The Comic Book Thread

[HeartlessNinny]

I remember loving Planetary, but honestly, I couldn't even tell you the characters' names at this point, much less anything that was happening. It's been too long. I'll have to dig up and re-read the rest of the series before getting the final issue.

I'm surprised to hear that, too... I haven't read issue 26 since it came out three years ago, but I remember pretty much the whole thing like it was yesterday. I don't say that in any boastful sense, I just thought the story was very memorable.

Sure, it would have been better if issue 27 came out years ago, but it's not like it was the resolution of a desperate cliffhanger, it's more of an epilogue or a coda, really. I don't think its impact was lessened any by being so late.

But if you don't remember, you don't remember, I guess. Either way, it was a fitting end to a stellar series — I hope we can all agree on that much.

 

[HeartlessNinny]

In a world where there is no order and you can't sleep soundly at night for fear of being eaten, if somebody comes along and restores a semblance of society and prosperity, people will follow that person and do what he says. He's a provider and a protector and only a select few know what a sick fuck he really is.

Even as he's attacking the prison, he's trying to hide who he truly is because he knows once people see through his bullshit, he'll lose his power hold.

It makes all the sense in the world to me that people would follow him until they learned the truth. As Kirkman wisely wrote, once people saw what he was really about, they wasted no time throwing him to the zombies.

That's true. Perhaps my dislike of the overall arc has dampened my memory of that guy... And I did like how he got wasted in the end. It was way, way too long coming, but it was satisfying as hell to see him offed by his own crew. So at least there was that.

I understand the arc and it makes sense for Bucky to try to be Cap.

But it just does nothing for me to see him in the role. He doesn't resonate as Cap. He doesn't convince me as Cap. He has no presence as Cap.

Great character. Wonderfully developed. And the struggle to live up to the name isn't bad storytelling at all. But he doesn't feel like Cap to me. He's not supposed to, and he doesn't. So I want Steve back in the role, in time.

Well I don't think there's a Cap fan around who doesn't want Steve back eventually, myself included, but I remain surprised that Bucky Cap does nothing for you. Like I said, I like him so much I hope he sticks around — for a couple years, at least. We'll have to chalk it up to matters of taste, I guess. Either way I don't begrudge you wanting Steve back, though.

I didn't read it. Thor is, perhaps, one of the most poorly managed Marvel characters following a high water mark.

After Simonson left the book, DeFalco and Frenz took over and what they did was an entertaining throwback but it devalued the character, IMO. Great stories, but it set the stage for his fall. I gave up on Thor after the DeFalco/Frenz run because I couldn't bear to see what else they did to hurt the character. Maybe I'll go back and look at the Disassembled arc at some point.

I think you might like it. It's only a six issue arc, so tracking it down shouldn't be too tough. I know they put it in trade form too, though it might be out of print by now. Check it out after the Jurgens stuff, maybe.

(I've never liked Tom DeFalco's stuff, by the way. Not really my style, what can I say. I remember hearing about those fanatical Spider-Girl fans... Never made a lick of sense to me.)

 

[aria]

Anyone who can't seem to get into Corben should read the work he is most famous for: Den.

Den has been his largest work, starting in Heavy Metal magazine in the '70s and serialized in various formats through the '90s, and using all types of mediums from oil paints and acrylics in the early volumes, to more traditional comic book penciling and inking, to some digital paining in later chapters.

The story is very much in the tradition of John Carter, Warlord of Mars/Edgar Rice Burroughs, which I really enjoy.

Most of the story was collected into 5 volumes: Neverwhere, Muvovum, Children of Fire, Dreams, and Elements, but I think all volumes are currently out of print. Not sure where to suggest looking for them now...

You should also check out a book Heavy Metal put out a while back that collects Corben's short story work for the Warren horror comics of the '70s... Creepy and Eerie. Some real gems in this book.

How can anyone not love that cover? It's awesome, and still available, I think. Pick up the hardcover version if possible, it has extra material the softcover book doesn't. I didn't realize they had different content and now I own both.

