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Post by Trevor on Nov 5, 2022 18:25:31 GMT -5
So I completed my quest to read 100 physical recent horror comics last month, I just failed in my plan to post my list daily and write mini reviews. Here is my last day: 100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Day 31, monthly count 100 Specter Inspectors 1-5 Fun series from Boom that’s sort of a Scooby Doo team for older kids and adults. Do we have spoiler tags here? Maybe I’ll post my entire list in it just for posterity/accountability. {Spoiler: Click to show}100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Days 1 and 2, monthly count 6
Soul Plumber 1-6
A total blast of ‘comics should be ridiculous’, while also being a surprisingly slightly respectful attack on religion and man’s nature. The art is amazing, and the story kept me engaged and surprised at a couple of the turns. Highly recommended.
100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Days 3 and 4, monthly count 11
The Conjuring: The Lover 1-5
An odd title that I wouldn’t have expected from DC. It was actually an anthology title, sort of. The five part main story was an average tale of a first love wedged into the Conjuring universe and apparently leading into last year’s film. Each issue also included a backup story called a Tale from the Artifact Room, and these backups were much better stories from a rotating cast of creators, including one deliciously drawn by Kelley Jones. Also included in each issue were a couple pages of fake ads, bringing to mind the ads from the 70s. Oh, and wonderful main covers from Bill Sienkiewicz. Not strongly recommended overall, but I’m not upset that I bought these, as DC horror anthologies were key to me becoming a comic book fan and collector.
100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Days 5 thru 7, monthly count 21
The Silver Coin 1-10
Wow, wish I hadn’t waited so long to read this one, as I should have been raving about it in the local shop for over a year now. An anthology title done in a way I don’t remember seeing before, Michael Walsh provides the amazing art for every issue, and we have a rotating cast of writers, including some of the top names in the business like Ram V and Jeff Lemire. The ‘mythology’ issues 5 and 10, exploring the origins of the coin, and written by Walsh as well, are the strongest. I hope this title continues for a long time.
100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Days 8 and 9, monthly count 28 Stray Dogs 1-5 and Stray Dogs: Dog Days 1-2 5/5
100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Day 10, monthly count 34 A Town Called Terror 1-6 2/5
100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Days 11 and 12, monthly count 39 Shadecraft 1-5 3/5
100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Days 13 thru 15, monthly count 47 various Halloween specials Grimm Tales of Terror Halloween Special 2018 John Carpenter Presents Storm Kids: The Yard Gang Halloween Special 2022 The Asylum of Horrors Halloween Special Vampire Macabre Halloween Special Army of Darkness Halloween Special Red Sonja Halloween Special Vampirella Halloween Special Bettie Page Halloween Special
100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Days 16 thru 18, monthly count 56 random independents Frankenrocker & the Jailbait Punks 1-2 Flawed 1-2 Dark Ride 1 Night of the Ghoul 1 The Boogyman 1-2 Helloween: Seekers of the Seven Keys
100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Day 19, monthly count 62 Slumber 1-6 4/5
100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Day 20, monthly count 65 anthologies Creepshow 1-2 Shock Shop 1
100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Days 21 thru 23, monthly count 74 Marvel Day The Tomb of Dracula 1, facsimile Alien 1-8
100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Days 24 and 25, monthly count 82 Archie Time! Weirder Mysteries 1 Fear the Funhouse 1 Archie Halloween Spectacular 2018 Archie Halloween Spectacular 2022 Chilling Adventures Presents Jinx Grim Fairy Tales 1 Betty and Veronica Friends Forever Halloween Spooktacular Spook House Halloween ComicFest Donald’s Duck Halloween Scream!
