Comic books

[erechoveraker]

After that, though, everything became a weak imitation of Morrison's JLA characterizations (or, alternately, Warren Ellis' Authority).  Batman beating Galactus or The Spectre or God became routine and boring, and in the hands of most writers turned out to be a deus ex machina most of the time - there was a certain genius to Batman defeating the White Martians (can't believe I just typed that) or Lex Luthor, or Green Arrow and the Atom killing Darkseid, that has since gone unmatched.

Yeah, I remember the segue from that last JLA arc of his, whatever it was, Tower of Babel maybe, into Mark Waid's run seemed very easy. Not to insult Waid, but they are and were very different style of writers, but Morrison I think just blew his load early on and limped his way through a lot of that latter half of the run. I remember that book being a really big hit for DC at a time when that didn't happen too often. Although that last arc had a lot of the annoying stream style writing he does I hate - it's reminds me of badly translated anime in a lot of ways, from his brain to script it just feels like we missed stuff in the translation. Characters spewing nonsense techno-drug-babble line after another just to move the story along without much explanation. His X-men run had tons of that too.

As for Neal Adams, I can see a heavy influence towards that in Daniel's newer stuff actually. It's really subtle, just stuff around the eyes, some of the framing and panel layouts. I went to his blog after my last post and saw a few pencilled pages from recent issues that really show that off. Of course he still has too much of all the awful Image/Brett Booth influences in his work too, but he's come a long way since his "The Fifth" days (yikes!).

[Joe Rogaine]

Black Hole was really great, Skim by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki was great, Ice Haven and Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron were great! (I already read both years ago, but I was like 15 at the time, so it doesn't count).

I second Black Hole, or anything by Dan Clowes as a first comic book for a grown-up. I wouldn't recommend any superhero stuff whatsoever - unless you got into it as a kid and have that nostalgia factor, it's pretty dumb. (Though, obviously, I do love a lot of it).

This is a golden age for good, sophisticated comics.

And also a good time, from what I hear, for genre junk that's labelled "For Mature Readers" but is actually mostly appropriate for 15 year olds. Anytime I try to read that Vertigo-type stuff I'm left really cold. I feel like I'm watching bad tv. Or maybe so-so tv.

Im about half way through Black Hole. Just found out David Fincher is going to make it into a film.

[Bryan]

The Washington Post recently published a profile of the comics industry - apparently just about the only branch of the publishing industry that's actually growing. Anyway, it could easily have turned out as a "Bam! Pow! Comics Aren't Just For Kids Anymore!" type story, but instead it's an indepth and nuanced look at the industry. He talks to Art Spiegelman, Francoise Mouly, Adrian Tomine, etc. Well worth a look, especially for people like Andy, who are looking to dip their toes into the world of comics.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/08/22/ST2008082201503.html

[Andy]

ok, I just can't get into comic books.  maybe, are there some comics that are more humorous than action/adventure?  something like the middle aged batman that I saw in someones gogle reader where he looks like jon lovitz?

[yesno]

I've tried and tried to get into mainstream comics but most of them are just terrible.  Most of everything is terrible, of course.  But comics are one of the few genres where the "golden" age or classic stuff is just about the worst.

That said, most of the artsy fartsy kinds of things on Fantagraphics and so forth are pretty good, and I did enjoy Watchmen, the Sandman, and a few other obvious ones, but none of them ever lived up to their hype.  Even newer "good" mainstream comics like Y the Last Man bored the hell out of me after a couple of issues.

I always get the impression that people really want comics to be better than they are.

[Spoony]

Hi-five, yesno.

I have a few comic groupie friends that seem like they're trying to force it. I love how they knot themselves over comic book movies as well. The semantic debates are hilarious for a few minutes until they become so pointless I feel like dumping cold water over everyone.

[Phantom Hugger]

I've tried and tried to get into mainstream comics but most of them are just terrible.  Most of everything is terrible, or course.  But comics are one of the few genres where the "golden" age or classic stuff is just about the worst.

That said, most of the artsy fartsy kinds of things on Fantagraphics and so forth are pretty good, and I did enjoy Watchmen, the Sandman, and a few other obvious ones, but none of them ever lived up to their hype.  But even newer "good" mainstream comics like Y the Last Man bored the hell out of me after a couple of issues.

I always get the impression that people really want comics to be better than they are.

I totally agree with this, the only comic that I really fell in love with was the Krazy Kat stuff, and also anything that the Friedman's touch has me laughing out loud in public (much like the Best Show).

I tried getting on board with that Y series too, I had that sinking feeling from the get go. Now I have three of those things polluting my shelves.

[Bryan]

There are lots of funny comics - Johnny Ryan, Ivan Brunetti, Rick Altergott, Michael Kupperman, Tony Millionaire and Daniel Clowes all do funny stuff, at varying toxicity levels. Lots of others do stuff that's 'fun' if not 'funny'.

I agree that most mainstream comics are awful and self-serious, but I love the old-timey superhero stuff. Back when Bam! Pow! Comics were just for kids anymore, and as a result they were silly and fun. Silver Age Superman comics, for example, are weird as hell.

[Spoony]

I agree that most mainstream comics are awful and self-serious, but I love the old-timey superhero stuff. Back when Bam! Pow! Comics were just for kids anymore, and as a result they were silly and fun. Silver Age Superman comics, for example, are weird as hell.

YES! Superman could get surreal with their villains. Trying to keep the Man Of Steel menaced isn't easy, and those writers had to get creative.

[Gilly]

Batman comics aren't as hokey- at least modern stuff, maybe 88-present. But, I don't really get into the action stuff. Watchmen and Batman are great and I liked Marvel Civil War as well. I think a lot of people who are into comics are really talking about graphic novels which are way different than what you find on the rack at the bookstore. If you use torrents there's one out there called the 100 graphic novels ever or something like that and that's worth checking out. If you don't like any of that, you probably aren't ever going to like the format.

[erechoveraker]

There is almost nothing better out there right now than Brubaker's Captain America. And I barely read any superhero stuff at all anymore. 

[Gagneaux]

I have been enjoying Captain America lately, but I'm really looking for the resolution of this seemingly never ending "Death of Captain America" story line.

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

Yeah, ditto.  As recently as 6 months ago Captain America was at the top of the stack, but it's starting to become a snooze.  I like Bucky as Cap, though, and hope they keep him.

I also have to say that Bendis has won me over a little with this Secret Invasion jazz.  It's still a little bit like superheroes as the Howard Stern show, and he doesn't seem to care whether or not the Avengers appear in The Avengers, but it's pretty entertaining stuff.

[yesno]

I've been trying to figure out how to write down Mark Ramone's pronunciation of "comic books."

Neither comet boots or comet buts looks right.

Comet bʊts? (I think the correct IPA symbol).  Büts?

[redsplitwig]

If you're a fan of Brian Bendis (in spite of his adoration for Howard Stern), you might already know that he does a episode of John Suintres' Wordballoon podcast once or twice a year.  Bendis' episode is made up of questions asked from members of his message board and they call them "The Bendis Tapes" after a story in Daredevil called "The Murdock Papers."  I posted a mention that Tom was looking to write for Marvel and it got a pretty half-assed reaction.  If you want to listen here's the link:
http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?t=160714
(I think he answers the Tom question somewhere between the fifteen and twenty minute mark on part 3)
Between the campaign for his 33 1/3 book and this, I think it's all gonna start happening for Mr. Scharpling.

I read a bunch of the Marvel stuff when the trades come out, but also stuff like Walking Dead, Wasteland, Fear Agent, Scalped, and Criminal.  I haven't kept up on Brubakers Daredevil, but I plan to eventually.