Here we are, guys. 2026. This looks a lot different than I was expecting. Some real life things going on making this a little bittersweet, but I’m going to persevere. I want to talk about the books and the comics that I read last year. Normally, I’ve coasted through my reading challenge and have finished it by November where I usually just slowly walk through my reading until the New Year. This year, for the first time in a long time, I was actually chasing my number. 300 books is a big number, and due to some of the previously mentioned real life things, that made it feel like for the first time that I was trying to GET to a number, instead of just reading. And I want to change that this year.
So, you can find my reading log HERE on GoodReads. Head over there, follow me if you want. As mentioned, my Reading Challenge in 2025 was to read 300 books/comics, which I had done previously in 2024. Rather handily. As you can see here, I beat it again, but only just barely. I got 306.
But it’s not normally about the number. It just usually happens. And it felt like last year, I was chasing that number at the end of 2025. So I’m reducing my challenge this year to 275. Maybe even 250 depending on how the first few months go. I don’t want this to feel like work. I want to just read and enjoy.
Let’s look at some STATS!
These were my longest and shortest books I read last year. The shortest is the second book in Parker’s Hitch and Cole series. It’s the sequel to Appaloosa. I actually listened to that audio book. It’s read by Titus Welliver, and it’s really good. I’m not sure why it’s listed as having 4 pages. It was an audio book, that I checked out from the library. The longest book is the latest in Chris Scullion’s series of video game encyclopedias. I previously read the NES, SNES, and the Sega Genesis Encyclopedias, so I thought I’d do this one as well. However, I did not realize there were so many games made for the Game Boy. I guess I should have realized. So yes, it was nearly 1600 pages, and it took me 9 days to get through it. But it was good, as most of those encyclopedias are.
These are my most/least shelved. The books that I read in 2025 that were MOST read by other users, and the books that where the least read by other users. The most is a very popular book that I finally got around to reading last year, The Martian by Andy Weir. Very good book. I’ve read all of Weir’s books now. For the least shelved, you can’t see the title, but it’s Weird War Tales #103. I guess no one read that. I was actually reading through the first 20 or so appearances of the Creature Commandos, and that was one of them.
Okay, let’s start with the books. Here are the rules: Anything “new to me” in 2025 is eligible. No re-reads. I don’t typically read brand new 2025 books the year they came out but it happens. I think I maybe did one brand new book this year. Will it make it? Let’s find out.
Let’s look at my 5 (ish) favorite books I read in 2025.
Redshirts – John Scalzi – I read 4 Scalzi novels in 2025, and a few of his short stories. He’s quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. He starts with “big swing” ideas and just has fun with them. So for this list, my main Scalzi pick is going to be Redshirts. In Redshirts Scalzi starts with the idea of the “Redshirt” in Star Trek, but applies it to the story of the book. And it gets blown up into a gigantic Sci-Fi adventure. In many ways it reminds me of Galaxy Quest. I LOVE the big swings Scalzi makes in this book and just how much fun he has with the concept. I’m not going to say to much more about Redshirts because I want you to discover it yourself. I also want to low key add Old Man’s War to this list. I read it blindly thinking it was going to be a traditional space war story that honestly did not interest me in the slightest. I was wrong. This takes the idea of the space military opera and puts it on it’s ear. Many years in the future Earth is a part of a galactic war. But the Galaxy Defense Force is only recruiting people in their 70s to fight. The reason for that is because they transfer their minds into younger, fitter, enhanced bodies and train them as soldiers. It’s really funny, it, again as Scalzi does, has so much fun with that concept, and was a fun space adventure. It’s a really good read. I also read the sequel The Ghost Brigades, and it’s pretty good too. So I’m totally digging John Scalzi lately.
The Martian – Andy Weir – So, yes, I had not read this before. I missed it when it first came out, even though I had every intention of reading it. Then Weir’s second book came out, Artemis, so I read that. And I did not like it. Then I was less enthusiastic to go back to Martian. Plus I’d seen the movie, which I loved, so I thought, “I don’t need to read it now.” Then I read Project Hail Mary, loved it, and then I got hot to read The Martian again, so I did this year. And man, it’s great. I love Watney’s running commentary. I love Weir’s obstacle course of catastrophic failures he gives Watney to overcome. There’s lots of character humor. I really really loved this book. Now I want to go back and re-read Project Hail Mary, especially with the movie about to come out.
Appaloosa – Robert Parker – So I had seen this movie when it was released on home video. Really liked it. My mother in law actually read the books and she said she really liked them. So these had been on my “to read” list for a while. My library finally got the audio books, which are read by Titus Welliver, so I downloaded those and listened. So yes, this was an audiobook. And it’s GREAT. These books were great anyway, but having Titus Welliver’s voice just made them that much better. So perfect. I also listened to the second book, Resolution, also read by Titus Welliver. Also great. Both books’ stories utilize very cliched western plots, but what really makes these books awesome are the main characters, Hitch and Cole. The dialogue, and they way they get out of trouble is just so good. I got the third book on deck. Unfortunately I’ll have to read that one as my library doesn’t have the audiobook. But I have no doubt I’m going to love it.
