[Comics] What Comics are you Currently Reading Thread
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That doesn't ever really go away, but it takes a backseat when The Grail comes into play.
Hickman's run of Fantastic Four is better than it has any right to be.
It's stuffed with set-up and heady sci-fi concepts, which probably made it more of a chore to read monthly as opposed to how I'm reading it in trades, but more surprising is how those concepts tie into sudden character layers.
For example, I spent the evening reading volume 3.
Volume 2 was a slow set-up book, but this one was an engaging volume. And still seven volumes to go
.
It's stuffed with set-up and heady sci-fi concepts, which probably made it more of a chore to read monthly as opposed to how I'm reading it in trades, but more surprising is how those concepts tie into sudden character layers.
For example, I spent the evening reading volume 3.
Reed Richards sets up a super project class for a bunch of those staying in the Baxter building, including his super-smart daughter Val. A day comes when he's supposed to take his son Franklin to a toy store, but he foists it off on Johnny Storm so he can continue the class project with his daughter.
Mid-book situation, Reed's dad has had all multiverse versions of himself thrust into one time and space, each with time travel powers, and for reasons they have to kill each other until only one remains. Meanwhile, Reed's dad is also helping future versions of Reed's kids rewrite time to avoid a total time-space collapse.
So, getting to the big moment: after getting Victor von Doom's help in eliminating all other Reed's dads, his actual dad is going to wait out the end of his grandkids' future. But Franklin, through means, won't let him. He explains that by eliminating those various versions, now every Reed Richards in the multiverse has lost his father, and this is part of explaining why Reed is such a dick. Franklin forces his grandfather back to the past--in essence, an attempt at solving the problem even Reed Richards doesn't notice, namely the problem with Reed Richards.
Mid-book situation, Reed's dad has had all multiverse versions of himself thrust into one time and space, each with time travel powers, and for reasons they have to kill each other until only one remains. Meanwhile, Reed's dad is also helping future versions of Reed's kids rewrite time to avoid a total time-space collapse.
So, getting to the big moment: after getting Victor von Doom's help in eliminating all other Reed's dads, his actual dad is going to wait out the end of his grandkids' future. But Franklin, through means, won't let him. He explains that by eliminating those various versions, now every Reed Richards in the multiverse has lost his father, and this is part of explaining why Reed is such a dick. Franklin forces his grandfather back to the past--in essence, an attempt at solving the problem even Reed Richards doesn't notice, namely the problem with Reed Richards.
Volume 2 was a slow set-up book, but this one was an engaging volume. And still seven volumes to go
.
fade
Staff member
I finished Preacher. Didn't much care for the cop-out ending. Overall it was a solid B. Maybe a B- in places. It was nice to read something not decompressed like modern comics.
Speaking of decompressed, I am reading Marvel's Darth Vader. This is okay. There's some stuff that bugs me, like referring to Luke as the heir to Naboo. The position of Queen is elected on Naboo, not inherited, right? So how could Luke be an heir?
Speaking of decompressed, I am reading Marvel's Darth Vader. This is okay. There's some stuff that bugs me, like referring to Luke as the heir to Naboo. The position of Queen is elected on Naboo, not inherited, right? So how could Luke be an heir?
Out of curiosity, what about the ending did you think was a cop-out?
So I've started re-reading Y: The Last Man. It's a VERY hard feminism take, more than I think I ever realized. Though I don't think that could be avoided, given the subject and premise (a plague wipes out every man on the planet except one).
Some of the ways it tackles subjects is more on-the-nose than I remember, but it's still holding up for the most part.
I cringe wondering how the average person on the internet might react to this comic if it started today. I can just see the comments now: "SJW SJW! Liberal agenda! Feminism is evil!" Ugh.
Some of the ways it tackles subjects is more on-the-nose than I remember, but it's still holding up for the most part.
I cringe wondering how the average person on the internet might react to this comic if it started today. I can just see the comments now: "SJW SJW! Liberal agenda! Feminism is evil!" Ugh.
