Let me tell you about comics

Not everybody reads comics. Nearly all people you'll meet enjoy TV, and most of them probably like gaming or a good novel. Comics, on the other hand, are a bit more niche. Sure, Marvel movies are all the range, but their popularity isn't shared by their source material.

Those who do like comic books, however, tend to be pretty passionate about them. I know I am, hence why I've set up this blog. I started with The Beano when I was small, discovered the world of manga in my early teens, and first read the seminal Watchmen but a few years ago. Think of Paperback in Action as a chronicle of all the new books I find, and a place to share my thoughts on some old favourites.

Of course, the contents of a comic book often do not remain solely within its pages for long. As previously mentioned, Marvel's heroes have sky-rocketed in popularity since they invaded the box office. So why should Paperback in Action be just about paperbacks? Posts on films, TV shows and games will all find a home here in the future, provided they're linked to the overall theme of comic-based media.

Whether you regularly read comics, or if they have just piqued your interest in the past, I invite you to follow this blog and let me tell you about comics.

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Why One Piece's Whole Cake Island Arc was a real treat

Primary antagonist Big Mom One Piece 's Wano Arc is in full swing for both the manga and the anime series, and fans of Japan's favourite comic franchise are loving all of the spectacular samurai action - but let's not forget what came before! Before Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates arrived in the Land of Wano, they were battling Emperor Big Mom on her home turf to free their chef Sanji from a forced marriage. So, looking back, just how good was the Whole Cake Island Arc ? The main thing that jumps out about Whole Cake is that it continues to burst with the creativity and flavour that make One Piece so beloved. Whole Cake Island itself is the centrepiece of an archipelago known collectively as Totto Land, each corresponding to a delicious treat, such as cheese, pie, biscuits and candy. These islands are populated by Big Mom's forces and various super-powered commanders, making it a daunting task for Luffy's rescue team to make it in and out unscathed. ...

A thank-you to Steve Ditko

The late Steve Ditko was best known for creating Spider-Man with Stan Lee, and arguably shaped the entire world of superheroes when he did. While Clark Kent was the common man, Peter Parker was the common boy, making him a character that generations of new fans could connect with. Ditko's artwork was dynamic and fun, attracting more and more readers who previously wouldn't have given comics a second glance. His work lives on through new creators, and its influence can be felt in films based on his characters, such as the recent Spider-Man: Homecoming . Steve Ditko is also strongly associated with Charlton Comics - he created Captain Atom, the Question and Ted Kord, the second Blue Beetle. These heroes served as the inspiration for the characters of Alan Moore's Watchmen , which showed the world that comics can be taken just as seriously as films and television. Ditko had no direct involvement with Watchmen , but it is another example of just how far his influence ...

Looking back on the first Fullmetal Alchemist anime

This year, the first anime adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's legendary Fullmetal Alchemist manga turns 15 years old. The 2008 remake, Brotherhood , has eclipsed its predecessor in terms of popularity and critical acclaim, but is the 2003 edition still a good show? Each series will not be compared in this review - rather, we'll be evaluating 2003's Fullmetal Alchemist solely as an adaptation of the source material. As many fans of the franchise are aware, the Fullmetal Alchemist anime began only months after the manga started. This meant that the production studio, Bones, had little material to work with, so they decided not to follow Arakawa's books panel-to-panel from start to finish. Instead, the anime ended up being a loose adaptation of the first eight volumes, with an original ending. Compared to the manga, the plot is very slow. Many of the major story beats are still there, but there are greater gaps between them, and not everything feels as if it drives ...

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