined the character for the last three years has finished their story and are moving on to new projects. Their idiosyncratic take on the character, one which leans heavily into a quirky remixed Greek mythology, has been really fresh and endlessly fun to read. I understand why diehard Wonder Woman fans may not have liked it or found aspects of the run problematic, but as someone who always had a hard time engaging with Wonder Woman I found it a really great comic. Wonder Woman has also been, with Azzarello, Chiang, Akins, and Wilson one of DCs best made comics and just about the only title where an ambitious, auteur driven run has reached its organic ending. This comic was great and complete and I'm really, really happy I read it. Which I think makes this a great jumping off point: with a dubious incoming creative team and a satisfying and complete story, I think it's time to walk away from Wonder Woman and savour the fun I had.
Atoll Comics Round 8: The Indestructible Hulk and FF in and Uncanny Avengers out
Atoll Comics Round 7: Young Avengers in and Winter Solider out
Atoll Comics Round 6: Either The Indestructible Hulk or FF in and Batwoman out
Atoll Comics Round 5: Avengers in and Fantastic Four/FF out
Atoll Comics Round 4: Avengers Assemble in and The Invincible Ironman out
Atoll Comics Round 3: Uncanny Avengers in and Ultimate Spider-Man out
Atoll Comics Round 2: Hawkeye in and The Flash out
Atoll Comics Round 1: Captain Marvel in and Thunderbots/Dark Avengers out
Atoll Comics Round 0: The originals
Atoll Comics Round 7: Young Avengers in and Winter Solider out
Atoll Comics Round 6: Either The Indestructible Hulk or FF in and Batwoman out
Atoll Comics Round 5: Avengers in and Fantastic Four/FF out
Atoll Comics Round 4: Avengers Assemble in and The Invincible Ironman out
Atoll Comics Round 3: Uncanny Avengers in and Ultimate Spider-Man out
Atoll Comics Round 2: Hawkeye in and The Flash out
Atoll Comics Round 1: Captain Marvel in and Thunderbots/Dark Avengers out
Atoll Comics Round 0: The originals
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