Comic books anyone?

[cuervo72]

Oh - one other book I forgot to mention was Darwyn Cooke's run on The Spirit. He left the book a couple months ago though.

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

I ran across a discussion of Countdown and Salvation Run somewhere in the internets and was definitely interested.

Apparently, George R.R. Martin (Song of Ice & Fire and Wildcards) came up with the idea for Salvation Run and Willingham executed it - well, until he had some sort of nervous breakdown or something - and Sturges took it over. Considering Deadshot's playing some role and two of my favorite writers - Martin and Willingham - were/are involved to some extent, it's pretty much guaranteed I'll pick it up when it comes out in trade.

Let me know your thoughs if you grab it. I'll be sure to do the same.

I really loved Villians United, but wasn't that thrilled with the Secret Six series that followed it up.

I'd love to see Martin do a mainstream comic.

[hukarez]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

/looks around for any trace of DC fans (besides Kurt)

I've been picking up the Green Lantern hardcovers as of late - sad to say though, I haven't gotten around to reading them yet! I just barely opened up my hardcover Voltron omnibus the other night.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

I will pretty much read anything that has Deadshot in. Since he's a pretty minor character in the DC Universe, however, that's a very narrow range. (Suicide Squad, Villians United, Secret Six, etc.)

From a recent Jeff Katz (Booster Gold) interview:

What else do you want to work on?

Teen Titans, definitely. Suicide Squad, which is also the DC movie I most want to make. Here’s a weird one: Zatara. I’d like to do Zatara next, actually. Lobo. I would do “Brave and the Bold” in a heartbeat.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

From a recent Jeff Katz (Booster Gold) interview:

Huh. Interesting news. I'd love to see a movie based on "Suicide Squad". I think it's a great concept, but I imagine they would have to make some serious changes to it. What I liked most about the series is (1) the high body count and (2) the development and exploration of some of DC's lesser known/lower-level villians like Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, etc.

[WVUFAN]

Cuervo: I love Countdown right now. I'm more than curious what Morrison's gonna do on Final Crisis, and my favorite title right now is JSA. The art is the best in comics right now.

Back to Marvel, though, I just got Secret Invasion a week or so ago, and I'm more than intrigued with where the writer is going with this. I'm curious if any of you have picked it up and your opinions of it.

[cuervo72]

Wow...you *do*? Heh. For me it's just kinda...there. No real thrill, just "yeah...ok then" reactions. FC should be interesting, but I wonder just how many toys Morrison is going to break.

I'm with you on JSA - love Eaglesham's work (and uh, Johns isn't doing so bad either ).

Also, I would encourage everyone to try Blue Beetle! Just good clean fun. The first trade was ok, but it really got going from there and lead to a great #25 last month (the culmination of basically a two-year overarc). Unfortunately, it's changing writers (TV writer John Rogers is moving to another, not-yet-announced book). But the good news (for me anyway) is that the new writer is going to be Matt Sturges (assuming the title continues for any length of time, which has been hotly debated).

[kurtism]

With cuervo on Countdown and Blue Beetle. I read Countdown, but given the talent working on it, I view the run as a HUGE disappointment - particularly when measured against the success of 52. Oh well, I am getting my hopes up for the next DC weekly anyway. Busiek and Bagley on the main story, Fabian Nicieza and Busiek on the backups with artists like Derenick and Scott McDaniel.

As for changing writers, that has to be my biggest frustration in comics. I get into a few books based solely on the character, but for the most part, I really enjoy the work of certain authors. If Johns, or Gail, or Brubaker are on a book, odds are that I'll love it. Seeing Rogers move off of Blue Beetle, or Bru and Fraction off of Iron Fist (brilliant) makes me fear a very real dropoff in the quality of the book...

[Bonegavel]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

/looks around for any trace of DC fans (besides Kurt)

I like DC (and Vertigo). I only get Astonishing Xmen, well, did, I guess it's over and even that wasn't all that great.

