Which Comic Do You Read?

[sok117]

I started readin Star Wars Blood Ties, it's a pretty good story so far, takeing place in both the past with Jango Fett, and the present with Boba. Can't wait for the next issue coming out september 29th

[Brainbox]

Oh, don't get me started. I spend far too much money on comics...

We have these things over here called Collector's Editions, that reprint three American comics for less than the price of two. So I get Superman, Batman and Fantastic Four comics that way, although they are a little behind.

And that was fine, other than buying trades and hardcovers. Until I got to University. I now live near a comic shop. Wonderful place, tiny but well-stocked. The trouble is, I've ended up buying weekly comics now! Mostly only mini-series and one-shots, along with the odd other thing, because I prefer trades.

As far as general comic reading goes, I'll happily read anything Silver Age, I love it! I adore the DC Showcase Presents trades, and I'm steadily building up a nice collection. It helps that my favourite comic series ever written is the Silver Age Brave and the Bold series, of course!

Edited October 1, 2010 by Brainbox

[Dan the Brickman]

(I personally like "Graphic Novel")

I read a variety of comic styles.

Manga:

Fulmetal Alchemist

Webcomics:

girlgenius

Megatokyo

XKCD

dresdencodak

Graphic Novels:

Starwars - The Old Republic (and other SW comics as well, like the Tag and Blink ones)

"Classic" newspaper comics

Peanuts

Garfield

The Wizard of Id

Foxtrot

....these are all ones that I regularly read when I get the time.

[def]

I finished reading Black Hole by Charles Burns this week. I'd had the book for years, but didn't finish it the first time I tried to read it since I'd read half of it as single issues. The book collects and reorganizes about 12 issues of the original series.

It's intense. It follows four loosely connected high school kids in suburbia in the seventies. There's an STD going around called the bug, which turns kids into freaks. If you're lucky, you'll just be a little freaky, like an extra mouth in your neck, but some kids faces look like Halloween masks. So, the story covers high school anxiety, the need to be liked, and how some people run away by drinking and sex, with this weird horror angle over top. And the art is phenomenal. Every page is as detailed as this image, all 350 pages:

How does her tail make you feel?

[LandShark]

Sorry to bump an old topic, but I couldn't find a more recent one of this subject.

Like I've mentioned in some other topics, I've only recently got in to the whole Superhero/Comics thing. Batman is my favorite, so I recently got what I think are the 3 most famous/highly acclaimed Batman graphic novels: Year One, Dark Knight Returns, and The Killing Joke. Is there anyone here who has read any of them? If so, what do you think of them, and which others would you recommend?

[def]

Sorry to bump an old topic, but I couldn't find a more recent one of this subject.

Like I've mentioned in some other topics, I've only recently got in to the whole Superhero/Comics thing. Batman is my favorite, so I recently got what I think are the 3 most famous/highly acclaimed Batman graphic novels: Year One, Dark Knight Returns, and The Killing Joke. Is there anyone here who has read any of them? If so, what do you think of them, and which others would you recommend?

Those are definitely three of the best Batman books ever made, and in my opinion, three of the best genre books ever made. Unfortunately, other 'great' Batman books are few and far between. They tend to be decent, but not mind blowing. You could try The Long Halloween, it's got a good rep, but I found it a little dull. The recent Batman & Robin book is pretty fantastic (Batman and Robin, Vol. 1: Batman Reborn). It's not a very coherent story arc, but it's well written and the art is unbelievably good.

I'd advise you to stick to the writers you like though. Alan Moore wrote the Killing Joke. For more serious stuff than that, I'd suggest his books Watchmen or the first League of Extraordinary Gentlemen book (both far better than their movies; Moore disowned the movies before they even got made, but they got made to tap into his genius). For lighter work, his book Tom Strong is awesome; pulpy action that keeps you turning the page.

The writer of the other two books, Frank Miller, was a great writer/artist, but I think he's lost his mind now. Before Batman, he wrote some great Daredevil books, and after, the early Sin City books which are all good. But then he returned to Batman, for the money it seems, and the books are pretty laughable. Twenty years makes a big difference.

The artist of Year One, David Mazzuchelli still does work, and it is absolutely beautiful, but it is "art comics" of sorts, so if you're looking for Batman, it'll disappoint you.

The reason I suggest keeping an eye on writers/artists is this: Books don't really get popular based on characters. They get 'hot' based on the creative teams. The companies that own the characters pimp them out to make as much money as possible, and the quality really suffers. But a good creative team on a good book is pretty sublime.

General high quality books of the last decade:

-Grant Morrison's New X-Men

-Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men

-Ed Brubaker's Captain America

-Grant Morrison's All Star Superman

-Mark Millar's Ultimates

-Grant Morrison's Batman & Robin

You'll see Morrison's name all over the A+ titles of comics these days. He's become the magic man in comics. Not everything he writes is great, but those books above are, and both Marvel and DC let him do pretty much whatever he wants because he can be so damn good.

