The General Comic Discussion Thread - Part 2

[Babillygunn]

So in full disclosure, this d never read Batman:Venom before. Just read it. Not bad at all. Not O’Neil’s best work by far, but I did find it interesting.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

So in full disclosure, this d never read Batman:Venom before. Just read it. Not bad at all. Not O’Neil’s best work by far, but I did find it interesting.

I'm the same. It was an interesting idea but somehow it misses being as great as it should have been. Every time I go back to it I think I'm going to enjoy it more than I do.

 

[Primal Slayer]

I'll be surprised if they actually use this event to its fullest potential.

 

[flickchick85]

I don’t like Kryptonite-centric stories, nor anything I’ve heard about Dan Slott, so that will be a pass for me unless I hear great things.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

This sounds like my idea of heaven I know nothing of Slott though so could be disappointed.

 

[Babillygunn]

I was at first excited as I liked Batman Adventures, but then I realized that I was getting Dan Scott’s work confused with Scott Peterson’s work.

 

[blueharvest]

 

[Babillygunn]

Livening up this place a bit:

What is the best comic that you read for the first time this past year? And past two years?

For me, I’d say the best first read the past year might be The Terrifics. I really had tons of fun with that one. I would need to think about what else could possibly take its place.

For two years, it would likely be The Return of Barry Allen. I absolutely loved that comic. Honorable mention would go to Miracleman. Miracleman was probably better, but The Return of Barry Allen was definitely more polished and more pulp fun.

What about everyone else?

 

[blueharvest]

 

[flickchick85]

Livening up this place a bit:

What is the best comic that you read for the first time this past year? And past two years?

For me, I’d say the best first read the past year might be The Terrifics. I really had tons of fun with that one. I would need to think about what else could possibly take its place.

For two years, it would likely be The Return of Barry Allen. I absolutely loved that comic. Honorable mention would go to Miracleman. Miracleman was probably better, but The Return of Barry Allen was definitely more polished and more pulp fun.

What about everyone else?

Biggest pleasant surprise for me last year was Green Lantern: Far Sector. Went in totally blind just because I'd heard it was good and was eager for a different kind of GL story, and I did not regret it. Also still behind on, but read a good portion of Tom King's Wonder Woman. Good stuff so far.

Glad to hear you finally got to Miracleman! What a classic.

 

[Karelia]

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is one I really enjoyed! Haven't read much solo Supergirl books, but I was hooked with this particular story... and man that art, gorgeous!

 

[CrimsonMist]

Livening up this place a bit:

What is the best comic that you read for the first time this past year? And past two years?

For two years, it would likely be The Return of Barry Allen. I absolutely loved that comic. Honorable mention would go to Miracleman. Miracleman was probably better, but The Return of Barry Allen was definitely more polished and more pulp fun.

What about everyone else?

The fascinating thing about Miracleman is that the first handful of issues is Pre-Swamp Thing Alan Moore and the rest of it of During- and Post-Watchmen Alan Moore. The leap in quality that book, which was already pretty great, takes once John Totleben takes over art duties is insane.

I didn't jump into older books as much I wanted, but I read The Obsidian Age by Joe Kelly and loved every bit of it. Some of it might be nostalgia for the time period, but the characters felt so assured, comfortable and regular, unlike know where everything seems to be, however subtly, in a constant state of flux. I started the rest of Joe Kelly's JLA run but got sidetracked. I hope to finish it but based on The Obsidian Age alone...better than Morrison and Waid.

I don't post here as frequently anymore. Between life being busy and not seeing much value in reviewing serialized fiction (it honestly gets monotonous saying how good a book is month in and out), I just haven't felt too motivated to pop in.

That said, Absolute Batman #5 was pretty damn good and finally pushes the story forward. I felt issue 4 was what the whole first arc should have been, but issue 5 makes up for the feeling that this Batman still has the same conveniences of his regular Earth counterpart. It's brutal and emotionally devastating and a pleasant and very welcome change of pace. This book lives to see another day on my pull list.

Anybody read Batman: Dark Patterns? The first arc of four concluded this week. Between Hayden Sherman's wonderfully evocative artwork that looks how a comic book should look and Dan Watter's gritty, direct and literate prose, this is the best Batman book on the stands. It's hardboiled and meticulous and gruesome but this Batman isn't the Bat-Dick we're usually stuck with. Watter's writes Batman as a determined, yet slightly socially awkward, detective. Nor does Watter's give us any meandering, empty pontifications about saving the city and all that nonsense. Big True Detective and Laird Barron vibes throughout. Based on these three issues alone, Watter's should be writing one of the major Batman books right now.

Also, Ram V's New Gods. Anyone? Anyone? Issue 2 was amazing. This book guarantees to be special. I'll be watching this one closely. Only two issues in and I'm in love with it.

