When I think of Barry Ween, this is the story I remember. When I wish for more Barry Ween, this story is the reason why.
The three comics leading up toWhen I think of Barry Ween, this is the story I remember. When I wish for more Barry Ween, this story is the reason why.
The three comics leading up to this are wonderful, and well-worth reading in their own right.
That said, what really makes them worthwhile is the stage they set for this book. This heartbreaking story. It's twice as good as everything that comes before it.
I do dearly hope that Winick someday comes back to the series and does more work in it. I would really love to see more of the characters and get some closure on the world......more
I wrote the introduction to the 30th anniversary edition of The Sandman.
How absolutely *stupid* is that?
It's been half a year siSo here's the thing...
I wrote the introduction to the 30th anniversary edition of The Sandman.
How absolutely *stupid* is that?
It's been half a year since I got the invitation, and months since I actually finished writing the introduction, but I still can't believe it.
To celebrate, I thought I'd write a review here. But rather than just my usual messy gush about how I love some story, I got permission from the publisher to re-print part of my introduction I wrote.
Share and enjoy...
**(What follows is an excerpt from the intro)**
I’ll admit, I’m at a bit of a loss as to what to do here.
If you’ve already read Sandman, what can I tell you that you don’t already know deep in the secret corners of your heart? You know this story is lovely and brilliant and sweet and strange. You know it is beautiful and deep and wry and wondrous. You know.
If you’ve already read this book, you know nothing I can say is as good as what waits for you ahead.
So go. Stop reading this and go.
If you haven’t read this book, and are, perhaps, standing in a bookstore or a comic shop, wondering if it’s worth your time, what I can say to convince you? Should I wax rhapsodic? Get lyrical and grandiose? Reference some of the story’s funnier jokes so I seem more clever than I really am?
No. I love this book too much. I don’t want to spoil its secrets or steal its thunder.
So let me tell you the simple truth. No hyperbole.
Sandman changed my life.
It’s not often you get to say that and mean it. But it’s true.
If that’s not enough to convince you… I guess all that’s left is for me to tell you a story or two. Because that’s what I do.
Stories are important, after all….
* * *
I came to comics late in life. I can’t tell you why. I was a voracious reader as a kid, going through pretty much every picture book in the local library until I finally started chapter books around age 9. Then I read a novel or two a day until I finished high school.
Even as I slouched through college, comics simply weren’t on my radar. Didn’t occur to me to read them. Didn’t occur to me they might be worth reading. I had a couple thousand fantasy and sci-fi novels under my belt, and my classes were exposing me to Shakespeare and Chaucer, Sanskrit theater and the Harlem Renaissance poets. I read Roethke and Frost and Brooks and Baldwin.
But comics? That was like… Garfield, right? And superheroes? I didn’t spare any thought for them, and when I did, I assumed they were (and I’m ashamed to write this now) silly bullshit for kids.
I was well into my 20’s when, at a weekend-long party, I sat down in a quiet corner and idly picked up a copy of Dark Night Returns. I read the whole thing straight through, completely lost in it, deaf to the riot and welter around me.
Hours later, I hunted down the person who had brought the book. I shook it at them, angry and incredulous, demanding: “Is it all as good as this?”
“Oh no,” he said sadly. “But some of it is close.”
First he gave we Watchmen, and it floored me despite the fact that I didn’t I didn’t know superheroes mythology from a hole in the ground.
Next came Sandman. And it was unlike any story I’d ever read. In any genre. In any medium. I remember thinking, “Can you do this? Can you have Odin and angels and faeries and witches and… just everything? All at once? In the same story? Is this allowed?”
It lit me up inside. I wouldn’t shut up about it. I’d give it to people and say, “You have to read this! It’s like Shakespeare!”
I blush a little now, remembering that. It’s not the best comparison. It’s just that back then, Shakespeare was the best thing I’d ever read.
The truth is, Shakespeare wishes he wrote something this good.
* * *
But let’s back up a bit. I’d prefer to be fully honest here. I didn’t feel that way about Sandman immediately. Not right out of the gate.
I read this first graphic novel and liked it well enough. Preludes and Nocturnes is lovely. It introduces the world, the characters, there’s a nice little plot. Tension. Mystery. Hero’s Journey. Mythic underpinning. Decent to the underworld. Vengeance. Recovery of self. Got my RDA of all manner of awesome here. Cool.