For more on (super hero) comics, a site like this is pretty mature, http://www.comicbookresources.com/

[Fallenangel]

You, sir, have good taste in graphic novels.

There are a handful of good graphic novel series I've read, though I'm not sure whether they're too mainstream. One notable series is a two-volume work about working mages in urban Japan. (Yes, mages.)

Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto

This is some of the best manga-style artwork I have ever seen.

[Peppermint_M]

Sorry to bump an old topic, but I couldn't find a more recent one of this subject.

Like I've mentioned in some other topics, I've only recently got in to the whole Superhero/Comics thing. Batman is my favorite, so I recently got what I think are the 3 most famous/highly acclaimed Batman graphic novels: Year One, Dark Knight Returns, and The Killing Joke. Is there anyone here who has read any of them? If so, what do you think of them, and which others would you recommend?

Find out what your local library has, read it all. Voila.

That is how I did it, one wonderful summer (gasp seven years ago!) I started reading them after being directed to the section by the guy running a comic book drawing class. While I have moved from drawing to writing (and hoping) the favourites I made that summer have stood me well.

Morrison's run on Animal Man is by far the best example of his work. While I am rather more partial to Alan Moore's Future Shocks and his Top10 books.

If Batman is the guy you want to read well, I give you the attention of my sister. The Long Halloween is one of her favourites, Batman Black and White is a series you should also pick up, many stories and styles but always about The Bat and his world. Otherwise, find Batman books which collect a stand alone mini-series or a big number 1 on the spine and go on from there.

You are also in luck, everything re-sets to 0 in September. "Everything that ever came before" will be wiped off, a new order will be written within the comics (or that is what DC keep saying) so Batman goes back to 0 in two months time.

If you want to move away to more characters, start with a team-up book like JLA and learn a little about them with the added bonus of a character you do know/like.

I'm afraid all my favourites are "Elseworlds" so the context of the characters and their world is vastly different to the well known versions. Else they do not feature Batman as Green Lantern and Wildcat are my two favourite characters.

[Zeya]

I read a webcomic called Freakangels. It's actually ending either this week or next, after about a 3 year run. It is truly exceptional among webcomics (which can be pretty mediocre). It's got great dialogue and artwork. Check it out.

From the beginning:

http://www.freakangels.com/?p=23

[Si-MOCs]

All the above I would agree on - all fantastic books and authors.

I would like to chime in and give a shoutout to Warren Ellis - possibly my favorite author.

He's done a lot of small arc type stuff and I believe he wrote the recent marvel anime cartoons that's airing in Japan.

My personal favorite comic of all time is "Planetary" - it's kinda a homage to all this comics and a lot of scifi - but I wouldn't recommend reading them till after you read a few more of the 'classics'

Have fun!

[LandShark]

Thanks a lot for your extremely helpful comments, def + Peppermint M.

The artist of Year One, David Mazzuchelli still does work, and it is absolutely beautiful, but it is "art comics" of sorts, so if you're looking for Batman, it'll disappoint you.

I did think that Year One was the best looking of the three, but I think it's the quality of the story, not the art, that makes a good graphic novel.

I've taken note of all of your suggestions , and the website you linked to, def, looks like it should be very useful.

Thanks again!

[Ceroknight]

As much as I want to get into the Marvel/DC comics, I doubt I have the time to read all of them from the beginning

I mostly ready manga, including:

Naruto, Bleach, Fairy Tail, Nobleless, Deadman Wonderland, Bakuman etc...

I've been reading them since I was young so there isn't much catching up to do...

[def]

As much as I want to get into the Marvel/DC comics, I doubt I have the time to read all of them from the beginning

That's a joke, right?

[Ceroknight]

That's a joke, right?

Nope

It doesn't stop! When one Batman dies, another one appears to continue the franchise or he's revived or something, too confusing for me!

I mean how many different coloured lantern rings are there? 6? 7?

I remember reading about some of the justice league being part of the 'white lanterns' which kinda confused me a bit...

Anyways, I don't know where to start or have the time.

The mangas I read barely take an hour of a week, and I read them for a bit of relaxation

Edited July 28, 2011 by ceroknight

[def]

Nope

Well, you've made up your mind, so I won't preach to you, but...

For a young person trying to get into comics, it can be intimidating, but it should be the selection, not the continuity that intimidates.

DC is a little more continuity heavy than Marvel. Marvel has an official policy; 'Treat every comic book as if it's someone's first.' But both companies try to have some books lighter on continuity than others (like the Batman books Landshark got turned on to, relatively continuity free). Comic nerds often demand heavy continuity; think of them like the die-hard Lost fans bitching about the polar bear from season one, only if Lost was in its 50th + season.

