The Comic Book Discussion Thread

[EyesWideOpen]

I do love Captain Britain though, great underappreciated series.

[number8]

Obama in next week's Thunderbolts. Looks like he's not too fond of Osborn.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=1882&disp=table

[Acapelli]

secret invasion may have been lame, but bendis's idea that he wanted everyone else in the marvel universe to finally feel what spider-man/peter parker feels all the time with norman osborn in charge is awesome

[EyesWideOpen]

Final Crisis: Rogue's Revenge was the best thing to come out of either of the two crossovers.

[Acapelli]

i still say captain britain, but i've liked way more of the final crisis tie-ins than secret invasion. rage of the red lanterns was great, as well as the aformentioned rogue's revenge. looking forward to legion of the three worlds, and submit and resist did a good job fleshing out the storyline further. and superman beyond was pretty great, even if the 3d wasn't exactly necessary

secret invasion had captain britain and black panther and that's it. that f4 si tie-in was one of the most useless comics i bought last year

[bac0n]

secret invasion had captain britain and black panther and that's it. that f4 si tie-in was one of the most useless comics i bought last year

Secret Invasion was kinda lame, yeah, but I really did enjoy the recent two issues of The New & Mighty Avengers that dealt with the aftermath quite a bit.

[Acapelli]

oh yeah, bendis can handle character moments really well, he just doesn't seem to be the right person to do a big event type of thing

[bac0n]

oh yeah, bendis can handle character moments really well, he just doesn't seem to be the right person to do a big event type of thing

From what little exposure I had to him, I would tend to agree. The last few issues of Secret Invasion tried to tell too much shit in too short a time, and the whole affair seemed rather muddled.

In particular, the handling of.....Janet Van Dyne's death was poorly handled. I still don't really know how she bought it, and that's after re-reading those few panels many times. All that I can say for sure is that Thor had something to do with it, and that she shall be avenged. Maybe that's the problem - Bendis tried to cram the death of one of the seminal characters in the Marvel universe into a lousy two or three panels.

[number8]

I don't know if Bendis handles character moments well. I think he handles cool and funny moments well, but most of his stories are direct rehashes of old ideas, stretched out to give him pages and pages of unnecessary expositional dialogue. Even the good ones, like Daredevil. It works there and in Ultimate Spidey because his dialogue style really fits those two characters well (especially Spidey--I don't think anyone writes Spidey dialogue better than Bendis), but he writes everyone else pretty much with the same voice and it gets really tedious to watch him do this for pages and pages.

[megladon8]

Got these today...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518BGCS0KWL._SS500_.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51qBOf8Ym0L._SS500_.jpg


And I would love to start collecting Chris Ware's "Acme Novelty Library" books, but it seems a good chunk of them are out of print.

And I'm quite the completist.

[EvilShoe]

Has anyone here ever read The Exterminators?
I'm at issue 20. This is pretty good stuff so far.
A shame it got cancelled, I hope it at least has a good ending. (Unlike American Virgin, which suffered the same fate.)

[EyesWideOpen]

Has anyone here ever read The Exterminators?
I'm at issue 20. This is pretty good stuff so far.
A shame it got cancelled, I hope it at least has a good ending. (Unlike American Virgin, which suffered the same fate.)

I have the first two TPB's and thought they were both great just haven't had the chance to pick up the final few TPB's.

[EvilShoe]

I have the first two TPB's and thought they were both great just haven't had the chance to pick up the final few TPB's.
I finished it. Last few issues were disappointing. They really rushed things.

Apparently Showtime is turning this into a TV-series. Could be good.

[bac0n]

This months's pickups

* Dark Avengers #1 - kinda meh. A new team with a bunch of heroes I don't give a shit about, and I'm already sick of the Norman Osbourne-as-megalomaniac angle that Bendis is pushing. Think I'm not gonna follow this title.
* Mighty Avengers (latest one) I thought this comic was canceled to I bought it to see what's going on.
* Green Lantern Wanted: Hal Jordan TPB. Last TPB before the Sinestro Corp War. Excited to read this one and continue catching up on the good ol' GL.
* Green Lantern 35 & 36 - First two issues of the Rage of the Red Lanterns story arc. Seems like a good place to begin collecting the regular monthly comic.

[Acapelli]

This months's pickups

* Dark Avengers #1 - kinda meh. A new team with a bunch of heroes I don't give a shit about, and I'm already sick of the Norman Osbourne-as-megalomaniac angle that Bendis is pushing. Think I'm not gonna follow this title.
read warren ellis's thunderbolts run and you'll see why norman osbourne as a psychotic megalomaniac works so well


* Green Lantern 35 & 36 - First two issues of the Rage of the Red Lanterns story arc. Seems like a good place to begin collecting the regular monthly comic.
you should probably pick up final crisis: rage of the red lanterns too to get the whole story. don't worry, it has nothing to do with final crisis other than the cover dressing

[number8]

read warren ellis's thunderbolts run and you'll see why norman osbourne as a psychotic megalomaniac works so well

Yeah, but Brian Bendis is no Warren Ellis.

Fail.

[EyesWideOpen]

I'll take a Bendis book over an Ellis book any day of the week.

[EvilShoe]

Ellis did Transmetropolitan, and therefore automatically wins.

[EyesWideOpen]

Ellis did Transmetropolitan, and therefore automatically wins.

Alias > Transmetropolitan

So, no.

[number8]

Warren Ellis is the internet Jesus, and he's on my Twitter entertaining me every day with his thoughts. We also apparently read the same sex blogs. Therefore, he wins.

[Acapelli]

http://www.dharbin.com/strip/08-1215_warren-ellis.jpg

[number8]

I've been reading Marvel Adventures lately.

This is to regular Marvel what Timmverse is to regular DC.

[EvilShoe]

Only three volumes into Bendis' Powers, and I'm starting to lose interest.
Should I continue? I'm not a big fan of stand-alone material, are there any arcs coming up?

[number8]

Only three volumes into Bendis' Powers, and I'm starting to lose interest.
Should I continue? I'm not a big fan of stand-alone material, are there any arcs coming up?

I lost interest in it quickly, too.

[number8]

So please tell me someone else is reading Unknown Soldier.

'Cause, y'know, I think it's the best new series right now.

[EyesWideOpen]

So please tell me someone else is reading Unknown Soldier.

'Cause, y'know, I think it's the best new series right now.

I picked up the first two issues and thought it was fantastic but that it was a series i'd rather read in trades so now i'm waiting for the tpb's.

[number8]

I picked up the first two issues and thought it was fantastic but that it was a series i'd rather read in trades so now i'm waiting for the tpb's.

:(

You're helping it get canceled.

[EyesWideOpen]

:(

You're helping it get canceled.

That's a problem with the comic book industry not with my buying habits.

[megladon8]

Got this today...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HJ4JWJ8SL._SS500_.jpg

[number8]

Apparently Brian Azzarello looks like he could cook me for dinner.

http://www.comic-con.org/wc/guests/azzarello_brian.jpg

I guess it's only right.

[megladon8]

I really like Brian Azzarello.

[megladon8]

I gotta say that I find myself disliking many aspects of Chris Ware's work.

Firstly, I find his artwork sterile. Every line, every edge, every shape is so perfect that it looks like it wasn't even touched by human hands. It's just too perfect - it's as if he's drawn all of his comics using a protractor and ruler (which he very well might have, I don't know). I just don't like this style.

Secondly, his layouts are way convoluted. Even with a guide to help me navigate his pages, I find myself getting lost or confused as to where I am supposed to be going on the page. This shouldn't happen, and one shouldn't even need a guide to help them navigate a comic book page.

[monolith94]

Rereading The Black Dossier, I have come to a conclusion:
Alan Moore is a horny, horny man.

[number8]

Rereading The Black Dossier, I have come to a conclusion:
Alan Moore is a horny, horny man.

Did you not read Lost Girls?

[megladon8]

Are there really men out there who aren't "horny, horny men"?

Whenever someone tries to give me the "I'm not like other guys, I don't think about sex all the time" runaround, I pretty much always think they're just self-righteous asses who don't want to admit to the fact that they're just like everyone else.

[EyesWideOpen]

Scott Pilgrim Vol. 5 is out today people. Pick It Up!

[megladon8]

Scott Pilgrim Vol. 5 is out today people. Pick It Up!


I plan on getting them all. I'm really enjoying the first one.

Great avatar, BTW!

[Acapelli]

just read the agents of atlas tpb. what a fun book. i'm definitely picking up the new series

[megladon8]

I'm really interested in Paul Pope's "Heavy Liquid".

