Do you read comic books?

[Riff Moonraker]

And if so, what series do you currently read? (I mostly mean like printed comics, but if you want to count webcomics, I won't stop you)

Right now I'm reading

X-Factor
Deadpool
Avengers Academy
The Defenders
Blue Beetle
Green Lantern: New Guardians
Red Lanterns
World's Finest
Angel & Faith

I'm also currently reading the limited series Resident Alien and Spidermen

I pick up Futurama, Lady Mechanika and occasional One-Shots of characters that interest me, and I also love the series Chew, but I only buy that one in trade paperback.

And there are two upcoming series I might look into. The new Captain Marvel and the Night of the Owls spin-off Talon from DC.

So what about you all? Are there any comic books that you read?

I have been reading comics for a looong time. I probably started sometime around 1976 or so. I can remember getting the Marvel adaptations for Star Wars when they hit the shelves. However, my areas comic book dealer had to shut down, and I went to one in another town but I dropped everything I was getting except for The Walking Dead. So now, thats the only comic book I still buy.

 

[scotth266]

I would, if there were any freaking comic stores within a thirty minute radius. There used to be one within 5 minutes of my house, but after it moved (to get a bigger building) I'm left with no nerd hobby shops anywhere near my location. That means no Magic, no DND, no Warhammer 40k, and no comic books unless I order online or take a highway for thirty minutes.

 

[Vault101]

Also, Hellblazer, Saga (though, bluh?)

Ive been thinking about reading Saga, is it out in TPB?


[quote/]and the Boys (occasionally, it isn't THAT awesome, it's fun and all but "What's so funny about Truth, Justice and the American Way" or whatever it was with the Elite did throw a sour over it).
[/quote]

*gasp* I did not just hear that.......The Boys is awsome (just a fan, don't mind me)

 

[Vault101]

I do. I mostly stick to alternative comics like Sandman, Hellblazer or stories like Batman: Arkham Asylum.
.

Arkham Asylum: living hell was one of the first comics I ever read...damn did it freak me out..

I sometimes worry I'll run out of "non mainstream superhero" stuff to read

 

[Sonicron]

Less so than in previous times, but yes, I do read comic books. I don't follow any specific series, I just pick up what looks interesting, and I usually make an effort to read the ones that have managed to garner critical and academic acclaim (Watchmen, Sandman, V for Vendetta, From Hell etc).
I think the one I read most recently was a self-contained mini-series called Supergod.

 

[CaptainMarvelous]

Also, Hellblazer, Saga (though, bluh?)

Ive been thinking about reading Saga, is it out in TPB?


[quote/]and the Boys (occasionally, it isn't THAT awesome, it's fun and all but "What's so funny about Truth, Justice and the American Way" or whatever it was with the Elite did throw a sour over it).

*gasp* I did not just hear that.......The Boys is awsome (just a fan, don't mind me)[/quote]

Just hit Issue 4 so don't think so yet :-/. It's worth a read, though I'd wait for the trade, might be hard to get the first issue unless they did a bunch of reprints.

And I like the Boys, I just don't think it's the be-all end-all, it's pretty much an extended version of Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe with added sex and violence. I like reading it, but mostly because Love Sausage is the closest thing I've seen Garth Ennis do to an actual superhero.

Morning Glories is also good, it's like Lost in a High school last time I read it (second trade in, third to start soon) @_@

 

[Vault101]

Just hit Issue 4 so don't think so yet :-/. It's worth a read, though I'd wait for the trade, might be hard to get the first issue unless they did a bunch of reprints.

ah, fair enough

[quote/]And I like the Boys, I just don't think it's the be-all end-all, it's pretty much an extended version of Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe with added sex and violence. I like reading it, but mostly because Love Sausage is the closest thing I've seen Garth Ennis do to an actual superhero.[/quote]
well there are no actual superheros in the Boys universe thats the whole point

[quote/]Morning Glories is also good, it's like Lost in a High school last time I read it (second trade in, third to start soon) @_@[/quote]

I've started reading MG too...I like it so far but I think all the "wtf?" is going to drive me insane

 

[SpectacularWebHead]

Oh, my exaltant joy reaches the heavens at my distinctive ability to list my comics I read and out virgin anyone here!

Amazing spiderman
Ultimate spiderman
Ultimate X men
Deadpool
Batman and Robin
Batwing (Old and New 52)
Green lantern
Nightwing (Old and new 52)
red Hood and the outlaws
Batgirl (Cassie Cain and new 52)
Robin
The Darkness
The Angelus
The Flash (New 52)
52
Impulse
Teen titans (New and Old)
Green arrow (Old)
Young Justice
The outsiders
Teen titans (Spotlight issues)
Mass effects volume 1 and 2
The force unleashed 2
V for Vendetta
Watchmen

and others whose names escape me

 

[CaptainMarvelous]

well there are no actual superheros in the Boys universe thats the whole point

I think it might be the part that drags it down a bit for me. Excluding Tek-Knight and Love Sausage, every single superheroic character is a drug-abusing sex-fiend and... it gets difficult to believe. I mean, going by Starlight, the implication is that everyone gets into superheroics to be a hero and inevitable resorts to doing cocaine cut with Queen Maeve's lady juice without actually doing anything heroic. If they actually did 'things' like, if the Seven did anything apart from sit at home not rocking the boat I could understand but it's more asking people to believe that for 60 odd years Superman was the people's hero without actually doing anything save appearing in public. It's going for extra realism but ignoring a super-power elephant in the room, meaning you can be anti-Super Hero with people with powers who aren't heroic but if they NEVER do anything heroic why would they call be heroes?

