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[TheEvilGingivitis]

We already have a book thread but I kind of thought y'know there's some other people here who like comics and probably enough to give comics their own discussion thread and they're not the same as standard books to begin with really and maybe there's someone who'd like to start reading comics and would like some suggestions or something. So I made a thread. :)

Lately I'm trying to read BLEACH through readbleach.com, but it's not going so well because I keep losing my place. The last time I was sure about where I was, Ichigo had just defeated the third Hollow, but then I got screwed up (Of course only I could get messed up with such a simple interface...). It's pretty good reading though.

One thing I read recently that I think everyone should have to read at some point in their lives is Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud. It's an absolutely genius deconstruction of the medium that will certainly change the minds of anyone who does not consider comics (and possibly other things, like video games) to be a valid, valuable medium. Pick it up. At the very latest, you will be hooked by chapter three or so. Whichever chapter covers icons.

A few months back I ordered volumes two and three of the Scott Pilgrim series in anticipation of the fourth, because Bryan Lee O'Malley is a genius. I have read volume one of Scott Pilgrim over and over again since I got it (making it my single most read comic) and I have yet to stop smiling. I mean the idea that people drop coins when defeated, and the fact that they actually drop $2.10 CAN due to the exchange rate, is just so absurdly hilarious that it's hard not to love.

Also, since webcomics are comics too, I have been informed by my friend who goes to Comic-Con and grabs swag for his friends that I will apparently be receiving one of 100 Sam and Fuzzy prints in the mail within a few months, autographed by Sam Logan. :D It's too bad that it wasn't until the end of Comic-Con that I found out that Bryan Lee O'Malley (one of my two favourite comickers ever) was not in attendance (even though his name's on the website) but Aaron Alexovich (My other favourite comicker ever) WAS at the convention. Which means I could have asked said friend for his autograph and possibly one of the postcards he was giving out instead of asking for Bryan Lee O'Malley's. Boo. :(

In terms of comics I am going to have to try and find soon, I need to pick up Street Angel because, apart from apparently being very good, as said in the book thread, it has this in it:



And because I hear it's adorable and brilliant, and looks so besides that, I'd like to take a look at Yotsuba&!, which is odd because I usually don't notice too much in terms of manga. Also it's where Bill got his last avatar.

So there's the start of the comics thread. :)

[Greg]

Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud.

I own the whole McCloud Trilogy (Understanding, Reinventing, Making), they're all really awesome stuff.

[normalman]

I read comics like gangbusters, and am a huge Punisher fanboy. (Like, I'll read absolutely ANYTHING in it that he's in, no matter how horrid.)
Here are some comics you should read right the hell now.
THE WALKING DEAD
Y : THE LAST MAN
PREACHER
WATCHMEN
ANYTHING BY NORM SCOTT OR EVAN DORKIN

I'm not so hot on manga, although I am a huge fan of Cromartie High School and Battle Royale. For their legitimately funny wackiness and their ludicrous violence, respectively.

[Hanstock]

My current pull list looks a little something like this:

Any Fantastic Four Title
Silver Surfer: Requiem (So. Fucking. Good.)
Amazing Spider-Man
Thunderbolts
The Walking Dead
All Avengers titles
Daredevil
Buffy: Season 8
The Gunslinger Born
World War Hulk

Good God is World War Hulk incredible so far. The buildup has been the best continual event I can remember. Illuminati, Planet Hulk, Civil War, and now this. Marvel is a good place to be right now.

[TheEvilGingivitis]

My stuff came in!



Not only did I not notice that someone drove up to the house and placed the package on my doorstep, I tripped over it when I went outside to check the mail.
Reviews later.

[Hanstock]

Let me know how that Serenity trade is. I've been curious.

[Alan]

Hanstock how is Buffy season 8? I've been meaning to check it out and have read a little bit about it and sounds pretty interesting. What are your thoughts?

[Hanstock]

The first four issues were fucking phenomenal. It's the next best thing to having the show. Issue 5 was kind of a misstep, but as a stand-alone issue it was interesting enough. Joss tried to mix it up with wacky chronology and tricks, but he should stick to just kicking ass. Insider tip: the next arc will feature "Faith"!

[Terry Cheesecake]

I add 100 Bullets to the list. Also Fables.

Anything Grant Morrison.

Edit: Oh and All Star Batman and Robin which is a love it or hate it deal. There is no middle ground.

[Dollo]

I think I wanna get back into comic book reading.

I remember when I was a kid, getting my hands on one of those great glossy 'Mature Readers Only' Batman comics was the best thing ever. They still write those? The arkham asylum series? Anyone?