[Sycophant]

I've heard that much like volume 2, volumes 4 and 5 of Scott Pilgrim are not very well self-contained and suffer from building up to the conclusion of the story. I just read and loved the hell out of volume 3, but with the conclusion of this story still so far off, I think I might just hold off till O'Malley finishes the series.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I've heard that much like volume 2, volumes 4 and 5 of Scott Pilgrim are not very well self-contained and suffer from building up to the conclusion of the story. I just read and loved the hell out of volume 3, but with the conclusion of this story still so far off, I think I might just hold off till O'Malley finishes the series.

AND AGAIN!!!

[number8]

Wow.

Marvel realized that they fucked up the Ultimate universe big time, so now Ultimate Spider-Man is rebooting.

Somehow I'm not surprised, but at the same time, this is so fucking sad. Someone there needs to get a hold of themselves.

[EyesWideOpen]

The Roberts TPB is out today people. Pick it up!

[EvilShoe]

Holy shit @ vol 8 of The Walking Dead.

[bac0n]

Looks like Geoff Johns & Ethan Van Sciver are working on a new series to come out in April - Flash: Rebirth.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f7/Flash_rebirth.jpg

Looks like they're bringing back the old Barry Allen Flash. Anyone else excited about this? These are the same guys who did Green Lantern: Rebirth, which totally blew my socks off, as I have mentioned in earlier posts. And Flash was one of my favorite supers when I was a kid. It's a win-win!

[megladon8]

Yeah I'm stoked for this too, bac0n.

I also loved the "Green Lantern: Rebirth" stuff. I thought Geoff Johns was a great thing to happen to DC Comics.

[number8]

Fuck Barry Allen.

Fuck Dan DiDio and fuck Geoff Johns too.

[bac0n]

Fuck Barry Allen.

Fuck Dan DiDio and fuck Geoff Johns too.

Um... why?

[Acapelli]

geoff johns is awesome

[number8]

Um... why?

Well, I didn't like Green Lantern: Rebirth, but it's unanimously loved here, so let's just drop that whole business. I find most of Geoff Johns' writing incredibly boring, but he's the least of the problem here.

I don't mind Hal Jordan being back as the main GL. His exit was poorly planned and made no sense, so it's all right if DC wants to fix that. I suppose that's my problem with his rebirth, too: the whole Parallax business is a really contrived way to redeem him, and sadly that's the only way you can do it, because they fucked Hal Jordan up so badly out of character when he went Parallax that you can only do a "oh he was possessed the whole time lolz" route if you want to make him the square jawed fearless hero he was before Zero Hour.

But Barry Allen? Barry Allen's death in Crisis was one of the greatest superhero deaths of all time, second only to Captain Marvel dying of cancer. Barry died saving the multiverse, and there hasn't been another hero transition done as well as Wally West taking over Barry's mantle. The Flash legacy is a cornerstone of DC, it's great that we have a new Flash every once in a while. The most infuriating thing about this is Dan DiDio's admittance that they have absolutely no reason to do this other than his personal preference.

"I like Wally and Kyle, but when I was a kid, Hal was GL and Barry was Flash. They were the real GL and Flash to me, so that's how it's gonna be." That's pretty much what his explanation was.

Fuck you, what about me? I grew up with Wally West. This feels like the equivalent of shafting a great character like Cassandra Cain and then magically healing Barbara Gordon's legs and making her Batgirl again. "She's the original so she's the real deal yadda yadda" fuck you.

Maybe I should let it go and just enjoy the story for what it is, but since I never liked Johns' writing to begin with (didn't like his Avengers or Superman, either, and Infinite Crisis was terrible), I feel safe in voicing my distaste for this bullshittery.

[Acapelli]

johns' legion arc of action comics is probably one of the best superman stories and helped legitimize him in my eyes (along with all-star superman of course)

[Acapelli]

he's also pretty much the only thing keeping dc afloat right now

[number8]

he's also pretty much the only thing keeping dc afloat right now

How do you mean?

[bac0n]

But Barry Allen? Barry Allen's death in Crisis was one of the greatest superhero deaths of all time, second only to Captain Marvel dying of cancer. Barry died saving the multiverse, and there hasn't been another hero transition done as well as Wally West taking over Barry's mantle. The Flash legacy is a cornerstone of DC, it's great that we have a new Flash every once in a while. The most infuriating thing about this is Dan DiDio's admittance that they have absolutely no reason to do this other than his personal preference.

Thanks for the perspective. For me, personally, I'm old enough so that Barry Allen is the first guy I think of when I think of The Flash, and I never did read Crisis on Infinite Earths (a situation which, from the sounds of it, needs to be remedied) and I could totally see how you would be pissed. I'll just have to wait and read and see how Johns handles the whole thing.

But it's hard to argue with the point that the reason for bringing Allen back totally sucks.

[Acapelli]

How do you mean?
he's basically the bendis of the dcu (or bendis is the johns of the marvel u, whatever). i mean just look at 52, you had the four best writers working in the dc universe on the most successful project they've done in years and johns is probably the most active one out of those 4 writers now (fanboys have turned their backs on morrison, waid is doing his own thing and writing for spider-man now, and rucka is pretty much blowing it)

although i'm still really looking forward to rucka and jh williams iii run on detective

[Acapelli]

also i loved final crisis and that scene where barry showed up was pretty great, so i have no problem with barry coming back

although i hope they keep bart in the 31st century, we don't really need 4 flashes around in the 21st century

[number8]

he's basically the bendis of the dcu (or bendis is the johns of the marvel u, whatever).

Sure, but that's a bad thing, in my book.

[number8]

But anyhoo, Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? was fucking brilliant. Been a while since a Gaiman comic is this good.

Great picks for me this week. Young Liars and Haunted Tank continue to kick ass.

[EyesWideOpen]

But anyhoo, Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? was fucking brilliant. Been a while since a Gaiman comic is this good.



Such a damn amazing issue.

[Acapelli]

it seems like i'm the only one who was ambivalent to whatever happened to the caped crusader. although i know i can't make a full judgement until the second issue is out

[Acapelli]

Sure, but that's a bad thing, in my book.
but why is this a bad thing?

[megladon8]

I'm like, 100% sure that number8 used to sing praises for Bendis.

What did he do that made 8 change his opinion so drastically?

[number8]

I'm like, 100% sure that number8 used to sing praises for Bendis.

What did he do that made 8 change his opinion so drastically?

Everything else he did after Alias and Ultimate Spiderman.

[megladon8]

Bah.

He's done lots of great stuff since then.

[Acapelli]

i'm pretty burned out on bendis too. secret invasion was just so boring, but everything leading up to it, and most of the tie-ins he wrote, were great

[ledfloyd]

Bah.

He's done lots of great stuff since then.
if by lots of great stuff you mean powers then i agree.

[megladon8]

if by lots of great stuff you mean powers then i agree.


I really liked the first several issues of "New Avengers".

His "Daredevil" stuff was great, as well.

[number8]

Okay, I don't think my previous post is completely accurate.

To clarify further, there are writers that you realize is a one trick pony after you read more from them. My introduction to Bendis was Alias. I thought it was an ingenious concept. I had some problems with the writing, as I thought Bendis didn't really do the mysteries needed for the premise justice--he was more interested in conversations--but the series ended pretty quickly and never got stale. I started reading Powers then, which was mostly the same thing, but went on and on and I lost interest. Same with Ultimate Spidey.

I realized pretty quickly after that that Bendis is a limited writer who already used up all of his good ideas. I think Daredevil is his masterpiece, but it's there that I start to notice Bendis' M.O.: he takes old concepts that's been done before and then deconstructs them so they last dozens of issues, without really exploring the potentials of those concepts. All he does now is rehash tired ideas and stretch them out for as long as he can by writing ping-pong dialogue. Did anything even happen in Secret Invasion until halfway through the series?

He has a problem with dropping the ball when it comes to his premises, because he's too in love with his dialogue scenes. His Avengers was just a chore to read, and now this whole Dark Avengers business is really getting on my nerves. He takes a cool idea like Osborn's Thunderbolts and then sucks out all the reason it was fun to begin with by letting him go public and act relatively sane--and worse, whatever Bendis does always dictates the rest of the Marvel U. "Oh, you want supervillains? Don't forget, they have to be part of The Hood now. Oh, you want superheroes? No, they have to be in hiding because Osborn is in charge." Plus, I find the whole "dark government" thing pretty anti-zeitgeist. I thought Marvel is all about reflecting the real world?

I know he's known for his dialogue, and it worked with his original characters, but you start reading more and you just realize that he has 3 or 4 voices in him--the teenager, the gangsta, the smartass and the intellectual--and use them for every damn character he gets his hands on. I realize there are other writers who are guilty of this--Garth Ennis, or even BKV sometimes--but at least their dialogue have substance to them. Bendis' dialogue always feel really empty to me. All the subtext is spelled out because it takes him 5 back-and-forths for what would take Ennis or Waid or Busiek one line to convey, and every conversation of his would have some "cool" punchline. It just got very tiring for me.