Don't get me wrong, if you delve beyond the dick jokes and ultra violence it's really well written, hell the explanation behind Black Noir was one of the best things I'd read this year, but it's just relentless in the "Look, the founder of the G-men is a paedophile, I wonder who THIS is parodying" bit without stopping to think "So, why is he training them exactly? Have you guys ever seen these people use their powers? And if they're an X-men parody, where are the people that hate and fear them?".

I like it n all, but there are some holes that need attention (admittedly, Ennis may well actually HAVE an explanation I missed/he hasn't done yet like the WWII issues resolved some other questions I had)

 

[Sixcess]

I love the boys its my absolute favorite (I think I'm on the last trade)

I started Irredemable a while ago....and while I'm certainly not saying its bad I can't help but compare it to The Boys..and..well....its not the boys..which makes me sad when I will finish the boys

Irredeemable has its faults. It starts off brilliantly but later on it starts to slide a bit. Almost every issue ending on a dazzling cliffhanger but the resolution is never as good as the build up. Still a very good read though.

Don't get me wrong, if you delve beyond the dick jokes and ultra violence it's really well written, hell the explanation behind Black Noir was one of the best things I'd read this year, but it's just relentless in the "Look, the founder of the G-men is a paedophile, I wonder who THIS is parodying" bit without stopping to think "So, why is he training them exactly? Have you guys ever seen these people use their powers? And if they're an X-men parody, where are the people that hate and fear them?".

I find myself somewhat in agreement with this. Alright, I don't expect subtlety from Garth Ennis of all people when he's on his I-Hate-Superheroes kick, but with the almost total lack of any sympathetic 'supers' he's really putting forward a very one-sided argument.

I think part of the problem is that often these characters aren't so much intended as parodies as they are easily recognisable archetypes, giving them the illusion of depth that traditional comics spend decades of continuity building up, without having to spend half of a 6 issue story establishing their characters.

All that said, I don't think in The Boys Ennis is really trying to convince anyone of anything, so much as he is setting up targets for Butcher and Hughie to play off of.

 

[DeimosMasque]

Simone's current run on Batgirl is a poor match up against the previous Batgirl title (when Brian Q Miller was writing Stephanie Brown as the titular character) and Simone's own Secret Six title. Both those were cancelled to make way for the New52.

Agreed. You'll see several posts up I did my fair amount of New 52 hating. My biggest fear about the reboot is that someone ELSE while start writing Jeannette and totally miss the point of the bisexual banshee.

Just throwing this out here, if you haven't yet, read Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing. Its 6 trades now but every issue Alan Moore just randomly has a throwaway idea that beats the crap out of nearly everything in AvX.

Trust me, I've read it. I actually have a few issues from it outside of trade. Especially John Constantine's first appearance.

But as comparing it to AvX that's not entirely fair as they are literally different genre of comic. Swamp Thing isn't a super-hero comic, it's a modern horror comic (or atleast it was back when Moore was writing)

 

[CaptainMarvelous]

Simone's current run on Batgirl is a poor match up against the previous Batgirl title (when Brian Q Miller was writing Stephanie Brown as the titular character) and Simone's own Secret Six title. Both those were cancelled to make way for the New52.

Agreed. You'll see several posts up I did my fair amount of New 52 hating. My biggest fear about the reboot is that someone ELSE while start writing Jeannette and totally miss the point of the bisexual banshee.

Just throwing this out here, if you haven't yet, read Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing. Its 6 trades now but every issue Alan Moore just randomly has a throwaway idea that beats the crap out of nearly everything in AvX.

Trust me, I've read it. I actually have a few issues from it outside of trade. Especially John Constantine's first appearance.

But as comparing it to AvX that's not entirely fair as they are literally different genre of comic. Swamp Thing isn't a super-hero comic, it's a modern horror comic (or atleast it was back when Moore was writing)

It'd be easier if I knew what AvX was trying to be -_- not since Civil War has both sides been so completely balls to the wall stupid and unreasonable as well as getting muddled in the "We can fix everything, UTOPIAAAA" quagmire. I more went for the first modern thing I could think of that was indisputibly poor to compare to the genius of Swamp Thing.

Though, I dunno if horror comic's the best way to sum up Swamp Thing though, his role in the Crisis part of Moore's run feels quite like AvX to me in the best way (completely unknowable cosmic force VS the world) but solved not through pure good or the human spirit but simple context. So when Hope inevitably goes into the phoenix and blah-blah, reboot-because-DC-did-one or whatever transient effects come out of it, I seriously doubt it'll be as good as that one Swamp Thing run.

