CSBG Archive
A Month’s Worth Of Wednesdays: Wednesday Comics So Far Ranked (Now With The GD Flash!)
- by Brad Curran
- in General
- 37 Comments
Where I definitively rank each strip so you can finally stop wondering if Sgt. Rock being beaten by Nazis for four weeks is better than emo Superman crashing with his parents because no one gets him. You’re welcome.
1. Kamandi by Gibbons and Sook- I was actually debating whether the Last Boy on Earth meets Prince Valiant was my favorite strip. That is, until the latest episode, where an ape shot a bazooka at a zeppelin driven by a character named Dr. Canus, who is actually a canine doctor. I’m sorry, but Neil Gaiman’s entire oeuvre can go pound sand compared to that, from Sandman to his leisurely but pleasant Metamorpho strip I’ll get to later.
2. Hawkman by Kyle Baker- I generally couldn’t care less about Hawkman. And really, I still don’t. But Kyle Baker really boils the character down to his essence; he’s the Aquaman of the skies, but with a mace and a sword, and he takes no shit from crab aliens disguised as terrorists. Why haven’t I seen that guy before?
3. Strange Adventures by Paul Pope- This would be #1 if it had more apes with bazookas or crab aliens. It doesn’t yet, but Pope does have two months to rectify that, and I believe in him. But yeah, it’s exactly as good as you’d expect a continuity free Paul Pope Adam Strange strip to be. Which is pretty damn great, really.
4. Metal Men by Didio, Garcia Luis Lopez, Nowlan, and friends- I’m as surprised as you and the rest of the world, but this one has been a real treat, and has totally justified Dan Didio’s existence for me (of course, I haven’t read most of what DC’s published under his editorial tenure, so that helps too). But this is really, really fun, even for someone who only knows the Metal Men through Photoshop highlights of the Kanigher era.
5. Deadman by Bullock, Heuck, and friends- Could just be that I finished reading Neal Adams complete Deadman run recently, but I’ve really been enjoying this one. Really, give me a wisecracking supernatural acrobat, and I’m pretty happy. The beautiful art is nice, too.
6. Supergirl by Palmiotti and Conner- This comes in ahead of Metamorpho on cuteness points. Especially because I swear that my cat has made the same expressions Streaky did this month. Look, I didn’t promise that this wouldn’t be an arbitrary list, okay?
Really though, as much as I don’t give a damn what DC does with Supergirl, this seems like a good middle ground between a total kids comic and her tramp phase.
7. Metamorpho by Gaiman and Allred- This was probably the draw for a lot of people to this series. It has its charms (loved the Metamorpho fan club at the bottom of 2nd and 3rd strips), and it’s nice that the plot finally kicked in again this week. That said, it’s pretty underwhelming given the creative team. Then again, you can say that about a lot of Gaiman’s post-Sandman comics work. Also, it is only a 1/3rd of the way done, and it does deserve points for being outside of Gaiman’s wheelhouse. He hasn’t mentioned the power of story once, so credit where it’s due. That, and even if those splash pages felt padded, they looked gorgeous under the Allreds (Laura doesn’t get enough credit for giving her husband’s art that extra pop).
8. The Demon and Catwoman by Walt Simonson and Stelfreeze- This one was actually in my top five until Selena turned in to a cat. I’ve been on a bit of an Uncle Walt kick lately, having read his Thor and Orion runs in quick succession and loving them, but I do have my limits to how much of a pass I’ll give a favorite creator. When you even vaguely hint at using Catwoman’s ending from Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, that’s gonna cost you some points. Nice to see Etrigan finally show up, and I do expect that I’ll start enjoying this more as it goes, as Walt and mythology mix very well, and he’s got Arthurian legend to play with here.
9. Green Lantern by Busiek and Quinones- Unlike a lot of people, I don’t mind the lack of Hal Jordan. Of course, since I can’t stand him outside of this setting, I do have some biases there. Really, I’d rather see test pilot Hal than space cop Hal, if I have to see that anachronism at all.
10. Sgt. Rock by Lil’ Kubert and Big Kubert- So, yeah, it’s glacially paced. And… that’s kind of it, story wise. It’s decompressed to the point where I wonder if this exists because of a bet made over Thanksgiving Dinner over today’s comic scripts. But it’s Sgt. Rock drawn by Joe Kubert, so that counts for something, especially over the rest of the remaining pack.
11. The Flash by Kerschl and Fletcher- The split between Iris and the Flash is cute. Really like that. I have more patience for time travel stories than Burgas, but the last episode did still cause me some head pain. Also, I forgot about it in my first draft/post I was completely happy with before my pal Stony told me I forgot about it, so there’s that going against it.
