Mount TBR Challenge 2023 discussion

So it's my second year trying this challenge. I'm taking it slower this year. I've scaled Mt Wychproof and Pike's Peak. I've found the climb harder this year but still hope to reach at least the top of Mount Blanc.

6/6 Mt Wychproof reached 15/04/2023
12/12 Pike's Peak reached 12/08/2023
24/24 Mount Blanc reached 09/11/2023
43

Books bought in 2023: 41
*Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes: The Official Biography
*JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 1—Phantom Blood, Vol. 1
*First Founding
*Brutal Kunnin'
*Conquest Unbound: Stories from the Mortal Realms
*Archmage and other stories (can't find on Goodreads currently).
*Skarsnik
*Black Library Celebration 2023
*The Macharian Crusade: Angel of Fire
*Blood Noir
*The People vs. Alex Cross
*Witch Wraith
*The Elfstones of Shannara
*The Realmgate Wars: War Storm
*Murder Games
*17th Suspect
*The Great Gatsby
*Interesting Times
*Star Wars: Rogue One
*Sabbat Martyr
*Straight Silver
*Shadowsun: The Patient Hunter
*Renegades: Harrowmaster
*Outgunned
*The Infinite And The Divine
*21st Birthday
*Star Wars Omnibus - A Long Time Ago... Volumes 1-4
*Hero Of The Imperium: A Ciaphas Cain Omnibus
*Day Of Ascension
*The Day Watch
*Private Paris
*Diamonds Are Forever
*The Midnight Club
*The Beast House
*Billy Summers
*Night School
*The Walking Dead: The Fall Of The Governor Part Two

13) Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Book Of Fours by Nancy Holder
***

While it was still enjoyable, I can't say I enjoyed it this time as much I did when I originally read this years ago. The plot was a little convoluted in parts and the ending felt a little rushed. It did capture some of the spirit of the show though.

14) The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup
****

A really good atmospheric Danish crime thriller that's perfect for darkening autumn evenings.

15) Transformers: Last Stand by Bud Budiansky, Jose Delbo and Jim Fern
***

This collection from the original Marvel Comics run has some interesting curios including a story featuring multiple alien races rather than just robots and humans. It was also surprising that even back then the stories did touch on big issues, but with subtlety.

16) Transformers: All Fall Down by Simon Furman and Andrew Wildman
****

The penultimate volume of the original series run and a the start of the high stakes story of the showdown with Unicron has the Furman and Wildman duo on fine form.

17) We3 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely
**

I wanted to like this a lot more but it felt like the story was extremely rushed and so I couldn't get very invested in the characters and the plot. I think this would have benefited with being a bit longer so everything had a bit more time and space to develop more smoothly.

18) Marvel Zombies by Robert Kirkman and Sean Phillips
***
A delightfully dark tale from the creator of The Walking Dead set in an alternative universe where most heroes and villains have succumbed to a virus leaving them ravenous monsters. You'll not be able to look at heroes in the same way again.

19) Marvel Zombies 2 by Robert Kirkman and Sean Phillips
****
This collection of the second miniseries plays out as a variation on the theme of Marvel Civil War stories with the remaining monstrous heroes divided and pitted against each whilst also touching on the theme of who's worst - humans or monsters, something Kirkman's work on the Walking Dead often features. A stronger story than the first volume but you need to read that first to get the most out of this one.

20) Marvel Zombies 3 by Fred Van Lente and Kev Walker
***
A new creative team for the third volume and the story crosses to the main Marvel Earth. I enjoyed the focus on some of the machine based heroes and zombified villains instead of warped versions of heroes. However there were some continuity errors from the original story that stopped me from giving this a higher rating.

21 Marvel Zombies 4 by Fred Van Lente and Kev Walker
***
Continuing the story directly from the previous volume it continues to tell it macabre tale utilising lesser known characters in the Marvel Universe, this time more horror themed characters like Morbius and Man-Thing. This volume also has same historical tales of the original Marvel zombie, Simon Garth as a nice throw back.

