post more about graphic novels

[Foster]

this thread is for discussing the latest graphic novels / trades, that just came out
or you just read.
This isn't for posting about childish comic books!!!

I just picked up the Final Crisis Trade and the Final Crisis Companion,
now that its in a graphic novel format I didn't feel foolish buying it,
not like when it was just a comic book.

[zildjian361]

Very cool bro, just dont have that much free time. see ya 7-11 in NYC:smile::wink:

[TheMojoPin]

I picked the FC hardcover earlier this week.

Anyone who complained about this story needs to re-read all in one go.

Granted, Morrison is bonkers and his stories have more twists than a Chinese fingertrap, but this is the most creative shit that's been done with these characters in a long time. These are epic, mythological figures and their stories should be fucking huge and convoluted and insane. Bravo.

[Tall_James]

Chinese fingertrap

Chinese fingertrap = Szechuan Pussy

[PapaBear]

I hope Marc with c doesn't see this thread.

[jab]

uh oh, someone is feeling passive ag:nono::nono:gressive lol

[boosterp]

Well, since I do not read fiction I did finish a book on the changes of Asia during the 20th century that was quite interesting. I gave it to my brother last week and forget the actual title but it can easily be found.

[EliSnow]

I picked the FC hardcover earlier this week.

Anyone who complained about this story needs to re-read all in one go.

Granted, Morrison is bonkers and his stories have more twists than a Chinese fingertrap, but this is the most creative shit that's been done with these characters in a long time. These are epic, mythological figures and their stories should be fucking huge and convoluted and insane. Bravo.

I have re-read FC in one go, and I still have complaints. Yes, it's insanely creative, and epic, but there are still problems with it. For instance, I still have issues with a lot of the disconnect between the art and the written narrative. If the art isn't filling in blanks, then there should be some narrative that is. And often, it wasn't clear what exactly was happening in a scene because it wasn't clear from the art, and there was no dialogue or written boxesto describe.

Compare that to Morrison's All-Star Superman run which was epic, mythic, creative, but not convoluted or with disconnects.

I just finished reading the second volume of Starman Omnibus. I have to say that each time I read this series, I love it more. The characters of Jack Knight, Shade, and to a lesser extent the O'Dares, and other supporting characters are so great and unlike normal comic book characters, it just makes me happy to read it.

Plus, the prologues, epilogues, drawings and other extras from the creators and others really is interesting stuff.

[Chigworthy]

I found my boxes of freebies from when I worked at Eclipse.

Toadswart D'amplestone had awesome charcoal art.

Pigeons From Hell was pretty spooky.

Words Without Pictures was a book of short stories written by (then) indie comic heavies.

Dirty Pair was jack material for kids whose dad's didn't get Playboy.

Tapping the Vein was a pretty good series of books based on Clive Barker stories (the one with two gay guys going to town in a corn field was risque).

Appleseed books were compilations of the comics.

Krazy & Ignatz were a blast from the past.

I forget the rest, but good times.

[TheMojoPin]

I have re-read FC in one go, and I still have complaints. Yes, it's insanely creative, and epic, but there are still problems with it. For instance, I still have issues with a lot of the disconnect between the art and the written narrative. If the art isn't filling in blanks, then there should be some narrative that is. And often, it wasn't clear what exactly was happening in a scene because it wasn't clear from the art, and there was no dialogue or written boxesto describe.

Compare that to Morrison's All-Star Superman run which was epic, mythic, creative, but not convoluted or with disconnects.

I agree that FC would have been better if there had been one art team handling the whole thing.

[JustJon]

I think FC's biggest prob was that I felt like I was missing pieces of story as I was reading it. And those books I did read (Death of New Gods, Batman, etc.) didn't fit the continuity laid out in the FC miniseries.

Looking forward to Starman Omnibus 3 thiss weekend, though.

[EliSnow]

I think FC's biggest prob was that I felt like I was missing pieces of story as I was reading it. And those books I did read (Death of New Gods, Batman, etc.) didn't fit the continuity laid out in the FC miniseries.

Looking forward to Starman Omnibus 3 thiss weekend, though.

I agree. This is a problem that Secret Invasion held in common. Too many plot points were developed in side stories (such as Batman RIP for FC or New Avengers for Secret Invasion). The event should be self containable with the related issues supplementing the story, but not necessary.

[JustJon]

I agree. This is a problem that Secret Invasion held in common. Too many plot points were developed in side stories (such as Batman RIP for FC or New Avengers for Secret Invasion). The event should be self containable with the related issues supplementing the story, but not necessary.

Yes, but at least SI didn't conflict between the different books.

[EliSnow]

Yes, but at least SI didn't conflict between the different books.

True.

[TheMojoPin]

I agree. This is a problem that Secret Invasion held in common. Too many plot points were developed in side stories (such as Batman RIP for FC or New Avengers for Secret Invasion). The event should be self containable with the related issues supplementing the story, but not necessary.

Though to be fair, the "side stories" you're talking about were written by the same guys behind the main storyline (Morrison and Bendis). That should be a huge neon sign for people to pick those up. I mean, if they want to read one, why not the other if they're involving the same things written by the same person?

[EliSnow]

Though to be fair, the "side stories" you're talking about were written by the same guys behind the main storyline (Morrison and Bendis). That should be a huge neon sign for people to pick those up. I mean, if they want to read one, why not the other if they're involving the same things written by the same person?

Actually, the one "side stories" for FC wasn't written by Morrison: Death of the New Gods. And it had several things which conflicted with FC.

Same with Countdown which led into FC.

Now that's not really Morrison's fault, but it was a problem for DC and reading the stuff together.i

[angrymissy]

What is the difference btwn Graphic Novel and Trade? Jeff corrects me all the time because I call them all Graphic Novels.

I read whatever Jeff brings home (The Boys, The Authority), and he usually picks me up Walking Dead, which take for fucking ever to come out. Just read 1st book for Marvel Zombies and liked it.

Any recommendations? Comic book store guy didn't have shit for us last week.

[jab]

What is the difference btwn Graphic Novel and Trade? Jeff corrects me all the time because I call them all Graphic Novels.

I read whatever Jeff brings home (The Boys, The Authority), and he usually picks me up Walking Dead, which take for fucking ever to come out. Just read 1st book for Marvel Zombies and liked it.

Any recommendations? Comic book store guy didn't have shit for us last week.

a trade collects a bunch of issues, a graphic novel is put out as a whole from the get go.

[EliSnow]

Any recommendations? Comic book store guy didn't have shit for us last week.

Have you read Starman, Planetary Y: The Last Man, Preacher or Sandman?

[TheMojoPin]

Actually, the one "side stories" for FC wasn't written by Morrison: Death of the New Gods. And it had several things which conflicted with FC.

Same with Countdown which led into FC.

Now that's not really Morrison's fault, but it was a problem for DC and reading the stuff together.i

I was only talking about Batman: RIP since that was what you brought up.

[EliSnow]

I was only talking about Batman: RIP since that was what you brought up.

Yeah, but I only brought that one up as one example of the FC side stories.

[TheMojoPin]

Yeah, but I only brought that one up as one example of the FC side stories.

Fine, but both of the examples you brought up were ones written by the writers also handling the main story.

[EliSnow]

N/M, it doesn't matter

[angrymissy]

Have you read Starman, Planetary Y: The Last Man, Preacher or Sandman?

All but Starman. Will look it up, thx.

[psycho]

I just read all four volumes of 52. I was surprised how many characters I had never heard of before became some of my favorite characters ever.

[Foster]

I just read all four volumes of 52. I was surprised how many characters I had never heard of before became some of my favorite characters ever.

I enjoy the 52 trades;

just finished Final Crisis, found it very disappointing.
a lot of jumping around, with a lot of holes in the story

[psycho]

I enjoy the 52 trades;

just finished Final Crisis, found it very disappointing.
a lot of jumping around, with a lot of holes in the story

I read about half of FC, I couldn't finish it, too much jumping around like you said.

[psycho]

I just started reading Green Lantern - Green Arrow Vol. 1 by Dennis O'Neil. Man do they make Green Lantern a little bitch in this book, it's hilarious.

[Foster]

I just started reading Green Lantern - Green Arrow Vol. 1 by Dennis O'Neil. Man do they make Green Lantern a little bitch in this book, it's hilarious.

are these the books from the 70s where Green Lantern and Green Arrow took on the
personalities of Archie and Meathead from All in the Family?

[psycho]

are these the books from the 70s where Green Lantern and Green Arrow took on the
personalities of Archie and Meathead from All in the Family?

Don't really know All in the Family but yeah its the team up from the 70s. There's a party wear Green Arrow calls Green Lantern a Nazi just because he didn't know exactly what was going on. And Hal is constantly apologizing like a little bitch XD.