12. Batman by Azzarello and Risso- I haven’t read much Azzarello, and that includes any of 100 Bullets. That said, this seems like his kind of story. Risso’s art looks great in this format (of course, the art is almost uniformly beautiful, so that seems redundant), and there’s nothing wrong with the story at all, it just doesn’t do much for me, either. To be fair, my enjoyment of crime/noir cliches is pretty much exclusive to the work of Ed Brubaker. If this were by him and Sean Phillips, I’d probably have it at #1.
13. Wonder Woman by Ben Caldwell- I appreciate the density of this story and I really like the fact that it’s set on Paradise Island and feels like a Wonder Woman: Year One story. That said, it’s only this high because of respect for the intent, not the finished product, as I’ve found it a chore to slog through. It’s kind of amazing that a strip can actually be cramped at these dimensions, and while I like the twisting layouts, I think they work better in theory than practice. Still it’s at least different and ambitious.
14. Superman by Arcudi and Bermejo and friends- This one’s getting a lot of crap for being in USA Today and not being very good. That said, other than the execrable second chapter, I haven’t hated it. It’s just kind of there. It feels like an inventory story with beautiful art instead of something made for the format so far. Unlike some people, I’m not against stories about Superman feeling isolated on Earth. This just doesn’t seem like the place for one.
15. Teen Titans by Berganza, Galloway, and friends- This does next to nothing for me, but criticizing it is like anyone who isn’t a teenage girl taking a lot of time to bitch about Twiglight; it’s not for you, so why do you care so damn much? Of course, this is one strip in a comic that will only play to a few thousand people, where as Twilight is a worldwide phenomenon loved by millions, so the comparison isn’t apt, but I’m all the way up this hill, might as well die on it.
Anyway, this seems squarely aimed at the kids who know the characters from the cartoon. I’m not in the target audience, even if that show is one of the few venues in which I can tolerate the Teen Titans at all. So, I’m ranking it last here because giving it no ranking at all would feel like a cop out. Well, that and I kind of hate the art. I generally like exaggeration, but this is a few steps too far for my taste. Although it’s more readable than Chris Bachallo or Humberto Ramos, so it’s got that going for it.
There you have it. Your official blogger top 15 list for Wednesday Comics (taking in to account only my opinion, but I’m sure all comics bloggers are cool for me speaking for them. Especially all the ones I said I didn’t care for that one time). The coaches poll should be out tomorrow. Expect Steve Spurrier to vote for something other than Kamandi at number one because he let his Director of Comic Book Operations vote for him.*
*I hope at least Burgas will appreciate that reference. Although maybe we have some readers who are big SEC Football fans and I just missed it. Or hey, maybe Tim Tebow lurks?
37 Comments
Cass
July 31, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Dude, what the fuck, Flash is by far the best one and you FORGOT IT?!
Keith
July 31, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I’d watch Twiglight. So far there have been some real stinkers. Unreadable Wonder Woman and Teen Titans in particular for opposite reasons. Broadsheet on newsprint is not the best venue for tiny art with no contrast or art with no detail whatsoever.
Michael Rawdon
July 31, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Huh; I realized recently that I HATE both Hawkman and Aquaman as guys with anger-management issues. So while I mostly like Baker’s art on Hawkman, I think the writing stinks.
I agree with Cass above that Flash is hands-down the best series in the book.
While I love Ryan Sook’s artwork on Kamandi, I just can’t get past the fact that it’s fricking Kamandi. As with all the rest of Kirby’s DC creations, this strip is decades past its sell-by date.
Nathan
July 31, 2009 at 2:49 pm
but Flash is the best one. >_>
Greg Burgas
July 31, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Of course I got the reference! I don’t have a job; ESPN is my only adult friend most days!
Guidovision
July 31, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Yeah, The Flash is a pretty glaring omission. When I got to #14, and realized it was Titans, I actually gasped and thought: Gosh! He-s gonna put The Flash in LAST!
Michael P.
July 31, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Which raises the question, who the hell is the Teen Titans strip *for*?
jjc
July 31, 2009 at 4:51 pm
The college football world is much more fun with Spurrier in it
Thok
July 31, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Which raises the question, who the hell is the Teen Titans strip *for*?
People who liked the issues raised by Civil War and the SHRA, and who don’t like noses.
That’s maybe 4 people.
T.
July 31, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Good reviews, but I wish you would stop constantly peppering them with qualifiers to remind us how little you buy and care about stuff: “Besides, I don’t really care about x” or “I never read anything by Y anyway” or “I can’t be bothered to try anything DC does lately,” etc. We get it, fine, you’re too cool or apathetic to read most comics. It’s becoming overkill.
Zach
July 31, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Like I always say to my friends, its all Gators, all the time! And Kamandi is definitely my fav strip.