 

[Mani-Man]

There seems to be a weird vibe going on in comics seemingly.
Like, nothing really big seems to happen, nothing that really is the talk of the week or so.
Which is kind of weird.
Im reading my weekly comics, enjoy them for the most part, but there is nothing currently going where i feel the need to keep my focus on.
Im having a lot of fun with most, it feels consistent good, but thats about it.

Its strange timeline currently.

 

[Babillygunn]

I didn't jump into older books as much I wanted, but I read The Obsidian Age by Joe Kelly and loved every bit of it. Some of it might be nostalgia for the time period, but the characters felt so assured, comfortable and regular, unlike know where everything seems to be, however subtly, in a constant state of flux. I started the rest of Joe Kelly's JLA run but got sidetracked. I hope to finish it but based on The Obsidian Age alone...better than Morrison and Waid.

I started Obsidian Age but lost interest with the narrative style. Sometimes I can struggle with keeping focused on two things at once. It was good, but I’d need to be in the right place for it. I’ll try it again sometime.

I don't post here as frequently anymore. Between life being busy and not seeing much value in reviewing serialized fiction (it honestly gets monotonous saying how good a book is month in and out), I just haven't felt too motivated to pop in.

Your reviews were missed my friend. It is good to have you back. These boards need you.

Also, Ram V's New Gods. Anyone? Anyone? Issue 2 was amazing. This book guarantees to be special. I'll be watching this one closely. Only two issues in and I'm in love with it.

I have LOVED this so far. And that’s surprising given that I’m not a huge Ram V fan (though I did like his Swamp Thing quite a bit.

I haven’t read Dark Patterns yet. I thought I’d skip it. But knowing that it is Dan Watters, I think I’ll check it out. I love Watters. His Sword of Azrael was outstanding and heart wrenching. And his Nightwing run so far has even improved over Taylor’s which I didn’t think was possible or at least likely.

 

[blueharvest]

 

[donuts]

Sooooo... What are y'all's favorite DC and Marvel stories / runs?

 

[Babillygunn]

Sooooo... What are y'all's favorite DC and Marvel stories / runs?

DC:
There are so many. But taking it by character:

Superman:
I’m a broken record here, but I go with:
Up in the Sky
Warworld Saga
For the Man Who has Everything
Smashes the Klan
Tomasi’s run
Emperor Joker

Batman:
Night of the Stalker
The Demon Trilogy
Strange Apparitions
A Lonely Place of Dying
Knightfall

Flash:
Return of Barry Allen
I know this is controversial, but I really loved The One Minute War

Nightwing:
Robin: Year One (that counts, doesn’t it?)
Tom Taylor’s run
Pete Tomasi’s run
I’m loving what Dan Watters is doing right now

Justice League:
Kingdom Come (of course)
Tower of Babel
Mark Waid’s run
James Robinson’s run (I loved the unconventional lineup of Dick Grayson Batman, Donna Troy, Jade, Jesse Quick, Supergirl, Starman and Congorilla)
New Frontier
Darkseid War
Forever Evil

Favorite Crisis:
Infinite Crisis (another controversial pick, but Superboy Prime is my all time favorite villain)

Other favorites:
Kirby’s Fourth World (New Gods, Mister Miracle, Forever People)
Huntress: Cry for Blood
Tom King’s Mister Miracle
Denny O’Neil’s The Question run
Teen Titans: Lazarus Contract
Len Wein’s Swamp Thing run
Batgirl: Year One
Hard Traveling Heroes

Guilty Pleasures:
House of Mystery
Richard Dragon: Kung Fu Master
Len Wein’s Action Comics run (especially his backups with Christopher Chance: The Human Target)
Scott Snyder’s Swamp Thing
Alan Moore’s Tom Strong

Favorite DC writers:
Kirby
Waid
Wein
Englehart
Rucka
Barr
O’Neil
King


I don’t read nearly as much Marvel, but I love Daredevil: Born Again (Frank Miller’s all time best work imo), and
X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills
I also have a soft spot for McFarlane’s run on Spider-Man

 

[blueharvest]

 

[donuts]

Was hoping for DC to relaunch Batman's monthly title. It's been lacking for quite a while.

Love the art, let's hope that Matt Fraction can finally turn things around for the monthly Dark Knight stories.

 

[Babillygunn]

Was hoping for DC to relaunch Batman's monthly title. It's been lacking for quite a while.

Love the art, let's hope that Matt Fraction can finally turn things around for the monthly Dark Knight stories.

Personally, I love Zdarsky. But to each his own.

 

[Mani-Man]

View attachment 123226

God i love this, the Symbol, the art style, the suit.
I never was the biggest fan of Blue and gray, but this is honestly insanely good looking.

