Mini-Almost-Reviews

I've been swamped with work at the day-job lately. There's a major project that was running seriously behind schedule before I could get anywhere near it, plus the project manager decided to quit about three weeks ago. I'm reminded a bit of Atlas Shrugged where the executives hand down impossible requirements and still expect you to get everything done as they ask, and then you do by some insane burst of creativity while working 14-hour days.

So I haven't been able to do much (any!) leisure reading for a little while now. But an outside agency was supposed to deliver some material at the end of Friday, which I could work on this weekend. We got a note saying "end of day Friday" was really going to be "first thing Monday", so the chunk of today I had set aside for work suddenly opened up, and I could relax a bit.

I spent today moving from the couch to the bed to the chair to the couch... catching up on some of my reading. (Well, trying to catch up. I'm still woefully behind.) I particularly enjoyed looking down to see my dog napping contentedly nearby. Quite the happy, little moment contentment. Ah, but what did I read today?

Feynman by Jim Ottaviani and Leland Myrick
I really enjoy all of Ottaviani's comics, and this was no exception. This is a solid biography of Richard Feynman's life as told from his perspective. It flowed almost strangely well, given how the story was a bit jumbled chronologically. But I think it captured Feynman's spirit as well as his deeds.

Secret Prison by various
A newspaper-style comics anthology with work from the likes of Tom Scioli, Jim Rugg and Box Brown. A few of the pieces were visually interesting but, honestly, not my cup of tea.

Tragic Relief by Colleen Frakes
Touching story about a guy who keeps finding magical love, only to have it end tragically. That it's a Xeric winner from 2007 should be enough to let you know it's great.

Drag Bandits by Betsey Swardick and Colleen Frakes
A neat, little story about a highway bandit who dress as a woman to misdirect authorities. Turns out his wife isn't quite so abject to the idea either. Nicely done piece. Very clever.

Tales from the Motherland by Sterling Clark
A series of short tales, mostly based on stories from African mythology. Well-done overall. I'd personally like to see more comics based on mythology, particularly the stories that don't get told very often here in the U.S. Which is to say, non-European ones.

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