I like comics, How 'bout you?

Post by **Best First** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 6:41 pm

Brendocon wrote:I appear to have accidentally dropped Angel.

Not on purpose.

Solely because an issue came out between Christmas and New Year. By the time I finally got to FP, they had none left. Now I think another one's come out since as well, and that'll probably be gone too.

And I can't be arsed to trawl eBay.

Oh well. I'm sure I'll soldier on.

er, the last issue was actually quite good, by the standards of the rest of the series - altho it also made me ponder how incoherent some of the other bits were.

The art was still pretty dreadful though.

Dark Reign is fun so far - do we think this may be the lead into the return of Cap?

Oh no, who can save us? Hyelp! Hyelp!

Dun dun der! Shiny shield!

Also if anyone is not buying Captain Britain and MI:13 then you are basically a murderer.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 6:44 pm

Best First wrote:er, the last issue was actually quite good

Maybe I should not buy the rest of AHM?

Also if anyone is not buying Captain Britain and MI:13 then you are basically a murderer.

Sorry.

I just spent my unscheduled comics budget for the next six months on the shiny complete Babylon 5 universe boxset.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:19 am

Dark Reign stuff is pretty good.

Actually, Marvel continues to kick the **** out of D.C. I'm reading Marvels:Eye on the Camera, the sequel to Alex Ross' Marvels. The art just blows my mind. Story is good too.

Marvel just knows their ****. Their out of continuity stuff is great, their in continuity stuff is great. I think things really took off with Civil War. I remember when I couldn't stand Marvel, but somehow they've recaptured the magic. Though I wasn't a big fan of the main Secret Invasion title, the ancillary stuff was great.

Marvel takes chances. They respect their own continuity, even if something ridiculous happened in the past, they are still willing to acknowledge it. I think that's crucial in creating a real ongoing mythology. It just seems like when something happens, there truly are consequences.

Example: The Annihilation saga led to the destruction of the Skrull empire which in turn led the Skrulls to seek out Earth and Secret Invasion, which in turn is now leading into the Dark Reign stuff courtesy of Stark's failures and into War of Kings cosmic stuff and so on and so forth.

I guess what I'm saying is, Marvel knows how to create a universe.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 6:59 am

Best F***ing First wrote: Also if anyone is not buying Captain Britain and MI:13 then you are basically a murderer.

Same for anyone not buying X-Factor or The Initiative.

Ya F***ing Ya wrote:It just seems like when something happens, there truly are consequences.

Unless of course, it's Spider-Man, who makes deals with the devil.

Post by **Best First** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:32 am

Brendocon wrote:
Best First wrote:er, the last issue was actually quite good
Maybe I should not buy the rest of AHM?

either way i would say yep

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:48 am

So is Initiative still worth buying with Gage and Ramos?

I'm with Yaya, I was surprised with how much I enjoyed New, Dark, and especially Mighty Avengers.

The only thing I'm buying now from DC Post Crisis is Trinity. I'm going to follow Blackest Night in the trades, though.

Speaking of Crisis, what did you guys think of #7?

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 5:42 pm

Yes, Initiative is, as always, the best comic at Marvel. Gage seems to be doing a good job without Slott--picking up on Slott's subplots, of course.

I like Dark Avengers. Liked Thunderbolts even more.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 6:53 pm

Jack Cade wrote:Peter David's attitude to comics continues to be a breath of fresh air:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/010905-Spec-X.html

X-Factor is, with The Initiative, the best title Marvel publishes. Someone needs to hand a regular X-book to David. The life he can give minor characters with no notable features to start with (like Wolfsbane and Madrox) is something the overpopulated X-teams really need.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 11:00 am

Here's a little recommendation for anyone looking for something new in comics:

http://www.kryptonkomics.com/newpage1.htm

I stumbled across his shop the other week and he sold me issue #3...the next week I went back for issues #1 and #2.

Truly a rare little treat that deserves a little more exposure, because frankly I imagine he's bankrupting himself to print each issue and I've thoroughly enjoyed each one. Without spoiling the surprise, the way they are put together is nothing short of genius - very knowing and post-modern, as if their author was a fat, beardy bloke who sits drawing in a comic shop all day.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:39 am

Has anyone been following the big event thingy in the Ultimate Universe. I think it's interesting and will follow it to see where it's going, but I'm a bit apprehensive about the potential rebooting of the Ultimate Universe.

Marvel and DC still don't seem to have caught on to the situation that they face. Regular comic book buyers are going extinct. With the exception of the speculator-friendly books (Death of Captain America, OMFG It's Obama and Spider-Man, etc) new people don't find comics to be a worthwhile investment. If a book like Final Crisis #1 sells 250,000 copies, it's because a huge number of comic book fans bought it. But they were buying comics that week anyway.

