Comics: what are you currently reading?

[Tornado]

 

[Ronin]

Just finished reading the main run of the Hydra-Cap Secret Empire story. Can't recommend this enough, it is hilariously pathetic. Laughed out loud so many times. Between the the art made by a crack team of four year olds that occasionally replaces people with lumpy potato men, the scripting that runs out of ideas so fast they had to throw in pages on pages reminding us that this time hope is even more not there than the last time they said so, and just how stupid the whole idea is, it's a perfect storm of garbage.

Pretty much any event comic from Marvel is gonna be hot garbage. They're way too editorially micro-managed to possibly be creatively successful. More than one creator has completely burned out and left Marvel after working on one.

I liked Hickman and Ribic's Secret Wars alright; it wasn't anything outstanding, plot-wise, but it had good artwork and some neat ideas. I think that's the only one I've enjoyed in the whole run of non-stop event comics since that started with Civil War.

 

[chas]

Yin and Yang! Its ironic that now that Disney and others are taking over with enough money to 'prevent their products from failure,' the stifling of creativity leads to junk product rather than creative fun! Back a bit, it was Disney that strangled the John Carter of Mars film franchise in its cradle, which we fans were awaiting for a hundred years; the granddaddy of the pulp adventure genre! Sick.

 

[Hex_Enduction_Hour]

Anyone reading Copra? I learned of the independent comic through a YT channel. Apparently, the series is a bit like Suicide Squad with a Frank Miller and Matt Howarth style of artwork, but in an independent vein. Violent, but with solid and creative storytelling. I'd buy the four collected volumes in one big purchase, but shipping puts me off.

Anyone here read the series and have an opinion?

It's definitely a weird bird. For something so unique and small press, I look at the characters and I see Deadshot, Doctor Strange, The Ghost and Shade the Changing Man.

 

[chas]

Never heard of it. Thanks for the illustrations!

 

[johnny139]

So, The Snagglepuss Chronicles #1 came out today, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who's interested in the premise.

For anyone unaware, it's a recasting of Snagglepuss (and other Hanna-Barbera characters) in the world of 1950s New York City, under the shadow of McCarthyism, and Snagglepuss in particular as a closeted gay southern playwright. It's by Mark Russell, who wrote the recent Flintstones comic (which I'd also highly recommend), if you know the tone of that series.

It's vaguely ludicrous and you can never tell if it's taking itself seriously or not. Like, it's elevating itself and tearing itself down at the same time. It never winks at the audience or calls attention to the fact that this is a serious drama about a pink cartoon cat, and reading his dialogue as "weary southern aristocrat" or "goofy lisping cartoon" completely changes the taste of the book.

I like it.

 

[Soundwarp SG-1]

Oh, cool. Glad that's out, it looked interesting from the preview I saw in.. I think Suicide Squad meets the Banana Splits or whatever it was called.

 

[Agent Minivann]

Oh, cool. Glad that's out, it looked interesting from the preview I saw in.. I think Suicide Squad meets the Banana Splits or whatever it was called.

For anyone unaware, it's a recasting of Snagglepuss (and other Hanna-Barbera characters) in the world of 1950s New York City, under the shadow of McCarthyism, and Snagglepuss in particular as a closeted gay southern playwright. It's by Mark Russell, who wrote the recent Flintstones comic (which I'd also highly recommend), if you know the tone of that series.

I thought he was specifically not out.

 

[Tornado]

"Exit. Stage left."

 

[japes]

Well the Kindle Fire HD 10 I got for my birthday last month seems to be well worth it for my comic reading. I discovered my local public library had several collections available in their virtual library. I then found out if I disable my wifi I can extend my return date. I am half way through the Deathstroke Rebirth series and I have the Volume 1 set of Runaways on the wait list as well as the Age of Apocalypse Epic Vol 1-4.

Also picked up several of the early 2000's Marvel Adventures to read with my son.

Discovered also that my library also has an ongoing adults group Graphic Novel Book Club. Didn't know anything like that existed.

I've heard Priest's run of Black Panther was excellent so I'll be on the lookout for that one as well based on what I'm reading in Deathstroke.

