The Weekly Stack™, as detailed in Insideman’s Pull List™ for 2.20.13.
I would like to make it clear (for at least one crank out there) that this week’s Weekly Stack™ picture was not delayed due to overwhelming criticism or any such groundswell of negativity. It was simply a victim of a delay via the USPS.
While I normally admire this venerable institution, I thought it might be fun to tell you where this 20 pound 11 ounce stack of books (not including packing material and heavy-duty cardboard box) spent the last 11 days.
The USPS claims the US Congress not allowing them to raise rates appropriately as one of many (very real) reasons they run such a huge deficit every year. But I thought I might add this to the mix: These books shipped on Wednesday 2.20.13 in the middle of the United States. They were then shipped to a main sort center in Pennsylvania (all the way on the East Coast of the States), where the USPS then flew them all the way across the country (flying back over their original shipping point) to the main sort center in Southern California on the US West Coast.
This nearby sort center then missent the package to Las Vegas, Nevada. After hanging out there for two days, it was resent back to the local sort center and delivered to me today. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a lot of expensive jet and diesel fuel… Especially for a large, heavy package sent at the rock bottom-priced Media Mail Rate.
Sorry to hear about your delivery arriving late Ian. there really isn’t a good excuse for it not making to your home on time. Working for the Post Office I sit here every day watching things get worse and worse for our company. due to our money crunch, the PO has been closing processing facilities all across the country in an attempt to consolidate our operations and save money. The sad part is if congress would just get off there collective asses and allow us to make just a few changes to our operations and the way we are forced to pay into our retirement funds we could get back on a even keel without having to cripple our Postal delivery system as we know it.
That being said, there is no reason for your package to put on the wrong truck or plane, that just rookie mail handler bullshit there.
OK, I’ll stop babbling now,,,
Nice stack this week, the Kirby omnibus and especial the Avenger vs. Thanos book, old school Starlin, me likey!
A new volume of “Fables: The Deluxe Edition” makes me smile.
I only wish it was shrinkwrapped. Damn it, DC Cheapasses!
The reason I am so adamant about this: I plan on sitting down and reading the first 100 issues of Fables again– in a row. I would like the books to stay as nice as possible until then.
Instead, I’m afraid they’ll all (except for the first one or two books, which I believe WERE shrinkwrapped) be as dust filled as one of those crumbling old spell books you see in every Grade Z fantasy film… No matter how careful I am (and I am careful) or how many times I dust them.
Did you add the weight per Jose’s suggestion?
Also, how has Super Dinosaur been? I dropped it after the first few issues. Not because it was bad, but at the time I couldn’t afford it. Is it worth picking up in trade?
I tend to see that a good chunk of your picture, as you list doesn’t compare thickness, is manga. Just curious as to what is your favourite manga that you are currently reading?
But to null my joke at the beginning, keep up with the photos. I really do like seeing them. In fact, I tend to see things that I missed in this post that I didn’t read in your “list” post. A good example is this http://inveteratemediajunkies.com/2012/10/24/insidemans-weekly-stack-2/#comments when I saw “Not my Bag” by Sina Grace. And by your rapid review, it saved me from buying it. Thanks!
Yes, I added the weight at Jose’s “suggestion”. It was a squeaker too– as my postal scale at the house only goes to 23 pounds.
Maybe next week I’ll add height and width– and how much the stack would cost in Troy ounces of Gold (0.0311034768 kg per Troy ounce).
I appreciate the kind words, Nick. That’s all the Stack was ever meant to be– a resource tool. (And a quick way to tell which books actually did come out… At least from the ones I bought.)
Per the Manga, I really like Gantz (it’s finally back on track after a few inconsequential volumes), really like Bakuman… And per Locusmortis’ recent suggestion, I read Knights of Sidonia Vol 1 and very much liked it too: http://inveteratemediajunkies.com/2013/01/14/locusmortis-previews-hits-and-misses-rating-comic-shop-offerings-for-january-2013-and-february-2013/
I should also recommend Cross Game and virtually anything by Osamu Tezuka too– Message to Adolf Vols 1 & 2, Ayako [just released in softcover] and another LM Pick– Barbara (if you can find a copy). There are so many Manga series I still really, really want to read…
I have a major column coming about the Top Trades I read in 2012 (not necessarily released in 2012– just when I read them). As a preview, I mention I can sometimes run hot & cold on Robert Kirkman (even though I list two volumes from two of his series among my 2012 “picks”.) Super Dinosaur is not one of them.
I felt the first volume saw Kirkman trying to find an “All Ages” style– which led him to write as if he felt the need to “talk down” to his readers. Vol 2 was written much more competently but suffered from being digest size (understandable due to the audience it’s targeted at.) Haven’t read Vol 3 yet.
The short version of my answer: No. The series is not worth picking up. There are MUCH BETTER books worth spending your money on. Unless Vol 3 (which is also digest sized) miraculously takes a turn for the better, I would say go elsewhere.
Thanks!
I started watching the anime of Bakuman and have now switched to the manga. Now I am just trying to catch up.
I also started reading Cross Game, as that seems to be a popular one. I was a little weary after reading the first few chapters, but definitely got hooked.
I definitely check out some of those other ones.
I am curious to know how the quality of these PS Artbooks are => Phantom Lady Volume 1
I ordered Planet Comics myself but it got postponed for more then 6 months now.. because they werent happy with the quality…A side-effect of this delay is I already pre-ordered the first 3 volumes…I hope they dont have the nerve to put Vol. 4 up for pre-order before they publish Vol 1.
The PS Artbooks are as good, if not better, than any of the Marvel Masterworks or DC Archives volumes… With the added bonus of 11 pages of text explaining Phantom Lady and her creators (with copious photos and art)– all written by Roy Thomas.
There are then several pages giving a complete chronology of the stories found in the collection.
The reprints themselves are clean, standard direct-from-comics reprints. The book’s pages are thick and the hardcover has a nice glossy finish. No slipcase or dust jacket on the volume I purchased, though… So I assume this is the way they all came. It’s a classy look– so the book doesn’t need either.
The only reason I didn’t buy Vol 2 of The Heap: Each one of these Phantom Lady and Heap hardcovers are limited to only 1,700 copies WORLDWIDE. By the time I figured out what they were… Heap Vol 1 had long since sold out.
this was my weekly stack trades i splurged for
locke and key 3
the goon 12
iron fist the last iron fist story DAVID AJA!!!
thor the mighty avenger the complete addition
and not yet shipped but paid for
hawkeye vol 1 my life as a weapon DAVID AJA!!!
Every single one of the books was a GREAT buy, Kuru!