See that stuff seems interesting and probably suits his style.

However...

When I read The Punisher or Aliens, I don't expect to see crap like this:

The art is just plain terrible compared to the style that permeated The Punisher MAX series.

Again, if you haven't read the first few volumes of Conan (I linked to samples in my last post), you really won't understand how horrible it is to see this style suddenly replace it --even for only a section. At least they narrowed it to only a few flashbacks within longer storylines.

I would take more example photos, but I packed all my relative comics for my move, but I'd taken the one above back in January and been meaning to post it here as a "how the hell is this supposed to be good?" Now I've toned down to, I can see the R. Crumb/comix angle, but there's no credible argument for why it works in the three franchises I mentioned.

 

[SouthtownKid]

Again, if you haven't read the first few volumes of Conan

Yeah, we own them. Best stuff Nord has ever done, although my wife is a bigger fan of the Greg Ruth-drawn flashback stories. She's the one who bought them, actually.

 

[aria]

Yeah, we own them. Best stuff Nord has ever done, although my wife is a bigger fan of the Greg Ruth-drawn flashback stories. She's the one who bought them, actually.

Yeah, I love them. I re-read a passage in the back of one of the volumes as I was packing them this past weekend and noted some credit has to go to the editor who suggested they not ink Nord's work.

While I haven't been as thrilled with the more recent artists, I'm glad they've stuck to the designs he set out. Overall I've been happy with the writing, they've come up with some interesting stories to flesh out things that Howard only hinted at. The thing is I'm a much more writing-oriented comic reader, and it takes something pretty drastic to distract me.

I wonder if Merc has ever read them --it seems perfectly suited to his taste.

 

[frobenius314]

Just got a new comic book in the mail, the debut of the newest comic hero: Bertrand Russell

I love this comic. The story is awesome, the art has glossy pictures, colorful and displays the classic comic art.

 

[aria]

Just got a new comic book in the mail, the debut of the newest comic hero: Bertrand Russell

Does he team up with Wittgenstein, the boy wonder?

Interesting book, though --it remind me of the "For Beginners" books. I read some of them a long time ago, some were good and informative, others quite terrible. I assume your book is much better.

 

[SouthtownKid]

Yeah, I love them. I re-read a passage in the back of one of the volumes as I was packing them this past weekend and noted some credit has to go to the editor who suggested they not ink Nord's work.

I also like the lettering. That was an interesting way to go with the caption style.

 

[HeartlessNinny]

Yeah, we own them. Best stuff Nord has ever done, although my wife is a bigger fan of the Greg Ruth-drawn flashback stories. She's the one who bought them, actually.

Yeah, I love them. I re-read a passage in the back of one of the volumes as I was packing them this past weekend and noted some credit has to go to the editor who suggested they not ink Nord's work.

While I haven't been as thrilled with the more recent artists, I'm glad they've stuck to the designs he set out. Overall I've been happy with the writing, they've come up with some interesting stories to flesh out things that Howard only hinted at. The thing is I'm a much more writing-oriented comic reader, and it takes something pretty drastic to distract me.

I wonder if Merc has ever read them --it seems perfectly suited to his taste.

I have the entire run of Nord/Busiek's Conan too, and I love it as well. I think you guys are forgetting the real hero of that book, though: Dave Stewart. Without his insanely good colouring, Nord's pencils would have looked kind of muddy and murky, I think. That's not to say he didn't do an excellent job, because he did, but I think the most talented guy on the team was Stewart for sure.

As for the new Conan the Cimmerian stuff, I've been enjoying that too. It's probably not as good as some of the previous stuff, but it's still very solid.

And Bobak, I still say you're out of your mind... Corben's Connacht (is that how you spell it?) sequences was some of the best work the title had seen. Simply stellar, and I was sorry to see it go, even if we did get spoiled with 7 issues' worth. And while we're on the subject, I thought his work on Punisher: The End was some of the best work of his already-legendary career.... Man. No accounting for taste, I guess.

