The Comic Thread

[Savok]

DC have an inner circle that no one else is allowed into, as poor old McDuffie found out writing JLA. Marvel is, as Gail Simone put it, a bunch of frat guys. Basically no one gives a fuck (unless it's the EiC's pet project), which brings its own set of problems but makes the talent a lot more relaxed and happy... well the male talent.

[muddi900]

Well DC did give young writers like Brubaker and Rucka a chance on Batman, And the Man of Action guys on Superman 10 years ago.

[Ink Asylum]

The Top 10 Best Superhero/Villain Redesigns (http://dresdencodak.tumblr.com/post/10732436312/top-10-best-superhero-villain-redesigns)

The Top 10 Worst Superhero/Villain Redesigns (http://dresdencodak.tumblr.com/post/10756160867/top-10-worst-superhero-villain-redesigns)

Enjoy.

[Savok]

Some of those best ones were terrible. And dammit I liked Aquaman's outfit.

[muddi900]

Some of the ones in the best list were terrible.

[Ink Asylum]

Which ones?

[Widgetcraft]

Personally, I thought that X-men redesign was shit.

[Xerxes]

Personally, I thought that X-men redesign was shit.

Ditto. Maybe cause I thought it looked lame in the movies. I know it couldn't have been any other way but doesn't change anything.

[DoctorFinger]

The Quitely costumes looked good, but they didn't really feel like X-Men costumes. Marvel was trying to make the books more like the movies, so they got leather instead of spandex.

And the Robinson/Harris Starman had the most 90s costume ever - leather jacket & goggles over a t-shirt & jeans - but it was also one of the best costumes ever.

[Ink Asylum]

Although I've never particularly liked the style of the artist who did the X-men redesign (the faces always looked weird to me), I do agree with the article author about the visual choices.

But then, I tend to like whenever superhero costumes are drawn to look more realistic and functional and less like brightly-colored body-paint and underwear.

[Ink Asylum]

And the Robinson/Harris Starman had the most 90s costume ever - leather jacket & goggles over a t-shirt & jeans - but it was also one of the best costumes ever.

Well, he does address that:

Street clothes make sense for a Vertigo character like this, too, and Starman’s a rare example of the 90s design philosophy of “dressing down” actually working. While other artists of this time were simply putting jackets over spandex, Starman here actually has a thematically appropriate outfit.

There's a huge difference between this:
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ls5telzGw91qc9wc7.jpg

And this:
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ls7fm83iPD1qc9wc7.jpg

[muddi900]

The worst was Aquaman. Also, Grant Morrison's run on New Xmen is the only time Xmen didn't suck!

Twitter has already named I, Vampire as this week's sleeper from DC.

[Savok]

X-Men was horrific, especially post-op Thai hooker Emma.

Captain America's helmet looked ridiculous.

Captain Marvel was basically a Nova Corps uniform.

Aquaman was just too extreme.

[Widgetcraft]

I liked Ultimate Captain America.

[Ink Asylum]

Same here. I liked most of the Ultimates redesigns.

[Widgetcraft]

Green Lantern - New Guardians: HURP DURP! WATS EPISODIC STORYTELLING LAWL?! Worst of the new Lantern books. Brief backstory of Kyle, bunch of jumbled scenes of rings flying off of various people, then a cliffhanger.

Batman - The Dark Knight: Same as above, writer doesn't know what to do with an issue. Some bullshit here, some bullshit there, then a cliffhanger with nothing really to back it up. Not as bad as Detective Comics or Batman & Robin, but not nearly as good as Batman.

Frankly, if these assholes want to write graphic novels, they should write graphic novels. Don't publish monthly issues with nothing in them but fluff.

[Deadend]

Superman - I'm not sure about, it's an issue that actually does things, but it doesn't feel that exciting to me, and I think there were 5 or 6 different square narrator bubbles going on? But not a bad book.

Teen Titans - I think I get it, Wally is Kid Flash because Barry is a dick, not a terrible issue, felt like the first half of an issue sadly, and no explanation for anyone really, I have no clue who this is aimed at.

Blackhawks - is GI JOE. I was hoping it would be Stormwatch: Team Achilles, which was a cool series that got canceled because the writer was a total shithead (lied about military service) but nothing is eyerolling as army dudes calling each other names like "Irish" and "Canada" and "Kunoichi" then some sex, because GRR WE ARE MATURE! and.. idk, it's a comic that likes using the word nanobots.

Aquaman - Potentially interesting. As Aquaman is aware of his status to the world. It still bugs me they call his spear a trident when it has 5 spikes. It's very Geoff Johnsian with characters showing up to let Aquaman have his say. I'm hoping that it keeps things fun and the answer to the questions "whats it like being Aquaman?" is "It's awesome!" but he is quitting his job as King, but I bet by the end of the arc he will be back on the throne, but at least Mera is still his wife.

The Flash - Ok, yes. This is the Flash I want. fun, adventurous, fast paced and cares about people. The art is right on, Barry has a runners build instead of having Default Male Hero Body 01 like almost all creators do.

All-Star Western - This is a comic I can get behind. it's good stuff. Mystery and western action in old Gotham with Hex and Arkham.

[muddi900]

Woah, Bart Allen is no more?

[Deadend]

Woah, Bart Allen is no more?

Well, I think it's Wally, it might be Bart. I have no clue at this point.
But so much of the NDCU reads like early 1990s Image/Marvel that it's a bit scary. I'm shocked the comics didn't come out with chrome variants.

I'm going to try and stay positive and say that Batman books aren't affected, Wonder Woman is better, Superman is better, Green Lantern is the same. Things are also okay with characters not related to Suicide Squad or to Titans.

I just wish there were some upbeat comics that were fun. As every book was serious and such.

[BLeeP]

I just wish there were some upbeat comics that were fun. As every book was serious and such.

I know what you mean, but there is still humor in some of the books. I think Demon Knights seems to have a pretty playful side (and it's my favorite book from the relaunch thus far), as does Justice League International (which seems like it will be the new Batman and the Outsiders, but with bigger names). I found the Aquaman book to be extremely funny (and surprisingly awesome), but who knows if they will keep rolling with that tone once everyone in town is getting mermurdered.

Also want to say I greatly enjoyed Justice League Dark. Seems like it is pretty much the new Shadowpact, which I was a big fan of.

[Widgetcraft]

I'm going to try and stay positive and say that Batman books aren't affected,

Except that three out of the four Batman books SUCK.

[muddi900]

Batman & Robin did not suck!

[Savok]

Also Catwoman has no idea who Batman is, so that's a lot of recent continuity out the window.

[Widgetcraft]

Batman & Robin did not suck!

I haven't decided if it is just as bad, or worse, than Detective Comics.

[Ink Asylum]

5 Essential Superhero Redesigns (http://dresdencodak.tumblr.com/post/10830387057/5-essential-superhero-redesigns)

The illustrator who judged the top 10 best/worst redesigns puts up his own redesigns, so judge back!

Personally, I really like his ideas for Wonder Woman, drastic though they are.

[BLeeP]

5 Essential Superhero Redesigns (http://dresdencodak.tumblr.com/post/10830387057/5-essential-superhero-redesigns)

The illustrator who judged the top 10 best/worst redesigns puts up his own redesigns, so judge back!

Personally, I really like his ideas for Wonder Woman, drastic though they are.

I actually like quite a bit of what he did with all of the characters, but I think his redesign of Superman basically makes him Martian Manhunter.

Also, Doctor Who/Vincent Price Doctor Strange is amaaaaaazing.

[Widgetcraft]

5 Essential Superhero Redesigns (http://dresdencodak.tumblr.com/post/10830387057/5-essential-superhero-redesigns)

The illustrator who judged the top 10 best/worst redesigns puts up his own redesigns, so judge back!

Personally, I really like his ideas for Wonder Woman, drastic though they are.

This dude doesn't have a job in the comics industry. Rob Liefeld is doing a book in the New 52. Let that sink in for a bit.

[bryan]

Just goes to show the important of networking. Liefield knows Jim Lee.

[J Arcane]

I love how we can call nepotism such a neutral word now and simply pretend like it's the way things should be.

[bryan]

Whoa, I don't endorse Liefield but I meant what I said, networking, not nepotism. We can make fun of Liefield but whatever it is he can draw a lot better than most of us, plus he has his fans.

