Stories You Have Read and Re-read and Re-read.....

[Nate C.]

Really simple premise. What stories do it for you every single time you read them, and what stories do you have to re-read every year or two?

Show the love. Here's some of mine.

Cosmic Odyssey 1-4
Fafhrd and Grey Mouser 1-4
V for Vendetta 1-10
DKR 1-4
Nexus (the complete series!)
Assorted Groo issues
Assorted Spirit stories

[scratchie]

Defenders 26-40 (with Giant-Size #5 and Annual #1)
Marvel Presents 3-12 (Guardians of the Galaxy)
Hate 1-15
Watchmen (however many issues; I've only ever read the paperback)

[InfoBroker]

Nice thread idea Nathan!

My only problem, there are a few ba-jillion of my comics that have the Classic Marvel Chipping (and dipping) from massive multi-reads.

At the top of the list:

The entire first 50 issues of Amazing Spider-man, especially:
Amazing Fantasy #15
#4 with the wonderfully original introduction and origin of the Sand-man (he has some Hulk similarities there)
#7 - I usually grab Marvel Tales #4 when I want to read this one, since nostalgically, that's were I first encountered this Vulture tale in June of 1966.
#11 and 12 - which I sample from Annual #3 for the same reason. I also read the very classic "To Become An Avenger" while I'm there. These two issues defined the nasty nature of Doc Ock.
#20, 28, 31-33, 37, 39, 40, 44, 45, 48, 49 and of course #50

My Pogo Books which are showing a lot of spine wear, and some have loose pages. I like the early ones the best.

The Jack Kirby Run on Thor - those that have the most reads would include:
The introduction of the Absorbing Man from #114, 115
The Living Planet encounters, #131-133, 159-160
The High Evolutionary 134-135
Ulik and the Trolls 137-139, 154, 155
The Sword of Ragnorok plots - #127, 156-157
Tales of Asgard Annual #1 from 1968 so I can enjoy a solid run of TOA in a single book.
The Galactus origins books - 160-162, 168-169
The original and expanded origin of Thor from 158-159.

I also like to gather up the issues that have the Inhumans backup tales and read them as a single set. Issues 146-151 (Not enough, and these are the best solo Inhumans Tales ever told).


Zot! The entire 36 issue run usually gets pull out in the summer time and read in total, along with all the Astro City comics. I pick a warm sunny weekend, find a nice shady spot in the backyard, and chill with ice cold drinks and lots of comics reading enjoyment. Of course of late, lacking a backyard, I usually open the patio door wide and let the warm currents bring in as much outdoors as they can.

Roy Thomas and Neal Adams X-men, especially the Sentinals story arc. 56-59.

Roy Thomas and Big John Buscema Avengers. Issues of main interest would be 49,50 and 54-60.

I'll take a break there, but realize I'm just getting started.

-jb the repeats are fine ib-

[telle]

as a kid:

Asterix the Legionaire

Micronauts #7

the Marvel's Greatest Comics reprint of "The Skrull Takes a Slave!"

FF Annual #1

my brother's collected run of Submariner from the 60s-70s

New Teen Titans 1-20

Last 20 years:

The collected Little Orphan Annie

Love and Rockets, Hate, and 8-Ball --the 90s triumverate

[The Wayner]

Incredible Hulk #222

[shaxper]

Uncanny X-Men #153: Kitty's Fairytale does it for me every time, funny and moving beyond reason.
Superman (2nd series) #75: The Death of Supes brings tears to my eyes no matter how many times I read it.
Batman #433: I'm constantly amazed how this issue tells such a profound and moving story using only two words in the entire issue.
Batman #426-429: The drama surrounding the death of Jason Todd always pulls me in with interest and nostalgia. I always remember these as being the first good comic books I ever read.
Eternal Warrior #1: Just a damn good origin story
Anything Usagi Yojimbo: Nearly every issue is timeless and classic. I could read a single Usagi story six times in a row and not get too tired of it.

[founder81]

What i find myself reading again and again

Nexus (whole run)
Howard the Duck (1-31)
Sandman
Wandering Star
Amazing Spider-man 150-390ish
Green Lantern/Green Arrow (by Neal Adams/Denny O'Neil, i go some presitage format reprints from the early 80's)
Christmas Issues (i dig these out every year)
American Flagg (1-50, though i have skipped the non Chaykin issues at times)
Star Wars Dark Empire

Damn, I read more then I thought.