Mea
July 31, 2009 at 5:43 pm
I can’t believe he forgot the Flash/Iris West as well – one of the more unique uses of the page area. It’s been in my top three pretty consistently too. (Kamandi and Strange rounding that section out). Don’t agree with every assessment, but I am intrigued by the different strips different reviewers gravitate towards.
FYI: Just found out that Caldwell has been posting annotations to the Wonder Woman piece. Haven’t had a chance to go through them myself, but thought I’d share: http://web.me.com/bencaldwellart/bencaldwellart/wwannotmain.html
Ian A.
July 31, 2009 at 6:09 pm
No Flash/Iris West makes this list entirely moot, I’m afraid.
As for the Wonder Woman strip, Caldwell explained that, when he signed on, the project was going to be fifty-two issues; it subsequently shrunk to twelve. So, to make the tale work, he’s had to trim some stuff and cram the rest into a quarter of the space. Hence the density.
moon
July 31, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Meh, I’m with everyone else on the Wheres the Flash.
Personally I think Pope’s Adam Strange and the Hawkman Strip are the winners, but I don’t get why everyone is so down on the Wonder Woman strip. I guess I generally like denser work that takes some time to get into (so you don’t just blow through all your goodies in an hour home from the shop) but I have found it to be a really delightful take on the character that remembers a)shes a princess b)she should get to have fun/ adventures that are awesome just like male characters (meanwhile Busiek’s GL is the proverbial “Daredevil eats a sandwich” story so far) and c)wonder woman should be all about mythology and magic without feeling like a lecture. And the art is so gorgeous and different but totally appropriate to this teenage Diana, which isn’t a version I’ve encountered before, which isn’t to say that there aren’t pre leaving Wonder Woman stories, just that I’m unfamiliar with them if there are. Also don’t know why people have seemed down on Allred’s Metamorpho. It looks like one of those old paintings of the Saints where its just one big background and scenes from their lives play out all over it.
Brad Curran
July 31, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Fine, you stinking whiners, you get your damned Flash, where it belongs; below the glacially placed Sgt. Rock strip! Oh, and T., if I hear any more lip from you, I’ll… qualify you!
Brad Curran
July 31, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Is Daredevil eats a sandwich a phrase for a kind of unpalatable story, like Women In Refrigerators, or is there an actual comic where Daredevil eats a sandwich? Because I’d really be interested in the latter.
benday-dot
July 31, 2009 at 7:10 pm
“Also don’t know why people have seemed down on Allred’s Metamorpho. It looks like one of those old paintings of the Saints where its just one big background and scenes from their lives play out all over it.”
Nice analogy Moon. I just can’t hate the Metamorpho strip, and this tell a story in one huge panel thing I think i more Allred than Gaiman. He uses it to pretty good and frequent effect in his later Madman work.
I’ll take Flash and Kamandi as my faves. Then Strange Adventures in third. Fourth and fifth go to either Hawkman or Catwoman/Demon.
I like dense work as well. Some of my favourite cartooning comes from the pencil of the uber dense Chris Ware, but Wonder Woman just isn’t working for me. I dunno, maybe its the colouring or the muddled layouts.
Brad Curran
July 31, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Also, seriously, did I just attract this weird minority that thinks the Flash is the best thing in the anthology, or is this strange and unpleasant opinion spreading? Really, if my list is the BCS of Wednesday Comics rankings, the Flash is Ohio State; overrated by weirdos. And I think I’ve insulted the audience enough for one evening. But really; a lot of people think it’s better than Kamandi, Strange Adventures, and Hawkman?
Mea
July 31, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Better than Kamandi and Strange Adventures, no. But personally I’d still rank it pretty high. And I know I’m in the minority here, but the Hawkman one never really grabbed me. Art is top notch and narrative is solid, but… I dunno, for some reason I just never completely connected with it. It is in my top listing, but I’m liking Flash more than it. If that makes me a weirdo, well… what else is new?
stealthwise
July 31, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Flash is easily the best part of this underwhelming venture. Issue one was so innovative and exciting and fresh and cool, and issue two was… almost exactly the same, except the realization set in that the plot couldn’t really move all that much (unless you count the unreadable Wonder Woman).
Daniel
July 31, 2009 at 9:31 pm
I also think Flash is the best. From what I’ve seen around the web, most everyone would place it in the top 3 or 4.
Dario Delfino
July 31, 2009 at 9:44 pm
I can’t get over what a waste the Superman strip has been. Unbelievable.
JackKing
August 1, 2009 at 1:07 am
Wonder Woman is easily the worst of the lot. I really don’t get the hate for the Superman & Teen Titans strips.