Every time Marvel or DC does something to try to bring in new readers, the exact same thing happens. The first few issues show a (usually) large spike in numbers over the previous book. Then, slowly, the numbers dwindle down to below what the title was doing before the reboot. Rinse and repeat.

There is no way to bring in the actual new readers. If your friends and neighbors don't read comics already, they aren't going to start. Comics are not user friendly and they sell for prices that would be unthinkable for any other form of serial entertainment. These attempts at bringing in new readers ALWAYS result in the loss of existing ones. Without exception.

Look at Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The numbers show that somewhere around 30% of Spider-Man readers have dropped the book since the change. If that number is propped up by new readers, it means that more than 30% of existing readers stopped buying ASM.

The comic book format as we know it is doomed. Maybe not in the next few years, but eventually. In the future, it'll be all trade-sized books (possibly published quarterly or twice-annually), as well as other-media (cartoons, movies, etc). All Marvel and DC can do is put out good stories that appeal to existing comic book readers. Attempts to do otherwise are just expediting the process.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 5:54 pm

Professor Smooth wrote: The comic book format as we know it is doomed. Maybe not in the next few years, but eventually. In the future, it'll be all trade-sized books (possibly published quarterly or twice-annually), as well as other-media (cartoons, movies, etc).

I think the future is web-based comics.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:31 pm

We might see a big change when the Kindle eventually goes color.

der2 · Post by **der2** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:34 pm

Just got through all the Marvel Zombies stuff, awesome, Nextwave was deadly, I still really like Machine Man, even if the celestials think he's a bit ****.

Series 3 was much better than the second one, got a bit too glum for my taste and discovering they'd get over the hunger bothered me a bit as well.

I'm looking forward to the next batch.

I'm not interested in following a series as I'm bound to miss issues, but any further suggestions for full collections to be read, mini or epic, I'll read any lenght once I can find it complete.

Post by **Best First** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:24 am

Yaya wrote:
Professor Smooth wrote: The comic book format as we know it is doomed. Maybe not in the next few years, but eventually. In the future, it'll be all trade-sized books (possibly published quarterly or twice-annually), as well as other-media (cartoons, movies, etc).
I think the future is web-based comics.

Yep and/or some kind of downloadable to reading thingy.

iComic.

Copywrite me.

Which should reduce costs as suddenly there is no printing and no shipping.

Of course it also means the death of the comic shop.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:00 pm

Best First wrote:
Of course it also means the death of the comic shop.

I sincerely hope that most comic shops will have the foresight to switch to other collectibles with comics (possibly back issues and/or trades) as just one of many types of items for sale. I moved around the US a fair bit towards the end of my stay there and I loved each of the shops I visited. I'd hate for them to just disappear.

Post by **Best First** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:15 pm

most of them already do that don't they?

Just not sure many will survive without the core trade.

Certainly not in the UK anyway.

der2 · Post by **der2** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:21 pm

Well I'm in the middle of nowhere, getting to a comic shop means getting a train or bus across the country. I'd have to say webcomics are the future as well. Strikes me the same for the likes of DVD shops as well as I watch them start to sell players and other electronics. Suppose the comics companies will continue to push multimedia based on their licenses. Though I guess I've missed out on the comic shop experience.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 8:15 pm

Professor Smooth wrote:Has anyone been following the big event thingy in the Ultimate Universe. I think it's interesting and will follow it to see where it's going, but I'm a bit apprehensive about the potential rebooting of the Ultimate Universe.

With the whole Ultimate Spider Man thing, though, I've got this MASSIVE wet dream that involves a married Spider Man coming out of nowhere.

And yeah, web comics. And if I could then apply the .99 cents or whatever I spend on the digital comics TOWARDS the purchase of the TPB, that would be even better.

Post by **Best First** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:40 am

Shanti418 wrote:
And yeah, web comics. And if I could then apply the .99 cents or whatever I spend on the digital comics TOWARDS the purchase of the TPB, that would be even better.

hang on - that's a brilliant idea.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:58 am

"What Ever Happened to the Caped Crusader?" is quite nice. Not that I expected anything less, but still.

Curious to see where it goes.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:59 pm

Enjoying the Dark Reign stuff. It's stupid how Osborn got into the position he's in, but am enjoying the aftermath of it thus far. For some reason, I really enjoy seeing Stark scramble around like a pansy. One thing I didn't like was seeing Doom sitting in a board meeting with the Cabal. Come on. It's Doom we're talking about.

Deadato's art in fantastic. Up there with Hitch, who's work on Fantastic Four never ceases to amaze me.

Deadpool rocks. I literally laugh out loud reading it. haven't done that with a comic in a while. Probably my favorite title out right now.

Daredevil is pretty good too.

Will be reading the Marvel Zombies stuff soon under BF's suggestion. Heard good things about it from others as well.

Read my first manga. Called Naruto. Light fun, nothing substantial in it yet. Anybody familiar with it?

My bro is suggesting I pick up the Green Lantern Corp stuff. Don't read D.C. much, but I'll give it a shot. Anybody like it?

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:05 pm

Marvels: Eye of the Camera has been pretty enjoyable.

Post by **Best First** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 1:04 pm

Yaya wrote: Will be reading the Marvel Zombies stuff soon under BF's suggestion. Heard good things about it from others as well.

Although lets be clear my real recommendation is Next Wave followed by Marvel Zombies 3 for your full component of Aaron Stack goodness.

Agree about Dark Reign - the whole thing is faintly preposterous but the fallout is great fun. Liked the twist in who they ended up fighting. And yes Deadeto's art is awesome - that page with Le Fay and the Sentry actually made me swear out loud in suprise.

FF four is good but the last issue felt like an unneccesary diversion from the plot that has been building up.

Ultimate Spidey continues to be great - even managing this through Ultimatum.

Pretty underwhelmed by Mighty Avengers though.

Ozz · Post by **Ozz** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 1:24 pm

Best First wrote:Ultimate Spidey continues to be great - even managing this through Ultimatum.

Unfortunately Ultimatum delays has finally caught with Spider-Man and next issue will be in April. At least I assume that's the reason. I don't see why Immonen should suddenly get slower with his art duties.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:09 pm

Professor Smooth wrote:Marvels: Eye of the Camera has been pretty enjoyable.

Superb stuff. Artwise, too.

Although lets be clear my real recommendation is Next Wave followed by Marvel Zombies 3 for your full component of Aaron Stack goodness.

Noted.

On a side note, I heard Marvel is going up to $3.99 price tag for many of their titles. Yikes. I mean, is that a good idea. In this economy? Web comics might be hear sooner than we think.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 5:19 am

Best First wrote: Agree about Dark Reign - the whole thing is faintly preposterous but the fallout is great fun. Liked the twist in who they ended up fighting. And yes Deadeto's art is awesome - that page with Le Fay and the Sentry actually made me swear out loud in suprise.

Agreed to the third power. Clint's speech at the end of NA lets me know that this is more a storyline than a status quo, and that's good to know. Have the bad guys run things, do stuff that people never thought existed but now are dying to see (like Norman Osborn kicking the s*** out of Cyclops in a red white and blue Iron Man suit this summer!), and then end it before people realize how implausible the whole thing is.

FF four is good but the last issue felt like an unneccesary diversion from the plot that has been building up.

Maybe it'll twist in again. Those people did seem extraordinarily ordinary in that weird foreshadowy way. But you're right the Doom story in which Millar says Doom's teacher is going to be Clyde Wyncham from 1985should be cool.

Pretty underwhelmed by Mighty Avengers though.

I was overwhelmed with the first Slott one, and the last one I was underwhelmed to perhaps dropping it after ish 3. It seems like there are a lot of good parts in it (Great art, Hank/Amadeus interplay, WTF is with Scarlet Witch), but for better or worse, the story and the villan are paint by the numbers.

I'm going to pick up Marvels:EOTC in TPB, as well as the GL stuff, I think.

Post by **Best First** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 9:14 am

Shanti418 wrote:Norman Osborn kicking the s*** out of Cyclops in a red white and blue Iron Man suit this summer!

Not to make your point for you but - details please!!!

Ozz · Post by **Ozz** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 10:28 am

Best First wrote:Not to make your point for you but - details please!!!

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/090301- ... ngers.html

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 1:14 pm

Anyone else pick up Ultimate Hulk vs Wolverine #3? I loved it!

I love that, in the span of a few months, the US elected a black president, Chinese Democracy was released, the Watchmen movie premiered AND Ultimate Hulk vs Wolverine #3 came out.

At this rate, I'll be playing Duke Nukem Forever by Christmas!

Ozz · Post by **Ozz** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 1:24 pm

Professor Smooth wrote:Anyone else pick up Ultimate Hulk vs Wolverine #3?

Was good. But I hope now it will move straight forward, without flashbacks and peeks into future. It's like this because the guy from Lost writes it?