22 Marvel Chillers: Spider-Man and the Mark Of The Man-Wolf by Mindy Newell
*
This should have been a fun, easy to read adaptation of a Spider-Man comic, but it felt like the writing didn't get the pacing and order of the story's "villain's" actions right. It made it hard to enjoy as was a disappointing experience.

23) Avengers: Hawkeye by Mark Gruenwald, Stan Lee, Steven Grant, John Byrne & Don Heck.
***
A solid collection of tales focusing on Hawkeye and Mockingbird. The early Mockingbird stories are a little more spy-noir whereas the Hawkeye stories are more traditional superhero fare so there's a nice variety in this book.

24) Ultimate X-Men Volume 1 by Mark Millar & Adam Kubert
****
While some people might not like the fact this is a reimagining of the X-Men or enjoy Mark Millar's writing, in my opinion this does a good job of modernising the X-Men and offering an easy start point via the Ultimate version of the Marvel Universe with visuals in line with the films at the time.

With that I've reached the top of Mount Blanc. While I'm not going to attempt another mountain in the remainder of this year I'm going to try and still reduce my TBR list a bit further before setting off again on next year's journey.

Additional reads
25) Pokemon Adventures, Volume 1: Mysterious Mew by Hidenori Kusaka & Mato
***

26) Pokemon Adventures, Volume 2: Wanted Pikachu by Hidenori Kusaka & Mato
***

27) Pokemon Adventures, Volume 3: Starmie Surprise by Hidenori Kusaka & Mato
**

28) Pokemon Adventures Volume 4: The Snorlax Stop by Hidenori Kusaka & Mato
**

29) Pokemon Adventures, Vol. 5: The Gastly Ghosts by Hidenori Kusaka & Mato
**

Fran wrote: "With that I've reached the top of Mount Blanc. While I'm not going to attempt another mountain in the remainder of this year I'm going to try and still reduce my TBR list a bit further before setti..."

Great Job, Fran! Three-plus mountains conquered. Thanks for joining me on the 2023 journey.

Bev wrote: "Fran wrote: "With that I've reached the top of Mount Blanc. While I'm not going to attempt another mountain in the remainder of this year I'm going to try and still reduce my TBR list a bit further..."

Thanks Bev and thank you for organising this. I've found this a great group to be a part of, it's not only encouraged me to organise my books so I've got a much better idea of my TBR pile but also motivated to try and read more consistency. Count my in for another climb next year!

30) Super Mario Bros - Meet the Koopa Kids by Laura Hitchcock
**

31) Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
****

32) Super Mario Bros - Battle Against Bowser by Laura Hitchcock
**

33) Super Mario - Tatanga Invades Earth by Laura Hitchcock
**

34) Super Mario Bros. - Mario's Special Powers by Laura Hitchcock
**

35) Injustice: Gods Among Us, Volume 1 by Tom Taylor,
Jheremy Raapack, Mike S. Miller, Tom Derenick & David Yardin
****

36) What If? Age of Ultron by Joe Keatinge & Raffaele Ienco
***

37) Y: The Last Man, Volume 1: Unmanned by Brian K. Vaughan & Pia Guerra
***

38) Y: The Last Man, Vol. 2: Cycles by Brian K. Vaughan & Pia Guerra
***

39) Ultimate X-Men Collection, Book 2 by Mark Millar
****

40) The Red Seas Volume 1: Under The Banner of King Death by Ian Edginton & Steve Yeowell
***

41) X4: X-Men/Fantastic Four by Akira Yoshida & Pat Lee
****

42) X-Men The Movie: Beginnings by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning & Mark McKenna
**

43) Ultimate Fantastic Four Volume 4: Inhuman by Mark Millar, Mike Carey & Jae Lee
**

Almost got another mountain under your belt!

44) K is for Killer by Sue Grafton
***