The Official Recommendations Thread

[Da Docta]

Where the **** have you been?

I'm sorry.

 

[Killgore]

STRAY BULLETS
David Lapham

Stray Bullets is a gritty urban epic of lowlife criminals in Baltimore. Every issue is a self-contained story that is part of a larger tapestry. The first collected book may sound pretentious as it is called Innocence of Nihilism, but it is very accessible. The seven stories jump in time from 1977 to 1997, and are interrelated in subtle ways. Lapham illustrates each story in a simple black and white that belies a much deeper narrative. Each of these pathetic criminals delude themselves into thinking that they are one job away from the big score, but are unable to find their way out of their predicament. Stray Bullets is the realistic, street level equivalent to 100 Bullets and Sin City.

 

[Antitang]

STRAY BULLETS
David Lapham




Stray Bullets is a gritty urban epic of lowlife criminals in Baltimore. Every issue is a self-contained story that is part of a larger tapestry. The first collected book may sound pretentious as it is called Innocence of Nihilism, but it is very accessible. The seven stories jump in time from 1977 to 1997, and are interrelated in subtle ways. Lapham illustrates each story in a simple black and white that belies a much deeper narrative. Each of these pathetic criminals delude themselves into thinking that they are one job away from the big score, but are unable to find their way out of their predicament. Stray Bullets is the realistic, street level equivalent to 100 Bullets and Sin City.

You say its an equivalent to Sin City, is it at the same tier of violence or just similar storyline?

 

[Killgore]

It's a violent, black and white crime drama with noirsh tendencies, but it plays things straight instead of way over the top like Sin City.

 

[Anubis]

Sounds interesting, I may check it out. Good Find Kg

 

[GNR]

Picked up some goodies this weekend.

Absolute New Frontier
Green Arrow Quiver
Green Arrow Sounds of Violence (issue form)
Superman Secret Identity
Mythologies The DC Art of Alex Ross

Torso
Heavy Liquid
The One Trick Ripoff

 

[Antitang]

Well, I've recommended Battle Royale enough on a couple threads, but here is a comic that I haven't read in ages, but I always see it in the cheap bins at comic shops.

One of the first Maxi-series, it was everything I wanted in a comic at the time. It had action, drama, and totally tied in with my Excalibur fixation. (I don't know how many times I watched Excalibur, the movie, on Showtime in the early 80's; but, I just soaked up anything to do with King Arthur.) Here is someone's review to give an idea of what the whole idea is about:

In the year 3000 (which looks remarkably like the year 1987), Earth is under siege by malevolent aliens, and young Brit Tom discovers the buried tomb of King Arthur, the promised savior of all the world. Arthur -- yes, the genuine, Pendragon-y article -- is awakened and vows to help humanity in taking out the accursed plague of bug-eyed monsters. Though whether his medieval brain can grasp the concept of where these invaders come from is doubtful.

Of course, Arthur must first gather together his merry brood of fellow legends -- starting with Merlin, who is just as cranky and inscrutable as one would expect, all hidden beneath Stonehenge, which he built for the purpose and stuff (ah, so that's one mystery of the world explained, then!)

Merlin then reactivates the original Scooby Gang -- Lancelot, Galahad, Tristan, Percival, Kay, Gawain and the lovely Guinevere -- who must leave their modern, re-incarnated lives behind in order to rally around the Round Table.

And they proceed to kick some serious invader butt as they uncover a government conspiracy, reveal the true nature of their enemies, and just basically save humanity, with all the requisite angst, heartbreak and self-sacrifice accounted for. Oh, and Excalibur, naturally. And the Holy Grail. And the torrid Lance/Gwen hookup. You know those drills, right?

Camelot 3000 is a great romp through both legend and speculative fiction, a kind of cross between sword and sorcery and space opera that shouldn't work, and yet does -- perfectly. From the first, this is a bizarre world, and it proceeds to get even more bizarre, with twist plot developments that leave the reader breathless for more. The art is first class -- though allowances have to be made for the eighties -- and the writing ties everything together very nicely.

