Comic books

[ben]

i used to like the runaways but the new reboot is all sorts of awful.

[Pride of Staten Island]

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.

I thought Bendis's reaction was pretty funny, just for assuming Tom was some morning zoo type schmuck. Bendis is buds with Patton Oswalt so Patton might have to show him the way of TBS. If anything I think being a fan of Howard Stern might make Bendis more likely to become a fan of Tom. I know plenty of people who love Stern and Sharpling and totally eschew any other comedy/talk-type radio.

FYI Brubaker's run of Daredevil is nowhere near as good as Bendis's though it's still quite enjoyable.

I posted a "50 Things I Love About Comics" list on my blog if any of you are interested in reading it: http://theunblinkingear.blogspot.com/2008/08/50-things-i-love-about-comics.html

[erechoveraker]

Matt Fraction is an FOT too, time for some folks to set Bendis straight.


EDIT - Just listened to that bit. If Cebulski is the gauntlet Tom has to run through, then it might not be worth it. 

[tomkaters]

I actually do a podcast on comic books...but I won' say what it is. I feel odd plugging it.

[mokin]

I think it's even odder to tease us like that.

[tomkaters]

I think it's even odder to tease us like that.

I just hate joining a forum and within 20 posts start plugging myself. Then again I guess I could have not mentioned doing a podcast about comic books. I guess I am complicated.

[erechoveraker]

Just wait 3 more posts and then tell us, and I think you'll be in the clear.

[Matt C]

I actually do a podcast on comic books...but I won' say what it is. I feel odd plugging it.

I love your podcast Tom, you are the reason I started listening to the Best Show in the first place.

[Namey]

I actually do a podcast on comic books...but I won' say what it is. I feel odd plugging it.

Hey, I listen to your podcast, too. I giggled when I saw your picture in the picture section.

Perhaps it would be more appropriate for one of your listeners to plug your show.

Not me, though. I have less posts than you and am even more complicated (that word means disoriented, right?)

[mokin]

http://www.aroundcomics.com/

There.

Jesus Christ, was that so hard, people?

[jamesp]

As somebody who is new to comic books/graphic novels, what is worth checking out? I've been reading Y: the Last Man (which I think is a very fun read so far) along with 100 Bullets and Stray Bullets (both of which are okay but I'm not really going crazy for). I've heard good things about The Watchmen, The Sandman, and The Walking Dead but I'm clueless beyond that. Any suggestions?

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

I think Douglas Wolk's Reading Comics is a good primer - it will lead you to well-known and lesser-known stuff, and is descriptive enough that you'll have a pretty good idea of what you won't like (for example, Wolk advocates for Cerebus, but in a way where I still know I probably won't like it.

Generally speaking, you can't go wrong with Dan Clowes.  Other than that, I'd recommend going back through the thread and looking at what people have to say - lots of good reviews and recommendations here.

[erechoveraker]

Preacher is a pretty good chaser for Y I've heard (or vice versa). Really any of the better Vertigo series wouldn't be a bad way to go next, Transmet or Sandman etc.

Box Office Poison is a whole heckuva lot of fun too.

(for example, Wolk advocates for Cerebus, but in a way where I still know I probably won't like it.

I've somewhat tried to get into that a few times and failed, aside from all the weird stuff about Sim personally. What's your take on it as far as the probably not going to like it aspect?

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

Well, actually, I had followed it for a while, during the latter part of what Wolk calls its best period (late 80s/early 90s), and I wasn't all that into it then, either.  Wolk makes a case for ignoring Sim's loony misogyny, but I can't really separate it from my feelings about his work, which veers between boringly pretentious and totally insane.  The art's pretty good, but everyone says that that's the work of his inker, Gerhard.

[Satchmo Mask]

I think Douglas Wolk's Reading Comics is a good primer

Oddly, I'm in the middle of it right now. (Okay, not so oddly, I purchased it when I saw it listed in your "best of" book list) But yeah, great book, THANKS, GROTE.