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I haven't visited my comic shop in three weeks. In a minute I'm going to shower and head over to it. The delay has been knowing that when I arrive three institutions end for me.
I've been collecting Batman monthly since issue 400, Detective Comics since issue 568.
I began getting all of the Superman titles when John Byrne rebooted the series after Man of Steel.
I've bought Wonder Woman regularly since the 1987 when George Perez began the second volume after Legends.
Today, I'm dropping them all.
I couldn't be more bored by J. Michael Straczynski's story in Superman. If he were the first person to ever conceive a story where Superman connects to the normal people, I'd still dislike this storyline, with Superman fighting aliens in the suburbs, and ignoring an old man who's about to have a stroke. But this isn't even the hundredth time the idea that Superman is disconnected from the mundane folks has come up, just in the time I've been following his adventures.
Wonder Woman, again, Straczynski finding new ways to induce yawning. I'm so utterly disconnected to this Elseworlds tale that from month to month I can't not only recall what happened in the previous issue, I'm not even sure I bought it. If my soul were on the line right now, and eternal immolation in the deepest BBQ pit of hell the price of failure, I couldn't tell you what this storyline is about. Other than Wonder Woman trying to restore a status quo that everyone knows will be back at the end of the narrative.
I can't even get started on the Batman titles. Other than to mention that in December there are almost twenty monthly titles shipping that involve characters who operate out of Gotham. If I wanted to deal with that sort of crossover potential I'd have never dropped the X-Men titles three different times now.
Action Comics I'm keeping, at least until the story with Luthor ends. I'm really enjoying that one. After that it might have to be chucked, too.
DC is putting out a lot of great stuff in titles like Doom Patrol, Booster Gold, Power Girl, and the new Freedom Fighters book. Smaller print-run titles that every month I expect to find out are being canceled. But I think I'm going to champion those now, rather than the flagships that can easily be run into the ground without fear of cancellation.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I understand how you feel.
I get Red Robin and Batgirl, because I like Tim and Steph, BoP I started because of Gail's writing, but have grown to like them.
I don't mess with any of the batbooks, despite my love of Dick Grayson. I've high hopes for Titans now, even though it's going to have Damien the boy pimple, and not Tim with Cassie, Connor, Rose and Bart.
I don't do comics, but a couple of years ago I went from "not that far away from just handing over my wallet to wotc and send me everything D&D they do" to "you won't see another cent from me, wotc".
No more D&D sourcebooks. No more D&D miniatures (and I was a completionist). No more FR novels (and I had all of them up to that point. I still have that collection, since I don't want to go sell it piecemeal and I probably won't find anyone to buy it wholesale), no more anything else.
Paizo was happy about that, I'm sure (though I still have plenty of cash over after I paid my Paizo bills, compared to what I paid wotc).
So I know how you feel. Big change about a big hobby.
I haven't visited my comic shop in three weeks. In a minute I'm going to shower and head over to it. The delay has been knowing that when I arrive three institutions end for me.
I've been collecting Batman monthly since issue 400, Detective Comics since issue 568.
I began getting all of the Superman titles when John Byrne rebooted the series after Man of Steel.
I've bought Wonder Woman regularly since the 1987 when George Perez began the second volume after Legends.
Today, I'm dropping them all.
I couldn't be more bored by J. Michael Straczynski's story in Superman. If he were the first person to ever conceive a story where Superman connects to the normal people, I'd still dislike this storyline, with Superman fighting aliens in the suburbs, and ignoring an old man who's about to have a stroke. But this isn't even the hundredth time the idea that Superman is disconnected from the mundane folks has come up, just in the time I've been following his adventures.
Wonder Woman, again, Straczynski finding new ways to induce yawning. I'm so utterly disconnected to this Elseworlds tale that from month to month I can't not only recall what happened in the previous issue, I'm not even sure I bought it. If my soul were on the line right now, and eternal immolation in the deepest BBQ pit of hell the price of failure, I couldn't tell you what this storyline is about. Other than Wonder Woman trying to restore a status quo that everyone knows will be back at the end of the narrative.
I can't even get started on the Batman titles. Other than to mention that in December there are almost twenty monthly titles shipping that involve characters who operate out of Gotham. If I wanted to deal with that sort of crossover potential I'd have never dropped the X-Men titles three different times now.
