Author Topic: Comics discussion (Read 10599 times)

Error2k4 · « **on:** May 31, 2008, 12:30:52 AM »

I think EB needs a comics discussion thread

Himu · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2008, 12:35:40 AM »

Gracias Miguel.

Right now I am reading X-Factor, World War Hulk, Messiah Complex (Uncanny X-Men), Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D, Astonishing X-Men (whedon), and New X-Men (Morrison). Oh and Secret Invasion which mostly seems lame. I've got the new Captain America, New Avengers, and Mighty Avengers in the queue, but I can't find fucking Avengers Disassembled and it's driving me mad. I don't think it matters though, because I've read House of M.

I recently got back into comics and I was hoping for some feedback from the more knowledgeable comic vets. Right now I'm only reading Marvel, but after I catch up on the current arcs, and then I'll move on to DC. After I catch up on the DC arcs I'll move on to the non Marvel, Dc stuff. If I could make threads, I would have made this thread myself.

Eric P, I'm counting on you. I need guidance, my brother. Non Marvel comics I'm reading now: Y: The Last Man, DMZ.

Himu · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2008, 12:36:18 AM »

I just wanted to say that I love X-Factor to death. It's soooo good. Currently the best X-title right now.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2008, 12:55:50 AM »

I want the new Fables release already goddamnit

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2008, 01:21:57 AM »

BobbyRobby · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2008, 01:32:53 AM »

I wish I had money to get back into comics. What I read of X-Factor during Civil War was awesome. Is everything pretty much the same since shortly after Civil War endded? Are the New Avengers still underground?

The Avengers Disassembled Hardcover is only 11.50 on amazon.

TVC15 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 31, 2008, 01:35:54 AM »

Himu you stupid cunt, read Sandman. And shit by Alan Moore. Get the first volume of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen NOW. Fuck X shit.

Himu · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2008, 01:40:06 AM »

Quote from: The Sawyer on May 31, 2008, 01:21:57 AM

(Image removed from quote.)

Himu · « **Reply #8 on:** May 31, 2008, 01:40:42 AM »

Quote from: TVC 15 on May 31, 2008, 01:35:54 AM

Himu you stupid cunt, read Sandman. And shit by Alan Moore. Get the first volume of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen NOW. Fuck X shit.

I have read some of Sandman. I own The Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and I'm also reading LXG.

Himu · « **Reply #9 on:** May 31, 2008, 01:43:37 AM »

Quote from: BobbyRobby on May 31, 2008, 01:32:53 AM

I wish I had money to get back into comics. What I read of X-Factor during Civil War was awesome. Is everything pretty much the same since shortly after Civil War endded? Are the New Avengers still underground?

The Avengers Disassembled Hardcover is only 11.50 on amazon.

Avengers are still underground, yeah

Eric P · « **Reply #10 on:** May 31, 2008, 01:35:15 PM »

i am currently going deep deep deep into the belly of the beast.

i have just started a read through of all of Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol. So Far So Awesome.

i'm not really reading any of the current things from the big 2. i am really looking forward to the starman omnibus becuase i've always heard great things about that comic.

i understand x-factor is good, but i'm not really interested in anything with an X in front of its name at the moment.

i'm also going through Tintin books and oddly not enjoying them as much as i thought i would.

my girlfriend just lent me Charles Burns' Black Hole. I read the beginning when it was being published in some anthology, but never read this edition.

i'm eagerly awaiying the 3rd volume of Absolute Sandman

Himu · « **Reply #11 on:** May 31, 2008, 01:53:40 PM »

you don't like tin tin?

do the big 2 ONLY do superhero stuff these days?

Raban · « **Reply #12 on:** May 31, 2008, 02:10:14 PM »

Quote from: The Sawyer on May 31, 2008, 01:21:57 AM

(Image removed from quote.)

I was only grinning until Dr. Manhattan, then I lmfao so hard

Eric P · « **Reply #13 on:** May 31, 2008, 02:51:58 PM »

Quote from: Himuro on May 31, 2008, 01:53:40 PM

you don't like tin tin?

do the big 2 ONLY do superhero stuff these days?

i'm more of an asterix person myself

chronovore · « **Reply #14 on:** June 01, 2008, 03:19:38 AM »

Full-on roflwaffles at "i'd hit it" .gif - particularly the Apollo and Hank Pym frames.

As a Japan resident, my comics are almost exclusively trade paperbacks, unless I think they're going to die if no-one buys the singles. I buy Peter David's Fallen Angel for that reason alone. I'm big into THE WALKING DEAD, Kirkman's zombie comic which kicks so much zombie ass, it's on par with Romero's Night of the Living Dead. I just finished League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - Black Dossier, which wasn't quite what I was hoping for after loving the first two.