[Xerxes]

Can't say I loved any of his redesigns. Although his Strange looks like Dr. Orpheus. The Wonder Woman costume works where a statue doesn't do it for me.

This would be better overall.
http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/9072/wonderwomanwarua3.jpg

Although she's carrying way to much armory in this picture.

[bryan]

Xerxes that is fucking hot and makes me want to read the storyline, where is that from?

[Widgetcraft]

We can make fun of Liefield but whatever it is he can draw a lot better than most of us, plus he has his fans.

1) No, he can't.

2) No, he doesn't.

[Xerxes]

Xerxes that is fucking hot and makes me want to read the storyline, where is that from?

I actually wish I knew. But I mean if she was like that all the time, I could take it a bit more seriously. As is I never get anything from the character. The animated movie was decent enough.

[bryan]

1) No, he can't.

2) No, he doesn't.

Snide remarks aside... I don't have any numbers of who follows him... but let's see how well you draw? :D

[J Arcane]

Whoa, I don't endorse Liefield but I meant what I said, networking, not nepotism. We can make fun of Liefield but whatever it is he can draw a lot better than most of us, plus he has his fans.
And I meant what I said. "Networking" is just bogus corporate speak for "nepotism" and always has been.

[bryan]

Well don't wrap your definition of it around what I said. ie "don't put words in my mouth." If you want to rant about it make it your rant and don't use an inclusive 'we'. Don't drag the rest of us into it.

And we're talking about comics here...

[Ghostbear]

I don't know the story that costume is from, but I can give you the best Wonder Woman story ever.

Hiketeia

[Widgetcraft]

Snide remarks aside... I don't have any numbers of who follows him... but let's see how well you draw? :D

Stick figures are superior to the disgusting, distorted figures of humanity that he produces. That isn't an exaggeration, his art is horrifying (http://fixedart.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/LiefeldCap-original.jpg) to behold.

[bryan]

Damn, Rucka. Wonder if I can buy it digitally. Thanks Ghostbear.

[bryan]

Stick figures are superior to the disgusting, distorted figures of humanity that he produces. That isn't an exaggeration, his art is horrifying (http://fixedart.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/LiefeldCap-original.jpg) to behold.

Haha yeah I've seen examples but they're cherry picked. Not ALL his art is that bad. I read a few of his comics back in the day so I'm somewhat familiar with his art. I'm definitely no fan, and also wonder why he keeps getting big books when there are a lot more deserving artists out there.

[Ghostbear]

Snide remarks aside... I don't have any numbers of who follows him... but let's see how well you draw? :D

Not being able to do something hardly excludes someone from saying something sucks. Liefeld is awful. His artwork is an abortion of ink on paper.

[muddi900]

DC will allow you to buy collected digital editions on Kindle Fire, something you can't do.
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dc-amazon-kindle-fire-graphic-novels-110929.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Newsaramasite+%28Newsarama.co m%29

Everyone should read Daytripper, when you aren't smiling, you're crying.

[bryan]

Not being able to do something hardly excludes someone from saying something sucks. Liefeld is awful. His artwork is an abortion of ink on paper.

C'mon guys. I know we like our hyberbole but his stuff is not THAT bad. I'm not defending him but he's not the worst artist any of us has ever seen.

[Ghostbear]

You're right, Sam Keith is marginally worse.

[bryan]

DC will allow you to buy collected digital editions on Kindle Fire, something you can't do.
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dc-amazon-kindle-fire-graphic-novels-110929.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Newsaramasite+%28Newsarama.co m%29

Everyone should read Daytripper, when you aren't smiling, you're crying.

Unfortunately a lot of stuff is out locked out if you're not in the US. :/

[Ghostbear]

I'm actually planning on picking up a Fire mostlyfor comics reading.

[Xerxes]

You're right, Sam Keith is marginally worse.

get the fuck out. Sure my only experience is the Maxx but... yeah. get the fuck out. :p

[J Arcane]

Well don't wrap your definition of it around what I said. ie "don't put words in my mouth." If you want to rant about it make it your rant and don't use an inclusive 'we'. Don't drag the rest of us into it.

And we're talking about comics here...
And yet your own words describe nepotism to a T.

Just goes to show the important of networking. Liefield knows Jim Lee.

[Xerxes]

Also, I hope the get the scans right. I normally find 7" screens to small for comics.

[Savok]

5 Essential Superhero Redesigns (http://dresdencodak.tumblr.com/post/10830387057/5-essential-superhero-redesigns)

The illustrator who judged the top 10 best/worst redesigns puts up his own redesigns, so judge back!

Personally, I really like his ideas for Wonder Woman, drastic though they are.

Starfire - I believe the term is "weeaboo shit".
Strange - Sad middle-age playboy who can barely get out of bed.
Ms Marvel - He just clicked random in the CoH/V character creator didn't he?
Wonder Woman - First actually interesting one, already been done better (http://michaelmay.us/08blog/0926_fanwwmoviecostume.jpg).
Superman - If by modern he means 1950s. Way to make J'onn completely redundant too.

[muddi900]

You're right, Sam Keith is marginally worse.

Sam Keith's style is incredibly 90s but he has never commited the greivious crimes against human anatomy that Liefeld has.

[Savok]

Larry Stroman (http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/40/421218-X-Factor_33_Preview4_super.jpg) is worse. Say what you will about Liefeld, the man could at least draw pouches that looked pouch-like (had enough practice). Stroman shows that nothing he draws looks like anything.

[Widgetcraft]

get the fuck out. Sure my only experience is the Maxx but... yeah. get the fuck out. :p

Agreed! Sam Keith may have muscle-bound 90's characters, but they still don't look anywhere near as bad as Rob Liefeld's.

[muddi900]

Larry Stroman (http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/40/421218-X-Factor_33_Preview4_super.jpg) is worse. Say what you will about Liefeld, the man could at least draw pouches that looked pouch-like (had enough practice). Stroman shows that nothing he draws looks like anything.

Why cyclops look like Sloth's baby?

I need to wash this thread with some Phil Noto (http://philnoto.tumblr.com/):

http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ls4horuDxC1qhyhwto1_500.jpg

[DoctorFinger]

That Wonder Woman image is from Greg Rucka's run on the book just before Infinite Crisis.

[Xerxes]

Why cyclops look like Sloth's baby?

I think that's supposed to be Guido.

[Savok]

Yeah that's meant to be Strong Guy. More horrors from his latest X-Factor jaunt (http://www.comicbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/xfact033_int04.jpg).

[Xerxes]

Yeah that's meant to be Strong Guy. More horrors from his latest X-Factor jaunt (http://www.comicbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/xfact033_int04.jpg).

Wait. Isn't that Darwin?

[Savok]

The giraffe neck, yes. I'd argue he's the most human looking one there though.

[Ink Asylum]

It looks like someone just opened the Ark of the Covenant. Melted faces everywhere.

[Savok]

I've read the issues, their fucking eyes aren't even in line with each other most of the time.

[Widgetcraft]

I must acquire THIS (http://www.cracked.com/article_19446_the-6-most-wtf-special-edition-comics-ever-released_p3.html)! Or at least read it in full.

[muddi900]

Chris Roberson actually referenced than when he took over from JMS on Superman.

[Ink Asylum]

So apparently this is happening:
http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ls9g0evhBx1qmrqk9o1_500.jpg

Can anyone explain what's going on?

[Savok]

I can taste metal that's what's going on.

Seriously though, this is why I can't get worked up about Starfire or anything. It's all so stupid and tedious you just get to numb to it after a certain point.

[Widgetcraft]

Can anyone explain what's going on?

Bane's Halloween costume is Harvey Dent.

[bryan]

So apparently this is happening:
http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ls9g0evhBx1qmrqk9o1_500.jpg

Can anyone explain what's going on?

Guessing that the Harvey Dent personality is totally gone now.

[KSmitty]

Bane's Halloween costume is Harvey Dent.
That's almost exactly the first thing I thought. Fugly.


Read Unwritten vol 1. Not the OMG read I would expect from all the raves/reviews, but still a good story. I found it especially amusing as I just finished reading Harry Potter.

[muddi900]

Was the Rudyard Kipling thing in the first trade?

[KSmitty]

Was the Rudyard Kipling thing in the first trade?

Yes at the end, a very sad little aside.

