Comic Books

[Venom3384]

I looked for a thread about them, couldn't find it. So, are there any comic book fans here? If so, what do you read, what do you like, what are you waiting for, and why?

I love:
Runaways, Ultimates, Fables, Young Avengers, Ultimate Spiderman, and Y: The Last Man among many many others.

I read:
Basically everything I can find that's traded. But it ends up being mostly Marvel, Vertigo, Wildstorm, and Superman stuff. Spiderman, X-Men, Spawn, Planetary, Authority, along with everything mentioned above.

I'm waiting for:
The Ultimates to finish, Y: The Last Man, The Civil War trades, 52, every new issue of Fables, Astonishing X-Men.

I really like good stories. I love plot twists, intrigue, and dark storylines. I also like dramatic, over the top storylines featuring huge superhero clashes. I'm really not too picky.

[Oceania]

My favorite comic ever was Sandman, by Neil Gaiman (Vertigo). Amazing writing; beautiful art, different setting and unique characters and plots without losing any traditonal qualities.

I also Liked:
X-Men
The Crow
Spawn
The Maxx

[Midnightsfire]

They were great in the 70s and the best stories ever written were in the 80s. There are exceptions but in the main they took a downward spiral for the most part in the 90s and rarely looked back.

[Iqen]

I used to like them a while ago. But I gave up on them now, just prefer novels instead.

[Venom3384]

Originally Posted by Midnightsfire

They were great in the 70s and the best stories ever written were in the 80s. There are exceptions but in the main they took a downward spiral for the most part in the 90s and rarely looked back.

Come on man, great stuff happened in the 90s/21st century, the best part of Gaiman's Sandman, Sandman Mystery Theater, Bone, Preacher, Ultimates, etc.

[Whoa1234]

I love comice books even though I'm the only girl in my group of friends who reads them. My favorites are Runaways,Astonishing X-men,and the Young Avengers. I lost interest in Fables after like issue #50 I think.

[CentaurFirenze]

I really like most of Marvel's stuff. But something I really like are the DC graphic novels, Red Son and Kingdome Come. I'm usually somewhat of a Marvel loyalist, but these graphic novels are amazing.

[Hysteria]

I like the DC comics the best. Batman/Catoman/Poison Ivy/Superman... theres just something about the DC characters that (I find) Marvel lacks.

[hannah_77]

Hmm...my favourite comic books are...

- Calvin & Hobbes
- Charlie Brown
- Tintin
- Little Lulu
- Garfield
- Family Circus
- Naruto manga!

[Fawkesfan1]

I like most of Marvel's comics: X-Men, Spider-Man... a lot of the good storylines (for me at least) came in the 90's. Just loved the Onslaught (evil Prof. X) and good Magneto storyline -- it was interesting!!

[DarwinMayflower]

Originally Posted by Hysteria

I like the DC comics the best. Batman/Catoman/Poison Ivy/Superman... theres just something about the DC characters that (I find) Marvel lacks.

I've always found a great difference between DC comics and Marvel for the simple fact of realism and grandiosity of each respective company. There's something almost godly of many of DC characters, which almost makes more apt for mythos as opposed to the urban legend of Marvel. Marvel tends to base their character a bit more realistically, in existing cities with more humanly flawed characters than DC. It's not that I don't like DC, but if you look back there's a rich history of DC comics that seem to be grander on any sort of scale compared to Marvel. That doesn't say that Marvel doesn't have their own grand stories. But Infinite Crisis vs. House of M goes to show how they compare. Of course Civil War sounds pretty good right now.

As for the comics I'm reading (or wish I'm reading) here are the following:

• Y: the Last Man: Possibly one of the best non-superhero comics I've ready period. Full of insight, the premise is amazingly done and it isn't afraid to explore anything and everything. Plus I just love how Vaughn's wit really *really* shines throughout the entire series. He manages to take tempting cliches and decides to make them real and meaningful. I've hardly been disappointed with this series so far.
  
  
• Invincible: Another great writing powerhouse I love how Kirkman basically made the Spiderman of this generation. If Spiderman was such a success for having a superhero that was more man than super, then Invincible takes it to the next level with great writing and character development. I love the jokes, the story arcs of which much like Vaughn could potentially fall drastically into cliche, he makes it real and most importantly fresh. Plus I just love how the pace of it just rolls right along with every story adding up and up.
  
