Support NeoGAF

[doniewhalberg]

@doniewhalberg: I honestly don't really read very much. Used to love Star Wars books as a kid, read a bunch of Harry Potter also. I love fantasy and sci-fi movies and games. Game of Thrones is awesome. I absolutely LOVED the first two Hitchhiker's Guide books, stopped randomly during the third for some reason (gotta get back into it).

I do like detective/crime stories, things with intricate plots and mysterious and stuff, insane twists, blah blah blah. Like I said though I don't read much at all, last book I read was like a year ago haha, wow I have to fix that.

Just recommend me something that is easy to get into, but lots of fun. I remember reading the first 2 volumes of Bone in color in middle school, maybe I'll give that a go. A friend says its good.

Thanks!

Okay well you mentioned Saga, that's super easy to get into, hits your star wars and hitchhikers point I think. For detective and crime, absolutely search Criminal by Ed Brubaker. Totally self contained stories so it's as easy as buying any volume you like the look of man. If you like mysteries and twists, Morning Glories or Mind The Gap, might be up your alley, I'd say both are heavily influenced by the lost school of mystery. As easy as grabbing volume 1 of either series. As for lots of fun...Chew again, volume 1, easy as that.

My best advice though is just have a look through the various books Image, Vertigo or Dark Horse have put out the last few years, you'll find a lot of extremely varied stuff catering to all sorts of tastes. Some of my favourite books are Locke and Key, Sweet Tooth, American Vampire but there is a lot out there, comics are brilliantly diverse right now.

 

[Jedeye Sniv]

@Jedeye Sniv: Batman is what makes me want to read comics to be honest, he's always been my favorite hero. Batman TAS is great, he was awesome in the Justice League cartoon and I really loved the Nolan flicks. I just didn't know where an ideal place to start was, did some research and it seems the New 52 is pretty newbie friendly... but I also heard that they keep all the older Batman stories canon... no idea if that's true.

I would also really like to check out Superman, been reading up on him and he seems to be in some good stuff, same problem though no idea where to start, I guess New 52? Plus he's awesome (even though he's a boy scout). Ideally I'd love to read starting from the beginning (meaning a characters origin) but a newbie friendly story is definitely welcome too, for every major comic character.

Older Bat-stories are kinda canon but not so much that you'd notice, and they rarely bring up deep history (unless it's something like Morrison's run). 99% of Batman stories are very self contained and require next to no prior knowledge.

As for feeling like you need to jump in at an origin - I really wouldn't worry about it. You already know most of the big origins through cultural osmosis and they rarely have any impact on current stories at all.

Superman is a tricky charactes because there really aren't that many decent stories with him in (because for some mad reason DC didn't like putting big creators on these books until fairly recently, so 99% of the superman comics published over the years have been quite spectacularly mediocre). My all-time favourite comic is All-Star Superman but it's very divisive and the style is unlike pretty much anything else out there. But it's brilliant. Alternatively for a decent origin you could try Superman: Secret Origin by Geoff Johns (he did a similar thing for Green Lantern too). It came out before the nu52 but has pretty much all the requisite superman beats.

The main 'Batman' title is currently doing a big story called Zero Year that is the 'new' origin for Batman, it's really pretty good, and if you like Court of The Owls and keep reading that title it'll come out in book-form shortly-ish.

The nu52 is weird in that it's kinda just new clothes for old characters. They're tweaking origins and histories as they write it, but really all the writers and readers are aware that there is all this history and everyone's just playing along with the new rules as they make them up.

If you like Spider-Man you might be interersted in Ultimate Spider-Man - it was a 'reboot' started about a decade back that has Peter as a teenager and introduces everything for the first time. It's off in it's own little universe and is really excellent. And if you like it you're in for a treat because there's bloody loads of it.

edit: also, Donnie knows his shit ^^^^^^

 

[tim1138]

@Jedeye Sniv: Batman is what makes me want to read comics to be honest, he's always been my favorite hero. Batman TAS is great, he was awesome in the Justice League cartoon and I really loved the Nolan flicks. I just didn't know where an ideal place to start was, did some research and it seems the New 52 is pretty newbie friendly... but I also heard that they keep all the older Batman stories canon... no idea if that's true.

