Comics ARE getting good

[TROUBLEZ]

I think comics are starting to kick ass again. DC has JUSTICE, JLA, Green Lantern, Sinestro Corps, All Star Superman, Wonder Woman by the Dodsons and various writers...
Marvel, I don't know but some of the titles look good, but there newstand with Ultimate Spider-man is a good move. I can stop at a convenient store for a soda, and still buy a good Spiderman comic.
Oh yea, they have Astonishing X-Men, Wolverine Origins is pretty good.

Anyway it seems like some really good comics are being produced, although there still being overshadowed by Big Event crossovers, but it seems better than before. I thought that the big 2 were going back to gimmick covers but I guess not.

I just hope they quit the mega events crossovers, stop getting novel writers and or "hollywood" writers to write comics (if it's stephen king or someone i can understand or even Brad Meltzer, although I hated Identity Crisis). I don't know about other readers but I never heard of these people. I don't care if this writer wrote a season of Scrubs. Focus on getting writers who can write good comics. Not these supposed big names.

[Floyd The Barber]

Wonder Woman by the Dodsons and various writers...

Dude. Seriously. No Offense to the Dodsons who aren't bad artists but...Dude...Seriously. Did you read those? Worst written Wonder Woman EVER.
If you did read those and like 'em then I guess that's your opinion. But I'm sure you're on a VERY short list that includes you and maybe Alan Heinberg's mom.

In my opinion he's a perfect example of this statement...


stop getting novel writers and or "hollywood" writers to write comics


Which I agree with completely.


i can understand or even Brad Meltzer, although I hated Identity Crisis).

Brad Meltzer is a perfect example of this. And hate isn't strong enough word for Identity Crisis. Every comic Meltzer writes is a TEDIOUSLY slow-paced dramatically OVER-narrarated morbid story where someone has to die to add "importance". He's the worst of all of 'em IMO. And yes people; I know JLA sells hundreds of thou... blah blah blah..DC's top book..blah blah. But we all know sales don't equal quality.

And yes I agree that there are a lot of good comics coming out these days, but sadly the best ones aren't the ones that are selling the most.

[Michael P]

Well, comics ain't just Marvel and DC. I doubt there's been a time since the birth of the medium when there hasn't been at least one good comic being published.

It's just that sometimes, the good is outweighed by the bad by a much larger margin.

[GeorgeG]

I agree that comics are getting really good.

JSA, JLA, The Spirit, Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Cable & Deadpool, Thunderbolts, The Flash...looking forward to Countdown.

There's a lot of quality stuff out there (ones I didn't mention too).

[Floyd The Barber]

Some non-Marvel/DC that are really great:

Hack/Slash and the G.I.Joe books from Devil's Due.

Dynamo 5, Girls (which just completed), Bomb Queen, and Astonishing Wolf-Man from Image.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Star Wars Legacy from Dark Horse (best Star-Wars since the movies!)

Garth Ennis's Chronicles Of Wormwood from Avatar (if you're old enough).

These are just a few reasons it's great to be a comics fan!

[stealthwise]

Some non-Marvel/DC that are really great:

Hack/Slash and the G.I.Joe books from Devil's Due.

Dynamo 5, Girls (which just completed), Bomb Queen, and Astonishing Wolf-Man from Image.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Star Wars Legacy from Dark Horse (best Star-Wars since the movies!)

Garth Ennis's Chronicles Of Wormwood from Avatar (if you're old enough).

These are just a few reasons it's great to be a comics fan!

Not to mention The Goon (Dark Horse), Fell (Image), Local (Oni), and classic stuff that's still being put out like Usagi Yojimbo or the newest version of Conan.

[CarlosHathcock93]

Some non-Marvel/DC that are really great:

Hack/Slash and the G.I.Joe books from Devil's Due.

Dynamo 5, Girls (which just completed), Bomb Queen, and Astonishing Wolf-Man from Image.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Star Wars Legacy from Dark Horse (best Star-Wars since the movies!)

