The Twelfth Day of Classic Comics Christmas 2012

[icctrombone]

Merry Christmas Kurt ! Thanks again for the CCC.
And Merry Christmas everyone!

[Reptisaurus!]

It totally would have made my list had it been within the time limits, such a great book.

I had to cut A LOT because of the time limit. WE3, Capacity, Klarion the Witchboy... Hell, KING CITY woulda most-likely been my # 1.

[dan bailey]

Yo dan, it seems everyone keeps trying to test your power this last day. What is that, 4 invalid entries on your watch?

Why, it's almost enough to make me think Cei-U! put those guys up to it ...

But that, of course, would never happen.

[DubipR]

Why, it's almost enough to make me think Cei-U! put those guys up to it ...

But that, of course, would never happen.

Look at what Kurt put in my mailbox this morning for Christmas!



Ah... the ol' payoff.

[dan bailey]

I fully expect Reptisaurus! to be able to build his own Fortress of Solitude with his remuneration.

[shaxper]

1. V For Vendetta (10 issue limited series, DC 1988)




Even if all the restrictions for this year's assignment were removed, and we were free to pick our favorite comic book series or story arc with no other qualifiers, this might still be my #1. In fact, I love this series so much that I've only read it once for fear of reading it again and enjoying it less a second time. I frequently find myself wanting to pull it off the shelf and then wondering if it could possibly move me as much, both emotionally and intellectually, upon a second reading.

Indeed, this is a series full of flare, action, dense plotting, vibrant characterization, amazing depth, resounding theme, and tremendous fun -- all crammed into 10 issues.

And then there's the character of V, himself, who came in at #3 for my Classic Comics Christmas list of 2006 ("Our Favorite Comic Book Characters"). Here's what I wrote then:

It's hard to describe a character that isn't a character. Indeed, V was more of a symbol and a representation of ideas than any kind of complex persona developed as a result of a lifetime of experiences. But, beyond even that, he was the purest form of hero: the anonymous kind who mixes no sense of ego into his altruism, doing what he must solely because he believes it to be right, and doing it with immense style, theatrics, and genius.

As a final detail, while most of this series was a reprint of the V for Vendetta feature that first appeared eight years earlier in Warrior Magazine, the V for Vendetta feature had been left unfinished in that volume, and Alan Moore and David Lloyd were first given the opportunity to conclude the series for this volume. I would argue that those final chapters added a new level of depth to the series that came from six years of experience and hindsight. The series thus transformed from a relatively simple (but incredibly powerful) story about resisting tyranny to a much larger treatise about humanity that expanded far beyond the boundaries of the original protagonist. Indeed, the surprise climax utterly annihilated the idea of V as a person and forced us to fully embrace the idea of V as a concept -- a stunning move in any medium, let alone an action oriented comic book.

This series had absolutely everything, and the experience of reading it was one of the most enjoyable in my entire lifetime of reading (comics and literature alike).

[shaxper]

So it looks like Bat Lash, Shade: The Changing Man, Marvels, and now OMAC are all going on my want list.

I tend to make a distinction between historically important and personal favorites. There is some overlap of course but for me Watchmen isn't one of those titles, it's certainly important and on a technical level it's great but it's never been a story that I've ever felt the need to do repeat readings just for the fun of it like many of the titles I chose for my list.

Other people may see it differently of course and take great pleasure in reading Watchmen but that's never been true for me.

Well said.

[thwhtGuardian]

V has some of the best prose I've ever seen in a comicbook. The speeches V makes and the descriptions of events we were given were just beautiful. I really wish I had thought to include V for Vendetta on my list now, and I think the only reason I didn't think of it is because I've only ever read it in trade and thought of it as such.

[Jezebel Bond]

Back with a new DELL just in time to fill in some gaps...

My #1 pick is definitely not a fan favourite, others hate Frank Castle's guts and everything he represents, not that I give a rat's ass cuz I've bought every Punisher comic since this series came out, especially the MAX books. First came across Welcome Back Frank in my teens and was hooked, the Garth Ennis/Tim Bradstreet combo is my favourite over the past decade when I need a break from superheroes. Guess it might be weird that a girl gets off on Punisher...you should see my Steven Seagal dvds too, have every one but that's another story...

Not to mention this was the first HC I ever bought...got it still sealed for five bucks

[Lone Ranger]

Another great year - thanks Kurt, and to everyone who contributed.

Every time I considered my list, this particular title always showed up on top.

1. Dynamite (Comic Media 1953-54)

This is 9 issues of pure dynamite! If we count the 3 issues Charlton revival/continuation we come in at an even 12 issues. What began as an enjoyable adventure anthology morphed into a pulpy masterpiece. Pete Morisi's artwork is absolutely perfect, as his style and sense of design are downright noirish. It's also a bonus that back-up stories were often drawn by Don Heck, whose beautiful line work fit right in. This series features some wonderful stories and it is a shame that Comic Media, perhaps the most underrated of the pre-Code publishers, didn't last longer.

[thwhtGuardian]

that's one awesome cover, "Johnny Dynamite swore there would be four corpses before he solved the case-and he kept his word!" They just don't make them like they used to.

[benday-dot]

Another great year - thanks Kurt, and to everyone who contributed.

Every time I considered my list, this particular title always showed up on top.

1. Dynamite (Comic Media 1953-54)

This is 9 issues of pure dynamite! If we count the 3 issues Charlton revival/continuation we come in at an even 12 issues. What began as an enjoyable adventure anthology morphed into a pulpy masterpiece. Pete Morisi's artwork is absolutely perfect, as his style and sense of design are downright noirish. It's also a bonus that back-up stories were often drawn by Don Heck, whose beautiful line work fit right in. This series features some wonderful stories and it is a shame that Comic Media, perhaps the most underrated of the pre-Code publishers, didn't last longer.

Thats a great #1 LR. I really wish the world would see a nice collected reprint edition of the hardboiled exploits of Johnny dynamite. Who knows we are getting Konga (which of course has Ditko to commend it) coming up, so maybe we will get a Dynamite package yet.

[Polar Bear]

that's one awesome cover, "Johnny Dynamite swore there would be four corpses before he solved the case-and he kept his word!" They just don't make them like they used to.

Ditto. Never seen that series before (though I have two issues of his Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt). Dynamite looks very hard-boiled and intense, not kitchy or campy, as I'd expected. I found this Dynamite #4 story online; hope it's a good sample.

[MDG]

Yes, great choice. I became a fan of Johnny Dynamite through reprints in Ms. Tree--I really like Morisi's simple, direct artwork. Similar to Toth's, if not as accomplished.

[Red Oak Kid]

I knew I was overlooking something big when I threw my list together. Johnny Dynamite indeed. If I had thought of it, I would have picked the Dark Horse four issue mini by Beatty and Collins from 1994. And I don't think I ever knew there was a Johnny Dynamite in the 50s by Morisi.

And I just thought of another title that was on my list but somehow fell thru the cracks.

Do Senior Citizens like me get a do-over?