I would also really like to check out Superman, been reading up on him and he seems to be in some good stuff, same problem though no idea where to start, I guess New 52? Plus he's awesome (even though he's a boy scout). Ideally I'd love to read starting from the beginning (meaning a characters origin) but a newbie friendly story is definitely welcome too, for every major comic character.

@doniewhalberg: I honestly don't really read very much. Used to love Star Wars books as a kid, read a bunch of Harry Potter also. I love fantasy and sci-fi movies and games. Game of Thrones is awesome. I absolutely LOVED the first two Hitchhiker's Guide books, stopped randomly during the third for some reason (gotta get back into it).

I do like detective/crime stories, things with intricate plots and mysterious and stuff, insane twists, blah blah blah. Like I said though I don't read much at all, last book I read was like a year ago haha, wow I have to fix that.

Just recommend me something that is easy to get into, but lots of fun. I remember reading the first 2 volumes of Bone in color in middle school, maybe I'll give that a go. A friend says its good.

Thanks!

ComicGAF regulars are probably tired of seeing me talk about it, but check out Planetary. The series is finished and collected in four paperbacks (five if you count the crossover stories collection) or one giant hardback that just came out. The basic premise is that Planetary is a top secret organization uncovering the mysteries of the world. So it's not a detective story per se, but hits a lot of those mystery beats and has very heavy scifi elements as well. It can be fairly referential at times, to both other comics and pop culture in general, but you really shouldn't lose anything if you don't get the references. It's also a completely stand alone series so you don't need to worry about it fitting into a larger universe or anything.
I really can't recommend it enough.

 

[KoruptData]

I caught a 2nd wind last night and read a bunch of my comics.

The Flash was really good! This was Brian Buccellato amping up for his Detective run as it read like a Batman story but with The Flash.

Saga was it's usually quality.

 

[Shin Johnpv]

I managed to get some reading in last night. Earth 2 Annual, and World's Finest Annual were both, DAMN GOOD. I am a well known disliker of the Multiverse, but I have to admit the Earth 2 stuff with the N52 has been fantastic. I just hope that DC sticks to just our main Universe interacting with Earth 2 and Earth 3.

JLD was really good as well, I have to agree that this Blight storyline has had a great pace. I wish the main Forever Evil book had the pacing that this has, or at least the near weekly chapter that Blight has.

Forever Evil Argus while having some nice moments, feels like this should have happened 2 - 3 issues ago. It's like the opposite of Blight, it's just fucking dragging, with little happening. I feel that way about most of the Forever Evil side books like Argus, Arkham War, and Rogues Rebellion.

Red Lanterns continues to be a solid book. I'm digging Guy's new look.

 

[Owzers]

How do you guys/girls/doops deal with the feeling that you're always missing out on some comic or another?

 

[Messi]

Don't forget folks, tomorrow is the final day to get your votes in for the books of the month. It's been a great month for comics and just remember every vote counts. Don't feel ashamed putting Harley Quinn #2 (Featuring Poision Ivy) as #2 or #3 if you can't put it number #1. Don't let the general negativity of the other books (sans Hawkgal) drag you down. Remember the light colourful art and story of Harleys adventures.

... And remember... Vote your favorites , vote your conscience, just don’t surprise me.

How do you guys/girls/doops deal with the feeling that you're always missing out on some comic or another?

I try to be happy with what I get. You folks keep me mostly up to date on what's great and what to look out for. I drive myself crazy when I think about what I might be missing.

 

[doniewhalberg]

How do you guys/girls/doops deal with the feeling that you're always missing out on some comic or another?

