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Post by sabongero on Jun 30, 2016 13:14:51 GMT -5
You nailed it right on the spot, The Captain. Reading the beginning of the series or the beginning of a new creative team in a series is the best way to start reading any comic book. It's like an introductory ride to a new story and there's no headscratching on the reader's part to do some back reading elsewhere. I just finished reading West Coast Avengers v1 # (Review) and I am really enjoying the story. Hope you do the same. I'm a completionist with likely OCD when it comes to buying and reading books. It's very hard for me to buy a series and not acquire every issue in the series, so I own a lot of long runs within my collection. I've been getting a little better with it lately, although that is probably due to money being a little tighter than it had been, but I still feel the need to own every book in a series unless there is a compelling reason not to (I own all of the issues of Thunderbolts except for the six "Fight Club" issues, because they have nothing to do with the story that started with issue #1 or with any of the issues that came after those six, so there is nothing I feel like I am missing by not owning them). As for reading, I can't just pick up a storyline here and there and read it; I need to start at the beginning and read forward from there to the end. It's what I did with Uncanny X-Men (all 500+ issues), it's what I started to do with Daredevil (I read from #1 into the mid-70's, but since I don't own some of those issues yet, I had to stop), and it's what I am doing with Captain America (I have all of the Marvel issues in some form from the beginning, with all of the ToS issues in Masterworks and all of the CA issues in floppies as well as some in Masterworks so I don't actually have to read the high-grade Silver Age books). I'll pop over and check out your review and chime in if I have anything relevant to add. I can understand being a completist. For me it was almost the same way after Green Lantern rebirth as I just started reading comic books again back in 2006 after almost an 18 year hiatus. I didn't even know Hal Jordan was replaced by Kyle Rayner, as I was really out of touch of comic books from late 1988 to mid 2006. Thanks. Yeah feel free to read on that thread any time. I seem to be in a reviewing mood lately.
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Post by dbutler69 on Jul 2, 2016 14:23:24 GMT -5
MOKF - I love this title. It's as late discovery for me, as I never collected it in my youth, being almostr strictly into superhero comics, but I've been catching up on what I've missed recently. Tarzan - I've bough a few of these in the dollar bin recently, again, another title I never collected in my 70's-80's heyday, and I thought that they were pretty good. Tarzan was one of my favorite Saturday morning cartoons, so maybe I should have gotten more into the comics. Omega - I assume you mean Omega the Unknown. I enjoyed this series a lot. It was a bit out there, but that was half the fun. I really wish that it had lasted long enough for Gerber to resolve some of the plot points. It did get weird towards the end, and I don't know if that was part of the original plan, or if it's somehow related to the series' cancellation. Same for me. Superhero comics were pretty much my only interest. However, I would pick up an occasional issue of MOKF, John Carter, Conan, etc. But still, very rarely. In the late 70's, it was Avengers, Fantastic Four, Hulk, Captain America. Now, I find myself changing. I am more interested in reading titles that I have little or no attention to back in the day(except fro Conan..Conan was always one that I seemed to pick up more frequently in the 80's). So, I am pretty much eschewing the superhero books these days and focusing on the more obscure ones like Tarzan, Kull, Skull the Slayer, John Carter. I'm also interested in titles that I have never tried before like Dazzler and Ms. Marvel(the 1970's series). Just trying new things. I'm still very interested in the superhero comics, but like you, I'm trying to focus on things that I missed out on back in the day - hence my interest in Omega, for instance.
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Post by Batflunkie on Jul 5, 2016 11:44:40 GMT -5
X-O Manowar #0 & #1, 'tis a "good skin" of a read~ Also kind of reminded of how good Ken is as a gay character. He is a little flamboyant, sure, but not too over the top; kind of reads more as "eccentric" (like how Aric initially views him as a "Wizard"). I also feel like he compliments Aric as friend & business associate rather well
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Post by masterofquackfu on Jul 11, 2016 8:54:09 GMT -5
I read Rom #34. I used to collect Rom occasionally when it would be on the racks in the 80's, but I ordered this one online(for $1.00). The story was good. Rom essentially engages in battle undersea against mutated fish and he ultimately aligns with the Sub-Mariner. The cover was misleading because it makes it look like Namor was fighting against Rom, rather than the eventual alliance that took place in the book. Rom has always been a middling book for me, but it is a nice change of pace at times.
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Post by brutalis on Jul 11, 2016 11:36:10 GMT -5
Busy weekend around the house so the only comic book reading was issues 1-5 of The Bozz Chronicles by David Michelinie, Bret Blevins and John Ridgeway (issue 4). Victorian Steam-Punk before it was cool to be Steam-Punk! Michelinie wrote understandable English without going into stereotypes overly much and Blevin's and Ridgeway's art capture Victorian England completely. One of the 1st times i remember seeing Blevin's artwork and from there on i would buy any comic he drew without hesitation.