[Xerxes]

I'm watching Wolverine and the X-Men on Netflix. And it just hit me again and maybe some of you folks in the know can explain something. Gambit. He has the ability charge the kinetic energy of just regular items. His item of choice is cards. Ok he just grabs a hand full of cards and throws them across the room. Cards don't have that kind of weight. I mean I can fly one across the room, but that's something I learned from a Ricky Jay special. I think I even seen the Joker throw cards in rapid succession. I tried that and tend to lose accuracy. But Gambit throws cards like it's 52 pick up. I mean... it makes no sense. O_o

So I'm asking is it ever explained how he throws the way he does? Is there a comic science explanation?

[Psykoboy2]

As far as I know, there isn't. But I easily see someone correcting me on that.

My take on it, however, is that in charging that kinetic energy, it adds a bit of weight to the object. Seemingly making ANYTHING a projectile. And an explosive one at that.

[Xerxes]

As far as I know, there isn't. But I easily see someone correcting me on that.

My take on it, however, is that in charging that kinetic energy, it adds a bit of weight to the object. Seemingly making ANYTHING a projectile. And an explosive one at that.

That's kind of what I was thinking about the charged cards getting some extra heft, but still in the manner he throws them, they would just flutter and blow up in his face. Cards aren't aerodynamically fit for throwing unless you throw them like card throwing guys do to slice through the air.

Now seems like he should have some small metallic ball or something. Or to keep up with the gambler theme, some dice.

I'm sure someone here knows what's up.

[bryan]

I used to collect the collectible cards on X-Men, and they never explained it. I can't say I've ever read all X-men books tho, so there might an explanation hidden somewhere. My gut says they never explained it. They just wanted to link his power to his name.

[Xerxes]

Then he should be a professor who throws chess pieces!

[Urizen]

Read Unwritten vol 1. Not the OMG read I would expect from all the raves/reviews, but still a good story. I found it especially amusing as I just finished reading Harry Potter.

As a student of literature and language and someone who just read the the first TPB myself, I was really impressed. It's so much smarter and better thought-out than Fables, which has such a great premise wasted.

I went out and picked up the other two TPBs, and pre-ordered the 4th, but that breaks my cardinal rule of only consuming completed stories.

I've picked up Daytripper, A God Somewhere and need to go back to The Flith, so there's plenty of others stuff in my backlog...

[Ink Asylum]

I'm watching Wolverine and the X-Men on Netflix. And it just hit me again and maybe some of you folks in the know can explain something. Gambit. He has the ability charge the kinetic energy of just regular items. His item of choice is cards. Ok he just grabs a hand full of cards and throws them across the room. Cards don't have that kind of weight. I mean I can fly one across the room, but that's something I learned from a Ricky Jay special. I think I even seen the Joker throw cards in rapid succession. I tried that and tend to lose accuracy. But Gambit throws cards like it's 52 pick up. I mean... it makes no sense. O_o

So I'm asking is it ever explained how he throws the way he does? Is there a comic science explanation?

Even without his mutant ability, it is possible to throw a card a good distance. Throwing more than one is just your standard cinematic coolness.

[Xerxes]

Even without his mutant ability, it is possible to throw a card a good distance. Throwing more than one is just your standard cinematic coolness.

Like I said it's cool to throw one a long distance. Hell I can throw one across room and hit in the general vicinity of where I'm targeting. I'm better at that than darts. Even got it to embed into a ceiling tile several times. Even throw several in rapid succession is plausible. But I know you know what I'm talking about. The five cards that fly at the same time he throws at like a Sentinels head. :p

I can write it off for comics to draw it one way, but movies, games, and animation I expect more.

[Psykoboy2]

I always took his cards as ammunition bit because they were lightweight and came in 52 deck magazines. But, given that logic, he could easily carry some uncle ben's around in a sack and have a shit ton of ammo.

[Xerxes]

Charging rice would turn him into Jubilee.

[Savok]

Gambit's a thief, his dex stat is through the roof. When he's idling in comics sometimes you'll see him tossing cards into a mug or something.

[Xerxes]

Gambit's a thief, his dex stat is through the roof. When he's idling in comics sometimes you'll see him tossing cards into a mug or something.

His dexterity has been explained sort of with him being always charged. Not to mention dude is an Omega level mutant. Although that term is weird. I'm surprised they haven't made fan fav Wolverine one. He can already appear in 20 books in one month.

[Psykoboy2]

Gambit was my favorite back in the day of collecting. In fact, I have his first appearance. Involves Storm, if I remember right.

[Xerxes]

I use to draw nothing but him, wolverine, and bishop pictures. Loved me some 90s Xmen.

[muddi900]

As a student of literature and language and someone who just read the the first TPB myself, I was really impressed. It's so much smarter and better thought-out than Fables, which has such a great premise wasted.

I went out and picked up the other two TPBs, and pre-ordered the 4th, but that breaks my cardinal rule of only consuming completed stories.

It was Twain saying to Kipling, 'They got you, didn't they?', wasn't it? That was the point where I went, 'Whoa! so that's how it is.'


I've picked up Daytripper, A God Somewhere and need to go back to The Flith, so there's plenty of others stuff in my backlog...

The brothers Ba & Moon have been involved in some of the best comics ever(Pixu, Casanova, Umbrella Academy), but not only is it their best work yet, it is some of the best work done in the medium, ever. When it was coming out monthly, it was like a punch in the heart every month.

[Urizen]

It was Twain saying to Kipling, 'They got you, didn't they?', wasn't it? That was the point where I went, 'Whoa! so that's how it is.'

The brothers Ba & Moon have been involved in some of the best comics ever(Pixu, Casanova, Umbrella Academy), but not only is it their best work yet, it is some of the best work done in the medium, ever. When it was coming out monthly, it was like a punch in the heart every month.

It was the Twain-Kipling repartee that got me to realize the scale of the antagonist, and knew I would be better off waiting until they got closer to the end. That was just really well executed; especially the way it was framed for Kipling.

I've heard good things about Daytripper specifically, so I jumped on it. I don't know much about their other work, but I'll look into those. Thanks.

[Deadend]

So, how about Dem X-men?

I finished Regensis and Generation Hope for this week. I am extremely excited for the upcoming X-books as the characterizations and motivations just feel so right, but interact in such interesting ways. As the whole argument over having East/West X-men is really tricky. It's like Civil War, but with more depth to it than asking if Government regulation is the right idea, as there are so many different possible reasons to side with either Cyclops or Wolverine.

Generation Hope is also some great stuff, managing to give me comedy-drama whiplash, but in the good way. I'm going to miss Gillen writing the kids, but he also dropped 5 or 6 Hope puns in a row.

Over at DC:
Suicide Squad issue 2 is much better than the first issue. I'm not calling it a great comic, but I'm not calling it poor. Once the story actually got rolling, it felt like a Suicide Squad comic and makes the first issue seem even stranger. Harley seems to have her personality intact.. and part of me almost likes her costume as the other characters seem to be weirded out by her.

Demon Knights #2 is fun. It's also fast paced and has a mid-book cliffhanger. And Wizards having daily limits on spells, it's so DnD in the most fun way. It's like watching a great campaign happen. It also has turned Vandal Savage into a guy who beats dragons to death with other dragons and then cooks and eats them.. in a fight, and makes jokes, and also has some good insights. It's an action comedy fantasy book. It even has a very Discworld-ish joke and points out some fun things. It's a fun ride and probably the most fun you will have with a NDCU book this week.

Green Lantern continues to be about how much of a loser Hal Jordan is and gets a bit more into some of the things Sinestro has mentioned in the past like how he made the Yellow Lantern Corps to strengthen the Green Lantern Corps. I find Sinestro to be an interesting character.. unlike Hal Jordan who is shown in the comic to be an idiot.

Batwoman is still one of the prettiest comics out there and continues to be slow burn on the main story but due to how gorgeous everything is and how visual it is, it took me longer to read than other issues this week. JH Williams continues to FUCKING NAIL IT, and the colors are extraordinary again.

The other DCU books aren't surprises or deviate from issue 1, just felt like bringing those 3 up, as Demon Knight 1 left me feeling unsure what direction it would be taking, and it picked the way I would hope it would go, even though the title makes it sound all grim-dark and not AWESOME.

[Savok]

Demon Knight is barely even a DCnU book. It reads like the best Elseworlds you've ever read.

Hal Jordan is awful, he will always be awful. Guy Gardner is the greatest of the Green Lanterns for good reason.