This isn't a big issue for me man ,even when I'm looking at Marvel and DC books, by staying steadfast in purely following writers and artists I love and not characters. So when I look at marvel, I don't see all the avengers books I get vs not get and so on, I see the name Hickman, I buy, I'm done. I don't investigate further and when I'm tempted, I try and remind myself that just because I'm feeling particularly enthusiastic about a character today, doesn't mean I'll enjoy the writing of that character by someone else. It's easy to get sucked in or carried away though.

Obviously just in terms of Image or whatever, I literally buy everything and anything I want haha. And often trying creators via their own stuff is my in to whether a book of theirs at marvel or dc is a good idea or not. So that solves that issue haha.

I noticed something the other day though, where a lot of you guys were speaking about how disposable your collection are in terms of, a lot of the gratification of your comics is on that first read and that's it. I don't buy like that at all. If I don't consider a writer or book good enough that I'm going to come back to it again and again, I'm already out. If I was more open towards disposable fiction though, I imagine I couldn't just go ahead and buy whatever I wanted, because there would be too much. So I think the way I think like that helps. Literally, if I don't think a book is something I'll come back to in five years, it's off my radar. So I guess that drastically cuts down what I think is *good* out there and what I think I could be *missing out* on, kind of thing.

 

[Boss Doggie]

I want to do some hunting on the Superman/Batman series, and it's an old, discontinued one since 2011. What are the best volumes?

 

[KoruptData]

I noticed something the other day though, where a lot of you guys were speaking about how disposable your collection are in terms of, a lot of the gratification of your comics is on that first read and that's it. I don't buy like that at all. If I don't consider a writer or book good enough that I'm going to come back to it again and again, I'm already out. If I was more open towards disposable fiction though, I imagine I couldn't just go ahead and buy whatever I wanted, because there would be too much. So I think the way I think like that helps. Literally, if I don't think a book is something I'll come back to in five years, it's off my radar. So I guess that drastically cuts down what I think is *good* out there and what I think I could be *missing out* on, kind of thing.

Yeah, I have read a bunch of my stuff multiple times.

I have locked in my top 3 and submitted my ballot to Spike. I read Black Science just now and it did not make the cut this month for the first time. Issue was not bad but it was a issue designed to fill holes.

 

[Jedeye Sniv]

I want to do some hunting on the Superman/Batman series, and it's an old, discontinued one since 2011. What are the best volumes?

Probably 1, 2 and 3. They are the definition of dumb fun. In that they are really fucking dumb

 

[ElNarez]

Sent in my votes. Thanks for the reminder. PS: Harley isn't even near my top 3 and it shouldn't be near yours either, come on, be serious, there's at least three comics better than it that came out this month, two of which might be from this very week.

 

[Jedeye Sniv]

Sent in my votes. Thanks for the reminder. PS: Harley isn't even near my top 3 and it shouldn't be near yours either, come on, be serious, there's at least three comics better than it that came out this month, two of which might be from this very week.

Hey, he likes bad comics with female leads, let him be

 

[KoruptData]

Sent in my votes. Thanks for the reminder. PS: Harley isn't even near my top 3 and it shouldn't be near yours either, come on, be serious, there's at least three comics better than it that came out this month, two of which might be from this very week.

2 from last week, one from this week.

 

[Nova Prime]

Uhm never voted before can somebody explain the process to me?

 

[KoruptData]

Uhm never voted before can somebody explain the process to me?

In the OP.

 

[Messi]

Sent in my votes. Thanks for the reminder. PS: Harley isn't even near my top 3 and it shouldn't be near yours either, come on, be serious, there's at least three comics better than it that came out this month, two of which might be from this very week.

I really disagree. I thought harley was fantastic this week.

Hey, he likes bad comics with female leads, let him be

Well I don't think they are bad but I'll let that slide. Female leads are my jam.

Also KoruptData you are hurting me. You were one of us. Don't go you fool!

