What you are Reading, Discussion, Reviews, and Recomendations [Archive]

abacusand13south

10-02-2006, 05:45 PM

All of you from the original forum know what this is about but for some new people, here you post what you are reading, have recently read, are looking to read, and can ask for recomendations to what you should be reading. We talk Novels, Comics, Trades, Graphic Novels and anything else you can read. I tend to write a mini review of what ive read but that is not required.

So since the demise of the old thread (which all 18 pages can be found here http://www.onewhowaits.com/geekdrome/thread.php?thread=260) I have read,

JLA Earth 2, an Original Graphic Novel by Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly where the normal Justice League of American gets transported into Earth 3 where they meet the Crime Syndicate of America which is the mirror villian versions of the JLA. Its really good and one of the best Morrison work ive read and is very accesible for a Morrison work, this is also probably the 2nd best I have ever seen Quietlys work. My favorite would be WE3 which was also written by Morrison.

Punisher Vol 1. Hardcover, It collects the complete Welcome Back Frank storyline which was the beginning of Ennis run on Punisher. It pretty much re-starts the punisher after years of shitty generic stories. It involves the Frank huntind down Ma Gnucci and the appearance of 3 punisher like vigilantes. Not to mention the art is done by Steve Dillon who also Co-Created and did all the art in Preacher (besides the mini series' and one shots of course) so you cant really go wrong with it.

dicknixon

10-02-2006, 06:04 PM

Thanks for starting this up again. I am such a comics / reading nerd and this thread (the old version) gave me so many good books to check out.

Since last time I've read the Plague by Albert Camus, which surprised me if only because I didn't realise it was written in the 1940s and so I was expecting some 'Old Timey' language. It's a great book and not too far away from some of the SF and Fantasy stuff I usually read.

I am about to start The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl (one of my favourite writers) and also Fury by Garth Ennis (one of my favourite comics writers). So those should be good.

fluxcapacitor

10-02-2006, 06:09 PM

I was waiting for the resurrection of this thread.

I read the 2nd and 3rd Preacher trades recently. Wow. I love these books. Jesse telling the story of his childhood with Gran'ma in book 2 was insane. And so was the shit that Cassidy goes through in book 3 at the hands of the Grail. Awesome stuff.

I've already said this, but to me it is on another level from the other comics I've read. I ordered volumes 4, 5 and 6 and hopefully will get them this week.

satori

10-02-2006, 06:12 PM

never read the Hellraiser stuff except for the occasional issue... have gone back and picked all the trades up.

On a more cerebral level I'm reading: The Trouble with Physics : The Rise of String Theory, The Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next

this thing is a really great study.

dicknixon

10-02-2006, 06:13 PM

Punisher Vol 1. Hardcover, It collects the complete Welcome Back Frank storyline which was the beginning of Ennis run on Punisher. It pretty much re-starts the punisher after years of shitty generic stories. It involves the Frank huntind down Ma Gnucci and the appearance of 3 punisher like vigilantes. Not to mention the art is done by Steve Dillon who also Co-Created and did all the art in Preacher (besides the mini series' and one shots of course) so you cant really go wrong with it.

I've read all of Punisher MAX so far, but none of the books Ennis did on Punisher before they switched it to MAX. Is it any good? I thought about checking it out while I wait for the next MAX trade...

proglodyte

10-02-2006, 06:13 PM

dicknixon

10-02-2006, 06:17 PM

I am currently reading for about the 5th time George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. I am on book 3, "A Storm of Swords" right now. These books are some of the best fantasy literature written since Tolkien, IMO. I cannot wait for book 5 to come out.

I started the first one and got into it them realised that he hadn't even finished the series so I decided to wait until all the books were out. I am so impatient that I couldn't start reading something them have to wait. I barely manage with comics - a whole book series would be unbearable. I was the same way with the Dark Tower. I read books 1-4 then I had to wait for the last 3, so I didn't read them as they came out but waiting until they were all done them read it from the start again.

fluxcapacitor

10-02-2006, 06:19 PM

I am currently reading for about the 5th time George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. I am on book 3, "A Storm of Swords" right now. These books are some of the best fantasy literature written since Tolkien, IMO. I cannot wait for book 5 to come out.
I love these books too. I also can't wait for number 5. ASOIAF and LOTR are pretty much the only fantasy books I've read, and I like ASOIAF better. I really like that nothing is black and white in Martin's books. Even though the Starks are kind of "the good guys" and the Lannisters are kind of "the bad guys", there's all kinds of people in the middle and traitors on both sides. And I love that he's not afraid to just kill off anyone at any time.

proglodyte

10-02-2006, 06:23 PM

I was the same way with the Dark Tower. I read books 1-4 then I had to wait for the last 3, so I didn't read them as they came out but waiting until they were all done them read it from the start again.

Man, you did that series the easy way. I am a guy who read The Gunslinger when it first came out. 20-plus years to complete a literary journey was maddening for me.

abacusand13south

10-02-2006, 06:23 PM

I've read all of Punisher MAX so far, but none of the books Ennis did on Punisher before they switched it to MAX. Is it any good? I thought about checking it out while I wait for the next MAX trade...

I havent read any of the Max stuff since im a freak about reading stuff in order and the Max stuff comes after the Marvel Knights run but yeah I really liked it.

Heres a link for all the whole series goes in order for the trades and hardcovers.

http://tplist.millarworld.net/punisher.html

proglodyte

10-02-2006, 06:26 PM

I love these books too. I also can't wait for number 5. ASOIAF and LOTR are pretty much the only fantasy books I've read, and I like ASOIAF better. I really like that nothing is black and white in Martin's books. Even though the Starks are kind of "the good guys" and the Lannisters are kind of "the bad guys", there's all kinds of people in the middle and traitors on both sides. And I love that he's not afraid to just kill off anyone at any time.

I can probably venture to say that I like ASOIAF better than LOTR myself. I also love that Martin is not afraid to take risks and kill off major characters. It's also great how you think you know so much about a character and know how you feel about them, only to have that completely turned around on you when you read their point-of-view chapters. Jaime Lannister is a big case in point for me. I hated that guy until we got his POV chapters in book 3.

baldmonkey

10-02-2006, 06:31 PM

Right now I am reading Rocky, which is a great Swedish comic that got published in the US a while ago. The best comic there over here in Sweden.
You can take a peek at it over at http://www.rocky-digital.com/ , however those strips at quite old.
Other than that I working my way through Catch 22, which is really funny.

fluxcapacitor

10-02-2006, 06:34 PM

It's also great how you think you know so much about a character and know how you feel about them, only to have that completely turned around on you when you read their point-of-view chapters. Jaime Lannister is a big case in point for me. I hated that guy until we got his POV chapters in book 3.
Definitely.