As for how Schism changed things... honestly it'd be better if Civil War had never happened. You spend more time remembering how shit that was more then anything.

[Deadend]

Civil War was okay, it did things at the time that felt pretty new and was mostly good aside from the terrible ending that felt like someone told Millar he had to do with Cap surrendering and such and that whole Clone-Thor thing.

Most of it was good and kept people interested with the side-changes, betrayals and heroes fighting heroes.

The only part of Demon Knights that shows that it's a DCNU is the fact that Shining Knight is similar to the one from Seven Soldiers, but she can't be the same one. And Etrigan has a good costume, the underpants, bare legs, shirt and little red booties look he used to have was fairly lame.

I'm also guessing that if Etrigan had a DnD class, it would be Warlock/Sorcerer, as he seems capable of doing fire all day, growing wings and doing whatever.

The weird thing about Green Lantern is that it's Johns writing Hal Jordan, as Johns sort of loves Hal Jordan. Showing him as the lamest ring user and incapable of creativity.. well, it made me realize that the Green Lantern movie was true to the character of Hal Jordan.. SNAP!

[Xerxes]

John Stewart is the greatest of the Green Lanterns for good reason.
Fixed. I love how one cartoon has everyone ask me, "I thought Green Lantern was black?" :p

Having to explain comics to normies isn't fun.

[Savok]

Guy Gardner master race (http://comiccoverage.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8345158e369e200e55439add68833-450wi)

Though I do wish they'd use John in Justice League and generally Earth's main Lantern. I mean shit you're rebooting it anyway. But no we have to have Hal Jordan shitting up the place.

Also Etrigan has taken levels in Dragon Disciple (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061201a).

[Deadend]

Guy Gardner master race (http://comiccoverage.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8345158e369e200e55439add68833-450wi)

Though I do wish they'd use John in Justice League and generally Earth's main Lantern. I mean shit you're rebooting it anyway. But no we have to have Hal Jordan shitting up the place.

Also Etrigan has taken levels in Dragon Disciple (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20061201a).

Fighter/Dragon Disciple? I dig.
I had some of my DnD friends read issue 2, they enjoyed it, as it's goofy cheesy fun.
I hope that when Vandal Savage shows up in Modern Times he is not so much evil as Bored and Looking for FUN with the newly emerged Superheroes, and continues to use dragons to hit dragons.

[KSmitty]

Batman/Superman: Vengence
??? Really?! Bat-Mite? Composite Super-Batman? Its like the writers simply said lets throw all the random elseworlds shit we can think of, and then make fun of the Ultimates for good measure. That and I literally despise reading Bizarro/Batzarro.


Marvel The Siege:
Eeeeeeh, I mean why? Maybe I missed something by not reading all of the involved Marvel Siege books, but I really don't see why Asgard (or the Asgardians in general) were part of this story. They/it really just seemed like a plot device for Norman Osborn's mental instability to finally come to a head. I'm talking from a very limited view here though, as I only read the Siege tpb. Although I only read Civil War and Secret Invasion (with a few of the Intiative books later) and those stories made sense to me from a story telling standpoint.

[DoctorFinger]

It was a convenient way to get Iron Man, Cap a& Thor fighting on the same side again after Civil War. That's all it was.

[DoctorFinger]

I was hoping to be able to bring you a report today from the New York Comic Con. But I don't have much to report. The show was so much more crowded than it ever was on a Friday. So much that I could only get into 3 panels: part of the FF XIII-2/Deus Ex HR design lecture, the Batman panel and the Old Republic panel. And nothing of substance was announced/said/revealed at any of them.

I got some hands on time with a few games, but the lines were so long I couldn't justify staying at some of the machines too long.

I had been there 3 of the last 4 years, and it was an absolute zoo today compared to the other years. Previously, it would get uncomfortably crowded sometime Saturday afternoon. It was mobbed at noon on Friday, to the point that even the second and third tier panels had 1 hour lines to get in. At this point I don't even know if I'm going to go back tomorrow.

[Urizen]

LA's having it's first major Comic Con-type event next month, called ComiKaze. I expect a zoo, but it's happening at the LA Convention Center and they know really well how to handle and manage crowds.

Anyway, I came in here to denounce the false idols raised in the name of Bill Willingham, Grant Morrison and Neil Gaiman. I'm not very deep into the comic world, but these guys are ridiculously overrated. I haven't started Sandman yet, but everything I've read with these three involved pushes me away from the medium, when every tells me the opposite should happen.

[muddi900]

I have said all there is to say on Morrison and Gaiman. And I can't really defend Willingham. The quality of his work can flip-flop to extremes between issues.

[Superman's Dead]

What?! Sandman is so good!

SANDMAN IS SOOO GOOOOOD!!!!!!!

wharblgarblgarbl

[Savok]

The drug addict is terrible 99% of the time. I hate Gaimen but he gave the best representation of Death ever.

Willingham will flip-flop a bit, but when he's good he's damn good and bad isn't too bad.

[muddi900]

Actually when he's bad he's terribel; see every Fables anniversary issue. Or his JSA run. The best part about that was that he wrote a huge artivle on how superheroes had fotgen decadent, before writing a team book where every one bickers all the time.

Anyway news from Nycc is that Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan would be doing Conan for Dark Horse
http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/10/nycc-dark-horse-confirms-wood-and-cloonan-on-conan/

For those who don't know, Wood amd Cloonan previously did the fantastic Demo and collaborated on 2 issues of Wood's viking historical fiction series Northlanders. None of which are even remotely like Conan. So this would be interesting.

[Savok]

I kinda liked his JSA stuff.... well a bit of it anyway. Strutting Mr Terrific, come on!

[muddi900]

More news; Paul Cornell and Ryan Kelly(who did my favorite comic, Local (http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/06/28/comics-you-should-own-local/)) are doing a vertigo series together, called Saucer Country.

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/10/nycc-cornell-kelly-to-visitsaucer-country/

IDW is adapting Sergei Eisenstein's Aleksander Nevsky:
http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/10/nycc-mccool-guevara-to-adapt-russian-film-alexander-nevsky-for-idw/

Also, Fatale, a new series by Brubaker/Phillips announces in the back of the last issue of Criminal, is being done by Image comics, and not Marvel' Icon...
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=34918

I loved Criminal, loved the second Incognito mini, and loved Sleeper, so I can say that I am eagerly awaiting this.

Speaking of Image comics, they are bringing back Rob Liefeld's Extreme studios:
http://ifanboy.com/articles/nycc-2011-image-has-good-news-for-fans-of-extreme-studios/

Before you wince, the list of talent is impressive. Tim Seeley, Erik Larsen, Ross Campbell, John McLaughlin(yep, the Black Swan guy) and Alan Moore. His final two issues for Supreme never got published, so they are publishing it now. I think this comment has me excited:

Supreme was awesome! I think they’re going to publish the old series digitally or in trade when this new stuff launches.

The Alan Moore run is a reboot of the original character. The original Supreme was more angry / violent. The Moore Supreme was more “Silver Age Superman” as far the ideas go….but not in a cheesy way. Lots of really cool BIG ideas and tons of imagination. Rick Veitch did some great work on Supreme as well. As much as liked the original version ,Moore’s version has much more to offer. The reboot itself is incorporated into the story so … in a way… the old version still exists alongside of the new version. It’s hard to explain without spoiling it for you. I expect for Erik Larsen to take that ball and run with it.

Check it out. The old and new versions are two totally different flavors. =)

[Xerxes]

Scarlet Spider... In Houston... (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=34909) SOLD!

[muddi900]

Web swinging would be fun in a city with no skyscrapers.

Also:
http://www.comicbookresources.com/assets/images/articles/1318621502.jpg

[Xerxes]

We have a few. Makes it funny actually. He is either in the med center, downtown, or the galleria area. No way to go in between aside from driving. Shit all the driving. Hell, I have a hour commute just to work on the other side of Houston next week.

[Savok]

He'll spend most of his time under people's eaves being attacked by brooms.

[muddi900]

We have a few. Makes it funny actually. He is either in the med center, downtown, or the galleria area. No way to go in between aside from driving. Shit all the driving. Hell, I have a hour commute just to work on the other side of Houston next week.

I mean can you even call Houston a city? It's just a bunch of not-so-remote locations connected through freeways.

[Xerxes]

I mean can you even call Houston a city? It's just a bunch of not-so-remote locations connected through freeways.

