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 | Batman: I Am Gotham

There have been well-written and drawn graphic novels about Batman over the years. Batman: Year One and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns certainly sits up top of the heap for most books being bought as a collection or borrowed several times in a library. Of course, that counts for digital formats that has become part of the norm since the pandemic it is the only way you can find time to acquire them unless you’re nearby library to be able to physically borrow a copy or two. But a good digital read in the form that tells the tales of a modern Batman gives you something to look forward to now that today is Batman Day. Sure, there won’t be gatherings this year due to COVID-19 though to celebrate this year is sharing a good read of anything related to the cape crusader as the character is 81 years young after appearing in Detective Comics #27 seems a stretch for saying it was just yesterday. Currently, Detective Comics is now on issue no. 1027 and its timely to have the opportunity to reads six-issue run of the Batman series from 2016, which was compiled as Batman Vol. 1: I Am Gotham, which feature Tom King with Scott Snyder and also features David Finch artwork that also includes Mikel Janin, Ivan Reis, Matt Banning, Danny Miki, Sandra Hope, Scott Hana, Joe Prado, and Oclair Albert as the creative team for the duration of the first six issue of the series.

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 | The Immortal Hulk

A monster creature that comes out and terrorizes the night is a recipe for a horror genre. When you talk about The Hulk it takes you back how popular character based from the creation of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, which first appeared in its landmark issue back in 1962. For so many years the jade giant is both hero and menace at the same time a founding member of the Avengers. There have been many depictions and stories about Dr Bruce Banner and the ginormous creature that was created from a Gamma Bomb accident. There’s too many iterations and representation about the character, but one thing that takes me back to my childhood was the TV series that featured Bill Bixby as Banner and when ‘he gets angry’ turns into Lou Ferrigno as The Hulk. Similar stories in the classic television series inspired the movies and even the comicbooks. But Al Ewing who wrote the Immortal Hulk series certainly grew up watching the show adapts the concept of Bruce Banner being on the run to new heights while adding horror story elements that propelled this series to new heights of refreshing take why Banner is The Immortal Hulk and defines the character’s refreshing status quo not a superhero element, but also brings back the nostalgic creatures from the old comicbook anthologies of the past.

Digital Library Reads | Black Widow (2016)

If you’re now branded as S.H.I.E.LD.’s Most Wanted what are you gonna do? Black Widow gets a series of her own published in 2016 with the Eisner Award-winning team of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee that wowed readers during their run on Daredevil followed up with their collaboration with this series. Natasha Romanova takes front and center going up against SHIELD and Iron Man while trying to track down the Weeping Lion and her past connections to the Red Room is no easy feat as going up against anything that throws at her in this action packed six-issue story arc that you’re watching a live-action film full of no dialogues and features how Chris Samnee elevate his artistry with an impressive visual narrative of what he continues to do since Daredevil and now with Black Widow. There are some serious repercussions for Natasha to face and as they say “you reap what you sow” that delves into her past as well as dealing with being chased, blown, and knife through the got in the awesome spread pages of action that define super spy genres for the modern times. Truly, it can be adapted into film, but as a graphic novel there’s nothing like great art, impressive silent issues, and a good narrative to boot!

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.

Digital Library Reads | Captain Marvel

Before Captain Marvel presented herself in the big screen as portrayed by Brie Larson in the 2019 film she was first introduced six year before through a new series by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Dexter Soy’s debut as its newest artist that was discovered by CB Cebulski on social media. At that time everything was new and refreshing that Carol Danvers is taking the mantle of what would be a plethora of stories to come that would also launch a new artist’s career. 2012 was like yesterday but that was almost eight years ago and Captain Marvel is still soaring from what could be a genesis that began with DeConnick and Soy’s collaboration with its first six issues collected into a trade paperback titled “Pursuit of Flight.” These days Dexter Soy is the regular writer for DC Comics’ Batman and the Outsiders while Kelly Sue DeConnick recent work was the regular writer for Aquaman where she started in issue #43 back in 2018. But both creative artists re-branded Captain Marvel to what everyone has known today. If that wasn’t enough to take the pursuit of flight a reality some elements of the book made it to the films. “Pursuit of Flight” may be a little dated but this is where it all began. Carol Danvers takes centered stage and owning the mantle was a game changer eight years ago rebranding the character and bringing forward what she meant to be.

