Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Reading Too Much/Not Reading Enough

So, this is my problem.  We all run into dry spells when it comes to reading comics.  Last summer, when my hands started shaking, I got a little out of sorts and didn't read all the titles I was buying.  I've also gotten too busy with work/school/parenting to really read all the titles I'm buying.  This is different, though.  I've been consistently buying eight to 10 titles per week, and they're adding up now that I've hit a lull in my reading.  What's worse is that I still start new comics.  In just my short period of not reading everything I buy, I've bought Batwoman and American Gods: Shadows.  I haven't actually read them, of course.

I'm not reading for several reasons.  My son's on vacation, so I don't have as much time, but that's only minor.  In the past few weeks, I've built a new computer and gotten a new car.  Crashed an old car, sold an older car.  Trying to sell a piano.  My solution is to start cutting out comics.  Here are some on the chopping block:

Star Wars: Poe Dameron
Star Wars: Darth Maul
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra
Curse Words

And maybe Monstress.  The art is beautiful, but the latest arc hasn't tickled my fancy.  I have two unread issues, and I can always get back to it after I get around to reading them.  I also won't be buying any more of Wayward.  I loved the third arc, but the fourth arc came around last summer, when I simply wasn't reading enough, and I have four issues - nearly a trade paperback - lying unread in a pile.  I have two unread issues of East of West, and the title suffers from the twin issues of too many characters and me crying when Jonathan Hickman kills off the characters I love, very Game of Thrones.

Also, several titles that I read are coming to conclusions.  The Unworthy Thor has just one issue left.  It hasn't been bad, so I'll buy it when it comes out and hopefully read it.  I won't be reading Spider-Gwen after the "Sitting in a Tree" tie-in with Spider-Man ends.  It's a clever title, and I love Jason Latour's work creating Earth-65, but I'm swamped.  I'm trying to catch up with Ms. Marvel, but I've got two issues of that in my cupboard.  \

I haven't slowed down my audiobook reading.  If anything, I've been driving more than ever.  I'm close to finishing Death by Water, Kenzaburo Oe's latest novel, and I have a couple more set up: The 39 Steps by John Buchan and Zero K by Don Delillo.  I was reading lighter stuff, like Chuck Wendig and well, more Chuck Wendig.  Perhaps delving into deeper and more difficult novels has affected my comic book reading.

It was really refreshing not to have any comics to buy today.  I used to really look forward to Wednesdays because the new comics would come out, but it had become a burden.  I spent the money on a David Bowie record instead.  All this being said, I still love comics.  I just have to make sure that I'm not pressuring myself into reading more than I want to.

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