Since the New Year is upon us, I figured now would be a good time to set some resolutions in stone. And since comics are my hobby of choice, I want to be a better comic fan in the coming year.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a pretty good comic fan right now. I hit up my local comic shop on a weekly basis and I’ve got a pretty adequate pull list. I try to get people who don’t read comics, to give comics a shot. I try to be the best comic fan that I can be.
But I can be better.
For instance, in the New Year, I plan on reading DMZ. The final issue of DMZ arrives this week, so I figure now is the best time to start reading the book. I’ve got every issue and have been collecting the book for years, but I’ve only read the first few arcs. So in 2012, I’m going to sit down and start reading the title. I’m genuinely looking forward to it.
Speaking of books that I buy but don’t read, in 2012 I’m going to get caught up on G.I. Joe books. John Babos has recently been praising them and I’ve been purchasing them, but I haven’t read anything since the Cobra Civil War began. I promise, I’m going to set aside some time to get caught up on these books.
But being a better comic fan isn’t just about comics. In day and age, being a comic fan is a multimedia affair. So, in 2012 I want to see all of the DCU animated movies. I’ve really only seen five of them. Under the Red Hood, Batman: Year One, The New Frontier and Crisis on Two Earths were all awesome. And Apocalypse was completely acceptable. Based on my satisfaction, there’s no reason for me not to have seen them all. So, before the year is out, I plan on watching every DCU animated movie.
I also want to give more comics as gifts. I went over my history of comics as gifts last week, but I really want to add to that story. My best friend has a birthday coming up, so I’ll probably get him something to read (or maybe I won’t because he never read anything I ever get him.) But I will probably give his daughter something just out of the blue. But yeah, I’m going to give more comics as gifts next year.
On the note of comic related gifts, my aforementioned best friend gave me Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters for the Wii this Christmas. As I’m sure you’re aware, I’m a pretty big G.L. fan so I’m looking forward to playing the game. My goal for the upcoming year is to beat it.
The final comic related resolution for the New Year is to reread Loveless. It was a book that I loved and read every issue of. But there were delays with issues so things got hazy. Plus it was written by Brian Azzarello, which pretty much means that rereading is a necessity. So, in 2012 I plan on giving Loveless the attention it deserves.
And you know the beauty of all of these resolutions? They all are potential subjects for the Wednesday Comments. So really I’m sort of becoming a better comic fan and it’s got the potential to make me a better columnist.
Anyway, now that you’ve read my column, go and read your comics.
