What Classic Comic Have You Read Lately? Pt. 2

[Antoine]

I finally got into Tintin today and honestly it may top out as one of my favorite comics of all time. I remember liking the cartoon as a kid and I loved the movie that came out last year but I had never read the comics themselves until just today. I bought The Crab with the Golden Claw, The Shooting Star, The Secret of the Unicorn, Red Rackham's Treasure, The Seven Crystal Balls and Prisoners of the Sun and while I've only read through the first two of those volumes I've already ordered more and I can't wait for them to arrive.

It simply boggles my mind that these books were being put out during the Golden Age of comics, both in terms of story telling and in their art they're just so far ahead of the books being put out by DC at that same time that I can't grasp the difference in quality. I'm not saying Golden Age Superman and Batman were bad, there are a great many stories from back then that I really enjoy but Tintin just trumps them so easily.

I imagine that this reaction is similar to when I first tasted peanut butter, I of course don't remember what I thought then but it must have been similar to the thoughts I'm having now.

You definitely picked some of the most classics Tintin with Unicorn/Rackham and Crystal Balls/Prisoners. Next one you should get is the Blue Lotus and Tintin in Tibet, often considered like Hergé's best work. Blue Lotus is my personal favourite. Flight 714 for Sydney is also really great, really different from the rest.

Next, you should try Asterix, if you're a fan of this type of drawing (called "Ligne Claire"). Adventure/Humor, the other big Franco-Belge classic with Tintin. Although I'm not sure how the humour would translate in English...

[thwhtGuardian]

You definitely picked some of the most classics Tintin with Unicorn/Rackham and Crystal Balls/Prisoners. Next one you should get is the Blue Lotus and Tintin in Tibet, often considered like Hergé's best work. Blue Lotus is my personal favourite. Flight 714 for Sydney is also really great, really different from the rest.

Next, you should try Asterix, if you're a fan of this type of drawing (called "Ligne Claire"). Adventure/Humor, the other big Franco-Belge classic with Tintin. Although I'm not sure how the humour would translate in English...

Those were the titles suggested to me by a poster here named Middenway after there was a reference to Tintin in an issue of BPRD. I'll definitely look into the Blue Lotus and Tibet, probably after I receive the volumes that make up the Moon story that I just ordered today.

I didn't know the style of art had a name, i'll have to do some research on that, and Asterix is definitely on my radar as I've seen many of the more international posters around these parts talk about it so reverently.

[Antoine]

Those were the titles suggested to me by a poster here named Middenway after there was a reference to Tintin in an issue of BPRD. I'll definitely look into the Blue Lotus and Tibet, probably after I receive the volumes that make up the Moon story that I just ordered today.

I didn't know the style of art had a name, i'll have to do some research on that, and Asterix is definitely on my radar as I've seen many of the more international posters around these parts talk about it so reverently.

If you want to learn a bit more on the Ligne Claire style :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligne_claire

Just read that Astérix is not considered Ligne CLaire, but if it's not it's pretty close in my opinion.

[AZBarbarian]

The Batman issue is one of my favorite comics of all time, I may need to revisit it now.

As for my readings today I re-read John Byrne's Nextmen #21 today, I'm not a huge fan of his but this is the first appearance of Hellboy so for me it's an essential part of my collection. However on just about every other previous reading I've skipped the first twelve pages; they've never held my attention as I have no idea who they are or what's going on in the story. I have zero experience with the Next Men but today, for probably the first time since I first bought the book back in the late 90's, I actually read the beginning of the book ad I found myself intrigued.

Basically, what I'm saying is,are there any here who would recommend this book?

A day late, I know. This is actually one of my favorite runs of comics. I just purchased the newer IDW stuff so I haven't read that yet. A lot of people compare it to DNAgents, and while there are some similarities, I think JBNM is a better read. They also have little to no collector value (other than the one you have) so you should be able to get em cheap. It would be something I hunt dollar bins for - but I like hunting for things in dollar bins even more than reading comics.

[Roquefort Raider]

Just read that Astérix is not considered Ligne CLaire, but if it's not it's pretty close in my opinion.

Agreed, it's not Ligne Claire but it's amazingly good art. Uderzo was something of an artistic genius, even if he downplayed his mastery. His "serious" work (In Tanguy & Laverdure, for example) is also terrific.

thwthGuardian, if you try Astérix, I would suggest sticking to the ones written by René Goscinny. (The latter Asterix books carry his name, but since he died in 1977 it's only to acknowledge his creation of the character). Goscinny was one of the funniest people in comics, with a great sense of humor, a highly cultivated mind and a gift for language. When he died, Asterix as a series became a little formulaic and the last two ones were downright bad.

