Filler Up, Please

 Before finally learning the password to my hospital's wifi, I've tried passing the time through reading.  But no matter what the material, I never finished what I've started (story of my life).  So what better way to kick off the blog's book section.

First Blood by David Morrell

From recording and watching the films on my DVR to playing the DLC character in Mortal Kombat, Rambo has become one of my all-time favorite action star (next to Clint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry" Callihan).  So of course I wanted to read the book that started it all.  The plot is basically the same:  The troubled Vietnam vet wanders into a sleepy middle-American town, gets arrested over a minor infraction, breaks out out of jail and singlehandedly holds off the sheriff, the state police and the National Guard.  

Having more leeway in print than in the movies, the story is significantly more graphic and psychological with the action and characters respectively.  What really stood out personally is the foreword by Morrell, in which he implies that neither side of the war--the soldiers who fought it and those who rejected them upon coming home--are necessarily right.  But one can imagine that with millions of dollars poured into production and millions more at stake, the films need to give viewers someone to root for.  At this point, I might pick up First Blood from the top (again) for a more substantial critique.

Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell by Karen DeYoung

Moving on to my second book--before actually finishing my first--this was on a shelf of books available to guest of the hospital, and it piqued my interests after just hearing of the death of the former Secretary of State last year.  By the time I was halfway done, I've forgotten more about Powell than I've ever cared to learn, from his upbringing in a family of Jamaican immigrants to his remarkable military career to his time in the White House.  After reading bit by bit, the inevitable happened and I've moved on to more pressing business as my stay wound down.  Maybe one day I'll buy my own copy and be done with it, but that day hasn't quite come yet.

Spider-Man: Life Story Annual #1 by Chip Zdarsky and Mark Bagley

I've barely flipped through my copy of Spider-Man: Life Story before hearing of this spinoff.  Not wanting to double-dip on a digital copy, I saw this as something of an access point to the main story without really spoiling anything.  Whereas Life Story follows Spidey as he ages in real time, Annual focuses on those whose lives are affected by the wallcrawler, specifically arch-nemesis J. Jonah Jameson.

Trying to 'tie up' Jonah's history with Spidey in a neat little bow . . .

Annual deals with the ramifications of Jonah's campaign against the webslinger.

And his redemption.  A short but sweet companion piece, one can only hope Annual #1 will be the first of more Life Stories.

With all the gaming and websurfing I've done, this concludes how I spent my time away from home.  Tune in next time for more gaming, more reading and hopefully, more plastic models as I limp my way back to the Top of the Heap.