Really loving Fables/Jack of Fables. Great stuff.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by kurtism

With cuervo on Countdown and Blue Beetle. I read Countdown, but given the talent working on it, I view the run as a HUGE disappointment - particularly when measured against the success of 52. Oh well, I am getting my hopes up for the next DC weekly anyway. Busiek and Bagley on the main story, Fabian Nicieza and Busiek on the backups with artists like Derenick and Scott McDaniel.

As for changing writers, that has to be my biggest frustration in comics. I get into a few books based solely on the character, but for the most part, I really enjoy the work of certain authors. If Johns, or Gail, or Brubaker are on a book, odds are that I'll love it. Seeing Rogers move off of Blue Beetle, or Bru and Fraction off of Iron Fist (brilliant) makes me fear a very real dropoff in the quality of the book...

Unlike Kurt, I'm not as excited about Trinity...not because of the team or that the book won't be good, but because I'd rather try out other monthlies (that will probably not involve Superman or Batman...I aim for the fringes ). I will likely pick up the trades though as I did with 52.

Agreed on writers. I can't figure if the industry wants readers following writers or not. They move them on and off to try to boost sales, but it does seem to lessen the importance of their characters compared to the creators. Stability would be nice, but it doesn't seem like the writers even want that (I had a rambling post at the 'Rama about this, and how it's similar to college coaching, where talent = coaches and books = schools). Anyway...I followed Simone from BoP to WW, I'll follow Rogers to whatever his new projects are, and I'll probably pick up 90% of what Johns writes. And I'll hope the other books don't suffer. All New-Atom changed a bit in tone (and was just canceled, though rumor has it is leading into something else), Birds has been not quite the same. Hopefully Blue Beetle and then Booster Gold will do ok with Rogers and Johns/Katz moving on, but you never know.

(Oh, and Derenick - liked his stuff in both Shadowpact and Countdown, I hope DC keeps him around for a while.)

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by Bonegavel

I only get Astonishing Xmen, well, did, I guess it's over and even that wasn't all that great.

Just so you know, Astonishing X-Men will start again with #25 in July with Warren Ellis writing and Simone Bianchi drawing it.

FM

[kurtism]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

Just so you know, Astonishing X-Men will start again with #25 in July with Warren Ellis writing and Simone Bianchi drawing it.

FM

And Whedon's story will conclude with another Giant Size... not sure when it will come out, though.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by kurtism

And Whedon's story will conclude with another Giant Size... not sure when it will come out, though.

oh, didn't know about it. Only read the first two trades of it, then drifted away always meaning to go buy back the next trades...

That the one Giant Size?
http://marvel.com/catalog/Giant-size...ishing%20X-men

FWIW, it says May 21 in there, although it could always be pushed back for whatever reason...

FM

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Wow...you *do*? Heh. For me it's just kinda...there. No real thrill, just "yeah...ok then" reactions. FC should be interesting, but I wonder just how many toys Morrison is going to break.

I like Countdown for the Mary Marvel storyline. I like the journey from the dark side and back ... and now I guess to the dark side again.

[cuervo72]

Eh...if you can believe that Mary was desperate enough to go evil again that easily. But other things...

Spoiler

Piper happening to have the ALE inside of him? Wha?

Holly & Harley - story line felt largely pointless.

The Great Disaster. So all 52 monitors are so concerned about multiverse hopping, because they have to stop The Great Disaster from happening. And the GD ends up being the destruction of one Earth...that just happened to have been reconstituted from the same universe that was destroyed just what, a dozen issues prior? Whaaa?? They cared so much why again?

Jason Todd. Along to provide some friction within the Challengers group I guess, but other than that didn't seem to serve much of a purpose.

Just my general take. I mean, I've been buying it and reading it first off the pile each week (guess a weekly will do that), but the story...well, could have been better.

[kurtism]

I mentioned Ed Brubaker above, and then today on Popmatters.com, they reviewed Vol. 2 of Criminal (by Bru and Sean Phillips). Putting the two together reminded me of one of my alltime favorite miniseries, Sleeper.

