Comic Book Resources

Buffy? I was thinking of giving it a try. Even though the show kind of fell off its curve in seasons six and seven, it’ll still be a fun read even if it isn’t that deep.

You’re intelligent? Ok. I’ll give you 3 choices:

CRYING FREEMAN vol. 5 (dark horse)

BLADE # 7 (marvel)

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA # 7 (dynamite entertainment)

Go forth, and enjoy.

Franklin Richards: March Madness

I concur with the Frankie Rich comic.

ugg…office computer. See above.

Franklin Richards.

52 #45: Yes, it’s towards the end, but Black Adam should be going bat-crap crazy this week. Finishes by Pat Olliffe this week, so the art should be good as well.

Or Buffy #1, if it’s in stores. Preview pages looked like the art was decent. Written by Joss Whedon, so if you’re a fan of the show like me, the characters voices should sound right. And Brian K Vaughan is writing the next arc, so you may as well catch it from the beginning.

I concur with the rest of those recommending Buffy. Of course, I’m a huge fan of the show and Whedon in general, so that’s pretty much a given.

Other than that, the only thing I’m getting this week is Thunderbolts. It’s absolutely mind-boggling that I’m actually buying Thunderbolts every month, and even moreso that I’m enjoying it so much. This is the power of Ellis!

Though issue #5 is coming out this week. I would recommend Punisher: War Journal #4. It’s a great stand-alone story. It’s the funeral for Stilt-Man and all of the C-list villains of NYC show up to mourn their fallen comrade (and dance!). There’s a lot of fun to be had, along with some sad commentary on the state of the Marvel Universe. #5 starts a new arc, so you may want to pick that up instead, but I can’t vouch for it (as it ties into the whole Civil War brou-ha-ha).

Ditto on Buffy #1.

I’d recommend Buffy, because, well, I loved the show. If you didn’t love the show, you should probably skip it, though it would be interesting to see how accessible it is to a non-fan.

Nothing too exciting, otherwise. I know you hate Punisher, but War Journal #4 *was* great and will probably be seen as the best issue of the title for a while, if the previews are any indication. Screw #5. Heh.

Like Bry, the only other thing I’m getting this week is T-Bolts.

I say Buffy also.

But if you never watched or liked the show, give Robin a try. It gets my vote for “Book Most Improved by One Year Later.”

As much as I am looking forward to Buffy, I think the clear choice has to be Franklin Richards. His stories are all kinds of cool. It is the only thing out there that even remotely captures the manic energy of Calvin, Hobbes, and Barry Ween!

Friday the 13th #4. If you’ve enjoyed any of the Friday the 13th movies, you would enjoy this, as it’s better than most of the movies. The art is great for the story and though I’m not a fan of the writers, I’m still enjoying the story. That’s all I can think of, though I have been enjoying Spidergirl and Jack Kirby’s Galactic Hunters, both which are out tomorrow.

Wormwood Gentleman Corpse #6.

you will NOT be disappointed. Templesmith’s art is awesome, and the comic itself is SO much fun. The official description for #6:

“Time for Wormwood is running out as the Leprechaunni disease takes hold. On safari on the Leprechaun world, as they hunt for their queen, they discover that by killing one and possessing it’s head they can create a Leprehaunni translator-the first time in history. And, oh, what secrets they then discover. Courtesy of Eisner-nominated artist Ben Templesmith.”

JR

(Buffy is a good choice too, but everyone is getting that.)

Am I the first to suggest the new B.P.R.D.? Unthinkable. Get that.

You MUST buy Stormwatch PHD #5. First of all, it’s better than all the books you’re already buying (with the exception of Ant-Man and probably Lone Ranger, because I know you loves the Lone Ranger). Second, it has been a great book so far. It nicely contrasts the madness and violence of “Post Human” superheroics with the grittier street level police drama. And it’s got humor and humanity to it as well. I don’t know how great #5 will turn out to be, but if it’s as good as the first four, you won’t be disappointed.

So, Stormwatch PHD!

Since everybody else is saying Buffy, I can suggest something else.

I say Teen Titans 44. Not only has the book been great since the one year later jump, but the Titans East storyline is heating up. But the best reason to buy it is the art of Tony Daniel, which has been improving over the past two years. He only has three issues left on the title, so buy TT before he jumps to the Flash. Daniel deserves to be considered one of the elite artists these days.

