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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2020 14:44:49 GMT -5
On the third day of Christmas, Santa brought to me the works of Bill Finger...  Works that garnered his favorite status: Golden Age Batman, Green Lantern and Wildcat, honorable mention to his post-war Timely stuff Why I like his work: There's a level of sheer inventiveness and creativity in his work that may only be surpassed by the likes of Kirby in American comics. And he writes a damn fine enjoyable adventure/super-hero story as well. I've read more of his Batman than anything else, and one of the Batman era I keep coming back to is the pre-Robin stories in Tec 27-37. Work I recommend trying if you've not familiar with Finger: Batman #1 (4 Batman stories with a who's who of rogues by Finger)  -M |
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Post by foxley on Dec 15, 2020 15:48:39 GMT -5
10. Gail SimoneIt looks like today must be Gail Simone Day, and why not? I wanted to make sure I had at least one female writer on my list. But, like many of the other posters, I soon realised that many of my favourites were either writer-artists, co-wrote with other creators, or did their best work (IMO) after 2010. But Gail Simone was always going to be on my list. I enjoy books that feature (if you'll pardon the horrible cliche) 'strong female characters'. And Gail delivers that in spades. Since starting at DC in 2003, Gail wrote Birds of Prey, Villains United, Secret Six, and Wonder Woman. Her women are strong, independent and believable characters, each of whom has a unique voice, and none of whom are merely an appendage to a male character. (And post-2010, and therefore outside the scope of this list, she did acclaimed runs on Batgirl and Red Sonja.) Outside of comics, she one of the creators of the 'Women in Refrigerators' website (before she became a comics pro), and she wrote "The Mask of Matches Malone!": my equal favourite episode (tied with "Mayhem of the Music Meister!") of Batman: The Brave and the Bold, featuring the audacious "Birds of Prey" musical number (if you've never heard it, do yourself a favour and check it out here). I will pretty much at least try anything Simone writes, even if I decide not to continue (e.g. I read the first 2 or 3 issues of The Movement before deciding it was not for me).
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Post by wildfire2099 on Dec 15, 2020 16:17:51 GMT -5
10. Jason AaronBecause of his epic Scalped. The depravity of living on the Rez! Getting dirty, trying to get out, the crime, the poverty, the gambling, the drugs, the sex, the killings, the blurring line of good/evil wrapped up in a brutally gritty real world. A life of desperation, shattered dreams, lost hope, lies, delusions and fractured humanity where souls are crushed, destroyed or used like pieces in a real life game of chance. I stumbled upon this by accident browsing in the LCS and it was issue 3 and marked for $1 as the store would post worker comic book choices each week. It looked different and interesting. Picked up issues 1 and 2 along with 3 to read. It blew me away and it was on my pull list from there on in. Aaron did his homework and didn't pull any punches in his writing. He showed the full dirty details with an emphasis upon a grit and brutality of growing up, living and leaving only to find yourself back on the Rez, a place you tried to get away from but is so deep in your blood that you can't. It is powerful writing that gained him great attention and brought him offers at the big 2 for doing his thing on superheroes. Aaron was my last cut... I love his Thor stuff and Southern Bastards... but latest on the later and his disappointing medicority on Star Wars and Conan knocked him off for me. |
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Post by wildfire2099 on Dec 15, 2020 16:24:00 GMT -5
Wow, lots of love for Gail Simone randomly at #10.. I wouldn't have thought there's be so much agreement at a lower spot.. interesting. #10 Marv Wolfman (Mainly for New Teen Titans) The Titans (along with my next #9 choice) were my gateway to bronze age superheroes... I just love his character development, and Judas Contract remains my favorite DC story (perhaps a bit due to nostalgia). Dick Grayson became a real character under his pen, rather than 'Batman's Sidekick'. I've since also read Night Force (which was also good) And will read TOmb of Dracula one of these days  |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Dec 15, 2020 17:41:53 GMT -5
#10 Jean Van Hamme A mainstay of the journal Tintin back when I read it, Van Hamme is a brilliant adventure writer. Many of his series have attained cult status in the French-speaking world ( Thorgal, XIII, Largo Winch, to name only three) and have spawned TV and/or film adaptations. Thorgal was a big favourite of mine, mixing Norse mythology and science-fiction themes. As was often the case in the late '70s early '80s, it would start as a pure adventure strip and then veer into philosophical themes. I was growing up at the same rate the series was! I don't think I ever read a bad story that he might have written.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 15, 2020 18:46:02 GMT -5
On the third day of Classic Comics Christmas I give unto thee... Three False Starts by Mike Mignola(BPRD: The Hollow Earth, BPRD: The Soul of Venice and BPRD: Dark Waters)  Well, this was to be expected wasn't it? You just knew going into this that I was going to squeeze Mike Mignola into my list some way, some how didn't you? Well I did, and the oh so clever title wasn't a stretch either as it ties into where Mignola fits into my list. So how did I manage to include my favorite prince of darkness? Easy, Mr. Mignola qualifies for this years theme because for the purposes of the list I'm basing my estimation of his craft solely on his work on the B.P.R.D. book which barring a few panels towards the end of the run( not counted here as they are after the cut off) Mignola wasn't involved in the art and was only the writer. So, why three false starts and only tenth place? The answer is that through these early outings of the B.P.R.D. written in 2002 and 2003 we saw very different attempts at creating a companion book for the main Hellboy comic.