Recently I read Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days and really dug it. It's more drama than tights, but it's clever and honest. I'll be getting more soon.

I'm getting Brian Wood stuff no matter what it is; DMZ and Couriers and Couscous Express and soon the remainder of it. I got into Brian Wood because he did the character design for GTA III, and I wish they'd stuck with his caricature-like style for the sequels.

My favorite comics of all time are Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Alan Moore's run on Miracleman, and Grant Morrison's Invisibles.

Eric P · « **Reply #15 on:** June 01, 2008, 10:02:50 AM »

ex machina is great stuff. i haven't kept up past the special they did two years ago or so, but it's really good reading. it constantly focuses on the drama and not the tights, which i apprecaite

Mupepe · « **Reply #16 on:** June 01, 2008, 03:48:24 PM »

Marvel is doing an adaption of The Stand <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 omg day one

Kestastrophe · « **Reply #17 on:** June 01, 2008, 04:40:17 PM »

I have never been a fan of comics and I doubt I ever will. After hearing alot about the Watchmen recently, I decided to pick it up. I was disappointed to find out that it was a comic and not a novel (for some reason I thought that the term "graphic novel" meant that it was not the same as a comic). I've read the first 3 chapters so far and it is pretty good, but I would rather it be a traditional novel. I feel that I can reasonably appreciate art, but comics just seem pretty silly to me. Perhaps it is just a perception problem on my part, but reading comics just feels like reading a movie storyboard.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #18 on:** June 01, 2008, 08:35:47 PM »

Eric P · « **Reply #19 on:** June 01, 2008, 08:58:09 PM »

if you think that's silly, Flash has a treadmill he can use to travel through time

Eric P · « **Reply #20 on:** June 01, 2008, 08:58:18 PM »

goddamn the silver age rules

Himu · « **Reply #21 on:** June 01, 2008, 10:18:35 PM »

what's great about the silver age? I've tried to get into silver age comics and the writing is usually a lot worse than modern ones

Eric P · « **Reply #22 on:** June 01, 2008, 10:29:07 PM »

i like the sense of wonder and the sheer insanity and surreal aspects.

oh, a comic which NEVER gets mentioned in these things

Paul Grist's Kane and also his Jack Staff

Quote

Kane is a comic book series created, written and drawn by Paul Grist. Grist also self published it through his company, Dancing Elephant Press. It concerns a police detective who works in the 39th precinct of the fictional American city of New Eden, which seems to be located on the west coast. Despite being a UK citizen, Grist appears to have modeled New Eden and its police force in the style of American Cop shows such as Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue. Another clear influence is the work of Frank Miller, particularly his Sin City comics. Cerebus was another formative influence, particularly because it proved to Grist that self-published comics were a viable proposition; the first issue of Cerebus that Grist read was #39, hence the designation of Kane's precinct.

Kane has a difficult relationship with his co-workers due to a violent encounter with his former partner, which unfolds gradually and in flashback during the series. Police corruption is a recurring theme however, Kane is also densely intertextual and brims with references to popular culture, particularly characters from British television, comics and films.

Quote

Jack Staff is a British superhero created by comic book writer/artist Paul Grist. He is billed as "Britain's Greatest Hero". It's known for being in the style of an anthology title and for its multi-linear plotlines.

He first saw print in comics published by Paul Grist's Dancing Elephant Press, and is now published by Image Comics. Comics International began exclusive publication of a monthly four-page strip featuring the supporting character Ben Kulmer (the Claw); this started in #185 of the magazine and was set to run for twelve episodes. These strips have since been reprinted by Image Comics in a special.

Tauntaun · « **Reply #23 on:** June 02, 2008, 11:29:16 AM »

Just finished Planet Hulk and World War Hulk last week!

TAUNTAUN SMASH! My sister let me borrow a Fables book, holy crap it was not what I was expecting. It's like Berserk meets fairy tales.

patrickula · « **Reply #24 on:** June 02, 2008, 12:32:41 PM »

I've read quite a few comics lately

comics

Stuff from my local library:
Black Hole - I like the art and I don't have any complaints with the storytelling or technicalities of the book. I didn't care about or identify with all but maybe one of the characters though, while the plot itself was only occasionally particularly interesting (mostly towards the end). I wished there was actually some scifi/nerd stuff about the STD instead of just high school angst. Not my thing I guess, though I enjoyed reading it and wouldn't recommend against doing so.
Five Fists of Science - nothing special unfortunately
Curses - some good stuff, mostly meh, too much text
Pyongyang - I'm really enjoying this. The art isn't pretty but it works, and some pages/panels are very effective. The subject matter is very interesting to me, I'm gonna have to look into finding more stuff about N. Korea. Also reminds me that I want to get some more Joe Sacco stuff, which pushes some of the same buttons with me.

