The Official Recommendations Thread

[The Hero]

It's just something I pulled off Google Image search.I've used it in the Mondo Funky before.

There's no need to see what I look like in real life,the dancing Black Mage is who I am inside.

 

[Elijya]

good

 

[The Hero]

Good that my avatar is a reflection of my soul,or good that I don't look like Donnie Wahlberg?

 

[Anubis]

Both actually.

 

[Elijya]

hey gents, I'm running a little free comics giveaway contest that has to do with the good 'ol Official Recommendations Thread you all might be interested in if you haven't seen it yet
http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240561

 

[Not Jake]

Title: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
Writer/Artist: Frank Miller with Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley
Publisher: DC Comics
Summary:
Old architecture. Dingy streets. Dark skies and a darker man, one who'll do the dirty work in order to make city life livable for the masses. It's what you think of when you think of Batman, and this book, whether you have read it or not, is what set that image in your mind. The most influential Batman story ever told changed the public's perception of Batman from a cheesy superhero surrounded by villains as colorful as a box of Crayolas to a driven man surrounded by dangerous mental patients, and brought up the question of just how psychologically healthy The Batman was himself. The premise: Batman has been retired for a decade. Now middle-aged and floundering through a shell of a life, his true personality--The Batman--awakens, just in time to try and turn a gang-ruled Gotham around.

The writing is brilliant, hitting every required mark--especially the psychological. The concepts Miller presents ring so true that even though this story is an Elseworlds tale set in the future, they'll define the characters in the Bat-universe for you forever. He draws parallels between Batman and his mentally unstable villains. He proposes that the rogues' reliance on Batman's existence defines their own. But as good as the writing is--and it's damn good, as a rousing Batman story and an 80s sociopolitical commentary--the most impressive thing about this story is its art. Frank Miller pulled double duty, writing and penciling, and he shows that as capable an artist as he is, his true talent isn't drawing poster-shots, but illustrating a story through his art. Look how he displays Batman's psyche over the course of the story--when he titularly "Returns", his cape and cowl are bright blue. As things get worse, as he falls deeper into his role, his costume darkens. It's simple, and very effective. This is, in my opinion, the best collection of comic art that you are going to find. It's the best that I've come across, anyway. The imagery he presents will be burned into your mind, the storytelling exceptional.
Format: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns has been collected in hardcover and paperback several times. I myself have the trade, the edition pictured above. It includes an introduction by Frank Miller and a Miller-penned article "authored" by Jimmy (now James) Olsen. This article is a dark delight. Also included are original scripts and sketches by Miller, as well as the art from the original covers.
Amazon.com listing: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/15...8749/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-5319070-9454443?ie=UTF8

 

[Elijya]

::clap clap:: beautifil Jake, thank you. I'm just going to add two more images

 

[Elijya]

Title: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
Writer/Artist: Frank Miller with Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley
Publisher: DC Comics
Genres: Superhero, Crime

Summary:
Old architecture. Dingy streets. Dark skies and a darker man, one who'll do the dirty work in order to make city life livable for the masses. It's what you think of when you think of Batman, and this book, whether you have read it or not, is what set that image in your mind. The most influential Batman story ever told changed the public's perception of Batman from a cheesy superhero surrounded by villains as colorful as a box of Crayolas to a driven man surrounded by dangerous mental patients, and brought up the question of just how psychologically healthy The Batman was himself. The premise: Batman has been retired for a decade. Now middle-aged and floundering through a shell of a life, his true personality--The Batman--awakens, just in time to try and turn a gang-ruled Gotham around.

The writing is brilliant, hitting every required mark--especially the psychological. The concepts Miller presents ring so true that even though this story is an Elseworlds tale set in the future, they'll define the characters in the Bat-universe for you forever. He draws parallels between Batman and his mentally unstable villains. He proposes that the rogues' reliance on Batman's existence defines their own. But as good as the writing is--and it's damn good, as a rousing Batman story and an 80s sociopolitical commentary--the most impressive thing about this story is its art. Frank Miller pulled double duty, writing and penciling, and he shows that as capable an artist as he is, his true talent isn't drawing poster-shots, but illustrating a story through his art. Look how he displays Batman's psyche over the course of the story--when he titularly "Returns", his cape and cowl are bright blue. As things get worse, as he falls deeper into his role, his costume darkens. It's simple, and very effective. This is, in my opinion, the best collection of comic art that you are going to find. It's the best that I've come across, anyway. The imagery he presents will be burned into your mind, the storytelling exceptional.

Format: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns has been collected in hardcover and paperback several times. I myself have the trade, the edition pictured above. It includes an introduction by Frank Miller and a Miller-penned article "authored" by Jimmy (now James) Olsen. This article is a dark delight. Also included are original scripts and sketches by Miller, as well as the art from the original covers.
Amazon.com listing: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/15...8749/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-5319070-9454443?ie=UTF8

write-up originally by Not Jake

 

[The Hero]

I would do a write-up of Origin,but I still haven't read the last issue of the damn thing.

 

[Darthphere]

Ok, I was going to do a write up on Kevin SMith's Green Arrow but his second arc is only available in Hardcover?

