Pipeline Top Ten?

[Trusty Mutsi]

Hey Augie! I just started listening to your podcasts and I really enjoy the reviews.

That said, I'm a TPB reader, because I just can't financially keep up with the single issues financially. I stopped reading most comics around Countdown to Infinite Crisis. My favorite books were New Avengers and JSA. Now I'm looking to catch up on my TPBs and I'm just overwhelmed by all the stuff I've missed, and I'm not sure where to start. Would you (or any other posters here) mind listing a top ten list of your favorite books, or maybe just some suggestions on which TPBs to start on?

If it helps, I recently got a bunch of the Infinite Crisis stuff on eBay (most of the big minis and the IC hardcover), the most recent T-Bolts trades, and the Invinicible HC that has issues 1-12. I also am up to the Venom stuff in Ultimate Spidey. Also a big fan of JMS's Spidey, and have the first 4 trades of his stuff.

Thanks for any help!

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Thanks, Trusty! I'm afraid I'm horrible at naming things off the top of my head, so I'll have to see what it is I'VE bought over the last few months when I'm home tonight. Off the top of my head, though, I'd recommend Peter David's two X-FACTOR hardcovers (the first is now out in trade paperback) and the first NEXTWAVE collection, which is out in either trade of HC, I believe. The second one should be out as a hardcover soon.

Any of Brubaker's CAPTAIN AMERICA run would be a good addition. I think there are four trades now of his first year and a half or so.

The forthcoming CRIMINAL trade, of course, is highly recommended. (See today's column for details.)

Image recently put out a trade of Robert Kirkman's BRIT books, which is pretty good and now in full color. It's in the same universe as DRAGON and INVINCIBLE.

I've been enjoying Kirkman's ANT-MAN book, though there's no trade yet. Keep an eye out for that.

Have you ever read JMS' MIDNIGHT NATION? Great piece of fantasy/horror/sci-fi (not sure exactly where it would fall, definition-wise), if you're into JMS' writing.

And, of course, Brubaker's DAREDEVIL run has been amazing. If you didn't read it, go back and start with Bendis' run and work your way through. It's well worth it.

I'll have to defer to someone else for the DC side of things, though I imagine someone might recommend the JONAH HEX trade to you. I've enjoyed recent issues of the series, but haven't read the first year's worth of issues, so I can't say one way or the other how good they are.

Hope some of that helps! Let us know what you come up with, when you do start buying stuff. =)

-Augie

P.S. To think, I was afraid that I couldn't name anything off the top of my head. Silly me.

[goman]

What Augie said. Those are all excellent books.

On the DC side of things, if you're enjoying Infinite Crisis, you probably want to pick up the 52 trades that start up in May, I believe. Checkmate is also excellent, the first trade is out for that. I'm enjoying Green Lantern currently, and the Green Lantern: Rebirth trade is a good place to start, I want to say there are two trades for the current series as well.

As for the independant side, I'll throw out Bone. Pick up the color reprints that Scholastic is printing, they're affordable ($10 a pop) and beautiful. If you enjoy Greg Rucka's writing, you need to check out Queen & Country, by ONI. Real world espionage excitement. And if you're not averse to manga stylings, pick up the three Scott Pilgrim trades, also from Oni.

[Trusty Mutsi]

Thanks, Trusty! I'm afraid I'm horrible at naming things off the top of my head, so I'll have to see what it is I'VE bought over the last few months when I'm home tonight. Off the top of my head, though, I'd recommend Peter David's two X-FACTOR hardcovers (the first is now out in trade paperback) and the first NEXTWAVE collection, which is out in either trade of HC, I believe. The second one should be out as a hardcover soon.

I was a big fan of his original X-Factors, so I might check this out. I hear great stuff on Nextwave too. I wonder how extensive Peter David's Captain Marvel run is collected?


Any of Brubaker's CAPTAIN AMERICA run would be a good addition. I think there are four trades now of his first year and a half or so.

I hear GREAT stuff about his Cap, and I've been meaning to check it out.


Image recently put out a trade of Robert Kirkman's BRIT books, which is pretty good and now in full color. It's in the same universe as DRAGON and INVINCIBLE.

I've been enjoying Kirkman's ANT-MAN book, though there's no trade yet. Keep an eye out for that.

I love Invincible, so I'll have to look out for these.


Have you ever read JMS' MIDNIGHT NATION? Great piece of fantasy/horror/sci-fi (not sure exactly where it would fall, definition-wise), if you're into JMS' writing.

I forgot about Midnight Nation! I actually didn't hear THAT great of feedback on it, but maybe I'm thinking of Falling Stars. I found his Supreme Power too adult (but still very well done), so maybe this will be a great replacement.


And, of course, Brubaker's DAREDEVIL run has been amazing. If you didn't read it, go back and start with Bendis' run and work your way through. It's well worth it.

Yup, Daredevil is another book I've been wanting to check out, especially for the Bendis/Maleev stuff. So you don't recommend Quesada's issues?


Hope some of that helps! Let us know what you come up with, when you do start buying stuff. =)

I definitely will keep you posted! Thank you SO much for your help! Now I just need some DC recommendations!

[Trusty Mutsi]

What Augie said. Those are all excellent books.

On the DC side of things, if you're enjoying Infinite Crisis, you probably want to pick up the 52 trades that start up in May, I believe. Checkmate is also excellent, the first trade is out for that. I'm enjoying Green Lantern currently, and the Green Lantern: Rebirth trade is a good place to start, I want to say there are two trades for the current series as well.

As for the independant side, I'll throw out Bone. Pick up the color reprints that Scholastic is printing, they're affordable ($10 a pop) and beautiful. If you enjoy Greg Rucka's writing, you need to check out Queen & Country, by ONI. Real world espionage excitement. And if you're not averse to manga stylings, pick up the three Scott Pilgrim trades, also from Oni.

Yeah, I want to check out 52 really bad, but I have a lot to catch up on first. Was any of the One Year Later stuf any good? I'm surprised by all the Checkmate love (from you and Augie) as I've not heard that much hype behind it.

Green Lantern: Rebirth was one of the very last minis I got as single issues, and loved it, so I'll add the regular title to my list.

I have the complete Bone and love it. Can't wait for Smith's Shazam TPB.

I've not read too much from Greg Rucka that I've liked, but I've mainly read his Detective stuff, so maybe I'll like Queen and Country or Checkmate anyway? I guess I'll find out when I read my OMAC TPB.

I hear great stuff about the Scott Pilgrim trades, so I'll have to check those out too.

Wow... now I just need to pick where to start with all the books:)

[Roons]

Ex Machina is up to vol 5 I think, awesome series. The first 3 trades of The Ultimates are out, you really can't go wrong with them. Oh yeah, The Boys vol 1 is being released sometime this year - that's a must have (assuming you're a grown up :p )

[goman]

Yeah, I want to check out 52 really bad, but I have a lot to catch up on first. Was any of the One Year Later stuf any good? I'm surprised by all the Checkmate love (from you and Augie) as I've not heard that much hype behind it.

I have the complete Bone and love it. Can't wait for Smith's Shazam TPB.


The only book I've heard really good things on from One Year later is Robin, but I'm not reading that myself. I read the Superman: Up, Up and Away and Batman: Face the Face trades (both first stories out of 1YL) and they were decent but didn't blow me away or convince me to buy the monthlies. Aquaman looked good, but the creative team of Busiek and Guice have moved off the book, so I lost interest. I tried Shadowpack and Blue Beetle, but dropped them after losing interest. Hawkgirl, Nightwing, Flash 1-8(Flash may be making a turn around with a new creative team) from what I've heard are bad, but don't take my word on those, as I haven't read them.

And Shazam has been awesome so far. Can't wait for the next issue.

[torippu]

Yeah, I want to check out 52 really bad, but I have a lot to catch up on first. Was any of the One Year Later stuf any good?
I think that I am in the minority here, but I've really been enjoying Catwoman since OYL began. Green Lantern has also been at the top of my reading pile (whenever it ships) since last year as well.

In the meantime, I have dropped the following books since OYL: Nightwing (tough to do after 123 straight issues), The Flash, Outsiders & Teen Titans. I also tried and dropped the following books as well: Aquaman, Checkmate & Blue Beetle. To me, the OYL experiment was a failure.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

CHECKMATE is definitely my favorite DC book, and there is one trade out of it already. Can't believe I missed that one. . .

PAD's CAPTAIN MARVEL run isn't that well collected, I don't think. Marvel wasn't pushing the trades back then like they are today, so it's going to just be a hole in your collection, I'm afraid, though the last issue was priceless.

Quesada's DAREDEVIL stuff was great, too, but Brubaker's current run is really based off of Bendis'. That's just ONE BIG storyline. Quesada's run is almost a separate series, thematically. Still, it's worth a read.

EX MACHINA and Y THE LAST MAN are great comics, too, even if I haven't read them in a long time, now. I have to pick up those trades someday. . .

-Augie

[Trusty Mutsi]

Okay, so it looks like One Year Later wasn't so hot, so I won't make that a priority.

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

I'll post updates on what I'm reading in a new thread:)

[goman]

I just remembered that no one has mentioned Runaways yet, which is one of the best new series from Marvel in the last few years. If you've got the cash pick up the first two HC's, and the third HC should be coming out soon. It's a great series.
Young Avengers is another good series, and has two trades collecting all the issues that have been released. Great art on that one, and some great new characters that Marvel used quite a bit during Civil War.

[Trusty Mutsi]

I just remembered that no one has mentioned Runaways yet, which is one of the best new series from Marvel in the last few years. If you've got the cash pick up the first two HC's, and the third HC should be coming out soon. It's a great series.
Young Avengers is another good series, and has two trades collecting all the issues that have been released. Great art on that one, and some great new characters that Marvel used quite a bit during Civil War.

Cool, thanks! My wallets feeling nauseus now. TOO MANY GOOD BOOKS!

[sschroeder]

Son of M is a good mini-series that explores Quicksilver after getting depowered and the fallout for the Inhumans when he tries to rectify the situation. (Or was this out before your reading lapse?)

Green Lantern Corps: Recharge introduces several new characters that now feature in GLC and gets the Corps going again.

[Trusty Mutsi]

Son of M is a good mini-series that explores Quicksilver after getting depowered and the fallout for the Inhumans when he tries to rectify the situation. (Or was this out before your reading lapse?)

Green Lantern Corps: Recharge introduces several new characters that now feature in GLC and gets the Corps going again.

I've heard NOTHING but good things about Son of M. Is that by the writer of District X? I hear that was very good too.

And I DEFINITELY want to try out GL Corp: Recharge. I just like the idea that Guy Gardner's now more than just a joke (although I still enjoyed his portrayal in Giffen's JLI).

[sschroeder]

I've heard NOTHING but good things about Son of M. Is that by the writer of District X? I hear that was very good too.

I don't know. I didn't read District X. Son of M is by David Hine. Silent War, which follows up on Son of M and is coming out now, is by him too.


I think the first 4 issues of Marvel Adventures Avengers are already collected in a digest version. You might want to check that out. Jeff Parker wrote it. He also did Agents of Atlas which you should check out when it gets collected.


Here is what I'm reading these days that I recommend:

Blade of the Immortal, Green Lantern, Incredible Hulk, Ms. Marvel, newuniversal, Powers, The Spirit, Usagi Yojimbo.

I started reading Hulk again with Planet Hulk, but that hasn't been collected yet. Spirit and newuniversal are too new to have collections.

I also read GLC, but it falls a bit short of my recommending it, unless you are a general GL fan, of course, in which case you will like it quite a bit. Same applies for Uncanny X-Men, X-Men and the Annihilation stuff. The recent Heralds of Galactus # 1 was pretty good, if you want to get an idea on the feel of Annihilation without spending too much at once.

Daredevil, Justice and Star Wars: Legacy I'm behind in reading, so I won't recommend them at the moment, though I'm pretty sure they'll be good when I get around to them. DD especially has been good for so long.

I'm fairly new to New X-Men and Supergirl and LSH, but them seem OK. Same with Exiles, but I think I will be enjoying it for a while.

I'm also new to Red Sonja, Mighty Avengers, Captain America, New Avengers, Brave and Bold, and Walking Dead but I have decent hopes for all of them.

Godland is something you kind of have to see for yourself if you like it, and I haven't read the early issues myself. There was a 60 cent issue recently, which I didn't read yet.

Polly and the Pirates was a decent mini-series as well.

I'll buy the next All-Star Superman, if it ever comes out again. ;)

That's all I can think of for now. Just a rough guide to my reading habits. I'll leave the top ten lists to Augie.

[pmpknface]

I've heard NOTHING but good things about Son of M. Is that by the writer of District X? I hear that was very good too.

And I DEFINITELY want to try out GL Corp: Recharge. I just like the idea that Guy Gardner's now more than just a joke (although I still enjoyed his portrayal in Giffen's JLI).
Yes, David Hine is the writer of both District X, Son of M, and Silent War.

His STRANGE EMBRACE is also being published through Image and starts with #1 in this month's Previews.