Bought:
Hellboy vol. 2: It's Hellboy, good fun, hot art

Concrete vol. 1: Bought this one pretty much cold since I'd heard it was good and the art looked great. It was pretty good, I'm buying the next volume to see how much I keep liking it. Beautiful art and a well handled concept. It's not afraid to go into nerdy/scifi stuff either!
Ultimates 2 HC: Mostly fuckawesome, though there was some real WTF stuff at the end. And the red evil Captain America guy really didn't need to have a glowing lightsaber that wasn't a lightsaber. Just dumb.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #25 on:** June 02, 2008, 12:50:25 PM »

Im a big Fables whore these days, and I used to never read comics.

patrickula · « **Reply #26 on:** June 02, 2008, 01:01:49 PM »

Fables

The one super long series I haven't gotten tired of collecting (I still need to start picking up Y and Walking Dead again). Can't wait for the next volume.
I found Jack of Fables not so amazing though, after getting two volumes $:-\$

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #27 on:** June 02, 2008, 01:05:52 PM »

Jacks funnier when everyones kicking his ass. I dont like the whole 'jack running around havin fun'. I wanna see him suffer! But yeah, Jack of Fables is kinda zzzz.

Tauntaun · « **Reply #28 on:** June 02, 2008, 01:25:15 PM »

Quote from: The Sawyer on June 02, 2008, 12:50:25 PM

Im a big Fables whore these days, and I used to never read comics.

Dude, I thought you were ubernerd. :'( My dreams, they are crushed.

Diunx · « **Reply #29 on:** May 08, 2009, 02:24:13 PM »

Thread revived!

new Power Girl monthly

Cyanista · « **Reply #30 on:** May 08, 2009, 02:28:00 PM »

Rereading like, ALL of Joe Kelly's Deadpool.

I <3 CDisplay so much.

Himu · « **Reply #31 on:** May 08, 2009, 02:30:07 PM »

Quote from: Diunx on May 08, 2009, 02:24:13 PM

Thread revived!

new Power Girl monthly

(Image removed from quote.)

what is this comic all about

Eric P · « **Reply #32 on:** May 08, 2009, 02:33:48 PM »

poor powergirl

so maligned

Diunx · « **Reply #33 on:** May 08, 2009, 02:36:44 PM »

Quote from: Cyanista on May 08, 2009, 02:28:00 PM

Rereading like, ALL of Joe Kelly's Deadpool.

I <3 CDisplay so much.

I love Kelly's and Gail Simone run on Deadpool, Daniel Way is doing a great job too #10 came out this week and it was great.

Quote from: Himuro on May 08, 2009, 02:30:07 PM

what is this comic all about

Power Girl is Super girl from another universe or some shit like that, going by the first issue this is like super girl but with more comedy and not as serious.

Himu · « **Reply #34 on:** May 08, 2009, 02:40:54 PM »

so it's DC, eh? Why'd they call it Power Girl and not put the Super Girl name on the cover and give it a different subtitle?

Cyanista · « **Reply #35 on:** May 08, 2009, 02:47:44 PM »

Because Power Girl has been an established character since the 70's.

Himu · « **Reply #36 on:** May 08, 2009, 02:48:25 PM »

So Power Girl is a totally different character from Super Girl, they're just similar.

Cyanista · « **Reply #37 on:** May 08, 2009, 02:50:24 PM »

Um...she's like an Earth-42 version of Supergirl, or something. It's like an alternate timeline thing. She and supergirl are different people with very different personalities.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #38 on:** May 08, 2009, 02:56:27 PM »

once we finish explaining Powergirl let's talk about Hawkman's origins, or maybe Diana Star

viva la HYPERTIME

meanwhile in Real Comics, Seaguy 2 came out this week

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #39 on:** May 08, 2009, 03:24:57 PM »

i want to join in on these discussions but i hate modern mainstream comics

i have an almost embarrassing knowledge of comics published before 1990, though

Tucah · « **Reply #40 on:** May 08, 2009, 03:25:17 PM »

I recently decided I wanted to read some superhero stuff so I've been going through Green Lantern before Blackest Night.

