A great big thread about comics
Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2018 7:29 am
Hello! Do you like comics? Let's talk about them. Here's what I'm currently reading.
Spider-Man
I've been reading comics for most of the 39 years I've been on this planet, yet had a huge, spider shaped hole in my knowledge of the medium. I read two books about 20 years ago, hated them and never went back. I recently decided to fix this, so am reading Spider-Man...
...from the start.
Yeah, started with the first ever issue back from the early 60s and plan on reading until I've had enough. I'm about 40 issues in so far and genuinely enjoying it. The art and writing is very of its time, but when you look past that the stories are good and it's interesting to see the origins of a character. I've never done this with a comic book before, not even the Bat, so interested to see how the comic develops over the years.
American Gods
This is the comic book adaption of probably my favorite Neil Gaiman novel, and it's excellent. It's midway through the 'second season' so far (if you're familiar with the story, Shadow is in Lakeside being Mike Ainsel). Really enjoying this each month, and if you like the book or the TV series it's definitely worth a look.
Nightwing (New 52)
As a life long Batman fan, it's surprising I've never bothered with any of the supporting characters own books, so I thought I'd check out Nightwings New 52 run, and I'm glad I did. Very worthy of his own series, the stories are every bit as good as his old mentors, really loving it.
Batman Incorporated: Vol 2
About halfway through the Nightwing New 52 run we learn a certain character is dead (won't name them, just in case people are bothered about spoilers!) and that the death occurs in the Batman Inc. Vol 2 books, so I thought I'd break off Nightwing to quickly run through this.
I read Volume 1 when I was on my Grant Morrison read through earlier this year (more on that after) but I thought I'd re-read Vol 1 before tackling Vol 2. I had hoped the first volume would make more sense a second time round. It didn't, not really. Vol. 2 is actually a little more coherent, but I maintain that Grant Morrisons work on Batman is an absolute hot mess of shit. Speaking of which...
Special mention to the GM Batman run...
Having tried some of his work years back and finding it a confusing mess, I thought I'd try it again this year. Now, I'm not stupid. I can read comics, and I can follow convoluted plots. I know Batman inside out, but Grant Morrison was the worst thing to ever happen to this series.
I read his entire run, from Batman & Son, following every major book up to Batman Inc. It's like they made thousands of panels, cut them out, threw them up in the air, and stuck them where they landed. There are moments of clarity - some of Batman & Son is readable, and parts of Bruce Wayne making his way back to present day were well done, but on the whole I think Grant Morrisons work is an absolute mess. He cannot write for shit. Final Crisis is probably the worst comic I've ever read. However...... glad I did.
Stuff I'll be reading next...
Akira - been meaning to read this for years.
Batman Knightfall Trilogy - first read this 20+ years ago and it's an all timer. New editions with a lot more content were released a while back, so looking forward to tackling those soon.
All-Star Western - fancied something a bit different. Part of the DC New 52 line, it only ran for a few books, but reviewed well. Cowboys innit.
So, anyone else..?
Spider-Man
I've been reading comics for most of the 39 years I've been on this planet, yet had a huge, spider shaped hole in my knowledge of the medium. I read two books about 20 years ago, hated them and never went back. I recently decided to fix this, so am reading Spider-Man...
...from the start.
Yeah, started with the first ever issue back from the early 60s and plan on reading until I've had enough. I'm about 40 issues in so far and genuinely enjoying it. The art and writing is very of its time, but when you look past that the stories are good and it's interesting to see the origins of a character. I've never done this with a comic book before, not even the Bat, so interested to see how the comic develops over the years.
American Gods
This is the comic book adaption of probably my favorite Neil Gaiman novel, and it's excellent. It's midway through the 'second season' so far (if you're familiar with the story, Shadow is in Lakeside being Mike Ainsel). Really enjoying this each month, and if you like the book or the TV series it's definitely worth a look.
Nightwing (New 52)
As a life long Batman fan, it's surprising I've never bothered with any of the supporting characters own books, so I thought I'd check out Nightwings New 52 run, and I'm glad I did. Very worthy of his own series, the stories are every bit as good as his old mentors, really loving it.
Batman Incorporated: Vol 2
About halfway through the Nightwing New 52 run we learn a certain character is dead (won't name them, just in case people are bothered about spoilers!) and that the death occurs in the Batman Inc. Vol 2 books, so I thought I'd break off Nightwing to quickly run through this.
I read Volume 1 when I was on my Grant Morrison read through earlier this year (more on that after) but I thought I'd re-read Vol 1 before tackling Vol 2. I had hoped the first volume would make more sense a second time round. It didn't, not really. Vol. 2 is actually a little more coherent, but I maintain that Grant Morrisons work on Batman is an absolute hot mess of shit. Speaking of which...
Special mention to the GM Batman run...
Having tried some of his work years back and finding it a confusing mess, I thought I'd try it again this year. Now, I'm not stupid. I can read comics, and I can follow convoluted plots. I know Batman inside out, but Grant Morrison was the worst thing to ever happen to this series.
I read his entire run, from Batman & Son, following every major book up to Batman Inc. It's like they made thousands of panels, cut them out, threw them up in the air, and stuck them where they landed. There are moments of clarity - some of Batman & Son is readable, and parts of Bruce Wayne making his way back to present day were well done, but on the whole I think Grant Morrisons work is an absolute mess. He cannot write for shit. Final Crisis is probably the worst comic I've ever read. However...... glad I did.
Stuff I'll be reading next...
Akira - been meaning to read this for years.
Batman Knightfall Trilogy - first read this 20+ years ago and it's an all timer. New editions with a lot more content were released a while back, so looking forward to tackling those soon.
All-Star Western - fancied something a bit different. Part of the DC New 52 line, it only ran for a few books, but reviewed well. Cowboys innit.
So, anyone else..?