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[Jedeye Sniv]

Did you just imply that the Steve Ditko Spider-Man run sucks?

Erm yeah, kinda. They certainly are valuable from a historic standpoint, and I think every comics fan needs to have a healthy appreciation of history. But they certainly don't stand up as entertainment products next to the best stuff being published today. They're quaint, simple stories with flat characters and embryonic art. Ditko is indeed incredibly important and influential to later generations but he doesn't hold a candle to the best artists working today, and I really can't see how you can dispute that.

But really, as I was saying to the guy that asked the question originally, trying to read something like Spider-Man or the X-Men from the start to present is just an insane undertaking where you'll be reading decades worth of crappy, anachronistic comics and by the end of it all you'll think comics are a shitty medium.

 

[fredrancour]

God, I've been so irresponsible with my money over comic books in the past couple weeks. I got up to date on 6 different new 52 books, and I've bought 4 trades off amazon, yet it's not ENOUGHHHHHHH. I need to go find the nearest place to sell some plasma or sperm or bone marrow or a kidney....

 

[parrotbeak]

It is a direct continuation of the events of "chaos" and the death of optimius prime one shot. The previous volume was really good for issues 1-16 IMO (All Hail Megatron). Wasn't a huge fan of what came after though.

Cool, I was thinking of picking up the AHM trade.

What do you think of the new series so far?

 

[Dance Inferno]

So this is looking like a pretty boring week for me; the only comics I'm really interested in picking up are Swamp Thing and Amazing Spider-Man. Weak.

Edit: Also it seems like instocktrades.com has the Hawkman Omnibus for $37.50. Is this thing worth it? Thinking of picking it up alongside JLA: League of One and Batman: The Long Halloween for a total of $60.

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

Erm yeah, kinda. They certainly are valuable from a historic standpoint, and I think every comics fan needs to have a healthy appreciation of history. But they certainly don't stand up as entertainment products next to the best stuff being published today. They're quaint, simple stories with flat characters and embryonic art. Ditko is indeed incredibly important and influential to later generations but he doesn't hold a candle to the best artists working today, and I really can't see how you can dispute that.

But really, as I was saying to the guy that asked the question originally, trying to read something like Spider-Man or the X-Men from the start to present is just an insane undertaking where you'll be reading decades worth of crappy, anachronistic comics and by the end of it all you'll think comics are a shitty medium.

Do you feel the same way about Kirby/FF or Buscema/anything?

 

[Foob]

Remender puts out one marginal issue of UXF (that wasn't even his fault!) and it's open season with Comics-GAF. You people are piranhas!

err what?

this was just a bad comic... nothing to do with his other work

 

[ViewtifulJC]

For that Secret Avengers issue to really work, you have to ignore like...30 years of continuity of Hawkeye being a leader.

I'm sure the real start of the run with #22 will be better. But if you guys want to see BAD Remender, check out that Venom/Deadpool one-shot.

Second thought, don't. I'm doing you a favor

Oh, and Lee/Romita Sr >>> Lee/Ditko

 

[LiQuid!]

err what?

this was just a bad comic... nothing to do with his other work

Sorry I wasn't trying to break balls I just hadn't heard nary a bad word spoken of the man since I got here and all of a sudden one issue of UXF came out and stunk and now this is getting poorly received. I'm scared there might be some anti-Remender floodgates opening and I just can't abide that.

I personally thought the issue was fine. Set the tone and Hawkeye's upcoming role for a new reader (which I am) so mission accomplished. I've never bought a book with Avengers in the title in my life and was just following Remender over to it and it made me confident enough that it will be worth my dollars every month.

 

[notworksafe]

MARVEL
Releasing This Week

COMIC OF THE WEEK:
DEC110588 WINTER SOLDIER #1 $2.99

When ex-Russian Sleeper Agents awaken, Winter Solider and Black Widow head into action!