Shut up! We have a super hero. :)

Really I'm interested to see how that works out. I mean Spider-man seems like we would only work in New York.

[Deadend]

Shut up! We have a super hero. :)

Really I'm interested to see how that works out. I mean Spider-man seems like we would only work in New York.

Maybe Scarlet Spider can glide?
Or they will pull a fast one and have Huston be super vertical and full of skyscrapers everywhere, and reveal that Scarlet Spider is Spider-man 2099 sent back in time along with Alchemex skyscrapers.

[muddi900]

Captain Marvel is coming back (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2011/10/15/shazam-joining-dc-comics-the-new-52/), drawn by Gary Frank. I hope this means the return of Black Adam.

[Xerxes]

Maybe Scarlet Spider can glide?
Or they will pull a fast one and have Huston be super vertical and full of skyscrapers everywhere, and reveal that Scarlet Spider is Spider-man 2099 sent back in time along with Alchemex skyscrapers.

Or he'll ride Metro to which ever section of Skyscrapers he needs.

[DoctorFinger]

I'm pretty sure that's confirmation the Spider Mobile is coming back.

[Savok]

Actually you could probably put a Spidey in Hong Kong.

[muddi900]

Hell you can put him here, he'll just have to swing low.

[Fubl]

Kinda dead in here

Picked up detective comics 3 and red lanterns 3 this week

[muddi900]

I know I said will post a list of recommendations, but I never got around to it and it wouldn't be definitive enough any way, so I say you should check out A Year of Cool Comics by Brian Cronin:
http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/01/01/the-year-of-cool-comics-archive/

It isn't definitive either, but it is far more comprehensive than anything I could've come up with. There is also Comics You Should Own by Greg Burgas:
http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/09/05/comics-you-should-own-archive/

It is more critical, and very well written.

Currently, CSBG is doing lists of stories by creators and characters, so when those are complete I'll post that, too. Also updating the OP.

[roboninja]

Just finished Morrison's run on Animal Man. I'm still not sure how much I liked it. The level of bizarre was a little too high for me, and this is coming from someone who has no problem with The Secret War.

[muddi900]

CBR posted the greatest John Ostrander series ever told:
http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2011/11/06/the-greatest-john-ostrander-stories-ever-told/


Sadly, most of them aren't available anymore...

[Savok]

I lost with Waller going toe to toe against Granny Goodness. The only person in the world able to intimidate Batman by sheer force of presence.

That is The Wall, not that anorexic thing floating around now.

[Deadend]

I took the plunge into catching up on Ultimate Spider-man.

The death of Peter Parker was brutal. As there was so much left to tell with Peter, he had just turned 16 and resolved things with J Jonah, and was in love with MJ again and was being trained by Captain America and Iron Man.
Then he died in a brutal and scary fight.
And I'm pretty sure he's really dead and may even stay that way.

The new series is great too, Miles is an interesting character, my only complaint is the pacing, it's VERY decompressed compared to the original USM stuff. I do think the pacing will pick up some, but it feels like it's written for the trade sadly. The fact that Miles isn't just repeating Peter's origin is pretty good too, it could end up being similar, but I doubt it, and the kid has got some huge shoes to fill. Plus we don't know if he is a genius like Peter or what he is really capable of, as he doesn't seem to geeky, aside from his nerdy best friend.

But yeah, Ultimate Spider-man, a great comic still.

[Savok]

October sales estimates (http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/21453.html). Batwoman #2 sold more then the first (remember kids, female leads don't sell!). Aquaman outselling every major Marvel property except Hulk. Funniest shit ever.

[muddi900]

Comic retailer sales aren't real sales. Already some retailers are chiming in:
http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/11/quote-of-the-day-reality-will-be-hitting-dc-very-quickly/

These sale numbers do not include returns which happens 3 months from ship date.

[Savok]

Hush, let me have my fleeting moment of joy laughing at Marvel.

[muddi900]

io9 posted 10(11) best single issues of comics:

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/io9/vip/~3/kKV9VDz0rLk/10-issues-of-ongoing-comics-that-prove-single-issues-can-be-great

[muddi900]

io9 posted 10(11) best single issues of comics:

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/io9/vip/~3/kKV9VDz0rLk/10-issues-of-ongoing-comics-that-prove-single-issues-can-be-great

[Fubl]

Anyone take a chance on avenging spiderman ? I like joe mads art always have just got justify the 4 dollar price tag for it though

[muddi900]

Wait for the Trade paperback if you have a issue with price. Since it's Marvel, you know it would be out in 7-8 months. Who knows, digital price might drop.

[muddi900]

A tragic profile of Mavel's fill-in king, Bill Mantlo, the Boisterous one.

http://www.lifehealthpro.com/2011/11/07/tragic-tale

[Savok]

Well that's depressing as fuck.

[bryan]

So I caved and bought GL #1 to 3, why is #3 2.99???

[Fubl]

The newest issue is 2.99 till the next issue comes out then drops

[bryan]

The newest issue is 2.99 till the next issue comes out then drops

Crap! Could have saved a dollar. Thanks for the heads up!

[DoctorFinger]

Marvel has announced their next mega, world shattering, nothing-will-ever-be-the-same event: Avengers vs X-Men (http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-06/avengers-x-men-marvel-2012-series/51672646/1).

- Starting this April Marvel will publish Avengers vs X-Men (http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-06/avengers-x-men-marvel-2012-series/51672646/1), a 12 issue, twice-monthly maxi series pitting the company's two premiere properties against one another. The series will be written by Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Jonathan Hickman, Jason Aaron and Ed Brubaker, with art for the series split between John Romita, Jr, Olivier Copiel and Adam Kubert. A prequel written by Bendis & Fraction with art by Frank Cho will be released in March.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6468083423_0e9e139ff8_z.jpg (http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6468083423_1b1789dcb2_o.jpg)
Click to enlarge

It will be 12 issues long, shipping twice monthly, written by Bendis, Aaron, Hickman, Fraction and Brubaker. With Romita Jr, Copiel and Kubert handling the art (with Bendis, Fraction and Frank Cho on the prequel in March).

What will it be about? It will center around the Scarlet Witch, Hope Summers, and the impending arrival of the Phoenix Force on Earth.Bendis has also revealed that he's leaving the Avengers books (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=35772) - all of them - in 2012. He's been writing most of them since 2004 and has written more than 200 issues of the various Avengers books, which is the most all time. No word on who will be replacing him, but it almost has to be either Hickman, Aaron or Fraction, right?

[bryan]

That looks spectacular, what a creative team!

[muddi900]

You know I was really enjoying the Avengers before Fear Itself. It seems Marvel doesn't want me to enjoy Avengers. Boo!

Kieron Gillen for Avengers!

Anyway, I caught up on comics this past week:

Pax Romana by Jonathan Hickman
This was a book failed by it's own ambition.The plot is about a group of people going back in time to undercut the dark ages and jump-start social evolution of man. The story required a lot more time and space(and nuance) then it was allotted, ending in a haphazardly wrapped-up plot that leaves the reader confused. Not to mention the expository dialogue talking down to the audinece, and A LOT of it, outdated social science and largely euro-centric view of history. I would have ignored it if it weren't for the writers claim that he only writes for intelligent people. Hickman also cannot draw, and hides his inability behind vague designs.


Nightly News, also by Jonathan Hickman
It shares the same problem as Pax Romana, but it is quite good. It is like V for Vendetta for the Tea Party/Occupy crowd, a fantastic look at media manipulation and a morally uneven protagonist. Great Read.


Revolver by Matt Kindt
Kindt's style is simplistic, almost like Darwyn Cooke. While you might not see flashy double-page spreads here, you will see some really brilliant back-to-basics storytelling here. It's a story about a man who alternates between a normal world where he's an office monkey and post-terrorist-attack dystopia. The style allows the artist to set the tone with subtlety. One of the best books I have read all year.


Northlanders by Brian wood and Various artists

A bunch of unrelated stories set in Viking controlled Britain? Why did it take me so long to get to this book? Why??

EDIT:
Also, discovered this great comic on the unrest in Bahrain:
http://www.cartoonmovement.com/comic/24

[bryan]

Man I don't know about his drawing ability, but I can't stand the visual style of that first book. I would put it down and never pick it up again.

[muddi900]

Which book?

[bryan]

Pax Romana.

[DoctorFinger]

My all time favorite Hickman book is Transhuman. It's hard sci-fi but wickedly funny.

