I read this book for the first time in 2009 and was very impressed. It was one of the first superhero stories I really connected to and it lead me to search out both other weird experimental superhero stuff ( Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E., Hellboy, Kabuki ) and other books by Gabriel Ba ( De:Tales, Daytripper). It's gorgeously drawn and colored and absolutely packed with wackiness.

I happened to be hanging out with a friend Netflix surfing the day the new Umbrella Academy TV show, based on elements of both book 1 and 2, was released. We ended up watching all 10 episodes in one day. I love the adaptation they've brought to film- it follows the same basic plot arc, but the emotional relationships between the siblings have all been deepened, and motivations are more fully explained. Their shared trauma and real connection are thrilling and heartbreaking. I spent most of the last episode yelling at the characters to just HUG AND TALK ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS! I cannot recommend the show highly enough- plus it's absolutely gorgeous to look at. Netflix is clearly spending all the money they no longer need to pay in taxes very well.

After watching the show, I picked up the book to read it again (a decade after my first reading). It's still very good, but traitorously.... I like the TV show more. The comic book has all the broad strokes, but the TV version as time to flesh them out and let moments linger. And how I wish they'd linger even longer. I already want season 2.