Back in July I bought Dan Slott's run of She-Hulk, and finished the first volume yesterday.
The first five issues were great. For some reason, the sixth issue turning into a giant brawl really lost me, and kind of highlighted the otherwise minor flaws that have been ongoing so far.
Primarily, Jennifer Walters doesn't like working at this place, doesn't like being manipulated, and more importantly, she doesn't like appearing as her normal human form; she much prefers to be She-Hulk. And the whole issue, it acts like she's going to quit, but then Damage Control comes in and she sees two people hug, and oh, I guess now it's okay that they dictate her body, and tricked her into helping a villain escape prison, and act condescending to her all the time.
I'm sure it'll be fine once I start volume 2, but I hate fake-out shit like that, and I hate when a trade ends on a weak issue. For contrast, earlier in the month I finished Peter David's Hulk volume 3, and while a lot of the middle was pretty weak thanks to forced cross-overs, an event that is thankfully left out of the collection but nonetheless affects what's going on, and back-to-back flashback issues, holy shit what a fun, lovable final issue.
The first five issues were great. For some reason, the sixth issue turning into a giant brawl really lost me, and kind of highlighted the otherwise minor flaws that have been ongoing so far.
Primarily, Jennifer Walters doesn't like working at this place, doesn't like being manipulated, and more importantly, she doesn't like appearing as her normal human form; she much prefers to be She-Hulk. And the whole issue, it acts like she's going to quit, but then Damage Control comes in and she sees two people hug, and oh, I guess now it's okay that they dictate her body, and tricked her into helping a villain escape prison, and act condescending to her all the time.
I'm sure it'll be fine once I start volume 2, but I hate fake-out shit like that, and I hate when a trade ends on a weak issue. For contrast, earlier in the month I finished Peter David's Hulk volume 3, and while a lot of the middle was pretty weak thanks to forced cross-overs, an event that is thankfully left out of the collection but nonetheless affects what's going on, and back-to-back flashback issues, holy shit what a fun, lovable final issue.
I'm nearly through Book 2 of Y: The Last Man (recently got Volumes 4 & 5 of the nice new collected editions). It's strange how sometimes, writer Brian K. Vaughan will soapbox about feminism or equality.
Not that that's BAD, mind you. It's just the manner of delivery. The way characters will talk about equality in the workforce or female portrayals in Hollywood, it feels like he's inserting himself for a moment. It rarely feels natural from a particular speaker and more like something you'd see in a magazine. Like, Feminism Fact #355! Plus, the way a character will reference or discuss another piece of literature or film sounds very ranty, as well. Though to be fair, Yorrick reminds me of myself in many ways, in his literature and comic book references. It just feels unnatural sometimes, like the Feminism Facts.
Still enjoying the revisit to the series, though. As I said before, most of it still holds up.
Not that that's BAD, mind you. It's just the manner of delivery. The way characters will talk about equality in the workforce or female portrayals in Hollywood, it feels like he's inserting himself for a moment. It rarely feels natural from a particular speaker and more like something you'd see in a magazine. Like, Feminism Fact #355! Plus, the way a character will reference or discuss another piece of literature or film sounds very ranty, as well. Though to be fair, Yorrick reminds me of myself in many ways, in his literature and comic book references. It just feels unnatural sometimes, like the Feminism Facts.
Still enjoying the revisit to the series, though. As I said before, most of it still holds up.
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fade
Staff member
Mostly the whole
just kidding, not dead bit with Cassidy. I kind of thought the Saint of Killers taking out God was rather silly, too. In fact, the whole portrayal of God seemed a little thin to me. Like they kept building up for something that never really happened.
In the middle of Peter David's Hulk run, volume 4. Kinda bummed that ...
These Marvel Presents side-bits add nothing to the collection and are inserted out of order. It would've been better to leave them out.
Fixit quit the casino. Berengetti was bringing out the best in him.
These Marvel Presents side-bits add nothing to the collection and are inserted out of order. It would've been better to leave them out.