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Post by dbutler69 on Jul 11, 2016 15:07:44 GMT -5
I read Rom #34. I used to collect Rom occasionally when it would be on the racks in the 80's, but I ordered this one online(for $1.00). The story was good. Rom essentially engages in battle undersea against mutated fish and he ultimately aligns with the Sub-Mariner. The cover was misleading because it makes it look like Namor was fighting against Rom, rather than the eventual alliance that took place in the book. Rom has always been a middling book for me, but it is a nice change of pace at times. I like Rom. That was a neat Bronze Age title. Not the best ever, but certainly better than it ever had a right to be.
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Post by String on Jul 12, 2016 17:26:43 GMT -5
Cosmic Odyssey by Starlin and Mignola. Overall, this story was decent. I'm not sure if the Anti-Life being an entity still remains as a concept within the DCU but here, it's a different twist. The pairings and team-ups of characters are equally compelling. The contrast between Superman and Orion's philosophies was stark. I remember that Xanshi was a big emotional beat for John Stewart at one time but I didn't know that event occurred here. John came off as being overconfident and rude to Jonn Jonzz. The following destruction hit John hard of course but I liked how Jonn helped him start to come to terms with the result of his actions. The biggest surprise here was Batman. I suppose over the last decade or so, we've been compelled to think of Batman as someone who could handle anything, be prepared for everything. But I found him to be quite vulnerable throughout this story. I don't fault him his actions with killing the Dog Soldier. His appalling reactions to the soldier's cannibalistic behaviour enhanced that result. But he kinda takes Forager under his wing here and the end fight with the Dog Soldier was brutal and for Bruce, realistic. I never thought Batman should be able to take on these quality of foes so easily and he had his fair share of bruises and breaks here. His reaction to Orion's comments over the fate of Forager was great. And the art...wow. Simply gorgeous.
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Post by dbutler69 on Jul 13, 2016 14:08:47 GMT -5
Superman: The Adventures of Nightwing and Firebird. These are the stories from Superman Family the 70's with the Kandorians who took over for Superman and Jimmy Olsen as Nightwing and Firebird. It's some good ol' Bronze Age Superman silly fun. A variety of artists but the art is pretty good.
Before that I read JSA: The Return of Hawkman, which also has the Injustice Be Done story in it. This was a good one, though I didn't like it quite as much as I thought I would, for some reason.
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Post by hondobrode on Jul 17, 2016 10:03:22 GMT -5
Read the 4 issue mini last night on Comixology Unlimited. Didn't really expect to like it but I'm glad to say that faded away quickly. Courtney liked her life. She had friends scattered throughout her city neighborhood. She enjoyed school, and her teachers and classes were the best. But that was before. Now Courtney's parents have dragged her out to a high-to-do suburb to live with her creepy Great Uncle Aloysius in his spooky old house. And while her parents have slipped easily into their new social status, Courtney now has to deal with snobby classmates and the strange shadowy visitors that often come to visit her uncle. Now, instead of kids from the neighborhood, her only friends are ghastly ghouls and spooky spirits. Hmmm... maybe this won't be so bad after all... Courtney Crumrin & The Night Things is a new four-issue mini-series of creepy kids and nebbish nocturnals from fan-favorite creator Ted Naifeh (Gloomcookie). Courtney isn't crazy about the move and her dad's uncle Aloysious. One funny bit is that the dad says he thinks he's actually his great uncle but isn't sure. It's things like that that show how shallow and not-so-bright Courtney's parents are, and Courtney's thinly veiled contempt for her parents always trying to impress and be part of the social elite. Of course her being a teen and moving to a private school with everyone being well off and preppy except her is interesting as well. She comes to understand her "uncle" a little better and the supernatural environment and embrace it while maintaining her own sense of identity. A really charming little mini-series adults as well as kids can enjoy. I'll be reading more Courtney Crummin.
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Post by Batflunkie on Jul 18, 2016 7:38:52 GMT -5
Pat Mills' Requiem: Vampire Knight. Mills is one of those writers that when he's good, he's f**kin' amazing and this is one of those cases. The story focuses on a Nazi soldier and a Jewish woman that he's madly in love with. The soldier later gets shot point blank by a Russian and wakes up on this hellish alternate earth called "Ressurection" where time goes backwards and people age in reverse. Taking into acount your deeds/misdeeds on earth designates what you'll be reincarnated as, with Vampires being the most prestigious.
Overall, the series has a very Clive Barker/Hellraiser feeling to it, and speaking as someone who loved the first two Hellraiser movies for their "shock and awe" value, I was delighted to come across this series
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Post by brutalis on Jul 18, 2016 7:58:05 GMT -5
Saturday night finished off Showcase Batman #6 collecting Batman #229-244 and Detective comics#408-426. Lots of Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams goodness to be had. Some really good Frank Robbins writing and art (yes i went there, i happen to enjoy Robbins) along with Irv Novick and Bob Brown. This was around the time i first began getting into Batman comics so they remind me of simpler and happier times riding around to all the Circle K and &-Eleven stores in the surrounding neighborhood every week seeking out any and all comics i could find.