Garth Ennis's Chronicles Of Wormwood from Avatar (if you're old enough).

These are just a few reasons it's great to be a comics fan!

What with GI Joe:WWIII coming up, not to mention Storm Shadow ongoing by Larry Hama himself I predict some awesome stuff coming from DD in the near future.

[The Batman]

Eric Shanower's Age of Bronze, Nat Turner by Kyle Baker, The Walking Dead by Kirkman . . . .

[Pól Rua]

Frankly, I think we're living in the 90's again, where anything decent that could be showing up on shelves is being driven off by a tide of same ol' crap from Marvel & DC.

[DubipR]

Frankly, I think we're living in the 90's again, where anything decent that could be showing up on shelves is being driven off by a tide of same ol' crap from Marvel & DC.

Amen brother.

With the all these alternative covers by both companies, its no wonder why I can't find my copies of Love & Rockets or Angry Youth Comix amongst the sea of comic mediocrity. Its most indeed the 90s over again. Give it time, and you'll see the return of holofoil and chromium covers in no time.

I mean, the Big 2 are putting out good comics, like the Spirit or Jonah Hex. But for every Hex on the rack, you have 45 X-titles, 3 Avengers books, and 54 Bat related titles; plain ol' mediocre crapola. No wonder I'm spending less than 60 bucks a month on comics....and they're mostly Vertigo and small press stuff.

Comics ARE getting good, but you have to sift through the Didio and Quesada detritus to find them.

[Pól Rua]

Amen brother.

With the all these alternative covers by both companies, its no wonder why I can't find my copies of Love & Rockets or Angry Youth Comix amongst the sea of comic mediocrity. Its most indeed the 90s over again. Give it time, and you'll see the return of holofoil and chromium covers in no time.

I mean, the Big 2 are putting out good comics, like the Spirit or Jonah Hex. But for every Hex on the rack, you have 45 X-titles, 3 Avengers books, and 54 Bat related titles; plain ol' mediocre crapola. No wonder I'm spending less than 60 bucks a month on comics....and they're mostly Vertigo and small press stuff.

Comics ARE getting good, but you have to sift through the Didio and Quesada detritus to find them.

I have a suspicion we won't be seeing the holofoil, because that'd be TOO obvious, but there are a proliferation of variant covers from both big companies. Add that to the fact that there are 3 Spider-Man series, 3 Avengers series, 5 X-Men series, DC's putting out a weekly comic (with spin-offs)... it looks like there's a decided effort to force everyone else off the shelves.

[DubipR]

Add that to the fact that there are 3 Spider-Man series, 3 Avengers series, 5 X-Men series, DC's putting out a weekly comic (with spin-offs)... it looks like there's a decided effort to force everyone else off the shelves.

True. I'm happy that my comic shop does the pull list deal, so I can make sure I don't have to miss my smaller press items and the comics I want to read. Even when I step into the shop, I hardly go to the racks and look at the books, as I know I see the smaller press area getting harder and harder to locate.

I'm not going to blast the Big 2 and Image for putting out their books, but when did mediocrity hold sway over the comics industry? We have banal and boring storytelling on a grand scale (with the exception of a few writers) that makes me look at my back issues and long for comics that were..you know, fun. Instead we have all this grim and gritty (going back to the late 80s mentality here) and eviscerating what made comics fun...escapism. With the exception of a few monthlies from the Big 2 that aren't Vertigo, isn't it time to have some sort of period of having a lighter comics world?

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

And hate isn't strong enough word for Identity Crisis. Every comic Meltzer writes is a TEDIOUSLY slow-paced dramatically OVER-narrarated morbid story where someone has to die to add "importance". He's the worst of all of 'em IMO.

He's first crack, the run in Green Arrow didn't have anybody die to add importance.
It took for Winnick to come on and try add importance and 'reality' to a book about a crime fighting archer who wears green.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

I think comics are starting to kick ass again. DC has JUSTICE, JLA, Green Lantern, Sinestro Corps, All Star Superman, Wonder Woman by the Dodsons and various writers...
Marvel, I don't know but some of the titles look good, but there newstand with Ultimate Spider-man is a good move. I can stop at a convenient store for a soda, and still buy a good Spiderman comic.
Oh yea, they have Astonishing X-Men, Wolverine Origins is pretty good.

