It certainly has been some time since we’ve looked into the world of comic books and what some of the better series are. These last few months have been a whirlwind of comic book events and stories that have proven why this is the best medium to create narratives in.

Marvel Comic books have been pushing forward with their Marvel NOW! line of series. It’s given us some of the best superhero stories that I’ve read in recent history.

DC Comics have pushed forward in large spades with their Batman line and are prepping for Superman to be its next big thing with the movie. This is done by having their top writer and artist, Geoff Johns and Jim Lee, launch what could be the biggest book of the year, “Superman: Unchained”.

Over on the independent side of things, Image Comics has reached new heights with “The Walking Dead” comic and television show, which has become a juggernaut in its own right. Following that, with a multitude of new mini-series and fantastic new writers, Image is showing that you don’t have to be a superhero to have a long lasting life in the comic books.

Comic books are truly the ultimate story telling medium.

Which is why I needed to think about what to do with this column. For a long time, trying to find time to sit and read felt like it could not be done. Within my third year of teaching, it felt like the workload was increased tenfold. Who knew? Teaching is tough.

But that’s not what this is about. This is about why comics are great. And if they are, then they should be read. Simple enough conclusion.

Once I realized that, it was easy enough to find the time.

If I can, then anyone can.

So, I decided to change around the format of this column and how it’s used to spread the good word of comics. I want people to read and experience a different kind of story. Something they’ve never experienced before.

With that, the column will now be used as a grand read through column. In the hopes that people will pick up new stories to read, I’ll be disclosing the stories I am reviewing the week before. If they wish to read along with me, then they can take part in the discussion and offer what they thought about the comic.

If they are unable to, then they can still check out the column because it’ll be done in the format of a review/preview. I’ll be discussing the positives of what makes the story amazing and, most importantly, why it matters.

Cover to Volume 1. This is our book next week.

Starting next week, we’ll be doing an extended look at perhaps the most influential comic writer of the last 30 years: Alan Moore.

Whether or not his fame is warranted, we’ll see. To begin we’ll look at perhaps his most famous work of late: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Volume 1.

Yes, it was a movie. Yes, the movie was not the great. Yes, the book is better than the movie.

Good to be back. See you next week.

In addition to writing for the column “Comic Matters” for the Tucson Citizen, Bobby Acosta is also a 5th Grade Elementary school teacher, employee and frequenter of Heroes & Villains Comics/Game Store, and explorer of the importance of comics. He recommends each and every comic he writes about.

Contact him at comicmatters@gmail.com

Follow him on Twitter.