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Post by Randle-El on Nov 11, 2014 23:34:46 GMT -5
I started thinking about this while reading the recent threads on the 90s comic speculation bubble. The 90s are a favorite whipping boy for comic fans, and with good reason. But despite all the bad that happened in that decade, what do you all consider to be the bright spots? Here are some of mine.
Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross: One of my favorite stories, both for the story and the art. I think Mark Waid really gets Superman, and it's a shame that he hasn't been able to do more work on the character.
Superman for All Seasons by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale: Another great Superman story. I loved the idea of using the supporting characters to tell the story rather than Superman himself.
Generation X by Scott Lobdell and Chris Bachalo: I actually found myself enjoying Scott Lobdell's work on the X-Men books a lot more than I thought I would, so that made me check out this series. I think I've always been a fan of the X-Books that try to go back to the concept of kids in a school for mutants, so this one appealed to me for that reason. Perhaps also because the cast was mostly teenagers, the book had a lighter tone than most of the other X-Books
Daredevil, Ann Nocenti, D.G. Chichester, and Lee Weeks: I wasn't the biggest fan of Ann Nocenti's run on Daredevil, but I thought she finished her run on a high note. D.G. Chichester had an enjoyable run and brought back some of the Miller-esque noir that had been missing from most of the Nocenti's run. Lee Weeks is also an underrated artist IMO.
What do you like from the 90s?
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Post by Reptisaurus! on Nov 11, 2014 23:44:48 GMT -5
Fantagraphics and Drawn and Quarterly (among others) publishing COMICS, not 25 dollar graphic novels. It was the golden age for adult-not-puerile floppies. (I really miss 'em!)
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Post by berkley on Nov 11, 2014 23:50:44 GMT -5
For me, at the time, it was the Hernandez brothers, Daniel Clowes, Julie Doucet, Seth, Peter Bagge, people like that.
Also Alan Moore - I think his ABC line started in the late 90s, didn't it? And of course From Hell, but I didn't read that until it was collected, I believe in the early 2000s.
In retrospect, there was a lot of good stuff coming out under the Vertigo imprint as well, but again I never read any of it until later on, in the 2000s.
Mainstream DC and Marvel, nothing that I'm aware of, apart from a few isolated pieces by Steve Gerber (can't recall which ones came out in the 90s now and which were later or earlier).
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Nov 11, 2014 23:56:05 GMT -5
Sandman, Cerebus, and Vertigo
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Post by Reptisaurus! on Nov 12, 2014 0:40:59 GMT -5
For me, at the time, it was the Hernandez brothers, Daniel Clowes, Julie Doucet, Seth, Peter Bagge, people like that. Also Alan Moore - I think his ABC line started in the late 90s, didn't it? And of course From Hell, but I didn't read that until it was collected, I believe in the early 2000s. In retrospect, there was a lot of good stuff coming out under the Vertigo imprint as well, but again I never read any of it until later on, in the 2000s. Mainstream DC and Marvel, nothing that I'm aware of, apart from a few isolated pieces by Steve Gerber (can't recall which ones came out in the 90s now and which were later or earlier). Nevada. I think Foolkiller was 1990. Gerber did Sludge for Malibu, but other than that it was a pretty quiet decade for him. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2014 1:00:34 GMT -5
Comics that actually started in the 90's, and aren't Bronze and Copper age series that continued through the 90's, not a whole lot.
The Maxx.
Peter Bagge's Hate.
Bone.
There were some promising series that didn't make it, like Bats, Cats, and Cadillacs, which only lasted two issues. I haven't found myself enjoying much of any of the early Vertigo stuff that is so acclaimed.
People say "The 90's were only bad if you read bad comics" but I don't see that as the case. The 90's actually made good comics bad. A lot of major changes to a lot of my favorite comics to keep them mainstream enough for the vanilla crowd, or to cash in on a gimmick.
Ralph Snart went full color, and then they tried to ditch Marc Hansen and start a cartoon series or something, but that only lasted a few issues.
Hate went full color. Luckily, not coinciding with a cartoon deal.
Elfquest went full color, with multiple titles in a shared universe, and studio talent, the first time some titles were not written or illustrated by Wendy or Richard. I still haven't read through that heap of garbage, and Elfquest is one of my all time favorite series.