Then I kept reading, and the storytelling got looser. But I was still happy. Shakespeare shows up. I dig that. And there’s faerie tales. And… What? Are we in Africa now? Wait, is someone telling a story about a story inside a story? Okay. That’s cool. I guess this series is more like a bunch of different stories? But they’re all interesting, so who really cares if they don’t really have much to do with each other…
Then I kept reading and there was a little plotline. And a new character or two. And… and… hold on. Wait. Does all this fit together? Has it all fit together from the beginning?
Has everything been leading to an ending?
Oh. Oh lord. I never knew a story could be like this.
**(End excerpt)**
There's more, of course. I do tend to go on a bit when it comes to books I love. But I'm guessing you get the gist of it.
If you read The Sandman back in the day, trust me, it's as good as you remember.
If you've never read The Sandman, this is the place to start. And trust me, it's absolutely worth your time....more
This series is just as good as I remember it. In fact, it's even better in some ways, because now I know how hard it is toAaaand this one made me cry.
This series is just as good as I remember it. In fact, it's even better in some ways, because now I know how hard it is to write a comic that fits in this much action, dialogue, and good character development....more
As good as the first volume of the series is, this one is better. While each story is largely stand-alone, the world isn't static, and the characters As good as the first volume of the series is, this one is better. While each story is largely stand-alone, the world isn't static, and the characters become deeper and more complex in their interactions.
Also? The funny and emotional moments get much more impressive and impactful at the same time.
If you liked the first one, you'll like this one more. And if I remember correctly, the best is yet to come.... (I'm re-reading #3 tonight.)
After reading Winick's new series of comics for kids, I decided to go back and see if The Adventures of Barry Ween was as funny as I actually rememberAfter reading Winick's new series of comics for kids, I decided to go back and see if The Adventures of Barry Ween was as funny as I actually remember it being.
And you know what? It is. Funny, clever, irreverent, inventive. It's fucking delightful stuff, and I'm amazed and saddened that more people don't know about it.
If you've never tried it, you should. It starts great, and gets stronger as the series progresses.
More good feels in #4, and at this point I'm solidly glad that I trusted Winick when I picked this series up for my boys.
There's a lot about friendshMore good feels in #4, and at this point I'm solidly glad that I trusted Winick when I picked this series up for my boys.
There's a lot about friendship in here. What it means to be a friend. A lot of discussion about how it's okay to be afraid, and about how *everyone* is scared sometimes, no matter how powerful they are.
The story talks about how important it is to be brave, too. And, miraculously, it happens in a good way, not in that bullshitty machismo a-real-man-doesn't-fear-pain sort of way. Bravery is doing things that you need to, even if you don't want to, even if you're afraid.
And there's legitimately funny parts. And good action. And mysteries to solve. And a discussion of how important it is to help other people. And, most importantly, how there are so many different way to help. (Not just by flying around and shooting lasers out of your hands.)
Everything said, I'm loving this series, and I'm delighted that my boys like it, too. I've already reached out to the local comic store to order #5 in the series that comes out in a couple months.
A great follow-up to the first book in the series. I've been waiting a good long while for this one to come out.
And so has my little boy. In fact, *heA great follow-up to the first book in the series. I've been waiting a good long while for this one to come out.
And so has my little boy. In fact, *he's* the one who actually tracked this sequel down. I didn't know it was out yet until he brought it back from the library.
If that isn't a solid recommendation for a book, I don't know what is...
Do make sure to read #1 in the series first though. I mean, that should be a given, right?
Ben Hatke has written some of my older son's favorite comics.
While that's high praise of sorts, it doesn't really do his work justice. I also really eBen Hatke has written some of my older son's favorite comics.
While that's high praise of sorts, it doesn't really do his work justice. I also really enjoy the comics Ben writes. They're good stuff. And maybe most important of all, I'm delighted for my boy to read them, given that they're... well... for lack of a better word, healthy.
By this I mean that they're full of good things. People loving each other. Children being honest to their parents. Bravery. Kindness. Thoughtfulness.
And that's all on top of the fact that they're *really* good stories. Full of mystery, magic, adventure, good characters, drama, good worldbuilding, etc.