The only let down in the series for me was how book 4 was split into 2 books. So many of my favorite characters were missing. And even though Arya was there, she barely had any chapters.

Any predictions on when book 5 will come out? I had A Feast For Crows reserved from the library in December of 2002 and I had to wait 3 years for that damn book to come out.

freecajunlove

10-02-2006, 07:01 PM

Past 3 months:

- Both Bruce Campbell books
- Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality collection (my fantasy fix)
- World War Z: ****ing fantastic!
- The Rising (Brian Keene): Pretty good, but zombies should not be able to plan traps or speak English.

natech911

10-02-2006, 07:14 PM

The last book I read was this summer and it was not a light read. Not a long book (only around 230 pages), just heavy content.

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Dr. Frankl was an existential psychologist and the book is an account of his life in Nazi death camps. It records the experience that led to his discovery of his theory of logotherapy. The book explains people’s freedom to transcend suffering and find a meaning to their lives regardless of their circumstances. It’s a theory which has made a tremendous influence upon the field of psychiatry and psychology.

Entertaining - No. Inspiring and interesting - Yes. Not for everyone. If you like books that deal with psychology, philosophy, and spirituality, you may be interested in this book.

proglodyte

10-02-2006, 07:35 PM

Definitely.

The only let down in the series for me was how book 4 was split into 2 books. So many of my favorite characters were missing. And even though Arya was there, she barely had any chapters.

Any predictions on when book 5 will come out? I had A Feast For Crows reserved from the library in December of 2002 and I had to wait 3 years for that damn book to come out.

George says on his website that he still hopes and plans to deliver the book before the end of this year. He said this back in July, so hopefully nothing has changed since then. Hopefully we will see the book on shelves in early 2007.

j3ff5A

10-02-2006, 08:20 PM

Last thing I read? 'In Search of Schrodinger's Cat'

Last thing I actually Understood? 'Snow Crash' for the 5th time.

Currently reading? Ghost in the Shell (manga)

ViscountRadu

10-02-2006, 08:38 PM

I am reading Edmund Spencer's The Faerie Queene. Stupid Brit Lit class! Paradise Lost is my next project.

jimmyjones

10-02-2006, 08:52 PM

Still to this day the best book i've read is East of Eden by Stienbeck.

mattk

10-02-2006, 11:07 PM

abacusand13south

10-02-2006, 11:44 PM

Read the 5th Hellboy trade called the Conquerer Worm and its just as good as the rest of the series. Mignolas art and writing have really grown on me and I really wish he would do a lot more work than he currently does but atleast we have the stuff hes already done. I like how he continually mixes in different mythologies a falk tales into his own stories.

abacusand13south

10-03-2006, 03:24 AM

Hey guys, a little bit of a lurker here. The drome and stumbling upon some choice internet articles that attribute some graphic novels to be great pieces of literary work (mostly time.com who put the Watchmen in it's top 100 novels since 1923) has put me on a course to connect with some new literary content.

I read comics like 5 or 6 years ago, but it was sparse - so i'm discovering old and new stuff - would love your guys suggestions and i'll keep reading.

I first nailed down that hardcover of the Runaways (first 18 issues) and it was pretty solid.

Yeah that hardcover is really good, its all ive read of the series so far, cant wait for the second hardcover in december

I then took down the Watchmen and learned why Time.com said the things they did say about it.

My favorite everything is Watchmen so hell yeah. Definately the best for you start with

Next i think i want to check out Ex Machina and Concrete for the newish stuff and hit up the Dark Knight Returns by Miller to keep rolling with the old stuff.

Ex is really good, so is Y The last man which is also by Vaughan. You should also check out Astonishing X Men written by Whedon. Also Batman Year One is a must, I like it more than DKR actually.

I don't have a lot of disposable income (newly married, house and all that jazz), so i've been trying to stick to stuff i can get at the library. Some trades aren't too terribly expensive - but if there was just one current series to invest in - what would you guys suggest? I like the runaways storyline so i'm leaning towards that, but Ex Machina sounded like a great concept, so i'm going to get the first book from the library and see if i think its worth plunkin down the cash for the rest - but feel free to shout any others my way.

I'm not a huge super hero fanboy (but i must admit "Civil War" does sound pretty sweet) and i think i would always lean more towards character and plot development than super power displays. So you can factor that into your suggestions. Thanks guys.

As for reccomendations, like I sad before Y and Astonishing are both awesome. Some stuff that your library should have is V For Vendetta (another awesome work from Moore), Moores run on Swamp Thing and something im sure they will have Maus. Some other stuff thats worth getting into is Supreme Power and The Ultimate is also pretty good for both newcomers and people just looking for a good story. If you dont get into the rest of the universe The Ultimates by Millar and Hitch is fantastic. Ive went on for a while here but before I wrap up is also say check out Invincible it is really good and relatively new so theres not much to catch up on.

You obviously listen to the show so I wont mention the awesomeness of Preacher.

mattk

10-03-2006, 03:01 PM

Thanks for the recs abacus. I'm gonna check out Ex, Supreme Power, and Invincible. And then i'll get down on some V for Vendetta (i was meaning to get that one), DKR, and Batman Year 1 to get my old school fill. Preacher - althought i hear it is amazing - just doesn't sound like my cup of tea, a little more twisted than I would normally get involved with.

Thanks again for the recs and if anyone else wants to chime in (or if you think of anything else abacus) i'd love to read the post. Thanks again.

abacusand13south

10-03-2006, 04:52 PM

No Problem Mattk this is what I do. I felt I went a little heavy on the recomendations as it was but since you want more and you seem to be into Batman then definately check out The Long Halloween and Dark Victory. Both are by the team of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale and they follow closely after Year One, just make sure to read them in order.

Also there is a lot more talk this at the old thread, which can be found in the first post but right now im going to repost the top 100 list here for you and its a really good to see what you might wanna check out, and a really good larticle on IGN called Building the Ultimate Bookshelf that is just an awesome list.

