Comic Books

[TJCams]

I, for whatever reason(s), never really got into comics ever... I think back when I was a kid (gradeschool maybe?) I would pick up to occasional one - probably a Tom & Jerry maybe? Although I do have a #1 edition, protected in a plastic bag, the first Ren & Stimpy comic!

There has recently been ComicCons here (one local one takes place twice a year, and it's getting pretty big now), plus we have a (at least it appears pretty big time) new one coming to Caesar's Windsor - with Kevin Smith as the main guest, plus some pretty names as well. I think I might go - I would be more interested in something that has a lot of sci-fi/horror type goings on (venders, panels, guests).

I do know that one of the big DC artists is from my city - friends with one of my co-workers in fact. David Finch is the name.

[Sock Monkey]

New ongoing James Bond comic written by Warren Ellis is going to be published Dynamite. I believe the first issue is set to come out in November. Love Ellis's work so this is high on my list to check out.

[Theli]

I stopped reading Avengers because of that. They changed the title during the middle of a story arc and it was confusing to try and keep things straight. They went to Avengers Assemble and had two different versions. One for kids and one more adult oriented. Covers on some copies you couldn't tell the difference and some months I had to go back because I grabbed the kids issue and not the regular issue.

Check out the second episode of Brian Keene' s The Horror Show pod cast. It is all about his frustration with trying to work in the comic book business. It's also my favorite pod cast on right now. I understand that Brian is going to visit cemetery dance for a pod cast soon.

Marvel is stupid as hell with their titling and numbering. I say screw'em, if I want a story from them I'll buy the graphic novel. Other than that, just the odd key issue.

[bookworm 1]

I think DC actually did it pretty well with the New 52 stuff. I think comic book readers where a bit upset because it changed a lot of stuff with their favorite characters, but it was really needed. Marvel on the other hand is constantly renumbering their books, it's pretty ridiculous. From what I understand they have basically been renumbering any time a creative team moves on. Where for the most part DC has relatively few renumberings.

I think their thoughts behind a renumber is that it's a good place for new readers to jump on. The counter to that though is that it's also a good place for current readers to jump off.

I stopped reading Avengers because of that. They changed the title during the middle of a story arc and it was confusing to try and keep things straight. They went to Avengers Assemble and had two different versions. One for kids and one more adult oriented. Covers on some copies you couldn't tell the difference and some months I had to go back because I grabbed the kids issue and not the regular issue.

Check out the second episode of Brian Keene' s The Horror Show pod cast. It is all about his frustration with trying to work in the comic book business. It's also my favorite pod cast on right now. I understand that Brian is going to visit cemetery dance for a pod cast soon.

[Sock Monkey]

Thanks for the recommendation of the Snyder Batman run. It's been on my radar, but your praise definitely kicks it up a notch.

I've heard the same thing about the Archie books: that they sell like hotcakes. I know that some of the aftermarket prices on the early issues (especially for variant covers) were fetching some decent prices.

[Theli]

I prefer Scott Snyder to Morrison's Batman pre-New 52. Not that he doesn't have his charm, he just tends to have pretty out there stories, while I prefer the more down to earth Batman stories. Started up Snyder's Swamp Thing as well, and liked it, as well as Justice League Dark (big fan of that aspect of DC's universe). Ultimately what reduced my comic buying around the time of the new 52 had nothing to do with the comics themselves, it was my increase in book buying

[Dan Hocker]

Has anybody read the new Archie horror stuff? Is it any good?

I haven't actually read it myself, but on the comic podcast I listen to they said that the zombie one is hugely popular and sells tons of copies.

