Comics, Graphic Novels and Manga

[The Pita]

I started reading Preacher and it's fucking brilliant.

Next ICon I'll pick up the rest of Sandman (voumes 4-10) and either some Alan Moore (if I can find it cheap) or Preacher.

[red snow]

I started reading Preacher and it's fucking brilliant.

Next ICon I'll pick up the rest of Sandman (voumes 4-10) and either some Alan Moore (if I can find it cheap) or Preacher.

Preacher is fucking great. Funny as hell but and great characters. I was saddened when it fell by the wayside with HBO as it was optioned at the same time as AGOT. In many ways an easier show to make but i suspect too controversial even for HBO. You should try and get hold of Gath Ennis's run on "The punisher" too.

I just picked up the final volume of 100 Bullets this weekend so I am planning on reading the whole series from start to finish as I think that way I should pick up on all the continuity threads. 100 Bullets would make an excellent HBO/Showtime series as long as they dont throw out everyone bar the central concept of marked bullets that allow you to kill without repercussion.

After that I'll be making do with "The Walking Dead" and "Fables". That and a little series called "Blackest Night", the first event comic I've given a crap about since Infinite crisis.

[The Pita]

The thing is, I kinda hate Marvel (except for Deadpool, and even he irks me with his marvel-y-ness, AKA Talking Is A Free Action). Preacher was optioned by HBO and not taken? GAH DAMMIT. That would've made an excellent TV show. I think when I grow older I'll be a TV show producer and adapt all of those books that would have made excellent TV shows. Like Animorphs, that had a shitty TV show. A good one can be made if it plays up the paranoia angle.

[Ran]

Zombie stuff... Garth Ennis's Crossedis pretty brutal. And of course Ellis again with his two Black Gas miniseries.

I'm rereading The Black Dossier (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) alongside the Nevins annotations, after having read LoEG Century: 1910 #1 the other day.

[haLobEnder]

I finished Dragon Head. I was a little disappointed by the ending but I'd still recommend it overall. It's very much in the vein of Lord of the Flies and other dark looks at human nature.

I picked up the first volume of Madame Xanadu yesterday and absolutely loved it. Aside from the story itself which was very, very enjoyable, the art --colouring especially-- was some of the best work I've ever seen in a Vertigo title.

I've been a Marvel fanboy most my life; I don't know much about the DC universe or Xanadu's role in it, but upon reading this series I'm interested in discovering more.

I've recently 'discovered' Y: The Last Man and Ex Machina, both by Brian Vaughan. I'm only 5 years late or so. Good stuff, smart, well executed high concept sci-fi that doesn't short change character development. I'm completely up to date with Ex Machina (as far as the trades go), but with Y, I'm waiting on the deluxe hardcovers, so I'm only about a third of the way through.

You should check out Vaughan's run on Runaways if you haven't already. In my opinion it's still some of his best work. The issues he's responsible for are collected in three surprisingly inexpensive hardcover editions. I think I spent about $60 total for 42 issues worth of material.

Sadly the series took a turn for the worst when he and fellow original creator Adrian Alphonsa left.

[Max the Mostly Mediocre]

Ennis' Punisher MAX series is probably the best thing he's ever done. Fairly recently I picked up the fifth and final OHC and it was bloomin' fantastic. Valley Forge Valley Forge--damn. I want to see Ennis try his hand at prose now.

The Boys is the weakest thing he's done in ages; since Just a Pilgrim or Bloody Mary, I'd say. It does have its moments, such as the 9/11 arc, but they're few and far between and sure as hell not worth my money.

Battlefields is pretty good, though, so it's not all bad. I've been meaning to take a look at Dan Dare as well, as a few excerpts on Scans Daily suggest it's closer to his war stuff than, say, The Boys.

[Fenryng]

Huge Garth Ennis fan. If you can cope with the smut and gratuitous violence then I highly recomend The Boys, Preacher and his run on Hellblazer.

Another huge fan here, also. I have yet to read anything he has done on Hellblazer, however. I probably will, eventually, but I have so much other stuff to get and read ahead of it, I don't know when I will get there.

Ennis' Punisher MAX series is probably the best thing he's ever done. Fairly recently I picked up the fifth and final OHC and it was bloomin' fantastic. Valley Forge Valley Forge--damn. I want to see Ennis try his hand at prose now.

The Boys is the weakest thing he's done in ages; since Just a Pilgrim or Bloody Mary, I'd say. It does have its moments, such as the 9/11 arc, but they're few and far between and sure as hell not worth my money.

Battlefields is pretty good, though, so it's not all bad. I've been meaning to take a look at Dan Dare as well, as a few excerpts on Scans Daily suggest it's closer to his war stuff than, say, The Boys.

