Comic Books
- Brad
- Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2000 9:32 am
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Contact:
Comic Books
So recently I've kind of been on a comic book kick. I've really never been all that interested in comics (aside from reading X-Men when I was like.. 8 or 9 years old, and not counting manga, which I was really only into for a year or two) but recently out of nowhere they've sparked my interest. There was a Groupon recently for $20 at Challengers (which is basically the #1 rated comic store here in Chicago) for $10, so I figured I'd pick up a few of them, giving me an excuse to finally go down there and check it out. I had also recently heard about a series by Warren Ellis called Freakangels that sounded pretty damn cool. Since then I've picked up all 4 Freakangels books (which I friggin love) and I Kill Giants (one-shot mini-series by Joe Kelly), along with some things for Liz. Now I'm in a total comic book nerd kick. I don't know how long it'll last but I'm really enjoying myself.
So my question (and primary discussion topic for this thread) is, what are some great series/books that you would recommend for somebody that is fairly new to all of this stuff. I kind of have a hard time wanting to get into any of the staple superhero series (Batman, Superman, etc.) only because it seems like those universes are so damn big that I wouldn't know where to begin. Plus, I can't really say that I've ever held any sort of love or allegiance to any one character/universe, but I wouldn't say it's out of the question if I knew where to look. I know that the Dark Knight Returns book is supposed to be amazing, so I might go that route, but I dunno. What do you guys think?
So my question (and primary discussion topic for this thread) is, what are some great series/books that you would recommend for somebody that is fairly new to all of this stuff. I kind of have a hard time wanting to get into any of the staple superhero series (Batman, Superman, etc.) only because it seems like those universes are so damn big that I wouldn't know where to begin. Plus, I can't really say that I've ever held any sort of love or allegiance to any one character/universe, but I wouldn't say it's out of the question if I knew where to look. I know that the Dark Knight Returns book is supposed to be amazing, so I might go that route, but I dunno. What do you guys think?
- Beowulf
- Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2002 9:41 pm
- Location: in the art house
- Contact:
Re: Comic Books
The Long Halloween. Its the definitive Batman imo. Best murder mystery I've ever read!
- Brad
- Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2000 9:32 am
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Contact:
Re: Comic Books
Just came back from Challengers. Used my last Groupon and picked up Batman: Year One and The Dark Knight Returns. They had a bunch of The Long Halloween, so I'll pick that up next time. André also found his copy of The Killing Joke, so I've got a lot to read through now. Keep the suggestions coming!
- LantisEscudo
- Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2001 5:21 pm
- Location: Eastern Massachusetts
- Contact:
Re: Comic Books
I'd suggest Green Lantern: Rebirth, since I tend to like GL stories, but it really draws on a lot of continuity that you may not have seen. Green Arrow: Quiver was really good and was reasonably free of previous continuity.
I also like standalone things. Maus is particularly awesome.
I also like standalone things. Maus is particularly awesome.
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- dwchang
- Sad Boy on Site
- Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2002 12:22 am
- Location: Madison, WI
- Contact:
Re: Comic Books
I can't believe you'd post such a topic without just asking Kevin or I .
Anyway Beowulf is right about the Long Halloween being the definitive Batman Detective story. Year One and Dark Knight Returns are known for how influential they were to the entire comic genre (i.e. comics can be for adults), but the Long Halloween is good because it's simply a good BATMAN story (i.e. detective work, kicking ass, etc.). Year One and Dark Knight Returns influence could have been achieved via a different character imo (i.e. Animal Man, The Watchmen, etc.). Batman was not an essential part of it.
As for other Super Hero related titles, I agree with Lantis in that anything Geoff Johns and Green Lantern is golden. Rebirth is where things start, but his entire run has been going for over 6 years now and been great. I am however hesitant to recommend this since it requires knowing SOME background. Anyway if you told me 7 years ago that I'd A) be reading Green Lantern and B) that it'd be the best book I read month after month, I'd have laughed at you.
Another great super hero comic run was Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men run. I think it's ~24 issues and 2 or 3 trades and just a great read (even if it is super hero). I have a feeling you'd like it the most out of anything super hero that I recommend.