[EyesWideOpen]

I understand how 8 can have gotten sick of him but to me he's still one of the best writers out there. Alias, The Pulse, New Avengers, Daredevil, Secret War, Ultimate Spider-Man, all books i love. His event books i'm less keen on but i feel that way about most event books. I haven't even start reading his Powers yet, i just picked up the volume 1 hardcover a week or so ago.

[megladon8]

I thought the best part of "Powers" was the artwork.

[number8]

I do have a good thing to say about Bendis, though:

"At least he's not Mark Millar."

[EyesWideOpen]

I'll take Millar's Ultimates over anything Grant Morrison has ever written.

[megladon8]

That's just insane.

Grant Morrison is one of the all-time greats. Not everything he's written has been brilliant, but I'll give anything with his name on it a fair chance.

He's done some of the best Batman stuff ever - "Arkham Asylum" anyone?


This is a list of superhero writers I would check out anything from:

Grant Morrison
Kurt Busiek
Warren Ellis
Matt Wagner
Brian Azzarello

And the usuals like Alan Moore and Frank Miller. Even though Miller has been shit lately, I'll still check out new projects from him on the off chance that he's on his game, because when he's on he's hard to beat.

[number8]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v60/thekamisama/comicbookcomics3001.jpg

[megladon8]

This is a list of superhero writers I would check out anything from:

Grant Morrison
Kurt Busiek
Warren Ellis
Matt Wagner
Brian Azzarello

And the usuals like Alan Moore and Frank Miller. Even though Miller has been shit lately, I'll still check out new projects from him on the off chance that he's on his game, because when he's on he's hard to beat.



Eek! I missed some big ones in this list!


Ed Brubaker
Mark Waid
Bill Willingham
Brian K. Vaughn
Robert Kirkman

And I have to admit that while some of their projects in the last few years haven't been too great, I've loved too many things by Loeb/Sale to give up on them.

[number8]

So, I recently got my hands on a Jason vs Leatherface miniseries from the 90's by Topps Comics, and I was pretty surprised when I read it to see that the writer gave a lot of thought into it. If you'll excuse me, I'd like to describe the whole series here, see what you make of this compared to Freddy vs Jason:

The story is, Jason is stuck at the bottom of Crystal Lake after Friday part VI, but then he gets scooped up when the EPA is cleaning the lake and transporting the dump by train. Jason wakes and kills everyone on board, causing it to crash in... Texas.

Jason wanders into Sawyerville and sees Leatherface and Hitchhiker chasing some poor sap through the woods. The sap screams at Jason for help, which prompts Hitchhiker to order Leatherface to kill Jason. Jason knocks Leatherface's chainsaw away with his machete, but instead of attacking Leatherface he turns and chops the poor sap's head off. Seeing this, Hitchhiker tells Leatherface to stand down and calls Jason "one of us." He then invites Jason to have dinner with the Family. The narrator notes that this is OOC for Jason, who usually kills anyone he meets, but Jason figures that he can kill them later, after he finds out what these two are all about.

In the house, Jason meets the Sawyer's fucked up family and watches as Hitchhiker keeps bullying his little brother Leatherface. Leatherface runs into his room and Jason curiously follows. Jason sees Leatherface, without his mask on, crying on his bed, and remembers himself as an ugly kid crying because he kept getting picked on. Jason knocks on the door politely and motions for Leatherface to come with him back downstairs so they can have family dinner together. D'aaawwwww....?

So Jason stays with them for a few days. Hitchhiker takes him on a killing spree, and then shows Jason his hobby of building furniture out of human bones. Leatherface sits on a human chair and accidentally destroys it. Hitchhiker gets mad and starts slapping Leatherface around, making him cry. Jason sees this and is reminded of his own father who used to beat him, and how his mother killed his dad for it. Jason decides to protect Leatherface and tries to kill Hitchhiker, but Leatherface stops and begs him not to kill his brother. Jason leaves, which causes Hitchhiker to gloat and scold Leatherface for interfering in his fights, instead of being grateful. Leatherface cries again.

Jason goes off to the attic to be emo about his conflicted feelings about Leatherface, finding Grandpa and Grandma's corpses up there with some family photos. Cook comes up to apologize to Jason on Hitchhiker's behalf, and explains to Jason the Family's backstory and why they stick together. Jason starts to feel like he's finally found someone like him in Leatherface. All this time, he only knows how to destroy love and life (ie killing people who celebrate them by having sex and smoking pot), but now maybe he learns that family love is different. Jason thinks he can be friends with Leatherface.

But then, one dinner, Hitch starts beating on Leatherface again, so Jason ruins dinner by going after Hitchhiker. Cook steps in, so Jason chases after him too. Cook yells at Leatherface to get the chainsaw protect his family. He does, but Jason doesn't want to fight. He lowers his machete... and Leatherface slices him with the chainsaw. Jason feels betrayed, his only friend who shares his confusion has turned on him for a family that bullies him. Jason decides then that all love, any love is bad and must be destroyed. Jason and Leatherface fight to a draw, but Hitchhiker sneaks up behind Jason and smashes his skull with a hammer. Hitchhiker insists on tearing the hockey mask off to see Jason's ugly face, and Leatherface, for the first time, stands up to him to say no.

The Fam ties Jason to a cinderblock and tosses him in a lake. In a tender moment, Leatherface drops a rose in the lake to say goodbye to his friend.

Later, Jason escapes and climbs back up. He goes back to the farmhouse, but then decides not to attack, concluding that he should leave Leatherface and his Family alone.


:sad: *sniff*

[monolith94]

Hey 8, what did Marvel do to "fuck up big time"?

[number8]

Hey 8, what did Marvel do to "fuck up big time"?

Are you referring to my post about the Ultimate Spiderman reboot?

I was commenting on their complete bungling of the Ultimate Marvel universe. It's supposed to be a universe for new readers to be able to pick up without decades of continuity, it was supposed to be a simple, modern universe--but they've pretty much ruined it now. Ultimate X-Men is just as complicated and full of resurrection as the regular X-Men universe, and Jeph Loeb has turned a great comic like The Ultimates into one of the worst comics on the stand. His Ultimates is probably on the dictionary, next to the definition of "Shit-stained Writing."

And then, they had the Ultimatum crossover event, essentially eliminating any positive difference the universe had to the regular Marvel U. It's just gotten to a point so bad that they're going to reboot a reboot? That's called fucking up big time.

[Acapelli]

Are you referring to my post about the Ultimate Spiderman reboot?

I was commenting on their complete bungling of the Ultimate Marvel universe. It's supposed to be a universe for new readers to be able to pick up without decades of continuity, it was supposed to be a simple, modern universe--but they've pretty much ruined it now. Ultimate X-Men is just as complicated and full of resurrection as the regular X-Men universe, and Jeph Loeb has turned a great comic like The Ultimates into one of the worst comics on the stand. His Ultimates is probably on the dictionary, next to the definition of "Shit-stained Writing."

And then, they had the Ultimatum crossover event, essentially eliminating any positive difference the universe had to the regular Marvel U. It's just gotten to a point so bad that they're going to reboot a reboot? That's called fucking up big time.
shit happens all the time, seems like par for the course to me

[bac0n]

On Bendis - there was something about Bendis' writing that sorta bugged me that I couldn't put a finger on for awhile, and now that Number8 articulated it, I would have to agree.

I bought the TPBs for New Avengers to get caught up to the aftermath of the Civil War, which was where I started following along the monthly series, and the trend I saw starting to develop was one of the battles all having these huge expository lead-ins and posturing, and then when it gets time for the fists to fly and the energy blasts to zap around and stuff, it all seems very bland and rushed, as if it's almost an after thought. Even Spider-man had been reduced to a straight-up brawler.

I'll still follow New Avengers, cuz I love Luke Cage, but I'm thinking I'm gonna need to find somewhere else for my super-combat/cool powers being used jones.

[EyesWideOpen]

I just read two amazing books, Battlefields: The Night Witches TPB by Garth Ennis & Saga of the Swamp Thing Vol. 1 HC by Alan Moore.

[megladon8]

I just read two amazing books, Battlefields: The Night Witches TPB by Garth Ennis & Saga of the Swamp Thing Vol. 1 HC by Alan Moore.


Haven't read the first, but rep for the second one.

That's one of my all-time favorites.

[number8]

Picked up The Other Side, Scalped: Indian Country and Catwoman: The Dark End of the Street at Wondercon for a total of $20 even.

Cool haul, me!

[number8]

Also, I got to talk to Ed Brubaker. He was cool.

Matt Fraction was a hilarious and wise dude.

[ledfloyd]

Also, I got to talk to Ed Brubaker. He was cool.
i'm jealous.

i haven't bought a comic in months. i dunno why i stopped. short on cash i suppose. but it kind of broke the habit. i really need to get caught up on captain america though. and a few other things i'm sure. but i may switch to trades from now on.