I’d have to go with the consensus: Buffy. It’s written by Whedon, whose own episodes usually remained terrific even while the TV show was in the doldrums; and to judge from the preview art, Georges Jeanty’s art is very pretty, and he seems to have cracked the problem of getting good likenesses of the actors without tracing photos on a lightbox.

Failing that, half a recommendation for Tales of the Unexpected. The Spectre strip is a very poor and rather nasty imitation of the worst of 1990s Image comics, but the Dr Thirteen backup is splendidly playful, combining Nazi gorillas, a caveman who speaks French, a vampire dressed as a yeti and a ghostly pirate with an outrageous Spanish accent, searching for the metafictional secrets of the DC Universe.

I recommend the heavily titled ‘Thunderbolts Presents: Zemo: Born Better’ #2. A villain book that actually sticks to its malevolent guns rather than retooling its lead character as a hero, and a colourful alternative to the no-fun drabness of the main ‘Thunderbolts’ title. The series seems to be jumping timezones with every issue, so there should be no problem jumping on with #2.

I recommend Death Comes To Dillinger from Silent Devil. I’ve only read the first half of the story, but I’m counting on the second half being just as good.

Artists Se7enhedd and Jim Ringuet deliver atmosphere in spades and writer James Patrick matches them stride for stride with an intriguing tale of Death, literally, coming to the old west town of Dillinger, and one man’s desperate response to his presence. There’s a matter-of-fact, Twilight Zone-ish feel to the proceedings, and the pacing is a pitch perfect example of decompression done right.

Bonus reason: Elk’s Run’s Joshua Hale Fialkov edited it.

I also vote BPRD

and why BPRD? THe past minis have been good stories and you do not have to have read Hellboy to get into these books.

Wow, I totally missed that there’s a new BPRD. I’m changing my answer. No matter how good Buffy is BPRD will be the best thing out this week. I decided after The Black Flame that it’s even better than Hellboy.

Marvel Adventures: Fantastic Four, because you’ll get a complete story in that one issue, and that’s probably the only comic you’ll be able to say that about this week.

Doctor Who Magazine, because it comes with a free CD.

I’m going to second Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse #6. Templesmith gets better with every issue of this book, and it’s one of the most consistently fun books coming out right now. I mean, how can you not love a comic with drunken horny leprechauns, an extradimensional worm possessing the corpse of a little girl, and a surly robot with genitals made out of ping-pong balls and wire?

Aside from that, I’d say Thunderbolts #112 for sheer sociopathic glee. Anybody who isn’t having fun with the reboot of this series is missing the point completely, because it’s amazing.

Stormwatch: PHD, for damn sure. That book is stellar, although I’m not looking forward to Andy Smith taking over the art duties with #8. All the more reason to buy it now! Enjoy Manke’s art while it lasts!

Franklin Richards. At worst, you could pass it on to a nephew/niece to read.

If there’s one thing the internet is lacking, it’s people talking about Buffy.

Which day, specifically, is the new Optic Nerve coming out this month? Anyone know?

It’s like Nine Bucks, but The Living and the Dead. especially since everybody else is on a Zombie/Horror kick.

I dunno if you’d like Optic Nerve. I don’t even like Optic Nerve, and I have a way higher tolerance for crap like that than you do.

Don’t have any single issues coming out this week that I could recommend, but I do offer up these collections for your consideration:

Hip Flash Concrete Jungle HC (or you could just as easily wait for the paperback trade, if/when that comes out): Great stories that are a part of the mythos that’s being fleshed out in Elephantmen. Don’t recall if these take place before or after Elephantmen, but it doesn’t matter a drop towards your enjoyment. Sorry if I can’t articulate this well, but I can best describe it as sci-fi that has a European feel to it, and definitely has heart.

My second recommendation is American Elf, Vol. 2: Sketchbook Diaries of James Kolchaka: Alt/Indy autobiographical comics with a cute twist. Very well done, and not to be dismissed as just another auto-bio comic.

-r-

“I dunno if you’d like Optic Nerve. I don’t even like Optic Nerve, and I have a way higher tolerance for crap like that than you do.”

