I’ve been getting back into the world of comics of late, and have been duly impressed by Brian Wood’s (writer) and Riccardo Burchielli’s (artist) DMZ. Set in the near future, the United States is in the middle of it’s second civil war. The graphic novel follows Matty, a journalist, as he is stranded on the island of Manhattan… the DMZ. Story and art both top-notch.

Jeff Somer’s Electric Church is a rough, gritty, and violent look at the future… where cyborg “monks” offer the promise of immortality. But at what cost? Very entertaining… and a very fast read. I’m looking forward to more from Jeff Somers.

Nothing like a week’s vacation to get caught up on one’s diversions. I picked up a volume 3 of Ex-Machina a while back, and only recently found volumes one and two. Interesting story… politics meets super-powers, with excellent artwork.

Recently finished Jihad in Brooklyn, a harrowing, true account of how a disasterous subway suicide bombing was thwarted by the NYPD.

More info here.

While I’ll didn’t extactly read David McCullough’s biography of this founding father (I listened very intently to it on my iPod) I found it nonetheless a stunningly interesting accout of John Adams’ life and the tremendous service he provided an emerging nation. My only question is… Why is it that John Adams’ image graces no US currency?

I picked up this 1000-page book at the airport a while back… and I’ve been slowly plodding through it on and off over the last couple months. Immensley enjoyable. Richly detailed. Everything and more you would expect from an account of the restoration of English magic at the dawn on the 19th century. Did I mention incredibly richly detailed?

I’ve been a bit behind on my diversions… but this is a particularly nice one (courtesy of my Christmas gift-cards!). Jon Foster is an astoundingly remarkable illustrator working mostly in the fantasy/sci-fi realm. Revolution showcases his work in both traditional and digital media. Really great stuff.

Back in the day, for a short while anyway, I was fairly into Korn. My interest was piqued of late when I heard that guitarist “Head” had found God and quit the band… then piqued again when I came across his autobiography a week or so ago. I don’t know that I’ve ever read a book in one sitting, but I did so with this one.

This is an account of a little-publicized battle at the beginning of the first Gulf War, in which the coast town of Khafji, Saudi Arabia, was overrun by Iraqi armored divisions.

Vibrant and detailed, these recountings convey the overwhelming confusion, the miscommunication, and fog of war… and the courage and strength of those who edured it all.

Everyone know about Abraham Lincoln, Right? I though I did… before I listened to Doris Kearns Goodwin’s account of Lincoln’s Presidency. I guess I just never paid much attention (or even noticed) what a masterful politician he was (using that term in the oft-neglected positive sense of the word). From how he ascended to the forefront of the Republican Party with his winning of the nomination for the Presidency, to the skillful knitting together of his cabinet (consiting primarily of his politcal rivals) to his truly great leadership during the darkest years of the United States… Verily awe-inspiring.