[DoctorFinger]

A little more on the Avengers vs X-Men event (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=35802). It will crossover into every X-Men and Avengers title except the Avengers Assemble book being released alongside the movie. It should avoid most of the other titles out there, but there will be a ton of other cameos.

[Savok]

Oh god, that's practically line wide, X-Men have 8 fucking books alone. Also means it'll be shitting up my X-Force, fuck this bullshit

[muddi900]

I still do not know why people like Uncanny X-force. I stuck through to the end of the first arc where Fantomex(FANTOMEX!!!) does the thing, and I was like 'That is gratuitous and idiotic.'

Does it get better?

[Savok]

List Fantomex's powers :p

[bryan]

List Fantomex's powers :p

Fantomex powers are a rip off of concepts from Planetary. I have not read the books but he sounds cool on paper but that's because I fricking love Planetary.

[muddi900]

List Fantomex's powers :p

White Ninja ray emissions!

[Savok]

Well yes but I was thinking more what he refers to as misdirection...

[muddi900]

NO WAY! :eek:

[Savok]

Remender is more hard science fiction writer then classic superhero comic book writer. It's a very different dynamic to the usual.

It has in the past been to detriment of a book (his run with Ryan Choi's The Atom had the book cancelled within an arc) but when he's put on a book he fits in with, it's very good.

Plus he writes Deadpool properly, one of two people at Marvel who still can even approximate it.

[muddi900]

Jerry Robinson, creator of the Joker, passes away:
http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/io9/vip/~3/ivrtcuXqvoU/rip-jerry-robinson-creator-of-batmans-nemesis-the-joker

[Savok]

Lot of deaths recently.

[Xerxes]

Why does Fantomex read like the ultimate mutant on wiki? Like who beats this guy up in the books? O_o

[bryan]

Why does Fantomex read like the ultimate mutant on wiki? Like who beats this guy up in the books? O_o

Nobody. He took down a Predator X by himself. That's a super mutant hunting creature that gives Wolverine pause.

[Savok]

Actually in X-Force he gets taken out a lot, some of it as misdirection, some of it not.

[muddi900]

http://cdn.ifanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/arsenal_vs_the_cat___the_cat__s_revenge_by_reillyb rown-d4f1mbe.jpg

[Xerxes]

Actually in X-Force he gets taken out a lot, some of it as misdirection, some of it not.

I imagine they have to pull a Hulk back during Civil War. Send him off to do other stuff. Or let him have his own motives which has him away from the team most the time. And Wolverine has his own assortment of Omega levels.

Also whats this I hear about Cyke buffed, and Wolverine nerfed? Just Comic forum talk or it didn't happen?

[muddi900]

Basically Kieron Gillen wanted to write Authority, but DCNu has made that impossible.

[Xerxes]

I might have to check this The Authority out.

[Savok]

He is kind of an asshole but really he doesn't seem all that powerful in X-Force, abusing the hell out of misdirection and fleeing (tactically, not cowardly, even if he is kinda/sorta a Frog) most of the time. Really it seems the biggest reason that Wolverine keeps him around is because he owns a car so to speak. And keeping his behaviour in check too I suppose.

And I don't know about Cykes other then he hasn't really suited the nickname "Slim" for quite awhile. Wolverine's healing factor got nerfed as I recall, somewhere, but it's been ignored like every other time they've tried to rein in his healing.

[Savok]

I might have to check this The Authority out.
Ellis' initial run is fantastic, then we got Mark Millar....

[muddi900]

Paolo Rivera's Cover to Daredevil #10
http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DD2011010COV_col.jpg

Based on Gustave Dore's Dante's Inferno illustrations.

[Entropy]

I was hoping some of you could recommend to me a list of graphic novels that are must reads for the mainstream characters like Batman, Superman, etc.

I am somewhat familiar with Batman Year One and the The Killing Joke but I don't know if they are the best ones to buy if you're trying to read the best the format has to offer.

thanks in advance

[BLeeP]

I was hoping some of you could recommend to me a list of graphic novels that are must reads for the mainstream characters like Batman, Superman, etc.

I am somewhat familiar with Batman Year One and the The Killing Joke but I don't know if they are the best ones to buy if you're trying to read the best the format has to offer.

thanks in advance

Identity Crisis is pretty much one of the greatest things ever and involves all sorts of peeps from DC.

[Savok]

Identity Crisis was the ultimate symbol of everything wrong with DC at the time.

[muddi900]

Identity Crisis is a test for a person's ability tolerate or enjoy misery porn. If you liked BSG after the first season or thought the new Rainbow 6 , you'll probably enjoy Identity Crisis. I hope I don't sound like a dick here.

Anyway, Entropy:
I have posted two lists in the OP that contain some great stories to start with, but these two lists contain some of the more character and creator specific stories:

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/04/25/the-greatest-_____-stories-ever-told/

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2011/10/25/the-return-of-the-greatest-stories-ever-told/

Not definitive by any means, but great none the less.

As always, I would ask what type of books do you like to read and what characters you are interested in.

[Savok]

No that's accurate for Identity Crisis.

Mainstream trades though? Ugh, my brain works in runs.... Planet Hulk, there's one.

[muddi900]

He's a newcomer, I think these are good places to start:

http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Knight-Returns-Frank-Miller/dp/1563893428/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323763424&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Year-One-Frank-Miller/dp/1401207529/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1323763424&sr=8-4

To me, Year One is the only Batman story that matters.

[Savok]

Not any more thanks to DC! Actually nothing from DC would even remotely be continuity any more. Oh they pretend it does but they're lying, too much has changed.

Planet Hulk's good for a newcomer, it's completely self contained.

Problem I have is I find most of the mainstream characters are fucking terrible because editorial won't keep their dicks out of the pot. More god damn events? Awesome, let me go kill myself.

That said, Bru managed to avoid that shit for ages on Captain America, could always read the first two omnibuses. Though those are less novels and more giant tomes.

[muddi900]

Year One hasn't been canon for 17 years now. They retconned it in Zero Hour. If I only read superhero comics that were official canon, I'd be reading some really terrible comics. Gotham Central was awesome when it came out and it would be awesome when the next DC reboot happens 10 years from now.

[Entropy]

Thanks muddi900...I just used an Amazon GC to order:

Batman Year One
Arkham Asylum
The Dark Knight Returns
The Long Halloween

[Xerxes]

Meh. I would have went with Hush if it was Batman you wanted.

[muddi900]

No matter how many times you try Xerxes, Hush will remain terrible:p The only reason to read Hush is so you can read Heart of Hush. Hell, don't read Hush.

Another good one is Mad Love, later turned into a fantastic Animated Series episode. I think Bruce Timm's very few comic works.

[Xerxes]

What ever dude. Hush was balls to the wall action packed awesome!

[muddi900]

Hush was Jeph Loeb getting Jim Lee to draw as many Batman villians as possible. Very little actually happens in the whole story, action or otherwise.

[Xerxes]

Hush was Jeph Loeb getting Jim Lee to draw as many Batman villians as possible. Very little actually happens in the whole story, action or otherwise.

There was deciet and plotting and fighting and explosions. You Hush!

[Savok]

The only decent thing in Hush was Cat/Bat.

[muddi900]

There was deciet and plotting and fighting and explosions. You Hush!

Something that could have happened in 2 issues, happened over 12.

[bryan]

The Ellis/Hitch run on Authority and the preceding Stormwatch issues are stellar. I fricking loved them and if anyone is ever in search of a good trade to pick up, it would be this.

What has Greg Rucka and Brubaker been up to lately?

[muddi900]

Rucka is writing Punisher at Marvel. Before that he did the fantastic Batwoman: Elegy at DC. Ed Brubaker is the man who killed America (http://www.amazon.com/Captain-America-Omnibus-Vol-1/dp/0785128662/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323852662&sr=8-1)! He's doing Fatale, again with Sean Philips, next month. Also, the new Criminal trade is out, set in Riverdale. Seriously.

[Savok]

"We're bringing Batwoman back as some random lesbian for diversity's sake" set off every cringe reflex in my body. What I and everyone else horrified at the idea didn't really take into account was Greg fucking Rucka writing it. DC proving their complete stupidity once again by driving off the best writer they had.

[Xerxes]

I might have to go just to show support for anything geeked up happeneing in Houston.