[number8]

So the recent Unknown Solider series got me interested in the original character, and I got Garth Ennis' mini from the 90s. Brilliant. Ennis really works best with war/soldier stories.

[EyesWideOpen]

Batman: Cacophany (Kevin Smith's recent three issue mini) has had some problems but he got in a Christian Bale meltdown reference in the last issue that was funny. Onomatopoeia shoots Batman in the head which angers the Joker who responds by telling him that they are through professionally.

[number8]

I kinda loved the anti-Dark Knight last bit with Joker.

"I do want to kill you."

[number8]

Leonardo getting laid. How the hell does this work? :frustrated:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z246/Dea_ex_Machina/ScansDaily/TMNT_LBS3_26.jpg

[jamaul]

So I read Watchmen, which was my first Graphic Novel (well, actually I did read a couple of volumes of Sin City). I really, really liked it. I loved the reimagining of the superhero - the conflict, the pomposity, the psychology - I loved the broad array of different characters, the all-encompassing nature of the medium's tools at work. I feel like I entered the world of the GN like a novice watching Citizen Kane as their first venture into classic film.

That said, where do I go next? I've been reading up on From Hell, and that sounds astonishing. Any suggestions?

[Thirdmango]

This week I finished Transmetropolitan. Finally read books 9 and 10. Overall it's not as good a series as I had hoped. I fell in love with the first book. It was really good at first but then had a lot of nonsense. It got quite stagnant through the middle and ended pretty well. But I think this series would have been so much better if it had been cut down from 60 to 40 issues.

Also I finished Clumsy today. This is the second one I've read Jeffrey Brown. I liked how it was sorta all over the place and still felt relevant. But I think I liked Unlikely more. I'm going to read "aeiou" next week.

[number8]

That said, where do I go next?

Re-read it again. And again.



Kidding. But not really. Try V For Vendetta. Then read Watchmen again.

[jamaul]

Re-read it again. And again.



Kidding. But not really. Try V For Vendetta. Then read Watchmen again.

Is it better than the movie?

Also, have you read From Hell?

[number8]

Is it better than the movie?

Like apples to a turd.


Also, have you read From Hell?

Yes.

[monolith94]

So I read Watchmen, which was my first Graphic Novel (well, actually I did read a couple of volumes of Sin City). I really, really liked it. I loved the reimagining of the superhero - the conflict, the pomposity, the psychology - I loved the broad array of different characters, the all-encompassing nature of the medium's tools at work. I feel like I entered the world of the GN like a novice watching Citizen Kane as their first venture into classic film.

That said, where do I go next? I've been reading up on From Hell, and that sounds astonishing. Any suggestions?
Good-bye, Chunky Rice
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Persepolis
The Sandman Series
Maus I & Maus II

really, there are so many great graphic novels. Which includes Alan Moore's whole oeuvre. Although I haven't read his erotica yet.

[megladon8]

So I read Watchmen, which was my first Graphic Novel (well, actually I did read a couple of volumes of Sin City). I really, really liked it. I loved the reimagining of the superhero - the conflict, the pomposity, the psychology - I loved the broad array of different characters, the all-encompassing nature of the medium's tools at work. I feel like I entered the world of the GN like a novice watching Citizen Kane as their first venture into classic film.

That said, where do I go next? I've been reading up on From Hell, and that sounds astonishing. Any suggestions?


Well it depends on what you're interested in, Superheroes? And if so, more "main-stream" superhero stuff, or superhero stories that aren't as straight-forward or are not about the typical characters (kind of like an anti-superhero type thing).

For great superhero stuff...

"Superman: Birthright" by Mark Waid
"Batman: Year One" & "The Dark Knight Returns" by Frank Miller
"Batman: The Long Halloween" & "Batman: Dark Victory" by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale
"X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga" by Chris Claremont
"All-Star Superman" by Gran Morrison
"Batman: Arkham Asylum" by Grant Morrison

For more off-beat superhero related stuff...

"It's a Bird..." by Steven T. Seagle
"Superman: Secret Identity" by Kurt Busiek
"Astro City" by Kurt Busiek
"Fourth World" by Jack Kirby
"Doom Patrol" by Grant Morrison
"NEXTWAVE" by Warren Ellis

For major-label, non-superhero comics...

"Preacher" by Garth Ennis
"Y: The Last Man" by Brian K. Vaughn
"Ex Machina" by Brian K. Vaughn
"Fables" by Bill Willingham
"The Walking Dead" by Robert Kirkman
"Pride of Baghdad" by Brian K. Vaughn
"DMZ" by Brian Wood

And finally, for indie comics (which I am, myself, just beginning to explore deeply) here are some I've enjoyed immensely...

"Blankets" by Craig Thompson
"Goodbye, Chunky Rice" by Craig Thompson
"The Burma Chronicles" by Guy Dellisle
"Black Hole" by Charles Burns
"Ice Haven" by Daniel Clowes
"The Playboy" by Chester Brown
"Three Shadows" by Cyril Pedrosa


Also check out my thread of comic favorites (http://match-cut.org/showthread.php?t=1427) where I do detailed write-ups (with pics) for many of these, as well as some others I didn't mention here.

[number8]

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa128/ashez2ashes/MrT/MrT-1-2.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa128/ashez2ashes/MrT/MrT-1-3jpg.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa128/ashez2ashes/MrT/MrT-1-4.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa128/ashez2ashes/MrT/MrT-1-5.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa128/ashez2ashes/MrT/MrT-1-6.jpg

[Thirdmango]

It's been about 4 months since I read it and yet I keep thinking about Zot. I just love it so much. Anyone else get into Zot?

[number8]

Frank Miller's Charlie Brown.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/03/millerbrown.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.cinematical.com/media/2009/03/millerbrown1.jpg

[megladon8]

Got these two today...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41oKdHkCwXL._SS500_.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Nfri6oS2L._SS500_.jpg

[EyesWideOpen]

Incognegro is really good, haven't heard of the other one.

[number8]

Woo hoo! Morrison and Quitely reteam for new title, Batman & Robin.

Freakin' gorgeous art:

http://i.livescience.com/images/Quitely-Batman.jpg

[megladon8]

That's great news, number8, and I love that art.

When is it going to start publication?

[number8]

June.

[EyesWideOpen]

That top panel is horrible. I hate Quietly's lumpy designs.

[Acapelli]

That top panel is horrible. I hate Quietly's lumpy designs.
:crazy:

[EyesWideOpen]

:crazy:

The funny thing is that not only do I hate it, I also don't understand how any one else can find that top panel appealing.

[number8]

Neat!


IGN Comics: With the June relaunch of the Batman franchise comes a new Batman and a new Robin. DC will kill us for revealing their identities, but can you describe, as much as you can, the new relationship/chemistry between this Batman and Robin and how it would relate to previous Dynamic Duos?

Morrison: It's much more…contentious. This is a very different Batman and Robin team from any that we've seen before. It's almost a reverse of the traditional dynamic, with a more light-hearted and spontaneous Batman and a scowling, badass Robin. Expect fireworks and violence.

Obvious guess: it's Dick Grayson and Damien.

More awesome art:

http://comicsmedia.ign.com/comics/image/article/961/961044/batman-robin-20090310030958573_640w.jpg

[megladon8]

I can't seem to find "Wolverine: Old Man Logan" in a trade format.

Anyone know if it's maybe included in another trade that's a compilation or something?

[Acapelli]

I can't seem to find "Wolverine: Old Man Logan" in a trade format.

Anyone know if it's maybe included in another trade that's a compilation or something?
it's still not done yet

[number8]

it's still not done yet

McNiven is a slow mofo.

[megladon8]

Picked these up today...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41w1vJUbA5L._SS500_.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/413XXP0MS0L._SS500_.jpg
(this one is a different cover)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-9S2bqhtL._SS500_.jpg


And I got a signed copy of this for Jen...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511WNfsm38L._SS500_.jpg

[number8]

Early Superman was so awesome.

http://i44.tinypic.com/2d1mul3.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/so8h84.jpg

Women.

[Sycophant]

Women.

Seriously, seriously, I read both the strips and was going to post:

"Ha, ha. Women."

And then I saw you had already posted the "Women." thing. Fantastic.

[megladon8]

Any thoughts on the series' "Invincible", "Madman" and "100 Bullets"?

[Acapelli]

I started invincible with 42, dropped it at 51. as far as the superhero stuff went, absolutely nothing happened and the characters weren't interesting enough for me to keep going

madman i absolutely love and is one of my favorite series going. i thought the idea of an existentialist superhero would be pretentious, but not at all. it also helped that i fell in love with allred's pop-art style right away. i've been picking up the current ongoing since the 1st issue, and picking a up a trade of the older stuff here and there

[Sycophant]

I've read the first five or so trades of Invincible and thought they were pretty great. Start at the beginning if you're interested.