But yeah. Highly recommended, and doubly recommended if you have a kid. ...more
It's rare that a comic (or a story in any medium, really) can skip forward in time while maintaining narrative tension. But this volume of Saga does iIt's rare that a comic (or a story in any medium, really) can skip forward in time while maintaining narrative tension. But this volume of Saga does it. It breaks this rule as it breaks so many others, and it comes out on the other side, shining and smelling like a rose.
Seriously. This comic is like a master's class in how to write compelling, long-term, emotional character arcs. Vaughan is probably the best comic writer in the business these days. There's nothing he produces that doesn't absolutely wow me........more
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this comic here on goodreads yet, or at the very least marked it as "read" and given it a 5-star rating.
This is an I can't believe I haven't reviewed this comic here on goodreads yet, or at the very least marked it as "read" and given it a 5-star rating.
This is an amazing comic series, folks. And I'm not just saying that because it's set here in beautiful central Wisconsin, in the town of Wausau, about 50 miles north of where I live.
It's a delightful story, full of mystery. It's set in the real world, with a tinge of the the supernatural. It's described as a "Rural Noir" on the cover. I'm not sure what that means, but it does have a nice ring to it.
It's a fun, clever story that is so unique that I was two volumes in before I realized that it *could* be considered a zombie story. (Though that doesn't really give the right impression. It's not like any zombie story you've ever read.)
Best of all, the entire series is complete. So if it proves to be up your alley, you can binge the whole thing and get the complete story.
All in all, very worth your time.
Might not be your thing if: You have a problem with violence or supernatural. (Though it isn't hugely graphic or gratuitous in either area.)
Might *absolutely* be your thing if: If you like character-centered stories with a lot of mystery. Also, if you like zombie stories, but you're bored with reading the same thing again and again. ...more
Over the last couple years, I've talked a lot about how some things bother me in storytelling.
One of the things that bothers me the most is when a chOver the last couple years, I've talked a lot about how some things bother me in storytelling.
One of the things that bothers me the most is when a child is put in danger in order to grab cheap dramatic tension in a story. Even worse is when a child is hurt/killed/threatened order to build character or establish something about the world.
90% of the time it's lazy storytelling of the highest degree, and 9% of the time it's little more than emotional abuse. I think of it as roughly equivalent to fridging someone's love interest.
Interestingly, Saga seems to be the exception to this rule for me. There are children in the story, in peril, and it feels real, but I never feel like the storytelling is cheap or making a bullshitty grab for my emotion.
One of the many reasons this comic is amazing.......more
I'm a big fan of The Adventure Zone podcast. So when the McElroys asked me if I wanted to write an introduction for the upcoming comic book adaptationI'm a big fan of The Adventure Zone podcast. So when the McElroys asked me if I wanted to write an introduction for the upcoming comic book adaptation, I gave an enthusiastic hell yes.
I just re-read my Advance Reader Copy of the book, and rather than ramble on here, I'm going to print that introduction in its entirety, so you can see how I really feel about the book:
* * *
When it comes to the Adventure Zone, and the McElroys as a whole, I'll admit that I've been late to the game.
My friends have adored them for years. But I'm stubborn, so it wasn't until November of 2016 that I finally caved to peer pressure and began sampling their unique flavor of artisanal auditory delectation.
I listened to an episode of My Brother My Brother and Me, and the McElroys hit my life like a new religion. Within two months, I'd listened to over 250 episodes of MBMBaM. And I would have made it through the entirety of their archive shortly thereafter…
… but then I discovered the Adventure Zone.
If learning about MBMBAM was like a religious conversion. The Adventure Zone was like suddenly falling in love. Plus getting hit by lightning. Plus coffee. Plus hugging Lin-Manuel Miranda while eating an ice cream sundae.
Okay. I'm not doing a good job of this. Let me start again.
For those of you who may not know, I'm a fantasy author. My books have been translated into 35 languages and sell millions of copies all over the world. I mention this not to brag, but because it's the easiest way to prove I know a little bit about stories. I story for a living. I'm pretty good at it.
So let me say, honestly and sincerely, that The Adventure Zone is some of the finest storytelling I have ever experienced. In any genre. Ever.
I also know a little bit about role playing. I've played D&D since 1982. Worked my way through every edition. (Except 4th). These days I play D&D in packed stadiums with Acquisitions Incorporated. I guest star in with Critical Role. I've visited the D&D offices, and we're currently working on some secrety collaborations together.