Anyway it seems like some really good comics are being produced, although there still being overshadowed by Big Event crossovers, but it seems better than before. I thought that the big 2 were going back to gimmick covers but I guess not.

I just hope they quit the mega events crossovers, stop getting novel writers and or "hollywood" writers to write comics (if it's stephen king or someone i can understand or even Brad Meltzer, although I hated Identity Crisis). I don't know about other readers but I never heard of these people. I don't care if this writer wrote a season of Scrubs. Focus on getting writers who can write good comics. Not these supposed big names.

Stop reading JUST the ironically titled 'Big Two'.

It'll be hard at first (actually it won't) but you'll thank yourself for it in the not too distant future.

If you'll miss superheroes too much, get Invincible and Noble Causes, because Marvel and DC are putting out some of the worst crap they have in a LONG time.

[stealthwise]

I just hope they quit the mega events crossovers, stop getting novel writers and or "hollywood" writers to write comics (if it's stephen king or someone i can understand or even Brad Meltzer, although I hated Identity Crisis). I don't know about other readers but I never heard of these people. I don't care if this writer wrote a season of Scrubs. Focus on getting writers who can write good comics. Not these supposed big names.

Wait... which one wrote a season of Scrubs? Because if it's season one, then that's someone I'm interested in checking out, especially if they're writing a comedy comic.

[Floyd The Barber]

He's first crack, the run in Green Arrow didn't have anybody die to add importance.
It took for Winnick to come on and try add importance and 'reality' to a book about a crime fighting archer who wears green.

Didn't read his Green Arrow's. I've read Identity Crisis and JLA and both were not very enjoyable IMO. I just don't enjoy his style of writing at all.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

Didn't read his Green Arrow's. I've read Identity Crisis and JLA and both were not very enjoyable IMO. I just don't enjoy his style of writing at all.

So then you retract that EVERY comic Metzler writes has the qualities you describe?

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

Double Post

[JoeK32880]

I'm certainly not going to quit reading my Marvel and DC books just because someone things they're bad. I don't just want to read about super-heroes like Invincible and Noble Causes (both of which I have read), I want to read about very particular super-heroes and Marvel and DC publish them.

My non-Marvel and DC pull list is pretty much limited to GI Joe and Conan.

Although I've read many indy books, I tend to buy them when they're collected (Box Office Poison, Ghost World, Jimmy Corrigan). There were a few years where I would pretty much camp out at the Top Shelf booth at comic cons. I've read tons of great comics, I've read tons of great super-hero comics. But the Marvel and DC universe and their characters and mythology are the main reason I love comics in the first place and I won't just abandon them, because even when the quality isn't there (and I disagree that it isn't now), I still love reading them just because they are what they are.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

I'm certainly not going to quit reading my Marvel and DC books just because someone things they're bad. I don't just want to read about super-heroes like Invincible and Noble Causes (both of which I have read), I want to read about very particular super-heroes and Marvel and DC publish them.

My non-Marvel and DC pull list is pretty much limited to GI Joe and Conan.

Although I've read many indy books, I tend to buy them when they're collected (Box Office Poison, Ghost World, Jimmy Corrigan). There were a few years where I would pretty much camp out at the Top Shelf booth at comic cons. I've read tons of great comics, I've read tons of great super-hero comics. But the Marvel and DC universe and their characters and mythology are the main reason I love comics in the first place and I won't just abandon them, because even when the quality isn't there (and I disagree that it isn't now), I still love reading them just because they are what they are.

So you don't mind if it's shit, just as long as it's your shit?

[stealthwise]

So you don't mind if it's shit, just as long as it's your shit?

Well, sometimes it's hard to get the right shit-to-corn ratio right.

If the shit's got too much, it'll tear your asshole apart. Not enough, and it just don't feel right.

