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Post by henrythemorerecent on Mar 22, 2015 21:47:11 GMT -5
Not sure if how many of you guys do this but every now and then between weekly comic orders or the odd trade/graphic novel, I like to take on a personal comic reading project eg; read an entire run of something, read a writers entire catalogue etc.
I need help choosing my next one because I feel like I've tried everything at this point. I've read a lot of comics and I've got the bug to start planning my next project. But speciifically ones that have an ending. I've started so many LONG story arcs and runs that always end up fizzling up and sucking in the end because of some creative team change-over, event etc.
At the moment I'm at the end of re-re-re-reading (yes 3 re's) Bendis' Ultimate Spidey run as it is definitely in my Top 3 of all time comic runs. Before that I took it upon myself to read everything Frank Miller has ever written which to my surprise was way more enjoyable than most reviews told me. Before that is was Snyder which was simple enough.
I have read Y:The Last Man 7 times now. I've read Ed Brubaker's Captain America (including Winter Soldiers solo series) 3 times as well as everything by Brubaker at least twice.
Between all those I've completed things that I enjoyed but would never re-read like 100 Bullets, DMZ, Powers and Ex Machina.
I tried Fables, Sandman, The Invisibles, Preacher, Hellblazer, Swamp Thing and Hellboy but none of those really grabbed me or hooked me in. I love the ideas generally and they weren't terrible books, but the story and characters weren't ones I felt attached to.
So excluding ALL of those, what am I missing? Because I've tried online best-of lists, been through the store seeing if something would catch my eye and just feel like I'm in a rut. Have I exhausted all the best ones already?
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Post by thephantomwelshman on Mar 23, 2015 4:46:30 GMT -5
Transmetropolitan and Planetary, both by Warren Ellis are both excellent.
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Post by lennyreid on Mar 23, 2015 5:11:08 GMT -5
I second Transmetropolitan. Genius stuff. I've just started Planetary too.
I recommend The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen. There are Volumes 1, 2, 3: Black Dossier, and 4: Century, as well as the Nemo Trilogy to get stuck in to.
Also, Alan Moore and JH Williams III's 'Promethea'.
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Post by Bob Reyer on Mar 23, 2015 5:20:46 GMT -5
Henry,
Beyond my usual stumping for the Lee/Kirby Fantastic Four, I would suggest the Jim Steranko Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (recently collected in TPB), a run for which might be claimed the title of first "modern age" comic, due to Mr. Steranko's visual artistry. Failing that as too "Big Two", how about Image's creator-owned Rocket Girl by Amy Reeder and Brandon Montclare, or perhaps Mr. Brubaker's Fatale or Velvet if you haven't read those? All very different series, but linked by stunning art and stories with intriguing ideas and characters that should fight your ennui.
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Post by sammiecassell on Mar 23, 2015 6:58:17 GMT -5
Walt Simonson's run on Thor.
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Post by tundra on Mar 23, 2015 13:44:20 GMT -5
I'm part way through (re)-reading Stray Bullets at the moment. I'd read the first volume years ago when it came out but not kept up with it. As long as black and white art doesn't put you off I'd say it's one of the best comics of its type in many years. It's a very down to earth crime comic with well developed characters and a constantly inventive approach to storytelling.
Morrison's Doom Patrol and Animal Man runs don't seem to be on your list and I'd highly recommend both of them.
Have you read Bone? Very different to all the other recommendations, but really good stuff.
Have you read much in the way of European comics? Blacksad and the Incal would both give you plenty to get your teeth into and are easily available in English digitally or in dead tree format these days.
I'd also add to the recommendations for Planetary, it's great.
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Post by henrythemorerecent on Mar 23, 2015 17:52:23 GMT -5
So pretty much the only one anyone has mentioned that I haven't also read was Transmetropolitan and the Jim Steranko Nick Fury run. So I guess I better hop to it.
Planetary is amazing though, I actually completely forgot I owned it, haven't read it since the first time I read it. Will definitely re-visit it. The Batman mini from Planetary is so good.
Its funny you bring up the Incal though, I finally read this after years of wanting to but it was always crazy expensive until the recent reprint. And I hate to admit it, but it falls under one of those classics that has been so referenced and copied and inspiring to other works, that I don't like it as much as the things it inspired. Similar to the classic Twilight Zone series, because it was so original but so many things have taken ideas from it, when I finally got around to checking it out, everything felt way too familiar.
Thanks for the tips. Excited to finally start Transmetropoitan, one of those books I just always forget exists.
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Post by BarefootRoot on Mar 24, 2015 12:02:24 GMT -5
Transmetropolitan and Planetary, both by Warren Ellis are both excellent. yes. just, yes. there are also some oddball ones like Naja, the original 12 issues of The Tick were fun, and I'm a big fan of The Maxx from back in the 90s. The original run of spider man 2099 was also recently released in trade (or at least first dozen or so issues) and it's one of those thigns most people have never read and flew under the rader despite being pretty cool
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Post by toxicsooner on Mar 24, 2015 23:00:08 GMT -5
This is a cool topic, I see a lot of series on my bucket list and more I need to add. I recently started Amazing Spider-man from the beginning so I am occupied for the foreseeable future, but I see some must here. As for my reccommendationsL
Remender's Uncanny X-force is good. Some other good series from him are Strange Girl, Fear Agent, and The Last Days of American Crime.
Peter David's X-factor, the Jaime Maddrox series, is another good one.
Naja is good, I am about half way through Daomu, another Magnetic Press Release.
I have heard Bendis's Daredevil run is good, I haven't read it yet but it's on my list.
Good luck picking just one, looks like a lot of good stuff to pick from.
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Post by harmonica on Mar 25, 2015 12:41:23 GMT -5
cant go wrong with Planetary, i got it for chrismas without knowing anything about it and being worried because i dont read much DC stuff, but it is such an awesome read.
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Post by tomoe on Mar 25, 2015 16:19:27 GMT -5
Have you read Kurt Busiek's Astro City? It's very good.
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skylynx
Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Posts: 94
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Post by skylynx on Mar 25, 2015 17:24:24 GMT -5
For something a bit different yet very character driven and immersive, try Transformers - More than meets the Eye. It's currently up to issue 38, so plenty to into yet it works great in trade form with neat inter - connecting story arcs. Robots are written like humans and with growing threats throughout the series there's plenty to fear... Overall it's a fantastic intelligent modern sci-fi series, and the art is mind blowing. Don't worry, no prior knowledge is needed if its new to you (but maybe start with The Death of Optimus Prime - though I think that's included in the first trade) and most importantly - it has nothing at all to do with the movies...
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Post by henrythemorerecent on Mar 25, 2015 17:25:56 GMT -5
lennyreid I've read the first 2 volumes of LOEG but he completely lost me at Century. Had no idea what I was reading. Promethea is one I've never checked out though. And it's Mick Gray on inks. I only say that because he's the only inker I've ever met and just sickeningly friendly, talked to him at SDCC a couple years ago for what would have been over an hour and never felt like I was imposing on him. Also drew me a Batman and a Joker playing card set for free. Bob Reyer I have indeed read those Brubaker books so I can check those off. Rocket Girl I will deinitely look out for though. I read the first issue, but just felt like it would read better collected and then just forgot about it until you mentioned it here. BarefootRoot + toxicsooner Never read Naja, but the premise sounds really cool and the art looks amazing. I'll add that to the list. I've read Remender's X-Force both the plain X-Force and Uncanny. Loved it, he made Domino one of my favourite characters which is a shame because she doesn't seem to ever be used outside of that book. I've also read Bendis' Daredevil, pretty much everything he has done too. skylynx A lot of people keep recommending Transformers to me, but I was never an early fan of it and my first exposure was unfortunately the movies. So I have a very bad Transformer taste in my mouth that I can't get rid of. I know the comics must be WAAAAY different and much better. Maybe this is my chance to get the Michael Bay mess out of mind. And finally just when my wallet almost stopped crying tomoe I completely forgot Astro City existed. Its been on my comic-bucket-list since I started reading comics but has just never made it into my hands.
Going to Tokyo soon for a couple weeks so saving all my pennies for that (there's a shop there simply called "Gojir-ya" or "Godzilla Store" and all they sell is Godzilla related things. Seriously? Take all of my money right now), but once I get back my local won't know what hit them. Shelves are gonna be empty. Thanks so much for all the recommendations and doing my thinking for me! Should have me covered for the next 10 years.
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Post by BarefootRoot on Mar 25, 2015 19:21:30 GMT -5
All you had to say was godzilla store. Nuff said!
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Post by lennyreid on Mar 26, 2015 5:29:32 GMT -5
Criminal that I missed out Mick Gray to someone who knows his work, but if I'm elevator pitching I go with the big guns. Well done for the correction, sir.
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