IGN List http://comics.ign.com/articles/646/646012p1.html

Top 100
#100 Batman: Faces
#99 The Red Star Vol. #1
#98 Batman & Dracula: Red Rain
#97 Spiderman vs. Venom
#96 The Complete Concrete
#95 X-Men: From the Ashes
#94 Batman: Haunted Knight
#93 Sock Monkey
#92 Cerebus Vol. #2: High Society
#91 Wolverine: Blood Debt
#90 American Flagg Vol. #1: Hard Times
#89 Batman: Arkham Asylum
#88 Hulk: Ground Zero
#87 Ultimate X-Men Vol. #1: The Tomorrow People
#86 Batman: Dark Victory
#85 Nightwing Vol. #4: A Darker Shade of Justice
#84 The Coffin
#83 Batman/Huntress: Cry for Blood
#82 Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn
#81 Obergeist: Director's Cut
#80 Crisis On Infinite Earths
#79 Avengers: Ultron Unlimited
#78 JLA: Earth 2
#77 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Collected Book Vol. #1
#76 Batman: The Long Halloween
#75 Doom Patrol: Crawling from the Wreckage
#74 Whiteout
#73 Punisher: Circle of Blood
#72 Powers Vol. #1: Who Killed Retro Girl
#71 Goldfish
#70 Fortune and Glory
#69 Wolverine
#68 Captain America: War and Rememberance
#67 Daredevil: The Man Without Fear
#66 Avengers: Under Siege
#65 Silver Surfer: The Rebirth of Thanos
#64 X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills
#63 Jinx
#62 X-Force: A New Beginning
#61 Justice League: A New Beginning
#60 Infinity Gauntlet
#59 Earth X
#58 JLA: A New World Order
#57 Dr. Strange/Dr.Doom: Triumph and Torment
#56 Legion of Super Heroes: The Great Darkness Saga
#55 Strangers in Paradise Vol. #2: I Dream of You.
#54 Animal Man Vol. #1
#53 Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits
#52 Box Office Poison
#51 The Authority Vol. #2: Under New Management
#50 Iron Man: The Power of Iron Man
#49 Stormwatch Vol. #4: A Finer World
#48 Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others
#47 Walt Simonson Thor Visionaires
#46 Hellblazer: Hard Time
#45 New X-Men E is for Extinction
#44 Usagi Yojimbo Vol. #6: Circles
#43 Fantastic Four Visionairies
#42 100 Bullets Vol. #3: Hang Up on the Hang Low
#41 Akira Vol. #1
#40 Kingdom Come
#39 Banner
#38 Neil Gaiman's Midnight Days
#37 Planetary: The Fourth Man
#36 Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
#35 Pedro and Me
#34 300 HC
#33 League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
#32 Bone Vol. #2: Great Cow Race
#31 Torso
#30 Astro City: Confession
#29 Daredevil Yellow
#28 Spider-Man: Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaught
#27 Sin City: That Yellow *******
#26 Solar Man of the Atom: Alpha & Omega
#25 Fantastic Four: Trial of Galactus
#24 Death: The High Cost of Living
#23 Superman: For All Seasons
#22 Squadron Supreme
#21 Books of Magic
#20 Preacher Vol. #3: Proud Americans
#19 Hawkworld
#18 Frank Miller Daredevil Visionairies Vol. #2
#17 Magnus Robot Fighter: Steel Nation
#16 Top Ten Vol. #1
#15 New Teen Titans: Judas Contract
#14 Miracleman Vol. #3
#13 Swampt Thing: Saga of the Swamp Thing
#12 X-Men: Days of Future Past
#11 Golden Age
#10 X-Men: Dark Phoenix Saga
#9 Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow
#8 Marvels
#7 Daredevil: Born Again
#6 Batman: Year One
#5 Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. #1
#4 Sandman Vol. #4: Season of the Mist
#3 Batman: Dark Knight Returns
#2 Watchmen
#1 Maus: A Survivor's Tale

edit: its a good thing we can edit now, because im making even more errors than I did before.

mattk

10-03-2006, 05:57 PM

awesome - that's good stuff and good linkage... well, looks like i better get crackin!

abacusand13south

10-04-2006, 04:04 AM

Finished up Batman ThrillKiller by Howard Chaykin, its another Batman Elseworlds book where the story takes place in an alternate timeline. In this its 1960's Chicago and is very film noir, there really isnt much Batman in it but the story was pretty good even though there wasnt really a mystery or anything going on.

Also finished up the Marvel Monsters hardcover which collects the one shots that Marvel recently did with all their old monster characters and some old reprints. There isnt one story running through the book buts still a fun read, nothing groundbreaking going on but a fun decent read.

briangilmore

10-04-2006, 04:25 AM

I'm not a huge super hero fanboy (but i must admit "Civil War" does sound pretty sweet) and i think i would always lean more towards character and plot development than super power displays. So you can factor that into your suggestions. Thanks guys.

hey mattk. I'm Brian. Welcome :) here's my two cents:

Do not ever read Civil War until you've at least gotten to respect Captain America as the Marvel Universe's moral compass, and as a true patriot in every sense of the word.

A lot of people don't respect Captain America ("Cap"), but they very well should. After he denounced America and became "Nomad", he then decided not to stand so much for the country he lives in, but the ideals it was founded upon of freedom and truth. At least what he originally enlisted b/c of.

He is like the Superman of the Marvel Universe. Everyone trusts him, everyone respects him, and his word is often what goes, no matter what. He is the most honorable man in the Marvel Universe an absolutely amazing fighter, and an epic figure. He is the moral compass for everyone in that Universe and should be respected....

anyway, leading up to Civil War, I would read:

New Avengers Trades #1,2,3(to get a feel for some of the key players in Civil War)
Amazing Spiderman: New Avengers, (trade after that that isn't out yet...)

Then after you love Cap and see him as amazing, then and only then will the intended emotional impact of the events in Civil War work on you at all.

Also, if I were to tell you to invest in one continuing series to actually buy, I would say Y:The Last Man. Absolutely amazing.

proglodyte

10-04-2006, 04:45 AM

Also, if I were to tell you to invest in one continuing series to actually buy, I would say Y:The Last Man. Absolutely amazing.