You're right about one thing though. Someone should tell Merc about this stuff, I bet he'd love it too.

 

[Taiso]

As for the new Conan the Cimmerian stuff, I've been enjoying that too. It's probably not as good as some of the previous stuff, but it's still very solid.

Timothy Truman has picked up the ball from Busiek and run with it very well for the most part. I feel he understands Conan well enough to handle it more than competently. I still think the guy's an underrated writer when you look at the body of his work.

What I'd REALLY like to see is Roy Thomas come back and write an arc. Given the creative freedom that Dark Horse would give him, and knowing how well he handled Conan, especially with the Savage Sword stories, I can only imagine how great something he did today might be, with the continuity all realigned and they Hyborian Age's mythology no longer tied to the DeCamp pastiches.

 

[HeartlessNinny]

Timothy Truman has picked up the ball from Busiek and run with it very well for the most part. I feel he understands Conan well enough to handle it more than competently. I still think the guy's an underrated writer when you look at the body of his work.

What I'd REALLY like to see is Roy Thomas come back and write an arc. Given the creative freedom that Dark Horse would give him, and knowing how well he handled Conan, especially with the Savage Sword stories, I can only imagine how great something he did today might be, with the continuity all realigned and they Hyborian Age's mythology no longer tied to the DeCamp pastiches.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I think Tim Truman has more than met the task of filling Busiek's shoes on the book, and I'm absolutely delighted they've ditched the DeCamp stuff. I just think the stories they're tackling now aren't quite as good as some of the classics, like The Tower of the Elephant and The Frost Giant's Daughter, that's all. I'm still loving it to death. My only quibble is they seem strangely reluctant to show a naked breast at any time... Kind of weird, given the subject matter. It's almost out of place if you ask me.

I wonder what they're going to do with Belit, for example? She ran around naked pretty much all the time from what I remember. I hope they don't throw a robe on her or something, that would be dumb. (And less hawt.)

 

[aria]

Timothy Truman has picked up the ball from Busiek and run with it very well for the most part. I feel he understands Conan well enough to handle it more than competently. I still think the guy's an underrated writer when you look at the body of his work.

What I'd REALLY like to see is Roy Thomas come back and write an arc. Given the creative freedom that Dark Horse would give him, and knowing how well he handled Conan, especially with the Savage Sword stories, I can only imagine how great something he did today might be, with the continuity all realigned and they Hyborian Age's mythology no longer tied to the DeCamp pastiches.

I felt Truman's stuff's gotten stronger as it goes along --I was a little disappointed with the way he wrapped up the "Hand of Nergal" (too generic, and the wrap-up of Nestor's storyline felt tacked on and rushed), but I was very pleased with Cimmeria (I only read them when they're wrapped up in the volume sets).

If you haven't tracked down Born on the Battlefield (which is volume "0"), or The Book of Thoth, I recommend them --the stories are on par and enjoyable. Born on the Battlefield is an excellent trilogy of early Conan stories capping with the Battle of Veranium, which is referenced several times later --Volume 7 actually reintroduces some of those characters.

 

[SouthtownKid]

The Best Comic Books I Have Ever Read

The best comics I have ever read in my life (that are available in English):

#1: Love & Rockets

#2: Will Eisner's The Spirit (post-WW2 years, Kitchen Sink edition in black & white)

#3: Corto Maltese

and the rest, in no particular order:

-- Modesty Blaise:

-- Den:

-- Nausica of the Valley of the Wind:

-- Maniac Killer Strikes Again!

-- Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron:

-- THB:

-- Dungeon; The Early Years:

-- Adventures of Luther Arkwright:

-- Lupin III (original series):

-- Nexus:

-- Grimjack:

I'm sure I'll remember something important as soon as I hit submit.

