When was the last time you bought… a comic book? (The first of a four-part trilogy.)
Ironman. Batman. Superman. Spiderman. Watchmen. Thor. (There are even rumours about Wonder Woman.) They’ve all been adapted for the big screen and chances are that you’ve seen one or two of ‘em too. But when was the last time you dropped into your local bookshop, comic store or haberdashery to pick up a comic? And no, getting a new reprint of Watchmen in Eason’s doesn’t count…
But where do you start? Every story is mid-way right now and to catch up you’d have to pick up the last ten issues… But if it’s just a taste you are looking for then why not have a look at the Marvel News site?
It’s a great chance to catch a sneak peak of what some of the best writers in the genre are up to. Such as the next issue of Warren Ellis’ Astonishing X-Men. Or the 600th issue of Amazing Spiderman - with guest writers including Stan Lee and Dan Slott, alongside guest artwork by John Romita JR and Joe Quesada. (I’m spouting names - but these are important ones. Honest.)
And why am I suggesting you pick up a comic book now? There is no better time than in the run up to new film releases - all eyes are on the writers to produce some of their best work while the world watches and waits for the movie. Maybe this is a response to Darren’s cries for help. Though… there is also the chance that I just wanted to put a post up about Free Comic Book Day a few weeks early.
One last thing - if the graphic story world really catches your eye, you might be interested in spending the day with some like minded people to talk about pictures, stories and graphic novels. It might be just up your street*.
*Some travel may be involved. The event will take place in Rathmines - which may, or may not, be right up your street.
the last comics I bought were Superman Red Son…..which is just superb and the Bogie Man about a scottish chap that thinks he is Humphrey Bogart
Red Son really is superb. Olsen as VP of the USA - with a great Stalin, Batman/Roslov tie-in.
Not read Bogie Man yet… was it good?
Have I ever written about this before?
Probably.
I used to relentlessly collect Marvels and DCs when I was a kid. I had 3,500 of them at one stage.
It all stalled when I grew up and left home but I’ve been dipping in my toe here and there. Bought Ghost World, The Death Of Superman and American Splendor. Re-reading Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns. Think I still have Arkham Asylum somewhere. Darren’s been threatening to loan me stuff…
But I’d really like a list of recommended reading I could slowly buy over time.
Mr. E?
The last time I bought comic books was about a month ago - a couple of Calvin and Hobbes books in a couple of charity shops (for a couple of euro). Some of the strips were familiar to me, but C&H are always a treat. Watchmen is the only superhero-type comic I have, but I’ve read a few of the Batman and Aliens ones.
@Rick: That’s quite a collection. Did you keep them, or what happened to them?
A few recommendations:
Jimmy Corrigan - The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware
Maus by Art Spiegelman
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography by Chester Brown
Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron by Daniel Clowes
Anything by Jim Woodring, Robert Crumb and Alejandro Jodorowsky.
And maybe Johnny the Homicidal Maniac by Jhonen Vasquez, but it’s not to everyone’s taste…
The last comic I bought I think was a copy of the Beano several months ago.
Also Volume 29 of (English) Pokémon Special last month, but I’m not sure if other people will count that…
Chris’s comment reminds me that I also recently bought some “Classics from the comics” compilations - bits from Beano, Dandy, Beezer, Topper etc. I only read one or two strips though - I got them for collages (they’re a great place to get crazy speech bubbles).
Well I read a couple of comics on a monthly basis (Walking Dead, Buffy, Runaways) and there are a rake of other books I dip in and out of occasionally as well as limited runs.
I also tend to pick up collections and Graphic Novels fairly regularly
@ egg It’s superb……he has got out of a mental home and is “solving cases”…great read if you can get it….the titles are parodies fo Boggies movies…”treasure of the Ford Sierra” etc….
@Rick Shall see what I can dig up by way of a list.
@ChrisD I dunno… I think Pokémon counts. Close call though.
@Stan Ye can’t beat the classics!
@Mark Any graphic novel recommendations?
@Manuel *Runs to check amazon*