Yeah, too bad it is ending in like 10 more issues. I would go with The Walking Dead as well for something that is like to last a while longer.

satansmagichat

10-04-2006, 05:01 AM

Hey guys, a little bit of a lurker here. The drome and stumbling upon some choice internet articles that attribute some graphic novels to be great pieces of literary work (mostly time.com who put the Watchmen in it's top 100 novels since 1923) has put me on a course to connect with some new literary content.

I read comics like 5 or 6 years ago, but it was sparse - so i'm discovering old and new stuff - would love your guys suggestions and i'll keep reading.

I'm gonna start this off by saying that I totally agree with Abacus's recommendations. He and I generally agree on trades and GNs and stuff. But if you want a different route, talking about how you were reading things that consider graphic novels as a relevant art form, I might have a few suggestions.

First off, I first got into comics through the indy stuff. I watched American Splendor (the movie with Paul Giamatti, excellent if you ask me) and then went to the store the next day and picked up a bunch of obscure stuff. If you like fantasy, I highly recommend Bone. It's a 40 dollar GN, but it's also 1300+ pages, so it'll keep you busy. Blankets is good if you don't mind a bit of sentimentalism. But to be honest, and I hate admitting this, because I always get lambasted for it, but the comic to get me into comics was Johnny the Homicidal Maniac by Johnen Vasquez, the creator of Invader Zim. It has some gothy overtones (and I absolutely hate goth shit) but it also has a lot of internal monologue done in pretty creative ways, with a bit of existential hypothesizing, all the while telling a pretty funny story of a seriously ****ed up murderer. The art perfectly suits the story, and there are a lot of extra stories thrown in. Some of them are about the world around the main character, other's are cartoons drawn by the main character.

There is a LOT of shit out there for you to check out. I've only been into comics a couple years, but completely threw myself into it. If you don't have money, I sympathize. However, if you browse around the net a bit, you can find other methods to check out interesting stuff without purchasing it. Although, this is also the same method people download other copyrighted material...

abacusand13south

10-04-2006, 02:20 PM

Blankets is really good even though it is a bit self loathing. I have yet to talk to anyone that has read it that didnt find something in the book that they could identify with. Its also one of the top books you could use to get a female into comics.

Tuding

10-04-2006, 02:24 PM

Am reading YTLM and The Walking Dead right now,

Just finished Girl On Girl Trade of YTLM

Reading the 2nd Trade of The walking dead right now and i have to say
YTLM and TWD are great ****ing comics!

funnelfish

10-04-2006, 02:50 PM

Am reading YTLM and The Walking Dead right now,

Just finished Girl On Girl Trade of YTLM

Reading the 2nd Trade of The walking dead right now and i have to say
YTLM and TWD are great ****ing comics!

I picked up the first Walking Dead trade a few weeks back, and have since devoured ALL of them. What amazing writing!

Also, I am currently reading World War Z by Max Brooks. Great read so far, I HIGHLY recommend it.

Tuding

10-04-2006, 03:59 PM

I picked up the first Walking Dead trade a few weeks back, and have since devoured ALL of them. What amazing writing!

You are totally right, i just finished the 2nd trade reading the 3rd now omg things are so messed up!

But i will highly recommend YTLM and The Walking Dead to anyone

I just started reading comics like a week ago and these two comics have gotten me addicted!

proglodyte

10-04-2006, 07:58 PM

Also, I am currently reading World War Z by Max Brooks. Great read so far, I HIGHLY recommend it.

Very cool read. I had to get the audiobook because of some of the voice talent attached to it. There are some cool people on it like Mark Hammill, Rob Reiner, Carl Reiner, John Turturro, Henry Rollins and Alan Alda.

abacusand13south

10-05-2006, 02:53 AM

Very cool read. I had to get the audiobook because of some of the voice talent attached to it. There are some cool people on it like Mark Hammill, Rob Reiner, Carl Reiner, John Turturro, Henry Rollins and Alan Alda.

Im about to jump into the book and audio book after I finish The Zombie Survival Guide. I saw Max Brooks say that the audio book while it is 6 hourse long is still only a 3rd of whats in the book.

Id also really like to see one Max's lectures where he discuss zombie survival in the completely serious tone he used in The Zombie Survival Guide.

abacusand13south

10-05-2006, 03:57 AM

This thread has gotten a little stickier than since I was last here I see.

Read the second trade of Mark Millars run on Superman Adventures called The Never Ending Battle. This series was done in the style of the animated series and uses the same continuity so I liked it but its probably not for people who wernt a fan of the animated series.

Also read Goodbye Chunky Rice by Craig Thompson. Its the graphic novel he did before making blankets and while its a story using animals as the characters its still fairly good. I was interested in the book because I really liked Blankets but the fact that Alan Moore recomended it completely sealed it for me. If you liked Blankets you should check this out.

muss

10-05-2006, 03:57 AM

proglodyte

10-05-2006, 12:23 PM

Any other Dragon Lance fans here? Hobbit/LoTR are my all time favorite novels, but I had a friend get me hooked on Dragon Lance when I was young. Just this summer I went back and read through the whole chronicles series again. My opinion is they are some of the best fantasy works I have read, but I have not read too much so I am sure I am missing a lot of good books. I might have to try some of the novels mentioned here in the thread so my suggestion is check out Dragon Lance for plenty of fantasy enjoyment. Let me just pose the question that if I where to check out just one fantasy novel/series which one would you suggest?

I devoured those Weis & Hickman Dragonlance books back when I was in jr. high and high school. I was just talking to a friend about these books a couple of days ago and we both tried to re-read them recently. We agreed that they were best left to our memories, as they seemed boring and juvenile to read as an adult and after some of the other stuff we have read since then. Another friend has said the same thing as well. I don't know how old you are so those Dragonlance books may still hold some charm for you. But if you want some REALLY GOOD fantasy I cannot more strongly recommend George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. I have come to the conclusion that I enjoy these books even more than I ever did Tolkien.

mikeydub

10-05-2006, 07:34 PM

I think I'm going to get Anansi boys now that its on paper back, and Only Revolutions by Danielewski (author of House of Leaves). in fact, amazon, here I come.

slowmtnsilhouette

10-05-2006, 09:12 PM

i just read trades 5-7 of YTLM the other day... effin amazing!

bcool

10-05-2006, 09:22 PM

trades 3 and 4 of walking dead. The prison one is great; havent's read 4 yet.

mikeydub

10-05-2006, 09:28 PM

trades 3 and 4 of walking dead. The prison one is great; havent's read 4 yet.