While Sleeper is set in the Wildstorm universe, people utterly ignorant of that comics world can read this series without fear. There are references to Wildstorm characters and events, but they serve as more "local color" and depth than anything else. The real focus of the story is on a hero, Holden Carver, sent deep undercover into the criminal underground.

Brilliant writing, brilliant art, and some of the best characterization I can recall. Four TPB volumes, you can have the entire story in your hand for under $50 at Amazon (probably slightly less at Overstock).

[law90026]

I picked up the Sinestro Corps War (Green Lantern) trade recently, liked it a lot. Cosmic battle on a grand scale if you like that kind of thing.

[Bonegavel]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Eh...if you can believe that Mary was desperate enough to go evil again that easily. But other things...

Just my general take. I mean, I've been buying it and reading it first off the pile each week (guess a weekly will do that), but the story...well, could have been better.

I agree. To me, Countdown feels empty. I'm trying to keep up with it all but they are just doing too much IMHO.

I know they care about content and story but they are obviously most interested in pumping out as much shit as they can and if the stories turn out decent they are happy.

The biggest thing that I think would make for a whole lot of awesomeness is if they would just grow some balls and let their super heroes grow old, die, and be replaced. I can see some being immortal or ageing slowly, but it would be much better if they would, for example, let Bruce Wayne just grow the hell old and die already.

I realize that these are mega-million dollar characters (movie wise) but I've only been back into comics for the last 3-4 years and they just keep regurgitating the same old shit over and over (shocker!) especially time travel which I hate the most though I do realize that it is the cornerstone of super hero comics.

The Watchmen and Fables have shown me what comics could be and I think it would be awesome if DC would let their universe move in this direction (which they never will).

Something with the 52 universe configuration that I thought would be awesome is if they could designate a few of the 52 u's to, say, Vertigo and let them have a more edgy take on the A-list characters. Give Alan Moore a universe of his own in which to re-imagine the DCU in his image - this would be probably the best thing ever. Give one to Frank Miller and take off the shackles.

As long as they were kept separate, I don't see how this would be anything but good for DC.

[Raiders Army]

Blackest Night in Green Lantern next year looks pretty good. I've re-read the Sinestro Wars and it kicks the shit outta anything Marvel has done lately.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Bonegavel

The Watchmen and Fables have shown me what comics could be and I think it would be awesome if DC would let their universe move in this direction (which they never will).

No. They wont. They would never let their characters take that kind of turn and I also think it's just a question of talent. Alan Moore and Willingham are two of the best comic authors out there. They generate amazing stuff.

This is one of the reasons why, over the last 10 years or so, I stopped collecting run of the mill series and have really been following writers around. I will still grab the occassional Marvel/DC mini-series (I bought some Civil War stuff, Identity Crisis, Villians United, that Modak's 11 book or whatever it was called, etc.) if the story seems solid enough or if it involves characters I like. More often than not, however, I will buy a book or a series based on the wrtier. I'll buy Brian K. Vaugh (Y, Ex Machina, Runaways, his new Wolverine story), Alan Moore (so long as it's not his weird porn stuff), Willingham (Fables/Jack), Whedon (Astonishing X-Men, Buffy, Runaways), Warren Ellis (Transmet), Garth Ennis (Preacher/Hellblazer), Straczynski (Supreme Powers Rising Stars), and the like.

[cuervo72]

Deadshot alert!

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=154269

NRAMA: So who are the "six" this time? The "six" of the title has always been somewhat flexible, and things kind of fell apart in their last appearance. So who are we looking at? Have to say, it's darn near impossible to think of the Six without Catman...

GS: Right. It wouldn't be the Six without Catman, Deadshot, Scandal, and Ragdoll. But beyond that, we have an a-list Bat-villain, and then a new character, a female, who is hot beyond reason. We're already nuts about her. She's simply the sexiest thing to come down the pike in a while, and she'll happily twist your head off for you if you look at her askance. She makes even Deadshot nervous!

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Deadshot alert!

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=154269

Thanks for keeping me updated! Keep 'em coming.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Any of you guys been reading Dark Horse's "Umbrella Academy"?