Well-written short stories with full characterization that actually resembles real people, and shows it’s characters in an honest light, not a flattering one?

What crap.

You don’t need to bother with Buffy. Everyone else will spend the next week talking all about it. And eventually you can buy the trade … because, really, who wants to wait two or three months between each chapter of another Whedon serial? >**cough*xmen*cough**

Hmm … not sure what happened to the remainder of my post. The above was just the beginning. Attempt #2:

* * *

A lot of smart people here are voting for that irrepressible Franklin Richards. That’s a great call. In fact I’ll be picking it up myself … and I also think Stealthwise gave you the best reasoning: Even if you don’t enjoy it, you can with a thoroughly clear conscience pass it along to a little brother/sister/niece/nephew/neighbor kid.

But the first book I’ll be reading tomorrow, no question, is 52. And I’ll champion it here because few do, and because it IS a good comic (though not a great one). Of course, my desire to discover what happens next — I’ve been reading it all year and enjoying almost every chapter — isn’t exactly a huge motivation for you to pick it up. I can assure you that recently, every arc’s penultimate climax (or in some cases, seeming conclusion), with the notable exception of the Steel/Natasha/Luthor arc, has been great in terms of dramatic payoff. The feint with Animal Man, and his grabbing of sun-eater powers (just last week!); the Supernova reveal and Skeet’s insatiable hunger; Ralph combining his detective skills, Gingold and the magic tricks he’s picked up this past year; the Sobek-chomps-Osiris surprise … all great stuff.

And there’s this: JG Jones cranks out such gorgeous covers. Tomorrow’s, featuring Black Adam, is no exception. Think of this portrait — a brooding murderous studly Middle Eastern ruler — as an antidote to Miller’s preposterously feminized Xerxes.

Happy purchasing!

““I dunno if you’d like Optic Nerve. I don’t even like Optic Nerve, and I have a way higher tolerance for crap like that than you do.”
Well-written short stories with full characterization that actually resembles real people, and shows it’s characters in an honest light, not a flattering one?
What crap.”

It’s no Buffy.

-Grant
Totally getting Buffy

because, really, who wants to wait two or three months between each chapter of another Whedon serial?

People who don’t care about lateness and don’t mind saving money.

“People who don’t care about lateness and don’t mind saving money.”
[D'oh! I don't know how to format text so the quote appears in that snappy word balloon.]

Um, saving money HOW? Because it’s not coming out monthly? If that’s your reasoning, your logic is specious.

Or are you suggesting it’s actually cheaper to buy the individual issues versus the eventual trade? I suppose that’s sometimes true, but often the paperback ends up costing the same amount or even a bit less than the issues (especially if you buy the trade at a bookstore that offers discounts).

“It’s no Buffy.”

And thank god for that.

I went to peruse the list of comics coming out this week, and oddly enough, my first four choices of recommendation were already on your list (Chronicles of Wormwood, The Damned, Ant-Man). So, I will move on to my fourth choice.

I will suggest Blade #7. Why? Because I’ve been enjoying it a lot. I love Chaykins art, and would probably follow him to pretty much any book right now, but coincidentally, this one is actually a lot of fun. So far, the stories have been pretty accessible, and usually stand well as one-shots even as they fit into a greater arc dealign with his past. I am not a Blade fanatic, i only jumped on because of Chaykin, but this series has won me over. Of course, I don’t recall if you have reviewed any of the previous issues of this series. If so, you probably already got a feel for it, and if you didn’t like it, so be it. If you didn’t give it much a of a try though, check it out.

I am NOT going to recommend Buffy or 52. Why? Do i hate them? No, I am a big buffy fan and I LOVE 52… but if you don’t like 52 by now, why bother? Same with Buffy… if you didn’t watch the show, why the hell would you read the comic? Go for Blade #7.

I vote Franklin Richards. I would probably normally go for something more “indie”, but this is a light week.

Dave said:

“Aside from that, I’d say Thunderbolts #112 for sheer sociopathic glee. Anybody who isn’t having fun with the reboot of this series is missing the point completely, because it’s amazing.”

Missing hell, I’m trying my best to get away from the point, but it keeps coming after me.