  
• Ex-Machina: Another one by Kirkman which is basically the West Wing with superheroes. I love comics that have a definative lifespan which Ex-Machina clearly shows. I especially love the fact that the superpower of being a master over technology actually has it uses in the comic as opposed for being a novelty 9(i.e. Superman shaving with laser vision). The mystery behind is powers his also pretty great and I can't wait for the ending.
  
  
• Anything by Grant Morrison: Namely the two titles I'm interested in seeing right now is Seven Soliders of Victory which just has Grant Morrison go nutz with writing stories for seven D-List Heroes. I really need to get around to finishing it someday. But also I'm loving All Star Superman which is just about fun and being Superman. It's kind of funny that Pre-Crisis Superman basically has the same stories in this series as he did way back in the 40's and 50's, but it's just fresh at the same time. Also I love Frank Quietly's art.
  
  
• The Ultimates: I'm not too sure if the last issue of Vol 2. is out. I should check it out, however I did love how they made some characters. Tony Stark is just charming, Black Widow is great as well with my favorite Hawkeye in Grand Theft America. He's just so evil. However I am concerned that Joe Mad and another writer is going to take over from the current writer and artist. I mean I like Joe Mad when he did Battle Chasers and I loved his run with the X-Men but in an age where anime is more apparent everywhere, I'm quite tired of his slightly anime inspired art style nowadays. Considering how realistically awesome the Ultimates are, I'd hate for it to degenerate into just bland typical comic shinanegans.
  
  
• Scott Pilgrim: If you haven't picked up to read this...you should. It's surreal without being obvious. It's anime without being anime and it's just so well written without being high-minded that it's hard to have anyone not like it. Full of a lot of geek and video game references I just love it.

[Bonta Kun]

I like reading comics, here are a few of my favourites:
Asterix
Sandman
V for Vendetta
Blankets
The Invisibles
Tintin
Calvin and Hobbes
Lenore

I read a lot of manga, but we'll be here forever if I named that

[Necro]

Asterix, Tin Tin, Archie, Laurel & Hardy, etc.

Love 'em.

[Venom3384]

Originally Posted by DarwinMayflower

I've always found a great difference between DC comics and Marvel for the simple fact of realism and grandiosity of each respective company. There's something almost godly of many of DC characters, which almost makes more apt for mythos as opposed to the urban legend of Marvel. Marvel tends to base their character a bit more realistically, in existing cities with more humanly flawed characters than DC. It's not that I don't like DC, but if you look back there's a rich history of DC comics that seem to be grander on any sort of scale compared to Marvel. That doesn't say that Marvel doesn't have their own grand stories. But Infinite Crisis vs. House of M goes to show how they compare. Of course Civil War sounds pretty good right now.

As for the comics I'm reading (or wish I'm reading) here are the following:

• Y: the Last Man: Possibly one of the best non-superhero comics I've ready period. Full of insight, the premise is amazingly done and it isn't afraid to explore anything and everything. Plus I just love how Vaughn's wit really *really* shines throughout the entire series. He manages to take tempting cliches and decides to make them real and meaningful. I've hardly been disappointed with this series so far.
  
  
• Invincible: Another great writing powerhouse I love how Kirkman basically made the Spiderman of this generation. If Spiderman was such a success for having a superhero that was more man than super, then Invincible takes it to the next level with great writing and character development. I love the jokes, the story arcs of which much like Vaughn could potentially fall drastically into cliche, he makes it real and most importantly fresh. Plus I just love how the pace of it just rolls right along with every story adding up and up.
  
  
• Ex-Machina: Another one by Kirkman which is basically the West Wing with superheroes. I love comics that have a definative lifespan which Ex-Machina clearly shows. I especially love the fact that the superpower of being a master over technology actually has it uses in the comic as opposed for being a novelty 9(i.e. Superman shaving with laser vision). The mystery behind is powers his also pretty great and I can't wait for the ending.
  
  
• Anything by Grant Morrison: Namely the two titles I'm interested in seeing right now is Seven Soliders of Victory which just has Grant Morrison go nutz with writing stories for seven D-List Heroes. I really need to get around to finishing it someday. But also I'm loving All Star Superman which is just about fun and being Superman. It's kind of funny that Pre-Crisis Superman basically has the same stories in this series as he did way back in the 40's and 50's, but it's just fresh at the same time. Also I love Frank Quietly's art.
  