All of the stories found during this time were of a happier Bat universe with very little Robin or Batgirl around and Commissioner Gordon was more of a step into the scene and out character. Almost all of these are meant to show off and highlight Batman as the solo star to showing his detective skills, his determination and ethics (yes, he had them once upon a time) for solving crime (any crime even as some of these focus on small time thefts or robbery) in his beloved Gotham. It was wonderful losing myself for awhile and the black and white art really shows off the artistic skills of all involved. I will miss the Showcase series (and Essential's) as they were great buys for series and issues that i refuse to pay outrageous prices for.
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Post by dbutler69 on Jul 18, 2016 9:50:02 GMT -5
Saturday night finished off Showcase Batman #6 collecting Batman #229-244 and Detective comics#408-426. Lots of Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams goodness to be had. Some really good Frank Robbins writing and art (yes i went there, i happen to enjoy Robbins) along with Irv Novick and Bob Brown. This was around the time i first began getting into Batman comics so they remind me of simpler and happier times riding around to all the Circle K and &-Eleven stores in the surrounding neighborhood every week seeking out any and all comics i could find. All of the stories found during this time were of a happier Bat universe with very little Robin or Batgirl around and Commissioner Gordon was more of a step into the scene and out character. Almost all of these are meant to show off and highlight Batman as the solo star to showing his detective skills, his determination and ethics (yes, he had them once upon a time) for solving crime (any crime even as some of these focus on small time thefts or robbery) in his beloved Gotham. It was wonderful losing myself for awhile and the black and white art really shows off the artistic skills of all involved. I will miss the Showcase series (and Essential's) as they were great buys for series and issues that i refuse to pay outrageous prices for. Yes, that's my Batman! As far as the Essentials and Showcases, they're the best buy in comics, but by the time I get done reading one, I'm really dying for color!
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Post by brutalis on Jul 18, 2016 10:10:57 GMT -5
i tend to keep my black and white reading to either a few issues a storyline at a time. This helps to avoid the craving for color. It does help though that so much of what is in the Essential and Showcase format is colored so terribly that it muddy's up such beautiful art. i also read a lot of Manga and became accustomed to the lack of color so the rich details and crispness of the line are what i adore about these big black and white collections. I had never been a large Don Perlin fan until reading Werewolf by Night and Defenders in the Essential's where his style stands out much better and i can see Ditko and other's influences in his artwork. Gene Colan just shines so brightly making his early Captain America and Iron Man and Captain Marvel and Daredevil work muck smooth and sleeker. And it goes without saying that Tomb of Dracula and Doctor Strange are so much moodier and atmospheric in their horror and mysticism with the black and white printing. Don Heck's fine lines also show his artistic styling brilliantly in the black and white venue. Jump over to the DC Showcases and try not to be impressed with Ramona Fradon on Metamorpho or Bruno Premiani on Doom Patrol and gain gain some new respect and awe for Infantino, Anderson, Swan, and their likes. Aparo just looks even better in black and white than he ever did in color along with Kubert, Heath and DeZuniga. I can go on forever...
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,074
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Post by Confessor on Jul 18, 2016 10:26:19 GMT -5
Mills is one of those writers that when he's good, he's f**kin' amazing... I'm currently mid-way through a re-read of Charley's War, so I absolutely agree with this sentiment.
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Post by adamwarlock2099 on Jul 18, 2016 14:26:31 GMT -5
Cosmic Odyssey by Starlin and Mignola. Overall, this story was decent. I'm not sure if the Anti-Life being an entity still remains as a concept within the DCU but here, it's a different twist. The pairings and team-ups of characters are equally compelling. The contrast between Superman and Orion's philosophies was stark. I remember that Xanshi was a big emotional beat for John Stewart at one time but I didn't know that event occurred here. John came off as being overconfident and rude to Jonn Jonzz. The following destruction hit John hard of course but I liked how Jonn helped him start to come to terms with the result of his actions. The biggest surprise here was Batman. I suppose over the last decade or so, we've been compelled to think of Batman as someone who could handle anything, be prepared for everything. But I found him to be quite vulnerable throughout this story. I don't fault him his actions with killing the Dog Soldier. His appalling reactions to the soldier's cannibalistic behaviour enhanced that result. But he kinda takes Forager under his wing here and the end fight with the Dog Soldier was brutal and for Bruce, realistic. I never thought Batman should be able to take on these quality of foes so easily and he had his fair share of bruises and breaks here. His reaction to Orion's comments over the fate of Forager was great. And the art...wow. Simply gorgeous. I had read soooo much cosmic Marvel before I really read much of anything of DC besides mainly Batman when I got into comics. I remember the proprietor of shop I went to suggesting this. And I remember thinking two things "what's with that art?" and "DC does space operas?" I was glad to have both my assumptions shaken down. It's one of DC's best cosmic stories, and I was so wowed by Mignola's art, especially the scenes with Batman/Forager. I started giving DC more of a chance after reading this for the first time all those years ago.
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