100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Days 26 thru 29, monthly count 92 more independents Cult of Ikarus 1-3 Grim 1-2 The Backstagers Halloween Intermission 1 Silence 1 Christmas Caroline Annual 1 A Legacy of Violence Lucky Devil 1
100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Day 30, monthly count 95 The Closet 1-3
100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Day 31, monthly count 100 Specter Inspectors 1-5
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Post by Trevor on Oct 15, 2022 9:25:56 GMT -5
100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Days 5 thru 7
The Silver Coin 1-10
Wow, wish I hadn’t waited so long to read this one, as I should have been raving about it in the local shop for over a year now. An anthology title done in a way I don’t remember seeing before, Michael Walsh provides the amazing art for every issue, and we have a rotating cast of writers, including some of the top names in the business like Ram V and Jeff Lemire. The ‘mythology’ issues 5 and 10, exploring the origins of the coin, and written by Walsh as well, are the strongest. I hope this title continues for a long time.
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Post by Trevor on Oct 15, 2022 9:12:34 GMT -5
100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Days 3 and 4
The Conjuring: The Lover 1-5
An odd title that I wouldn’t have expected from DC. It was actually an anthology title, sort of. The five part main story was an average tale of a first love wedged into the Conjuring universe and apparently leading into last year’s film. Each issue also included a backup story called a Tale from the Artifact Room, and these backups were much better stories from a rotating cast of creators, including one deliciously drawn by Kelley Jones. Also included in each issue were a couple pages of fake ads, bringing to mind the ads from the 70s. Oh, and wonderful main covers from Bill Sienkiewicz. Not strongly recommended overall, but I’m not upset that I bought these, as DC horror anthologies were key to me becoming a comic book fan and collector.
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Post by Trevor on Oct 12, 2022 20:18:03 GMT -5
100 Horror Comics in 31 Days - Days 1 and 2
From last year, DC’s Soul Plumber issues 1-6 were a total blast of ‘comics should be ridiculous’, while also being a surprisingly slightly respectful attack on religion and man’s nature. The art is amazing, and the story kept me engaged and surprised at a couple of the turns. Highly recommended.
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Post by Trevor on May 17, 2022 9:08:58 GMT -5
Day Forty-Two Choices
Well, here we are, our final slate. After today, we should all have a top ten list, even if you had to use one or more wildcards.
Could have gone for hundreds of days with 10+ creators to discuss and consider. 100 comic fans with top 10 lists might have 800 different creators. But decided to end this exercise before it completely wore out it’s welcome. Some might say it did so 40 days ago…..
Anyway, when it appeared that I was going to need 42 slates to comfortably cover the basics, it seemed perfect to end this on a Douglas Adams reference and close things out with humor. Thanks to Dizzy D for steering me there!
Usual disclaimers that we have discussed a lot of humor creators already, and many of the below are not humor only, and many great candidates will not be listed until you make it so.
Funny Books
Joe Kelly co-created Ben 10, has done a lot of ‘serious’ comic writing, but I imagine is best known for his more comedic Deadpool writing. Sergio Aragonés has perhaps drawn more than any human ever. I can’t do him justice with a tiny blurb. Pretty much every issue of Mad has his work, Groo is wonderful, and he has so much other work too. His Poster Plague story directly led to the reason I’m in this hobby, Plop. It pains me to have him as my number 11, and if I made my list tomorrow I’d likely drop Moore or Miller for him. Bob Burden is best known for creating and drawing Flaming Carrot off and on since 1979. Mystery Men, a part of that comic, was made into a pretty fun movie; and he and Art Adams made some wonderful Gumby. Bob Haney co-created characters such as Metamorpho, the Teen Titans, Eclipso, and Cain. He wrote a lot of stories over the decades, not necessarily meant as comedy, but he epitomized the saying, “comics should be ridiculous”. Evan Dorkin would make my list of funniest comic creators just for Milk and Cheese, but he has a ton of other good stuff too. Between his work and Scott Saavedra, I bought a ton of Slave Labor Graphics books back in the day. Ty Templeton’s 1980s Stig’s Inferno will always be a favorite of mine, but he’s been doing steady work in comics ever since. The last Marvel comic I read had some Ty cartoons in the back and they were the best part of the issue. Looks like all of Stig’s Inferno is available for free on his website. He’s fighting cancer right now, ugh. Kyle Baker worked hard to get into comics, interning at Marvel doing all sorts of odd jobs that led to steady work at both big two. He has worked a lot in cartoons and TV, and I think most probably consider that ~2005 Plastic Man run to be his crowning moment. Skottie Young is building an amazing resume. Just his Oz work and years of constant covers would be enough to make me mention him, but he has so many other titles that he has created or worked on. Allie Brosh has a popular webcomic, and keeps popping up on most best lists I’ve been googling. Have her book on order now. Mark Russell is likely too ‘new’ and not quite enough output to be considered anyone’s top 10, but I just wanted to shout him out. His DC work has gotten great reviews, and I love the couple recent Ahoy books I’ve sampled of his.
So close out your top ten and let us know what comics make you laugh please.
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Post by Trevor on May 15, 2022 5:39:40 GMT -5
Day Forty-One Response and Wrap—Up
Most of that underground slate I have a little exposure to from an issue here and there of Zap. I think I have one of Wilson’s Lovecraft books, and I love Maus of course. Have a couple issues of the old Vortex Yummy Fur, but haven’t read them yet. Pretty sure I saw Stuck Rubber Baby by Cruse at my local shop the other day, will have to go back for that one.
I’ve read a few Pekar books and imagine I’ll end up reading a lot more.
My list remains at 9 as we head into the last slate. My forum name on some sites is TrevorPlop, and I use covers of it as my profile picture sometimes, so that may have hinted that I’d have at least one choice on the soon-to-come final slate of this experiment, humor. Frank Miller Jack Kirby Carl Barks Alan Moore Mike Mignola Jeff Lemire Bernie Wrightson Matt Wagner Will Eisner
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Post by Trevor on May 12, 2022 22:07:07 GMT -5
Day Forty-One Choices
Penultimate slate! Only a humor day follows this one, so please remember to shout out your wildcards if needed.
Underground
Spain Rodriquez created Trashman, and I’ve been putting off reading his Che for way too long. Peter Bagge is best known for Neat Stuff and Hate, but actually has a bunch of mainstream work. There have been a few series at DC and Dark Horse, and some stories in Marvel’s Strange Tales mini. Chester Brown is an interesting guy. Lots of unfinished projects, extremely varied works, and creative drawing styles and tools. Howard Cruse was the first editor of Gay Comix, created Barefootz, and had a graphic novel published by DC. Kim Deitch is hugely respected and has won a ton of awards, but I have sadly remained completely ignorant of his work. Eisner Hall of Famer Trina Robbins was the first woman to draw Wonder Woman, designed Vampirella’s costume, and wrote and drew one of the Marvel Star Comics. But much more important are her activism on behalf of female cartoonists and her underground work. Art Spiegelman edited Raw for a time, has a lot of work in The New Yorker, and co-created the Garbage Pail Kids and Wacky Packages, but will always be best known for Maus. Hunt Emerson is yet another of these creators with Biblical work. Are you having fun yet with Bill Griffith? Zippy has been appearing since 1971! You may know Clio Award winner Victor Moscoso for his advertising or psychedelic rock posters, but he also contributed to almost every issue of Zap. Daniel Clowes got mainstream love and a film out of Ghost World, but is probably best known for Eightball. S. Clay Wilson is considered one of the major figures in underground comix and is another who appeared in Zap from issue 2 onward. Harvey Pekar helped bring autobiographical comics more into the limelight, with his great American Splendor and David Letterman appearances. He is one of many in this list that worked with and owes a lot to Robert Crumb.
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Post by Trevor on May 12, 2022 22:01:32 GMT -5
Day Forty Response and Wrap—Up
I put most of my commentary in the initial post. Lots of great art and fine writers. Given enough time, I can see one of those writers, or Jones, making my list someday.
And yes, lots of great creators not mentioned, but I should have shouted out Ostrander and Loebs.
My list remains at 9. Frank Miller Jack Kirby Carl Barks Alan Moore Mike Mignola Jeff Lemire Bernie Wrightson Matt Wagner Will Eisner
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Post by Trevor on May 12, 2022 10:03:02 GMT -5
^On this subject, that thing where comic companies would have to use a character every so many years or lose the rights? How exactly did that work? Still in practice? Any company ever lose a character due to forgetting to use them?