The first attempt( The Hollow Earth) feels very old school Mignola in that an event happens, the heroes rush in throw some punches and take a beating before managing to come out on top almost purely by chance. It was a fun take, and I do love the story but it just felt to similar to what we were already getting in Hellboy. In the second attempt(Soul of Venice) we saw a little differentiation in that the tone was much less serious and had more humor added in than was previously seen in Hellboy and while that was a nice break it didn't feel enough like Hellboy to compliment it...but the third try, that was the one! The third book, Dark Waters, not only introduced the art of Guy Davis who would go on to give the book its own unique visual style for years to come but it also featured not only a better balance between humor and action than the previous tries but also added both a deeply character driven narrative and a better use of the ensemble cast which was missing. It was a great evolution that eventually gave us what is arguably one of the best team books ever written but it also showed us a chink in Mignola's previously rock solid armor: while single minded and absolutely golden when controlling all aspects of a book he could be wildly inconsistent when he was only involved in the story which is why although I love him he only just barely cracks the list on the third day. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 15, 2020 18:50:33 GMT -5
I'm so glad she made someone's list, I seriously loved her run on Wonder Woman and her Secret Six started my bizarre infatuation with Catman. #10 Jean Van HammeA mainstay of the journal Tintin back when I read it, Van Hamme is a brilliant adventure writer. Many of his series have attained cult status in the French-speaking world ( Thorgal, XIII, Largo Winch, to name only three) and have spawned TV and/or film adaptations. Thorgal was a big favourite of mine, mixing Norse mythology and science-fiction themes. As was often the case in the late '70s early '80s, it would start as a pure adventure strip and then veer into philosophical themes. I was growing up at the same rate the series was! I don't think I ever read a bad story that he might have written. Sadly,I've never heard of this fine looking gentleman, is any of his work in English? |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Dec 15, 2020 19:05:32 GMT -5
I'm so glad she made someone's list, I seriously loved her run on Wonder Woman and her Secret Six started my bizarre infatuation with Catman. #10 Jean Van HammeA mainstay of the journal Tintin back when I read it, Van Hamme is a brilliant adventure writer. Many of his series have attained cult status in the French-speaking world ( Thorgal, XIII, Largo Winch, to name only three) and have spawned TV and/or film adaptations. Thorgal was a big favourite of mine, mixing Norse mythology and science-fiction themes. As was often the case in the late '70s early '80s, it would start as a pure adventure strip and then veer into philosophical themes. I was growing up at the same rate the series was! I don't think I ever read a bad story that he might have written. Sadly,I've never heard of this fine looking gentleman, is any of his work in English? Absolutely! Thorgal, XIII, Largo Winch and Story Without a Hero and more besides are all a available in one form or another (real books or digital). There's even a translated Blake & Mortimer pastiche in there. The man had a long and productive career, and a lot of it seems to have been translated at some point! (Not sure how widely it was distributed, though). XIII was adapted as a TV miniseries in the US a dozen years ago, too. ("Loosely" adapted). |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 15, 2020 19:10:06 GMT -5
I'm so glad she made someone's list, I seriously loved her run on Wonder Woman and her Secret Six started my bizarre infatuation with Catman. Sadly,I've never heard of this fine looking gentleman, is any of his work in English? Absolutely! Thorgal, XIII, Largo Winch and Story Without a Hero and more besides are all a available in one form or another (real books or digital). There's even a translated Blake & Mortimer pastiche in there. The man had a long and productive career, and a lot of it seems to have been translated at some point! (Not sure how widely it was distributed, though). XIII was adapted as a TV miniseries in the US a dozen years ago, too. ("Loosely" adapted). I'll have to keep an eye out, I've heard the name Thorgal before but I don't think I've heard anything beyond that but I'm always looking to try new stuff which is why I love this event every year. |
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Post by Icctrombone on Dec 15, 2020 19:13:08 GMT -5