For anyone who was reading the Attack on Titan manga and fell behind due to the hiatus and delays, issues have come out, and well ... that thing? It's happening. Finally.
Birds of Prey
For whatever reason, DC has been re-collecting a LOT of Chuck Dixon's old work: Nightwing, Robin, Birds of Prey. Given that I'm a huge fan of his work, most especially his long work in the Bat-offices, I'm not complaining. The new Nightwing collections put the old ones to shame and I'm really tempted to get the Robin trades. In the meantime, I picked up the first two volumes of Birds of Prey.
It's interesting how this title started: as a series of one-shots and a mini-series. It's like they tested the waters before jumping right into a new book. And I think it worked to their advantage. I liked the one-shots. Then the second volume starts the ongoing series and it's great, too. It's crazy seeing Greg Land's older work where he's not as blatant about his tracing of famous actress or (worst of all) porn. If he did, it's nowhere near as noticeable as it is today. And man, can Dixon pace an action-heavy comic. No wonder they gave him so many Bat-books. While they're not complex stories and the bad guys are borderline moustache twirling some times, the pacing is fantastic. I think even two volumes in, Dixon still struggled with finding a balance between giving the action-heavy Black Canary something to do and the not-so-action heavy Oracle something to do. Canary gets most of the spotlight, with Oracle spending most times in her ear, so you don't really get to see Oracle as much.
I can't wait for volume three. I haven't read a lot of this book, so it's a real treat going back and reading most of it for the first time.
JLA: The Nail
Got this and Another Nail packaged together in the bargain bin at my local comic shop the other day. I've always heard about the series, but I've never had the chance to sit down and read it. And it still holds up. It's interesting how there are some horrible things that happen (like some heartbreaking deaths), it's all done off-panel, and yet it's still horrific. The imagination creates worse things. I also love that we see all these characters in their classic costumes and acting like I feel they should: like heroes. The bicker and banter, but they get along. It's refreshing compared most of today's mainstream superhero comics.
And while I do like Alan Davis' art, he's always had a similar issue as George Perez: the pages are crowded, almost to the point that it's hard to see what's going on sometimes. I also notice this particular book is devoid of a lot of backgrounds. Characters fight on blank backgrounds, which doesn't lend to a lot of depth in the locations. There are some establishing shots, but as the scene continues, there are less backgrounds. I don't know why that bugs me.
Still, the book holds up really well and I'm looking forward to reading its sequel now.
For whatever reason, DC has been re-collecting a LOT of Chuck Dixon's old work: Nightwing, Robin, Birds of Prey. Given that I'm a huge fan of his work, most especially his long work in the Bat-offices, I'm not complaining. The new Nightwing collections put the old ones to shame and I'm really tempted to get the Robin trades. In the meantime, I picked up the first two volumes of Birds of Prey.
It's interesting how this title started: as a series of one-shots and a mini-series. It's like they tested the waters before jumping right into a new book. And I think it worked to their advantage. I liked the one-shots. Then the second volume starts the ongoing series and it's great, too. It's crazy seeing Greg Land's older work where he's not as blatant about his tracing of famous actress or (worst of all) porn. If he did, it's nowhere near as noticeable as it is today. And man, can Dixon pace an action-heavy comic. No wonder they gave him so many Bat-books. While they're not complex stories and the bad guys are borderline moustache twirling some times, the pacing is fantastic. I think even two volumes in, Dixon still struggled with finding a balance between giving the action-heavy Black Canary something to do and the not-so-action heavy Oracle something to do. Canary gets most of the spotlight, with Oracle spending most times in her ear, so you don't really get to see Oracle as much.
I can't wait for volume three. I haven't read a lot of this book, so it's a real treat going back and reading most of it for the first time.