DEC110644 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #679 $3.99
DEC110602 AVENGERS ACADEMY #25 $2.99
DEC110616 AVENGERS X-SANCTION #3 (OF 4) $3.99
DEC110595 DEFENDERS #3 $3.99
DEC110598 FEAR ITSELF FEARLESS #8 (OF 12) $2.99
DEC110655 HULK #48 $2.99
DEC110648 PUNISHER #8 $2.99
DEC110656 THOR DEVIANTS SAGA #4 (OF 5) $3.99
DEC110663 TWELVE #9 (OF 12) (RES) $2.99
DEC110662 TWELVE MUST HAVE #1 $3.99
DEC110672 UNCANNY X-FORCE #21 XREGG $3.99
DEC110669 UNCANNY X-MEN #6 $3.99
DEC110636 VENOM #13 $3.99
DEC110658 VILLAINS FOR HIRE #3 (OF 4) $2.99
DEC110682 X-CLUB #3 (OF 5) $2.99
DEC110674 X-FACTOR #231 XREGG $2.99

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

is the same artist doing uxf this week

 

[ViewtifulJC]

is the same artist doing uxf this week

and the next issue, and the one after that, as well. Doesn't get a good artist until April

 

[Satch]

NWS you shoulda just waited for bandit to put up the February OT

that's what i'm doing

hey bandit since it's my birthday you wanna do my job for me?

no?

...ok

 

[notworksafe]

I wasn't sure what to do for this week so I just figured I'd post here and then copy/paste into next month too.

Plus look at that Winter Soldier cover! LOOK AT THAT FACE!

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

and the next issue, and the one after that, as well. Doesn't get a good artist until April

Well I guess I won't be reading that book for a while.

 

[LiQuid!]

and the next issue, and the one after that, as well. Doesn't get a good artist until April

Why is this happening to me?!

 

[Splatt]

Didn't read the thread this week, so I'm not sure if anyone has said anything, but I was not a fan of remender's first issue on secret avengers

the writing was...horrible

Yes, unfortunately.

I wish Ellis had stayed for another 6 issues. Secret Avengers under him was the closest thing Marvel had to Planetary.

 

[V_Arnold]

What? Last X-Factor was amazing, lol If he is the same on this one, then it is going to be amazing!

 

[MC Safety]

Erm yeah, kinda. They certainly are valuable from a historic standpoint, and I think every comics fan needs to have a healthy appreciation of history. But they certainly don't stand up as entertainment products next to the best stuff being published today. They're quaint, simple stories with flat characters and embryonic art. Ditko is indeed incredibly important and influential to later generations but he doesn't hold a candle to the best artists working today, and I really can't see how you can dispute that.

I disagree. I'll take Lee and Ditko's Spider-Man stories over a great deal of the garbage published today and even most of the overly convoluted "best stuff" being produced.

They're not quaint and simple stories, either, at least not in the way you think they are. They don't contain adult themes and they are self-contained, but they're not throwaway kiddy fare as most comics of the post-code era were.

Those 38 comics set the tone for all comics up until the present day. Not only did they create the greatest rogues' gallery in the history of comics, they established the concept of the fragile and flawed superhero.

Get it? Without those early Marvel comics giving us glimpses into heroes who were less than perfect, you wouldn't have broody, emotionally scarred Batman or Wolverine the psychotic hero. Animal Man would be played absolutely straight, and Superman wouldn't question his American citizenship. It started with Lee and Ditko and Kirby and Colan, etc.

I suggest modern comics are the snake eating its own tail, and that they could learn something from these quaint and simple stories. But that's probably an issue unto itself.

 

[Rafa=FedKilla]

Brubaker is competing with Bendis on who can phone it in the most. Brahs write so many books you would think they have student loans to pay off or something.

 

[Mifune]

Brubaker is competing with Bendis on who can phone it in the most. Brahs write so many books you would think they have student loans to pay off or something.

I've been really disappointed by Brubaker the last few years. Didn't care for his Captain America, didn't care for his Daredevil. Incognito wasn't even that great. Criminal is good, though.

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

NWS you shoulda just waited for bandit to put up the February OT

that's what i'm doing

hey bandit since it's my birthday you wanna do my job for me?

no?

...ok

I wasn't sure what to do for this week so I just figured I'd post here and then copy/paste into next month too.

Plus look at that Winter Soldier cover! LOOK AT THAT FACE!

Tonight!

I need to plug in the images and post it when I get home from work.

