Labor Day weekend marks the 2/3 point of 2008, as crazy as that sounds. The year’s already two-thirds over.
What comics have made an impression on you in that time? Several of my favorites, off the top of my head, are the same as last year — “Criminal” and “Captain America” from Ed Brubaker are two. I really loved the first “Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds” from Geoff Johns and George Perez, so that has a chance to be a top one for 2008.
Alex Robinson’s “Too Cool to be Forgotten” from Top Shelf is probably one of the year’s top original graphic novels. A man who wants to quit smoking gets hypnotized — and winds up back in high school.
I’ve heard good things about “Bottomless Belly Button,” which is on my to-read pile. Also on the to-read list is “Abandoned Cars.”
A couple I have actually read that are awfully good: Tatsumi’s “Good-Bye” and Jeffrey Brown’s “Little Things.”
What are you guys reading and enjoying?
– Matt Price
August 31st, 2008 at 1:02 pm
I think finally getting the ending of Joss’s “Astonishing” ranks up there, even if it was a little underwhelming.
OGN, I liked “Too Cool”, as it actually got to me in the third act. I also enjoyed “The New York Four” from MINX, though I didn’t realize it was the first of a series. “Water Baby” from MINX had some cool things going for it, but it seemed to just end without ending.
The “Last Son” Hardcover from Johns and Kubert is simply a remarkable work, and ignoring the shipping schedule, it’s one of the best looking comics I’ve read. The backgrounds, the visuals, it’s like watching a movie.
I really, really enjoy “Ultimate Spider-Man”, and think that the latest trade of “Fables” was pretty amazing (something I only read in trade). I agree with “Criminal” being a stand out, and I enjoy both “Cap” and “Daredevil” on a monthly basis. The fact “Cap” hasn’t had steve rogers for almost 2 years and is STILL good is a testament to the ideal of Captain America.
“Legion of Three Worlds” was stellar. And I’ve enjoyed “Rogues Revenge” as well. Not to mention Johns’ Action Comics work, his GL, and his JSA.
Let’s mention “Justice Society of America” here. Introducing KC Supes to the team could have gone any which way, and instead, embracing the KC mythology, it’s turned JSA into The Must Read Book of DC’s line every month, for me at least. And Gog storyline has just built and built… tremendous.
“Trinity” has been a blast for one simple reason: Mark Bagley on DC’s Characters. They’re invigorated, they’re new, they’re classic. I want action figures from this. I want original art. I want I want I want…
Obviously, Amazing Spidey BND has been one of the most talked about books of the year. I will say this: I wanted to hate it. I tried to. I still, deep down, harbor an uttermost resentment for the entire One More Day story, as I feel it was cheap, ineffective, and whoreish, and it cheapened a character, a mythology, and an entire 4 generations of comic readers.
That said, I’ve come to enjoy Brand New Day. It grew on me. But the art (Marcos Martin’s “paper doll” arc?!?! FANTASTIC), the writing (Spidey is HILARIOUS), and the storylines have been pretty classic. Marvel succeeded in bringing Spider-Man back to his classic roots. But at the expense of 25 years of a marriage, not to mention stories, arcs, characters, and fans.
BUT… MJ seems to know about the deal with the devil. And in the latest issue, Peter admitted to knowing it as well. So if they both know they magically anulled their marriage… what’s the point? Whats. The Point.
I think “Uncanny X-Men” floundered after the X-Baby Crossover, when it went to the savage land and russia. Very weak. But #500 was pretty fun, so I’m back on board. I think Matt Fraction is one solid writer, and his “The Order” was criminally underrated.
“1985″ has been a very fun read, but why do we need mention of it in “Kick Ass”? For that matter, “Kick Ass” is a fun book, but I don’t see it as anything more than what it is.
I freaked out pretty happily when Major Victory showed up in “Guardians of the Galaxy”. That’s a fun book. I’m interested to see how much GOTG mythology ends up in there.
(And can we get some GOTG trades?!?)
Personally, one of my favorite things of the year is the Hardcover editions of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe. These things make me squeal with glee every time I open one.
It’s been a good year. And it’s interesting to note it’s been a good year and we haven’t talked about the “Invasion” and “Crisis” main books.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Anything Geoff Johns writes is golden. Rogues Revenge was the best of the Crisis tie-in books this week. Legion of Three Worlds will most likely be my favorite book of the year.
