My name is Darryl, and I am a bookworm.
Yes, it's true. I read as much as I write. And this month, I have read/am reading quite a few hefty books, and a number of less hefty comic books as well, among them two books in the series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin and a comic book called The Flash published by DC Comics.
They are the second and third books in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, and among the thickest books I've ever read in my life (easily weighing in at a thousand-odd pages-- each). And they're both damn good.
While the series is classified as fantasy, it has more in common with medieval times than magical events. The series has a lot of politicking (sort of a medieval Tom Clancy) though, a lot of drama, and will often leave you quite frustrated at the humanity (as everyone makes mistakes-- lots and lots of mistakes at that!) of the characters in the book. I am amazed at how real George R. R. Martin has fleshed out his characters.
I must warn you though, there are a lot of major characters (each chapter is named after and focuses on a major character) and a bazillion minor characters, all of them affecting the ongoing storyline. It isn't all that difficult to lose yourself in the sea of characters that George R. R. Martin presents. And don't be surprised if you often find yourself loving then hating the characters in the series. There is no clear-cut black and white in these books. Not all the good guys are good and not all the bad guys are bad.
It reminded me of the movie Heat, where the bad guy was likeable, and the good guy was disagreeable. It's like that. Only with more characters. And more complicated.
If you're ready to move away from the Harry Potter-type fantasy novels, give Terry Goodkind and/or Robert Jordan a try. When you're through, you'll be quite ready to tackle the considerably more meaty and mature fantasy world of George R. R. Martin.
In short: Martin's books are definitely better than Tolkien's. Tolkien's books were boring (but translated very well to movie form though). Martin's aren't. The material's on the more heavy side though, so be prepared.
In my life I've read really heavy stuff (say The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky), and I've read really light stuff (like the instructions off a microwave dinner box). And believe it or not, I found them both interesting on some level. Well, maybe not as much the microwave dinner box.
I guess my point is that I appreciate literature in all it's forms. I don't discriminate when it comes to my reading material.
Some people have a tendency to write off comic books for many reasons, and I've heard them all. Comic books are for kids. When will you grow up and stop reading comic books? Comic books aren't worth the paper they're printed on!
Well, it's just not true. Comic books are not only for kids (there are comic books with very adult themes-- and I'm not talking about sex here). They aren't just shallow entertainment (quite a few deal with philosophical matters). And some comic books appreciate in value over time. (I can introduce you to a few of my comic books that now cost $20 apiece-- original value: just a little over $2).
And believe it or not, it's more difficult to write a comic book than it is to write a book. I should know. I took up a comic book writing class back in my college days (and put together a mean Sandman story).
Besides, comic books translate well into movie format. Just check out this summer's line-up of blockbuster movies. Most of them have roots in comic books. Even the insanely popular The Matrix trilogy has comic book roots (it was originally written as one, and was heavily influenced by them).
And with that obligatory defense/explanation, let me talk about a comic book title I'm currently enjoying: The Flash.
What do you need to know about The Flash? Well, he runs really really fast, wears a red costume with a yellow lightning bolt logo, and is a superhero. He hangs out with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman in the Justice League. And I'd like to say that that's pretty much it.
Except that the comic book has so much more interesting stuff going on.
Recently, a reverse-Flash has just been introduced in the current storyline who possibly has similar powers to the title's protagonist, and is rumored to really shake things up for the hero in time for the 200th issue this July (and believe it or not, I have all the back issues-- that's over a decade and a half's worth of The Flash for you!)
And I, for one, plan to be right there along for the ride.