Keg
August 1, 2009 at 2:51 am
So far overall I’m loving Wednesday Comics. My faves are (in no real order) Strange Adventures, Kamandi, the Flash, Supergirl, Green Lantern and Hawkman. The Teen Titans one was better than it has been this week but its not setting my world on fire. And the Wonder Woman one while beautiful is too confusing to read!
moon
August 1, 2009 at 8:15 am
Daredevil eats a Sandwich refers to something I think it was Bendis said but I don’t remember who exactly now. It was like people are always saying I’m mean to Daredevil (insert whatever character you like but in the interview it was Daredevil) but what do they want, a story where Daredevil eats a Sandwich. I just use it to refer to stories where there isn’t a ton of action or especially stories that focus on superheroes just hanging out with each other. Not necessarily a bad thing, and I kind of like the Silver Age nostalgia vibe the strip has, but he’s used a third of his strips to get to this point which it feels like he could have done in one and given us more of Hal in space rather than Hal talking about how great space is.
moon
August 1, 2009 at 8:20 am
found it:http://www.comicbookresources.com/?id=17009&page=article
I guess I read it somewhere else to provide the context but Daredevil eats a sandwich.
Stephen
August 1, 2009 at 8:29 am
Honestly, JLGL could take a Liefeld-written story and make it good, so Metal Men being as great as it is doesn’t stun me in the least.
TomerS
August 1, 2009 at 9:59 am
I only read issues #1-2 as of now, but my bottom 4 are more or less the same. Wonder Woman and Teen Titans are the weakest links, Superman is pointless and Batman is disappointing. Hawkman was surprisingly good. Kamandi is awesome, nd while Strange Adventures and Metamorpho come from the same “campy homage to the Silver Age”, I was less impressed by these two. Supergirl is pure fun. Metal Men is just okay. The Demon and Catwoman I’m interested in, but has yet to see anything to justify my expectations. I have no opinion on Green Lantern at this point. While I don’t think it’s the great story most comments here said, Flash/Iris West is very enjoyable despite the messy time travel angle.
Ian A.
August 1, 2009 at 12:24 pm
In fine art, that type of image, wherein various scenes featuring the same figures seem to occur simultaneously on one background, is called a “continuous narrative,” but that phrase takes on a separate meaning in serialized fiction. Someone should really come up with an alternative term for comics — “borderless progression” or something.
benday-dot
August 1, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Picasso called it, or something like it, Cubism. Though experiments in time and perspective are not quite the same. “Borderless Progression” is nice. Sell it to Scott McLeod.
benday-dot
August 1, 2009 at 4:55 pm
So old school HTML grammar doesn’t work here. How do you quote or italicize something?
Erik
August 1, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Brad–
Long-time reader, first-time caller.
I’m well aware these are all just opinions and such (for what it’s worth, I love the Flash stuff, but the very-quite-beautiful Kamandi is leaving me tremendously bored) and the wide range of commentaries and tastes are what makes the world a great place to live and all that.
With some CSBG/Robot6 writers, I find myself agreeing frequently. With others, less so. With you, it’s either we have the exact same thoughts on something or you’re my diametric, evil twin from a mirror bizarro universe who thinks the polar opposite of what I believe to be true.
Thus, I have an important two-part question to gauge your merit from now on:
1. Flair or Bret?
2. Name six wrestlers that give you reason for continuing to watch. (Note: technically, there are a few correct answers to this one, but there are certain responses that will forever — FOREVER — render your opinions null and void.
Ian A.
August 1, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Benday, you’ve gotta use regular HTML, with angle brackets (“”), rather than UBB code.
Brian Cronin
August 1, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Yeah, benday, like for quotes, do:
< blockquote > < / blockquote >
Only, of course, without the spaces.
Italics you’d do
< i > < / i >
Bold you’d do
< b > < / b >
brad fraser
August 2, 2009 at 10:47 am
I’m enjoying the format a lot and find most of the strips have something to recommend them. However I find both the Wonder Woman and Teen Titans strips essentailly incomprehensible so have been skipping them. My faves are Kamandi because the writing and art actually make the character work, Adam Strange for being fun and strange, Deadman for using the format so well and Metamorpho for sheer eye tickle. Any word on how it’s selling?
benday-dot
August 2, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Ian and Brian… thanks for the tech-tips. Very helpful.
FunkyGreenJerusalem
August 4, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Krypto’s face in the last panel was best panel of the month – but yeah, I’m over tramp Super Girl, bring this one into the DCU!
(Of course, as a teenager I was dating a good looking blonde, and she had a Super Girl costume for a costume party and… So, I’m probably only over tramp Super Girl because 1) Been there done that 2) the internet is for sex fantasies, comic books are for action)
Having sex with a seven legged Albino Rhinoceros is different and ambitious, but it doesn’t mean it should be applauded.