[thwhtGuardian]

A day late, I know. This is actually one of my favorite runs of comics. I just purchased the newer IDW stuff so I haven't read that yet. A lot of people compare it to DNAgents, and while there are some similarities, I think JBNM is a better read. They also have little to no collector value (other than the one you have) so you should be able to get em cheap. It would be something I hunt dollar bins for - but I like hunting for things in dollar bins even more than reading comics.

Sounds pretty good to me, I'm definitely on the look out for this now.

Agreed, it's not Ligne Claire but it's amazingly good art. Uderzo was something of an artistic genius, even if he downplayed his mastery. His "serious" work (In Tanguy & Laverdure, for example) is also terrific.

thwthGuardian, if you try Astérix, I would suggest sticking to the ones written by René Goscinny. (The latter Asterix books carry his name, but since he died in 1977 it's only to acknowledge his creation of the character). Goscinny was one of the funniest people in comics, with a great sense of humor, a highly cultivated mind and a gift for language. When he died, Asterix as a series became a little formulaic and the last two ones were downright bad.

Is there a particular volume you'd suggest starting with or just any of the ones actually by Gosinny?

[Antoine]

Sounds pretty good to, I'm definitely on the look out for this now.



Is there a particular volume you'd suggest starting with or just any of the ones actually by Gosinny?

I know the question is for Roquefort, but I'll just add my thoughts.

I think that any Asterix by Goscinny would be a good start, but I would personally recommend Astérix chez les Bretons, Asteirx Gladiators and the classic Astérix and Cleopatra. They are all incredibly funny and the art is amazing.

After Astérix, you should try a few Lucky Luke, as Goscinny also wrote a few gem in this serie (The Judge, En remontant le Mississippi, The Tender-foot).


Ps - Sorry I don't know all the titles of the book in English

[Roquefort Raider]

Antoine makes excellent suggestions, but for my part I'd say any Goscinny book is great (although a personal favorite is Asterix the Legionary). Reading the series in the order the books were published makes enjoying the running gags a little easier, but they can be read in any order. This is not a continuing series.

"Cleopatra" is indeed an absolute classic, and for perhaps the first time in the history of film, both movie adaptations (the animated and the live action ones) are brilliant in their own right!

[thwhtGuardian]

There are Astérix movies?

[Antoine]

There are Astérix movies?

There's 4 Asterix movies! But as opposed to Rocquefort, I don't really liked them. He's right though, the animated ones are awesome.
And he was right, I made a mistake. I definitely meant Legionary as oppose to Gladiators as the one you should start with.

[Romero]

I was reading my various "Spider-Woman" comics. I know that Carmine Infantino drew all or most of the issues between #1 and #19 or #20. I really noticed though that his art seemed to change in that span, in the issues I have. I don't think it was all down to the inker because I think there were inkers that came back repeatedly. It just seemed like his whole feel changed from the beginning with the mystery/Morgan le Fey/Magnus type stuff, to the end of his run. I guess it makes sense with the change in tone of the stories. I'm pretty sure I have at least one issue each by all 500 people who wrote for that book. It really hit me this time too how often Werewolf by Night (of all characters) guest starred in that book!

[Cei-U!]

That's because Werewolf was the only significant West Coast hero other than Spider-Woman, at least once the Champions disbanded.

Cei-U!
Location, location, location!

[Richard Bishop]

I was reading my various "Spider-Woman" comics. I know that Carmine Infantino drew all or most of the issues between #1 and #19 or #20. I really noticed though that his art seemed to change in that span, in the issues I have. I don't think it was all down to the inker because I think there were inkers that came back repeatedly. It just seemed like his whole feel changed from the beginning with the mystery/Morgan le Fey/Magnus type stuff, to the end of his run. I guess it makes sense with the change in tone of the stories. I'm pretty sure I have at least one issue each by all 500 people who wrote for that book. It really hit me this time too how often Werewolf by Night (of all characters) guest starred in that book!

I completed that whole series a few years back. They changed directions more often than a broken GPS, not knowing exactly what they wanted to do with the character so they apparently thought that bouncing from theme to theme would boost sales. It was a more-horror/mystical themed book at the outset, but then they made Jessica a bounty hunter, then a private investigator, then just a nondescript superheroine, changing every 12 issues or so when the writer changed.

It didn't help that the villains, for the most part, were laughable (The Needle, Gypsy Moth, Turner D. Century, Daddy Longlegs, etc.), so the book didn't seem to even take itself seriously.

[Bad Wolf]

It didn't help that the villains, for the most part, were laughable (The Needle, Gypsy Moth, Turner D. Century, Daddy Longlegs, etc.), so the book didn't seem to even take itself seriously.

I thought the Needle was very creepy in his first appearance. I actually liked her rogues gallery, it was appropriately bizarre...like things Grant Morrison might have come up with.

Oh my god...Grant Morrison should do a Spider-Woman book!!

[pmpknface]

Gypsy Moth changed her persona and became Skein, who was in a later incarnation of the Thunderbolts: