Anyone reading comics currently?

Rico · August 20, 2007, 05:23:43 AM

Quote from: Jobydrone4of20 on July 27, 2007, 12:52:37 PM
any tips on finding some of the comics online? besides google?

You have to search the torrent networks for these mainly.

Locutus · August 21, 2007, 11:55:56 PM

Quote from: billybob476 on August 20, 2007, 05:14:51 AM
I read Watchmen a few weeks ago and loved it. It was really my first comic. I just got Kingdom Come, Dark Knight Returns and V for Vendetta in from Amazon. The art in Kingdom Come is unbelievable.

Is this the first time you've read Watchmen? Can you tell me what exactly you liked about it? I have Alan Moore issues (and I call myself a comic collector, for shame), but I did find V for Vendetta to be a phenomenal story, although he leaves a couple of threads hanging IMHO.

Kingdom Come is done by, if I am not mistaken, Alex Ross. He also does covers for Justice Society of America, and did a series called "Justice" for DC. Very very good, if a tiny bit confusing here or there. He also did a fantastic book for Marvel called, of all things, Marvels - which tells the original stories of the marvel heroes.

Other books to pick up, if you have not already, Identity Crisis - one of the most mature and intelligent stories in mainstream comics ever, also IMHO.
Transmetropolitan - 60 issues of the most subversive future politik I've ever read. Warren Ellis is a personal favorite.
The new Star Wars: Legacy is very good, better than the last (first) three movies, even if you remove Jar-Jar (and both Annakins). Also good - Fables which updates fairy tales in a very intelligent way, and 100 Bullets, which is a fast-paced modern noir gangster-styled read.

And of course, Y: the Last Man. It is almost complete, so you'll be able to pretty much read it from beginning to end before too long.

Lastly, one that is uncompromising in it's observations of the current political landscape, even though it's about war-torn Manhattan, DMZ.

I am always happy to give recommendations. I know enough about comics to be dangerous, but not enough to be rich.

Rico · August 22, 2007, 04:40:59 AM

The Watchmen is not for everyone. I read it many years ago around when it first came out. It was very unusual for the time. Most comic stories were not as complex back then like some are today so I think it caught a lot of people by surprise. It wasn't just about another group of folks in their underoos fighting some bad guys. I enjoyed it but I can see why some might not get into it.

I love Alex Ross art and try to get most of what he works on. Marvels was beautiful as was Justice. I really liked Justice at first but felt the last few issues faltered a bit. But still comics are great fun!

Locutus · August 22, 2007, 11:51:02 AM

I just find it interesting that, when I say I didn't like Watchmen, comic fans just look at me as if I stepped in something unsavory. On purpose. With my bare feet.

I think it's a function of when and how you read it. I've been a comics fan for many years, and I read it recently for the first time. We are way past the initial run of decompressed storytelling, so, even though I know that it's the reason we HAVE that style now, it didn't hold up for me.

I also hated the ending, which is the one thing fans and I can agree on. Many people I've spoken to agree the ending is weak, even if the storyline is pretty strong.

However, i will be reading it again soon, and that may change my opinion of it.

I am inclined to not like Alan Moore all that much. I think he used to be phenomenal, but now is a case of the Emperer's New Clothes. But that's just my opinion.

Rico · August 22, 2007, 11:55:59 AM

Makes perfect sense. Like I said, I don't think it's a book for everyone. In fact, I am somewhat surprised it has been so popular for so long. But I think it was really a product of the times. Plus when a lot of people read it now I think they have heard such great stuff about it they probably feel like they have to like it. Glad you made up your own mind on it.

billybob476 · August 22, 2007, 12:01:41 PM

Honestly it's the only comic I've sat down seriously to read and understand. I liked it becuase it wasn't about super heroes, it was about "normal" (albeit borderline insane for the most part) who were past their prime. I guess I could relate to the watchmen more then I could to Superman. I agree the ending is a bit weak but overall for my first foray into comics it was an enjoyable story.

Dan M · August 22, 2007, 01:11:23 PM

Rico's right that Watchmen isn't for everyone. My wife finally read it last year, and she hated it. And she has enjoyed Dark Knight Returns, Daredevil: Man Without Fear, the Frank Miller Wolverine mini, Kingdom Come, Judas Contract, Superman for all Seasons and others.

I love it, having read it first back in the 80s, and many times since then.

Rico · August 22, 2007, 02:30:14 PM

It's like anything. Books, TV, movies, comics, etc. some will like a particular thing and some won't. It will be interesting to see what they do with the Watchmen movie.

Jobydrone · August 24, 2007, 08:32:36 PM

I think I loved Watchmen because it was the first time I remember reading about superheroes with faults and characteristics that seemed realistic and human. This theme has since been done over and over again in much grittier terms since then, but when it first came out it was pretty subversive I think. Moore used the archetypes of some of the popular superheroes of the time and made them more real. I'm thinking of the Comedian, for example, who reminds me of the gruff kind of character like Punisher or Wolverine, and then taking that archetype and turning it on it's ear.

Locutus · August 24, 2007, 11:18:43 PM

I agree. I think when I read it, it was a lot like reading Lord of the Rings for the first time after playing Dungeons and Dragons for years. I could imagine how new or young readers would react - "I don't see what's sop big about this Tolkein guy. I've been playing an elf forever."

Now that I know a little more, and can get past the hype factor, I think I can read it a little closer and enjoy the nuances of the story. I'm gonna try anyway.

Dan M · August 25, 2007, 04:04:20 AM

I agree, too. It's like the original Star Wars in that way. No one seeing the movie for the first time now can appreciate what a breakthrough it was then.

Tatooine_Todd · August 26, 2007, 07:29:42 AM

I subscribe to a few Marvel titles, Ironman, New Avengers, and Uncanny X-men, mainly for my kids, but I read them also. They don't seem as fun as they were when I was growing up. Most of them seem like soap operas with very little action until the last cliff hanger page.

Rico · August 26, 2007, 07:43:22 AM

Yeah, I think the older stories were better in general but things change. I'm liking the Spider-Man books a lot lately. X-Men has just gotten a bit too unfocused and has too many titles but I read Uncanny still and Astonishing. I try new books out now and then just for something new. I like the new Thor book so far too.

Dan M · August 26, 2007, 07:49:31 AM

Yeah, comics are different than when I was a kid. What would've taken a few pages back in the 70s and early 80s is sometimes stretched out over multiple issues. There is a greater depth of characterization, but that is often at the expense of the action. Sometimes it works well, but, just as often, it doesn't.

I've given up on all the X-books except for Astonishing. I think New Avengers is a great book. I'm also enjoying the new Mighty Avengers, especially with the Frank Cho artwork.

Tatooine_Todd · August 26, 2007, 08:42:34 AM

Quote from: pickard on August 26, 2007, 07:49:31 AM
Yeah, comics are different than when I was a kid. What would've taken a few pages back in the 70s and early 80s is sometimes stretched out over multiple issues. There is a greater depth of characterization, but that is often at the expense of the action. Sometimes it works well, but, just as often, it doesn't.

I've given up on all the X-books except for Astonishing. I think New Avengers is a great book. I'm also enjoying the new Mighty Avengers, especially with the Frank Cho artwork.

Maybe it's just how dark everything has become. It seems that's the trend in everything from comics, to movies, etc... "Make it dark" seems to be the phrase. Charlie and the Chocolate factory being an example, and the upcoming new Oz movie is advertised as a "Darker" re-telling.