Digital Library Reads | Star Wars (2015): Vol. 1

Star Wars changes the way we see science fiction films. It was a game changer that defined what we see about this theme about space adventures and battles not only showed explosions, but also well- written narratives about an ordinary farm boy who would become the savior of the galaxy. In three films it happened and with that popularity many tried and failed to emulate. Lucasfilms expanded not only producing merchandise and toys, but also expanded the stories in other forms of media like in the comicbooks. Originally, Marvel published a series that follows the template of what happened in the films despite the inaccuracy of the characters appearance in the films. It expanded stories unrelated to what transpired in that trifecta that popularized the franchise. By the time the 1990s rolled in Lucasfilms moved the publishing rights to Dark Horse to streamline and expanded what would be the Star Wars Universe introducing new characters and seeing what really happened off-screen as a definitive canon. But those things won’t stay permanent forever. George Lucas, the patriarch of Lucasfilms sold the company to Disney in 2012 and with that major changes happened dramatically. Dark Horse ceased its very last publication of what everyone knew was canon connecting the movies and its comicbooks sometime in 2013/2014.

Digital Library Reads | The Last Days of Magic

Doctor Strange’s return to the Marvel Universe was not celebrated with a red carpet or a firework. But through a major crisis that is building up from behind the scenes of the first story arc from the 2015 series, which would be relatable to what world is facing now in 2020. This is certainly was something to delve deep in the world of Stephen Strange’s realm that is rarely seen in the Marvel Universe. The Last Days of Magic was brewing from the page of the first issue of Doctor Strange when Marvel revived the series five years ago, which brought a refreshing perspective of the character and new adventures that would take him to worlds readers have not seen in such a long time. Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo put together what would be one of the best partnerships in bringing back Doctor Strange to the mainstream with this second volume compiling issues #6-10 and Dr. Strange: The Last Days of Magic #1 that also previews Civil War 2. But the entirety of the narrative focuses on the supernatural and magical side of the Marvel Universe that has not been fully explored in this modern era that is populated by technology and science fiction. The Last Days of Magic can be relatable to the real world crisis with the COVID-19 pandemic happening all over the planet with countless deaths with the incurable virus that disguises itself as a ‘common flu’ that fatally has claimed a lot of lives and putting everyone out of work.

Digital Library Reads | The Goddess of Thunder

When it was originally published as single issues the anticipation for the new Thor was shrouded in mystery that was behind the mask. At the age of modern heroes hiding identities are not the thing nowadays, but Jason Aaron made sure the readers would stick around to find out who was the ‘New’ Thor. It only took a few issues but most of the longtime readers were sticking to their guns and trying to wrap around their head in this endeavor that the new Thor was a woman and fans were on board guessing who she really was until the revelation that it was none other than Jane Foster. It was also a series that put Thor Odinson in his difficult time as the unworthy Thunder God, but it puts him further down to the path that changes are coming for the character not that he has experienced the most challenging moment of his life. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby have the most powerful Marvel character for its time originally appearing first in Journey into Mystery. But Jason Aaron puts a spin on the Thor series that new readers would catch their curiosity with the changes on the character and its mythology. Though not everyone was onboard with the concept there are those are not impressed, but it had one of the longest runs in modern comics history that not only tells the narrative of the ever evolving characters and developments of all that made the series refreshing. But this time around it focuses on the life journey of Jane Foster whose battling cancer despite being worthy of the power of Mjolnir that made her the Goddess of Thunder.

Digital Library Reads | Doctor Strange (2015)

In the past years prior to Marvel producing a live-action film adaptation of Doctor Strange (2016) most of the roles Stephen Strange has been reduced to a background character or supporting roles to heavy hitters like the Avengers or changing the roster of Defenders where he was a founding member along with Silver Surfer, The Hulk, and Namor in the original comicbooks. But after Marvel announced that they have finally bringing the character to the cinematic universe they revive the comicbook series in 2015 that has a new creative team with Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo. Of the two artists I’ve only knew of Bachalo from his previous works highlighting Death: A High Cost of Living that was written by Neil Gaiman. It is there I’ve known the artist for his fantasy and supernatural elements as his art style can be part of Doctor Strange’s aesthetics. For someone who reads well-grounded and realistic graphic novel genre the only supernatural comicbook I’ve ever followed was Ghost Rider and it is not even Johnny Blaze, but it was Dan Ketch and basically that’s how fantastically supernatural I can get with this genre. But Doctor Strange got me into appreciating the character through Chris Bachalo and going back to seeing how progressive the concept of his abilities was first seen through Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s earlier works and introduction.