As the first adult comic series, Camelot 3000 set a new standard. As the first direct-to-comic-stores release, it raised that standard. This twelve issue maxi-series, re-released in TPB in 1997, was a phenomenon in the comic buying world, something all together new and wondrous... and the story is still pretty damned cool.

Even if it is about that silly Arthur King and his English kaaa-niggits.

I have been reading up on Camelot 3000, I just ordered issues 1-12 for $7.50. I never even heard of Camelot 3000 before this post. So, Thanks

 

[Yodaman]

I know you guys might be tired of posts like this, but this is kind of what this therad is for. If someone already answered this question, forgive me.

Well, I just finished reading Crisis on Infinite Earths and I was really interested with the Green Lantern stuff. Where should I start on my path to becoming a Green Lantern fan?

 

[GNR]

I know you guys might be tired of posts like this, but this is kind of what this therad is for. If someone already answered this question, forgive me.

Well, I just finished reading Crisis on Infinite Earths and I was really interested with the Green Lantern stuff. Where should I start on my path to becoming a Green Lantern fan?

Read Green Lantern Rebirth,there's a hardcover out.

Then,pick up the current series starting at #7.

I'm a recent GL noob as well so you should be set with those.And get ready for people to hassle you when you say you like Hal Jordan,if you do.t:

 

[Elijya]

Rebirth is excellent, but it's recent

 

[GNR]

>>-GREEN ARROW->

If you’re looking for a great DC Superhero book to get into, Green Arrow is the place to be. The book succeeds especially because it’s not really tied into anything else in the DCU, so it stands on it’s own and you don’t have to pick up any other books to get it. Plus, Ollie is just such a great character.

I’ve always felt Green Arrow was the Daredevil of the DCU: Both characters fly under the radar that superstar characters like Spider-Man and Batman and such exist on. Consequently, creators are given greater freedom to do more interesting things with them.

I suggest starting with vol 1 of the current series, but there’re some other good books from the past I’ll mention, too.

Here’s what you need to know: Oliver Queen was a wealthy industrialist who decided to fight crime after an experience that led him to survive on his own. He funded the Justice League when it first began, and eventually became best friends with Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern, who later turned evil and eventually became the all-powerful Spectre. As a younger hero, Green Arrow took a ward, Roy Harper, who took the name Speedy, and eventually grew up and called himself Arsenal. He now leads the Outsiders. Recently, a young man named Conner Hawke came forward and revealed he was Ollie’s unknown son. He’d spent time in a Buddhist temple and is one of the top martial artists on earth in addition to being as skilled with a bow as his father. Ollie has also had an on-again-off-again romance with Dinah Lance, the Black Canary, for years.

Ollie died trying to disarm a bomb on a plane. He failed, and died right in front of Superman. Now we start…

Vol 1 Quiver. Oliver Queen is back from the dead. Or is he? Kevin Smith writes the relaunch of the character and does it right. A lot of great things in this volume that will make you love the character, but I don’t want to give too much away

Vol 2 Sounds of Violence. Kevin Smith continues his run with an arc concerning a particularly peculiar villain named Onomatopoeia who has a fetish for killing costumed heroes

Vol 3 The Archers Quest. New York Times Best-selling author Brad Meltzer (of later Identity Crisis fame) makes his comic writing debut in a volume that sees Green Arrow taking a road trip with his former ward, Arsenal, in a quest to pick up the pieces of Ollie’s life he left behind when he died. The ending will have you in tears.

all three of the volumes mentioned so far feature gorgeous covers by Matt Wagner and interior art by Phil Hester and Ande Parks

the books got some of the best dynamics and constistently good story telling of anything from the past 5 years

Read all of those and loved them.

 

[CombatRock319]

i think the mere fact that you post on SHH! makes you nerdy. come on guys, we aren't supposed to fight, we're supposed to unite.