 

[HeartlessNinny]

post

I must admit with some shame that I'm not familiar with a lot of those. Nice to see you give some love to THB, though — I'm a big Paul Pope fan and have been for years and years. It's too bad he doesn't seem too keen on returning to that series, though. It reminds me of Frank Cho and Liberty Meadows. Now that he's working for Marvel, I doubt that'll ever get done, which sucks.

Anyways, I won't call them the best comics ever, but here are my all time favourite series, in no particular order:

Starman, by James Robinson and Tony Harris

Hitman, by Garth Ennis and John McCrea

Planetary, by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday

Strangers in Paradise, by Terry Moore

Of all of those, Hitman is my favourite. It's got everything I love in a comic — humour, action, genuine emotion, strong characterization (odd as it sounds). It's a goddamn shame DC never put the whole series into trades, but it's worth tracking them down for sure. It's also got one of my favourite ending arcs to a series... Man. I get a little choked up just thinking about it. Same thing with SiP. If you read the final dozen issues or so with a dry eye, you don't have a soul. And I say that as someone who is seldom moved to tears by anything, let alone comics/movies/books/etc.

 

[SouthtownKid]

Yeah, I keep hoping Pope will go back to THB. But at the same time, it's not like I can blame him for taking paying work. And it's not like I didn't enjoy Heavy Liquid, One Trick Rip-Off, 100%, etc..

But still...

And yeah, I liked Hitman, too. That and War Stories might be my favorite things Ennis has written. My enjoyment of Preacher has kind of faded over the years for whatever reason, but I still like Hitman.

 

[Late]

Good stuff Southtown, I love Nausicaä, Corto Maltese and Love & Rockets.

Finally a break in this thread from the usual Wankman vs. Dr. Evil stuff.

Anyone like Hellblazer?

Constantine embodies the reason why smoking is cool

 

[SouthtownKid]

I liked the early issues by Delano and Ridgway. Ennis changed the character completely and kind of killed my interest, although I did like his Heartland Special. Every once in a while, I'll come back for an arc, but I don't read it regularly. None of the other writers have grabbed my interest the way Delano did.

And I tried that Chas mini series...holy crap that was awful.

edit: and this is a weird pet peeve, especially since I don't read the comic regularly anymore...but it still drives me crazy when I hear someone say "ConstanTEEN." It's mutherfucking "ConstanTYEn." But that's a losing battle since even the movie got that wrong (among a million other things).

 

[HeartlessNinny]

Yeah, I keep hoping Pope will go back to THB. But at the same time, it's not like I can blame him for taking paying work. And it's not like I didn't enjoy Heavy Liquid, One Trick Rip-Off, 100%, etc..

But still...

And yeah, I liked Hitman, too. That and War Stories might be my favorite things Ennis has written. My enjoyment of Preacher has kind of faded over the years for whatever reason, but I still like Hitman.

I have to admit, I actually kind of like 100% and Heavy Liquid better than THB. But THB is miles ahead of stuff like Batman: Year 100 (even though I really liked it), and to a lesser extent, One Trick Rip-Off (which I also love, just not quite as much).

Did you read the whole Hitman run, or just part of it?

And I'm with you on Preacher, by the way. It was refreshing for its time, but nowadays, it kind of strikes me as juvenile. Whenever I hear someone speaking fondly of it, I tell 'em to go read Hitman. I think it's a similar comic, but much much better.

 

[SouthtownKid]

Did you read the whole Hitman run, or just part of it?

Most of it. There's a space in the middle of maybe 5-10 issues I haven't read. I have the first couple TPBs, and I have single issues from about #15 (whichever one Catwoman was in) until the end (and the 1,000,000 issue).