If you're not into Super Hero titles (as you mentioned), I'd recommend my favorite comic book Midnight Nation by J. Michael Straczynski or The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman. The latter has a new series on AMC, but after two episodes I prefer the comics quite a bit more (which isn't to say the TV show is terrible...just not as good as the actual comics).
Another Warren Ellis book that's solid (and short) is Global Frequency. Don't read ANYTHING main stream super hero by Warren Ellis though. I found his X-Men run to be ATROCIOUS.
...oh and you could always just ask me to bring stuff over next time I visit. As long as you return them in a reasonable manner of time I don't mind. All the things listed I own . Anyway that's the stuff that comes up off the top of my head. I'm sure I can come up with more if need be.
Anyway Beowulf is right about the Long Halloween being the definitive Batman Detective story. Year One and Dark Knight Returns are known for how influential they were to the entire comic genre (i.e. comics can be for adults), but the Long Halloween is good because it's simply a good BATMAN story (i.e. detective work, kicking ass, etc.). Year One and Dark Knight Returns influence could have been achieved via a different character imo (i.e. Animal Man, The Watchmen, etc.). Batman was not an essential part of it.
As for other Super Hero related titles, I agree with Lantis in that anything Geoff Johns and Green Lantern is golden. Rebirth is where things start, but his entire run has been going for over 6 years now and been great. I am however hesitant to recommend this since it requires knowing SOME background. Anyway if you told me 7 years ago that I'd A) be reading Green Lantern and B) that it'd be the best book I read month after month, I'd have laughed at you.
Another great super hero comic run was Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men run. I think it's ~24 issues and 2 or 3 trades and just a great read (even if it is super hero). I have a feeling you'd like it the most out of anything super hero that I recommend.
If you're not into Super Hero titles (as you mentioned), I'd recommend my favorite comic book Midnight Nation by J. Michael Straczynski or The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman. The latter has a new series on AMC, but after two episodes I prefer the comics quite a bit more (which isn't to say the TV show is terrible...just not as good as the actual comics).
Another Warren Ellis book that's solid (and short) is Global Frequency. Don't read ANYTHING main stream super hero by Warren Ellis though. I found his X-Men run to be ATROCIOUS.
...oh and you could always just ask me to bring stuff over next time I visit. As long as you return them in a reasonable manner of time I don't mind. All the things listed I own . Anyway that's the stuff that comes up off the top of my head. I'm sure I can come up with more if need be.
-Daniel
Newest Video: Through the Years and Far Away aka Sad Girl in Space
Newest Video: Through the Years and Far Away aka Sad Girl in Space
- dwchang
- Sad Boy on Site
- Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2002 12:22 am
- Location: Madison, WI
- Contact:
Re: Comic Books
If you haven't, you should read Batman: Dark Victory. It's the sequel to the Long Halloween and done by the same team (Loeb/Sale) and has the same feel. It's not as good as the Long Halloween, but it's still in my top 5 Batman books.Beowulf wrote:The Long Halloween. Its the definitive Batman imo. Best murder mystery I've ever read!
You might also enjoy Batman: Hush since it's also written by Jeph Loeb (and illustrated by Jim Lee).
It's not completely accepted as the timeline, but you could view Year One, the Long Halloween and Dark Victory as basically the first 3 or 4 years of Batman's career. It pays to read them in order imo.
-Daniel
Newest Video: Through the Years and Far Away aka Sad Girl in Space
Newest Video: Through the Years and Far Away aka Sad Girl in Space
-
- is the conductor.
- Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 2:48 am
Re: Comic Books
The Walking Dead
Punisher MAX Series
The Boys
That's pretty much all I've read in the last year (apart from some Hellblazer here and there). I have a huuuuuuuuuuge list of stuff I want to get I just don't have the cash at the moment.
Punisher MAX Series
The Boys
That's pretty much all I've read in the last year (apart from some Hellblazer here and there). I have a huuuuuuuuuuge list of stuff I want to get I just don't have the cash at the moment.