 

[ElNarez]

Most painful cuts out of the top 3: Hawkeye #16, Zero #5, Deadly Class #1 and Black Widow #1. My excuse for Deadly Class is it's a #1, of course I'm not gonna be as emotionally attached to it as something that's been going on for a while and it's a personal top 3 it calls for being dumb and emotional. But already, that's four comics better than Harley Quinn #2, and there are at least three more I'm not talking about because those ballots are supposed to be secret to some extent.

 

[KoruptData]

I really disagree. I thought harley was fantastic this week.



Well I don't think they are bad but I'll let that slide. Female leads are my jam.

Also KoruptData you are hurting me. You were one of us. Don't go you fool!

I love Harley, but I love Batman more!

 

[Rafa=FedKilla]

Zenesdope released three books better than Harley this week and I was impressed by it.

 

[tim1138]

It was a tough vote this month, but ultimately 2/3 of mine stayed the same as last month.

 

[Jedeye Sniv]

I really disagree. I thought harley was fantastic this week.



Well I don't think they are bad but I'll let that slide. Female leads are my jam.

Also KoruptData you are hurting me. You were one of us. Don't go you fool!

Have you been reading the Hawkeye Kate issues? Best female-lead book out there now I reckon. I want to hang out with her. But nothing more, because that would be creepy.

Best female lead book ever would be Queen and Country

 

[Messi]

Have you been reading the Hawkeye Kate issues? Best female-lead book out there now I reckon. I want to hang out with her. But nothing more, because that would be creepy.

Best female lead book ever would be Queen and Country

Kate is wonderful

You are all going on my hitlist

 

[Nova Prime]

In the OP.

Cheers, my ballot has been cast!

 

[Messi]

I should never have reminded you

 

[slightconfuse]

 

[GrandHarrier]

Well damn,

The Worlds' Finest Annual was way, way better than I was expecting it. Where has this version of Levitz been the entire time? The action scenes were stellar, mega kudos to whomever Diogenes Neves is, because the linework is so good. Also helps that the coloring is top notch as well.

Edit: Red Lanterns continues to deliver! Sooooo gooood. Skallox and Zilius going sight seeing was hilarious. The Guy and Tora subplot was delightful.

 

[Owzers]

Well damn,

The Worlds' Finest Annual was way, way better than I was expecting it. Where has this version of Levitz been the entire time? The action scenes were stellar, mega kudos to whomever Diogenes Neves is, because the linework is so good. Also helps that the coloring is top notch as well.

Edit: Red Lanterns continues to deliver! Sooooo gooood. Skallox and Zilius going sight seeing was hilarious. The Guy and Tora subplot was delightful.

Do i need to buy/read the Lights Out hardcover in order to fully enjoy the first Red Lanterns relaunch trade #21 on ? I know it gets involved in the crossover with issue #24 which is collected in both trades, and the Green Lantern Annual #2 is also collected in both.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

Ultimates vol. 1 only $2 on Comixology. :0

 

[GrandHarrier]

Do i need to buy/read the Lights Out hardcover in order to fully enjoy the first Red Lanterns relaunch trade #21 on ? I know it gets involved in the crossover with issue #24 which is collected in both trades, and the Green Lantern Annual #2 is also collected in both.

Not at all. Red Lanterns involvement in Light's Out is fairly minimal. Spoiler Tags just in case, but really,

Spoiler

they are just additional force that shows up to help stop Relic.

The only thing that you need to know about it, is that in exchange for their help the Reds are able to leverage the Greens

Spoiler

to take control of Sector 2814

.

 

[doniewhalberg]

Newsarama has a new Wolverine preview up, different to the one you guys posted the other day, if anyone's interested. I quite like the art in this one. I thought Logan looked a bit weird in the first one, but I guess he is a weird looking guy.

Click

Not sure about the writing though. Premise: Logan can now die. First page quote: "You could have killed me" "Not with that armor, it can endure what - a nuclear blast?" Alright.

