What a crazy damn month!!! January presented the end of 2020 (Finally!) but also presented an insurrection and an inauguration. It was the definition of a rollercoaster, many ups and many downs. So during the craziness, we had to find distractions with the premiere of WandaVision and the Marvel Cinematic Universe seemed to be the main driving force of our reading this month. Which inspired us or most likely just myself to keep track of what I read this month and maybe even this entire year.

In the course of 31 days, 23 graphic novels and a mini-series was read in between the release of new comics each week. A quick summary for those who like statistics (I am a stats guy) in January, Marvel comics dominated the reading with 15 stories, while TKO Studios and DC Comics both sharing 3 stories read. So lets dive into some of the highlights of January reading….

The month begun with the current wave of TKO Studios books. Kicked off 2021 with Lonesome Days, Savage Nights written by Steve Niles and art by Szymon Kudranski. Red Fork by Alex Paknadel and art by Nil Vendrell. And finally The Pull by Steve Orlando and art by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz. TKO Studios once again proved that they are a publication that continue to produce great stories, The Pull really stood out among the reading with the snappy dialogue and energetic artwork. I would recommend all three graphic novels for anybody looking to read something different from the usual.

Before talking about the books from the big two, I want to focus on the other two books. Blackbird by Sam Humphries and art by Jen Bartel from Image Comics and Kill A Man by Steve Orlando and Phillip Kennedy Johnson with art by Al Morgan from Aftershock Comics. Both books were read in one sitting with Kill A Man feeling perfect for a film adaptation. Also being from Minnesota and Blackbird being from two Minnesotans, had to dive into this magical story, that I hope will continue on in the future. Jen Bartel’s artwork is marvelous and adds fuel to the fire of wanting more of her artwork especially with her current work for Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman

Within the DC Universe, a universe that I love so much but recently have found myself distancing from, I only read three graphic novels in January. Usually my reading pile is filled with tales from Gotham and the Fourth World but this last month it was filled with randomness from the distinguished competition. Prez: Corndog in Chief by Mark Russell and Ben Caldwell was the perfect read, Russell has become one of those writers that I have to chase down and find his books now. If you haven’t read Prez from 2015-2016, do yourself a favor and pick up this odd yet relevant book about a teenager that becomes the president.

Now comes the majority of my reading, the center of the universe right now for most of geeks, the Marvel Universe. Now to be completely truthful, WandaVision impacted my decision making, but I am so glad it did. After the first two wonderfully weird episodes of the show, I found myself diving into John Byrne’s West Coast Avengers: Vision Quest and absolutely loving everything about it. Now I am not the most well rounded reader of the Marvel Universe, so stories like this are brand new to me and discovering them for the first time was a perfect getaway. I mean come on, never would I have thought I would want to read more about the Great Lake Avengers but Vision Quest sparked an interest. But the adventures of Vision and Scarlet Witch were not the only Avengers to capture my intrigue.

In the most “WTF” decision of the month, reading Thor Vikings by Garth Ennis and Glenn Fabry felt like a nordic acid trip. It wasn’t bad, in fact it had my attention throughout the story, but had to keep asking myself “What the fuck am I reading right now?” Although reading the first complete collection of Thor by Jason Aaron, was like reinforcing the love I had for the God of Thunder. Reading this makes Thor Love & Thunder, one of my most anticipated MCU films with the introduction of Gorr the God Butcher.

Please let me know if you would like future installments of a monthly reading report. We would gladly appreciate any advice. Right now, we need the extra push to be creative and even recapping some reading in butchered grammar seems a step in the right direction.

The full list of stories read in somewhat chronological order : 1) Lonesome Days, Savage Nights by Steve Orlando and Ricardo Lopez Ortiz, 2) Red Fork by Alex Paknadel and Nil Vendrell, 3) The Pull by Steve Orlando, Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Al Morgan, 4) Silver Surfer Parable by Stan Lee and Jean “Moebius” Giraud, 5) Justice League Beyond: Konstriction by Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs, 6) Black Widow: The Complete Collection by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee, 7) Blackbird by Sam Humphries and Jen Bartel, 8) Wolverine: Old Man Logan by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven, 9) Thor: The Complete Collection Vol.1 by Jason Aaron, 10) Prez: Corndog in Chief by Mark Russell and Ben Candwell, 11) Secret Invasion by Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu, 12) Scarlet Witch: Witches’ Road by James Robinson, 13) Hawkeye: All New Hawkeye by Jeff Lemire and Ramon Perez, 14) Hawkeye: Hawkeyes by Jeff Lemire and Ramon Perez, 15) Thor Vikings by Garth Ennis and Glenn Fabry, 16) Batgirl Year One by Chuck Dixon and Scott Beaty, 17) West Coast Avengers: Vision Quest by John Byrne, 18) Scarlet Witch: World of Witchcraft by James Robinson, 19) Scarlet Witch: The Final Hex by James Robinson, 20) Ultimate Vision by Mike Carey, Mark Millar, Brandon Peterson and John Romita Jr. 21) The Vision: Yesterday and Tomorrow by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis, 22) Contest of Champions: Battleworlds by Al Ewing and Paco Medina, 23) Darth Maul: Death Sentence by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo, and 24) Kill A Man by Steve Orlando, Philip Kennedy Johnson and Al Morgan.