[Floyd The Barber]

So then you retract that EVERY comic Metzler writes has the qualities you describe?

Sure. I guess it's just been all the ones I've read. Honestly I wouldn't go out of my way to read Meltzer. I just don't like his style of writing.

[JoeK32880]

So you don't mind if it's shit, just as long as it's your shit?

No, I do mind. But I've got a lot invested in some characters, financially and emotionally and I'd have more fun reading a mediocre Legion comic than the best issue ever of 100 Bullets or something.

[Pól Rua]

No, I do mind. But I've got a lot invested in some characters, financially and emotionally and I'd have more fun reading a mediocre Legion comic than the best issue ever of 100 Bullets or something.

If only this was the 'Comics Should Be Mediocre But Familiar' forum.

[JoeK32880]

If only this was the 'Comics Should Be Mediocre But Familiar' forum.

You're acting like Good is such an objective term.

[BizarroBeachHead]

You're acting like Good is such an objective term.

There is no "objective argument" here. By your own admission, you'd rather read something you feel is mediocre, provided it's familiar, than something you feel is great.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

You're acting like Good is such an objective term.

You missed the big debate on that one.

I think the outcome was that good is an objective term.

But anyway, if you want to read a book that you admit you don't think that much of because you brought the last fifty issues and feel a bond with that character, go for it.
But don't whinge about Marvel and DC getting big names to write comics you don't like, because if you keep buying them because you like the characters, they'll keep hiring that person to write them.

[dancj]

You missed the big debate on that one.

I think the outcome was that good is an objective term.
The outcome was that most people got bored and stopped reading the thread. "Objective" may have been the consensus of the people who stuck it out, but that's far from conclusive

[Pól Rua]

You're acting like Good is such an objective term.

I wasn't the one who said:


I'd have more fun reading a mediocre Legion comic than the best issue ever of 100 Bullets or something.

Your words. Your call.

[graviton]

I've been reading and collecting comics for nigh on 40 years, and I must say that Marvel's current output is some of the weakest stuff I have seen. "Civil War" put me completely off the Marvel titles, except for the occassional Marvel Adventures digest.

DC isn't much better, with the notable exceptionsof JSA, JLA, and Justice League Unlimited, which is by far the best book they are currently publishing. Also, the Showcase Presents reprints are keeping me interested in the DCU, along with the new Kirby 4th World Omnibus series.

As for small press, yeah, there are some good titles out there, but many are directed at an adult audience. There's just not that much out there for kids, other than the reprint books.

Unfortunate, but that's the current state of things.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

As for small press, yeah, there are some good titles out there, but many are directed at an adult audience. There's just not that much out there for kids, other than the reprint books.

Unfortunate, but that's the current state of things.

Invincible is a good teen superhero book.
So was Blue Beetle from DC (I've only got the first trade so it may have changed).

Mouse Guard is great for all ages.

She Hulk is a fun superhero book from Marvel - the only I actually read.

Kurt Busiek's trade of Action Comics was pretty darn good all ages reading as well. I had no idea who half the characters were, but then again neither did Superman, and he was the main star.

And off the top of my head, that's all I can think of right now.

[Dan Apodaca]

She Hulk is a fun superhero book from Marvel

The covers aren't, though.

I went to the comic shop today to get some superhero comics because I was missing FUN and I just wanted some superhero fun.

And I couldn't find a single damn thing that looked interesting. I ended up buying the Bizarro World trade, and it's great!

But yeah, it would be nice if I could just get some wacky, superhero adventures that aren't written to be simplistic.

[BizarroBeachHead]

On the subject of fun awesome superhero comics.

Fantastic Four/Iron Man: Big In Japan by Zeb Wells and the late Seth Fisher.

I'll take some more of that please.

[Ryan Day]

But yeah, it would be nice if I could just get some wacky, superhero adventures that aren't written to be simplistic.

Have you tried Blue Beetle?

(Standard caveat: The first sixe issues aren't anything special, but it really takes off after that.)