Personally, I love Zdarsky. But to each his own.

Zdarskys run was hindered by the events.
Otherwise his run is very good imo.

 

[Babillygunn]

Zdarskys run was hindered by the events.
Otherwise his run is very good imo.

I feel like he went a long way to undo a lot of the weird damage that Tynion did during his surprisingly bad run. He brought back a lot of Bruce’s fortune and solidified the family a lot more, including bringing Damien solidly back into the fray. I also like the concept of Pennyworth Manor as the new base of operations for Bruce and the family.

If the dude could find a way to bring Alfred back, he’d be a hero.

 

[flickchick85]

Wasn’t sure this would ever happen again tbh.

 

[CrimsonMist]

- They need to bring back the yellow oval chest symbol. Dan Watters and Hayden Sherman using it in the Dark Patterns series only reinforces how great it looks.

- REPRINT THE JLA/AVENGERS ABSOLUTE EDITION YOU COWARDS!

- Jenny Sparks concluded this week and was by far, BY FAR, the single worst Tom King story ever written. I do not believe that "I hate what he did to Wally West" is a valid metric for criticism regarding Heroes in Crisis. Nostalgia has no place there. Heroes in Crisis didn't work because the story, especially as a murder mystery, was all over the place and didn't know how to stay focused. Clay Mann was also probably the wrong artist for that type of story. The ideas King explored there, however, give the story some merit. In Jenny Sparks, I have no clue what King was trying to to do. Issue to issue, month to month, I remained completely flummoxed. I have no idea what the story was about. I have no idea what characters were doing or saying. And now that it's over, I still remain utterly and frustratingly confused. You know that feeling you get when, a few chapters into a Grant Morrison story, you get the overwhelming feeling that you've missed something but try as you might, you can't pin point what it was, and re-reading previous chapters don't help? I felt like that. Every issue for 7 months. Jenny Sparks is god awful by any and all standards and should be avoided at all costs. Heroes in Crisis is a masterstroke by comparison.

- All the more mind boggling is that King's Wonder Woman continues to be excellent. It took a dip during the Absolute Power tie-ins, which were necessary to drill home the emotional impact of the continuation of this story arc, but it has not let up since. This arc really shows not only how brilliant a strategist Diana is, but showcases the rest of the Wonder-Family. Donna has had some great moments, as has Yara and Cassie. The Detective Chimp issue remains a high point. This issue is no different. Next issue concludes The Sovereign arc and I am very excited for that. Who expected DC to publish two Wonder Woman ongoing titles, let alone two great ones?

- New Gods #3. Best book on the stands. Hands down. And I will die on that hill.

 

[Babillygunn]

- They need to bring back the yellow oval chest symbol. Dan Watters and Hayden Sherman using it in the Dark Patterns series only reinforces how great it looks.

- REPRINT THE JLA/AVENGERS ABSOLUTE EDITION YOU COWARDS!

- Jenny Sparks concluded this week and was by far, BY FAR, the single worst Tom King story ever written. I do not believe that "I hate what he did to Wally West" is a valid metric for criticism regarding Heroes in Crisis. Nostalgia has no place there. Heroes in Crisis didn't work because the story, especially as a murder mystery, was all over the place and didn't know how to stay focused. Clay Mann was also probably the wrong artist for that type of story. The ideas King explored there, however, give the story some merit. In Jenny Sparks, I have no clue what King was trying to to do. Issue to issue, month to month, I remained completely flummoxed. I have no idea what the story was about. I have no idea what characters were doing or saying. And now that it's over, I still remain utterly and frustratingly confused. You know that feeling you get when, a few chapters into a Grant Morrison story, you get the overwhelming feeling that you've missed something but try as you might, you can't pin point what it was, and re-reading previous chapters don't help? I felt like that. Every issue for 7 months. Jenny Sparks is god awful by any and all standards and should be avoided at all costs. Heroes in Crisis is a masterstroke by comparison.

- All the more mind boggling is that King's Wonder Woman continues to be excellent. It took a dip during the Absolute Power tie-ins, which were necessary to drill home the emotional impact of the continuation of this story arc, but it has not let up since. This arc really shows not only how brilliant a strategist Diana is, but showcases the rest of the Wonder-Family. Donna has had some great moments, as has Yara and Cassie. The Detective Chimp issue remains a high point. This issue is no different. Next issue concludes The Sovereign arc and I am very excited for that. Who expected DC to publish two Wonder Woman ongoing titles, let alone two great ones?

- New Gods #3. Best book on the stands. Hands down. And I will die on that hill.

I agree with everything you say…and I hate what he did with Wally West in Heroes in Crisis.