Action Comics I'm keeping, at least until the story with Luthor ends. I'm really enjoying that one. After that it might have to be chucked, too.
DC is...
You get one big fistbump from me on the support of the smaller titles, Icon. A HUGE one. Your opinion of DC is very much my opinion of most Marvel titles with few exceptions.
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I'm in the same boat with the Batman titles. I'll probably be dropping most of them soon, except maybe Batman Confidential which is more like the old Legends of the Dark Knight. I might also keep the Batman/Superman book, which I've almost always enjoyed.
As for Superman & Wonderwoman, perhaps this article will cheer you up.
Unfortunately, DC also seems to be headed down this road with Green Lantern. They're up to 3 series now.
Okay, it seems as if you guys are keeping current with comics. If I were to subscribe to one or two titles, which would you recommend?
K.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Okay, it seems as if you guys are keeping current with comics. If I were to subscribe to one or two titles, which would you recommend?
K.
Hmm, on the Marvel side...
X-men Forever is continuity free, and universe independent. I don't read it because of some of Claremont's choices (Roguecrawler, killing Logan, Kitty-Wolverine) If you're having an X-fix, I'd recommend that.
In 616, X-factor is likely the most 'crossover light' of the books. Marvel seems pretty content to let PAD crank out his work. Even the Second Coming crossovers didn't really, well, crossover.
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If I were to subscribe to one or two titles, which would you recommend?
Regardless of whether you're familiar with the characters in any of their incarnations or not, read Doom Patrol. Keith Giffen is lighting the world on fire with this book right now, weaving from the team's almost-40 year history one comprehensive, harmonious new mythology that manages to respect what all of the writer who have worked on the title before him have done. You might have to spend a little time researching on Wikipedia to find out who some of the characters are (among the cast are a shapeshifter who can change parts of his body between animal, vegetable and mineral form (called, creatively, the Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man), and a sapient bungalow (formerly street) named Danny who speaks in Polari slang). The book is laugh-aloud funny, wildly intelligent, and takes a moving look at the value of friends and family in fighting off alienation, loneliness, and depression, all while telling a heck of a superhero story.
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Okay, it seems as if you guys are keeping current with comics. If I were to subscribe to one or two titles, which would you recommend?
K.
My stuff these days is all DC.
Although it's well along (nearly at issue #100), Fables is one of the best written (in my opinion) comics since Neil Gaiman's Sandman. It weaves a rich and elaborate story involving a multitude of the myth's, fables, and stories of human civilization.
Another series I've been enjoying, and that is only on issue #7, is Zatanna. It's the first time the character has had her own series, and so far it's been pretty decent.
Batman Confidential is pretty good as well. Much like the old Legends of the Dark Knight, every couple of issues is a self-contained story by a different creative team.
Batman Beyond will soon be finishing up a 6 issue miniseries, then moving into a regular series. If you were a fan of the cartoon series, it might be for you.
Owner - Johnny Scott Comics and Games
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Barbarossa, here's my 2 cents for recommendations:
Birds of Prey - Gail Simone really knows these characters, and the storylines are continually high quality. The art is superb as well.
Captain America - Ed Brubaker is doing a great job on this title. Even though it isn't about Steve Rogers (yet! You know he'll eventually don the red white and blue again), the story is gripping, the dialogue fresh, and the art atmospheric.
Doom Patrol - I won't add anything that hasn't already been said, except that Keith Giffen is probably the most under-rated writer in comics today.
Legion of Super-Heroes - Paul Levitz is back on the title after a 20+ year absence. He's the writer who put the Legion on the map in the first place and he's picked up right where he left off. The Legion titles have floundered in the past few years, but this title is absolutely fantastic once again.
What Freehold DM is Reading!
Old Favorites:
Green Lantern- Just can't get enough. Even the blah issues that aren't the main title are good, although this might be my long-standing dislike of Hal and Kyle talking.
Legion of Super Heroes- Will always love the Legion, no matter how strange a direction it goes in. This puts me at odds with some more traditional fans, but tough- the last thing we need is another Warlord-ish generation-based war.