[Folby]

I am inherently suspicious of anyone who reads comic books.

(Note: Bill this doesn't cover you because we already cool.)

[TheEvilGingivitis]

Let me know how that Serenity trade is. I've been curious.

Short Answer: Don't get it.
Long answer below Scott Pilgrim thoughts.

REVIEWS:
-Scott Pilgrim Volumes Two and Three: Hahaha EXCELLENT. These are far funnier than the already awesome first volume. I haven't laughed this much at a comic in a long time. I'm treating them them as one book because they really are. The first book had a definite end of the events contained within (complete with "TO BE CONTINUED"), but these two flow together instead. I'm going to have to read it again, though, because as the cast continuously grows so do the relationships between characters. These two volumes cover a sort of "dark period" for most of the characters, which involves bringing up their pasts by way of flashbacks quite a lot. So essentially you're juggling twenty different characters over two or three different time periods and between the varying hairstyles and clothing, lack of colour, and O'Malley's simplistic art style, it gets sort of confusing at times. That's not to say it isn't great, and I'm sure I'll pick up on it a lot more next time I read it (as I now recognize each character in each time period), but it really warrants rereading and a few glances at the character relationship chart in the back of book three.
But I'm sounding way too negative here so let me conclude that everything Wallace says is funny and that there's a lot of other awesome stuff too. And you can totally tell that Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together (Volume Four) is going to live up to its title.

-Serenity: Those Left Behind: For one thing, this is an extremely short book. It's not that I have anything against that -though I am a lot more used to big bulky compilations and manga-sized stuff- but it's nowhere near enough room for Firefly. And what room was given was honestly wasted. With the possible exception of Jayne, the characters don't act anything like their Tv and movie counterparts; and since Firefly was largely character-driven, it ruins the experience. I thought a new character had been introduced when I heard some of River's lines (Even the "crazy mode" stuff). The art is good, with decent anatomy and such, but it doesn't necessarily capture the characters all too well. You know how in a live-action adaptation of a cartoon the character always looks completely wrong because their hair can't be as exaggerated, etc.? The exact same thing happens to Wash, but it somehow happens backwards. And all of the original characters and vehicles introduced in the comic are really more or less what you would expect from a comic book miniseries based on a licensed property, even if that property is Firefly. I wish I could like it, but I really don't.

The pillows CD is pretty good too but three tracks won't rip for some reason and it won't play in some players. But that is neither here nor there.

[TheEvilGingivitis]

Good news:
1) My friend who went to Comic-Con took a whole bunch of pictures which can be seen [here] (there's more earlier in the thread I think. I'm still loading the last ones).
2) One of my favourite local areas, The Books Inn book store, is opening a dedicated comic shop in its basement. And they're currently looking for input as what they'll carry! See, as of a few years ago, an animation studio (Fatkat) started up around here. Animators from all over were drawn to the area, and now all of the businesses are starting to conform to their needs, which is finally making this place not suck so badly. I am going to suggest a bunch of things but I mostly don't know what right now. Scott Pilgrim, Y: the Last Man, whatever else comes into my head. Any suggestions? They mostly want stuff published on a regular basis.

[Terry Cheesecake]

Walking Dead, Invincible, Powers, 100 Bullets, Fables, probably some more.

[B]

1) My friend who went to Comic-Con took a whole bunch of pictures which can be seen [here] (there's more earlier in the thread I think. I'm still loading the last ones).

Nice random photos of asses, you fucking geek.


edit: AAAH

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/5020/img5001xj0.jpg

I am physically sad for missing this photo opportunity. Consider me an equal geek.

[Maynard,]

The only stuff I bother to read anymore are trade paperbacks or graphic novels. I don't have the time or money to read a new issue every month of a series.

I also want to back up Dollo's suggestion of Arkham Asylum which is really cool.

[baollis]

My Current Pull List:

Jsa
Jla
Green Latern Corps
Green Lantern
Teen Titans
Flash
Batman
AllStar Batmand and Robin
AllStar Superman
ThunderBolts
SheHulk
RunAways
Punisher War Journal
World War Hulk
CountDown

Has anyone been reading Iron Fist lately? I've hear good things.

[Hanstock]

It's pretty good, but I prefer New Avengers for Danny Rand-related shenanigans.

[Captain Hot Stuff]

I downloaded the entire Sandman series by Neil Gaiman and I'm starting to read it. It doesn't particularly grip me, but I'm hoping it'll get better after the first few issues.

[Shamrock]

It gets alot better after the first couple issues. I don't really know where the issues start and begin becuase I read the graphic novels, but the first graphic novel is definitely the weakest.

Also, where did you download those?