Comic Book Thread

[DaneHill]

Since I'm probably the king comic book geek on this Board, I thought I'd start a thread on them.

I always encourage people of all ages to read them, as there's something for everyone. But kids in particular, as they're a great introduction to the joy of reading. Not to mention, they're a great American art form.

My favorite series these days:

• The Walking Dead (of course) - THE modern key series that has introduced a legion of new fans to the hobby
• Life With Archie - I've only recently become an Archie Comics fan. But even if I wasn't, I'd think this is one of the most outstanding series out today. Adult themes set in the Archie universe. Just a shockingly well-done series.
• Daredevil - Mark Waid's current series is phenomenal. I can't imagine any Marvel fan not enjoying it. Hell, any comic fan period.
• Thor: Son of Asgard - I'm not a big Thor fan. But holy smokes is this new series good! God Killer!
• Saga - Hard to describe, but one of the top hit series of the past couple years. An outstanding read with a different flavor than most books on the shelf these days.
• Ultimate Spider-Man - When Marvel decided to kill off Peter Parker in the alternate 'Ultimate' universe a few years ago, fans were apprehensive, though his replacement choice was quietly applauded, a black hispanic kid named Miles Morales. The end results have been an incredibly fun read and new take on the Spider-Man character.
• The Valiant line of books - Far exceeded expectations for hardcore Valiant fans from the early 90s publisher that was just recently reborn. Can't say enough how good these books have been! X-O Manowar and Harbinger are probably my favorites. Archer & Armstrong is terrific as well.

[DaneHill]

SORRY! For Thor, I meant the current Thor: God of Thunder series!

[DaneHill]

The other books mentioned....

[zitothebrave]

Need to catch up on Walking Dead, my site is down. But damn do I love it.

[Gary82]

One of my favorite professors used to ink for Archie and Marvel.

[DaneHill]

Need to catch up on Walking Dead, my site is down. But damn do I love it.

I know a lot of people are down on the series after the prison storyline. But I continue to love it each and every month. Sure, those first 48 issues or so are special, but current stuff is still damned good imo.

[TURBO]

Never have read a comic in my life.. But have been having the urge to try some.

[DaneHill]

One of my favorite professors used to ink for Archie and Marvel.

That's very cool. And I would have been very distracted by him knowing that during class. Although I would've butt-kissed like no one's business!

One of my very good friends these days is Dan Parent, who is a writer/artist for Archie. Commissioned this piece of art from him when I was first getting to know him. A swipe of one of my favorite X-Men covers....

[DaneHill]

Never have read a comic in my life.. But have been having the urge to try some.

Walking Dead! Walking Dead! That's the current intro comic for newbies to the hobby these days. If you're into zombies and such. Loads of good stuff out there though. If you let me know some of your general reading interests, I can see what suggestions I might be able to throw at ya.

[TURBO]

Walking Dead! Walking Dead! That's the current intro comic for newbies to the hobby these days. If you're into zombies and such. Loads of good stuff out there though. If you let me know some of your general reading interests, I can see what suggestions I might be able to throw at ya.

Love zombies. Probably more then most. Have almost bought the walking dead compendium. Im into fantasy books.

[DaneHill]

Love zombies. Probably more then most. Have almost bought the walking dead compendium. Im into fantasy books.

Yep, then definitely try Walking Dead. If the first compendium is too expensive or big, there's various shorter trades around that have the first 5 issues or so, and the first 10 issues or so, and so on. Basically, Kirkman is a genius and is milking this cashcow all the way to the bank in a variety of ways. But the first compendium really is the best, and goes through the prison storyline that I mentioned above. BEWARE though! If you love the tv show, you'll learn various spoilers for some of the characters and storylines. Although, the show has been doing a good job actually of changing some things up and keeping us on our toes. I've been shocked many times with the ol' 'Wow! That's different from the comic!'

For fantasy, hmm, I'd have to think on that. Although I bet Saga would fit nicely for you. Elfquest is a classic from the 70s/80s. Hmmm....

[Gary82]

That's very cool. And I would have been very distracted by him knowing that during class. Although I would've butt-kissed like no one's business!

Well it was a penciling and inking class. To be honest with you though, I didn't know he inked for archie or marvel until after I had finished his class. All of the Archie inking assignments sure make a lot of sense now.

[Metaphysicist]

I know a lot of people are down on the series after the prison storyline. But I continue to love it each and every month. Sure, those first 48 issues or so are special, but current stuff is still damned good imo.

I got through about #90, as I recall, but it just got too repetitive and grueling for me. Needed a break. Granted, I basically did that all in one go rather than tracking it monthly. Maybe I'll get back on it at some point.

[zitothebrave]

I did it more or less all at once as well. The latest story arc was pretty cool.

[DaneHill]

Well it was a penciling and inking class. To be honest with you though, I didn't know he inked for archie or marvel until after I had finished his class. All of the Archie inking assignments sure make a lot of sense now.

Haha. "You work on this page. You work on this page. You work on this...." He turned his class into a sweat shop. Genius.

[DaneHill]

I got through about #90, as I recall, but it just got too repetitive and grueling for me. Needed a break. Granted, I basically did that all in one go rather than tracking it monthly. Maybe I'll get back on it at some point.

Yeah, I imagine if I read it all in one go, I'd find it repetitive too. But you got close to some more good stories, and one epic shock.

[DaneHill]

A few more excellent titles you folks should check out....

• The Sixth Gun - Mystical guns and ghosts in the Old West! Very well written. Was tapped to be a show on NBC until the network passed on it a couple months ago for not being a direction they wanted to go in. Fans, while disappointed, are also breathing a sigh of relief, feeling that NBC would have hampered it too much. The show belongs on cable, and the hope now is that AMC or a similar someone will pick it up like they did The Walking Dead. TSG really would make a great companion piece show to TWD.
• Criminal - Brubaker is one of the premiere writers in the hobby. Had a phenomenal run on Daredevil a few years back (also HIGHLY recommended). Has a real world grittiness to all of his series. Doesn't really write for the kiddies, but keeps it reined in for Marvel. Criminal is his baby outside of Marvel / DC though.
• Preacher - Garth Ennis. This series put him on the map. Hyper-violence. Definitely NOT for the squeemish or religious folks though. Can't say I didn't warn ya! If this goes to tv, it would need to be on real "cable" cable like HBO or Showtime.

[Metaphysicist]

Needs more Sandman.

[DaneHill]

Needs more Sandman.

Strangely enough, I have yet to read Sandman. I've no idea how that's still on my 'must read' list. But yes, Gaiman's masterpiece according to anyone who's read it. About as close to Shakespeare as you might find in comics. I've always pictured it as being more popular amongst the intellectual fans than the mainstream ones. I could be way off on that though.

[Metaphysicist]

Strangely enough, I have yet to read Sandman. I've no idea how that's still on my 'must read' list. But yes, Gaiman's masterpiece according to anyone who's read it. About as close to Shakespeare as you might find in comics. I've always pictured it as being more popular amongst the intellectual fans than the mainstream ones. I could be way off on that though.

That's not untrue about the fanbase, but towards the end of it's run it was the highest selling title on DC's line. It ended up being pretty mainstream.