JLA: The Nail
Got this and Another Nail packaged together in the bargain bin at my local comic shop the other day. I've always heard about the series, but I've never had the chance to sit down and read it. And it still holds up. It's interesting how there are some horrible things that happen (like some heartbreaking deaths), it's all done off-panel, and yet it's still horrific. The imagination creates worse things. I also love that we see all these characters in their classic costumes and acting like I feel they should: like heroes. The bicker and banter, but they get along. It's refreshing compared most of today's mainstream superhero comics.
And while I do like Alan Davis' art, he's always had a similar issue as George Perez: the pages are crowded, almost to the point that it's hard to see what's going on sometimes. I also notice this particular book is devoid of a lot of backgrounds. Characters fight on blank backgrounds, which doesn't lend to a lot of depth in the locations. There are some establishing shots, but as the scene continues, there are less backgrounds. I don't know why that bugs me.
Still, the book holds up really well and I'm looking forward to reading its sequel now.
The Injustice prequel comic is apparently finished.
Y'know, it has its highs and lows, but on the whole I'm satisfied with it. It fleshes out the background of the game very nicely. I went back and watched some of the game's cutscenes after finishing the comic, and some of the lines in the game really do have a greater impact after reading the comic. For example, near the end, when they finally bring Superman over, and the Insurgency Batman says, "I realize this isn't entirely accurate, but it's good to have you back." After seeing all the crap he went through in the comic, you can really feel how Batman is finally allowing himself to have some hope again.
Y'know, it has its highs and lows, but on the whole I'm satisfied with it. It fleshes out the background of the game very nicely. I went back and watched some of the game's cutscenes after finishing the comic, and some of the lines in the game really do have a greater impact after reading the comic. For example, near the end, when they finally bring Superman over, and the Insurgency Batman says, "I realize this isn't entirely accurate, but it's good to have you back." After seeing all the crap he went through in the comic, you can really feel how Batman is finally allowing himself to have some hope again.
I started 52 last night. It is difficult to hold this enormous omnibus in a way that feels safe for it, but I found a balance with the table.
From the start you can see them taking advantage of the weekly format. It allows the telling of a slower story. I think one of the things that can hurt a comic is the length of time between issues; there's the chance for apathy to set in if the next one is delayed too long. I think that's one of the big motivations behind DC doing a bunch of bi-weeklies right now, because it keeps a steady supply of the story in your hands. 52 even moreso. But so far I'm only two weeks in and really enjoying it. It did not click with me that the Montoya from Batman: TAS was actually Renee Montoya. In fact, a number of elements seem to have found their calling in this series and I had no idea; I'd just accepted them as longstanding canon. I appreciate that it's providing questions to me--you know, besides the literal Question
.
From the start you can see them taking advantage of the weekly format. It allows the telling of a slower story. I think one of the things that can hurt a comic is the length of time between issues; there's the chance for apathy to set in if the next one is delayed too long. I think that's one of the big motivations behind DC doing a bunch of bi-weeklies right now, because it keeps a steady supply of the story in your hands. 52 even moreso. But so far I'm only two weeks in and really enjoying it. It did not click with me that the Montoya from Batman: TAS was actually Renee Montoya. In fact, a number of elements seem to have found their calling in this series and I had no idea; I'd just accepted them as longstanding canon. I appreciate that it's providing questions to me--you know, besides the literal Question
.
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I didn't go to my comic book store last week for reasons, so I'm only getting caught up on Batman now. Damn, that was a solid issue. In fact, it might be my favorite of Tom King's run so far. Looks like it leads directly into the next arc, except we've got a 6-part Halloween-theme crossover first, which should be a lot of fun anyway.
As has been typical with King's run, Alfred is one of the highlights--and he doesn't even appear in this issue.
As has been typical with King's run, Alfred is one of the highlights--and he doesn't even appear in this issue.
Superman #6: Well, that was fucking adorable. Guess I'm gonna keep reading.
Seriously, nearly every page had something great. I'd say DC kicked ass with these first arc conclusions, except Green Lanterns #6 was a pathetic whimper.
Seriously, nearly every page had something great. I'd say DC kicked ass with these first arc conclusions, except Green Lanterns #6 was a pathetic whimper.
