A post Spider world
I forgot to mention it, I think, but I finished the TransMetropolitan series, all sixty issues. I can't recommend these books enough, Warren Ellis did an amazing job with the writing and Darick Robertson's artwork was astounding, these guys made an excellent team and they put together a great set of stories. Even if you've never seriously considered comic books before, then I say put down your prejudice and try these books! Expand your horizons and worship at the church of Jerusalem.
If you're a comic noob like me, then I will tell you that this series is rough and, more oft than not, very disturbing, both artistically and graphically. But if you're a little twisted and not easily offended, then I imagine that you'd enjoy the stories a great deal.
What I read influences how I write, like most of you I'm sure, and TransMet certainly twisted my brain around and bid me to write in ways I never had before. Now, whether this was good or bad I don't know, I guess you can be the judge of that. I don't like to judge my own work or rate it in categories, because I'm not confident in what I put down and so I always think, "Wow, this is a great bit of writing, well, for me anyway." I will say though that Mr. Ellis' writing has made me try to write more intensely, more sharply, though admittedly, it's easier to do with the aid of booze and smokes. I've enjoyed the influence that TransMet had on me and thankfully Ellis has a pretty large volume of work, so I can continue to be warped by his influence.
Now I worry more about overdoing it too much, but like everything I seem to run in cycles, so I invariably will switch to a different gear. Of course, as I move on to a new read my influences will change and hopefully that will help me continue to improve. I make the assumption that what I've been doing lately is an improvement, but it feels like it has been.