[MilkManX]

Lets see.

My most re-read material.

Sin City books

FM run on DD

Dark Knight Returns

Ronin

Watchmen

Spiderman Essentials 1-5

X-Men Essentials 1-5

Weapon X by BWS

The Fourth World BW Reprints and the 2 Jimmy Olsen that Kirby worked on.



I am in the process of getting more Kirby to reread.

[spoon_jenkins]

My From the Ashes TPB (Uncanny X-Men #169-176). That's my most worn-out TPB. It's also got a decade old ice cream stain on it.

[Krys Nyteshade]

All the Sandman trades
Watchmen
The Wizard "Classic X-Men" vol. 1.
Kingdom Come

[MichikoS]

Most read and re-read:

Hellboy Wake the Devil tpb

Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD in Strange Tales #139-168 + earlier issues of his own title. Steranko issues are the diamonds, but I enjoy the whole series (not to be confused with the later '90s reincarnation, which was rubbish).

Early Hulk appearances in Tales to Astonish (circa #59-93). There was something fresh and intriguing about the character that hadn't been spoiled by overexposure and over-analysis yet. Plus those "Mickey Demeo" ink jobs were so awesome!

Silver Age Atom series. I just love Gil Kane's work and the Gardner Fox stories never cease to delight.

On a sad note, I find the Claremont X-Men titles I used to love (c. #105-150) to be unreadable now. They are so awash in soap and formulaic action that I can't stand them.

Michi

[Watchman]

Watchmen
V for Vendetta
A bunch of Bat stories (LH, DV, DKR, Y1, etc.)
Whatever I have of O'Neil's/Cowan's The Question

[Cash Lone]

My From the Ashes TPB (Uncanny X-Men #169-176). That's my most worn-out TPB. It's also got a decade old ice cream stain on it.

Are these the issues w/ Paul Smith illustrating and Storm goes Punk Rock?

[spoon_jenkins]

Are these the issues w/ Paul Smith illustrating and Storm goes Punk Rock?
Yup. It has most of Paul Smith's run (although not his first few issues that closed out the Brood saga). Very, very good stuff.

[DDM]

Uncanny X-Men #129-137
The New Mutants #18-54
Longshot #1-6
Magik #1-4 (first series)
X-Factor #10-39
Excalibur #1-7, 9, 12-24, 42-67

[Cash Lone]

Yup. It has most of Paul Smith's run (although not his first few issues that closed out the Brood saga). Very, very good stuff.

Cool, thanks. Those Paul Smith issues were my favorite stories of Claremonts Xmen.

[telle]

I obsessively reread those x-men at the time but they were ironically what helped turn me off x-men and then most superheroes as a teenager. I loved Paul Smith's art so much that when he left or skipped an issue I was so disappointed --eventually I dropped the book, reasoning that if the creators didn't care about it, why should I? The lesson took awhile to learn and my first tactic was just to follow the artists from book to book. But that doesn't help if the stories and characters are in any way compelling: just when you get attached, the artist pulls up stakes. Why does this go on in US comics? The artists are the most important part of the package --they should be calling the shots and characters/series should end when the artist moves on --like most manga series.

[Babylon23]

New Gods 1-11 - I've had these issues since I was 8 (I'm now 31). I've read them so many times that they're falling to pieces.

Astro City 1/2 - One of the most touching comic stories I've ever read.

V for Vendetta & Watchman - Some of the finest storytelling to ever appear in comics.

Avengers 273-277 - The Under Siege storyline. This is my all-time favourite Avengers story. An epic story that is also character-driven, and full of emotion.

Captain America 253-254 - The Baron Blood story. Another powerful, emotional story, and the story that turned me into a lifelong Cap fan.

The Dark Phoenix Saga

[Stephane Garrelie]

Thats mostly the writer who is important to me, I don't care much about the artist (even if could make exception for the pre-95 John Byrne, for Mike Zeck and some others. And if a book is inked by Terry Austin, I buy it).