It's supposed to be excellent.

[kurtism]

Pushing what remains my favorite superhero book of all time, finally getting the treatment it deserves from DC - Starman. This month they release the first of six omnibus hardcover editions covering the entire run of a masterful book. Pretty good deal available now from Overstock - http://www.overstock.com/Books-Movie...6/product.html - only $30 for a $50 cover price hardback. Do yourself a favor, if you haven't read this, BUY THIS BOOK.

[Bonegavel]

My local dude was trying to push something called "....pussy." I forget what the first half was but the cover had 2 women on it.

[kurtism]

Probably Glamourpuss, by Dave Sim. I'm sure I'll check out issue one, but he lost me long ago when Cerebus went from comedy to polemic.

[Bonegavel]

Originally Posted by kurtism

Probably Glamourpuss, by Dave Sim. I'm sure I'll check out issue one, but he lost me long ago when Cerebus went from comedy to polemic.

Ah! Yes.. hehe, pussy. I was thinking Octopussy. And yes, he asked me if I'd read Cerebus, which I hadn't.

[edit] I had to look up polemic

[kurtism]

Cerebus was great for a long time; started out a Conan spoof, developed into comic commentary on subjects as diverse as superheroes, politics, religion, and then devolved into Dave Sim lashing out at things he didn't like, which for quite a while was women (his then-recent divorce might have factored into the equation). Either way, the High Society and Church & State "phone books" are well worth their low price for an entertaining diversion...

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by kurtism

Pushing what remains my favorite superhero book of all time, finally getting the treatment it deserves from DC - Starman. This month they release the first of six omnibus hardcover editions covering the entire run of a masterful book. Pretty good deal available now from Overstock - http://www.overstock.com/Books-Movie...6/product.html - only $30 for a $50 cover price hardback. Do yourself a favor, if you haven't read this, BUY THIS BOOK.

Ordered.

(Of course, I didn't tell my wife this was one of six when asking for her Overstock login. )

[kurtism]

Excellent. You will be assimilated.

What, pray tell, were the other 5?

[FrogMan]

I hate retarded stores that don't ship to Canada, like Overstock...

FM

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by kurtism

Excellent. You will be assimilated.

What, pray tell, were the other 5?

I would imagine the other 5 omnibus hardcover editions. But that's just a guess.

[kurtism]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

I hate retarded stores that don't ship to Canada, like Overstock...

FM

Only about $1.50 more from Amazon.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by kurtism

Only about $1.50 more from Amazon.

yeah, I know, even better with amazon.ca at cdn$33, which with a 1.045 exchange rate makes it about even with overstock. Was showing my frustration with stores that don't ship to Canada. Happens just way too often which is not acceptable in this day and age, sigh...

Abuot Starman, can't help but feel it looks a whole lot like Ex Machina, probably only because it's Tony Harris who's drawing it... Just like his "Spider-Man with great power" series looked a lot like Ex Machina, heh...

FM

[WVUFAN]

Anyone else read DC Universe #0?

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

Anyone else read DC Universe #0?

I have not, it's in the mail, but the reviews I'm seeing are not all that good...

FM

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

I would imagine the other 5 omnibus hardcover editions. But that's just a guess.

Right - I didn't tell her I'd be ordering five more times in the future.

[FrogMan]

didn't want to start a new thread but figured the comic books thread was as good as any for a comics related t-shirts. Just ordered one of the those last night, currently on sale for $10 at threadless.com.

Here's the real beginning of Batman:






Please use this link as a referral if you wanna order one.

FM

[kurtism]

Read "Trinity" #1 this morning. Busiek and Bagley hitting on all cylinders - definitely a return to the good form of 52 IMO. Backup story by Nicieza and McDaniel was also strong.

[Raiders Army]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

Dola ...

I usually get my stuff from tcbulk.com for comic supplies. Using your example above:

1000 Modern Comic Backing boards -- $46.00
1000 Modern Resealable Comic Bags -- $32.50
10 long boxes -- $24.00

Shipping -- $40.50

TOTAL: $143.00 -- and you get double what you ordered. Regular comic bags are cheaper, but I love the resealables, since you don't have to put tape on them.

www.tcbulk.com

Got some more supplies today. Thanks!