I agree with his run on Punisher. Punisher is, in fact, the only title that I regularly get from Marvel at all. The one time I make an exception is if there is a decent Doctor Doom story arc going on in one of the titles.

I agree also that, with the two exceptions you already mentioned, The Boys is not his best work. Since it is him, I am still getting it, but it is slower than anticipated.

My problems with it are as follows, and are based on the presumption that the series is going to go for the same length as Preacher - First, there hasn't been jack for the character development. As far as I am concerned, we still do not know anything about ANY of the characters except Hughie and Butcher, and even for Butcher it is comparatively minimal.

He needs to get some information out about why the others are doing this.

There is also too much filler; the storylines, with a few exceptions, could be tighter and move faster.

And I can SEE the possibilities in the storyline, but it just keeps falling short, and I do not know why.

I like all of his WWII stuff, though, without exception.

Side note - Down in the Bayou has the potential to be the best story arc so far since Ennis left Punisher, despite there only being the first issue in the story out so far.

[Max the Mostly Mediocre]

My problems with it are as follows, and are based on the presumption that the series is going to go for the same length as Preacher -

And I can SEE the possibilities in the storyline, but it just keeps falling short, and I do not know why.

There was a recent announcement that the Boys is going to be something like ten issues longer than originally planned. Which means 70, IIRC.

I'm fairly sure I know why it keeps falling short; he wants to, as he put it, out-Preacher Preacher. He seems to have forgotten that there was more to Preacher than just shock humor (although, okay, there were occasions, particularly the excursion to Salvation, that Preacher went further in the shock humor direction than normal). While there is more to The Boys than shock humor, it's very plain the raison d'etre of the series is juvenile humor. Which is fine in small doses--Kev, Adventures in the Rifle Brigade--but as a sixty-issue ongoing series? No way in hell. For that matter, Preacher had substantial more variation in its shock humor; The Boys is all about 'omg teh her03z are great big perverted douchebag pedophile slaver fucktards'. All. About. We really don't need sixty issues of that. Especially since Ennis covered similar ground in a more better fashion in his Marvel Knights Punisher stuff.

[Procrastimancer]

I've started reading Charlie Huston's run on Moon Knight, which just happens to be the only ones I have read, but oh well, there is time to go back later. I am new to comics, but I for some reason I tend to stay away from Marvel comics in favor of DC. This may well change that a bit as I really enjoying it so far.

[The Pita]

Do webcomics count?

Because I'd like to throw out a recommendation for Order of the Stick. It starts out weak but gets better and better until the GN released recently was nominated for a big award (don't remember the name) but it lost to Alan Moore. Rich Burlew has pushed stick figure art to the max.

[Ran]

Ditto on the Punisher MAX series by Ennis. For me, it's the definitive take on the character of Frank Castle, and I don't see anyone doing anything surpassing it for a long while.

I enjoy The Boys in moderation (the Herogasm series, OTOH, is rather a lot like a train wreck), but it's definitely quite juvenile and revels in its ultra-violent toilet humor.

[haLobEnder]

Has anyone checked out the Unwritten or Greek Street yet? I'm really looking forward to both but I tend to do most my reading in trades these days.

Oh, and I do read other things besides Vertigo titles, I swear. Right now I'm (finally) starting on The Walking Dead and GCPD.

As far as web comics go, Freak Angels is the only one I'm currently reading but that's mainly because of a lack of knowledge of what others are out there. I'm nowhere near up to date on the series, and truth be told, I'm not certain I like it all that much.

[delete this account pls]

Agreed on everything said about Warren Ellis. He's not quite my favourite writer, but I can't argue that he's probably the most prolific and creative guy working in comics today.

Ran, what did you think of LOEG: Century? And the Black Dossier, for that matter?

You should check out Vaughan's run on Runaways if you haven't already. In my opinion it's still some of his best work. The issues he's responsible for are collected in three surprisingly inexpensive hardcover editions. I think I spent about $60 total for 42 issues worth of material.

Sadly the series took a turn for the worst when he and fellow original creator Adrian Alphonsa left.

:thumbsup: Runaways is what led me (eventually) to Y and Ex Machina. Such a shame he left, though I haven't followed it since Whedon's brief run.

[red snow]

Fans of BK Vaughan should check out the "Pride of Baghdad" graphic novel. One of the more original takes on war through the eyes of escaped lions during the iraq war. Beautiful artwork and tragic story. A modern day watership down - almost.

[haLobEnder]

:thumbsup: Runaways is what led me (eventually) to Y and Ex Machina. Such a shame he left, though I haven't followed it since Whedon's brief run.

I got about 3 issues into Terry Moore's run before I gave up on it. I've been told that it gets better but I was very disappointing with what I read. I'm hoping the new creative team of Katheryn Immonen and Sara Pichelli can turn things around otherwise I fear for the series future (or lack there of).