Eric P · « **Reply #41 on:** May 08, 2009, 03:32:39 PM »

Quote from: Eel O'Brian on May 08, 2009, 03:24:57 PM

i want to join in on these discussions but i hate modern mainstream comics

i have an almost embarrassing knowledge of comics published before 1990, though

i can hang

let's rap, brother

but seriously check out Kane and Jack Staff

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #42 on:** May 08, 2009, 03:44:17 PM »

someone make a thread turning me on to some good modern mainstream stuff

i have been out of it for a few years (say 2002-03), with the exception of a few things i have downloaded and walking dead which i buy

leave anything written by geoff johns or touched by dan didio off the list plz k thx

as for older stuff, i just recently found out fantagraphics has published:

the basil woverton bible

the complete humbug! slipcased hardcover set

the complete blazing combat hardcover

i nearly wet myself

edit: also judd winick

Eric P · « **Reply #43 on:** May 08, 2009, 03:58:23 PM »

duckman2000 · « **Reply #44 on:** May 08, 2009, 04:00:12 PM »

I enjoyed Y: The Last Man, although I'm not sure I would recommend it due to the length of the series; I think it could have benefited from being compressed into a few less volumes.

Himu · « **Reply #45 on:** May 08, 2009, 04:06:42 PM »

i fucking love ericp

he's like my favorite poster

it used to be tvc but he doesn't make fun of me as much anymore so i don't like him

bork · « **Reply #46 on:** May 08, 2009, 04:08:21 PM »

Quote from: Himuro on May 08, 2009, 02:30:07 PM

Quote from: Diunx on May 08, 2009, 02:24:13 PM
Thread revived!

new Power Girl monthly

(Image removed from quote.)

what is this comic all about

Powergirl is a DC comics superhero with a heavily-emphasized tits n' ass costume, and is considered a "deep" character because at some point the writers made it so she is aware other people are always staring at her (exposed) chest and pokes fun at it.

This comic is from Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner, and I love their work. They previously did a Power Girl mini-series, followed by a Terra mini-series, and now the Power Girl monthly. They've also done some other work for DC, plus non-DC stuff like The Pro, a comic about a hooker who gets super powers. The latter pokes fun at all the super hero stereotype stuff and is a fun read.

Non-Palmiotti/Conner Power Girl is boring as fuck. DC also seemed like they had no idea what the hell to do with the character up until the last few years; her origin has been changed several times. At one point they even dropped the whole "alternate Earth Supergirl" thing and made it so that she was actually from Atlantis. You can see some various PG incarnations in the Power Girl TPB that came out a few years ago; I'd recommend picking it up, as it also contains the entire Palmiotti/Conner Power Girl mini series.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #47 on:** May 08, 2009, 04:10:09 PM »

Umbrella Academy - don't let the guyliner pedigree scare you, it's the bestest craziest superteam since Morrison's Doom Patrol, period full stop. You will love this series. Start with the Apocalypse Suite TPB.
http://www.darkhorse.com/Zones/UmbrellaAcademy

Queen and Country is fucking awesome, and the new "definitive" collections make it hyper-affordable

All-Star Superman by Morrison and Quitely is quite great. They also did We3, which if you haven't read yet, for fuck's sake read We3.

I love Morrison's 7 Soldiers of Victory so fucking much. If you want a comic with a plot that fits together like a rock-solid five-dimensional tesseract, this is the one.

I think Mike Carey's Lucifer is significantly underrated.

Pick up anything by Yoshihiro Tatsumi. Push-Man and Other Stories is a good starting place
http://www.amazon.com/Push-Man-Other-Stories/dp/1896597858/

Speaking of manga, Urusawa's 20th Century Boys and Pluto are both being published in English, finally. The former is an amazing apocalyptic thriller set in multiple time periods, the latter a "serious" retelling of the Astro Boy mythos. Either is well worth picking up.

Don't read anything by Millar, no matter what other people tell you. I read Chosen yesterday based on an interesting Comixology article, and boy did it fucking suck. I asked my friend to guess how it ended and he said, "with rape?" Har. $:-\$ Also featuring the dumbest, most obvious "twist" ending since M. Night Shamalayan.

Also, though technically not modern, DC published some nice collections recently of kirby's Fourth World (4 books) and OMAC (1 book). They fucking rule! OMAC fucking rules! Fucking OMAC fuck yeah woo!

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

Himu · « **Reply #48 on:** May 08, 2009, 04:11:48 PM »

They're finally releasing 20th Century Boys in English? Wow, that took a while.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #49 on:** May 08, 2009, 04:13:48 PM »

Urasawa demanded they finish publishing Monster in English before they got started on 20th Century Boys. On the plus side, 20CB is done now so hopefully they can get it out quickly.

