Four-Issue Mini-series

[Steelhead]

OK, I'm a bit new here, but I'd like to start a discussion of four-issue mini-series, as Steven brought it up in his latest column.

I personally love the format--to me, it's like a short story--concise, to the point, no excess fat, no panel wasted (well, usually). Here are some examples:

Jonny Double (Azz and Risso)--one of my favorite comics ever
Flex Mentallo (Morrison and Quitely)
Pride and Joy (Ennis, Higgins)
Wolverine - Not Dead Yet (Ellis) - I think was 4 issues
Steven's own The Damned
Steven's Enemy--OK, five issues, but still qualifies, I think
Death - High Cost of Living I think was only 3 issues

Vertigo seemed to do a lot of creator-centered mini-series in the mid-90s.

As Steven said, there seems to be a mindset amongst comics buyers against this format, which I don't understand, to be honest.

Anyway, any of you like these mini-series, and what are some other good examples?

[Steven Grant]

I think the mindset among buyers was enforced by many years of getting burned in one way or another by it.

- Grant

[Steelhead]

How do you mean burned, Steven?

(reminds me...I'm going to re-read Damned)

[ScottBieser]

If I'm not mistaken the new NEXUS miniseries is going to be 4 issues. Do you suppose that might help revive the good-will towards this form?

[Steelhead]

New Nexus? Baron and Rude?

[Steven Grant]

The second issue just came out. Steve Rude's self-publishing it.

- Grant

[badMike]

Well, I don't know exactly what Steven meant by "burned," but I remember buying a lot of those stupid mini-series back in high school (the '80s) when they were all the rage, particularly Marvel's. They usually featured a character you really, really wanted to see in a fun solo adventure, but the end product was usually some slapdash production with a lame story and rushed art. I have boxes filled with those things and I couldn't tell you one that was "great."

[Paul McEnery]

Well, I don't know exactly what Steven meant by "burned," but I remember buying a lot of those stupid mini-series back in high school (the '80s) when they were all the rage, particularly Marvel's. They usually featured a character you really, really wanted to see in a fun solo adventure, but the end product was usually some slapdash production with a lame story and rushed art. I have boxes filled with those things and I couldn't tell you one that was "great."

wolverine and kitty pryde, by claremont and miller.

[NatGertler]

Um, the Wolverine miniseries was by Claremont and Miller, and was four issues, and was a rather fine work.
Kitty Pride and Wolverine was by Claremont and Al Milgrom, and ran six issues, and if memory serves was lightly enjoyable but of much less of an impact than the Wolverine mini.

[dancj]

The best examples I can think of offhand are Peter Milligan's The Extremist and his Human Target. As I understand it he actually wrote Human Target to be like an action movie.

[Steelhead]

The best examples I can think of offhand are Peter Milligan's The Extremist and his Human Target. As I understand it he actually wrote Human Target to be like an action movie.
Yes! Human Target, another one of my favorites, with art by the much missed Edvin Biuković. I'll have to track down the Extremist.

I see what you all mean--I vaguely remember the terrible Marvel minis, like Rogue--God that was awful. Is this what Steven is talking about? Marvel churning out excreble minis in the early-mid 90s? (Warren Ellis' Wolverine a rare fine example)

Most of what I've mentioned are the Vertigo minis--I really like the non-company property short mini-series. As I've said, Vertigo was really into this in the 90s, and to me it gave writers/artists a chance to do their own thing. I'm guessing they didn't go over very well with buyers.

[badMike]

Um, the Wolverine miniseries was by Claremont and Miller, and was four issues, and was a rather fine work.
Kitty Pride and Wolverine was by Claremont and Al Milgrom, and ran six issues, and if memory serves was lightly enjoyable but of much less of an impact than the Wolverine mini.Exactly. Instantly forgettable. I couldn't even tell you what it was about.

[Paul McEnery]

Um, the Wolverine miniseries was by Claremont and Miller, and was four issues, and was a rather fine work.
Kitty Pride and Wolverine was by Claremont and Al Milgrom, and ran six issues, and if memory serves was lightly enjoyable but of much less of an impact than the Wolverine mini.

Fair enough. You get old, it all kinda runs together.

[Michael P]

Probably one of my favorite 4-issue minis from recent years (and one I can't believe Hollywood didn't pick up on) was Area 52. The gist was that it was a government facility in the ass-end of the Arctic, the one where we send all the strange alien and extradimensional crap that doesn't have any immediately obvious military applications, and staffed by the officers we most want to get out of the way (whistleblowers, well-connected fuckups, and people who've just pissed off important politicians and lobbyists). The plot was fairly simple (something we thought was harmless turns out not to be, begin carnage), but it was filled with interesting characters and a Wold Newton casserole of objects and artifacts that you couldn't help but love it. The fourth issue ran mega-late, as I recall, and so pretty much all the buzz it picked up poofed away, but I loved it. I think Image traded it, though, so a well-stocked retailer might have it, and of course it's a great quarter bin buy if you find it.

[bartl]

How do you mean burned, Steven?

(reminds me...I'm going to re-read Damned)
Well, one way of getting burned is to buy a miniseries, and seeing it canceled before it is complete, and, if you're lucky, you can rebuy the series if it ever gets released in TPB form

I really should get around to buying THE LAST HEROES.

[king_ghidra]

Punisher POV.

I saw someone on these boards saying it wasn't the best example of Starlin and Wrightson's work, but i loved it.