I just finished the 5th one. It was pretty good, I liked it. It wasn't great though, things are still happening to make it interesting but it feels like its moving slow and drawing things out on purpose.

point5o

10-06-2006, 02:56 AM

I just read both Amazing Spider-Man #534 and 535. I can't for #536...Spidey vs. Iron Man :cool:

abacusand13south

10-06-2006, 03:11 AM

Finally got a chance to read Spiderman/Black Cat The Evil That Men Do miniseries by Kevin Smith and the Dodsons. It took forever for this thing to come out and while I thought it was pretty good you could still feel that there was a three year gap between the first three issues and the last three. The first half of it felt like it was building toward the huge mystery and then the second half the ending felt like it was really rushed and abrupt. Even with those flaws its still pretty good, plus Terry Dodson can draw a damn fine Black Cat.

Spazkake

10-06-2006, 05:14 AM

For novels right now I'm reading Cloud Atlus by David Mitchel and when I finish that I hope to start up on Murarakami's latest collection of short stories (god do I love him).

dromeonyourchest

10-06-2006, 02:14 PM

I just saw a preview for Butterfly Effect 2. Straight to video of course. What a giant turd thats going to be.

toastmstrgeneral

10-06-2006, 02:27 PM

I saw that too and felt the same, and then saw that the heroine of the film is the chick who plays Lois Lane in Smallville and for a split second I was contemplating aquiring a copy to watch, but luckily I came to my senses shortly thereafter.

abacusand13south

10-06-2006, 02:40 PM

I just saw a preview for Butterfly Effect 2. Straight to video of course. What a giant turd thats going to be.

Did you maybe post in the wrong thread?

I saw that too and felt the same, and then saw that the heroine of the film is the chick who plays Lois Lane in Smallville and for a split second I was contemplating aquiring a copy to watch, but luckily I came to my senses shortly thereafter.

I also saw this trailer the other night and the only reason I would watch this is for Erica Durance.

kevmann16

10-06-2006, 08:32 PM

I just brought John Hodgman - Areas of my expertise after really liking him on the daily show, its OK to pick up every now and again for a quick read but since its a book of made facts and information its a hard read for more than that.

If anyone wants something really good to read check out Danny Wallace - Join Me and his newer book Yes Man. They are the best books I've ever read.

araym

10-07-2006, 01:31 AM

I just picked up a copy of Van Von Hunter. Its pretty good if your into anime or manga, but its funny as shit

matteekay

10-07-2006, 08:49 AM

So what novels are good to pick up? I finally finished with the Dark Tower series, burned through everything Lovecraft has ever written, and just got really bored with Robert Jordan. Are the Neil Gaiman novels any good?

dicknixon

10-07-2006, 02:30 PM

I went and bought Neil Gaiman's new collection of short stories 'Fragile Things'. I think that Gaiman's best works have always been his short stories, so I am excited about reading this one. It does have some of his poems in it as weel, which I'm not such a fan of, but so far the stories are good.

comradelazyman

10-07-2006, 03:59 PM

proglodyte

10-08-2006, 12:53 AM

I thought that both Gaiman's American Gods and Anansi Boys were really good.

point5o

10-08-2006, 04:28 AM

I picked up Brian K. Vaughn's Pride of Baghdad today. I'm only halfway through but OMG it's epic.

Edit: Finished it. I strongly, strongly recommend this book. It's definitely a comic book for people who don't like comics. "In April of 2003, four lions escaped the Baghdad Zoo during the bombing of Iraq. The starving animals were eventually shot and killed by U.S. soldiers." The Writer, Vaughn, used this true story as the basis of the graphic novel. At the time of typing this, I feel POB is arguably the best graphic novel I've read...yeah, I said it. The book really struck a cord with me and I enjoyed it more than Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, V for Vendetta, or The League of Extraordinay Gentlemen.

P.S. When I bought POB, my intention was to read it and then send it to JLo and Dan in exchange for a Geekdrome t-shirt. Fuuuck that, I'm keepin' this beeoch. Pride of Baghdad > Geekdrome t-shit :D

abacusand13south

10-10-2006, 05:22 PM

Finally got around to reading the original Crow series that the first movie was based on. Im really not into the whole goth I cut myself to feel, self loathing shit but I liked this book. There is definately more to the book than what you see in the movie and there is some stuff that is slightly different. If you liked the movie/movies then definately check this out.

abacusand13south

10-11-2006, 03:48 AM

Finished the second hardcover of Marvel Knights Punisher. Not quite as good as the first but still its Ennis so you know its good. I really liked it but for me the highlight was the 7th issue. Its a story with no dialogue or narrative at all and is just Steve Dillons art. It really shows what a great story teller Dillon is, even if most of his faces are the same.

PaulSaves

10-11-2006, 05:06 AM

I've been reading DMZ ever since Dan talked about it on the show a while back. The whole "Second Civil War" thing gets me all the time. I really enjoy it, and how it describes the feeling in a wartorn area.

bcool

10-11-2006, 05:14 AM

synack

10-11-2006, 05:35 AM

Sup,
Have picked up 'Man in the high castle'. Have not read any books by Phillip K Dick, but have heard the book kicks ass. On the comic book front, am *totally* hooked on futurama comics atm.

Had a read of ISBN 1-59327-029-1

A great intro to the subject and am looking forward to getting my hands on

ISBN 1-59327-101-8

synack.

bcool

10-11-2006, 07:01 AM

anyone know if the second DMZ trade is out yet? yep, im lazy.

no brian, i don't think it is yet. thank you for your question.

diela

10-11-2006, 03:52 PM

slowmtnsilhouette

10-11-2006, 04:40 PM

i got to chapter 7 in blankets... so far, very good

funnelfish

10-11-2006, 05:27 PM

I'm currently buying replacements for my Piers Anthony "Incarnations of Immortality" series in hardcover, as I lost all my paperbacks to Katrina. So right now I'm halfway through "On a Pale Horse", the story of Death.

Books two and three are still on their way from my source of used hardbacks, but I imagine those will be next.