 

[GNR]

well, frank began as DD's artist with #158. But he started writing at #168, which was where Elektra was introduced. Franks run on DD is collected in the Daredevil Visionaires: Frank Miller series of trades


Since it's relaunch under the Marvel Knights line back in 1998, Daredevil has been one of the most incredible titles that Marvel has to offer, harking back to the dark and compelling days when Frank Miller relaunched the title, and some even say, exceding it.

Film maker Kevin Smith initially wrote the relaunch of the book, along with Joe Quesada on pencils, increasing reader interest with a tale that dabled with the supernatural. However, it was when Brian Michael Bendis took over the book with issue #26 that the title skyrocketed to award winning quality. Joined by the dark and hard boiled pencils of Alex Maleev, the book began 5 year run that was dark, twisted, and just excellent storytelling. The initial premise begins with a tabloid newspaper outing Daredevil's secret identity as Matt Murdock. Daredevil is now faced with the continuing battle of denying these claims, while being attacked from all sides by his enemies.

Kevin Smith's initial run is collected in the Daredevil: Guardian Devil trade, and the Bendis Maleev run begins in Daredveil vol 1: Underboss, and continues in Daredevil vol 2: Out. However, the Daredevil Hardcover vol 1-5 collections are actually CHEAPER than the softcovers combined, and contain much bonus material, and are well worth it. Vol 1 contains Smith run, as well as the run that followed it by David Mack. Volume 2 begins the Bendis Maleev run. Either is a fantastic starting point for the most consistently amazing book Marvel has perhaps EVER had.

Bendis and Maleev ended their run recently with issue #81, and new writer Ed Brubaker took over with #82. That would also make a good starting point, however, do not cheat yourself by skipping over Bendis and Maleev.

(first issue of Smith/Quesada run)

(cover to DD HC vol 2, the begining of Bendis/Maleev)

Man I miss Bendis and Maleev on this book.Bru and Lark are doing a great job though.

Still have to pick up the Widow and Decalogue arcs to finish my run of Bendis and Maleev.

It's amazing how this book is still running with the same storylines it started back in Underboss with [BLACKOUT]Matt being outed [/BLACKOUT]and all.Even though he is in Europe,he will eventually come back to the US and face the music.

Great book on all ends.

 

[The Hero]

This is slightly off-topic, but what the hell: Has anyone here seen the documentary Sex, Lies, and Superheroes? I haven't head a thing about it since it was released. Netflix doesn't even have it, and they have Killer Condoms From Outer Space.

 

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

I can't find a picture of it, maybe someone can help me out. But What if #49 I believe, Vol. 2 I think (published in the late 90's or later)

What If...Impossible Man got the Infinity Guantlet.

It's funny, nice art, and just a great read.

 

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

Has anyone read Solar: Man of the Atom pusblished by Valiant comics?

What about Mangus Robot Fighter?

Any other Valiant comics that are worth reading?

 

[Elijya]

not really

Solar and Magnus had their moments, but they didn't last. Give em a try, though, see if they're your thing

 

[Mr. Green]

I've been getting the Powers tpbs starting with "Who Killed Retro Girl?"

Is there anyone who could tell me how the title is doing nowadays? Has it stood the test of time?

 

[Anubis]

I'm still enjoying it.

 

[Mr. Green]

Cool, thanks.

 

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

Holy crap Peck, thanks again for reccommending Invincible!

I left a longer response on the other thread.

For anyone that hasn't read Invincible here is the first issue online at the Image website.

http://www.imagecomics.com/onlinecomics.php

 

[Darthphere]

I make love to Invincible every night. one time I had a date with a "real" girl and I was like no way, I had plans, and had a wild Invincible orgy.

 

[The Hero]

Invincible: Without a doubt the most arousing book on the stands.

 

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

I make love to Invincible every night. one time I had a date with a "real" girl and I was like no way, I had plans, and had a wild Invincible orgy.

I'm so envious!

 

[Killgore]

Invincible: Without a doubt the most arousing book on the stands.

Waaayyyy more arousing than Tarot.