 

[BryLmoo]

i need a short history lesson here...i've only been reading batman for about 9 or so months and really am only reading the main comic along with batman and robin. who the hell is Jason Todd? I know tim drake, damian, richard grayson and all the other usual suspects...but where the hell did this jason todd character come from? i'm at a loss. richard thinks that the red hood is jason todd...but that means jack shit to me...lol

 

[genjiglove]

i need a short history lesson here...i've only been reading batman for about 9 or so months and really am only reading the main comic along with batman and robin. who the hell is Jason Todd? I know tim drake, damian, richard grayson and all the other usual suspects...but where the hell did this jason todd character come from? i'm at a loss. richard thinks that the red hood is jason todd...but that means jack shit to me...lol

Jason Todd was the second Robin after Dick Grayson became Nightwing. He wasn't the most popular character and eventually he was killed by the Joker. Then a few years ago during Infinite Crisis he was revived and has been hanging around the DC Universe as a fairly useless character ever since. He is also now a psychotic vigilante/killer.

 

[HeartlessNinny]

Jason Todd was the second Robin after Dick Grayson became Nightwing. He wasn't the most popular character and eventually he was killed by the Joker. Then a few years ago during Infinite Crisis he was revived and has been hanging around the DC Universe as a fairly useless character ever since. He is also now a psychotic vigilante/killer.

Just to be a nerd and quibble with you, Jason Todd came back before Infinite Crisis. Judd Winick brought him back in the pages of Batman.

I'm surprised he's still around, no one liked him in the 80s, and no one seems to like him now, either. That said, Grant Morrison's Batman and Robin can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned, so his appearance there certainly has me intrigued. Redeeming such a terrible character won't be easy, but I bet Grant is up to the task (in a way, he already is — the last issue was pretty good).

 

[genjiglove]

Wasn't he brought back as a result of Superboy Prime "punching reality"? I guess that was before Infinite Crisis.

 

[Hikaru Ichijyo]

Wasn't he brought back as a result of Superboy Prime "punching reality"? I guess that was before Infinite Crisis.

During Jeph Loeb's Hush storyline, they tried to throw a twist into the story and say that Hush was actually Jason Todd and not Tommy Elliot. That ended up not being the case as the PTB cooked up other uses for Jason and shoe horned in his return to coincide with the Infinite Crisis event. The explanation is bad but I've taken a "whatever" stance to it since the character co-exists in a universe with Kryptonians, Martians, and the like.

I never was much of a fan of Judd Winick's work but I actually enjoyed how he used Jason Todd in his first run of Batman. Of course DC went and mucked that up by throwing him into the Countdown weekly where his personality was all over the place (though to be fair the entire series was like that...oy what a train wreck it was). I'm behind on my issues of Batman & Robin 'cuz of financial constraints but I'd like to see how Morrison is handling him in that book.

Change of subject...one book I might be kicking myself for not picking up 'cuz I didn't want to start a new series is R.E.B.E.L.S. I've read a decent amount of stuff that Tony Bedard has put out and it's all been pretty good IMO. I opted against getting the series because I have been trying in vain to curb my spending on comics since DC got in on the act of the $3.99 price model and slapped it on books I've been getting for years like Action and Detective. I'm on pretty good terms with my LCS manager so hopefully I can see if he has the run up till the latest issue that I can pick up.

 

[HeartlessNinny]

since DC got in on the act of the $3.99 price model and slapped it on books I've been getting for years like Action and Detective.

I've been complaining about that to anyone who'll listen since it happened, and I remain stunned that most comic book fans just blithely swallowed an arbitrary 33% price increase on the hobby they love.

That said, at least DC gives you extra content for the dollar. In Detective, I've really been loving the Question story, and in Streets of Gotham, you get a really great Manhunter backup.

Marvel has even more books at $3.99, but with no new content whatsoever. Even worse, they abuse every possible excuse to do some kind of anniversary issue and then charge more for it. If the book was $2.99, the 'special' issue is four bucks, and if it was $4 to begin with, it becomes a whopping $5, often with very little additional content. New Avengers was pretty terrible for this... Issue 50 was five bucks, and I swear it only had a few extra pages.

Because of this, I've been dropping a lot of Marvel titles (and not picking up any new ones) in favour of DC books. I can't get enough of the likes of Batman and Robin, Detective, and JLA: Cry For Justice anyway.