That is by FAR my favorite series of books. Followed closely by the Ender/Shadow novels by Card. I think my fav books in it are Satan and War. What about you?

PaulSaves

10-11-2006, 05:37 PM

i got to chapter 7 in blankets... so far, very good

That's up there on my Favorite Books list.

proglodyte

10-11-2006, 07:36 PM

I just finished A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin and am moving on to The Color of Magic, book 1 of the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett.

diela

10-11-2006, 08:46 PM

That is by FAR my favorite series of books. Followed closely by the Ender/Shadow novels by Card. I think my fav books in it are Satan and War. What about you?

I love both Death and War, but I'm especially partial to Niobe's stint as Fate in "With a Tangled Skein".

Although, finally hearing the story behind Satan was interesting.

point5o

10-11-2006, 08:55 PM

I'm currently buying replacements for my Piers Anthony "Incarnations of Immortality" series in hardcover, as I lost all my paperbacks to Katrina. So right now I'm halfway through "On a Pale Horse", the story of Death.

Books two and three are still on their way from my source of used hardbacks, but I imagine those will be next.

I heard these were good. The only PA books I've read are his Xanth series back in middle school.

ViscountRadu

10-11-2006, 10:07 PM

some books I am looking forward to:

Brother Odd by Dean Koontz
White Knight by Jim Butcher

Big Doze

10-12-2006, 10:26 AM

Just finished The Light Fantastic, book 2 in the Discworld series, and I couldn't be more pleased. After Color of Magic, this wrapped up the Rincewind/Twoflower story better than I could have hoped. Not sure about moving on to the next book, though (which focuses on different characters entirely). I can't imagine the series being as good without Rincewind...

As far as comics go...

Trials of Shazam is turning out way better than I could have anticipated. The art is fantastic, and I'm really excited about the new direction for the Marvel family. About time someone shook them up.

I just re-read Archer's Quest, Brad Meltzer's all too short run on Green Arrow, and it reminded me why I started liking the character in the first place. Meltzer plays the entire story for character, keeping Ollie's true intentions close to the vest as he and Arsenal tour the country looking for his old memorabilia. Funny, touching, and definately a shocker at the end for Ollie Queen fans. Highly recommend it if you're into the hero stuff... or even if yer not.

diela

10-12-2006, 11:42 AM

I heard these were good. The only PA books I've read are his Xanth series back in middle school.

They are... they're a bit more mature than the Xanth books, subject wise.

Brother Odd by Dean Koontz

I like the Odd Thomas series so far. When's the new one due out?

ViscountRadu

10-12-2006, 05:24 PM

I like the Odd Thomas series so far. When's the new one due out?

Nov. 28th: http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Odd-Thomas-Novels/dp/0553804804/sr=8-1/qid=1160673809/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-0163364-4208734?ie=UTF8

Now I am wondering what happened to Dean Koontz's Frankenstein. Book 3 was due out Summer '06. It's not even available for pre-order.

abacusand13south

10-12-2006, 05:32 PM

i got to chapter 7 in blankets... so far, very good

Blankets is really good, its probably the most easy book to relate to. Me and BrianGilmore had a pretty womenly discussion about it in the other thread.

Read 1602: The New World the other night. Its a sequel to Gaimans 1602 but this is written by Greg Pak. Its not as good as the original but it is a really good follow up and espands on the Roanoke colony alot more and introduces a new character or 2, plus theres lots of Hulk! If you like 1602 definiately check this out.

ViscountRadu

10-12-2006, 05:35 PM

Just finished The Light Fantastic, book 2 in the Discworld series, and I couldn't be more pleased. After Color of Magic, this wrapped up the Rincewind/Twoflower story better than I could have hoped. Not sure about moving on to the next book, though (which focuses on different characters entirely). I can't imagine the series being as good without Rincewind...

He comes back... as does Twoflower. They don't need to be read in any real order. The best ones seem to be the Rincewind/Wizard ones and the Death/Susan ones, but the Vimes/Watch ones are pretty good too. I didn't care for the Weatherwax/Witch ones or the History Monk ones much.

Rincewind storyline: The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic, Sourcery, Eric, Interesting Times, The Last Continent, and The Last Hero.

Death/Susan storyline: Mort, Reaper Man, Soul Music, Hogfather, Thief of Time

glenndanzig

10-12-2006, 09:10 PM

I read Ellis' run on The Authority and I am now in Vol 2 of Planetary.
It really isnt doing much for me at all.
Davedevil Vol. 1 (new printing) and Vol 6 hardcovers are in the mail.
These will get me outta this Ellis rut.

abacusand13south

10-13-2006, 05:14 PM

Finally got around to finishing Max Brooks Zombie Survival guide and it is so awesome. It covers almost every scenario possible and goes into great detail about the weapons and supploes you would need and also talks all the different places you could use to survive and such. Great read.

fluxcapacitor

10-13-2006, 05:18 PM

I read the 4th and 5th Preacher trades. Awesome as usual. I'm starting the 6th and have ordered the last 3.

PaulSaves

10-14-2006, 03:28 AM

satori

10-14-2006, 04:42 AM

I wanna get into some other comics besides Civil War, DMZ, and The Boys, something that gets released monthly so I can get everything at once. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm more into gritty stuff, and the only Superheroes I can tolerate are Daredevil and Captain America.
I know you're looking for monthly, but if you want to go trade and you've already done Preacher and Hellraiser, try The Invisibles.

cotton

10-14-2006, 05:21 PM

Blue World by Robert R McCammon is good. It's a book of short horror stories and reminds me of those really creepy Twilight Zone episodes, or Ray Bradbury stories.

calvinslug

10-14-2006, 09:26 PM

I'm currently buying replacements for my Piers Anthony "Incarnations of Immortality" series in hardcover, as I lost all my paperbacks to Katrina. So right now I'm halfway through "On a Pale Horse", the story of Death.

Books two and three are still on their way from my source of used hardbacks, but I imagine those will be next.

I read all those in Middle School/High School. I loved Death, Time, and Fate (I think that's the right order) but then they kind of petered out after that and I found myself finishing the series more out of obligation than interest.

I liked the three Tarot books much more.

PaulSaves

10-16-2006, 02:37 AM

What does everyone think of The Runaways? With Joss Whedon picking it up soon, should I wait til then? Or pick up some issues now?

