Read This, Too! :: Blog Crossover Event!

Here at Toyriffic I tend to focus on toys (duh,) but that doesn't stop me from periodically pushing my opinion on other pop culture items such as TV, movies, comic books etc.

So when a group of bloggers got together to blog about what they are reading in the comic book realm beyond the monthly 'big-two' superhero stuff, I decided I needed to jump in as I was already reading THIS:

Being a comic book and all around pop culture geek, I had known about Scott Pilgrim for years. But I never took any interest in the graphic novels. I looked at the simplistic, manga inspired pictures and bright covers and assumed there was nothing in between those covers of interest to me and my refined tastes.

Boy was I wrong!

Of course it wasn't until the movie came out and the previews enticed me that I started to change my tune. Then I saw the movie and absolutely fell in love with the world of Scott Pilgrim. It is a shame more people didn't see the movie, but I am going to go out on a limb and say it's going to do very well when it hits DVD/Blu-Ray on Nov. 9th, and it is certain to be a cult classic for years to come.

If you haven't seen it, do so as soon as possible!

I loved the movie so much, in fact, that after seeing it I wanted more. Lucky for me my library had Scott Pilgrim Vols 1-5 (of 6) and after voraciously blowing through them (I have just finished Vol. 5,) I'll probably buy Vol. 6 and eventually buy them all; they're worth owning for sure.

The Volumes all tell their own story but lead into each other with the common thread of Ramona Flowers' 'Evil Exes.' The art is deceptively 'simple' but there is real complexity to it; Bryan O'Malley truly has a gift when it comes to graphic storytelling.

Cute and sexy and funny and fun, Scott Pilgrim's world is like none other. The music, comic book, video game and other pop culture references are smarter and better presented than anything 'Robot Chicken' or 'Family Guy' could ever dream of putting forth, and the romantic plot is laid out in a way that guys from my generation can really relate to without feeling icky because we're essentially reading a love story.

Even if you've seen the movie there's tons more content in the graphic novels for you to digest, while at the same time it's an absolute blast seeing the original art and story and grasping the beauty and mastery of the comic-to-film translation.

If there was ever a graphic novel that cried out to be made into a film, it is Scott Pilgrim.



And while I'm at it, I also highly recommend the movie soundtrack. Tons of great tunes.

Interested in reading more? Good! Check out the lesser-known titles reviewed in these other blogs and "Read These, Too!":

• Adam Strange at It's A Dan's World
• American Vampire at Doom Patrol
• Astro City at Speed Force
• Booster Gold and Zatanna at Red Tornado's Path
• Essential Man-Thing at Firestorm Fan
• Forgetless at Girls Gone Geek
• Franklin Richards digests at Once Upon a Geek
• Glamourpuss at Being Carter Hall
• Peter David's Hulk at Fortress of Baileytude
• Jonah Hex at Boosterrific
  
• Son of Tomahawk and Thor the Mighty Avenger at Aquaman Shrine
• Spelljammer at HeroPress
• Spire Christian Comics at Mail It To Team-Up
• Strange Science Fantasy at Siskoid's Blog of Geekery
• R.E.B.E.L.S. at Indigo Tribe
• The Unwritten at K-Squared Ramblings
• Welcome to Tranquility at Girls Gone Geek