A to Z Reflections, 2013

May is here and so, A-Z is over.  As always, the opportunity to make new friends and enjoy their alphabetical explorations has been wonderful.  A big thank you to all on the A-Z team for another fine year.

Some final comic book thoughts: given how little advance planning went into selecting my scavenger hunt comics, I've been both surprised and delighted by a few exceptional finds.  I felt all five of the following were strong enough to inspire further exploration of their series:

Atlas
Louis Riel
Next Men
Pathfinder
Yummy Fur

Less surprising, at least to me, is that three of the titles are published by Drawn & Quarterly, a Montreal-based outfit which specializes in offbeat comics and graphic novels.  They also operate a bookstore in Montreal which has become our family favorite.

As much fun as the challenge provided, it's also nice to get back to regular programming.  I hope you'll all come back to visit for Family Movie Night and Baseball Tunes next week.  Also, I've started a bloggers' book club which is holding its first "meeting" on Friday, May 31st.  See details here.

Be sure to check out the A-Z reflections of other participants. You'll find the bloghop list here.

See you 'round the 'sphere!

A Comic Book Scavenger Hunt, A-Z: Atlas

Title: Atlas
Issue: #1
Release: 2001
Writer and Artist: Dylan Horrocks
Store: Drawn & Quarterly (Montreal, Quebec)

Image via I have good books

My scavenger hunt was pretty straight-forward: find single-issue comic books off the rack with titles starting from A-Z.

Atlas was a great find and the perfect way to kick off the challenge.  Dylan Horrocks, a New Zealand comics artist, is his own main character as he searches for information on Emil Kopen, a legendary comics artist from Cornucopia (artist and country are both fictional as far as I can tell).  This issue also includes "There Are No Words in My Mouth," a powerful, to-the-point story about a Jewish woman during the Holocaust, using only images and empty word bubbles.  Cartoonist James Kochalka, a Vermonter, also contributed a story: "Letter to Hicksville: 'Schoolbus.'"

Go check out the rest of the participants in this year's A-Z challenge.  The official site is here.

As today is A Day, it's also a fine time to honor Arlee Bird, the mastermind behind the A-Z Challenge.  Be sure to visit him at Tossing It Out today to thank him.

At least two of my real world friends are taking on the challenge this year.  Go check them out:

Mock is blogging about movies at What's up, MOCK?
Mrs. Mock has cooked up a storm and is posting the results, recipes included at Exclamation Point (!)

My Wife is not doing A-Z this year but she is launching a new project of her own: a reading of Dickens's The Pickwick Papers.  Follow her progress at Wikes! Hikes on the Long Trail.