Big Doze

10-16-2006, 06:59 AM

I highly recommend picking up Runaways, but I would also suggest starting from the beginning of the series. As long as no one has spoiled the many twists and turns for you, it's sure to keep you on the edge of your loveseat all the way through.

It's available in those weird Manga-esque mini trades for extremely cheap, so check it out without delay. Can't wait for Joss to pick up the book, as he's a big fan of the series himself.

PaulSaves

10-16-2006, 02:41 PM

abacusand13south

10-16-2006, 06:00 PM

I know you're looking for monthly, but if you want to go trade and you've already done Preacher and Hellraiser, try The Invisibles.

Hellblazer. Its really good but the trade situation with dc is so hard to follow for new people thats its really hard to get into.

Okay, that sounds like a plan.

Runaways is really good, you should start out from the beginning and get the hardcover that collects the first 18 issues. The small little digests are cheap but the hardcover is so much better. There is also another hardcover coming out soon that collects the first 12 issues of the second volume and soon after that their should be the 3rd hardcover rounding out the series before Joss starts.

On to me now.

Read the Marvel Comics Presents: Wolverine Vol. 3 trade and it makes me miss the old anthologies like this that marvel used to put out, sure they werent always the best stories but they were entertaining. I could anything involving Wolverine so of course I liked it.

Also finally read The Incredible Hulk House of M trade and it was my second favorite next to the Wolverine tie ins. Hulk is staying with in Australia with a Aboriginy tribe and the Mutant ruled government starts effing with him (yes ive beating into using effing around here)

bigyanks

10-16-2006, 06:55 PM

abacusand13south

10-17-2006, 02:46 PM

im reading Preacher right now just amazing though cost me alot of comic money. was thinking of reading Punisher welcome back frank i saw it was recomended to someone. wondering any other suggestions on these types of comics?

Definiately check out as much of the Ennis Punisher as you can. Heres a list http://tplist.millarworld.net/punisher.html

You should also check out stuff like Watchmen, V for Vendetta, Astonishing X Men, Y The Last Man and EX Machina, thats assuming you havent read these previously. But theres so much good stuff out there and this will get you off to a good start.

slowmtnsilhouette

10-17-2006, 03:52 PM

i just bought "king dork" by frank portman (MTX) - looking forward to reading that. also, i should be finishing Blankets today...

dicknixon

10-17-2006, 04:11 PM

Had a read of ISBN 1-59327-029-1

A great intro to the subject and am looking forward to getting my hands on

ISBN 1-59327-101-8

You tell us what you're reading with the ISBN numbers? You really are a nerd!

Philip K Dick is alright sometimes, but later in life he got way too psychadelic and religious and his books sufferred. 'The Man in the High Castle' is a good one, as is 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?' aka Blade Runner.

dicknixon

10-17-2006, 04:21 PM

i just bought "king dork" by frank portman (MTX) - looking forward to reading that. also, i should be finishing Blankets today...

I picked King Dork up after JLo mentioned in one the show awhile back. I've never really been into that kind of book, even when I was younger, but I'm a fan of MTX and it was a slow month, so whatever.

I actually really enjoyed it. As a kid there were no good 'teenage fiction' books so I read a lot of SF and became a huge nerd, but this book I really could have identified with at about 12-14 years old. I thought it trailed out around the end, and I would have liked more closure on the 'mystery' but it didn't ruin it by any means.

So definitely worth checking out for a quick read.

dicknixon

10-17-2006, 04:34 PM

I have been geeking out to Sherlock Holmes recently. Before I got into SF I read all the books by ACD religiously, and recently I picked up the DVD boxsets of the Granada series with Jeremy Brett, which inspired me to dig out my old Holmes books. What I forgot was that they had also been my father's old Holmes books, and half way through 'A Study In Scarlet' the pages fell apart. So I looked around and got all the books brand new - the novels in paperback and the short story collections in what turned out to be a tiny hardback collection, though I was expecting normal books - damn you Amazon. I'm reading through them in order, like a good, geek, so for those of you who know their Sherlock Holmes, I've read 'A Study in Scarlet' and 'The Sign of the Four', and I'm almost done with 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'. In between that, I am reading the 5th Walking Dead trade, which finally arrived, and Punisher Born, by Garth Ennis.

abacusand13south

10-17-2006, 05:13 PM

Read The X Men trade The Blood of Apocalypse the other day. Mostly because at the end of the Decimation book Apocalypse shows up and I was really interested to see what was going on, so I read this and I liked it! I went in comepletely expecting it to suck because the main X books havnt really been that great lately but this was good. I wasnt real fond of the way Apocalypse was acting but the twists were good and the peopl that become the Horsemen completely caught me off guard and kept me interested. Its nothing spectacular but an enjoyable entertaining read.

bigyanks

10-17-2006, 06:40 PM

does any one like "cable and deadpool" story? Just wanted to get some opinions seems interesting

funnelfish

10-17-2006, 06:50 PM

does any one like "cable and deadpool" story? Just wanted to get some opinions seems interesting

Love it. Of course I love anything with Deadpool in it... except the stupid Ultimate Spiderman Deadpool storyline, that was just plain awful.

Big Doze

10-18-2006, 06:58 AM

does any one like "cable and deadpool" story? Just wanted to get some opinions seems interesting

The current Civil War story is pretty good (most especially Wade's malfunctioning thought boxes!), but if you want some seriously high quality work from this series, check out The Burnt Offering, in which Cable tries to save the world through force (using his cah-razy new powers), and the X-Men are first up to stop him. Their secret weapon? None other than our favorite Merc With a Mouth, in perhaps his most hilarious team-up ever! Can't recommend this trade enough. Check it out.

Also, if you're looking for high quality Deadpool material, hunt down some of those Gail Simone issues from a few years back, including the change to Agent X. Pure, distilled funny.

abacusand13south

10-18-2006, 02:41 PM

does any one like "cable and deadpool" story? Just wanted to get some opinions seems interesting

I havent gotten a chance to check it out because the trades have been out of print and im a stickler for reading stuff from the beginning. But the trades are coming back in print in January so looks like we will both be checking it out.

slowmtnsilhouette

10-18-2006, 04:25 PM

i finished blankets yesterday and started king dork and box office poison...

hopefully they both live up to jon and dan's reviews...

abacusand13south

10-18-2006, 05:18 PM

Recently finished Millers The Dark Knight Strikes Again. I went in to it with terribly low expectations because of all the shit it gets and didnt find it to be terribly shitty. Its easily the worst thing Miller has done and theres really not much point to it. It really jumps around in all sorts of directions and I just feel like he wanted to show as many different characters as he could and make fun of them as well. The most interesting thing about it was trying to figure out what the hell the point of the story was, DKR had a fitting end to the story and this sequel is just unnecassary. I think the worst thing about it besides the fact thats it poinless is that Miller now trys to write everything as if it is a Sin City story and that only works for Sin City.

