Graphic Content
By Wally Flores Jr.

As I prepare to move into 2014, I have to prepare for the cutting of a number of titles in the next few months. My current reality simply requires it. I'm hoping to have my current reading habits cut into about half (financially). Still, one of the things I will have to do is enable myself some level of flexibility. If I simply draw a hard line in the sand I'll end up frustrating myself in the long run because I'll end up feeling like I'm missing out on things. I've decided that the best way for me to prepare for this is to acknowledge those factors that stir up an instant urge to start reading. Characters/Teams

These are the titles that I've decided to start reading monthly even though things have gotten tighter financially. Black Panther - I've been into the Black Panther (T'Challa specifically) since Christopher Priest's run that started back in the initial era of Marvel Knights. He was my primary reason for reading New Avengers. Now, while I've dropped that title (because I feel the main story has basically been abandoned) I will still keep my eye out for the Black Panther to appear elsewhere. Deadpool - I've been with Deadpool since the start of his original mini-series. While his current primary title is often very shaky in my eyes in regards to consistent quality, I pretty much pick up all the different mini-series that continue to pop-up with him in them. My commitment to his main title waivers at times. Green Lantern - IThe character/concept of Green Lantern is where the majority of my love of comics lies. With that, I always check out expansions of that character's corner of the DC Universe. I even did it with Larfleeze's self-named title. I only stuck with it for six issues, but it was my love of all things Green Lantern that got me to check it out in the first place. Metal Men - The Metal Men were the focus of one of the small digests I happened to have as a kid, and I immediately found myself loving the characters. While I don't get everything they may pop-up in as guest characters, I will continue to pick up any mini-series that focuses on the characters. As Geoff Johns is about to introduce the New 52 versions of the characters I'll be on the lookout for the characters having their own title for a time (mini or ongoing). Quantum & Woody - This is another interest that is rooted in the writing of Christopher Priest. When the new title started I added it to my pull file without hesitation. As it turns out, Priest is returning to the characters' original incarnation in another title. Again, no hesitation in adding the title to my pull file. If a third series somehow pops up, I'll get that too. New Warriors - If there is ever a new title that starts up with the name of the New Warriors I always give the title a shot. The original title is still my all-time favorite. So, with a new title starting up shortly I will be checking it out.   Writers

Nathan Edmondson - I really didn't know who Edmondson was before he started writing Grifter. I enjoyed what he was trying to do with the character, and then he happened to come to the local comic shop that was here at the time. It was there that I talked comics with him and picked up the trade of Who is Jake Ellis? and the first issue of The Activity. I was hooked. I've followed his writing since then (including short stories for DC and Marvel) and will now be making my first commitment to the Black Widow and the Punisher due to him. I will also be looking into anything else he might choose to do. Geoff Johns - While I may not enjoy or endorse everything that Johns currently writes, I've looked into pretty much everything he currently writes. This is a carryover from how much I enjoyed his writing during his time on JSA and The Flash. He's handled a lot of characters since then and I think that other than his time handling Superman (as I didn't really enjoy the character until recently) I've picked up what he's worked on for at least a short time. Christopher Priest - Christopher Priest created my interest in Black Panther, he created Quantum and Woody, and picked up the comedy ball after Joe Kelly. The man consistently crafts stories and handles characters in a way that I thoroughly enjoy. J. Michael Straczynski - Reading what JMS writes is a must for me 90% of the time. Sometimes he takes on characters that I don't care about (his Spider-Man run was one of those cases), but the majority of the time I'm picking up what he's writing. While I won't be getting the new Twilight Zone series on a monthly basis, I will be picking up the trades that come out. I've already committed to that. In all honesty, I just want to sit down and read the whole story in one sitting. I'm afraid I'll go nuts waiting for monthly issues. Brian K. Vaughan - I was late to reading the kinds of stories that Vaughan crafts. I didn't start reading his work until Ex Machina. Now I check out whatever he writes by default. Of course, if he were to ever do something that caused a negative impact to Saga I might have to rethink that.   You may be expecting me to give a list of artists, but there are no artists that I have committed to as I have with characters or writers. There are artists that will get me to wonder about a comic, but I'm just one of those people that believe a story cannot survive on art alone. I've gotten through some titles that had artists that I really am not that fond of just because of my interest in the character or writer. However, if you do add an artist I happen to like to a writer I like, then I'm much more likely to check out the title. When I start trimming the fat with this next order I place, it's not going to be easy. Everything I read, I enjoy. I wouldn't be reading it otherwise. Still, reality is something that can't be avoided. As long as I work with the things that tend to end up with a "no-brainer" response from me (okay, it's a mindless reaction) then I will be able to not only trim what I read to a manageable level, I'll be able to keep it as a manageable level.

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