The whole first run of Claremont on uncanny X-men.
Machine Man by DeFalco/Trimpe/BWS
Spiderwoman by Claremont (the viper arc)
Iron man by David Michelinie/John Romita Jr/Bob Layton and Jerry Bingham
Kraven's last hunt DeMateis/Zeck
Some master of kung fu issues by Moench and Zeck
The comics adaptation of Dark Crystal with art by Jan Duursema
Machin Man the Ten-For saga by Jack Kirby
Some issues of the FF by Roy Thomas
The John Byrne FF issues with She Hulk
Some Marvel team up stories by Claremont and others by Bill Mantlo.
Batman: Year One By Frank Miller and David Mazucheli
Daredevil: Born Again By frank Miller and David Michelinie
Stan Lee's Spiderman with Dikto and Romita
Stan Lee's FF with Kirby
Stan Lee's Doctor Strange with Dikto
Alan Moore's Captain Britain, The Killing Joke, Watchmen, LotEGentlemen
Roger Stern's amazing Spiderman with JRjr and the second part of his 2 issues arc with the prowler during his run on Spectacular. the one with Belladonna and the 2nd (white and re headed) Prowler.
Some issues of Roger Stern's avenger with Milgrom and John Buscema/Tom Palmer.
Mark Gruenwald's Spiderwoman arc with the shroud and Neckra.
Len Wein's "Shadow of the cat" and "the cat who would be king" in his Catwoman/Catman arc of his Batman 1980 run.
Some Dennis O'Neil's Batman issues of the 70's.
Rom by Bill Mantlo an Sal Buscema
Mantlos run on Spectacular Spiderman with the war beetween the Howl, the Kipking and Octopus. with the Black Cat too.
lot of other things...

[MilkManX]

Cool, thanks. Those Paul Smith issues were my favorite stories of Claremonts Xmen.

Man.... Paul Smith.

He was great. What happened to him. I have an issue of the Falcon mini he penciled but other than X-Men what else did he do?

[Hombre]

Man.... Paul Smith.

He was great. What happened to him. I have an issue of the Falcon mini he penciled but other than X-Men what else did he do?

Falcon mini... that's way back. He penciled the Kitty Pryde: Shadow and Flame mini which came out just a few months ago.

[founder81]

Paul Smith also pencilled the majority of non-Rude Nexus and Leave it to Chance.

My memory is vague, but i recall him doing something at Vertigo.

[Cei-U!]

Hmm. Well, I cycle through pretty much everything in my collection every three years or so. There must be at least seventy comics in the closet that I've had since a wee bairn in the Sixties and have been read dozens, if not hundreds, of times. I'm picky, though (just ask scratchie), and there *are* no books in my collection I wouldn't gladly read again and again. But if you're asking which books I most look forward to:

Anything Pogo.
The Fantagraphics Popeye collection (what I'm reading right now).
The Gibbons/Rude World's Finest mini.
The first Defenders story from Marvel Feature #1.
Ditko Spidey and Dr. Strange. Wood Daredevil. Kubert Tarzan. Anything Simon and Kirby.
Sub-Mariner #1-8 by Roy Thomas and John Buscema.
The Art of the Funnies and The Art of the Comic Book by R. C. Harvey.
The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers.
Watchmen. V for Vendetta. Marvels.
The long runs of the Mickey Mouse, Wash Tubbs and Moon Mullins newspaper strips reprinted in The Smithsonian Boook of Comics.
Busiek/Perez Avengers. Strzewski/Parobeck Justice Society.
The Palomar stories.

Well, that's enough for now. Looks like my reading list for the next six months, dunnit?

Cei-U!
Da-rool, da-rool!

[Trusty Mutsi]

Giffen Justice League's gotten MANY reads from me. Americas AND International.

Groo

Justice League: The Nail

Cosmic Odyssey

Astro City

Elseworlds Annuals

'Mazing Man

Batman: Year One

Waid Flash issues

JSA (Geoff Johns)

Armegeddon 2001

Armegeddon: Inferno

Old X-Men (Especially Claremont and Lobdell)

Green Lantern: Emerald Twilight

Xero

Black Panther (Christopher Priest)

The Ray

Kazar (Waid)

Ambush Bug

Justice League Task Force

Underworld (Old DC mini written by Robert Loren Fleming)

DP7

Captain America (Gruenwald stuff when Cap quit)

Kelly Pucket and Mike Parobeck's Batman Adventures.

Man... I know I'll add more soon...

[Stephane Garrelie]

and there's that submariner arc where Namor follow the stolen serpent crown to lemuria (Mu?) throughout the 2 oceans. art by Gene Colan. story by probably Stan Lee or Roy Thomas. No credits on my 70's black and white pocket edition, but one of my all time favorite comics stories.
Alf way, namor meet a submarine pirate named Barakuda.

great, great, great story. :)

[Cei-U!]

and there's that submariner arc where Namor follow the stolen serpent crown to lemuria (Mu?) throughout the 2 oceans. art by Gene Colan. story by probably Stan Lee or Roy Thomas. No credits on my 70's black and white pocket edition, but one of my all time favorite comics stories.
Alf way, namor meet a submarine pirate named Barakuda.

great, great, great story. :)

That's Sub-Mariner #9-13, story by Thomas, art by Marie Severin (#9, 12-13) and Gene Colan (#10-11).

Cei-U!
I summon mighty Naga!

[Stephane Garrelie]

That's Sub-Mariner #9-13, story by Thomas, art by Marie Severin (#9, 12-13) and Gene Colan (#10-11).

Cei-U!
I summon mighty Naga!
I tought It was by Roy, but for the stories of that time, without credits there's always a doubt. Thanks. :p

[Chris CCL]

I usually read The Long Halloween, go figure, on every Halloween.

Chris

[Halloween Jill]

When I was a kid, the Byrne-Clarement X-books and Miller's Daredevil were read to death. They looked about 50 years old before they were more than a couple of years old. I'm not sure anything has obsessed me to that extent ever since.

I've read Mr. Miracle #9 quite a few times. It's interesting: there's a point where you read that a few times and it suddenly becomes revelatory and full of boundless depth. But beyond that point, it starts to pale a bit again. Like a drug trip. Same fix, less effect. Comparing Kirby to a drug trip seems apt. ;-)

I like to re-read sequences from some books, not always whole books. Jaime Hernandez does amazing sequences that you can savour endlessly. Eisner too. Kirby, of course, for his insane, abstract design tics. Ditko, and I favour some of his later work too -- Lift My Veil, from the late '90s, is an amazing sequence (seven pages, I think). So I snatch moments. I don't have the time or concentration for regular re-reading.

[Halloween Jill]

(Incidentally, it's probably significant that I'm a -- very poor -- artist myself, that admiring sequencing is my kind of thing.)

[Agentum]

The only comics i have really intensionally re-read is new Teen titans and Millers Daredevil.
But i have re-read a lot of comics that i had forgot about and remembers when i start to read them maybe 15-20 years later.

But Watchmen, and other milestones i will reread again some day.

[DarthAstuart]

i re-read Dark Knight Returns to an obsessive degree. Same with Watchmen, though to a lesser degree.

I whip out the Giffen/DeMatteis/Maguire JLI trades and read them occasionally. one of my big thrills in my latest dive back into comics is that there are two JLI minis and a Defenders mini by the same team, all collected in trades and waiting for me to dig in.

i re-read COIE on occasion and kingdom come fairly frequently. great epic superheroics.

what I really enjoy doing is taking out my DC Greatest Stories collection and flipping thru them, re-reading stories, and always re-reading the introductions and end notes. weirdly enough, those are my favorite parts of the books. am I the only perosn who really loves intros?

[icctrombone]

I'm a big Avengers fan from back in the day . I reread the kree skrull war and continue on until about the space phantom / Grim reaper saga in issues # 106 or so. Like to read the Starlin warlock run. I also read the F.F issues that were done by John Buscema/ Rich buckler - the run that had Sue and Reeds marriage on the rocks.