Also endorse the new 52 version. I'd say Snyder's still got the horror comic feel to it, the last issue alone actually creeped me out just by the framing device. He maybe got too into the Arcane family but if you ignore that the art/story combo is pretty amazing.

 

[DeimosMasque]

Yeah I was being a bit simplistic calling Swamp Thing a horror comic. That's what it was originally and after Crisis that's what it fell back into, though a smart and interesting one always. And honestly, most modern comics are poor compared to 80s Alan Moore comics.

I haven't really been able to get into the new 52 Swamp Thing, but that might just be because it feels like a pale attempt at recapturing what Alan Moore did with the book.

Also I doubt AvX is leading to a reboot, At most it's going to undo the whole "No More Mutants" thing that I am honestly surprised Marvel hasn't already undone. But it definitely will not be as good as Moore's Swamp Thing... or even Infinite Crisis at all. As much as I am more a Marvel fan over DC (especially since the reboot) Marvel has been way to crazy with "BIG EPIC CROSSOVER!" lately. They are already advertizing the next one.

Hey Marvel, let's finish this crossover first... okay?

 

[templar1138a]

I don't read comics for a couple reasons.

1. They tend to explain too much. I've noticed they frequently break the "Show, don't tell" rule. As far as I can tell, this is mainly used to give exposition within a single frame, but it's like trying to read Lord of the Rings: Too much exposition distracts me from the actual story and makes reading frustrating.

Granted, I haven't read many comics. The most exposure I have is from Kevin J. Anderson's Star Wars comics. That guy's a terrible writer, so maybe he's an exception rather than following the rule.

2. Especially with superhero comics, if you didn't start reading them from day one, you're going to have a hard time getting into them. Serialized comics are like soap operas in that respect. I find it nearly impossible to get into long-running comics because of all the cross-overs, parallel universes, and the fact that the continuity spans decades. And continuity resets don't encourage me. I look at those and think, "If they're going to pull that, why bother?"

 

[CaptainMarvelous]

Yeah I was being a bit simplistic calling Swamp Thing a horror comic. That's what it was originally and after Crisis that's what it fell back into, though a smart and interesting one always. And honestly, most modern comics are poor compared to 80s Alan Moore comics.

I haven't really been able to get into the new 52 Swamp Thing, but that might just be because it feels like a pale attempt at recapturing what Alan Moore did with the book.

Also I doubt AvX is leading to a reboot, At most it's going to undo the whole "No More Mutants" thing that I am honestly surprised Marvel hasn't already undone. But it definitely will not be as good as Moore's Swamp Thing... or even Infinite Crisis at all. As much as I am more a Marvel fan over DC (especially since the reboot) Marvel has been way to crazy with "BIG EPIC CROSSOVER!" lately. They are already advertizing the next one.

Hey Marvel, let's finish this crossover first... okay?

I give Snyder credit, he doesn't handwave away all the continuity (Parliament of Trees is still about for starters) but he doesn't rely on it too much, he just sticks to the rules. At the least, the Rot makes it a good combo with Jeff Lemire's Animal Man (which is a lot more like Alan Moore's run but intentionally so). Can't say it's as good as Moore's version but it is worth a read, some of the two page spreads are awesome.

Are Marvel really advertising the next cross-over? where are they even GOING with that?

 

[Jandau]

I don't read print comics much since I find them to be poor value for money (just my opinion, I'm not insisting nobody should buy them). I do however follow around three dozen webcomics. Some good, some not so much. SOme of the highlights include:

Girl Genius
Order of the Stick
Yet Another Fantasy Gamer Webcomic
Oglaf!
Penny Arcade
Least I Could Do
Looking for Group
Flaky Pastry
Nerf NOW!
xkcd
Goblins
Dr. McNinja
Virtual Shackles
PvPonline

And so on and so forth. Basically, gaming and fantasy comics for the most part.

 

[Ignatz_Zwakh]

Following a buncha series right now. Some I just collect in trade, but I've plenty I buy on a regular basis in issue format.

Stuff like:

Batman
Wonder Woman
The Massive
B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth
Alabaster Wolves
I, Vampire
Justice League Dark
Captain America
Winter Soldier
All-Star Western

...and even a coupla other series.

 

[Brutal Peanut]

I follow a few webcomics : Oglaf, Find a Roomie, Chester 5000, Penny Arcade, etc.


Besides that:
The Walking Dead
The Goon
Watchmen
Scott Pilgrim
Persepolis
Ghost World
My dad passed down quite a few. Mostly a lot of war based comics, a few Tarzan, and a TON of Archie. I don't think I've ever read so much Archie. Oh Jughead, you so silly.

I like this thread.

 

[Phasmal]

Not really. I read a couple webcomics, but I have a problem reading most comics.
Because of the way they seem to bold so many words. I don't really have a problem with it but it means I always read it in Shatner's voice.

And that's just distracting.