[Dan Hocker]

I guess I can be the case-in-point for the "jumping off" side. I'm a huge DC fan, but stopped with the New 52. It was initially due to financial issues as I had planned to pick up all the new titles, but now when I thinking about dipping my toe back into the comic book waters, I feel disenchanted with what the Marvel and DC are doing. Not that they both probably don't have some great books out (the Hawkeye book has been getting some love and I really wanted to check out both Animal Man and Swamp Thing from DC as I love both of those characters), but most of their flagship books just don't interest me. Though to be fair, I'm a huge Wally West fan (favorite run of any series of all time has to be the first few of years of Mark Waid's run on the book) and started to lose interest once DC decided to bring Barry Allen back. I'm obviously in the minority as the New 52 has been a huge success for DC.

I also think that the argument that a large issue number on a book is intimidating to new readers is rather weak. I've never once handed a comic to a non-comic reader and they gave resistance because it was issue 325 or whatever. As a kid, I also never cared that all the comics were in the high 200-300 issue mark. I just wanted to see what was going on with Batman or Superman. Now maybe if it's part 32 of a massive universe-spanning crossover there might be an problem...

I've have been thinking about reading some of the older runs of some titles. I've always wanted to tackle Peter David's massive run on The Incredible Hulk and I heard that his X-Factor series was pretty good. I also have a huge chunk of Grant Morrison's Batman books that I haven't read yet and I picked up the full run of Rucka's Checkmate series before I quit collecting, so I should probably read that too. I've also wanted to re-read The X-Tinction Agenda crossover in the X-books. I loved it when it first came out.

The New 52 Batman stuff by Scott Snyder has been some of the best Batman story arcs there have ever been, and I've read pretty much all of modern Batman. I don't really think it's the issue numbers that are a the big barrier. I think as someone who's never bought a comic before, with something that's been going on as say Batman knowing where to start is just intimidating. Which is why the New 52 was pretty much perfect for me. I jumped on there started reading, loved it, and then went back and read all the old stuff.

I don't really think renumbering is the way to go though, I really just think these companies need to do a better job and advertising on the covers and in the titles what the story arcs are and which book the issue is in the story arc. I almost think they'd be better doing a Volume / Issue thing. So for example Batman's Court of Owls story arc could be Volume 1 Issues 1 - 6 then the next story arc could be Volume 2 1 - 6, but I don't think that would sit well with traditional comic book readers.

On a side note I read Alias not that long ago kinda in preparation for the upcoming Netflix series and because I've heard such good things about it. Man was that an awesome book.

[Sock Monkey]

Has anybody read the new Archie horror stuff? Is it any good?

[Sock Monkey]

I guess I can be the case-in-point for the "jumping off" side. I'm a huge DC fan, but stopped with the New 52. It was initially due to financial issues as I had planned to pick up all the new titles, but now when I thinking about dipping my toe back into the comic book waters, I feel disenchanted with what the Marvel and DC are doing. Not that they both probably don't have some great books out (the Hawkeye book has been getting some love and I really wanted to check out both Animal Man and Swamp Thing from DC as I love both of those characters), but most of their flagship books just don't interest me. Though to be fair, I'm a huge Wally West fan (favorite run of any series of all time has to be the first few of years of Mark Waid's run on the book) and started to lose interest once DC decided to bring Barry Allen back. I'm obviously in the minority as the New 52 has been a huge success for DC.

I also think that the argument that a large issue number on a book is intimidating to new readers is rather weak. I've never once handed a comic to a non-comic reader and they gave resistance because it was issue 325 or whatever. As a kid, I also never cared that all the comics were in the high 200-300 issue mark. I just wanted to see what was going on with Batman or Superman. Now maybe if it's part 32 of a massive universe-spanning crossover there might be an problem...

I've have been thinking about reading some of the older runs of some titles. I've always wanted to tackle Peter David's massive run on The Incredible Hulk and I heard that his X-Factor series was pretty good. I also have a huge chunk of Grant Morrison's Batman books that I haven't read yet and I picked up the full run of Rucka's Checkmate series before I quit collecting, so I should probably read that too. I've also wanted to re-read The X-Tinction Agenda crossover in the X-books. I loved it when it first came out.