Himu · « **Reply #50 on:** May 08, 2009, 04:29:08 PM »

I remember hearing about Urasawa demand that. I've been meaning to pick up Monster, but seeing as how I've already read it..

Eric P · « **Reply #51 on:** May 08, 2009, 04:35:01 PM »

Quote from: Himuro on May 08, 2009, 04:06:42 PM

i fucking love ericp

he's like my favorite poster

it used to be tvc but he doesn't make fun of me as much anymore so i don't like him

thanks! if you want, i can make fun of you so that all of your heroes are dead

Eric P · « **Reply #52 on:** May 08, 2009, 04:37:39 PM »

Quote

I read Chosen yesterday based on an interesting Comixology article, and boy did it fucking suck. I asked my friend to guess how it ended and he said, "with rape?" Har. Undecided Also featuring the dumbest, most obvious "twist" ending since M. Night Shamalayan.

i remember reading it when it came out in floppies and thought it was kind of dumb/obvious especially after things like Pratchett/Gaiman's Good Omens

Debaser · « **Reply #53 on:** May 08, 2009, 04:42:44 PM »

My list not covering anything Eric P or Patel already mentioned, though nearly all of that's good too:

Finder - Gorgeous art, amazingly thought-out sci-fi world, and intense emotion. I recommend starting with the stand-alone vol. 4, Talisman, which is still like a punch in the gut every time I read it. Then go back and get all the rest.

Berlin - The second volume of Jason Lutes' examination of Weimar Germany just came out not too long ago. I haven't read it yet, but if it's amazing as the first volume, I really need to. (See also his one-volume book Jar of Fools, about down-on-their-luck stage magicians.)

How Patel didn't mention anything and everything by the mononymic Jason I have no idea, but you should start with Why Are You Doing This?; Hey, Wait; I Killed Adolf Hitler; The Left Bank Gang; and The Last Musketeer. Yes! Start with all of them!

I'll edit this post or post again once I'm at home and have access to my entire library and not just my offhand thoughts.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #54 on:** May 08, 2009, 04:49:39 PM »

Jason is awesome, awesome is Jason! I have no idea how Eric P left him off, either, considering our discussions. I guess I was trying to stay in the direct market mindset.

Anyways, yeah, just buy his complete works. Low Moon is coming in just a few weeks!

Eric P · « **Reply #55 on:** May 08, 2009, 04:50:34 PM »

I didn't mention jason because patel's ability to rhapsodize on him far outstrips my own, but yes, jason. whole heartedly.

Finder I couldn't really get into, but i appreciate what it was doing, presenting a sort of social science fiction which seemed to intermingle with elements of low fantasy (at least the first few volumes which i read)

i was largely just going with the Comics Worth Reading. I'll take a look at the stuff I have back home to see if anything comes to mind.

Hey, Eel, check out Penguins Book of Comics, which is a history of the from from a UK point of view. Patel should read this as well because its name popped up in a few interviews with creators like morrison and other british invansion people.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #56 on:** May 08, 2009, 04:53:23 PM »

it's always interesting when I learn about something that was impactful/influencial in the UK but not in the US (like Ditko's Mr. A)

do you have a link to that Penguins book? can't find it on amazon

Eric P · « **Reply #57 on:** May 08, 2009, 04:56:25 PM »

http://www.amazon.com/Penguin-Book-Comics-History-graphic/dp/0140028021

horrible cover art

Eric P · « **Reply #58 on:** May 08, 2009, 04:59:31 PM »

I also snagged this after finding a horrible scan of it online

http://cgi.ebay.com/National-Lampoon-Comical-Funnies-Neal-Adams-Ploog-1976_W0QQitemZ270385470721QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAntiquarian_Collectible?hash=item3ef43add01&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A2|294%3A50

It's PJ O'Rourke doing a parody of a serious history of comics with many parody strips. Absolutely wonderful

Darunia · « **Reply #59 on:** May 08, 2009, 05:16:38 PM »

Recently finished All Star Superman, thought it was incredible. Issue 10

In fact, every issue

Picked up some GL trades too, started with Rebirth. Not really a good book for people not familiar with the history. Johns has to go from dead/in limbo Hal Jordan to living Hal, untying a lot of continuity knots along the way. This doesn't exactly make for great reading ('so that's why the ring didn't work on yellow!')

Then read No Fear (first vol 4 trade), which is a lot better. No more references to the past, just entertaining stories. I may continue to read the series.

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Author Topic: Comics discussion (Read 10599 times)