[number8]

100 Bullets is like one of the most overrated titles ever.

[Acapelli]

also, allred does stuff like this in madman

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/864/allredrv6.jpg

it's the entire issue done as one long panel

[megladon8]

100 Bullets is like one of the most overrated titles ever.


But you aren't much of a fan of Azzarello at all, right?

I remember you really hating "For Tomorrow" and being hugely disappointed in "The Joker" and (if I remember correctly) "Lex Luthor: Man of Steel" as well.

[number8]

Ummm... I *LOVE* both Joker and Lex Luthor: Man of Steel.

I like a lot of Azzarello's stuff. Broken City is fantastic. I also dig his work on Deathblow and Hellblazer. Even the Cage MAX mini he did that everyone hates I thought was pretty bitchin'.

For Tomorrow, though, yes, it was a piece of crap.

[megladon8]

I could have sworn you were hugely disappointed with "Joker". Maybe I'm thinking of EWO?

What did you hate so much about "For Tomorrow"? I thought it was really good. Not "classic" stuff, but it certainly hit all the right notes for me.

[Thirdmango]

I wouldn't start 100 Bullets until it's done. I got up to book 5 of the trade and got bored. Also it seems to be a series which if you have any down time between books you'll forget who the characters are which also doesn't help the book. I'm going to wait for it to end to give it another chance.

[Thirdmango]

What did I buy today?

I bought Scott Pilgrim 5 and just read it. Awesome.

I also bought Ex-Machina number 1, gonna give it a try.

and based purely off of a Match-Cut recommendation, I got, "Blankets".

[EyesWideOpen]

What did I buy today?

I bought Scott Pilgrim 5 and just read it. Awesome.

I also bought Ex-Machina number 1, gonna give it a try.

and based purely off of a Match-Cut recommendation, I got, "Blankets".

Three of the best series/books out there, great job!

[megladon8]

Yeah, those are some great purchases Thirdmango.

I hope you enjoy "Blankets". It looks like an intimidating read, but it's actually pretty quick.

And "Ex Machina" is very good. Even its "off" moments are written better than most superhero titles.

[Grouchy]

Been reading lots of comics, some of them old, others new. Most of them pretty good.

Batman/Huntress: Cry for Blood would probably need to include The Question in the title, since he gets a lot more protagonism than ol' pointy ears. Guess he's not a very commercial character - still one of my favorites, from what I remember of the O'Neill revamp in the '80s. A good story very much in the style of Greg Rucka and a nice approach to the relationships between the Bat-Family. I like Rick Burchett's style too, sometimes he's very reminiscent of the Animated Series character designs, which is never a bad thing. Compulsive read.

http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/umbrella%20academy%20gerard%20 way.jpg

Umbrella Academy I: Apocalypse Suite is the craziest, most surprising thing I've read recently. Who knew that the lead singer from My Chemical Romance had it in him to write comics. It's... difficult to describe why this book is so good. You get the feeling of an established pantheon of characters that are breathing life even before you arrive at the story. The bits of information that are left up on the air for future volumes also contribute to this effect. I recommend that everyone who loves original ideas buy this book right now. It reminded me of Morrison (who apparently is a friend of Way and writes the foreword) and even of Alan Moore in its satiric tone. What else do you need me to say?

Legends of the Dark Knight: Blades I bought because of Tim Sale's artwork. The story by James Robinson is... good but not great. The concept is pretty good - there's a new vigilante called The Cavalier who is a lot more of a "White Knight" than Batman. The Bats chooses to respect him, partly because he reminds him of El Zorro. However, things get complicated when the Cavalier has to face a moral choice related to a girl he's in love with. However, Robinson includes a subplot about a serial killer that really doesn't have anything to do with the story. Overall, it's solid but forgettable stuff, in line with the acceptable level of quality you'd expect from any Legends storyline. I wish they brought this excellent series back. I don't know how Batman: Confidential compares to it.

I bought the US edition of the Sword of Azrael miniseries by O'Neill and Quesada, which I already own in the Spanish edition. Always loved this origin story, specially the excellent art by Quesada.

Shazam: A New Beginning is great! This is a very old four-issue miniseries (from the month I was born, actually) that still holds water. Truly entertaining adventure, featuring the updated versions of Dr. Sivana and Black Adam, which are less goofy and deadlier but equally grounded in the fun/adventure spirit of Captain Marvel. It's a very light read, and you can tell the love Roy Thomas has for the original characters. The drawings by Mandrake are less than great, but the cover for #1 is a classic. If they ever get around to making a Captain Marvel film (who knows?) they should definitively base it on this.

http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2002/0207/perdition_page0716.gif

Last but not least, Road to Perdition is a very classic-looking comic. Max Allan Collins excels at characterization, and the story is reiterative but engaging. I was surprised at how different it was from the film adaptation - this is better and I wish someone had adapted it keeping more in mind the samurai qualities of the protagonist. It is, after all, a Lone Wolf and Cub reinterpretation. Sometimes you grow a little tired of the hero shootin' massive amounts of enemies down every six pages, but by the end, you grasp the point of the constant showdowns. Good stuff. Finished it way too fast.

[megladon8]

Grant Morrison's "SeaGuy" is...um...weird.

I love Morrison, and I was totally digging it until the last 10 or so pages...then it totally lost me.

It works as a great brainy sci-fi. I think D_Davis would love this one. Like a PKD superhero story.

[D_Davis]

Is it a trade?

[Spaceman Spiff]

Picked up Krazy Kat last night ('38-'41, I believe). Has anyone here read Herriman's work? Melville?

[number8]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.

In the latest New Avengers, Spidey unmasked again? Oh, man, Bendis, I think I love you just for that. That is fucking hilarious.

[Acapelli]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.

In the latest New Avengers, Spidey unmasked again? Oh, man, Bendis, I think I love you just for that. That is fucking hilarious.
well since one more day happened, he was never officially unmasked. still waiting to see how they explain that

loved seaguy. the first three issues are available as a trade and they comprise the first third of a trilogy. here are some pages from the first issue of the second part

http://creative.myspacecdn.com/groups/_mcb/p/wildstorm/seaguy/SEAGSM_Cv1_copy.jpg

http://creative.myspacecdn.com/groups/_mcb/p/wildstorm/seaguy/SEAGSM_1_1_copy.jpg

http://creative.myspacecdn.com/groups/_mcb/p/wildstorm/seaguy/SEAGSM_1_2_copy.jpg

http://creative.myspacecdn.com/groups/_mcb/p/wildstorm/seaguy/SEAGSM_1_3_copy.jpg

http://creative.myspacecdn.com/groups/_mcb/p/wildstorm/seaguy/SEAGSM_1_4_copy.jpg

http://creative.myspacecdn.com/groups/_mcb/p/wildstorm/seaguy/SEAGSM_1_5_copy.jpg

that last page creeps me the hell out

[number8]

well since one more day happened, he was never officially unmasked. still waiting to see how they explain that

What do you mean, explain? I'm laughing at the fact that Bendis singlehandedly undid what Quesada's trying to do with OMD by having Spidey reveal his identity again in the new issue of New Avengers.

It's been, what, a year?

[Acapelli]

i think there's a difference between unmasking in front of the entire country and unmasking in the company of avengers

supposedly they're gonna explain how spidey never unmasked, despite the fact that he was still tony's assistant in the events leading up to civil war and all that junk

whatever, it doesn't seem that important to me so i can hold out for an answer

[megladon8]

Is it a trade?



Yep. (http://www.amazon.com/Seaguy-Grant-Morrison/dp/1401204945/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238361713&sr=8-1)

[number8]

i think there's a difference between unmasking in front of the entire country and unmasking in the company of avengers

In the context of the Marvel U, yes, but to readers, the whole point of Quesada's Brand New Day mandate was to restore a dynamic in which Spidey's identity is kept secret from everybody--even Aunt May and Mary Jane and the Avengers, to wind him back to the Lee/Ditko days. Bendis opening him up to the Avengers undoes that and highlights why BND was a silly idea in the first place. It just doesn't work with where Spidey is now, as an adult with huge responsibilities like being a member of the freakin' Avengers.

[Melville]

Picked up Krazy Kat last night ('38-'41, I believe). Has anyone here read Herriman's work? Melville?
I've read one collection and a few random strips. I don't think it quite lives up to its reputation as the greatest comic ever, but it's very good. I love the almost abstract simplicity of its premise (a dog in love with a cat in love with a mouse that throws bricks at her, all wandering around in a desert). It's like Beckett in its refined absurdity. And the experimentation with layouts is great.

[megladon8]

Any thoughts on Richard Sala?

[megladon8]

Any thoughts on Richard Sala?