 

[Sentry2005]

Title: Invincible
Writer/Artist: Robert Kirkman/Cory Walker, Ryan Ottley & Bill Crabtree
Publisher: Image Comics
Summary:
Mark Grayson is your average kid. He’s working a job, failing with girls, and trying hard to get into college. His dad is his idol, and his mother is as loving and caring towards the two men in her life as any woman can be. Of course, like every teenage kid, he has something that’s slightly different about him; he’s part alien, and his dad is the worlds greatest superhero; Omni-Man.
Sent from the Viltrumite Empire, Nolan Grayson (Omni-Man) fell in love with an earth woman, raised a family and enjoyed his place on the Guardians of the Globe. Now it’s Mark’s turn to be a hero.
As Mark starts to gain the powers his father always said he might one day get, Marks world grows, changes and evolves. He becomes Invincible, and as his relationship with his father alters, and the government hire him, an overarching plot becomes apparent, slowly revealing a master plan that can lead to only one result…

To be honest, I’m barely covering the best bits of this story, because I don’t want to ruin it for people. There are twists, there are shocks, and ultimately a fun riveting story. Kirkman is a literary genius with this book, and the art provided by Walker, Ottley and Crabtree fits the mood perfectly. Each issue contributes to the story, even if it doesn’t seem like it, even if it feels like something has just been left to hang, eventually it gets picked up again, and pays off big time. As it’s tag line states, it’s probably the best superhero comic book in the universe!

Format: This is one of the best ongoing series you’ll read anytime soon. You want to start at the beginning, because it is truly too good to jump on half way. There are six soft trades available, but recently Image have begun selling over sized hard covers under the title ‘Ultimate Collection’. So far two of these are available, collecting the first five trades.


Amazon.com listing:

US readers - http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=br_ss_hs/104-5137733-2292731?platform=gurupa&url=index%3Dblended&keywords=invincible

UK readers - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/202-6583603-4957437?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=blended&field-keywords=invincible

 

[Sentry2005]

frick, frick, frickedy, frick frick... didn't see Elijya had done Invincible.. I hate being dumb.. *hangs head in shame*

 

[Anubis]

And you went through all that trouble too.

 

[The Hero]

After months of leeching off of this thread,here is my first real recommendation.My apologies if it reads like a junior high school book report,and please tell me if there are any red x's.

Title: V For Vendetta
Writer/Artist:Alan Moore(the terrifying author of Watchmen,From Hell,and League of Extraordinary Gentleman),with art by David Lloyd,assisted by Tony Weare
Publisher:DC Vertigo
Genre: Political Allegory,Philosophy,Mature Readers(for violence,adult content,and brief exposure of naughty bits)
Summary:
Like Watchmen,V for Vendetta is a graphic novel that needs little introduction.It is primarily Moore's critique of the Margaret Thatcher administration,though it requires very little context to read,and it's general themes of Anarchism vs. Fascism give it a timeless quality.
The story focuses on Evey Hammond,a sixteen-year-old factory worker who lives in the fascist remnants of Europe after a major nuclear war.One night,Evey is rescued from the government's corrupt police force by a flamboyant man in a Guy Fawkes mask known only as V,just in time to see him blow up the houses of Parliament.To reveal any more would be unfair,as one of the strong points of the book is the sudden,often unexpected directions it takes.

Moore's writing is at it's peak,pulling off something many mainstream writers wish they could:create a story that isn't about heroes and villains,but people.In Vendetta,Moore explores the book's world in a mature,multifaceted way,showing the full ramifications of the protagonist's actions,and turning a potentially cartoonish antagonist into a complex,almost sympathetic character.The dialogue is also top-notch,and there are a few passages,such as the Vicious Cabaret,that verge on poetry.David Lloyd's art is excellent as well,completing foregoing comic book staples like sound effects and motion lines,giving it a very cinematic,too-real-for-comfort feel.If some of the movie's trailers have you expecting a fun,action-packed read filled with knife-fu and anarchistic ass-kicking,be forewarned:There are virtually no fight scenes in the book,at least not in the general sense.All of the emphasis is placed on the characters and dialogue,which had me struggling to put it down,but may put off some readers.But who wants to associate with those kind of people,anyway?

Format:Although it was originally published as a mini-series for Vertigo,V for Vendetta is considered by most as a graphic novel.The paperback edition contains an interview Moore did as he was writing the series,concept art,all of the original Vertigo run's covers,and two brief chapters edited out of the main storyline.It also contains two forewords by Alan Moore and David Lloyd,both setting the proper mood and political context for the story.

Amazon.com listing: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0930289528/sr=8-1/qid=1152055980/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-8788103-5183902?ie=UTF8

 

[Darthphere]

Good job Hero.

 

[Anubis]

I see two red x's

 

[Darthphere]

I can see them.

 

[Da Docta]

There are three pics. I can only see 2 of them.

 

[The Hero]

I see two red x's

Which'ns?

 

[Anubis]

The first one and the third one.

 

[The Hero]

Fixed.

At least it better be.

 

[Anubis]

 

[Elijya]

Ok, I was going to do a write up on Kevin SMith's Green Arrow but his second arc is only available in Hardcover?

no, there's a paperback
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/14...067690/ref=sr_1_1/103-9512807-7943813?ie=UTF8

if you're going to do a write up for Smith's GA, do you think you could do vol 1 and 2? they pretty much go together, no one's going to read volume 2without reading vol 1

 

[Darthphere]

no, there's a paperback
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/14...067690/ref=sr_1_1/103-9512807-7943813?ie=UTF8

if you're going to do a write up for Smith's GA, do you think you could do vol 1 and 2? they pretty much go together, no one's going to read volume 2without reading vol 1

Yeah, that was the plan. Thats why I was asking.

 

[Elijya]

ok, great

Hero, excellent Job on V (Glad to hear you liked it, too) One small correction, though: V was originally printed in the british magazine Warrior. YEars later DC reprinted it as it's own comic, and collected it, and it was some time after that that the collection had the Vertigo label put on it