With that in mind, I'd like to say that The McElroys have done something with D&D I have never seen before. They've done something I didn't know it was possible to do. They've made something magical, and loving, and kind, and beautiful. The world is better because this story is in it.
I've listened to the entirety of The Adventure Zone more than three times over the last eight months. I'm not just a fan, I'm a missionary. I'm a zealot. I'm not saying I'm working on my Merle cosplay or anything…. But yeah. Fine. I'll admit it, I'm working on my cosplay.
What you hold in your hands is a brave experiment. An attempt to translate pure audio improvisational storytelling into a visual medium. I've done some work in comics, and I can't think of a harder transition for a story to make.
And I adore what they've done here. Not just in the reflected light of my affection for the Adventure Zone podcast, but as an entity distinct unto itself. I already know the story, but there are surprises here. I know what's going to happen, but I love seeing these good good boys beginning their marvelous adventure all over again....more
It's rare that I read non-fiction. It's just not my bag.
That said, this is one of the most fascinating books I've ever read. I'm guessing I've broughtIt's rare that I read non-fiction. It's just not my bag.
That said, this is one of the most fascinating books I've ever read. I'm guessing I've brought it up hundreds of times in conversation.
It's written by a neurologist who works with people who have stranger-than-usual brain issues. And not only are the cases interesting, but the way he writes about the people invovled is really lovely. It's not clinical at all. Not judgemental. It's very... loving, I would say. It's interesting to see someone who obviously knows a lot of hard-line science write about these cases in terms that seem to me more suited to someone who would be a philosopher or a spiritualist.
Amazing book. Can't recommend it highly enough......more
I love this series, and I was delighted to find that the second volume was out. (A lot of Ellis's series, for some reason, seems to just last long enoI love this series, and I was delighted to find that the second volume was out. (A lot of Ellis's series, for some reason, seems to just last long enough to show up in one trade paperback... then it stops.)
If anything, I think I enjoyed this second volume even more than the first, it puts a different character in the spotlight, and he's every bit as facinating as the ones we met early on.
Very worth your time, especially if you're into folklore and non-superhero comics....more
I was pleasantly surprised to see this sitting on the shelf when I stopped by a bookstore down in Florida to sign some books. I've been a fan of YahtzI was pleasantly surprised to see this sitting on the shelf when I stopped by a bookstore down in Florida to sign some books. I've been a fan of Yahtzee's work on Zero Punctuation for a while, but I've been busy lately, and don't listen to it as faithfully as I used to.
More importantly, I really enjoyed his previous book Jam. (Which is, of course, a much bigger indicator of weather or not I'll actually like a book.)
Simply said, he's kind of an irritatingly good writer. His books are fun and easy to read as drinking a glass of cool water. (And which is a very rare gift.) The dialouge is good, characters believable, and the wit is sharp.
What's more, he has a gift for believable speculative fiction, where he creates the (speculative) premise of the story, then lets everything follow through to a rational conclusion, both in the world creation, and the novel he's writing. That's something I find unfortunately lacking a lot of times.
Anyway, if you're looking for a fun, clever, easy read. Look no further. This is good stuff, and well-worth your time. ...more
I get sent pre-release copies of books quite often. Usually because authors or publishers are looking for promotional blurbs or a little help spreadinI get sent pre-release copies of books quite often. Usually because authors or publishers are looking for promotional blurbs or a little help spreading the word about an upcoming publication.
This was one of those books. I got an ARC ages ago, but I only recently pulled it off the shelf.
Starting to read it, I was pleasantly surprised. Good start. Pulled me right in. Good language. Good, distinct tone. Playful but well-written.
Then I looked at the letter that had been sent along with the book and kicked myself: I was reading it two months *after* the publication date. Far too late to give it a promotional blurb. Too late to give it a push in the early days of the book's release.
This happens fairly often. But I especially regret it this time, as the book is Published by Sword and Laser. A new small press.
This made me feel doubly bad. It's hard to be a new small press. And it was the guy's first book. It's really hard to get attention these days if you're a new author or a new press. I wish I could have helped them out more.
I will say this. I really enjoyed it. It was fun and funny. It kept me up late on a night when I *really* was hoping to get some extra sleep.
And I really wish I'd read it earlier because I *would* have given it a gushy blurb.
If that means anything to you. Maybe consider picking it up?
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