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

I disagree. I'll take Lee and Ditko's Spider-Man stories over a great deal of the garbage published today and even most of the overly convoluted "best stuff" being produced.

They're not quaint and simple stories, either, at least not in the way you think they are. They don't contain adult themes and they are self-contained, but they're not throwaway kiddy fare as most comics of the post-code era were.

Those 38 comics set the tone for all comics up until the present day. Not only did they create the greatest rogues' gallery in the history of comics, they established the concept of the fragile and flawed superhero.

Get it? Without those early Marvel comics giving us glimpses into heroes who were less than perfect, you wouldn't have broody, emotionally scarred Batman or Wolverine the psychotic hero. Animal Man would be played absolutely straight, and Superman wouldn't question his American citizenship. It started with Lee and Ditko and Kirby and Colan, etc.

I suggest modern comics are the snake eating its own tail, and that they could learn something from these quaint and simple stories. But that's probably an issue unto itself.

This x1000. There are certainly a lot of bad Silver Age stories or stories that were good then and are outdated now, but Spider-Man and FF aren't it. I could see how someone would find Ditko's art outdated even though that's completely untrue. Kirby and John Buscema though, I don't see how anyone could find those two outdated.

 

[notworksafe]

Tonight!

I need to plug in the images and post it when I get home from work.

Not if I beat you to it! FEBRUARY SUPERHERO COMICS COUPLES OT GOOOO

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

Not if I beat you to it! FEBRUARY SUPERHERO COMICS COUPLES OT GOOOO

You'll be posting it in your KKK snuggie while burning copies of Mister Terrific, right? >:|

I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING WHIIIITEY!

 

[Dan]

Good stuff this week:
* American Vampire: Vol 3
* Batman: Gates of Gotham

Also forgot about A.D.D.: Adolescent Demo Division from last week. I think I'll give that a spin.

 

[notworksafe]

You'll be posting it in your KKK snuggie while burning copies of Mister Terrific, right? >:|

I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING WHIIIITEY!

I have plenty of Black Superhero friends, sir.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Those 38 comics set the tone for all comics up until the present day. Not only did they create the greatest rogues' gallery in the history of comics, they established the concept of the fragile and flawed superhero.

Get it? Without those early Marvel comics giving us glimpses into heroes who were less than perfect, you wouldn't have broody, emotionally scarred Batman or Wolverine the psychotic hero. Animal Man would be played absolutely straight, and Superman wouldn't question his American citizenship. It started with Lee and Ditko and Kirby and Colan, etc.

Again, you're speaking to their greatness because of how influential they are, ignoring how dated and unbearably goofy Lee/Ditko Spidey is now.

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

Again, you're speaking to their greatness because of how influential they are, ignoring how dated and unbearably goofy Lee/Ditko Spidey is now.

Spider-Man is supposed to be goofy.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Not "putting on a blue hat while still in full costume and its a legitimate disguise" goofy

and don't get me started on that 60s teen dialog that seemed like a parody even when they were released. For a book so focused on the human relatableness of the hero and his supporting cast, you have to stifle laughing whenever he communicates with his rad, glad friends, daddy-o.

 

[kswiston]

RE: UXF #20 and people dropping the books for a few months:

Did you guys skip the portions of Sandman or New X-men with unappealing art as well? the story in the last issue of UXF was intriguing enough, and continues what we had been reading for the past 19 issues. I can't imagine just skipping those issues and trying to sort out the story again when Phil Noto takes over art duties.

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

Not "putting on a blue hat while still in full costume and its a legitimate disguise" goofy

and don't get me started on that 60s teen dialog that seemed like a parody even when they were released. For a book so focused on the human relatableness of the hero and his supporting cast, you have to stifle laughing whenever he communicates with his rad, glad friends, daddy-o.

That's a pretty common trope. The Spirit used to put on all kinds of stupid disguises and nobody would notice him and he would even walk down the Street in his full costume with nothing changed and people wouldn't recognize him as a super hero. It worked though because the Spirit was mostly a light hearted goofy comic the same as Spider-Man. Ben Grimm gets by in public with a trench-coat on and so do the Ninja Turtles. It's great. I only remember Spider-Man using the hat disguise in the 60s cartoon anyway. What issue was it in?