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Post by Trevor on May 11, 2022 6:55:18 GMT -5
Should have probably mentioned this earlier, but the last two slates will be underground, and then humor. So everyone’s list should be complete unless your final choices fit one of those two categories.
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Post by Trevor on May 10, 2022 23:51:18 GMT -5
Day Forty Choices
Modern Age 1985-present
Not sure I agree that we should still consider nearly 40 years one Age, but whatever.
Usual disclaimers apply: we covered many modern creators already, any manageable list will leave out dozens of worthy list possibilities, and please use wildcards to include and discuss any on your top ten that haven’t been mentioned.
Booster Gold and Doomsday creator Dan Jurgens has written and drawn a ton of great DC stories. Kerry Gammill had a nice little career drawing for mostly the big two before moving into film and TV work. Ron Frenz co-created Spider-Girl and the New Warriors, and seems to have drawn mostly Superman and Spider-Man. Ivan Reis has worked for many companies since the late 90s, but is probably best known for his DC stuff like Blackest Night and Bendis’ Superman. Olivier Coipel’s beautiful art has appeared mostly in Marvel’s events and Thor, and DC’s Legion. Tom King seems to be love him or hate him writer. I’ve loved the couple things I’ve read so far, with several others in my stacks. Tom Taylor is writing two of DC’s best ongoings right now, Nightwing and Son of Kal-El, and apparently his Injustice and The Deep have or are coming to TV. Donny Cates has had a lot of success writing for Marvel, and I love his Crossover. Canadian Chip Zdarsky should have been in the previous slate perhaps. As an artist he won an Eisner for Sex Criminals, and more recently he seemingly writes every other book on the stands, alternating with Cullen Bunn Joëlle Jones had done a lot of cool art before, but is now probably best known for Lady Killer. She’s a cover artist master as well, and did some neat Batman and Catwoman stories.
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Post by Trevor on May 10, 2022 23:47:08 GMT -5
Day Thirty-Nine Response and Wrap—Up
I’ve been very slow to look outside of US comics, so have almost no experience with any international creators, let alone this narrow slate.
I did quite enjoy the Lone Wolf and Cub that I read from First Comics back in the day, but due to its high price at the time I didn’t stick with it long. Have always meant to get back to it someday, and will do so.
Think I saw some Asterix decades ago, and have a bit of it from Comixology to try now.
I have fairly recently started The Incal and do plan to read all of it. And I’ll give some early Dave Sim another try.
So my list still remains at 9. Frank Miller Jack Kirby Carl Barks Alan Moore Mike Mignola Jeff Lemire Bernie Wrightson Matt Wagner Will Eisner
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Post by Trevor on May 9, 2022 11:57:16 GMT -5
I actually almost put Franquin on the nomination list, but figured I would overfill the thread if I kept researching. Thanks for the recommendation, I’ll seek out his work.
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Post by Trevor on May 9, 2022 10:50:59 GMT -5
I think I actually own the first two phonebooks, so maybe I’ll just give it a go again. I made it part way thru the first years ago, and liked it enough, it was still in its mostly Conan parody period iirc. Just got buried in my mountains of books to someday read….
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Post by Trevor on May 9, 2022 10:16:58 GMT -5
While my top ten has already been claimed, I wanted to comment on a few of these names. Miyazaki will forever be my favorite animator (Spirited Away changed everything for me when it comes to animation), but I'm not as close to his manga work. My wife has a Nausicaa collection and I probably need to finally read that. The Asterix creative team...this is definitely in the "need more than ten spots in my top ten". At some point I need to find time to savor the entire run again, I have them all sitting on a shelf. As a kid, I always felt like they transported me away to this other really cool world to hang out in. Dave Sim...I can largely separate a creator's works from who they are except in some extreme cases, but in truth I do find his personality makes it a bit of a challenge to put him high on my list. That said, High Society would likely make my top ten "most re-read" story arcs ever. Can High Society be appreciated without reading any of the previous arcs?
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