Talking Comics Podcast 12/31/14

Just some random thought and opinions on the categories discussed in today's podcast.

Best Single Issue:
I agree this may be the most difficult category in your best of list, but looking at the list I see a interesting trend. With the exception of Superman: Lois Lane#1, none of the issues were published before late July and 3 of them are after October. Maybe it’s just coincidence, but there was some good stuff that didn’t get it due so thought I would mention a couple:
1. Superior Spider-man 30 (April 2) or 31 (April 16): Otto gives up the mantle of spider-man and peter returns.
2. Saga 18 (January 29) or 24 (October 29): a conclusion to any arc in this book is worthy of a best single issue.
3. Southern Bastards #4 (September 3): holy shit that book just slaps you in the face!!!!
4. Black Science #6 (April 30): McKay’s gone, the kids are left alone, and where will they jump next.

Plus, I am totally shocked that there was no mention for Edge of Spider-Verse #2 (Spider-Gwen). I really thought that would be a given…LOL.

Best Graphic Novel:
Not a whole lot to say about this category, other than Naja and Sunstone, Both of which are really good, I haven’t read a whole lot of graphic novels. But I will ask this can someone please explain what constitutes a graphic novel and why is it different than a mini-series?

Best Story Arc:
I don’t read JLA or She-Hulk, so its hard for me to comment on those. Saga vol. 4 was excellent, definitely worthy of a spot. I liked the other 2 (Ms. Marvel & Wicked+Divine), but for me personally there were other things I would rather see on the list. First arc of Low or Deadly Class, Southern Bastards - Here Was A Man, Superior Spider-man – Goblin Nation.

Best Mini Series:
Same as the Graphic Novel category, I don’t have a whole lot to offer here. So, because it impacts every book in the Marvel U and he’s one of my favorite characters, I toss Death of Wolverine in. The story was good, not great, but the art was awesome and enough to warrant consideration.

Best New Series:
Glad to see Deadly Class in there and I knew Ms. Marvel would be there. I’m somewhat surprised by the love for Gotham Academy, I don’t read any DC right now, but I may have to check this out. I know nothing about Sensation Comics and The Wicked + The Divine is solid. Really wish I would have seen some love for Lazarus and Inhumans, both have been really good.

Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful New Years (a.k.a. amateur drunk night)

All this talk of Trillium just reminded me of something (and I'm not sure if this was ever covered in any of the past shows because its not a huge detail), but I was reading an interview with Jeff Lemire and he said that the make-up of Trillium started with a pitch he made DC for an Adam Strange story. Funnily enough that kind of makes me like Trillium less because Adam Strange is one of my favourite characters and I would have loved to have seen where he would have taken that character instead of being a side character in JLU.

Heh, thanks toxicsooner. It's a shame that the book doesn't resonate with me as much as it does for others, but that's okay. There's books out there for everyone after all, and hey, we can't love everything we read, right? I'd be willing to give Aurora a read for sure, though. From what I've heard it's got a lot to offer.

Completely agree, to each his own... I've said it before and I'll say it again, one of my favorite things about this forum and podcast is the diversity.  When I first started listening I was a Marvel only guy, since then I have expanded into all types of comics and even have my wife reading a couple of titles (Saga, Nailbiters, and Naja). Joining the forum has only expanded my ideas. In the last 2 months between the podcast and forum, I have picked up several new titles, including Wicked+Divine, Southern Bastards, Death Vigil and JL8...

I read S.B. as a trade like I do a lot with the Image/Boom titles (Depending on the story, I just think they read better that way) and man I picked that up and it just clicked. From the the South/Southwest so the cultural tone slapped me back to my youth. Add the fact that I enjoy Aaron as a writer and the twist in #4 and it's a perfect storm for me.  

I'm really surprised that no one has gone to bat for Pax Americana. I get why you might not want to sit down and take the time it would take to digest all of this story. Even so, despite the fact that this book incredibly dense, this book delivers on several different levels. From the way the story is told to the simple panel layouts, this book simply amazes. Plus you get Ted Kord back! Come on! Who didn't love his version of Captain Atom. I can't say enough about this book.

I see Bob has already replied to you actual question, but the nomination of both Pax Americana and Leaving Megalopolis during this show brought up another question in my mind - Bobby's use quite frequent of the word 'deconstructionist' to describe comics. 

As far as I understand it (and I'm certainly not assuming that I'm right) Pax Americana is one of the best pieces of deconstructionist writing in superhero comics I've seen in years, but wasn't identified as such. On the other hand, Leaving Megalopolis was highlighted as an enjoyable deconstructionist comic book, where I only saw a fairly straightforward take on the "heroes are controlled by and evil force and do bad things" trope that has been around for years albeit with the intensity turned up to 11 and told from the POV of civilian bystanders (in the style of Astro City or Kingdom Come).  Not a criticism of the book, which I thought was entertaining, but it didn't seem to in any way be breaking the story, characters or genre down to their component parts and then reassembling them to give a fresh perspective, which is what I think of as a deconstructionist story.

Just curious about what you mean by it, really!