 

[japes]

@Ronin, I am mostly caught up on the Deathstroke series. A few more issues that aren't available to me yet. The beginning was a little disjointed and sometimes hard to gather since there were like 5 layers of flashbacks going on, but once it got into the heart of it all the flashbacks were easier to distinguish and the story was really engaging. I think I read issue 5-26 or so in the course of a few days. I've made it to the Annual issue and it said there was a two part finale to the Defiance storyline left.

I'm thinking about delving into some Runaways next. Anyone have a suggestion...looks like there are several different series.

 

[Ronin]

Yeah, Deathstroke kinda throws you right into it and it's a bit much at first, but it starts really clicking once you get a sense of the family dynamic.

Gotta go back to the beginning for the Runaways; the very first series is the one you want.

 

[johnny139]

Yeah, for Runaways, you should really just read the stuff by Brian K. Vaughn (the original creator). If you're reading as trade paperbacks, that's Volume 1 through Volume 7 (though Volume 8 by Joss Whedon is also good). If it's the Complete Collections, that's 1 through 3.

You can read 9-11/Complete Collection 4, just to finish the story, but they're pretty meh. Runaways: Battleworld is completely unrelated. And a new Volume 1 by Rainbow Rowell is coming out soon, taking place a few years after the original story.

There's tie-ins and other stuff, series that characters popped up in since the first series was cancelled. But nothing really worth reading, to be honest.

 

[japes]

Yeah, for Runaways, you should really just read the stuff by Brian K. Vaughn (the original creator). If you're reading as trade paperbacks, that's Volume 1 through Volume 7 (though Volume 8 by Joss Whedon is also good). If it's the Complete Collections, that's 1 through 3.

You can read 9-11/Complete Collection 4, just to finish the story, but they're pretty meh. Runaways: Battleworld is completely unrelated. And a new Volume 1 by Rainbow Rowell is coming out soon, taking place a few years after the original story.

There's tie-ins and other stuff, series that characters popped up in since the first series was cancelled. But nothing really worth reading, to be honest.

Great...thanks.

 

[japes]

Yeah, for Runaways, you should really just read the stuff by Brian K. Vaughn (the original creator). If you're reading as trade paperbacks, that's Volume 1 through Volume 7 (though Volume 8 by Joss Whedon is also good). If it's the Complete Collections, that's 1 through 3.

You can read 9-11/Complete Collection 4, just to finish the story, but they're pretty meh. Runaways: Battleworld is completely unrelated. And a new Volume 1 by Rainbow Rowell is coming out soon, taking place a few years after the original story.

There's tie-ins and other stuff, series that characters popped up in since the first series was cancelled. But nothing really worth reading, to be honest.

So 2003 series (18 issues) and 2005 series (30 issues) or where does Whedon issues stop?

EDIT nevermind...looks like the full 30 issues.

 

[johnny139]

Yeah, for Runaways, you should really just read the stuff by Brian K. Vaughn (the original creator). If you're reading as trade paperbacks, that's Volume 1 through Volume 7 (though Volume 8 by Joss Whedon is also good). If it's the Complete Collections, that's 1 through 3.

You can read 9-11/Complete Collection 4, just to finish the story, but they're pretty meh. Runaways: Battleworld is completely unrelated. And a new Volume 1 by Rainbow Rowell is coming out soon, taking place a few years after the original story.

There's tie-ins and other stuff, series that characters popped up in since the first series was cancelled. But nothing really worth reading, to be honest.

So 2003 series (18 issues) and 2005 series (30 issues) or where does Whedon issues stop?

EDIT nevermind...looks like the full 30 issues.

Right, 2003 (1-1 is all Vaughn, 2005 (1-24) is Vaughn and 2005 (25-30) is Whedon. 2008 series is the one I mentioned as skippable unless you're really super into it.

 

[japes]

Yeah, for Runaways, you should really just read the stuff by Brian K. Vaughn (the original creator). If you're reading as trade paperbacks, that's Volume 1 through Volume 7 (though Volume 8 by Joss Whedon is also good). If it's the Complete Collections, that's 1 through 3.