 

[La Maquinon]

Remember Rat Queens #4 people with the secrets and the epic fight and Gary. Awesome issue vote vote vote.

 

[Rafa=FedKilla]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=50592
I want to barf. Listening gim talk about how he wants to build his universe like the Marvel movies, how myopic is that?

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=50592
I want to barf. Listening gim talk about how he wants to build his universe like the Marvel movies, how myopic is that?

And yet Fegredo is artist of forever.

Sad times.

 

[slightconfuse]

I weak I might buy some Millar books. The art is too damn good !

 

[KoruptData]

Cheska, you order Locke and Key?

 

[Rafa=FedKilla]

I weak I might buy some Millar books. The art is too damn good !

The biggest artist in the industry right now is going to draw one of his books in 2015!

 

[BlueScrote]

Have you been reading the Hawkeye Kate issues? Best female-lead book out there now I reckon. I want to hang out with her. But nothing more, because that would be creepy.

Best female lead book ever would be Queen and Country

The Hawkeye delays have kind of killed my enthusiasm for it. The first 10 issues or so were expertly paced, but I feel like the last 6 have been a bit of a slog.

I bet it'll read great as trades though.

 

[Spike Spiegel]

I may actually check out the upcoming Starlight comic from Millar. Retro sci-fi is one of my weaknesses and Parlov's artwork on that book looks amazing so far.

 

[Toa TAK]

What are Millar's best comics anyways?

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

What are Millar's best comics anyways?

His Authority run
Old Man Logan
Superman: Red Son
Civil War (Punisher, lol)
His Spidey run and Enemy of the State is also great
Ultimates 1 and 2


And Jupey's Juniors is actually great, thanks to Quitely.

 

[Rastafarian42]

What are Millar's best comics anyways?

Birdie's list is great I'd add Superior too.

 

[Parch]

Zenesdope released three books better than Harley this week and I was impressed by it.

I often wonder who is buying this Zenescope stuff. They seem to be pumping out a lot of content. I mean A LOT, and it's all basically boobies with some shock gore. Their edgy take on fairy tale topics seem to be working pretty good, even if it's fairly generic and repetative. Whatever works I suppose.

 

[Messi]

Made my picks, pretty standard fare. 1 cape, 2 indie. Nice ratio.

 

[Spike Spiegel]

Made my picks, pretty standard fare. 1 cape, 2 indie. Nice ratio.

Oh, Harley wears a cape now?

 

[Messi]

Oh, Harley wears a cape now?

She has a baby cape in the new 52

 

[Owzers]

with Trillium, Forever Evil, and Superman Unchained ending soon my DC list looks like:

combo packs:
Batman
Justice League

regular:
Wonder Woman

trades:
Green Lantern by Lemire

maybe trades:
Red Lanterns by Gaf hype
Harley Quinn by ridiculous Gaf hype.

Justice League United by Lemire looks a little iffy.

 

[Messi]

with Trillium, Forever Evil, and Superman Unchained ending soon my DC list looks like:

combo packs:
Batman
Justice League

regular:
Wonder Woman

trades:
Green Lantern by Lemire

maybe trades:
Red Lanterns by Gaf hype
Harley Quinn by ridiculous Gaf hype.

Justice League United by Lemire looks a little iffy.

1 madman hardly counts as rediculous hype. Lol.

We should remove spike from office for abuse of power, revealing picks like that.

 

[Zeus Molecules]

that new invincible seems promising

but uncanny avengers was amazing. Thor is that dude

 

[Toa TAK]

His Authority run
Old Man Logan
Superman: Red Son
Civil War (Punisher, lol)
His Spidey run and Enemy of the State is also great
Ultimates 1 and 2


And Jupey's Juniors is actually great, thanks to Quitely.

Birdie's list is great I'd add Superior too.

Oh crap, I forgot about Red Son. I really want to check that one out.