No one?


Oh and I continue to count myself among the fans of Geoff Johns.

"Superman: Brainiac" was great.

So far I haven't seen anything by him that was so wonderful I would count it among the best ever written, but he's consistently good.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I've read one collection and a few random strips. I don't think it quite lives up to its reputation as the greatest comic ever, but it's very good. I love the almost abstract simplicity of its premise (a dog in love with a cat in love with a mouse that throws bricks at her, all wandering around in a desert). It's like Beckett in its refined absurdity. And the experimentation with layouts is great.

Yeah, the artwork looks stunning. I'm also intrigued by the dialogue which at first glance seems to be a mixture of spanish, old-timey slang and mispronounced english. I've been under the cosh for a good while now, but I'll probably crack it open next weekend.

[Grouchy]

I begin to think Grant Morrison can do no wrong. Batman and Son is fucking compulsive reading, beginning with some of the most shocking opening pages I've ever seen in an in-continuity Batman comic. I've already picked up the TPB for three consecutive readings. Andy might not be my favorite Kubert, but his action drawings are also perfect for the book.

The best part? It's obvious that his run only gets better from here. Too bad the next arc, Resurrection of R'As Al Ghul, is one of those crossovers where a lot of writers collaborate. I just want more Morrison. The guy also excels at communicating exactly how fucking insane the Joker is, as demonstrated by his illustrated novella that comes near the middle of the book.

[Acapelli]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/Beyerstein/trekfury.jpg

[Thirdmango]

I just now finished Blankets and I am full of emotion. It's such a beautiful book and I connected well with the main character being from a religious up bringing and finding a first love. Truly a beautiful piece of art.

[megladon8]

I just now finished Blankets and I am full of emotion. It's such a beautiful book and I connected well with the main character being from a religious up bringing and finding a first love. Truly a beautiful piece of art.


YAY!

'Tis awesome. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

It's one of the best looks at young love i have ever encountered, in any medium.

[Sven]

THE MAXX!!!!!!

Got first two volumes today. So stoked. Love that stuff. I'm pretty sure Kieth is my favorite comic artist.

[number8]

I think I posted these scans before in this thread, but I just came across them again and wanted to post it again because it's one of my favorite moments in superhero romance. It's from Authority #3.

If you're not familiar with the characters, they are Midnighter and Apollo, two Batman-Superman pastiches who are a happily married gay couple. What sounded like a joke have actually been picked up and handled seriously by many writers, making them one of my favorite superhero couples.

Context: in the new Authority series, Earth has been destroyed and The Authority are having a hard time maintaining order in a post-apocalyptic world. Because of a toxic cloud covering the Earth's sky, sunlight can't go through, forcing Apollo to live above the atmosphere in order to stay alive. It's a shitty situation for our loving couple.

http://pics.livejournal.com/uadlika/pic/0002s6ka

http://pics.livejournal.com/uadlika/pic/0002txey

http://pics.livejournal.com/uadlika/pic/0002w5kb

I just think this is very touching, and a pretty unique star-crossed lover scenario,

[D_Davis]

THE MAXX!!!!!!

Got first two volumes today. So stoked. Love that stuff. I'm pretty sure Kieth is my favorite comic artist.

He draws the best mushrooms.

[EyesWideOpen]

I just ordered a copy of Lost Girls by Alan Moore from torpedocomics.com for $37 shipped. I already have a ton of stuff I need to read but I figured I was never going to find it for that low of a price again.

[number8]

Yeah, that's a good deal for it.

[EyesWideOpen]

I traded in a bunch of graphic novels/books to a local used bookstore and with the credit picked up:

Batman: A Death in the Family TPB
Batgirl: Year One TPB
Astro City: The Tarnished Angel TPB
Astro City: Life in the Big City TPB
Scalped Vol. 2 TPB
Shortcomings by Adrian Tomine Hardcover

[monolith94]

Shortcomings is pretty meh. I read it in the library, which was about the right price.

[EyesWideOpen]

Shortcomings is pretty meh. I read it in the library, which was about the right price.

I absolutely loved it. I had checked it out from the library a month or so ago so I knew what I was in for.

[number8]

Good god, they gave me a big stack of free comics today.

The Avengers one was cool. See, I like Bendis when he's doing fun one-shots like this.

[megladon8]

Wow.

Eminem and The Punisher in a comic book together.

So cool. :rolleyes::lol:

[number8]

This is impressive
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xp_tY4KNhI)

[Ezee E]

http://jaypinkerton.com/spiderman/11.jpg

[megladon8]

Got this today...

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/1740/superspycoverlg.jpg

Looks and sound pretty great.

[EvilShoe]

http://jaypinkerton.com/spiderman/11.jpg
I never want to know what the story behind this is.

[Acapelli]

I never want to know what the story behind this is.
http://jaypinkerton.com/2004/06/08/spider-man-comics/

[EyesWideOpen]

Went to the Mark Waid signing at my local store today. I got him to sign:


52 #1 (to go along with the Geoff Johns signature I got two weeks ago)
Irredeemable #1
The Unknown #1
Wha Huh? #1
Potter's Field Hardcover

He had a table set up with his most recent Boom Studios stuff so I picked up the Potter's Field hardcover collection. I had never heard of the Potter's Field miniseries but it's a noir book with great art and an intro by Greg Rucka so I figured I'd give it a shot.

[number8]

OHMYGODIWANTTHISSOBAD BUYYYY MEEEE OOOONE!
(http://www.geekchichq.com/Co_Store/The_Showroom/Alexandria_Codex/Alexandria_Codex.html)

[Thirdmango]

After purchasing all 16 volumes (Not all at the same time), I have finally finished all of the original Dragonball Manga. It's interesting to see how it goes from lighthearted and funny to fighting with some humor until it goes into the almost humorless Dragonball Z. It was also a lot shorter then I figured as currently Naruto is longer then Dragonball and Dragonball Z combined. But the first 10-12 Volumes are priceless, such a good series when you start from the very beginning.

[Sven]

Just read the first TPB of DMZ.

Does it get better? It's not, like, awful-awful, but it's a bit artless. A little too adolescent-apocalypse-fantasy-scenario for me, you know? My response is nearly similar to when I read the first TPB of Fables.

[D_Davis]

OHMYGODIWANTTHISSOBAD BUYYYY MEEEE OOOONE!
(http://www.geekchichq.com/Co_Store/The_Showroom/Alexandria_Codex/Alexandria_Codex.html)

Heck yeah.

I've wanted that Emissary gaming table for some time now.

[trotchky]

Just read the first TPB of DMZ.

Does it get better? It's not, like, awful-awful, but it's a bit artless. A little too adolescent-apocalypse-fantasy-scenario for me, you know? My response is nearly similar to when I read the first TPB of Fables.

I haven't read DMZ but I've been told Jonathan Hickman's six-issue The Nightly News (which is a near masterpiece; read it if you haven't) does everything that series attempts and better.

[number8]

Just read the first TPB of DMZ.

Does it get better? It's not, like, awful-awful, but it's a bit artless. A little too adolescent-apocalypse-fantasy-scenario for me, you know? My response is nearly similar to when I read the first TPB of Fables.


Agree with DMZ.

But with Fables... The series got A LOT better once it stopped being "Fables living daily modern lives" and turned into a full fledged epic fantasy. Which if I remember correctly is around the 3rd trade.

[number8]

http://www.mattmiller-photography.com/v5/image/pride/endless/image/endless1.jpg

[megladon8]

Might want to NSFW and spoiler-tag that.

[Acapelli]

i really don't understand what's going on there

[number8]

i really don't understand what's going on there

That means you don't read good comics.

[Acapelli]

navigating that website made my eyes bleed

it'll probably be a while before i ever get around to reading sandman

[Grouchy]

That means you don't read good comics.
Heh. I read them, but it took me a half a minute at least. Awesome.

[number8]

I would think that Despair there is a dead giveaway.

[Spinal]

I feel ridiculous that I allowed Snyder's film to lead me to believe that Watchmen would be less extraordinary than its reputation. In the middle of the Rorschach prison sequence now. Exhilarating, provocative stuff. So much insight that the film failed to transfer.

[megladon8]

I feel ridiculous that I allowed Snyder's film to lead me to believe that Watchmen would be less extraordinary than its reputation. In the middle of the Rorschach prison sequence now. Exhilarating, provocative stuff. So much insight that the film failed to transfer.


Yeah, it's pretty great.

I thought the movie did about as good a job as it could - it really is such a dense piece of work there's no way it could be translated flawlessly to film.

[number8]

I feel ridiculous that I allowed Snyder's film to lead me to believe that Watchmen would be less extraordinary than its reputation. In the middle of the Rorschach prison sequence now. Exhilarating, provocative stuff. So much insight that the film failed to transfer.