ST: Picard stories – So I did a whole Star Trek: Picard thing in 2025. I wanted to rewatch Season 3, so I decided to rewatch Season 1, which I didn’t originally like, and also watch Season 2 for the first time. And THEN rewatch Season 3. So I did all of that. And you know what, I didn’t hate Season 1 the second time. It has problems. 100%. I don’t love it. But it was fun. I really liked Michelle Hurd and the return of Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine. So after rewatching all of Picard, I found there were some books out there that took place right after Picard Season 1. And one of them was an audio book that featured Michelle Hurd and Jeri Ryan as their characters. I think it’s more of an audio play, not an adaptation of a book. And it’s GREAT. I really really liked it. Also in this series was a Seven of Nine-centric book by David Mack called Firewall. It tells what happened to Seven after returning from Voyager and all the hurdles she had to jump to rejoin Starfleet. And where that took her. Both of these are GREAT. I haven’t read any of the other Picard books of which there are 3 or 4, but these 2 alone were enough for me.
All Our Wrong Todays – Elan Mastai – So, you guys know me, I’m a sucker for time travel books. And that’s what this is. So I read it. Reluctantly, though, because if you read the reviews, they are all over the place. Having read it, I get that response. The book is about an alternate universe where it’s 2016, but their 2016 looks like TomorrowLand; jet packs, flying cars, and teleportation. The protagonist of the book is sent back in time accidentally to a pivotal point in his universe’s history and he, again accidentally, makes one small change. When he returns to 2016 it looks like our 2016. No cool sci-fi gadgets, and greedy corporations. So now he has to figure out what happened and how to fix it. That’s the basic premise. There’s a LOT more going on here. This book digs into the details of why that universe’s 2016 was so different from ours. I found that fascinating. I think where a lot of people were having the issue is with the hero, Tom. He’s not really likable through the first 2/3 of the book. It ultimately works out, but you never really warm up to him. I can totally see why that’s a problem for people. However, the story, the background to the tech that everyone is after, and the plan to make things right, were all super interesting and fun and that is what kept me going. Even if Tom was kind of a selfish jerk throughout a lot of the story. Go in knowing that, and that the story isn’t really Tom’s story, it’s bigger than that. Really really good book.
Well, those are the books I’m saying were my favorite reads in 2025. Now, let’s take a look at the comics! Pretty much the same rules apply to comics as the novels.
Trinity: Daughter of Wonder Woman by Tom King – I also want to point you towards the Trinity: Generation S collection. But I think I’ve talked about that collection. This entry is a 6 issue mini about three versions of Trinity (aged 9, 14, 18) going off on a mission to capture Jon Kent and Damien Wayne who have been turned into Corgi puppies and escaped into time. That sounds completely absurd when I say it out loud. I know. But this mini is SO MUCH fun, and so sweet, and you get to learn a little bit more about Trinity. I get so much joy out of reading it. I’ve read it a couple times already.
Absolute Wonder Woman by Kelly Thompson – I’m okay with the Absolute line. Superman is different, but not really in any interesting way to me. Batman is not very different to me in any way. And The Flash is good, but a little confusing because the story is fast and all over the place. Absolute Wonder Woman sort of strikes the perfect balance of; This is Wonder Woman, you know her, but we’ve made a few changes that make her that much more interesting. I love this title. Absolute Wonder Woman is a magic user. She was raised by Circe in Hel. It’s just really cool and interesting, and this Wonder Woman is also cool and interesting, and smart, and empathetic. I love her, and I love this title. I’ve read through the first 14 issues. I think in issue 15 Absolute Batman shows up, but I’m not sure how I feel about that.
All Star Superman by Grant Morrison/Frank Quitely – I’m late to the party on this one. I do like Grant Morrison, but I’ve never really been a fan of Frank Quitely’s very soft art. However, I’d heard that James Gunn used All Star Superman, at least partially, as an inspiration for his Superman movie. So after enjoying the movie quite a bit I decided to give it a read. And I enjoyed it more than I expected. Quitely’s art manages to work here because this book is one giant nostalgic trip through Superman’s history. And Quitely’s style makes it feel vintage and timeless. There are several vignettes here that call back to Superman’s Silver Age adventures and it even evokes the Fleischer cartoons at various points. Really really enjoyed this.
Superman and the Legion of Superheroes by Geoff Johns/Gary Frank – After I finished Morrison/Quitely’s magnum opus, I decided to delve into some of Geoff Johns’ and Gary Frank’s Superman run, which I’d never read. This story is really good. Powerful. Superman is sent into the future, the 31st century, to see what has become of his friends in the Legion, and the legacy of Superman. And what he discovers is a totalitarian, anti-alien society that has changed the story of Superman to further their own agenda. It’s harrowing. It’s triggering. Especially in today’s political climate. But it’s really good, especially seeing Superman confront this regime and how he rallies everyone to go up against it. Check those trigger warnings, but I highly recommend this.
The New Marvel Ultimate Universe – I was a big fan of the original Ultimate Universe. So I was intrigued by Marvel trying to reboot it. In November over the break, I decided to give it a shot starting with the Ultimate Invasion one shot. I really liked how it started to build itself using the Maker as the main villain, and I wound up reading right through Ultimate Spider-Man volumes 1-2 and The Ultimates volume 1. There’s lots of cool changes and updates to heroes, and the changes make sense and don’t seem to be changes for changes sake. Will definitely continue reading these. I’m still deciding if I’m going to read Black Panther or the X-Men books.
So there you go. Those are my favorite reads of 2025. I discovered lots of good stuff last year. I hope next year is as fruitful.
Hope everyone is having a great 2026 so far.
Cavalcade of Awesome 