Considering the sheer depth of comics discussion and appreciation that typically goes on in the streams, I thought it would be a good idea more people could possibly benefit from that knowledge through a forum post. Unfortunately, I drift in and out of the scene every few years so I rarely keep on top of what is a "must read."
So, what's out there that shouldn't be missed? Any series, writers, or artists that have gone unappreciated that we should check out?
I don't really "follow" the scene, but here are some suggestions on my part:
Blacksad if you're into detective noir; Transmetropolitan if you're into cyberpunk or a fan of Hunter S. Thompson; Marvel Zombies is pretty brutal and the Walking Dead has great character development.
The new Green Lantern series written by Geoff Johns. Start from Green Lantern: Rebirth and keep going through Sinestro Corps War and Blackest Night. Good stuff.
I know it's bloody obvious, but I'm going to say it just in case. Scott Pilgrim: Vol. 6 is out today and wraps up the series. Run out and buy it, if you dare!
Or, you know, run out and buy the entire series, too. That works just as well.
(07-18-2010 12:25 AM)Darsen Wrote: [ -> ]The new Green Lantern series written by Geoff Johns. Start from Green Lantern: Rebirth and keep going through Sinestro Corps War and Blackest Night. Good stuff.
Brightest Day was a HUGE letdown though.
(05-30-2011 04:07 AM)JasonMercer Wrote: [ -> ] (07-18-2010 12:25 AM)Darsen Wrote: [ -> ]The new Green Lantern series written by Geoff Johns. Start from Green Lantern: Rebirth and keep going through Sinestro Corps War and Blackest Night. Good stuff.
Brightest Day was a HUGE letdown though.
It was doomed from the start. It's a comic starring Hawkman, Firestorm, and a Deadman that's not doing his "Deadman" schtick. And not to jump on the hating-Aquaman bandwagon, but when Aquaman is the most popular and enjoyable thing in your big event comic, you're in serious trouble.
And as for Martian Manhunter...
Okay, it's bad enough they did the "gasp, it's another martian!" plot yet again (just like in his last pre-Crisis Detective Comics story, the American Secrets mini, his brother in his short ongoing, the White Martians, more White Martians, other white Martians, and that martian woman and
still other martians from his recent mini).
But now it's honestly gotten to the point where that's the only plot they ever do with him any more. "Turns out the villain is another Martian, even though J'onn thought he'd never see another of his kind." Over and over and over again.
Not good.
You should all be reading Archie's "Sonic the Hedgehog" comics. I'm not joking! Ian Flynn has done amazing things as the writer.
(05-30-2011 05:08 PM)Damo Wrote: [ -> ] (05-30-2011 04:07 AM)JasonMercer Wrote: [ -> ] (07-18-2010 12:25 AM)Darsen Wrote: [ -> ]The new Green Lantern series written by Geoff Johns. Start from Green Lantern: Rebirth and keep going through Sinestro Corps War and Blackest Night. Good stuff.
Brightest Day was a HUGE letdown though.
It was doomed from the start. It's a comic starring Hawkman, Firestorm, and a Deadman that's not doing his "Deadman" schtick. And not to jump on the hating-Aquaman bandwagon, but when Aquaman is the most popular and enjoyable thing in your big event comic, you're in serious trouble.
Yeah, Brightest Day dragged on for a while, and then it turned out the plot was mostly an excuse to bring Swamp Man back.
War of the Green Lanterns, meanwhile, has been
awesome.
Posting this everywhere I frequent that has comictalk.
The 7 stages of my reaction to DC's "Crackboot"
1. Cautious optimism - Okay, a little sad some things are being rebooted. We'll lose some things I like. But with some franchises this really is necessary, and a fresh start could bring in new readers. We really need new readers, everyone. Valiant/Acclaim came out of its reboot with much stronger stories. And maybe not every book will be rebooted. With the right teams, this could be what DC really needs.
2. Slightly worried surprise - Oh, it's not a reboot at all? They're just randomly retconning some things? Making some characters younger, and undoing marriages? That doesn't sound like it'll make things much easier for new readers.
3. Sadness - Oh nooooo. They're making Gail Simone turn Oracle back into Batgirl. That poor woman has had handicapped people come up to her at cons for years, thanking her. She's going to have a nervous breakdown after this.
4. Bafflement - The Birds of Prey are a black ops assassin team now? But... they were the fun loving light hearted team. Oh no, it's like when they made Catwoman's book all depressing all over again. Justice League Dark? Is DC aware that people like Constantine, Shade, and Madame Xanadu because they're NOT written like they're in a superhero universe?
5. Not Falling For It - Oh look, they're raiding McDuffie's grave. I'm happy that the writer of Xombi is on Static (but sad Xombi has been given the axe), but the quote about what we can expect in terms of other Milestone characters screams "Dwayne McDuffie is dead, we can do what we like with his stuff now".
6. My Brain Broke, I have no Brain now - Liefeld is getting a book? THAT Liefeld? So Barbara is Batgirl, and has always been Batgirl, but Dick and Barbara are both younger, and Red Hood is still around (teamed up with Starfire), but Tim Drake has never been Robin, and Damian is still around, so Bruce got Talia pregnant in high school. What the hell did they do to the Teen Titans? I cannot stop LAUGHING. TIM DRAKE IS THE SWAN QUEEEEEEEEEEN! Superboy's "cape" is a Kryptonian "kick me" sign. It's like the 90s never left!
7. Well I saw that one coming - Oh.
The Legion of Superheroes is being rebooted.
Again.
(06-08-2011 12:55 PM)Black Sexy Horny n Nerdy Wrote: [ -> ]DC's "Crackboot"
Nicely named! I've already talked too much over at CBR about Batgirl. They not only got rid of the only disabled hero they'd even been successful with, they got rid of the only real diversity to last in the Batclan. And they somehow managed to do all that, while being racist and sexist and the same time.
It's like a perfect storm of Fail.
I was very hopeful about yesterday's announcements, especially Justice League Dark. If it's just a dumb name they use to let Peter Milligan write Constantine and Xanadu, it'll be a great book. If they try to turn the Vertigo Allstars into a superhero team, it'll suck.
But today's announcement... everywhere I've looked the reaction is the same. People just burst out laughing. Liefeld. The 90s costumes everywhere. The retcons, oh my sides, the retcons. So you're keeping Tim all grown up and angsty, even though everyone's hated him grown up and angsty, but now he was never Robin, so you're getting rid of the young Tim people liked. lol, well you guys clearly know what you're doing!
And it looks like they didn't retcon away the years of Green Arrow being a sleezeball. Retcons everywhere, except where they're most needed.
You have to wonder if it's true that they're just doing this in case they lose the rights to Superman.