  
• The Ultimates: I'm not too sure if the last issue of Vol 2. is out. I should check it out, however I did love how they made some characters. Tony Stark is just charming, Black Widow is great as well with my favorite Hawkeye in Grand Theft America. He's just so evil. However I am concerned that Joe Mad and another writer is going to take over from the current writer and artist. I mean I like Joe Mad when he did Battle Chasers and I loved his run with the X-Men but in an age where anime is more apparent everywhere, I'm quite tired of his slightly anime inspired art style nowadays. Considering how realistically awesome the Ultimates are, I'd hate for it to degenerate into just bland typical comic shinanegans.
  
  
• Scott Pilgrim: If you haven't picked up to read this...you should. It's surreal without being obvious. It's anime without being anime and it's just so well written without being high-minded that it's hard to have anyone not like it. Full of a lot of geek and video game references I just love it.

Scott Pilgrim? Is it new. Is it in trades? It's hard for me to get to the LCS and pick up singles if it's not. Trades I can just get online...

[DarwinMayflower]

Originally Posted by Venom3384

Scott Pilgrim? Is it new. Is it in trades? It's hard for me to get to the LCS and pick up singles if it's not. Trades I can just get online...

It's in trade format only , much like how a manga pocketbook is. It's about the same size as well, but it's been around for the past 2-3 years, with about 4 more issues coming out for the series. The premise is sort of off the wall for most people. The basic premise is that our main character Scott has to defeat his current girlfriend's 7 evil ex-boyfriends in order to be her boyfriend. The thing is they encounter the boyfriends randomly and each battle is different. One boyfriend has the power of veganism because true veganism gives you telekinetic powers. So you'd have to get it online basically.

[darkchild]

Oooh, I love comics

I used to read a lot of DC and Marvel, mainly spider-man, when I was younger. There was a lot of Spider-man in my grandma's attic and whenever we went visiting I used to disappear up there not coming down until it was time to go home. But I soon lost interest in superheroes, one of the main reasons being no one could ever just stay dead.

Other comics I like is the Phantom by Lee Falk (lots of those in my grandma's attic as well), Lucky Luke (probably my second favourite comic), Asterix, Calvin and Hobbex, Bamse, at least till 1990, after that Rune Andrèasson, the writer, retired and the comic really lost its spirit. Herman Hedning, another swedish comic you've probably never heard of by Jonas Darnell. It's main characters are Herman and his two "companions" Lilleman and Gammelman, The Creator (a.k.a God), The Devil, Ragnar the Dinosaur, some prehistorical frogs, some evil prehistorical cockroaches who's wants universal supremacy and, of course, the villain Klustero who moved into the Prehistorical Computer (an enemy to Herman) after a failed attempt to take control over the solar systems.

But my alltime favourite comic is Donald Duck. There's nothing I love more than a Donald Duck story written by Don Rosa or Carl Barks. Carl Barks created Duckburg and many of its inhabitants such as Scrooge McDuck, the Beagle Boys and Magica de Spell and, even if he didn't create Donald, he certainly did made him more human and gave him a more complex personality. It's hard to explain just why you like his stories so much, be it that you're a child or an adult, he just had a certain gift for telling them. They are so simple yet so full of details at the same time and they make you happy.

[Venom3384]

Well, I'm definitely checking out the Scott Pilgrim then.

Ok, so what's the funniest Trade/GN that you've read?
I just got through the first 2 volumes of Cable/Deadpool and I was on the floor laughing.

[SadPanda]

Anything with Deadpool is a riot if any character deserves a movie its him, His encounter with Kitty Pryde and Wolverine...priceless

These last few days I've been going back and rereading Preacher since I finally got my TPB back from my friend. I'm very excited about the idea that Preacher might be getting the HBO treatment.

Also seeing the Rorschach easter egg in the 300 trailer I'm all for a Watchmen movie if done right.

[DarwinMayflower]

Originally Posted by SadPanda

Also seeing the Rorschach easter egg in the 300 trailer I'm all for a Watchmen movie if done right.

Jude Law for Ozymandius plzkthx.

Oh yeah Captain America is dead...DEAD. Apparently the Punisher is going to take over for him.

Lastly what do people think about Grant Morrison's reimagining of Joker's origins?

[SadPanda]

Thats just bad writing we all know the bullet would respect Cap far too much to ever penetrate him. I don't like the idea of anyone else taking over the mantle even if as we all know its only temporary since he will come back and I know there have been other Caps but theres only one TRUE Captain America.

He decked Thanos in the face...Steve Rogers is more of a man than anybody in the Marvel Universe.

Personally I'm looking forward to World War Hulk its gonna be great seeing Hulk get back to Earth and passing around some well deserved beat downs.