An Evening with Marvel Comics (http://marvel.com/news/story/17843/an_evening_with_marvel_comics)

I"m liking the art of Ryan Stegman well enough but is Chris Yost a good writer, or is Houston rocking a some B-Team players? Not familiar with Yost.

EDIT: I lie. He worked on X-Force. I loved wet works X-Force.

[DoctorFinger]

he's also the lead writer on the Avengers cartoon

[DoctorFinger]

A great interview with Remender about his X-Force run is up at CBR

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=35905

[Xerxes]

I like that cartoon too. I hope this turns out well.

[Widgetcraft]

Suggesting another classic run of Batman: No Man's Land. I thought that was a really fun event.

[DoctorFinger]

X-Men Dark Phoenix Saga/Days of Future Past - Two of the most homaged/ripped-off storylines of all time, but still amazing in their own right.

Greg Rucka's runs on Wonder Woman and Batwoman - Rucka made Wonder Woman into an espionage-ish book with mythological undertones and it was awesome. He then took a character who's then-defining trait was "redheaded lipstick lesbian" and with JH Williams turned her into a compelling character in the most beautifully drawn book you'll ever see

Runaways - The best new characters of the last 20 years. At least the books written by their creator, Brian K Vaughn were great. The ones which came later were much more uneven

Blue Beetle by Giffen, Rogers & Hamner - It's a Spider-Man esque teen super hero book, but one executed to perfection.

Detective Comics by Paul Dini - most of his run on the book consisted of 1 or 2 issue stories, and almost all of them are great.

All Star Superman - the only really great Superman run of the last 20 years.

[muddi900]

"Red head lipstick lesbian" was an unfortunate quote from NYT. I would also add GI Joe: Cobra. It's a great book, whether you're a fan of the franchise or not(I'm not).

Also, another Golden Age legend, co-creator of Captain America, Joe Simon, has passed away. He was 88:
http://ifanboy.com/articles/joe-simon-1913-2011/

Also, artist Eduardo Barretto, 57, who lost a battle with meningitis:
http://ifanboy.com/articles/eduardo-barreto-1954-2011/

[Savok]

Batwoman, every page is this amazing (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D-7Tpkr0pMQ/TnQQ0xQOPbI/AAAAAAAAF9Q/bk5uOMc8ZSc/s1600/batwoman1.jpg).

And god damn they're dropping like flies.

[Xerxes]

Does Batman accept her running around under the Bat moniker in his city? Seems like some of these folks pop up with out approval.

[DiBiddilyBop]

Batwoman has some of the best art out there right now, coming in just behind Stjepan Sejic's Witchblade run which, unfortunately, just ended.

[Savok]

Does Batman accept her running around under the Bat moniker in his city? Seems like some of these folks pop up with out approval.
That's always been a bit weird. When Dick was in the cowl he kinda confronted her on it but Bruce has never really cared, more interested in recruiting her.

[muddi900]

That's always been a bit weird. When Dick was in the cowl he kinda confronted her on it but Bruce has never really cared, more interested in recruiting her.

Rucka never said if it was Bruce or Dick. Considering the fact that the issue was written before RIP, I'd gather it was Bruce.

[J Arcane]

Anthony Bourdain has written a comic, apparently.

http://www.amazon.com/Get-Jiro-Anthony-Bourdain/dp/1401228275/ref=sr_1_84?ie=UTF8&qid=1324060537&s=books&sr=1-84

[Xerxes]

Rucka never said if it was Bruce or Dick. Considering the fact that the issue was written before RIP, I'd gather it was Bruce.

And weren't there a couple of Batgirl's that weren't Barbara that just started running around without approval?

I imagine Bruce to not really give a shit as long as they aren't breaking the law. I mean it's beneficial to both parties. Most goons scream "It's the Bats!" and get scared before they realize it's a chick. And it gives Batman an even more omnipresence stance in Gotham.

I'm just wonder if you can run around Gotham calling yourself Batboy with getting an ok.

[muddi900]

And weren't there a couple of Batgirl's that weren't Barbara that just started running around without approval?

I imagine Bruce to not really give a shit as long as they aren't breaking the law. I mean it's beneficial to both parties. Most goons scream "It's the Bats!" and get scared before they realize it's a chick. And it gives Batman an even more omnipresence stance in Gotham.

I'm just wonder if you can run around Gotham calling yourself Batboy with getting an ok.

Stephanie Brown is the only Batgirl that matters.

[Savok]

Rucka never said if it was Bruce or Dick. Considering the fact that the issue was written before RIP, I'd gather it was Bruce.
Yeah but it still felt more like Dick (*snerk*).

Stephanie Brown is the only Batgirl that matters.
Cass forever! Or at least until Beechen ruined her forever. I prefer Steph as Spoiler because the costume is adorable and its her identity rather then someone elses. Not to say I didn't love her as Batgirl (after the stupid start anyway) but it could of easily been a book called "Steph's Crack Filled Adventures" and still been as wonderful.

[muddi900]

Yeah, man. DC New 52 should have been titled, DC New Taking-the-fun-out-of-funny-books. In fact, all of the actual funny comics have been cancelled by DC/Marvel. Is the Batman: Brave and the Bold book any good?

[Savok]

The bits of it I've read, it's as mad as the show was. Which is to say wonderful.

Frankenstein can be funny, being the blend of Atomic Robo and Hellboy that it is but yeah, little room for joy in the DCnU.

[muddi900]

Well there is Manapul's Flash.

Anyway, Washington Post gathers best quotes of the year from the world of comics and cartoons. I have never read Bill Waterson, but he wins every time;

“Talent gravitates to places where it can have an impact. Newspaper comic strips are still the high end of cartooning with a daily audience in the tens of millions, but the mass-media model seems to be disintegrating before our eyes. The sudden climate change may offer great opportunities ahead for the scrappy little mammals that used to cower in the underbrush, but it’s probably bad news for those of us who liked thundering around with our heads above the treetops.”

[Urizen]

Hush was fine. Not every Batman story needs to hit certain formulaic marks. Hush, I feel, shows a Batman who is able to solve a mystery. It's a detective story but not one, slow and plodding. It shows Batman focus on his mission as paramount while shit goes apeshit around him.

As for Arkham Asylum, I don't even consider it a Batman story. It's a Joker story.

Maybe I'm silly, but artwork is secondary to me. I pay more attention to the perspective, size and movement from panel to panel than the artwork itself. Direction, editing and flow resonate a lot more with me.

[muddi900]

Hush was fine. Not every Batman story needs to hit certain formulaic marks. Hush, I feel, shows a Batman who is able to solve a mystery. It's a detective story but not one, slow and plodding. It shows Batman focus on his mission as paramount while shit goes apeshit around him.

As for Arkham Asylum, I don't even consider it a Batman story. It's a Joker story.

Maybe I'm silly, but artwork is secondary to me. I pay more attention to the perspective, size and movement from panel to panel than the artwork itself. Direction, editing and flow resonate a lot more with me.

As I said, Hush was a needlessly stretched plot to accommodate as many Batman villain appearances as possible. Also Superman. And Lois Lane. Exact definition of slow and plodding.

I also find the last line of your post amusing. That is the definition of comic book artwork. That's what the artists like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko did back in the hey day of Marvel comics, they crafted stories from the basic plots provided by Stan Lee (hence the later bitterness), who later added the dialog. Bryan Hitch does not even consider himself, and all of his widescreen contemporaries, artists, but storytellers.

One thing I found lacking in mainstream comics is effective use of line-work. Good line-work can set the mood of a page without a single line of text. Usually, Superhero comics give precedence to detailed renderings than actual storytelling relevance. Besides the works of Darwyn Cooke, I can't think of any.

[Savok]

To me it seems every old comics guy claims to have created everything.

And it's a shame Bryan Hitch can only draw old people and stroke victims (http://www.comicbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/ff554.jpg).

[bryan]

Comixology is having a Runaways sale. Up to which issue was Vaughn at the helm of?

[BLeeP]

Comixology is having a Runaways sale. Up to which issue was Vaughn at the helm of?

Issue 24 of the second volume (which it seems is all that is on Comixology, anyhow), but I stress that I think the six issue Whedon run was just as good. After that, the series started to go down hill in writing and especially art. Still, it is pretty much the only series I will say I love from Marvel, and is one of my favorite titles of all time.

EDIT: Never mind, there are more Runaways on Comixology, it just happens to be that only vol. 2 is on sale.