Usagi Yojimbo went full color, TMNT went full color, and several titles I liked were absorbed by Malibu and turned into a full color shared universe super powered cartoon IP mill, and it was garbage. Dinosaurs For Hire, Ex-Mutants, completely transformed into whatever the hot comic publisher was doing.
The funny thing is, Ex Mutants started as a jab at super hero comics, and they made a big deal about the cast not being super powered and there being no resurrections in the beginning. When the new Malibu series started, letters would come in from readers saying "Until the Ex Mutants get super powers, make mine Malibu!" and the editor would say "Uhh, well, don't be so quick to say that. We have some changes coming next issue..." and sure enough, next issue they all get super powers and become a poor imitation of the Justice League with a Liefeld clone illustrator.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2014 1:06:26 GMT -5
I will be the dissenting voice and say there was a lot of good to find in the 90s in all arenas of comics, but there was also an inordinate amount of crap.
Just browsing my chrono list of stuff yields the following cover dated 1990 & 1991...
Grell's Green Arrow
Morrison's Doom Patrol
the finale of the Dixon/Wenzel Hobbit adaptation
the bulk of the Roy Thomas/Gil Kane Nibelung adaptation
Gaiman's Sandman
The Adam Strange presitge mini by the Kubert brothers
Ostrander's Suicide Squad continues
Starlin's Surfer run leading into Infinity Gauntlet
Dark Horse making Talbot's Adventures of Luther Arkwright available to an America audience
the latter parts of Grimjack and Nexus runs
Shanower and Moebius on Elsewhere Prince from Epic
more Zot! from McCloud
Gladstone EC reprints in affordable format (Weird Science #1 for example)
Chaykin and Mignola adapting Lieber's Fafhrd & the Gray Mouser
Larry Golnck's Cartoon History of the United States and continues with Cartoon History of the Universe
Gaiman's Books of Magic
Chaykin's Twilight for DC
McGregor returns to Black Panther for Panther's Prey
A Distant Soil by Colleen Doran starts
Aragones & Evanier still doing Groo for Epic
Bo Hampton's Viking Prince OGN
Thomas & Colan reunite on Tomb of Dracula from Epic
Amazing Heroes is still being published by Fantagraphics
Star Wars Dark Empire launches from Dark Horse...
I could continue on for '92-'99 but the point is, there was plenty of good comics coming out in the 90s. They just weren't all mainstream super-hero stuff and there was also a lot of crap coming out, as more comics than ever were being produced via the direct market and Sturgeon's Law held pretty true. 90% of it was drek, but there was a lot of good to find in the 10%.
-M
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2014 1:25:31 GMT -5
Ostrander's Martian Manhunter
Transmetropolitan
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Post by crazyoldhermit on Nov 12, 2014 2:13:19 GMT -5
Sin City is the crown in the 90s jewel for me.
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Crimebuster
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Post by Crimebuster on Nov 12, 2014 3:14:29 GMT -5
The late 90's is maybe my favorite era ever, in terms of reading and buying new comics. There was a period when many of my all-time favorite titles and runs were coming out at the same time - Sandman Mystery Theater, Starman, Astro City, Box Office Poison, the Busiek/Perez Avengers run, plus titles I didn't find discover later, like Bone and Usagi Yojimbo. Every time I went to the comic shop, I came away with not one, but several great comics that I totally loved. It was awesome.
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Post by Paradox on Nov 12, 2014 6:26:49 GMT -5
What was good about the '90s was mostly **nods to Scott** the end. A resurgence of Bronze Age style at the Big Two is what drew me back into comics in that era.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Nov 12, 2014 6:42:54 GMT -5
Busiek/Perez on Avengers
Waid/Garney on Captain America
Preacher
Planetary (1st six issues came out in 1999)
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Nov 12, 2014 6:50:47 GMT -5
Planetary (1st six issues came out in 1999) And Ellis on Stormwatch/Authority |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2014 6:52:06 GMT -5
Busiek/Perez on Avengers Waid/Garney on Captain America The first one, YESSSSS. The second one is my son's ultimate most favorite cap run EVER. Garney's art, I'm not sure of. His cap art is my son's favorite. But I've seen his X-Men art and GAH. ohsobad. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2014 9:17:53 GMT -5
To paraphrase a favorite movie quote- Mephisto, what is best in the 90's?  To crush sales records with cover gimmicks, to see prices driven by speculation, and the hear the lamentation of the fanboys....  -M |
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