[howyadoin]

Not too surprisingly, my list skews to 70s Marvel books:

Deathlok
Killraven
Jungle Action (especially Panther's Rage, which I still say is one of Marvel's first graphic novels, regardless of the fact that it was serialized. Love to see it recoloured by someone with some taste and collected in hardcover.)
The Englehart/Buscema run of Captain America & the Falcon
Man-Thing (the Ploog issues, anyway)

[Hombre]

Jungle Action (especially Panther's Rage, which I still say is one of Marvel's first graphic novels, regardless of the fact that it was serialized. Love to see it recoloured by someone with some taste and collected in hardcover.)


You say it feels like a graphic novel because, well, it has the scope of a novel, or a great movie. One of my favorite parts is the raid on Killmonger's village. Mc Gregor made it a broad statement on the senseless brutality of war and how difficult it is to retain the moral high ground once you start down its path.

But, as many have noted, the serialized format gave us some of the greatest story titles ever... But now the spears are broken... King Cadaver is dead and living in Wakanda... And all our past decades have seen revolutions...

Its 209 pages would make a very special book, and one that Marvel Comics should be proud to have its name attached to.

[howyadoin]

You say it feels like a graphic novel because, well, it has the scope of a novel, or a great movie. One of my favorite parts is the raid on Killmonger's village. Mc Gregor made it a broad statement on the senseless brutality of war and how difficult it is to retain the moral high ground once you start down its path.

But, as many have noted, the serialized format gave us some of the greatest story titles ever... But now the spears are broken... King Cadaver is dead and living in Wakanda... And all our past decades have seen revolutions...

Its 209 pages would make a very special book, and one that Marvel Comics should be proud to have its name attached to.Hear, hear.

And the main reason I think of is as a novel is that it completely stands alone, continuitywise. No drop-ins from the Avengers, very few references to the outside world at all. And there's even internal logic to justify the way it's cut off from the rest of the Marvel U.

As for the titles, they could still be used as chapter headings.

They'd have to keep all the extras, though - the map of Wakanda, the floorplans of the castle, the explanation of the murder mystery...

[Nate C.]

Hear, hear.

And the main reason I think of is as a novel is that it completely stands alone, continuitywise. No drop-ins from the Avengers, very few references to the outside world at all. And there's even internal logic to justify the way it's cut off from the rest of the Marvel U.

As for the titles, they could still be used as chapter headings.

They'd have to keep all the extras, though - the map of Wakanda, the floorplans of the castle, the explanation of the murder mystery...

Howy, what title and issues are those?

[howyadoin]

Howy, what title and issues are those?I believe it's Jungle Action 6-18.

Wikipedia's got an entry on it. Apparently I'm not the only one that considers it a graphic novel:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungle_Action

[Nate C.]

I believe it's Jungle Action 6-18.

Wikipedia's got an entry on it. Apparently I'm not the only one that considers it a graphic novel:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungle_Action

Very cool. Read that entry, looking further into this interesting Bronze age story.

[BeastieRunner]

The Amazing Spider-Man #9.

[howyadoin]

Very cool. Read that entry, looking further into this interesting Bronze age story.I really can't heap enough praise on it. It's flawless, in my opinion.

[west3man]

Waid's first Flash run (pre-101).
PAD's Hulk run, especially # 336 and 337, which guest-starred the original X-Men (as X-Factor). I very rarely know issue numbers, so when I do, it says a lot.
Fantastic Four issues with "Pineapple Thing." Few agree with me, but I always thought that stuff was cool - including Thing v.2.0.
All Ron Lim Silver Surfer stuff. You name it, I dug it.

There's a WHOLE LOT of stuff, but I'm gonna take baby steps or I'll never climb back outta this thread.

[west3man]

*tosses in SECRET WARS and its sequel(s)*

It gets bashed from time-to-time, but I love it.

[Prelude]

They're Modern Age comics, but here are a few of several stories I like re-reading:

Batman Adventures: Mad Love - I love this comic. There really aren't any blaring weaknesses in Harley's origin story. If only I could acquire the original art to the last page. It summarizes how enthralled Harley is by the Joker.

Dark Phoenix Saga - Jean Grey (Phoenix) is my favorite X-character, so I'm glad she takes the spotlight in what is arguably the best X-Men story written. Too bad her character hasn't been handled properly after this story.

Incredible Hulk #364-367 - Peter David has a weakened Hulk literally seconds away from death, and Dale Keown does a great job illustrating that in the final issue. I love how timer builds suspense throughout the story arc.