10. Denny O’neil Comics resume: Superman, Green Lantern/ Green Arrow , Iron Man , Shadow , Batman, creator of Azrael  O'neil wrote many of my favorite runs when I started reading and collecting comics in the 70’s Starting with Green Lantern # 76, powered by art that was mind blowing, he crafted a series that elevated comics beyond the kid stuff that we were accustomed to. Without missing a beat he created Ras al Ghul in the Batman book around the same time and introduced a villain as smart and with the resources of the Batman. He wrote the Wonder woman run that made her a Karate expert without powers, another run I liked. He wrote Kryptonite Nevermore a Superman saga that, to this day , is my favorite Superman story. He wrote the second bout of alcoholism that Tony Stark went through ,which had James Rhodes become Iron Man. He was just responsible for many of my favorite storylines in the 70’s and 80’s. These were all riveting runs that made comics special to me in my youth. Yeah, early on he had superstar Neal Adams to propel his books, but in his Iron Man run, he had Luke Mcdonald on the art and I still came back month after month. Good writing counts. {Extra highlights} Kryptonite is transformed and harmless in the Sand creature saga 
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 15, 2020 19:16:04 GMT -5
Denny just missed my list. I seriously could have done an entire list of Batman writers( and more than a couple did ultimately make my list) but decided to go for a little variety. |
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
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Post by Confessor on Dec 15, 2020 19:25:31 GMT -5
Slam_Bradley - I need to read more Sandman Mystery Theatre. I read the first TPB, which I believe that panel you posted is from, back in the early 2000s and quite enjoyed it. EdoBosnar - Hoo-ray!! Another Bill Mantlo fan in the forum. Nice to know you. Roquefort Raider - I've never read any Jean Van Hamme, but I think I need to after reading your write up. I believe CineBooks published some English translations of his stuff.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 15, 2020 19:31:53 GMT -5
10. Matt Wagner (Sandman Mystery Theater and Madame Xanadu) Damn, Sandman Mystery Theater is seriously one of my favorite books of all time and yet I didn't think of it for this! Holy brain fade Batman! |
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Post by codystarbuck on Dec 15, 2020 23:22:09 GMT -5
XIII is pretty much a comic version of The Bourne Identity, as it inspired to concept, though Van Hamme took it in a different direction. Thorgal is a sort of fantasy tale, of vikings, an alien and a lot of great stories. Largo Winch is a sort of corporate thriller. He also wrote the Lady S series, about a female espionage/security agent. Bit different than Modesty Blaise, but something that would interest anyone who enjoyed her stories or the Emma Peel Avengers.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Dec 16, 2020 11:44:25 GMT -5
Random thoughts on Day Three...because nobody has told me to stop yet. (not folks we've already seen yet though)
Joe Simon - Simon is a cool choice. I just read his memoir in the last couple of months. A towering figure.
Gail Simone - I'm not entirely sure I've read anything that Gail has written. And I've kind of avoided it. Good on her for being a fan who made good. But she and I clashed enough on CBR over the years that I never had any interest in reading her work.
Jason Aaron - Aaron was one of the later writers to drop off my list. If Southern Bastards qualified he might not have. But Scalped alone wasn't enough to get him into the top twelve. But I love both books. And I freakin' adore Southern Bastards.
Chuck Dixon - I really liked Airboy. And I thought a lot of his Batman and Robin stuff was decent. But I haven't read any of those books in a long time. And his personal views are really hard for me to look past at this point.
Jerry Siegel - I've said before that I really like the first year or so of Superman. But Superman after that point is a total loss. And I've not read any Spectre or Slam Bradley of similar vintage.
Bill Finger - Finger is one of those guys I respect. He was important. His work was foundational. Some of it I still find kind of fun in a pulp way. But mostly I'm not interested in reading a lot of it at a time.
Marv Wolfman - Once upon a time Wolfman might have snuck in to my list. Not any more. Partly because I haven't read most of his work in a long long time. And I kind of don't want to read it again. I still have very fond memories of Tomb of Dracula. I fear it would not hold up. I started to re-read New Teen Titans when Shax did is review thread. And it's pretty awful. And Crisis is just plum a big piece of dog crap on a toasted vomit sandwich.
Jean Van Hamme - RR makes with the second name that is a complete blank for me. Though I have heard of Thorgal. And I'm lead by the internet to understand that Van Hamme took over Blake & Mortimer later on in its history. So, neat.
Mike Mignola - Some of these days I intend to read Hellboy. Some of these days. I've read some. And I liked it. I don't think I've read anything written by Mignola and drawn by someone else though.
Denny O’Neil - O'Neil is another one of those guys who might have made my list in days past but absolutely would not now. Even then it would have been due to his Batman work...which largely stood up last time I read it. But his Green Lantern mostly doesn't work for me anymore and I find a lot of it laughable. I think his best work, without a doubt, was his run on The Question for DC.
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