Officially part of Wasteland history

In the midst of reading Wasteland Vol. 10, Last Exit for the Lost, which I recently bought along with Vol. 11, Floodland, I happened to pick up the latter and have a look at the critics blurb section on the back cover.  And guess what I found?  A blurb from Comics Reader.

Yeah, this blog.  (It's since been slightly rechristened as Comics Readr, of course.)  From me.

The blurb comes from my review for Wasteland #58, two before the final issue of the series.  I got both volumes at my final visit to Zimmies, the comics shop I frequented in Lewiston, Maine, off and on for some twenty years.  I had requested they order the volumes for me, and it was only when I was getting ready to leave the shop for the last time before heading off to Virginia (and then Florida) in the midst of a hasty transition period that I remembered to ask if they'd come in.  They had, of course. 

I spent some time talking with the store owner about Wasteland (which I had had to get special-ordered to read in its final issues, too).  Now that the series is complete and all its collections are available, it may be easier than ever to spread word about it.  Whether from my influence or not, the store was now carrying the first couple volumes already.

Most of the collections feature a blurb from Warren Ellis, apparently the most famous fan of the series (in addition to being an acclaimed comic book writer), plus critical voices offering Wasteland praise.  As long as Wasteland was being published I wrote about comic books in one venue or another.  By the time I started this blog, Wasteland had become increasingly hard to find stocked in an actual comic book store without a specific request.  I've read about half the series in collections and the other half in the original serialized format.  It turned out to be a very good thing to read the final issues directly, because it allowed me to spread the word about Wasteland again.

And yes, to be excerpted as a blurb, but also as a voice for writer Antony Johnston and other invested parties to have come across.  The blurb reads:

"Epic, epic stuff...One for the ages."

Whether for potential readers or to the creators of Wasteland, it's a statement that speaks directly to what I've longed believed, that this was an effort that deserves special distinction.  Other than Ellis, a lot of the other blurbs come off as if it's "merely" worth reading or good for existing fans.  I don't think that quite encapsulates the achievement, especially in its operatic conclusion.  So I'm glad to have provided the statement that suggests something greater.