[Dan Hocker]

I hope that they are aggressive also. My big fear with reboots has been the numbering DC especially with the whole new 52 then going to one then back to where they left off. It drives the comic retailers crazy also. My comic book guy and another one I know are saying how frustrating it is and a lot of long time comic buyers are so confused and frustrated an think it's only about money have stopped buying comics and are just waiting on the trades or not buying at all.

I think DC actually did it pretty well with the New 52 stuff. I think comic book readers where a bit upset because it changed a lot of stuff with their favorite characters, but it was really needed. Marvel on the other hand is constantly renumbering their books, it's pretty ridiculous. From what I understand they have basically been renumbering any time a creative team moves on. Where for the most part DC has relatively few renumberings.

I think their thoughts behind a renumber is that it's a good place for new readers to jump on. The counter to that though is that it's also a good place for current readers to jump off.

[frik51]

Yea I'd say waiting is probably your best bet. With recent books those varient covers tend to be pretty scarce early on, but as the demand drops and prices start the fall the speculators will start dumping their copies.

That's what I'll do - wait, and see what will show up eventually.

sk

[bookworm 1]

I hope that they are aggressive also. My big fear with reboots has been the numbering DC especially with the whole new 52 then going to one then back to where they left off. It drives the comic retailers crazy also. My comic book guy and another one I know are saying how frustrating it is and a lot of long time comic buyers are so confused and frustrated an think it's only about money have stopped buying comics and are just waiting on the trades or not buying at all.

[Dan Hocker]

I'm sort of interested in some of the IDW Disney series, like Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck. Sort of, because I'll definitely get the upcoming TPBs and don't really need the separate comics.
But....that's easier said than done: I already ordered Uncle Scrooge #1 (405) - four states, Donald Duck #1 (three variants), Mickey Mouse #1 (3X) and finally, Walt Disney Comics and Stories #721 (3X).
Do I need these different editions? Of course not!!! But do I really need 8 editions of King's The Stand?? ummmm.....uhhhhhh.......errrrrr....now let me think....
Actually, all I would really like to order are the 1:25 incentive editions, but not at all costs. I managed to get the Uncle Scrooge #1 incentive at a decent price (TFAW), but can't find the rest.

Anyone: what would be my best option to get these rare issues?

sk

When searching for rare comics I keep my eyes peeled here:
http://mycomicshop.com/search?TID=27856814

Though as you can see it seems that 1:25 variant is also sold out here. Still, it is new, it's only a short matter of time before they will have it in stock.

Yea I'd say waiting is probably your best bet. With recent books those varient covers tend to be pretty scarce early on, but as the demand drops and prices start the fall the speculators will start dumping their copies.

[Dan Hocker]

I haven't been keeping up to date on comics recently. More DC than Marvel for me, but I grew up with the X-Men. Lately I have actually been reading through the deluxe edition of Hayao Miyazaki's Nausicaa: Valley of the Wind.

I'm also more of a DC guy as well, though I do enjoy the Marvel event books. I don't really keep up to date either, I only actually have maybe 3 or 4 ongoing non event based titles that I'm reading 2 of which I'm way behind on.

I have been reading the Spiderman comics. Just finished up Spider verse. It was a fun story but got a bit weird near the end. I loved The Superior Spider-Man series. I thought I would hate it but after five issues it turned into a super story. Other then that I have a bunch of stuff to catch up on.

I read the whole Civil war series years ago. Loved it. They are rebooting it this summer with the idea it never ended in an alternative universe. It will be. Interesting to see how it goes.

Civil War was pretty great, but World War Hulk (which I think came after Civil War) was probably my favorite of these event books. They are actually rebooting the entire Marvel Universe starting this week with Secret Wars. Though they aren't calling it a reboot, but it really is. I'll be interested to see how it goes. Honestly I think they need to be pretty aggressive with the reboot but I doubt they will be.