Happy New Year! Our staff has some goals for our personal comics consumption in 2023, and we want to encourage y’all to do the same! So, each day this week, we’ll be sharing some of our thoughts and goals for the next 12 months. We’d love you to continue the conversation in the comments or on social media.
Question #2: In 2023, I want to read less/fewer…
Jaina Hill: …crossover events. In 2022, it really felt like Marvel figured out how to make a crossover read decently. They really cracked the code. “Devil’s Reign” was great, as was “Judgment Day.” Enough! Now that they’ve perfected the formula, it’s time to make events scarce again, so that they really feel like you know, a big event.
Kate Kosturski: …of things that do not bring me joy. Now, there will be moments I have to read things for review that I will not enjoy, and that’s a different story. But if I pick up a series just for fun, dig in to a few issues, and it doesn’t captivate me after the first two or three issues, I need to put it down and not feel guilt about doing so. It may be the hottest story of 2023, the one that everyone in comics can’t stop talking about, but if it’s not something I can’t stop talking about, I don’t need to waste my time on it. Like I said in my previous resolution, I need to balance my free time more effectively, and that includes not spinning my wheels.
Mark Tweedale: …singles. I’m really not a fan of the format and I generally find I enjoy a comic so much more in its collected form. But I still read singles to “stay in the loop,” and I feel like in the process I’m diminishing books I would have enjoyed so much more. Last year I waited till the first collection of “Little Monsters” was out before I started reading and I’m so glad I did. It’s just so much better.
Brian Salvatore: …stuff that feels like homework. I alluded to this yesterday, but there are weeks when the only comics I read are things that I ‘have’ to, and sometimes my enjoyment can dip because it feels more like a chore than a hobby. I want to read stuff that reminds me why I love comics.
And yes, I know I said the same thing last year. But I mean it this time.
Elias Rosner: …junk. Last year I said I wanted to read less junk and I want to continue that into 2023. I don’t need to read everything and I need to be OK with that. I can just skip Donny Cates’ “Hulk” or the fiftieth “Batman” mini I don’t give 2 shits about. Life will go on.
Though I gotta tell my brain that first.
Ryan Fitzmartin: …horror comics. I’ve been keeping up with so many, but it’s narrowed my view of such a broad industry. There’s so many great comics out there and I want to broaden my horizons.
Robbie Pleasant: …comic I’m not excited about but feel I “have to” keep up with. My backlog of unread comics continues to grow, and it makes me wonder why I even feel the need to read things like the “Alien” and “Predator” comics if I’m just not invested in them. Nothing against the comics for those who enjoy them, but it’s okay for a thing to just not be for me.
Mel Lake: …obligation comics. By this, I mean comics I need to read for book clubs and the like. Basically in 2023, if it doesn’t spark joy, I’m going to do my best to put it down and not feel guilty about it.