New Stuff:
Avengers Academy- The storyline is getting a little stilted, but ever since New Warriors was given to poor writers and then turned into the impetus for Civil War, I've been waiting for a title like it to come back, and post Civil War, this book fits the bill.
Power Girl- It's weird now that my beloved Amanda Conners isn't doing the art anymore, but as long as they keep up PG's inner monologue, I'll keep reading.
Star Wars: Legacy- It's coming back in December, and it'll be better than ever.
Tales of the Dragon Guard- Oh hells yeah. If you're not reading this and you are on this site, something is wrong with you. Okay, there are a few translation issues and it can be a little misogynist on a philosophical level, but give this french comic a read. You won't be disappointed.
Kick Ass 2- Do I really need to go into details? Read this.
Guardians of the Galaxy- The Thanos Imperative- Not a big fan of these "worlds-shaking events", but the insane, evil, cannibalistic Avengers(Revengers DISMEMBER!!!!) keep me coming back. Didn't care for the way they killed off a character that I'm not going to mention here(with that name, the fans should have known they were going to kill her off), if only for the backlash it caused in a few communities and the fact that it made. No. Sense.
Stuff to Avoid:
X-Anything- Hard to avoid because there are just...so...many...of...them. No disrespect intended to any fans(left). But is there even a storyline anymore? The vast majority of these books seem to be put out just to keep you wondering if your favorite character from yesteryear will survive the impending roster-cleaning apocalypse. Remember how much it hurt when Cypher died? Well we're bringing him back just so you can start the Cypher Doom Clock!!!! Sure, his powers were boss in Age of Apocalypse, but now he's just plain old Doug Ramsey with his robot sidekick; prime to be shot in the back yet again! Will Warlock save him once more? Well, you'll just have to read to find out?!?!??!?!?!?!?!??! Dani lost her powers? But dont' worry folks, she's still fighting? What? You think she's going to be turned into lunchmeat when she enters battle? Don't worry, we have the Dani Doom Or Gets Her Powers Back Clock, from the maker of the Cypher Doom Clock! Keep buying issues to see what happens!??!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!!??!?!?!?!?
Avengers anything but Academy- Why don't they just go the final mile and give EVERYONE their own book? Oh waitaminute- they already did!! With Wolverine, Spider Man and god knows who else on the team, all I'm waiting for is the Fantastic Four to pack up the Baxter Building and move in to Avengers Mansion. Which wouldn't be so bad if the Avengers turned into the government-backed Team That You Have To Join So Your Own Individual Team Doesn't Get Beat Up/Ignored By The Government, but they seem to be tiptoing around that idea.
Spider Man- Good lord, Pete. What have they done to you?
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I've got to step up and defend my peeps here.
X-factor: Not really tied so much into the other X-books, and PAD's Maddrox is definately not part of the "We love Scott!" fanclub found in the other X-books. Peter David is at his comic finest in this book.
New Mutants: Yeah, the retro-vibe is getting old. That said, it's nice to have the band (minus Rahne) back together. They've made some wonky changes, IMNSHO (Xian a lesbian? With the vibes between Dani and Rahne you go with Xian?) the book is too crowded (though Fall of the Mutants II seems to be culling them a bit) and I actually find Dani not having powers one of the highlights of the team. (Though she should have armor, a forcefield or something. The anti-alphan contingent seems to have forgotten that Madison Jeffreys (re)built the Vindicator Battlesuit.) The current writer is leaving the book, so I have mixed feelings of worry and hope. (I dislike having 'Lock and Doug back, the first because you have to keep hitting him with the nerf bat for the book, the second because his death had impact, and his return hasn't been touched on.)
So far, as to the Avengers, Secret Avengers seems to be off the radar of crossovers, maybe tied in to Captain America because Brubaker's writing them both. I get SA and not CA since I want to read about Steve, not Bucky.
Wow! Thanks for the input everyone. I'm going to have to do some internet digging now.
If we're tossing out titles that are just fun, then I'll cast my vote for The Incredible Hulks. It's one of the few comics out there that has had a major status quo shake-up recently that doesn't look like it will be retconned back to normal for a while. Its big theme right now is family, hence the plural in the title, since the Hulk's wife and kids (yes, Hulk has kids now) are gamma-irradiated as well.