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Probably going to be starting a new job at my work [Dispatcher] that entails a lot of sitting and waiting (a lot of sitting and waiting), so I'll have plenty of time to play games, watch movies, spam-up this place, read, etc...
Never had anything against comics but never got into them either, so I wouldn't mind giving them a shot.
I'm open to anything really and have a decent comic shop in my town so if you suggest it I'll more than likely end up checking it out.
What kind of stuff do you like?
Really man, anything.
When it comes to books and movies, I'm far from a discerning individual, so I don't think it would be any different with comics.
I'm quite easily entertained.
(Obviously, I have my likes and dislikes, but when it comes to a subject such as comics that I have little-to-no experience with, I'm open with anything you suggesting something you've enjoyed and think I may too.)
Watchmen.
100 Bullets.
The Ultimates if you think you'll enjoy superhero stuff.
Well its just like picking real books, but you'd probably like Hellboy.
Non-super hero type stuff you might like are things by Clowes.
Its hard to talk about comics and avoid Marvel and DC stuff. But thats usually where the better stuff is.
(sorry herm.)
And I like Crumb and Pekar. Pekar's more recent biography type books are pretty interesting reads. From there youre off into indie land.
Oh, I recently read Mouseguard, which isnt that long, but its a beautiful short graphic story. Kind of like a medieval Rats of Nimh.
Planetary = my favorite series
Don't listen to Nesagwa.
He's sandy about superheroes because they raped his mother or something.
Here's some more shit:
Batman: The Long Halloween
Kingdom Come
Alias (from Marvel)
Preacher
Sandman
All-Star Superman
Watchmen and 100 Bullets are still at the top of my recommendation list though.
Transmetropolitan if you're into black humor.
30 Days of Night is pretty enjoyable too.
Sandman and Watchmen. Thumbs up, but talked about a little too much, I was trying to get away from that stuff :emb:
Kingdom Come is vastly over rated and poorly written. Dont listen to him. Its a super hero jerkoff fantasy.
Fuck you too, Nesagwa.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesagwa
I forgot Usagi Yojimbo.
A lot of the trades are long out of print, but it a really great comic.
The Walking Dead
of course Spider-man
Bone.
What exactly is it about Watchmen that makes it so essential?
I always see it mentioned with the greats but have never seen people explain why (I could look it up, but I know and trust you folks enough to tell me why.)
I know there's a paperback version of it available, so I'll probably be checking that out first, but I'm still kind of curious as to what makes it so great.
It's a number of things.Quote:
Originally Posted by Average Joe
Just read it.
It's brilliant.
The problem with getting into comics with Watchmen is that nothing after that will ever seem as good.
Fair enough.
I can see where you're coming from.
I'll be sure to make Watchmen a priority then.
Titles still coming out to recommend...
Astonishing X-Men
Daredevil v.2
The Long Halloween was already suggested so you may as well pick up The Killing Joke.
PS: Anyone read Hellblazer?
Cable & Deadpool
Moonknight
Ghost Rider
Cable & Deadpool is just essential to me to get my deadpool fix.
New Moonknight is just to die for imo i am just loving it. The 1st 6 can be picked up as the Collection The Bottom.
Pick up Ghost Rider Vicious Cycle, its the first 5 of the new on going Ghost Rider Series the next 6 are in acollection out next week. Road to Damnation is cool also and the prequal Trail of Tears is out in a collection soon too.
I got the Annihilation books 1 and 2 to read yet...
It's just kinda hard to explain just what makes Watchmen so good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Average Joe
It has a level of complexity and significance that is rarely seen in comic books.
I tend to overhype things a lot but I'm pretty sure that with Watchmen it's impossible to be let down.
Everyone on the planet should read the book.
What about Scud?Quote:
Originally Posted by hermegildo
I don't get why the guy never finished the series, although he's supposedly working (or maybe he already finished it?) on the final issue.
I get it, I really do.Quote:
Originally Posted by hermegildo
It's just one of those things you hear people rave about but aren't able to fully appreciate until you check it out for yourself.
I'm actually kind of excited to read it now.
I probably killed the book for you now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Average Joe
:crying:
Wasn't there a game about it?Quote:
Originally Posted by LoneSage
I have no idea.
I posted Bone because it's great and because I assumed it'd tickle Nesagwa's independent pickle.
Check out your library.
Mine has a bunch of comic book anthologies and manga, and that's how I got to read Watchmen, among others.
