It’s Saturday once again, and that must mean it’s time for Weekend Reading 49!

As usual, we’re holing up in Stately Beat Manor to spend the weekend lost in a good book. What will you be reading this week? Let The Beat know in the comment section or on social media @comicsbeat!

Weekend Reading 49
Weekend Reading 49: Seed to Harvest and Power Pack

AVERY KAPLAN: Thanks to a trip to Torpedo Comics inspired by last weekend’s Pokémon GO Kanto Tour event, I’ve not got 3 issues of the current Power Pack run to read by Ryan North, Nico Leon, Rachelle Rosenberg, and Travis Lanham. And as far as prose goes, I’ll be reading Mind of my Mind, the second novel in the Patternist series by Octavia E. Butler. The first book in the series, Wild Seed, was my introduction to Butler’s writing, and I subsequently took a detour into The Parable of the Sower, The Parable of the Talents, and Xenogenesis. However, now that I have Seed to Harvest, an edition collecting all four of the Patternist novels, I’m excited to read the next entry in the narrative that kindled my interest in one of the greatest favorite speculative fiction authors.

Weekend Reading 49
Weekend Reading 49: Siege and Storm

THERESE LACSON: With the coming release of Netflix’s Shadow and Bone, I have been making my way through Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse novels. After finishing the first book in her series, Shadow and Bone, on audiobook. I’m excited to move on to the sequel Siege and Storm. Although it looks like the first season of the show will cover the first book, it also will include characters from Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology. Bardugo has a richly descriptive prose and I’m excited to explore more of the world she’s created. Given that the Grishaverse has a plethora of books, a trilogy and two duologies, I’ll have plenty to keep me busy by the time April rolls around.

Weekend Reading 49
Weekend Reading 49: Hardware

TAIMUR DAR: It’s the last weekend of Black History Month so I’d be remiss if I didn’t include some Dwayne McDuffie work for Shut in Theater duringFebruary, particularly with the Milestone relaunch news. Seems fitting then to check out some of Dwayne’s original Milestone works such as Hardware, Icon, and Static. And even though I already ready it within the last year, rereading Static Shock: Rebirth of the Cool for good measure!

Weekend Reading 49
Weekend Reading 49: Rest in Peace

BILLY HENEHAN: I’m really getting my money’s worth from the Libby app (just kidding, it’s free). This weekend, I’m reading the final two volumes of The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Stefano Guadiano and Cliff Rathburn. I don’t know why it took me so long to sit down and finally read these last two volumes of the series. I think the longer I put it off, the longer it felt like there was still new The Walking Dead out there for me to read.

Weekend Reading 49: The First Kingdom
DEAN SIMONS: This weekend I am reading Jack Katz’ stunning The First Kingdom (Titan Books) which reminds me of reading 1970s Fantasies (especially the Moorcock variety) but with immensely detailed artwork. Some might blanch at the cleavage and nudity but once you overlook that, you are reading a dense epic work of comics storytelling. Oh and i am also reading the Pokemon manga in celebration of Pokemon Day. It is a very fun aside.