[Savok]

The biggest problem Whedon's run had was massive delays between issues, which is moot now.

[muddi900]

As the world's premier-most Whedonite, I must say that Whedon single-handedly destroyed Runaways.

Also, speaking of effective line work, Sean Murphy's Batman:
http://cdn.ifanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/batman_by_seangordonmurphy-d4im52s.jpg

He turned down the DCNu Batman gig(among others), to work on his own stuff. (http://seangordonmurphy.deviantart.com/journal/#/d4ab4r3)

[Savok]

Thanks to the delays all the steam went out of the series. It languished for awhile and then died.

[bryan]

The delays were caused by Whedon?

[DoctorFinger]

Yeah. His 6 issues took, I think, almost 2 years to come out. The artist on the book, Michael Ryan, was fast. So fast that he took other jobs in-between Runaways issues.

[bryan]

Well I liked the Vaughn and I always said I'd start paying for comics when I could get at them. (No comics store where I live.) So I bought Fell and now gonna buy Runaways. Just picking up whatever is good on sale tho. Your American dollar is worth three of mine!

[muddi900]

Phil Noto kills it again with the sketch about my favorite Chaplin movie:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hdQ8PnZvfwQ/TvBP2g5SxlI/AAAAAAAAACc/A3XTJvysgKc/s1600/Paulette.jpg

[muddi900]

Man reading a Batman, Inc. issue reminded me how I hate DCNu. It was SO good. Reading Nu-Flash reminded my how it's not all bad. It's the best Flash has been in over 5 years. Best book featuring Barry Allen, period.

[Savok]

Barry Allen is interesting? Lies, that's impossible.

[muddi900]

Dude it's the funnest book in the DCNu.

[muddi900]

watchmen 2 concepts from Andy Kubert and JG Jones:

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/12/25/watchmen-2-art-nite-owl-by-andy-kubert-joe-kubert/

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/io9/vip/~3/F-WiPavi1QY/first-watchmen-2-artwork-leaks

[J Arcane]

watchmen 2

what.

This is a leak from April Fools right?

[muddi900]

Nope. There have been rumors and leaks ever since the Harry Potter lady took over.

[J Arcane]

Ugh. This must be what it feels like to be Savok.

[DoctorFinger]

Watchmen 2 would be prequels and the talent involved is good, so maybe it won't be that bad.

[muddi900]

The problem is that it won't be good enough. And if it's successful they will milk it to death. It would Earth-W and there would be a gigantic ass crossover. Superman vs Dr. Manhattan. Batman vs Rorschach. Black Canary vs Silk Spectre. Also, if you really want to read Watchmen by Darwyn Cooke, you can always...wouldn't you rather read The New Frontier?

[J Arcane]

Man, New Frontier was awesome. If they wanna play in that time period,my hey should keep that going, that could be expanded without just making a mess of the originals, as it was basically just an origin story.

[Savok]

Ugh. This must be what it feels like to be Savok.
Every single day.

[cassiusregicide]

I was looking at getting into some of the new dc comics and was looking for some advice. Looking through the list Superman, Flash and Deathstroke caught my eye. Are they worth taking the plunge or are there better comics I should be looking for?

Also, is there a good way to get comics onto the kindle fire or am I stuck with physical media?

[muddi900]

I do not know which books are new reader friendly, but the best are;

Batman
Action Comics
Animal Man
Swamp Thing
Flash
Demon Knights
Wonder Woman
Batwoman.

[cassiusregicide]

Thanks for the info. Sounds like Flash may be a good spot to test the waters. I appreciate the recommendations for Batman, but I 've always been leery with him. It seems like he has so many monthly books and side books that it would get expensive trying to keep up with the story.

[Savok]

The key with Batman books is most of them are shit and in one case, written by an actual crazy person.

[BLeeP]

I was looking at getting into some of the new dc comics and was looking for some advice. Looking through the list Superman, Flash and Deathstroke caught my eye. Are they worth taking the plunge or are there better comics I should be looking for?

Also, is there a good way to get comics onto the kindle fire or am I stuck with physical media?

Aquaman, Swamp Thing, Justice League Dark, and Demon Knights.

As for the Kindle Fire question:

http://www.comixology.com/

Android App right here. (https://market.android.com/details?id=com.iconology.comics&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5pY 29ub2xvZ3kuY29taWNzIl0.)

[DoctorFinger]

Superman right now is terrible. Deathstroke is ok but noting special. As others have mentioned the best DC books now are

Animal Man
Swamp Thing
Batman
Flash
Batwoman

Justice League, Demon Knights, OMAC, Men of War and Green Lantern are also good, but those 5 are head and shoulders above the rest. But if you only buy one book, make it Batwoman.

[muddi900]

The kindle store has a bunch of trade paperback style DC collections that are cheaper than the print versions. But those are older stories.

[MalReynolds]

any non-superhero comics good?

[KSmitty]

I wouldn't mind getting a Fire for comics, but I'm still holding out for that rumored color e-ink.

Well that and I don't want to buy singles, I want tpb's. Most of the digital places (like comixology) seem stuck on selling you singles. Hopefully Amazon decides to still release the color Kindle and doesn't just dump it and go whole hog with the Fire.

[muddi900]

any non-superhero comics good?

You can check the OP for broad lists but tell me your favorite books and movies.

[Exodus]

any non-superhero comics good?

Ronin was a great read. Frank M might be off his rocker but Ronin was interesting.

[DoctorFinger]

any non-superhero comics good?It can sometimes be tough to define exactly that isn't a superhero book, but here's a good starting point.

Atomic Robo
Fables
Chew
Morning Glories
The Sixth Gun
Hellboy/BPRD
Witch Doctor
Skullkickers
Pigs

They're all current, ongoing books. They all (except Pigs) have elements of the fantastic in them, but they're far enough from superheroes that you should feel comfortable.

[Xerxes]

Irredeemable and Incorruptible are starting to give me a headache. This crossover that's not really a crossover is annoying. It's like I'm missing something. Maybe the actually crossover?

[DoctorFinger]

its a crossover because Max and the Plutonian's origins are intertwined. But they have to fight at some point soon.

[MalReynolds]

All ive really read lately is

Mass Effect
Star Wars
Dragon Age
Conan

[MalReynolds]

You can check the OP for broad lists but tell me your favorite books and movies.

op??????????????/

[muddi900]

Original or first post. It seems you are a sci-fi/fantasy guy, so you should like

Fables
Skullkickers
Unwritten
Planetary
Sleeper
Incognito
Green Wake

[Savok]

Fear Agent.

[Xerxes]

its a crossover because Max and the Plutonian's origins are intertwined. But they have to fight at some point soon.

And that's what I'm confused about. Didn't they already have a dust up before this and have an arrangement? And Plutonian is acting weird? I think it's the art that's just making no sense.

[muddi900]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VcOwW7A1Vis/TwVDgc2zETI/AAAAAAAABdc/zZqYCtikJmI/s1600/638.jpg

[Xerxes]

He can shut his stupid face. Houston has a hero!!!

Wish it wasn't Kaine and instead someone new, but what are you gonna do.

[bryan]

Kaine is a Peter Parker clone right?

Anyone here read Incognito: Bad Influences? I enjoyed it but the felt the ending was forced and too 'neat'.

[muddi900]

Bad Influences was so much better than the first volume. Also, Fatale came out last week, and it was way better than I expected. And I expected a lot.

[bryan]

Yes the first one was good but a bit run of the mill. What did you think of Bad Influences ending? I felt it was too forced as downer ending.

Gonna pick up Fatale as soon as the second one comes so the first one gets a buck off on Comixology.

[muddi900]

I found it to be perfectly fitting, maybe because I read it monthly. Brubaker lost his father during the book, which caused a delay and changed the direction of the book significantly, and the ending felt in line with that.

[Xerxes]

Kaine is a Peter Parker clone right?
You would be correct.

[bryan]

I found it to be perfectly fitting, maybe because I read it monthly. Brubaker lost his father during the book, which caused a delay and changed the direction of the book significantly, and the ending felt in line with that.

That's an interesting fact... but I felt that that the confluence of events was too neat and they could have easily found out what actually happened. Or at least divined enough to cast doubt on their hypothesis that he went native.

[Xerxes]

Oh shit. CBR says Scarlett came out today. Might go check this out. Or maybe I'll just get the marvel app when I get home.