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Action, adventures, alchemy and more: the best PbiA articles of 2018

Which article was your favourite?

In June this year, I published my first Paperback in Action blog post: 'Let me tell you about comics'. Since then, I've written a total of 33 entries for this site, gradually gaining new followers along the way. But which of these were the best received? Here are the the top five most popular Paperback in Action articles of 2018!

5. If you're interested in Batwoman, start with Greg Rucka

Art by J.H. Williams III

2018 saw Batwoman exposed to a whole new audience with her appearance in the CW's Elseworlds crossover and the announcement of her own TV series for the network. To direct new fans towards the best jumping-on point for the character, I did a review of Greg Rucka's excellent run, with art by J.H. Williams III and Jock. It was great to see that people had an interest in Kate Kane, and hopefully I was successful in introducing stories like Elegy and Cutter to even more readers. 

4. Looking back on the first Fullmetal Alchemist anime

Fullmetal Alchemist by Bones Inc.

One of my earliest reviews for Paperback in Action was of the original Fullmetal Alchemist TV series, based on the manga by Hiromu Arakawa. Having finished this adaptation around the same time I started blogging, I figured it'd be good to share my opinion. Five months later, I've still not watched the remake, Brotherhood, but will be diving in with high expectations when I get the chance in 2019. 

3. Going to Eastbourne? Don't miss out on Scorch Comics

Scorch Comics' old shop

When visiting Eastbourne this summer, I got the chance to visit Scorch Comics. Originally based in the sunny Enterprise Centre, this shop blew me away with its treasure trove of back issues, some even reaching as far back as the Silver Age. Scorch has since moved to a bigger and better shop, which I hope to visit in the new year and perhaps cover in a new blog post.

2. What exactly is a JoJo reference, anyway?

Art by Hirohiko Araki

My second most popular article is the second one I ever released: a feature on JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, one of my all-time favourite comic series. The JoJo franchise is hugely successful, with over 100 million copies of the manga in print, a four-season anime series, several video games and even a live-action film. Despite this, I've only ever met a few people who are fans in the UK. A mission of mine was to raise awareness of the series through my blog, while simultaneously drawing in people to read my content. 

1. Are Kryptonians stronger than Saiyans?

Art by Brett Booth and Bruno Furlani

Paperback in Action was met with a big spike in readership when I gave my thoughts on one of comics' most enduring debates: would Superman or Goku win in a fight? I approached this not by comparing the latest and greatest feats each character has displayed, but by analysing the fundamental differences between the powers of Kryptonians and Saiyans. Click the link if you want to see my verdict on who's stronger, and let me know if you think my logic is sound!

Thank you to everyone who's helped get my blog off the ground by reading my posts. I hope you had a great year! Also, please check out some of my best work over at Platform Magazine.

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