Marvel fan reads Kingdom Come and Dark Knight Returns....

[GNR]

....for the very first time.

Yes I am years late on this,but picked up these trades with some extra cash I had.Mostly all of my monthlies are Marvel with the exception of the Justice maxi series.However,these titles were always being thrown out there as some of DC's best books of all time.So I had to check it out.....

And the verdict?

Kingdom Come was first on my to read list.In all honesty,I don't think I've ever read a more moving and inspiring graphic novel.Half an hour after reading this I was still thinking about the heavy themes of gods and mortals they used so well in this story.The moment which jumped out at me the most was Supes attacking the UN,I was just speechless.Brilliant writing (the quotes from Revelations were powerful) and Ross' always stunning art.

DC fanboys help me out,if there is anything out there as powerful and interesting as KC let me know please.

ROTDK I just started.I'm halfway through the 1st chapter and I am very impressed so far.

I'll update when I'm done reading it.

 

[Speedball]

The first comic book that got me back into Comics after like 10 years was the TPB Kingdom Come in 2004.
It still has a place in my heart as my favorite comic book.
It proved to me that DC was far better than Marvel.

 

[The Question]

People liking Kigndom Come and DKR. Not that big a shocker 'round these parts.

 

[Bullseye]

I liked Kingdom Come; but I think Mark Waid did not write it. Just my theory about that.

 

[The Question]

.....wha...

 

[Bullseye]

From all the comics I've read that Mark Waid has written; I don't think Mark Waid could write something as good as Kingdom Come.

 

[The Question]

Ever read Empire?

 

[GNR]

Is there anything else DC has put out that's on the same level as this?I really loved the hell out of it but please nothing too out there dealing with multiple earths or anything like that.

 

[The Question]

DC: The New Fronteir is great. Sandman by Neil Gaiman is considered to be one of the greatest works of graphic literature (that's what smart people call comics) in the past 16 years. It's really heavy on the philosophic, historical, and mythological stuff, so it may not be for you. The Watchmen, of course, is one of the greats. Also pretty heavy with philisophical points, though not as. The story itself is one of the best written in comics.

 

[Elijya]

if you're looking for something similar to KC that moves you, well there's books like MAUS, but that's not as grandiose.

I always like to recommend Uncle Sam, easily Alex Ross' most under appreciate book, and my favorite:

 

[Elijya]

I also agree with Questions suggestiong for DC: The Naw Frontier. That was an absolutely gorgeous book. It's got a retro feel, as it's all set back in the 1950s, and it starts out small but ends very big. Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman have been around for awhile, but we see characters like Hal Jordan, Flash, Martian Manhunter, along with lesser known characters like the Blackhawks and the Challengers of the Unknown, as they first arrive on the scene, and how their arrival ushers in a new era for the world,

The New Frontier is collected in two volumes
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b...ias=stripbooks&field-keywords=DC+new+frontier

 

[Speedball]

Is there anything else DC has put out that's on the same level as this?I really loved the hell out of it but please nothing too out there dealing with multiple earths or anything like that.

Superman: Secret Identity
Superman: Red Son
The New Teen Titans

 

[Elijya]

Between 1998 and 2003, writer Paul Dini and Alex Ross also produced annual tabloid-sized editions celebrating the 60th anniversaries of DC Comics’ Superman ('Peace on Earth'), Batman ('War on Crime'), Captain Marvel ('Power of Hope'), and Wonder Woman ('Spirit of Truth'), along with two Justice League volumes.

These mainly dealt with the DC icons battling every day problems. Superman: Peace on Earth, tells the story of how Superman pledged to feed the whole world for a day.

these were all collected in this massive slipcase hardcover which is a steal for the $31 Amazon is asking for it
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401202543/ref=sr_11_1/102-2366280-7480946?ie=UTF8

 

[GNR]

Thanks for the suggestions.I hopped on Amazon a couple hours ago and I was scoping out that DC New Frontier trade.Sounds like a good read.

I'm really thinking about dropping alot of monthlies with the exception of a few to spend more money on trades.

Wishlist:

Maus
DC New Frontier
Batman Year One
The Authority (Millar or Ellis?)
Planetary

 

[Elijya]

The Authority I'd recommend reading in order, first Ellis than Millar, since their runs flow right into each other

feel free to not bother with any Authoirty stories not written by them, though, as none of it's anywhere near as good

Maus is really heavy fare, though. If I'm not mistaken, you're pretty much a strict superhero reader so far, right? Maus is on the opposite end of the spectrum. It's not flashy, it's not grandiose, it's not even in color. I'd suggest maybe saving that one until your horizons have been broadened a little by some more non-traditional fare (such as Uncle Sam or The New Frontier for starters)

other than that, that's a quality wish-list

 

[GNR]

I did enjoy DMZ which wasn't over the top superheroics.I'm starting to be pretty much open to anything these days.

 

[Elijya]

that's great to hear

you should hang out in Anubis' "TPB Bought/Thought" thread, we're always dishing about the latest collections we've picked up
http://superherohype.com/forums/showthread.php?t=167924

 

[Ben Urich]

The best Kingdom Come moment for me is Superman and Batman's first encounter.

Bruce?
Bruce, I know you're down here.
You can't hide from me.

I bow to your superior wisdom.

After all..... you know all about hiding... don't you, Clark?

Don't call me Clark
What happened to the manor?

Once my identity got exposed? Bane and Two-Face happened to it. Doesn't matter. I have everything I need down here.

Besides, it's not as if anyone intrudes on me. That hardly ever happens...

...Clark.

There's a lot more, but yeah, friggin' awesome. Mark Waid is awesome.

Oh, and at the end, in the diner:

Steak. Well-done.

Which? There's the Man of Beef, there's the --

Steak. Well-done.

 

[Stealth_Prime]

Suggested Readings:


Elseworlds: The Golden Age
The Watchmen
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Green Lantern Emerald Twilight

Enjoy.....

 

[Elijya]

why would he enjoy them, Stealth? you didn't tell him anything about them,

 

[Anubis]

I would recommend Batman: The Long Halloween. Considered by many to be one of the best if not the best Batman story ever written. Penned by Jeph Loeb with Tim Sale on art. It's great. A must read. You might not be a Bat fan, and it doesn't matter. A good read is a good read. Batman at his finest. A detective story. Bats on the trail of a killer. Try it, you might like it.

 

[Stupify_me]

I've never really enjoyed either one though I can't stand superman so the first one makes sesne.

The problem is I am a huge Batman fan but I never could get in to Returns I always thought that the following were light years better

Long Halloween (Interesting and it's the origin of an important Villian)
Knight Fall ( A very important story to Batmans charecter and a great introduction for Baine)
No Mans Land ( An interesting though gothem is crippled by an earth quick and the US abandons it because it is just to much work to fix it and because of this Gothem is far worse than it ever was before.)

I think those are the best Graphic novels period but I might be a biased Batman fan

 

[Elijya]

yeah, there's no "might" about it....

 

[LibrarianThorne]

Amazing stories:

Superman: Secret Identity by Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen. Essnetially, this is a story about a boy who wished he had the powers of Superman, and actually gets them. It goes through his life, and I think shows how Superman is believable and can work in the modern day. Above and beyond that, it's really one of comics' Great Stories.

JLA Volumes I-VI (New World Order to World War III), by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter. This is the series that went a long way towards saving comics in the late '90s. The writing is superb, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a better introduction to the DC Universe than Morrison's JLA. If you liked the godly parallels of Kingdom Come, these books are for you.

 

[GNR]

I actually thought DKR was an amazing story even though I'm not a huge Bats fan Anubis.