Anyway, Marvel distinctly tries to make things easy for people. They number their trades in arcs. For example, the Grant Morrison and Joss Whedon X-Men trade series are numbered (1-7 and 1-4 respectively), so that someone jumping in can know the best place to start. For DC, I read a lot less, but the trades I've bought were friendly enough, like the All-Star Superman (loved it), or the Green Lantern Sinestro Wars (bored the Hell out of me). I just don't enjoy the DC style that much (consider me the anti-Peppermint )

Navigating through the book shelf is the biggest problem, and I find it's the same for manga, especially living in Japan. The manga section of any bookstore averages around 20% of the books in Japan, whereas in America comics are usually less than 5%. If the first manga I ever picked up was Sailor Moon, it might easily be the last as well. Knowing where to start is half the battle.

For true AFOLs, I might suggest circumventing the superheroes and go deep to the good stuff. Superheroes are the summer blockbusters, the undergrounds the indies films. Books like Ghost World or Jimmy Corrigan carry so much mature life, but have the vibrancy that comics make us think of. It really is the difference between the Lego sets made for kids and the adult MOCs that blow our minds.

[Peppermint_M]

I read a webcomic called Freakangels. It's actually ending either this week or next, after about a 3 year run. It is truly exceptional among webcomics (which can be pretty mediocre). It's got great dialogue and artwork. Check it out.

From the beginning:

http://www.freakangels.com/?p=23

Gasp! I have been reading that from year dot! I actually have the first print volume signed by Paul and Warren (IN PERSON *geek out*) Yes, Freak Angels is very good, but it ain't Batman, heh.

If you are easing into comics, try finding ones compared to your favourite books, or even better ones written by your favourite authors. These will introduce you to comics with the familiar trappings and tropes from regular books. Our, jump in and the deep and and hope you can swim! Like I said, most libararies have a pretty decent selection.

Other books I can suggest is Kingdom Come and Justice, one is a very good book, the other a very good series.

Another word of advice, most trade paperbacks collect a single story arc. Not many of them carry massive reliance on you reading all the books or following every super hero. There are some little flags for a continuing story or a events from the past, but not many in my experience.

You know, it is very hard to direct someone who has only just got into comics, I've been reading so long that I am familiar enough to be able to read pretty much any. Sending you the wrong way can put you off for years, I know because the very first Discworld book I read was Fifth Elephant, a book most of the way into the series whole and a sub-series and therefore utterly confusing! It put me off for a at least a year! (Luckily I read Soul Music next).

Oh def, it is no matter. I really did try reading Marvel but the moping and story telling methods got on my nerves. I put it like this: In the DC Universe if a kid randomly gets super powers one morning, they shout "yahoooo!" at some point and then spend a long time figuring if they want to be a hero or a villan. (Unless the DEO or The Demon's Head want them..) in Marvel they mope about being a mutant...

[Sam Vimes]

Ok...I am a DC Fan..Some of My favorite are Kingdom Come, Batman: The Long Halloween,

Batman: Dark Victory, And I really Enjoy The Crisis Stuff, Final Crisis, Inifinte Crisis, Crisis On Infinte Earths...Kevin Smith's Green Arrow, Quiver and Sounds of Volience....I also enjoy The Walking Dead, The New Avengers by Marvel, Marvel 1602, Watchmen, The Death of Superman..Yeah I enjoy the SuperHero stuff..I do also enjoy some of the indie stuff...But not always..Depends on the topic of the Indie stuff.

[Fallenangel]

If the first manga I ever picked up was Sailor Moon, it might easily be the last as well.

Not that Sailor Moon was especially bad.

[def]

Not that Sailor Moon was especially bad.

It isn't, but I don't know what title to reference that the kids are reading these days. I know the good stuff (Naoki Urasawa is awesome) but the bad stuff rolls off me like raindrops. I don't have the time to remember the crap I don't like.

With comics, I distinguish between 'good' and 'good, if you like that sort of thing' quite a lot. Urasawa is simply good, and not 'good for a manga artist', if you know what I mean.

[Peppermint_M]

It isn't, but I don't know what title to reference that the kids are reading these days.

That would be Naruto, Bleach or One Piece. Needless to say I have stopped follwing any series at the moment. Beet the Vandel Buster was the only one like those three I read and the artist is ill and it has been postponed. Full Metal Alchemist ended, it was fantastic and amazing and I loved it all. Pluto was finished before I began. I have sort of drifted from anime and manga, I may start collecting Appleseed and GITS books, seeing as DC comics are going down the pan. At the moment my future purchases are going to be back issues and those great finds you make in the clearance bin, those good books in the long boxes at comic cons and the odd TPB you find in the second hand bookshop.

