I’m not setting a goal this year. There’ll be no “50 books by 2008″ or any such bullshit; I’m just going to read. However, I do think, simply for curiosity’s sake, that it would be interesting to keep a log of how many books I read over the course of 2007 (in full, mind you—no half-assed/half-read inclusions), with a brief rating (out of five) and succinct review. I’m including graphic novels in there because they’re books, and screw anyone who says differently. Do they tell a story? Are they bound? They’re books.

So, with that in mind and with the year a week down already, here are the first four out of the gate.

1) Charley’s War, V.1 - Pat Mills & Joe Colquhon (*****) An absolutely riviting and horrifyingly realistic depiction of life in the trenches during WWI. Anyone wanting a vivid summary of the horrors of war, the stupidity of the military and man’s inhumanity to man need look no further. Brilliant.
2) Pathfinder - Laeta Kalogridis & Christopher Shy (*) Vikings vs. North American Indians devoid of most necessary historical accuracies. Or a plausible plot. Infuriating and just generally awful.
3) DMZ: On the Ground - Brian Wood & Riccardo Burchielli (***) It’s Escape From New York for the 21st Century, and while that’s not a particularly original concept it’s solid writing (if not always spellbinding). For that and Burchielli’s evocative art (reminiscent of a less exaggerated Risso) I’ll read the next volume.
4) Whiteout: Melt - Greg Rucka & Steve Lieber (****) Greg Rucka is one of the most consistently amazing storytellers in the comic industry (and book trade) today, and Antarctic thriller Melt proves it again (though it came out several years ago) through fully realised characters and a razor-sharp plot. On top of that, Lieber’s amazing high-contrast art effortlessly recreates the South Pole. I want more Whiteout.