Incredible Hercules: Love and War. I freakin' love Hercules. This has the comic that spawned the "cool story, bro" meme.
I'm waiting for Marvel to unveil a secret Hercules film, scheduled to be released just a couple weeks after Wonder Woman. This is a superhero who doesn't fight out of a sense of duty or obligation. He doesn't fight for the greater good or for the free world. He fights because it's fun. Sure, he'll sacrifice everything to protect others, but fighting is just good sport to him. He will not only deliver a beat-down to a supervillain, but compose a merry song about it afterward.
I'm waiting for Marvel to unveil a secret Hercules film, scheduled to be released just a couple weeks after Wonder Woman. This is a superhero who doesn't fight out of a sense of duty or obligation. He doesn't fight for the greater good or for the free world. He fights because it's fun. Sure, he'll sacrifice everything to protect others, but fighting is just good sport to him. He will not only deliver a beat-down to a supervillain, but compose a merry song about it afterward.
And its not like DC is gonna try to compete with THEIR Hercules...he is a very bad person.
It's a shame DC already hired Joe Manganiello. He's even got experience dealing with a precocious man-child.Incredible Hercules: Love and War. I freakin' love Hercules. This has the comic that spawned the "cool story, bro" meme.
I'm waiting for Marvel to unveil a secret Hercules film, scheduled to be released just a couple weeks after Wonder Woman. This is a superhero who doesn't fight out of a sense of duty or obligation. He doesn't fight for the greater good or for the free world. He fights because it's fun. Sure, he'll sacrifice everything to protect others, but fighting is just good sport to him. He will not only deliver a beat-down to a supervillain, but compose a merry song about it afterward.
...Channing Tatum?
I'll never understand why there isn't a Superhero Buddy Cop flick yet. Blue Beetle/Booster Gold is perfect for this.
On the other hand, if you want a comic that's like that, there's also QUANTUM & WOODY.
Wow, I haven't thought about Valiant Comics since I was a kid. I had no idea they were still around.
They've been doing a lot of digital releases lately.
They were bought by Acclaim and in the bankruptcy a couple of longtime fans bought up as much as the comic rights as they could (Turok being the big one they weren't able to grab). They relaunched the line in 2012, starting with X-O Manowar.
The relaunch has been fantastic, with tons of great books, creators, and characters. They're also fantastic to retailers, easily the best publishers to work with.
Interesting. Any specific recommendations on titles?
Deadpool and Cable would also work. I would love Booster Gold and Blue Beetle, but DC won't let us have nice things.
And he will also plug DDP Yoga while doing so.This is a superhero who doesn't fight out of a sense of duty or obligation. He doesn't fight for the greater good or for the free world. He fights because it's fun. Sure, he'll sacrifice everything to protect others, but fighting is just good sport to him. He will not only deliver a beat-down to a supervillain, but compose a merry song about it afterward.
And make This Face.
Power Man/Iron Fist! There's already plenty of canon! Doooooo EEeeeeeeet!
--Patrick
Archer & Armstrong. If you want something more serious there's Bloodshot, X-O Manowar, and Harbinger. On the supernatural side of things there's Wrath of the Eternal Warrior and The Death Defying Doctor Mirage. It's really hard to recommend without asking more questions. There's a lot of good material, and diversity (in every sense of the word) in the brand so it can really depend on what you're in the mood for. I selected Archer & Armstrong because it's a funny "buddy cop" book that I think does a good job showing you how Valiant walks the line between being accessible and having a big shared universe to play with.
Best part? Most (all?) their first volume trades are $9.99!
Yeah we'll have to see how they write Cable for Deadpool 2, it could be pretty good.
Awesome, I'll have to see what I can find.
Peter David Hulk, volume 5.
Shit's getting real!
I feel like I need to go back a couple volumes though, because I'm confused as to where this Madman character showed up, but he feels familiar.
Shit's getting real!
I feel like I need to go back a couple volumes though, because I'm confused as to where this Madman character showed up, but he feels familiar.