Killing Joke - Remember when the Joker wasn't a joke? I do whenever I read this story. Sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if this story was retconned in the future.

Wolverine #9 - A one-shot where Patch remembers a promise he kept to a dying nun. This was one of the earliest Chris Claremont stories I ever read.

[JeffreyWKramer]

The following, I've read again and again...

UNCANNY X-MEN - the Proteus storyline and Dark Phoenix saga, plus the original "Days of Future Past" storyline.

AVENGERS ANNUAL #10

V FOR VENDETTA

WATCHMEN

MIRACLEMAN - the entire Moore run.

THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS

SANDMAN - the whole series

PREACHER - the whole series

PLANETARY - the whole series to date

MASTER OF KUNG-FU - most of the run

MICRONAUTS 1-12

I've read my X-MEN, AVENGERS ANNUAL #10, MokF and MICRONAUTS issues so many times, they're in absolutely shit condition at this time, despite me trying to take pretty good care of them. The others, I have in single-issue form but also have in trade or hardcover to try to prevent the same fate from befalling them - but even so, some of the PLANETARY issues already look pretty well-read, from having read over and over them in between trade releases. I have DKR and WATCHMEN in hardcover, but also maintain trades to keep the limited-edition hardcovers from being read to death.

[west3man]

My hardcovers look great, JWK, but I'm starting to wish I'd held onto the extra tpb's, like I started to. But I really needed (and still need) to trim the fat from my collection.
I dunno. I guess we'll see.

[JeffreyWKramer]

My hardcovers look great, JWK, but I'm starting to wish I'd held onto the extra tpb's, like I started to. But I really needed (and still need) to trim the fat from my collection.
I dunno. I guess we'll see.


I reread WATCHMEN two or three times a year, at least, plus frequently look up specific scenes or another. I don't want my hardcover taking that much beating. Same reason I keep my softcover KINGDOM COME trade around - I don't want to read-to-death the signed, limited edition hardcover one.

[Sir Tim Drake]

You must be a big fan of Michael Golden, Jeffrey.

[west3man]

I reread WATCHMEN two or three times a year, at least, plus frequently look up specific scenes or another. I don't want my hardcover taking that much beating. Same reason I keep my softcover KINGDOM COME trade around - I don't want to read-to-death the signed, limited edition hardcover one.
you're gonna make me paranoid. :p

[JeffreyWKramer]

You must be a big fan of Michael Golden, Jeffrey.

I absolutely love his stuff. I wish I still had some of those old issues of BATMAN FAMILY in which he drew some Batman stories (including a great one with Ragman) and those wonderful Man-Bat short features (most particularly that one with Etrigan).

[howyadoin]

PAD's Hulk run, especially # 336 and 337, which guest-starred the original X-Men (as X-Factor). I very rarely know issue numbers, so when I do, it says a lot.That was the story where they went to... what was the country called? Trans-Sabal, something like that?

[spoon_jenkins]

That was the story where they went to... what was the country called? Trans-Sabal, something like that?
I believe you're thinking about the guest appearance years later by the new PAD-written, Havok-led X-Factor. I'm pretty sure the story with the original X-Factor took place in the U.S.

[west3man]

I believe you're thinking about the guest appearance years later by the new PAD-written, Havok-led X-Factor. I'm pretty sure the story with the original X-Factor took place in the U.S.
Indeed.

In case it helps, these are the ones I meant:

HULK #336
http://members.fortunecity.com/jshayer/covers/hulk_336.jpg
http://members.fortunecity.com/jshayer/covers/hulk_336.jpg

HULK #337
http://members.fortunecity.com/jshayer/covers/hulk_337.jpg
http://members.fortunecity.com/jshayer/covers/hulk_337.jpg


Here, I think, is the cover to one part of the arc I think howyadoin was talking about.
HULK #391
http://www.leaderslair.com/noexcuses/hulk2-391.jpg
http://www.leaderslair.com/noexcuses/hulk2-391.jpg

[west3man]

The photos aren't showing up well. Sorry.
This may help.

http://members.fortunecity.com/jshayer/comics/hulk_340.htm#
http://www.leaderslair.com/noexcuses/hulk2-391.html