Umbrella Academy: Dallas

I read all six issues of this story arc today. For anyone who doesn't know, the story is written by Gerard Way, of the band "My Chemical Romance." The first story arc won an Eisner award in 2008.

I have to say that it really makes a difference reading the stories in one sitting. The first arc I read pretty much as the issues came out, and I was so confused. I couldn't remember what happened from one issue to the next (and since Mark bags and boards what I've read fairly regularly, it is hard to go back). So, this series, I held on to the issues until they were all out.

Anyway, the story of the special children of the Umbrella Academy filled in a lot of question marks about what happened to Number 5 when he disappeared. We continue to learn more about each sibling, and what they can do. The story refers to events in the first series, so readers should start with Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite.

It is a very satisfying story, and I would read future releases; but I guess I'd much rather wait for the graphic novel collection than read individual issues.

What I Didn't Read

Here are the comics Mark read in the past few weeks, that I skipped:

The Spirit 28
Ex Machina #42
Stephen Colbert's Tek Jansen
Simpsons Comics #154
Futurama #43

What do you think? Should I read these?

&$&$(#&&@%#!!!!!

Drat and double drat. If you are having problems downloading the podcast on Sunday afternoon, don't fret. It should be fixed as soon as I downgrade my RapidWeaver software AGAIN! Hopefully, they will have the bug fixed in the NEXT release. I won't hold my breath.

How I Read Comics

Mark generally picks up the comics on Wednesday or Thursday. Sometimes even on Friday. Mark reads the comics first, and he has a particular order. Usually it is DC comics first, then Vertigo, then the independents. When he gets done with a comic, he puts it in the pile for me to read.

I end up reading in a haphazard order, depending upon what day it is, and what Mark wants to talk about on How I Got My Wife To Read Comics. I generally skip any of the Simpsons/Futurama comics, and the horrible Army@Love (is that still going on?), and a couple others. And generally the shorter series (less than six issues) collect in my pile until the series is complete. Right now, The second series of Umbrella Academy is waiting at the bottom of my pile...

So I have comics as new as this week, and as old as six months, in my TBR pile. This can drive Mark mad; and when I go to the comic book store, I never know for sure what we have gotten the previous week!

Maybe I can get into the habit of being caught up this summer.