Those books were never meant to have realistic dialogue. Stan Lee was good at writing the kind of dialogue in those books. Contrast it with some of the early writing Jack Kirby did after he left Marvel, some of that was truly cringe-worthy.

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

RE: UXF #20 and people dropping the books for a few months:

Did you guys skip the portions of Sandman or New X-men with unappealing art as well? the story in the last issue of UXF was intriguing enough, and continues what we had been reading for the past 19 issues. I can't imagine just skipping those issues and trying to sort out the story again when Phil Noto takes over art duties.

New X-Men was only $2.25 when Kordey was doing that atrocious art. X-Force is a four dollar comic book. It's almost twice as hard to justify that purchase now.

 

[krypt0nian]

RE: UXF #20 and people dropping the books for a few months:

Did you guys skip the portions of Sandman or New X-men with unappealing art as well? the story in the last issue of UXF was intriguing enough, and continues what we had been reading for the past 19 issues. I can't imagine just skipping those issues and trying to sort out the story again when Phil Noto takes over art duties.

I stopped being a completist a log time ago. If it's not worth the $$ to me it stays on the shelf until its worth it again.

 

[purnoman3000]

RE: UXF #20 and people dropping the books for a few months:

Did you guys skip the portions of Sandman or New X-men with unappealing art as well? the story in the last issue of UXF was intriguing enough, and continues what we had been reading for the past 19 issues. I can't imagine just skipping those issues and trying to sort out the story again when Phil Noto takes over art duties.

I didn't find the story or dialogue was up to par either so the horrible art just makes it all that worse.





.

 

[kswiston]

I stopped being a completist a log time ago. If it's not worth the $$ to me it stays on the shelf until its worth it again.

I meant with regards to the story. Do you just read it at the store? Seems to me that the next few issues will continue the ongoing narrative.

I don't care about complete runs, and I drop books all the time when I dislike the writer or the writer's direction. However, if I am generally interested in the overall story, I will stick around through a subpar month or two until I am sure the book has fallen off a cliff.

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

You're not ready for this jelly!

 

[krypt0nian]

I meant with regards to the story. Do you just read it at the store? Seems to me that the next few issues will continue the ongoing narrative.

I don't care about complete runs, and I drop books all the time when I dislike the writer or the writer's direction. However, if I am generally interested in the overall story, I will stick around through a subpar month or two until I am sure the book has fallen off a cliff.

I can skip one storyline with ease. So many other great things to read.

 

[Spike]

Erm yeah, kinda. They certainly are valuable from a historic standpoint, and I think every comics fan needs to have a healthy appreciation of history. But they certainly don't stand up as entertainment products next to the best stuff being published today. They're quaint, simple stories with flat characters and embryonic art. Ditko is indeed incredibly important and influential to later generations but he doesn't hold a candle to the best artists working today, and I really can't see how you can dispute that.

But really, as I was saying to the guy that asked the question originally, trying to read something like Spider-Man or the X-Men from the start to present is just an insane undertaking where you'll be reading decades worth of crappy, anachronistic comics and by the end of it all you'll think comics are a shitty medium.

Bwahaha! They are better than 95% of the "best stuff being published today"...

 

[Jedeye Sniv]

Bwahaha! They are better than 95% of the "best stuff being published today"...

I mean this with the most respect but that's just bullshit man. As I said before, the silver age comics are incredibly important in their context and they certainly do have a wonky charm even now, but saying they're better than the best stuff today is just insane. I've read a significant chunk of old comics and they're hokey, unsubtle and feeling their way through a medium that they're only just starting to explore. The best comics today are among the best stories told in any medium, it's ridiculous to think otherwise.

You guys remind me of the people in the music threads that insist there's no good music made after 1990 or some other craziness.

But really, enjoy your old comics, I'll enjoy my new ones.

And you're wrong

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

I mean this with the most respect but that's just bullshit man. As I said before, the silver age comics are incredibly important in their context and they certainly do have a wonky charm even now, but saying they're better than the best stuff today is just insane. I've read a significant chunk of old comics and they're hokey, unsubtle and feeling their way through a medium that they're only just starting to explore. The best comics today are among the best stories told in any medium, it's ridiculous to think otherwise.