Fans of BK Vaughan should check out the "Pride of Baghdad" graphic novel. One of the more original takes on war through the eyes of escaped lions during the iraq war. Beautiful artwork and tragic story. A modern day watership down - almost.

To tell you the truth PoB was probably my least favourite thing that I've read of Vaughans. I wanted to like it, truely did, but outside the realm of social commentary it fell a little flat.

[Max the Mostly Mediocre]

To tell you the truth PoB was probably my least favourite thing that I've read of Vaughans. I wanted to like it, truely did, but outside the realm of social commentary it fell a little flat.

I read the online preview awhile back. Was painfully anvilicious.

And I agreed with the point he was trying to make. And I like everything else I've read by him. Well. Except Logan, which was a bit...much.

[The Pita]

I got V for Vendetta today, and read it.

It definitely requires a re-read, but from this impression, it was good.

[Garlan the Gallant]

For the sake of suggestion ease I'm not going to list anything that muddles in continuity of DC or Marvel (at least nothing that cant be read on its own).

Here is my suggestion list (ordered by comic book company):

America's Best Comics:

Promethea by Alan Moore

Smax by Alan Moore

Terra Obscura by Alan Moore

Tom Strong by Alan Moore

Top 10 by Alan Moore

Aspen MLT (for the sake of art only):

Iron and the Maiden by Jason Rubin

Avatar Press:

303 by Garth Ennis

A Small Killing by Alan Moore

Anna Mercury by Warren Ellis

Black Summer by Warren Ellis

The Courtyard by Alan Moore

Crecy by Warren Ellis (technically through Apparat)

Crossed by Garth Ennis

Doktor Sleepless by Warren Ellis

Frank Miller's Robocop by Frank Miller

Freakangels by Warren Ellis

Gravel by Warren Ellis

Ignition City by Warren Ellis

No Hero by Warren Ellis

Scars by Warren Ellis

Strange Kisses by Warren Ellis

Streets of Glory by Garth Ennis

Wolfskin by Warren Ellis

Writing for comics by Alan Moore

Dabel Brothers Productions:

The Hedge Knight by George R.R. Martin

The Hedge Knight Vol. 2 by George R.R. Martin

Wild Cards: The Hard Call by George R.R. Martin

Dark Horse Comics:

300 by Frank Miller

Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot by Frank Miller

B.P.R.D. by Mike Mignola

The Chosen/American Jesus by Mark Millar

Concrete by Paul Chadwick

The Escapists by Brian K. Vaughan

Fear Agent by Rick Remender

The Goon by Eric Powell

Hardboiled by Frank Miller

Hellboy by Mike Mignola

Rex Mundi by Arvid Nelson

Sin City by Frank Miller

Umbrella Academy by Gerald Way

Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai

Zero Killer by Arvid Nelson

DC Comics:

All Star Superman by Grant Morrison

Empire by Mark Waid

Gotham Central by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka

Hitman by Garth Ennis

Jack Cross by Warren Ellis

Joker by Brian Azzarello

Jonah Hex by Jimmy Palmioti and Justin Gray

Kingdom Come by Mark Waid

Lex Luthor: Man of Steel by Brian Azzarello

Ronin by Frank Miller

Seven Soldiers by Grant Morrison

Watchmen by Alan Moore

Secret Six by Gail Simone

Starman by James Robinson

IDW Publishing:

Fallen Angel by Peter David

I am Legend by Steve Niles

Locke and Key by Joe Hill

Supermarket by Brian Wood

Image Comics:

A.K.A. Goldfish by Brian Michael Bendis

A Red Mass for Mars by Jonathan Hickman

Age of Bronze by Eric Sanower

The Astounding Wolf-Man by Robert Kirkman

Astro City by Kurt Busiek

Casanova by Matt Fraction

Channel Zero by Brian Wood

Chew by John Layman

Fell by Warren Ellis

Fire by Brian Michael Bendis

Girls by Luna Brothers

Guerillas by Brahm Revel

Hawaiian Dick by B. Clay Moore

The Five Fists of Science by Matt Fraction

I Kill Giants by Joe Kelly

Invincible by Robert Kirkman

Jinx by Brian Michael Bendis

Ministry of Space by Warren Ellis

The Nightly News by Jonathan Hickman

The Pro by Garth Ennis

Proof by Alex Grecian

Obergeist by Dan Jolley

Superpatriot by Robert Kirkman

Special Forces by Kyle Baker

The Sword by Luna Brothers

Tech Jacket by Robert Kirkman

Torso by Brian Michael Bendis

The Tourist by Brian Wood

Transhuman by Jonathan Hickman

Ultra by Luna Brothers

The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman

Wanted by Mark Millar

War Heroes by Mark Millar

Marvel Comics:

1985 by Mark Millar

Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon

Bullseye: Greatest Hits by Daniel Way

The Hood by Brian K Vaughan

Immortal Iron Fist (Brubaker/Fraction run)

Irredeemable Ant-Man by Robert Kirkman

Logan by Brian K Vaughan

N.E.X.T.W.A.V.E. by Warren Ellis

Omega the Unknown by Jonathan Lethem

Punisher Max by Garth Ennis

Runaways by Brian K Vaughan (Read the Joss Whedon run also)

Strange by J. Michael Stracyznski

The Twelve by J. Michael Stracyznski

J Michael Stracyznki's run on Thor

Under Icon Imprint:

Criminal by Ed Brubaker

Destroyer by Robert Kirkman

Incognito by Ed Brubaker

Powers by Brian Michael Bendis

Misc:

22 Brides by Fabian Nicieza

Artesia by Mark Smylie

Berlin by Jason Lutes

Blankets by Craig Thompson

Big Numbers by Alan Moore

Bone by Jeff Smith

The Boys by Garth Ennis

Doc Frankenstien by Wachowski Brothers

Eightball by Daniel Clowes

Exit Wounds by Rutu Modan

From Hell by Alan Moore

Ghost World by Daniel Clowes

The Incal by Alejandro Jodorowsky

Jimmy Corrigan by Chris Ware

Just a Pilgrim by Garth Ennis

The Killer by Alexis Nolent

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore

The Lone Ranger by Brett Mathews

Lowlife by Ed Brubaker

The Metabarons by Alejandro Jodorowsky

Mail Order Bride by mark Kalesniko

Miracleman by Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman

Mouse Gaurd by David Peterson

Shaolin Cowboy by Geoff Darrow

Stray Bullets by David Lapham

Steampunk by Joe Kelly

The Technopriests by Alejandro Jodorowsky

Oni Press:

Local by Brian Wood

Pounded by Brian Wood

Queen and Country by Greg Rucka

Resurrection by Marc Guggenheim

Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O'Malley

Wasteland by Antony Johnston

Whiteout by Greg Rucka

Top Cow:

Down by Warren Ellis

Midnight Nation by J Michael Straczynski

Rising Stars by J Michael Stracyznski

Vertigo Imprint:

100 Bullets by Brian Azzarello

A History of Violence by John Wagner

Air by G. Willow Wilson

American Splendor by Harvey Pekar

Black Orchid by Neil Gaiman

The Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman

Cairo by G. Willow Wilson

Deadenders by Ed Brubaker

The Dreaming by Neil Gaiman and Sam Kieth

Enigma by Peter Miligan

Demo by Brian Wood

DMZ by Brian Wood

Fables by Bill Willingham

Fight for Tomorrow by Grant Morrison

Flex Mentallo by Grant Morrison

The Filth by Grant Morrison

Heartland by Garth Ennis

Heavy Liquid by Grant Morrison

House of Mystery by Matt Sturges

Human Target by Len Wien

The Invisibles by Grant Morrison

It's a Bird by Steven T. Seagle

Jack of Fables by Bill Willingham and Matt Sturges

Kill Your Boyfriend by Grant Morrison

The Losers by Andy Diggle

Loveless by Brian Azzarello

Lucifer by Mike Carey

Northlanders by Brian Wood

Preacher by Garth Ennis

Pride and Joy by Garth Ennis

Pride of Baghdad by Brian K Vaughan

Sandman by Neil Gaiman

Scalped by Jason Aaron

Scene of the Crime by Ed Brubaker

Shade, The Changing Man by Peter Seagle

Silverfish by David Lapham

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Swamp Thing by Alan Moore

Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore

We3 by Grant Morrison

Young Liars by David Lapham

Y: The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan

Wildstorm Imprint:

21 Down by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray

Albion by Alan and Leah Moore

The Authority by Warren Ellis and Mark Millar

Deathblow by Alan Moore and Brian Azzarello

Desolation Jones by Warren Ellis

Ex Machina by Brian K. Vaughan

Global Frequency by Warren Ellis

Planetary by Warren Ellis

Point Blank by Ed Brubaker

Sleeper by Ed Brubaker

Stormwatch by Warren Ellis

Welcome to Tranquility by Gail Simone

Wildcats by Alan Moore

[Shryke]

I got V for Vendetta today, and read it.

It definitely requires a re-read, but from this impression, it was good.

I read this recently, since I enjoyed Watchmen so much.

It was pretty good, but nothing special imo. Good enough, I wasn't disappointed, but I feel no urge to read it again.

Gonna give League of Extraordinary Gentleman a try this weekend.

[delete this account pls]

Shryke, when you read LOEG, it's well worth it to print out Jess Nevins Annotations. Not essential, but good fun, and very extensive.