2009 Reading #70: Essential The Fantastic Four
Books 1-10.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
Books 31-40.
Books 41-50.
Books 51-60.
61. Hmong in Minnesota by Chia Youyee Vang.
62. Myths and Legends of the Sioux by Marie L. McLaughlin.
63. Heir of Sea and Fire (Book Two of the Riddlemaster trilogy) by Patricia McKillip.
64. Sea, Swallow Me and Other Stories by Craig Laurance Gidney.
65. Essential Incredible Hulk Volume 1 by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, et al.
66. I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets: The Comics of Fletcher Hanks by Fletcher Hanks and Paul Karasik.
67. Wizard's Eleven (Book Three of The True Game) by Sheri S. Tepper.
68. Migration of Hmong to the Midwestern United States by Cathleen Jo Faruque.
69. Harpist In the Wind (Book Three of the Riddlemaster trilogy) by Patricia McKillip.
70. Essential The Fantastic Four by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, et al. If I'm honest, this was better than I thought it would be. There are caveats, the primary one being the way Stan writes the Invisible Girl; she is forever being kidnapped and rescued, can't decide between dependable but passionless Reed and hunky but erratic Namor, and frequently is ineffective even in situations where her limited power can be used. At one point Stan and Jack have the team answer reader letters, and Sue has a breakdown when she reads one which opines that she doesn't do anything on the team--Reed, Ben, and Johnny come gallantly to her defense, but basically end up saying that she's essential because she has that feminine touch that makes their base feel like home between adventures. Ugh. Now, if you can set that aside, there's a lot of great pulpy, SF-inspired boy's adventure stuff here. It's silly but it's fun, not least because it doesn't take itself too seriously. Plus, the first appearances of Doctor Doom, the Puppet Master, the Mad Thinker (and his Awesome Android AKA Andy), the Skrulls, and the Marvel-era Sub-mariner.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
Books 31-40.
Books 41-50.
Books 51-60.
61. Hmong in Minnesota by Chia Youyee Vang.
62. Myths and Legends of the Sioux by Marie L. McLaughlin.
63. Heir of Sea and Fire (Book Two of the Riddlemaster trilogy) by Patricia McKillip.
64. Sea, Swallow Me and Other Stories by Craig Laurance Gidney.
65. Essential Incredible Hulk Volume 1 by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, et al.
66. I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets: The Comics of Fletcher Hanks by Fletcher Hanks and Paul Karasik.
67. Wizard's Eleven (Book Three of The True Game) by Sheri S. Tepper.
68. Migration of Hmong to the Midwestern United States by Cathleen Jo Faruque.
69. Harpist In the Wind (Book Three of the Riddlemaster trilogy) by Patricia McKillip.
70. Essential The Fantastic Four by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, et al. If I'm honest, this was better than I thought it would be. There are caveats, the primary one being the way Stan writes the Invisible Girl; she is forever being kidnapped and rescued, can't decide between dependable but passionless Reed and hunky but erratic Namor, and frequently is ineffective even in situations where her limited power can be used. At one point Stan and Jack have the team answer reader letters, and Sue has a breakdown when she reads one which opines that she doesn't do anything on the team--Reed, Ben, and Johnny come gallantly to her defense, but basically end up saying that she's essential because she has that feminine touch that makes their base feel like home between adventures. Ugh. Now, if you can set that aside, there's a lot of great pulpy, SF-inspired boy's adventure stuff here. It's silly but it's fun, not least because it doesn't take itself too seriously. Plus, the first appearances of Doctor Doom, the Puppet Master, the Mad Thinker (and his Awesome Android AKA Andy), the Skrulls, and the Marvel-era Sub-mariner.