Cutting out the psychiatrist's home life, to me, is the movie's biggest crime. I know you can't switch narrative mid-shift in a movie, but still... What you said. Provocative stuff.

[Spinal]

Cutting out the psychiatrist's home life, to me, is the movie's biggest crime. I know you can't switch narrative mid-shift in a movie, but still... What you said. Provocative stuff.

Yes! Was just reading that section. So good.

[Spinal]

I thought the movie did about as good a job as it could ...

I don't think I agree with this. While there are certainly major challenges, I think another, more intellectual director could have retained more of the core philosophy. Snyder was able to capture the look and some of the action, but he is completely out to sea when it comes to thematics.

I'd love to see Aronofsky take a whack at that Dr. Manhattan section where he is jumping back and forth in time.

[Mysterious Dude]

I just read Epileptic by David B., and I think it may be the best comic book I've ever read. It's an autobiographical story about the author growing up with his brother, who is prone to frequent epileptic seizures. It has some really great art, in which the author imagines his brother's condition as a monster.

http://www.randomhouse.com/pantheon/graphicnovels/art/epileptic2.jpg

[megladon8]

To be honest, I get a little tired of the wanking to "Watchmen" and Moore in general.

It's dense, brilliant, provocative...but it didn't move me the same way several other comics have.

Is it among the best ever? Certainly.

Is it the best ever? Not by a long shot.


And Antoine, glad you enjoyed "Epileptic". I thought it was great, too. I'd also recommend you check out "Three Shadows".

[number8]

I've read Watchmen over a dozen times. It moves me, inspires me and stirs me every time. I will never stop wanking to it. I probably have to buy a new copy because this one's stuck together.

[number8]

I'll tell you what's overrated. Blankets.

Flame away.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I'll tell you what's overrated. Blankets.

Flame away.

Nah, I won't flame you for that. I can understand feeling that way. It hit all the right chords with me, but I'm not surprised that others didn't enjoy it.

[number8]

Nah, I won't flame you for that. I can understand feeling that way. It hit all the right chords with me, but I'm not surprised that others didn't enjoy it.

Oh, I enjoyed it a lot. It just that I've tried reading it through several more times, and after the second time it just becomes tedious, and Craig's storytelling weakness comes through. I always end up just thumbing through to look at the art.

It's really the life story itself that's most fascinating about it, not the way he tells it. It's telling that I haven't liked any of his other books.

[number8]

I'd love to see Aronofsky take a whack at that Dr. Manhattan section where he is jumping back and forth in time.

Yeah, when that part in the movie came on, I kept thinking about The Fountain.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Oh, I enjoyed it a lot. It just that I've tried reading it through several more times, and after the second time it just becomes tedious, and Craig's storytelling weakness comes through. I always end up just thumbing through to look at the art.

It's really the life story itself that's most fascinating about it, not the way he tells it. It's telling that I haven't liked any of his other books.

Interesting. I've only read through it once (it's pretty rare that I read a book twice), but it was definitely his story that made it so compelling to read. And the art. There are some really fantastic panels in that book, especially some of the full page artwork.

[Thirdmango]

Interesting. I've only read through it once (it's pretty rare that I read a book twice), but it was definitely his story that made it so compelling to read. And the art. There are some really fantastic panels in that book, especially some of the full page artwork.

I have found that Blankets has had a pretty wide spreading divide which has interested me quite a bit. I read it for the first time about 2 months ago and adored it and yet a friend who I fully expected to love it the same amount found it to be over the top and annoying. I wonder if it has anything to do with the religious sub-texts and whether or not the reader had felt similar feelings of actually believing in it and being let down or something else I'm not sure. I've been curious to see if there were parallels there or not.

[Grouchy]

Cutting out the psychiatrist's home life, to me, is the movie's biggest crime. I know you can't switch narrative mid-shift in a movie, but still... What you said. Provocative stuff.
The main problem of cutting that character's screentime is that he's the only real hero in the book, the only one that's motivated to fighting the good fight because of the act itself and not private issues of his own.

[number8]

This is fucked up. Man gets 15 years for possessing loli manga:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/050921-CBLDF.html

Goddammit.

[Kurosawa Fan]

This is fucked up. Man gets 15 years for possessing loli manga:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/050921-CBLDF.html

Goddammit.

That link says he hasn't been sentenced yet, and that there is no minimum sentence. So basically he could still get nothing from this, especially since he pleaded guilty and is cooperating to the fullest extent.

[megladon8]

OK I think child porn is fucking disgusting and horrible and everything...but even child porn drawings are illegal?

I'm not saying this is something I'm interested in, but really, shouldn't literature/artwork not be given these restrictions by law?

Just the principle of the things seems really stupid. With that logic, we should also outlaw murder mysteries 'cause, you know, the characters are murdered.

[number8]

Comparing Bush to Norman Osborn? Oh, Marvel.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/CyberGhostface/Spider-Man595GreenGiant010.jpg

[megladon8]

That shot of Wolverine and Spidey fist-bumping made my soul die a little bit.

[Sycophant]

That shot of Wolverine and Spidey fist-bumping made my soul die a little bit.

Wait. How is that not awesome?

EDIT: FWIW, I totally prefer seeing comic book heroes chillin' and fist-bumpin' to punching each other, so.

[Winston*]

Been reading Cerebus. Enjoying it a bunch. The development in the quality of art just in the first trade alone is absolutely incredible.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/laurae55/cerebus1.gifhttp://www.tri-stateoriginalart.com/gallery_706/706_sim_cerebus15.jpg

[megladon8]

Wait. How is that not awesome?

EDIT: FWIW, I totally prefer seeing comic book heroes chillin' and fist-bumpin' to punching each other, so.


Your anti-violence stances are getting a little tired. It comes across a little too "Holier than thou".

[Sycophant]

Your anti-violence stances are getting a little tired. It comes across a little too "Holier than thou".

Didn't realize I'd adopted a major anti-violence stance.

Curious, though. What is the problem with these panels that kills your soul?

[megladon8]

Didn't realize I'd adopted a major anti-violence stance.

Curious, though. What is the problem with these panels that kills your soul?


I was being hyperbolic, so if the "killed my soul a little bit" was taken literally...well...that's ridiculous. I'm sure my soul is intact.

Wolverine is kind of a loner who purposely cuts himself off from contact with most. He and Spidey often have a snarky thing going on in their friendship and honestly I never really pictured them "chilling" together, let alone fist-bumping.

Then again, I don't really follow either character so maybe there's some deeper friendship there that I don't realize.

[Acapelli]

yeah i don't get meg's stance either

spidey and wolverine's relationship is one of my favorite things about having them on the same avengers team. and that issue of asm extra a few months back where wolverine invites spidey to have a drink with him on his birthday (unknowingly) is one of my favorite bnd stories

[megladon8]

yeah i don't get meg's stance either

spidey and wolverine's relationship is one of my favorite things about having them on the same avengers team. and that issue of asm extra a few months back where wolverine invites spidey to have a drink with him on his birthday (unknowingly) is one of my favorite bnd stories


Again, I don't follow either character so I guess I missed this.

Wolverine fist-bumping anyone seems a little weird to me. Like Dr. Doom making a dick joke or something.

[number8]

Wolverine isn't really a loner. I think you have the character all wrong. He's usually a pretty friendly guy, that's why he's on like 16 different superhero teams at the same time. Whenever an X-Man dies, Logan is usually the most upset about it.

[megladon8]

"Pretty friendly guy" is never how I read Wolverine.

They must have really changed his character around or something.

[number8]

Dude, he babysits teenage and little kid mutants all the freakin' time.

[megladon8]

Dude, he babysits teenage and little kid mutants all the freakin' time.


Yeah, which I thought he kinda did, you know, because he had to. Not because he's a sweet guy.

[Ezee E]

Wolverine is totally a tough as nails guy on the outside, teddy bear on the inside. ALWAYS been that way.

And if Spider-Man offers a fist bump, you don't leave him hangin.

[megladon8]

Wolverine is totally a tough as nails guy on the outside, teddy bear on the inside. ALWAYS been that way.


That's more how I see Ben Grimm.

[bac0n]

Comparing Bush to Norman Osborn? Oh, Marvel.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/CyberGhostface/Spider-Man595GreenGiant010.jpg



That shot of Wolverine and Spidey fist-bumping made my soul die a little bit.

If it makes you feel any better, the third frame (not shown) went something like this:

*SNIKT!*

OWWW!!!

[number8]

Ultimate Red Skull is an international terrorist who is Captain America's illegitimate son.

I'm not sure what to think yet.

[EyesWideOpen]

Ultimate Red Skull is an international terrorist who is Captain America's illegitimate son.

I'm not sure what to think yet.

I think you should stop paying attention to the Ultimate Universe.

[number8]

I think you should stop paying attention to the Ultimate Universe.