I am trying to pick up more books with Wildcat and Blackhawks.

[def]

That would be Naruto, Bleach or One Piece.

I know them, but mainly as anime. Since I'm not interested to read them, I'm better off not making fun of them. Full Metal Alchemist too.

I'm sure the art is impeccable, I just don't trust the writing on a lot of manga.

I am trying to pick up more books with Wildcat and Blackhawks.

I thought you meant Wildcats at first. They were one of the crap titles that got me to quit reading superhero comics. Don't know Wildcat though. For Blackhawks, I just remember enjoying the Howard Chaykin stuff as a kid.

I think there was about a ten year period where I felt really down with everything culturally, between 1990 and 2000. Even the comics I knew I hated, I knew what they were about. But a lot of comics just alienate me now. That's one reason I was so happy to read Ed Brubaker's stuff (Captain America and Daredevil) which felt like it had grown up with me.

[Peppermint_M]

I know them, but mainly as anime. Since I'm not interested to read them, I'm better off not making fun of them. Full Metal Alchemist too.

I'm sure the art is impeccable, I just don't trust the writing on a lot of manga.

I thought you meant Wildcats at first. They were one of the crap titles that got me to quit reading superhero comics. Don't know Wildcat though. For Blackhawks, I just remember enjoying the Howard Chaykin stuff as a kid.

I think there was about a ten year period where I felt really down with everything culturally, between 1990 and 2000. Even the comics I knew I hated, I knew what they were about. But a lot of comics just alienate me now. That's one reason I was so happy to read Ed Brubaker's stuff (Captain America and Daredevil) which felt like it had grown up with me.

Now, the writing of FMA was genius. The Manga-Ka did the sort of research someone writing a serious novel would do, its a sort of steampunk-ish early 20th century world with a complex history. One thing that this writer did was plot out and actually plan the entire story. No "sure why not" things to extend it beyond it's natural life (like Naruto and Bleach and such do). If you are ever in need of a read, Full Metal Alchemist is worth it.

As for Wildcat, he's a cool character who soon possibly won't exist...

[simonjedi]

Ctrl-Alt-Del,

Terrible webcomics are often harder on the Reader than the artist.

Paper comics: Whatever Star wars/Buffy andor Angel/Who comics I can get from the local library.

Anime/Manga: Is terrible so I don't read it.

Webcomics: Tooo many to mention so here's a few:Nedroid Hark a Vargrant Gunshow .Awkward Zombie

Edited July 28, 2011 by simonjedi

[Peppermint_M]

Terrible webcomics are often harder on the Reader than the artist.

Anime/Manga: Is terrible so I don't read it.

What an informed opinon

So, I have once again run a quick audit of my collection: DC = JSA books from the very first of the reboot right to the last of Thy Kingdom Come. The Return of the JSA, JSA earth 2 and The two JLA/JSA crossovers. JSA Presents: Green Lantern and JSA Presents: Secret Six.

Loads of Elseworlds, highlights being Batman: Thrillkiller and Elseworlds Finest. The Nail and Another Nail. New Frontier, All the Sandman and books and both Death books. Emperor Joker (superb book), Justice, Kingdom Come, Batman Other Realms and Batman Dark Knight Dynasty. Green Lantern Secret Origin, Vanishing Point, Tiny Titans 1-3 and more others than I recall.

Non DC

The Best of Tharg's Future Shocks, Alan Moore's Futureshocks. Orbital vol 1 and 2, Chimpanzee Complex v.1. Top10 book 1,2 and the 49ers, Smax. Sky Pirates of Neo Terra. Robotech To the Stars, Robotech Macross saga vol 1-10, Zoids vol 1-9.

Manga

The Big O, complete series, Full Metal Alchemist 1 (waiting for an omnibus) Azumangdaiho omnibus. .Hack vol 1-3. xxxHolic and Tsubasa in an unknown quantity, a handful of Beet the Vandel Buster, Cyborg 009 complete, Pluto vol 1, Van Von Hunter 1-3 and there are some more there I am sure...

As for webcomics. I read Escape from Terra, Quantum Vibe, The Zombie Hunters, Freak Angels, Girl Genius, Hark! A vagrant, Dresden Codak, Buttersafe, Brawl in the Family, Rich's Comix Blog, xkcd, Starslip, Shortpacked!, Iregular Webcomic and Our Valued Customer probably counts.

So yeah, I dropped some webcomics and everything else grew!

[simonjedi]

What an informed opinon

Exactly! (Although CAD is still terrible)

I'd completely forgotten about Buttersafe, so thanks for reminding me. Add Watchmen, Toothpaste for dinner, GarfieldminusGarfield and The Perry Bible Fellowship to my list above.