Way better than shelling out x amount of dollars for something you'll most likely only read once.
something out of leftfield but if you somehow find it - do yourself a favour and pick it up - it's unlike any comic out there - that I've ever read anyway:
Barefoot Gen written and illustrated by Keiji Nakazawa. tells the story of a child and his family just before, during and after the dropping of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima. it's a semi autobiographical account - emphasis on the graphic, because though it's old style art and story telling, no punches are pulled, and it is quite haunting. I had all of them, and I was amazed at what they where able to transmit. I really liked the art style too - as I say, good, old school manga (was made in the 70s).
http://photos21.flickr.com/31884069_30cfe00692.jpg
the build up is great because it just tells the life of Gen and his family without reference to the bomb. anyway, blah, just find it if you're interested.
WALKING DEAD YES
I agree with Walking dead, Longest Halloween, Transmetroploitan, 100 Bullets and Watchmen.
Also:
Marvel Zombies
Y the Last Man
Dark Knight Returns
Dark Knight Strikes again
Worlds Greatest Super Heros
Batman: Hush
Sin City
Batman: Year One
V for Vendetta
Ah fun with dispatching. You'll definitely have enough time on your hands to catch up on your comics.
I'll toss in another vote for Preacher, along with Green Arrow and Exiles.
If you like fairy tales, I highly recommend Fables. It takes a more realistic approach towards fairy tale characters and it's definitely not for children.
That's the most moronic things I've read all week.Quote:
Originally Posted by n00bz0r
The best part about all this is how Average Joe will eventually come back and say "you know, you guys were right, Watchmen is fantastic and n00bz0r is an idiot."
Cheers.
Average Joe,
I'd reccomend you start by primarily getting graphic novels or trade paperbacks. It seems that is most of what has been suggested. Thats what I primarily do, i'm not currently reading any stuff that is coming out regularly (Save All-Star Superman, but it has a partial trade now).
My reccomendations:
Batman: Year One
Batman: The Long Halloween
Batman: Dark Victory (read this after tLH)
Batman: Black and White vol 1
Batman: Black and White vol 2
Batman: War on Crime (an oversized one shot, by Paul Dini and Alex Ross - I really enjoyed this, though it's primarly a monologue about Batman's fight, and why he does what he does - i feel it's ultimately optimistic like Superman: Peace on Earth)
Superman: Peace on Earth (Best comic i've ever read)
Superman: Red Son (an elseworlds tale where Superman's rocket lands him in the Soviet Union)
Superman for all Seasons
All Star Superman - Great series that is currently at issue #8. There is a trade that goes up to issue 6. It would be worth it to start reading this series regularly, i don't know what the plans for the series are but i personally see it being a shorter series (18 issues?).
Hell, you may even want to check out:
Death of Superman
World Without a Superman
Return of Superman
I enjoyed that arc personally, and I like the battle w/ Doomsday even if ultimately the impact of Superman's death is lessened by the fact that he came back.
Other stuff:
DC: The New Frontier - it's available in 2 volumes. I thought this was a great series, and is cool if you really aren't familiar with DC's heroes. It takes place during the 1950s and 1960s, and along with the artwork gives a really cool retro-vibe, but the theme of the story really lends itself well to the era it is set in, especially with regard to the "New Frontier." Also, John Henry is so badass in this comic that it makes me weep.
JLA: Age of Wonder - Heroes from the Justic League of America set in a period of time from 1876-1911. It's an elseworlds tale that features Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla. The premise is that the superman (the worlds strongest man) teams up with the worlds smartest man (Edison) in order to better mankind. Find out what happens when the Superman teams up with other classic JLA members to form the "Science League." This is available in 2 Issues.
JLA: Justice - this is a 12 part series that just wrapped up. So i don't think a tpb of it is available yet. You might want to keep it on your radar. It's a series about the JLA, that had a serious tone, that I really enjoyed.
Kingdome Come - overrated or not, it's worth a read and it's enjoyable. Worth it if you've never seen any stuff by Alex Ross.
Ultimates vol 1
Ultimates vol 2
Ultimated 2 vol 1
Ultimates 2 vol 2
I feel Ultimates 1 is better than Ultimates 2, but they're both a great read, and very accessible to newer comic fans. It's basically the Ultimate Avengers so you have people like Thor, Captain America, Giant Man, Iron Man, the Hulk, etc. It's a great read.
I'm about to read the first 6 volumes of Ultimate X-Men, so i'll see how that goes. I hope its as good as the Ultimates.
You might like Hellboy, i cant remember which Hellboy TPB i read though. I know it features the comic "the corpse" in it though. Very great read, and I really dug what I rread. Mignolas use of mythology is wonderful.