- Brad
- Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2000 9:32 am
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Contact:
Re: Comic Books
I've been posting on Twitter about it a lot and Kevin hasn't said a word about it And I just haven't been on AIM recently to talk to anybody directly >_>... But yeah I figured you two would be a good source of information and guidance. I think I might tackle these universes in chunks and see where I find myself gravitating towards. I've got 3 Batman stories to bite into right now and then I might check out some of the Astonishing X-Men books, then maybe some Green Lantern. Jay of all people has also been getting into comics recently (well, specifically The Walking Dead) and I've certainly heard great things about it, so we'll see. I don't wanna overload myself too fast. And yeah the next time you come down, bring me some good shit, but considering I don't have a car currently I can't promise I'll be up in your neck of the woods to return them anytime soon.
And Cal, Andre has most (if not all) of The Boys, so I might check those out as well.
And Cal, Andre has most (if not all) of The Boys, so I might check those out as well.
- godix
- a disturbed member
- Joined: Sat Aug 03, 2002 12:13 am
Re: Comic Books
Standard superhero stuff
-Batman 's Arkham Asylum and Joker one shots.
-Elektra Assassin
-Gotham Central if you like crime drama type stories. Much closer to a typical TV cop drama than superhero
-Miracleman (if you can find it)
-Identity Crisis
-Kingdom Come
-Daredevil Born Again
Non-superhero stuff
-Sandman
-Bone
-Understanding Comics
-early Hellblazer
-Sin City
-Black Orchid (the mini series, not the regular series)
-Cerebus (High Society, Church & State, and Jaka's story. Pretend the rest of the series doesn't exist)
-From Hell
None require knowing the universe they're in to understand, although a few are improved if you do.
-Batman 's Arkham Asylum and Joker one shots.
-Elektra Assassin
-Gotham Central if you like crime drama type stories. Much closer to a typical TV cop drama than superhero
-Miracleman (if you can find it)
-Identity Crisis
-Kingdom Come
-Daredevil Born Again
Non-superhero stuff
-Sandman
-Bone
-Understanding Comics
-early Hellblazer
-Sin City
-Black Orchid (the mini series, not the regular series)
-Cerebus (High Society, Church & State, and Jaka's story. Pretend the rest of the series doesn't exist)
-From Hell
None require knowing the universe they're in to understand, although a few are improved if you do.
- dwchang
- Sad Boy on Site
- Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2002 12:22 am
- Location: Madison, WI
- Contact:
Re: Comic Books
I think if you read the following Batman titles you'll have a good idea of whether you *can* enjoy super hero comics:Brad wrote:I've got 3 Batman stories to bite into right now and then I might check out some of the Astonishing X-Men books, then maybe some Green Lantern.
-Year One
-The Long Halloween
-Dark Victory
-The Killing Joke
-The Dark Knight Returns
Basically that's a good "gist" of the Batman universe and if you like it, I'm sure myself and others can recommend others. However, if you hate these, you will hate the Batman universe.
As for Astonishing and Green Lantern, Joss Whedon's run is basically one 2 year run with only a few trades and unfortunately is not an indicator if you'll like X-Men books recently since I even dislike those lately. Fortunately with Geoff John's Green Lantern, if you like it, there's a TON of books since he's been writing it over a long time.
Again, I fortunately have most (if not all) these books, as well as others.
Well if Jay needs more Walking Dead, I have the first 9 trades (ordering the next 3 soon). I'm technically not caught up, but am way further than the TV show.Brad wrote:Jay of all people has also been getting into comics recently (well, specifically The Walking Dead) and I've certainly heard great things about it, so we'll see.
Yeah definitely so. Go at a leisurely pace. When I got back into comics in college I started with just Amazing Spiderman since it was my favorite writer moving from the TV medium to comics and then started to branch out based on recommendations (i.e. I like X, what else is like X?). Anyway I should be down for New Years (like usual) so give me an update before I come on what you've read (and liked) and I can bring stuff accordingly.Brad wrote:I don't wanna overload myself too fast. And yeah the next time you come down, bring me some good shit, but considering I don't have a car currently I can't promise I'll be up in your neck of the woods to return them anytime soon.
-Daniel
Newest Video: Through the Years and Far Away aka Sad Girl in Space
Newest Video: Through the Years and Far Away aka Sad Girl in Space