[cubboyroy1826]

Who do most of you guys order your comics from each month and are there any price breaks or is it pretty much list price?

[WVUFAN]

Originally Posted by cubboyroy1826

Who do most of you guys order your comics from each month and are there any price breaks or is it pretty much list price?

I order from Heavy Ink. 20% off cover price and shipping is free no matter how many comics you subscribe to. I know FrogMan is a member of Heavy Ink too. I can't recommend it highly enough.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

I order from Heavy Ink. 20% off cover price and shipping is free no matter how many comics you subscribe to. I know FrogMan is a member of Heavy Ink too. I can't recommend it highly enough.

oh heck yeah, can't recommend it enough either. Great people, great service, easily configurable, you can cancel anything up to the minute they start pulling it. Seriously, very nice place. Add to that a nice, growing community, with mini-blogs standard with your profile.

Check my user page if you want to have an idea:
www.heavyink.com/frogman

Only negative is that all the comic book talking has made my pull list swell to a pretty big size. On the other hand, I've discovered so many new series and I'm having quite a bit of fun.

FM

[Raiders Army]

I'm with Mile High Comics, but they just piss me off. The problem is, I can't determine when is a good time to switch over to Heavy Ink.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by Raiders Army

I'm with Mile High Comics, but they just piss me off. The problem is, I can't determine when is a good time to switch over to Heavy Ink.

Not sure if that helps you but you can start your subscription to any series with any future issues that has been solicited. For example, I wanted to get the two issues of Robin that will be part of the Batman RIP storyline (#175 & 176) so I subscribed to it "starting with issue #175". I could also have simply put in an order for those two issues and it would have worked just as well.

Feel free to ask any question and make sure to let us know if you ever sign up so I can add you to my friend list.

FM

[FrogMan]

dola, you can also start any subscription with any recent back issue that is showing up as being available.

FM

[cubboyroy1826]

Thanks for the info. I had used Mile High a long time ago when i was in the military. I gave my comic collection to my brother in law in a temporary moment of insanity, you know the one with the first Xmen, Spider Man and Punisher issues tucked away in nice bags. Oh and if that was not bad enough i had gotten bored with Magic and gave him my Magic card which included three copies of the original set plus other promos from the 1st Gencon when Magic came out. I am sure the kid hocked them later to support his alcohol habit.

[cubboyroy1826]

Okay i started looking at the Marvel comics, what is with the whole disassembled thing?

[Raiders Army]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

Not sure if that helps you but you can start your subscription to any series with any future issues that has been solicited. For example, I wanted to get the two issues of Robin that will be part of the Batman RIP storyline (#175 & 176) so I subscribed to it "starting with issue #175". I could also have simply put in an order for those two issues and it would have worked just as well.

Feel free to ask any question and make sure to let us know if you ever sign up so I can add you to my friend list.

FM

Thanks. I'm going to cancel and see where I fall in the last issues I get from MHC and then subscribe on there. I'll do it this week.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by Raiders Army

Thanks. I'm going to cancel and see where I fall in the last issues I get from MHC and then subscribe on there. I'll do it this week.

cool, good luck with the switch.

Here's an example of what I was saying earlier. I just found out that the second volume of the Noble Causes Archives wouldn't be released until way later in the Fall (from the mouth of writer Jay Faerber) and I didn't want to wait to get be caught up with it before reading the newly released issues. I had seen that heavyink had issues #32 to #34 of Noble Causes in stock (and knowing that #32 is a nicely set jumping on point) so boom, clicked subscribe, set it to start with issue #32 and I'm set. They do a pull and ship routine on Mondays for back issues you happen to add over the weekend and so they did today. All three issues just shipped. Neat!.

Other than those Monday pull/ships, they usually get their comics on Wednesdays, like everyone else and they usually ship on Thursdays although somtimes will give you the surprise of shipping on Wednesday.

FM