As you can see i'm primarly a Superman/Batman guy - but I find both characters to be so great. Perhaps my favorite part about the two is how different artists and writers depict the characters. It's interesting to see writers, especially, take the two characters and use them as vessel to tell their own stories, while still staying true to the characters' mythos. This is why I particularly enjoyed both volumes of Batman: Black and White.
:buttrock:Quote:
Originally Posted by shirt
The deal with the Watchmen that makes it such a fascinating read is it essentially bridges the gap between the golden and silver era of comic heroes. You have the old and gray costumed avengers that are entering retirement, some prematurely, at the birth of the super heroes. There is also a human element, a vulnerability that is entirely endearing. Each issue ends in a wordy three to four page data-dump that further brings the characters, and the world they inhabit, to life. It's less of a hero story than it is a look into the lives of some would-be-heroes on the brink of a disaster, and how each of them handles the pressure of saving a world that no longer believes needs them.
As for other suggestions, I really can't help. I pick up the odd thing here and there that people encourage me to read, but my motivation never really stems past that. I'm glad Nes recommended Mouse Guard, although an entirely short read, it's simply gorgeous, I really hope he continues the story.
Allow me to suggest Alejandro Jodorowsky's Metabarons cycle, Grant Morrison's The Invisibles, and practically anything written or illustrated by Moebius/Jean Girard...
Watchmen is the obvious choice and to really appreciate it you'll want to read it at least twice. I actually enjoyed reading it more the second time, you pick up on a lot of stuff you wouldn't get the first time through. There's also standards like Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Maus, but I'm sure you've heard all about them.
You seem like the kind of guy who enjoys a good zombie story (who doesn't?) so get The Walking Dead. The first couple trades are especially good.
Y: The Last Man is the story of a disease of some kind that kills every mammal with a Y chromosome on the planet, except for one man and his monkey. My description really sucks I know but check it out. Really a page turner, if you're anything like me you'll want to buy every trade as soon as possible. It reminds me of Lost in that it tells a lot of the story through flashbacks.
If you want super hero stuff, something recent that you might like is called Batman & Son. It's a fairly recent storyline about Talia al Ghul revealing to Batman that they have a son together and leaving the boy with him. Batman takes him in and wackiness ensues. There is also a great prose story about the Joker in the collection, really cool stuff. And my personal favorite is Batman #666, an alternate universe tale in which Damian Wayne (the son) has taken over the role of Batman and has to take on the Antichrist in the future. This is all written by Grant Morrison, who puts a surreal edge on his Batman stories, much like he does with everything else he writes.
And speaking of Morrison, All-Star Superman might be the best book on the market right now. It's an out of continuity story, so you don't need to worry about following anything going on in the main DC universe. Its basically just classic old Superman stories with a modern twist.
Not really as good, but Golden Age is a good one shot novel too that deals with the 1940s era heros.
The ending is pretty good times, I enjoyed it.
There are some good picks here, but above anything suggested so far, I'd recommend:
Love & Rockets: Locas
Outside of some of Eisner's stuff, it's the best argument for 'comics as art' ever made in this country.
From Publishers Weekly
These superb stories from the nearly 20-year run of Love and Rockets define a world of Hispanic gang warfare, '80s California, punk rock, women wrestlers and the subtle battle to stay true to oneself. Hernandez's main characters are Maggie and Hopey, two adorable lesbian rockers who start out in a somewhat vague relationship and are then are separated by adventures both grand and demeaning. Maggie is a magnificent comics character, a tempestuous naïf who wears her heart on her sleeve when she's not throwing it at a succession of bad boys who ignore her, even though Hopey is secretly the love of Maggie's life. Hopey, a mohawked imp, is more opaque, a symbol of the youthful rebellion of punk rock that all the characters are trying to return to in some way, even as real life sweeps them further away from their dreams. Maggie's weight gain over the years sends her self-esteem on a downward spiral, while Hopey goes on an endless tour with a band. Along the way, Hernandez gradually peels away the strip's early sci-fi trappings (dinosaurs and rocket ships) to create a devastatingly naturalistic world. Sharp b&w drawings capture the characters in minute detail with a wide range of emotions. Finally collected into one volume, these stories are among the greatest comics ever put to paper, and an essential piece of the literature of the punk movement.
While we are talking about comics, can someone explain what The Acme Novelty Library is.
I always see them in the book stores, but theyre always sealed so I cant look at them.
I found this a few weeks ago.
Stuff like that makes me regret skipping the WB Batman back in the day.