Captain America will be on of my top 5 favorites as long as Brubaker stays on the title. I have not liked the new team on Astonishing X-Men as much as Joss and Cassaday.
Fables will be my favorite Vertigo title as long as it is still going, but House of Mystery and Madame Xanadu are pretty good.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:48 am
I’m still loving The Walking Dead. I pretty much pick up silver age Marvel and trades. I can’t wait for the new Scott Pilgrim.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
There’s been so many awesome comics this year. My overall favorite so far has been Booster Gold, always good, funny and consistent. The most fun book that I’ve been reading this year is Blue Beetle, such a great book that is, sadly, under the radar. I enjoyed everything that Geoff Johns writes, especially the two Final Crisis tie-ins that he’s doing. Trinity is shaping up to be a great book. Both Kurt Busiek and Fabian Niciezia have been awesome. There’s so much morre that’s been great but I don’t have the time to list here because I’m at work.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:40 am
I am glad that Geoff made Booster into an actual hero, without taking away or retconning his misadventures in the Keith Giffen pennned issues of the Justice League.
Of course, any Geoff Johns book is Golden. Rogues’ Revenge was the best of the Final Crisis tie-ins last week, and Legion of Three Worlds will probably be my favorite book of the year. You can’t forget Green Lantern. Since his Green Lantern Rebirth series, I have accumulated all the Green Lantern titles and have read up to the end of his first series. Hoping to finish all series before the beginning of “Blackest Night”.
Fables is also a major favorite, and with issue 75 coming out this week…
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:53 am
Because I’m a shameless promoter, POPGUN volume 2 was very exciting for me (containing my comic writing debut). And overall, I think it’s got some great stuff, with far fewer nihilistic downer stories that weighed down volume 1.
I buy almost anything by Brubaker. CRIMINAL. DAREDEVIL. CAPTAIN AMERICA. I bought and enjoyed the UNCANNY X-MEN HC, but still felt like I needed Wikipedia to make any sense of the current X-universe - I haven’t picked up any other Uncanny since then.
Fraction’s IRON FIST is a great read, and I’m enjoying his PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL (not a big fan of Pun at all).
Kirkman’s INVINCIBLE is always solid and I enjoyed Darwyn Cooke’s THE SPIRIT more in theory than in practice - gorgeous art but the storytelling didn’t really engage me much.
Kevin Huizenga’s GANGES is a great read. And I’ve enjoyed discovering Gabrielle Bell lately as well.
I’m really looking forward to jumping into the AMERICAN FLAGG! HC and the ZOT! Complete B&W Collection. Haven’t read those in 15-25 years. Wow.
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I’ve got to come back and agree on some things.
“Invincible” is a book that just keeps getting better, even when I think it’s going nowhere. I think, recently, it’s been at the top of it’s game, even though it’s wrapped up some pretty pointless or uninteresting plotlines.
I picked up Vol. 1 of Cooke’s “The Spirit” hardcover, was blown away, and then ran out to buy as many old Spirit collections as I could. What a talent, what a fantastically perfect comic.
POPGUN’s 1 and 2 were fun, and I keep them close by as I continually read them and flip through them to find something new. As a comic mixtape, it certainly does it’s job. If you want fun, you have fun. If you want serious, you have serious. If you want a ninja platypus, you have a ninja platypus.
I will have to go back and find Brian’s story.
I also really enjoyed marvel finally collecting the “ClanDestine” series in Hardcover, and the recent min-series as well, if only to see Alan Davis draw the Cross-Time Caper Excaliber again. (GENIUS!)
I think”Tiny Titans” is a fun, fun series, that I usually zip through grinning like a monkey.
Oh, and what about Joe Hill’s “Locke & Key”?!!? What a truly fantastic, eerie, scary, creepy, disturbing, fun, leery, twisty comic. I had to tell myself, after the first few issues, I wasn’t going to read them any more at night. I’m eagerly anticipating the next volume next January. Though I was blown away by Hill’s “Heart Shaped Box”, I was skeptical about his comic debut, but man, he’s shaping up to be every bit the master storyteller as his father.
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Hey Cody -
It’s “Bastard Road,” on page 287. Or online at www.popguncomics.com.
Also check out www.bastardroad.com. And if you’re on Facebook, look us up and become a fan! Dave’s drawing our follow-up for Popgun 3 as we speak.
-Brian