So, I was at The Friendly Local Comics Store, looking for a new trade paperback. Nothing really caught my eye and said "you must read this." Even mini-series where I'd intended to get the trade (Day of Vengeance & Rann-Thanagar War) didn't seem too interesting on a flip-through. So, I put out the call - tell me what's good and tell me why it's good:
Edited: I don't buy single issues anymore. Whatever it is must be collected in trades.
Posted by Rick Jones at January 4, 2006 3:54 PM
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Well, in the category of 'stuff from the good ol' days that's finally getting trades', there're two volumes of Rick Veitch Swamp Thing out now work getting, even if they did criminally skip the annual with the monkeys. I've always been disappointed that none of the Hellblazer writers ever did anything with the (surviving) Constantine-contacts that Veitch created during this cycle other than Hoonton...
If you don't collect single issues, check out your local public library. If it is as good as the ones in the Cleveland area they have TONS of trades to read. Anyway, for funny and cool I have recently got into "The Goon" (thanks in large part to an earlier discussion on this site). The "Invincible" books by Kirkman put the "fun" back in "funny books" again.
Speaking of recommendations, has anyone picked up the Book of Mormon comics by Allred? I am so tempted to get this because I love his art style and (no offense to those of the Morman faith) the story is way out fun. Then again, if this were mind-blowing fantasy I would love it and pick it up without hesitation but because it is the basis of faith for, well, a lot of Utah, it gives me a bit of pause. It was easier reading this as fiction with Orson Scott Card's "Earthbound" books. Anyway, since we are talking general recommndations I was wondering if it was worth seeking out (since my main comic shop didn't pick it up).
Smoke from IDW because it was good (this is a useless recommendation, I know)
I Can't Believe it's Not the Justice League from DC if you like this particular brand of funny
Ocean from DC for a neat scifi story
I plan to get Allred's Golden Plates series whenever a collection of it appears.
Vimanarama was a nice little family comedy masquerading as a Kirby epic, and the first volume of Scott Pilgrim has spurred me to seek out its successors at the first opportunity. And of course, the first Seven Soldiers trade is a week or two away.
AEON (I think) put out a collection of Keif Llama stories from Howarth's "Particle Dreams" magazine, c. mid-80s. Great weird SF stories.
Kyle Baker's putting out a "collection" of the first two issues of his "Nat Turner." Interesting, mostly silent series with some of his best art ever.
If you like the Fantastic Four, Waid and Wieringo's run has been collected in 5 (I think) trades. I really enjoyed them--a lot more than I'm enjoying JMS's current run.
I liked Joe Kubert's "Jew Gangster," though it really feels like the beginning of something, not a full work in and of itself.
Any Asterix book by Goscinny and Uderzo is worth reading.
I've said it before: Tom Beland's True Story Swear to God is funny and sweet and sometimes sad. If the phrase "autobiographical romance" doesn't utterly turn you off, give it a try.
Dan Slott's She-Hulk and Great Lakes Avengers have fun with Marvel continuity while being respectful of it. Hmm..."respectful" isn't quite the right word. He makes fun of superheroes, but it's loving fun, put it that way. And he's smart.
Counterpoint: I didn't like Waid and Weiringo's FF at all, and bailed after the first Doctor Doom story.
I bought Day of Vengeance, which I had heard was the best of the Crisis related minis, and was thoroughly unimpressed.
In terms of stuff that's good, I've been picking up the Exiles trades and enjoying it very much, though I've heard the series goes downhill once Winnick leaves the book.
I second the recommendation for Invincibles.
I just bought the first Ex Machina trade on a whim and thought it was pretty good.
Fables is a fun book.
There are two Age of Bronze trades available. I assume you know about that, but if not, pick them up now.
Kyle Baker's Plastic Man series has been lots of fun.
Godland by Casey and Scioli is the second coming of solo Kirby, only with betetr dialog. No trades yet, but I imagine they are forthcoming, so if you like Kirby, watch for this.
I enjoy Rex Mundi, but I've always enjoyed stuff built around the Grail conspiracy. Speaking of which, I assume you're familiar with Preacher, but if not, that's a fun series.
Marvel just reprinted Gerber's Omega the Unknown series. If you like 70s Marvel, look for that.
All of Miller's Daredevil and large chunks of Byrne's FF and Simonson's Thor are in print. All worth getting.
They are reprinting the first few issues of Michelinie/Layton Iron Man within the next few months. Please, please, please buy it because it's very good and I want Marvel to reprint the rest of the run (both runs, actually, and the O'Neill run as well).
I second the recommendations for I Can't Believe It's Not The Justice League (which contained the best single issue of anything last year) and Vimanarama. I assume you have We3, but if not, stop reading this sentence and run out and get that. Seven Soldiers is amazing, but you really *should* get the issues with that one.
Godland is also superb - Jason's description is spot on - and they advertised a trade on the back of the most recent issue, so one should be out soon.
Day Of Vengeance *was* the best Crisis mini, but is still not very good (good art, decent dialogue, could have cut three issues with no loss).
And I second the recommendation for Vimanarama, which I just read last night. It's not as good as We3, but better than Seaguy. It's a fun little love story that spirals way out of control into a cosmic epic. I was wondering about the Kirby comparison at first, but after reading it that does seem apt. I loved the design of guy with the arms in his head.
PS238--there are two trades now, and I'd start with the first. It's a book about elementary school for kids with superpowers (yes, it came before "Sky High"); it manages both to be a gentle satire on superheroes and a funny, sweet story in its own right. It made me laugh out loud on the subway, which has to be a good thing.
2nd the recs for P.S. 238 and Age of Bronze.
I don't know if it's out in trade, but I really liked the recent Deadshot miniseries. I thought writer Christos Gage brought the Deadshot through a believable character arc, with a good mix of humor and sentiment. The art was fairly ordinary, but not bad.
Opinions vary, but I thought Villains United was entertaining and well-drawn (even if it ignored the changes made to Deadshot in the above mini).
I'll reiterate recommendations for Age of Bronze and Rex Mundi, both of which feature excellent artwork.
Cartoon History of the Universe is whimsical and fascinating. In Volume 1, cartoonist Larry Gonnick examines events from the Big Bang to Alexander the Great's rise. His sense of humor can be corny, but there are plenty of funny panels, and you learn something on every page. Certain assumptions are debunked convincingly. Volume 2 (don't have it yet)was collected recently, and I'm looking forward to reading it.
I can't believe I forgot to mention Dark Horse's Little Lulu collections. Really wonderful stuff. :-)