Joe if you haven't read Dark Knight Returns yet then don't watch it.
Family Circus
I forgot to mention it, but as you're a David Lynch fan, check out Strangehaven.
From Publishers Weekly
Millidge's work may be the most intricate self-published mystery available today. Strangehaven is a classic small town in the English countryside that takes after its name. It isn't on maps, is impossible to leave and has plenty of eerie secrets, including a clandestine society and an unknown man who keeps the body of a woman in a large fish tank. Alex Hunter stumbles upon Strangehaven while traveling. Newly divorced and on sabbatical, Hunter is taken by the town's charm and Janey Jones, a local girl who shows him around. He meets many of the town's inhabitants: Adam, who claims he's an alien with x-ray vision; Mrs. McCreadie, who owns Strangehaven's B&B and habitually wanders her grounds with a flashlight at night; Suzie, Janey's best friend and a character who seems to get all the shallow B-movie dialogue; and Megaron, who once lived in the Amazon. There are many more characters like this, which, ultimately, hurts the story, as does Millidge's eye for quirkiness and attention to detail. Too many question-raising images appear; readers will have to look for answers in the next volume. Millidge uses precise black ink lines capturing the details of every joint and knuckle, inserts photos and uses watercolor. His facial expressions are somewhat inconsistent, but he keeps confusion at bay through clear writing and immediate character association. Commonly compared to the television series Twin Peaks, Millidge's mystery lacks David Lynch's twists and morbid tweaks, but offers a serious jolt of unsettling elements that give readers an unswerving and looming sense of uneasiness.
Three volumes so far. The art is pretty crude in places, but the story more than makes up for it.
Heck yes, Deadpool's zany mannerisms are too entertaining to miss. Like Lagduf suggested, pick up a trade or two of anything you're curious about...it's the best way to really get a good feel for a particular title.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeoDragoN
Scott Tipton is a commentator on comics who has written a slew of great articles about many series.
Here are his archives - check it out.
http://www.comics101.com/archives/co...1/archives.php
Matt Wagner's Mage series.
Mage: The Hero Discovered
Mage: The Hero Defined
I hope it won't take another 14-16 years before we see Mage: The Hero Denied.
Enough people on here have recommended the Watchmen so I won't beat a dead horse on that. I enjoyed Watchmen but it's been so long since I've read it. I imagine if I gave it another read through I'd pick up on alot of details I missed the first time through.
You may want to look into some of Alan Moore's other works. Some of his DC stuff is a little too deconstructive for my taste but it's absolutely solid. Look for "The Killing Joke" TPB, "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow" which got republished as a standalone book, and Superman (first series) Annual #11 which features the story "For The Man Who Has Everything".
You might want to also check out Moore's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. The books are WAY better than the movie naturally though you might be turned off by the artwork. I personally think the art fits the story rather well but that's me.
One series I just picked up on that I've found to be really REALLY good is Fables. Domino-chan has already mentioned this and I couldn't agree more. There's a sister book to this series called Jack of Fables which is just as good.
If you're looking for super hero books but not wanting to jump headfirst into Marvel or DC then I'd suggest picking up Kurt Busiek's Astro City. This book has analogues of alot of the super hero archetypes so you'll be able to tell that Samaritan is supposed to be Superman and the Furst Family is the Fantastic Four pretty easily. These characters aren't ripoffs so much as they are homages to the characters they look so similar to and are featured in some really good stories.
Lastly I'd recommend the Hellboy TPBs and it's companion series B.P.R.D. if you like mystical and macabre stuff. While the movie was good, it doesn't wholly capture the feel of the comics (alot of that is because of Mike Mignola's art style).
DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore contains all the stories you mentioned plus several more. Moore's Green Lantern stories are great.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hikaru Ichijyo
I think Average Joe might also enjoy Grant Morrison's Animal Man. I know I've brought Morrison up a lot, but the guy is great.
Warren Ellis and John Cassaday's "Planetary" is fantastic. It's not over yet though, and there's no telling when the final issue will be released. The series has had 26 issues released in around 7-8 years. It will end at 27 though.
That's great.Quote:
Originally Posted by genjiglove
I hoped something like this existed but I never bothered to look.
Also, why aren't more people reading 100 Bullets?
yanks haven't been exposed enough to the brilliance of 2000AD (or what I used to read of it some 15 years ago).
2000AD is a fine anthology book, or was, when it was the sole delivery mechanism of Judge Dredd.
Nowadays, comics blow. Read manga isntead.
lolQuote:
Originally Posted by taitai