As I said after reading the first issue of the reboot: I don’t want to read a comic about supervillains crippling and murdering superheroes, no matter how well it’s done. It just isn’t a place I want to go. I liked the original Thunderbolts because it was about people finding something heroic in themselves when even they didn’t know it was there. Unless Warren Ellis is really taking the long view here, and he might want to let me know if he is, that doesn’t look to be what this series is about. So even though I like Warren Ellis as a writer, I’ll wait until the sensibilities of the series are more in line with my sensibilities as a reader before I hop back on.

If you can find it, I would recommend you pick up 2000AD Extreme Edition #21. This title features stand alone reprints of some of the more esoteric stories from 2000AD’s back catalogue. This issue contains The Dead: an excellent early story from Pete Milligan with fantastic art from Massimo Belardinelli. I don’t think Belardinelli ever made it in the States but, believe me, it’s your loss: nobody draws alien worlds like him.

You also get some of the early appearances by John Smith’s Tyranny Rex (I know Smith never made it over there, but there’s also some lovely Steve Dillon art to look at) and – this should be the clincher – an early Grant Morrison short to fill it out.

I’d go with Zemo: Born Better, but it’s an issue 2 and there’s no reason to toss you in at the middle.

But issue 1 was really fun. Granted, this is coming from someone with a Masters in history and who thinks that Zemo is one of the more interesting characters in comics, but the idea of him shaping his own family’s history and the use of a history student acting as a theorizing narrator is interesting and pretty unique in my mind.

And issue 1 had a fun last page too.

Zemo’s so interesting as a character because you’re taking the nurture vs nature thing to an extreme and contrasting it with the idea of heroism, and whether a character so deeply damaged can understand it. So far, during Fabian Nicieza’s take on the character, the answer has been a tragic no, but with pretty intriguing results.

Oh for heaven’s sake pick up Green Lantern Corps. Pat Gleason is the artist, and he is amazing, while Keith Champagne just finished up a three part story that was fabulous. The regular writer is Dave Gibbons, who is also amazing. It has Guy Gardner, and Kilowog and Mogo! How can you not like Mogo! And lots of cool aliens, and other neat stuff.

Besides…it’s fun.

Hmmmm. I’d go with either BPRD or Stormwatch: PHD.

Stormwatch is the very first thing I will read tomorrow. Gage is having fun with his merry cast, and I find it quite hard to put down. Downside is – this seems to be a retcon/backfill issue.

BPRD starts a new chapter. Guy Davis drawing, and MignolArcudi writing, a Hellboyverse story? How can you miss it? (Actually, in my case, because I’ll wait for the trade on this one.)

Oh and it’s pretty clear by now that when Whedon said that he was only late on one script ever at Marvel, and that was just two weeks, that he was probably telling the truth.

It’s not his fault that they put his artist on a couple of other assignments and delayed the book accordingly.

Go with the Lucky Luke book. In case you don’t know, Lucky Luke is an humorous, all-ages western comic series created on Belgium some 60 years ago. I haven’t read that specific book, but all Lucky Luke adventures are quite funny, beautifully drawn and deserve to be known by the english-speaking public.

Here is the code:
DEC063453 LUCKY LUKE I/T SHADOWS O/T DERRICKS TP $9.99

Oh, and it’s a self-contained story too! All Lucky Luke are!

Best,
Hunter (Pedro Bouça)

Why does it have to be a book that’s coming out this week just because he’s BUYING it this week?

Why not one of the history magazines? Alter Ego, Back Issue, Comic Book Artist, something like that. They run all sorts of interesting interviews and retrospectives. I’ve got some pretty fair history game myself and even so, *I* always find something new and interesting.

Or maybe just an industry zine that’s not Wizard. See what our print competition is getting up to.

BPRD owns this week.

Optic Nerve’s release party will be the 31st at Rocketship.

Thanks for your suggestions, everyone! I’ll have a fun time at the comics shoppe today.

Oh, and Richard: I got the Hip Flask graphic novel already. Holy crap, it looks awesome. I’ll probably read it tonight. Good call on that.

I don’t take the crack about Spider-Girl personally, but why even mention it unless you’re just being mean-spirited about the book?

Anyway, good luck and enjoy your picks. No worries. I’m not going to make a smart remark.