I pay attention to comic book news. I've stopped reading any Ultimate title a looong time ago.

[EyesWideOpen]

I'm more intrigued by what's going on in Captain America #600 since retailers are gonna be allowed to sell it on monday instead of wednesday like the rest of the weeks books. Brubaker has said repeatedly that Steve Rogers wouldn't be coming back anytime soon so I hope it's something other then that.

[number8]

I'm more intrigued by what's going on in Captain America #600 since retailers are gonna be allowed to sell it on monday instead of wednesday like the rest of the weeks books. Brubaker has said repeatedly that Steve Rogers wouldn't be coming back anytime soon so I hope it's something other then that.

The cover image made it pretty obvious.

He gets a new Bucky. The female one from the Heroes Reborn universe.

[number8]

Also, Batman & Robin #1 out today. So awesome. Some really spectacular art.

[Acapelli]

Also, Batman & Robin #1 out today. So awesome. Some really spectacular art.
absolutely

[number8]

Fucking love your avatar.

[Acapelli]

Fucking love your avatar.
this panel, and the page where they jump out of the flying batmobile were fantastic

i mean the art was great across the board, but those images were iconic

[megladon8]

I was just speaking with a customer who is an artist, apparently.

When I brought up that I was interested in writing/illustrating comics, he cut me off and said "comic books are nothing but adolescent power fantasy."

There was so much wrong with this statement, I didn't know what I wanted to do more: sternly correct him, or punch him in the face for being a pompous jackass.

So I just nodded my head.

[number8]

Well, ironically, if you had punched him, you'd prove him right. So I guess nodding was the best response.

[Grouchy]

He said that right after you told him you were interested in drawing them, so, yeah, the guy has no fucking respect for people, let alone comics. I think you should have punched him.

[Acapelli]

The cover image made it pretty obvious.

He gets a new Bucky. The female one from the Heroes Reborn universe.
the only problem i have with this theory is why the push for publicity in the mainstream media for that? i really doubt the general public would have any interest in that news. its gotta be something bigger

[lovejuice]

i'm not a comic book guy, but lately i have been checking out the spirit in a bookstore, and really really love it. it has humor -- this masked vigilante is not above laughing or making fun of himself -- anything-go charm, and everything i like about the medium.

[D_Davis]

You should've told him that "fine art is nothing but pretentious wankery."

[Acapelli]

went to the museum of comic and cartoon art festival in manhattan today. had a great time. got becky cloonan to sign an issue of american virgin for me, david mack signed an issue of kabuki, and cameron stewart signed two issues of the current volume of seaguy. probably my favorite find of the show was this guy: http://connorwillumsen.com/

i also attended a talk by seth and adrian tomine. seth by far was the better of the two. he looked like a cross between david lynch and crispin glover and sounded like ira glass. opened up by decrying the use of the term graphic novel, which many would probably agree with and related to us a number of amusing anecdotes. had a great time

[bac0n]

Ya know, with each passing issue, I'm becoming less and less interested in the world Bendis has created over in Marvel-land. I'm thinking of dropping New Avengers and just following Green Lantern until I hear of some decent Marvel title far enough removed from this Dark Reign crap to pique my interest.

[megladon8]

I'm so out of the loop with Marvel, I don't even know what this Dark Reign thing is.

[EyesWideOpen]

Ya know, with each passing issue, I'm becoming less and less interested in the world Bendis has created over in Marvel-land. I'm thinking of dropping New Avengers and just following Green Lantern until I hear of some decent Marvel title far enough removed from this Dark Reign crap to pique my interest.

Their's plenty of great Marvel books that are seperate from the main Dark Reign stuff.

Immortal Iron Fist, Captain America, Wolverine: Weapon X, Daredevil to name a few.

I love New Avengers and the "Dark Reign crap" but yeah if your not up on the Marvel universe then New Avengers is probably not the one Marvel book you want to be picking up.

[number8]

Yeah, stick to Brubaker's stuff. I love how Captain America, since launch, has ignored every crossover Marvel did. Even Civil War, kind of.

[EyesWideOpen]

It's a great time to be a Batman fan. Batman & Robin, Batman, Red Robin all fantastic. As those were the three I was most worried about, the Rucka & Dini books I have full faith in.

[number8]

I dropped Batman and Detective, didn't bother with Red Robin.

Getting Streets of Gotham and Goham City Sirens instead.

[number8]

OH, COME ON.

http://i.livescience.com/images/AODObama01-cov-nauk.jpg

[Acapelli]

I dropped Batman and Detective, didn't bother with Red Robin.

Getting Streets of Gotham and Goham City Sirens instead.
why would you drop detective? it has jh williams iii art and rucka writing it. batman was terrible, but red robin wasn't that bad. i'm interested in seeing where it goes

on the other hand, dini's detective hasn't been good for a while

[number8]

why would you drop detective? it has jh williams iii art and rucka writing it. batman was terrible, but red robin wasn't that bad. i'm interested in seeing where it goes

on the other hand, dini's detective hasn't been good for a while

JH Williams is sexy, but I've been known to forsake art if the writing is shit. DC wise, Rucka has been pretty bad for a long time (since Gotham Central, really, though I did like the Question bits in 52), and the Kathy Kane character annoys me. No go. Maybe if Gordon or Bullock is the main character, sure, since Rucka's good with cops. Batwoman? Naaah.

I like the premise of Red Robin, but I've read reviews saying it's basically Tim walking around foreign cities asking if they've seen Bruce Wayne (isn't he famous?!) and saving random people. With no real hook, I worry that it'll get old around #6 or #7. Rather not stick around that long and not have it go anywhere. Not a fan of Yost anyway.

Batman... Yeah, Wynick is self-explanatory.

[Acapelli]

well i'm hoping the that red robin will evolve beyond that after the first arc

as for rucka, i had heard nothing but good things about his checkmate run, and have really enjoyed almost everything he's written for the question (52, crime bible). his action comics has been pretty terrible though, and revelations was pretty boring imo

[number8]

Boring is a great word for Rucka. I found all of his Checkmate/OMAC/Montoya stuff pretty boring. Sometimes lurid. I used to think I like him because of his Batman stuff, but come to think of it, I think he was riding on Brubaker's coattails.

[Acapelli]

i love whiteout and its sequel, which was my first exposure to him

[number8]

They're always better with creator owned stuff. Queen & Country is good too.

[megladon8]

Boring is a great word for Rucka. I found all of his Checkmate/OMAC/Montoya stuff pretty boring. Sometimes lurid. I used to think I like him because of his Batman stuff, but come to think of it, I think he was riding on Brubaker's coattails.


Weren't you one of "Gotham Central"'s premiere supporters?

[EyesWideOpen]

Weren't you one of "Gotham Central"'s premiere supporters?

Especially weird because Rucka wrote half the issues.

[number8]

Weren't you one of "Gotham Central"'s premiere supporters?

Yes, I just mentioned that in my previous post.

[number8]

Anyone read the latest Wolverine? Jason Aaron can rape my ass anytime he wants. Logan's soliloquy on why he's in a dozen teams at once is great.

[Acapelli]

pretty great story

and another great example of the recent(-ish) spidey/wolverine friendship

[number8]

and another great example of the recent(-ish) spidey/wolverine friendship

Yeah, it's pretty great. Logan interacts with every single person in the Marvel universe, and yet it's Peter who noticed his problems and only Peter does he open up to and even cry in front of. Love it.

This is quality stuff. Old Man Logan can suck my dick.

[number8]

In somewhat related news, did anyone else got the last issue of Ghost Rider and cursed up a storm when the next issue's solicit says that Aaron's ending his GR run? I didn't know about that and was pretty pissed. Back to mediocrity it is for Ghost Rider.

[Acapelli]

In somewhat related news, did anyone else got the last issue of Ghost Rider and cursed up a storm when the next issue's solicit says that Aaron's ending his GR run? I didn't know about that and was pretty pissed. Back to mediocrity it is for Ghost Rider.
i really need to check this out

i can see someone like rick remender doing it justice, since he's been killing it on the marvel u punisher book

[number8]

i can see someone like rick remender doing it justice, since he's been killing it on the marvel u punisher book

Good to hear. I liked the first issue enough, but decided not to continue. I feel all right thinking that Ennis' last arc was the end of Frank Castle. It was too perfect for the character to go on.

[Acapelli]

to me, the max punisher and marvel u punisher are totally seperate entities

but i do think this new book is well worth checking out. seeing frank with the antman helmet on was awesome

[EyesWideOpen]

Remender's Punisher has been awful while the MAX book while not up to the levels of Ennis at the top of his game has still been consistently great.

[Acapelli]

http://comiccritics.com/comics/2009-06-16_cc_072.gif

[number8]

Yep. Seriously. Poor McDuffie.

[Acapelli]

didio is seriously the worst