You can read 9-11/Complete Collection 4, just to finish the story, but they're pretty meh. Runaways: Battleworld is completely unrelated. And a new Volume 1 by Rainbow Rowell is coming out soon, taking place a few years after the original story.

There's tie-ins and other stuff, series that characters popped up in since the first series was cancelled. But nothing really worth reading, to be honest.

So 2003 series (18 issues) and 2005 series (30 issues) or where does Whedon issues stop?

EDIT nevermind...looks like the full 30 issues.

Right, 2003 (1-1 is all Vaughn, 2005 (1-24) is Vaughn and 2005 (25-30) is Whedon. 2008 series is the one I mentioned as skippable unless you're really super into it.

I read 2008 was canceled mid story, so...not likely

 

[japes]

Yeah, for Runaways, you should really just read the stuff by Brian K. Vaughn (the original creator). If you're reading as trade paperbacks, that's Volume 1 through Volume 7 (though Volume 8 by Joss Whedon is also good). If it's the Complete Collections, that's 1 through 3.

You can read 9-11/Complete Collection 4, just to finish the story, but they're pretty meh. Runaways: Battleworld is completely unrelated. And a new Volume 1 by Rainbow Rowell is coming out soon, taking place a few years after the original story.

There's tie-ins and other stuff, series that characters popped up in since the first series was cancelled. But nothing really worth reading, to be honest.

So 2003 series (18 issues) and 2005 series (30 issues) or where does Whedon issues stop?

EDIT nevermind...looks like the full 30 issues.

Right, 2003 (1-1 is all Vaughn, 2005 (1-24) is Vaughn and 2005 (25-30) is Whedon. 2008 series is the one I mentioned as skippable unless you're really super into it.

Finished the 2003 series and enjoyed it very much. More than I expected actually. I may venture into the 2005 series once I knock out a few other things.

 

[johnny139]

Glad you enjoyed it! Definitely one of the best Marvel series of the last ~20 years, I think. I've actually been planning to bust out my hardcovers for the first time in years, since, well, you know.

 

[japes]

I'm four chapters (issues) into the Daredevil Yellow book and REALLY enjoying it. Thanks @Ronin.

 

[Ronin]

Nice! It's a classic.

 

[IAmBatman]

Gotta put that on my "to read" list.

 

[Tornado]

japes, did I ever give you the Judge Dredd reading list?

If not here is a good start.

0005 Krong
0039 Ape Gang
61-85 Cursed Earth
126 The Guniea Pig that changed the Law
147 Judge Minty
149-151 Judge Death
152-154 Blood of Satanus
156-181 Judge Child
182 Block War
202 LawMaster on the Loose
224-228 Judge Death Lives
233-235 Hotdog Run
236-244 Block Mania
245-270 Apocalypse War

 

[japes]

japes, did I ever give you the Judge Dredd reading list?

If not here is a good start.

0005 Krong
0039 Ape Gang
61-85 Cursed Earth
126 The Guniea Pig that changed the Law
147 Judge Minty
149-151 Judge Death
152-154 Blood of Satanus
156-181 Judge Child
182 Block War
202 LawMaster on the Loose
224-228 Judge Death Lives
233-235 Hotdog Run
236-244 Block Mania
245-270 Apocalypse War

Looks like you finally have...I'll add it to the list.

 

[chas]

I don't have it yet, but note that they are coming out with Vol. 1 of 2 on Avatar Kyoshi, one of the earlier Avatars who we get tantalizing glimpses of in Avatar: The Last Airbender. I'm always looking for historical and mythological references in modern anime and other works based on Chinese or Japanese history. The description notes that she founded the Earth Kingdom Dai Li, the secret police which eventually corrupted it, and are later seen as evil in the 'modern' TV episodes.

When I first saw them in one, I recalled a memoir I'd read of a WWII American sailor, who served as a coast watcher in China during that conflict. He noted that he was given a small insignia pin to show around if he as ever in need of cooperation, and it always got him almost scaryily good treatment whenever he had to travel in the country, got frustrated in his misison, and had to show it to get a response. He later found out that it was the badge of the Dai Li, Chiang Ki Shek's Nationalist secret police!

How about that?