[Foster]

Don't really know All in the Family but yeah its the team up from the 70s. There's a party wear Green Arrow calls Green Lantern a Nazi just because he didn't know exactly what was going on. And Hal is constantly apologizing like a little bitch XD.

yeah, O'Neil attempted to raise our social conscience though those two

did you get to the part where GA finds out his sidekick is a drug addict?
they didn't call him Speedy for nothing

[psycho]

yeah, O'Neil attempted to raise our social conscience though those two

did you get to the part where GA finds out his sidekick is a drug addict?
they didn't call him Speedy for nothing

haha no not yet

[jab]

yeah, O'Neil attempted to raise our social conscience though those two

did you get to the part where GA finds out his sidekick is a drug addict?
they didn't call him Speedy for nothing

booo

[Foster]

booo

psycho thought it was funny

[psycho]

psycho thought it was funny

I find oldschool comic writing retardedly hilarious.

[One Dead Fred]

"Scarlett Takes Manhattan (http://fugupress.com/home.html)". It's about the beginning of the career of a burlesque performer in the 1880's. It has some sexual content in it. Not sure if it's in the realm of what you read, but it has some parallels to today's society.

[Foster's Blackberry]

"Scarlett Takes Manhattan (http://fugupress.com/home.html)". It's about the beginning of the career of a burlesque performer in the 1880's. It has some sexual content in it. Not sure if it's in the realm of what you read, but it has some parallels to today's society.

Might want to tag that link with "NSFW", some of the images are graphic

[~Katja~]

Might want to tag that link with "NSFW", some of the images are graphic
you mean the words "sexual content" don't warn enough?

[TheMojoPin]

"Scarlett Takes Manhattan (http://fugupress.com/home.html)". It's about the beginning of the career of a burlesque performer in the 1880's. It has some sexual content in it. Not sure if it's in the realm of what you read, but it has some parallels to today's society.

She's your girlfriend?

That's pretty cool. I just was reading about her on Warren Ellis' mailing list.

[Foster]

you mean the words "sexual content" don't warn enough?

on my bb the warning seemed kind of far away from the link.

sometimes people click the link before reading the entire post

[One Dead Fred]

on my bb the warning seemed kind of far away from the link.

sometimes people click the link before reading the entire post

Sorry, didn't think it was too scary for an office. I'll keep it in mind in the future.

[EliSnow]

I started reading Starman Omnibus #3 yesterday, and lo and behold, it had reprints of the Saade #1-4, which I had never read before. I love having these issues in the collection as they provide the Shade-Ludlow feud a backstory. And the Shade, as written by Robinson, is such a great character.

[JustJon]

yeah, O'Neil attempted to raise our social conscience though those two

did you get to the part where GA finds out his sidekick is a drug addict?
they didn't call him Speedy for nothing

That's Volume 2. Volume two also has one of my favorite comic lines ever when they introduce John Stewart. When Hal asks why John doesn't wear a mask, "This is one brother who lets it all hang out!"

I started reading Starman Omnibus #3 yesterday, and lo and behold, it had reprints of the Saade #1-4, which I had never read before. I love having these issues in the collection as they provide the Shade-Ludlow feud a backstory. And the Shade, as written by Robinson, is such a great character.

Picked up Starman Omnibus 3 this weekend and it's as great as the other two. I missed this series completely (except for two trades I own, both in Vol 1) and am loving it. Can't wait to see the next volume.

And saw an article this morning about Scarlet. Seems really interesting.

[weekapaugjz]

I enjoy the 52 trades;

just finished Final Crisis, found it very disappointing.
a lot of jumping around, with a lot of holes in the story

i loved 52. i picked it up on a recommendation of the store owner. i hadn't read much DC before that, but now its most of the stuff i read.

[JustJon]

52 was a really good read, which made Countdown and Final Crisis all the more disappointing.

[Coach]

Anyone read the Batman and Robin with Damien as Robin? I saw it in EW and was wondering..

[EliSnow]

Anyone read the Batman and Robin with Damien as Robin? I saw it in EW and was wondering..

We talked about it in the "post more about comic books" thread.

[JustJon]

I started reading Starman Omnibus #3 yesterday, and lo and behold, it had reprints of the Saade #1-4, which I had never read before. I love having these issues in the collection as they provide the Shade-Ludlow feud a backstory. And the Shade, as written by Robinson, is such a great character.

Finished reading Omnibus 3 last night. I love the series, and it's obvious from the beginning where the series has to go by the end. I just hope the Ragdoll lives up to all the hype.

And I liked the Micky and Mallory characters and can't wait to see what happens with them after their one appearance.

[EliSnow]

So, Starman Omnibus Vol. #4 comes out tomorrow. Can't wait to get my copy and enjoy the story all over again.

[JustJon]

I got it last week. You're reading the wrong release list.

I'm halfway thru (had to finish a book to write a review before I could crack Starman), it seems like the weakest of the 6 books, with lots of small stories and one shots, but it's great character work and still a joy to read.

[weekapaugjz]

has anybody read the jack kirby fourth world volumes? one of the shops around here has all four volumes at 20% off, but 40 bucks is still a lot to shell out for something i know very little about.

[JustJon]

I read the black and white volumes they put out years ago. It's a bit slow reading (most comics are from that period), but it's cool to see the origins of Mister Miracle, The Fourth World and The Forever People.

The volumes you are looking at are all in color and have the Jimmy Olsen issues also.

[weekapaugjz]

I read the black and white volumes they put out years ago. It's a bit slow reading (most comics are from that period), but it's cool to see the origins of Mister Miracle, The Fourth World and The Forever People.

The volumes you are looking at are all in color and have the Jimmy Olsen issues also.

cool. thanks for the info. i was reading morrison's JLA arc with the new gods the other day and realized besides final crisis i haven't read anything else with them in it. then when i was in the local shop i saw the fourth world HCs in the sale aisle. there are so many books i want but not nearly enough money for them all.

[JustJon]

I'm a big fan of Fourth World stuff. I think Darkseid is one of the greatest villains ever, and the Orion story is fairly Shakespearean in nature. It's not perfect, but it's good and worth reading. Jack Kirby isn't the greatest writer, but his art is inspiring and he truly is The King.

[weekapaugjz]

any suggestions for stories with fourth world characters in it?

[JustJon]

I need to think about it. Most of the stories I'm thinking of need some back story. I think John Byrne did some Superman stories that are a good intro to Fourth World. You could also look for the Superman cartoon from the 90s as a good intro too.

[EliSnow]

I got it last week. You're reading the wrong release list.

I'm halfway thru (had to finish a book to write a review before I could crack Starman), it seems like the weakest of the 6 books, with lots of small stories and one shots, but it's great character work and still a joy to read.

Tuesday was the day Amazon was issuing it.

This volume was the weakest. And most of the stories were stories that I don't think were previously released in TPBs. The 80 page giant definitely wasn't, as was the Hellboy/Batman/Starman issues and the story about how Bobo Benetti and The Shade saved Starman back in the '50's.

Still a good read, though.

[EliSnow]

any suggestions for stories with fourth world characters in it?

Like Jon said the Superman animated series did a good job with the characters.

Death of the New Gods wasn't too bad, as long as you didn't mind how much it didn't jibe with whatever weekly series was going on then (was it 52 or the other series?) and Final Crisis.

[weekapaugjz]

Like Jon said the Superman animated series did a good job with the characters.

Death of the New Gods wasn't too bad, as long as you didn't mind how much it didn't jibe with whatever weekly series was going on then (was it 52 or the other series?) and Final Crisis.

i don't really care that much about continuity as long as it's a good story. i think it was the countdown to final crisis weekly it didn't mesh with (from what i've read on other sites). i'll have to check it out. DARKSEID IS...

[JustJon]

Tuesday was the day Amazon was issuing it.

This volume was the weakest. And most of the stories were stories that I don't think were previously released in TPBs. The 80 page giant definitely wasn't, as was the Hellboy/Batman/Starman issues and the story about how Bobo Benetti and The Shade saved Starman back in the '50's.

Still a good read, though.

The intro said Hellboy had never been collected before. It's the issue I'm up to now. (I read a couple issues a night before bed). And Ragdoll in Volume 4 was a tease.

Like Jon said the Superman animated series did a good job with the characters.

Death of the New Gods wasn't too bad, as long as you didn't mind how much it didn't jibe with whatever weekly series was going on then (was it 52 or the other series?) and Final Crisis.

I really liked Death of the New Gods, but it really requires a knowledge of the characters before reading. If you don't know any of them, it weakens the story, IMO.