Get Into Libraries | Last Returns & Goodbyes

08.18.2018 – It has been a week since leaving Adelaide South Australia and spending the past seven days re-adjusting to the most densely populated and inadequate city in the Philippines and if things have become quite a challenge going through navigating from one city to the other you’ll probably won’t even bother to notice it. Last Saturday it was my last trip to Marion Libraries located at the back of Westfield Marion. It was the most frequent time spending to study, read up the latest magazine, and also borrowed DVDs and audio CDs that I have the opportunity to appreciate each of them. From old cancelled TV shows to graphic novels that you’ll probably never see it in your nearest bookshop.

DVD on Rewind | Magnum PI Complete Series

07.31.2018 – Magnum PI, is one of those classic television series ripe for a remake or reboot for the millennial generation. It stars Tom Selleck in the title role as “Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV” with John Hillerman as Jonathan Quayle Higgins III that also includes Roger E. Moseley as “Theodore “T.C.” Calvin”, and, Larry Manetti as “Orville Wilbur Richard "Rick" Wright to round up the cast of the series. The series ran for eight seasons but the first complete series certainly was way different to the succeeding episodes as the production was trying to ‘figure out’ who was Thomas Magnum in the eyes of the viewers.

Superman: Birthright | A Man of Steel Story

07.16.2018 – Action Comics has made monumental number reaching issue #1000 a couple of months back and bringing back the red tights that he’s been known for. The comic book that introduced this character revolutionized the industry still continue to fight for truth, justice, and not only the American way but representing the world. Whenever in other mediums like animation, television, movies or video games “The Man of Steel” has been an icon and what shape him are these stories. There have been many origins, but “Superman: Birthright” was those you might forget.

Get Into Libraries | A Graphic Novel World

07.11.2018 – Graphic novels has come a long way being acknowledged not just a four colour page comic book. But a rich source of stories with images that is now the basis of what movies, television series, and other medium that defined its literacy among the shelves of books that you’ll find in a library. In other countries, libraries are a dying breed that most gravitate to popular opinion than what is important to the future generation. Kids these days have been spoiled with the technology that they have as to compared to the older generation that prefer the tactile feel of the inks, smell, and pages of a graphic novel.

Cove Civic Centre | Marion Libraries

07.02.2018 – Libraries are essential to every community and in South Australia every suburb has it. In the City of Marion, there are three libraries that support this endeavor of learning and reading for children as well as adults too. I spent most the time at the Marion Library located at the back of Westfield Marion just opposite Bunnings Warehouse since its close where I reside. But never have the chance to explore the other three libraries not until yesterday when a friend offered to drive up to Hallett Cove to accompany him to assisting in search for car parts. Of course, I had to oblige to save up taking Adelaide Metro on a Saturday morning. It was also good timing to visit another friend who organized a photography workshop as the Cove Civic Centre that day too.

Get Into Libraries | A Multimedia Place

06.19.2018 – Marion Library is not just about books that most people have known about this place. In the era of internet age books and graphic novels have become digitally available and the library being the analog has to evolve or be stuck to being way how the dinosaurs got extinct. In South Australia libraries has flourished not just about lending books or a place of study it has become a pseudo community service that offered not only for you to study and read books but have diversified in also borrowing movies, television series, PC Games and documentaries that seem to be “new” to this concept.

DVD on Rewind | Automan: The Complete Series

06.18.2018 – There have been too many science fiction shows now in television and in the films. So much that expands also to streaming networks like Netflix with all-original content that you get lost track of everything with some of them have been well-written that there’s not so much time to get engrossed in them. But back in the 1980s things were different when it comes to these types of shows. With Star Wars its about how popular that inspire others to make their own and experiment through stiff competition why movies like Tron back in the day never get the attention until a cult following brings it back. But not like Automan that inspired it this was unheard of well until you borrow it in a library.

Marion Library | Renew and Returns

01.13.2018 – Libraries in Australia is one the best places to find some quiet time and a good book to read. It’s very much alive that reading an actual book or browsing the latest magazine is probably a novelty in some countries that slowly being phased out as ‘cost cutting’ without thinking it still has benefits for most people. I found a place to study or catch up reading some interesting topics, but rarely I borrow and take it home. The first book I borrowed was overdue last January 11th, which was renewed for another month and now its time to return it.