You guys remind me of the people in the music threads that insist there's no good music made after 1990 or some other craziness.

But really, enjoy your old comics, I'll enjoy my new ones.

And you're wrong

Which comics are you talking about because I'd really like to read them

 

[Tizoc]

FUCK YEAH WINTER SOLDIER #1!

Reread the Twelve recently to get ready for #9 and man...I feel real bad for Captain Wonder =(

 

[Alucard]

Ditko is iconic, and his lines still hold up to anything out there today, IMO.

His art might feel stiffer than more contemporary work, but I still think it looks great.

 

[Slime]

Finally got caught up on this month's comics.

Fuuuck, I still cannot get over how much an improvement Buffy Season 9 is over S8. Angel & Faith in particular is one of the best books I'm reading. And dat Buffy twist. I was scared it was just a fluke at first, but I've been consistently satisfied.

And Batwoman is still my favorite book running. Good to at least have something from the new DC that doesn't make me want to shoot myself in the face.

 

[Alucard]

Finally got caught up on this month's comics.

Fuuuck, I still cannot get over how much an improvement Buffy Season 9 is over S8. Angel & Faith in particular is one of the best books I'm reading. And dat Buffy twist. I was scared it was just a fluke at first, but I've been consistently satisfied.

And Batwoman is still my favorite book running. Good to at least have something from the new DC that doesn't make me want to shoot myself in the face.

What else have you tried?

I have to agree, though. I've dropped all of my DC stuff, outside of Green Arrow, and that's only because of loyalty to the character, and the fact that I want to see what Ann Nocenti does with him.

 

[Jedeye Sniv]

Which comics are you talking about because I'd really like to read them

Well, some of my favourite comics from the past few decades would include Sandman, Preacher, pretty much anything by Moore or Morrison, Transmet, Planetary, Y The Last Man, Walking Dead, Chew, Locke and Key, Scalped, Fables, American Vampire not to mention the various excellent OGNs and one shots along the way... and then you've got the best cape books too, like Morrison's epic Bat-run, the early JMS Spidey, Ultimate Spidey, Batwoman, Animal Man (old and new), Uncanny X-Force, Hickman's FF, Waid/Ringo's FF... and there's so many more that I'm surely blanking on.

Modern age comics are great, and I think it's pointless trying to defend the past 20 years of comics like this. as i say, there is no denying the historic value of silver age comics, but they simply don't hold up for modern readers as well as modern age books. I don't see how this is a contentious issue...?

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

Well, some of my favourite comics from the past few decades would include Sandman, Preacher, pretty much anything by Moore or Morrison, Transmet, Planetary, Y The Last Man, Walking Dead, Chew, Locke and Key, Scalped, Fables, American Vampire not to mention the various excellent OGNs and one shots along the way... and then you've got the best cape books too, like Morrison's epic Bat-run, the early JMS Spidey, Ultimate Spidey, Batwoman, Animal Man (old and new), Uncanny X-Force, Hickman's FF, Waid/Ringo's FF... and there's so many more that I'm surely blanking on.

Modern age comics are great, and I think it's pointless trying to defend the past 20 years of comics like this. as i say, there is no denying the historic value of silver age comics, but they simply don't hold up for modern readers as well as modern age books. I don't see how this is a contentious issue...?

I don't think comics were better in the Silver Age. There are some things about the Silver Age I'd like to see return but there were plenty of bad Silver Age comics and there are plenty of good modern age comics. However, the statement that Ditko Spidey is better than 95% of comics today is accurate because it's one of the best comics of all time. If it came out today it would still be.

 

[Satch]

GUYS STOP POSTING IN HERE

go to the new one bandit posted

You're not ready for this jelly!

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

GUYS STOP POSTING IN HERE

go to the new one bandit posted

But...It's still January

 

[LiQuid!]

Plus it's leap year so February thread can fuck off if it wants more overtime.

 

[DeVeAn]

Okay I need recommendations. I only need to order Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man comics. I used to use mycomicshop.com buy they treated like trash so I am discontinuing my business with them.

I was looking into midtowncomics but, its $9.99 for the economy which is absurd. I need a place that stocks Sonic and Mega Man series and has easy search filter.