Never really thought about it like this before but did Sin City ruin Frank Miller's story telling abilities?

bigyanks

10-18-2006, 05:23 PM

I havent gotten a chance to check it out because the trades have been out of print and im a stickler for reading stuff from the beginning. But the trades are coming back in print in January so looks like we will both be checking it out.

deffinetly i like reading stuff from the begining too. i finished preacher excelent ending. Pretty much everyone gets what they want except for GOD. I enjoyed and it actually gives me a good perceptioon on what hes about to do with the boys. Im reading Welcome back Frank now i asked one of the guys at the comic store he told me he didnt get into preacher but punisher is good and explained to me crap Marvel had punisher do before Garth Ennis redeemed him and brought him back to his glory days. Pretty bad ass so far. has a hint of preacher in it, angels brought Frank to heaven showed him his family and sent him back to earth to get to work.Saint of Killers-ish i think.

slowmtnsilhouette

10-18-2006, 05:53 PM

wow. you guys get going, and i feel like an idiot....

PaulSaves

10-19-2006, 05:27 AM

i finished blankets yesterday and started king dork and box office poison...

hopefully they both live up to jon and dan's reviews...

What'd you think of blankets? After I read it, I had this strange urge to have my mom read it.

abacusand13south

10-19-2006, 02:11 PM

deffinetly i like reading stuff from the begining too. i finished preacher excelent ending. Pretty much everyone gets what they want except for GOD. I enjoyed and it actually gives me a good perceptioon on what hes about to do with the boys. Im reading Welcome back Frank now i asked one of the guys at the comic store he told me he didnt get into preacher but punisher is good and explained to me crap Marvel had punisher do before Garth Ennis redeemed him and brought him back to his glory days. Pretty bad ass so far. has a hint of preacher in it, angels brought Frank to heaven showed him his family and sent him back to earth to get to work.Saint of Killers-ish i think.

Yeah, Im not sure what copy of Welcome Back Frank your reading (softcover or Hardcover) but the hardcover has a load of bonus stuff like extra issues and an intoduction where Stuart Moore discuss's all the previous crap that they tried with the Punisher, and then theres Garths subtle little digs at all the stuff throughout the book.

bigyanks

10-19-2006, 02:28 PM

Yeah, Im not sure what copy of Welcome Back Frank your reading (softcover or Hardcover) but the hardcover has a load of bonus stuff like extra issues and an intoduction where Stuart Moore discuss's all the previous crap that they tried with the Punisher, and then theres Garths subtle little digs at all the stuff throughout the book.

nah i bought soft cover edition. maybe when im done ill browse through the had cover edition to see what i missing, no luck on cable dead pool trade i guess im waiting till january

slowmtnsilhouette

10-19-2006, 04:07 PM

What'd you think of blankets? After I read it, I had this strange urge to have my mom read it.
i thought it was awesome. i borrowed it from a friend so i had to wait a bit before i could finish it... i definitely felt like sharing it, but my mom doesnt read... it was more like i wanted my best friend to read it...

abacusand13south

10-19-2006, 05:24 PM

I read the first Young Avengers trade Sidekicks and I had heard it was good so I went in expecting a good story and damn I was blown away even with high expectations. Its written by Allen Heinberg who most people know from shows like Sex and The City, Gilmore Girls, The OC and Greys Anatomy. Given how much I liked this I might try to get into these shows that hes worked on.

The story happens after the Avengers break up and a group of Teenagers start fighting crime and what not and I wont say anymore because its best if you arnt sure what will happen in it.

bigyanks

10-20-2006, 04:38 AM

Finished welcome back Frank. Definatly a nice welcome back. I need more punisher! unfortunally i have to go to different store for more trades and for the cable and deadpool trades.

abacusand13south

10-20-2006, 05:34 PM

Read Mike Grell's Green Arrow the Longbow Hunters and really liked it but im a Green Arrow fan. He really did a good job of giving Ollie somewhat of a restart by having him and Black canary move to Seatle and get rid of the gimmick arrows and what not. I mostly read this because alot of it comes up in Kevin Smiths Green Arrow run whick im about to start but im really glad I read it because it was pretty good.

bigyanks

10-20-2006, 05:43 PM

cool gonna check it not that ollies has been brought into my life via Smallville. unfortunally i got hooked on MK: Punisher but trades are out of stock contemplating ebay $50 for 37 issues i think it the complete run. not really sure.

proglodyte

10-21-2006, 12:15 PM

I am reading Volume 1 of Alan Moore's Swamp Thing as part of my continued quest to own and read up on some of the most essential comic stories that I have missed out on over the years.

PaulSaves

10-21-2006, 04:12 PM

i finished blankets yesterday and started king dork and box office poison...

hopefully they both live up to jon and dan's reviews...

Oh shit, I forgot to ask about King Dork, I was in the bookstore yesterday and I forgot the author.

MaharajaMackDaddy

10-22-2006, 06:02 PM

I live no wear near a decent comic book store so I have no manga and I don't really like north american comics (i use to be into reading Tintin from Belgium that was really good was I was five otherwise I just prefered japanese manga).

So right now what I am reading is this month's issue of GQ (I need to buy a funeral suit and I want to know what's in right now).

abacusand13south

10-23-2006, 02:39 PM

I am reading Volume 1 of Alan Moore's Swamp Thing as part of my continued quest to own and read up on some of the most essential comic stories that I have missed out on over the years.

Swamp Thing is so awesome, probably the greatest run on any comic ive ever read.

Read Universal Monsters Calvalcade of Horror put out by Dark Horse and from what I can tell the 4 stories in it are direct adaptation of the original movies Frankenstein, Dracula, The Mummy and, The Creature from the Black Lagoon. One of the stories featured art by Tony Harris and anther had Art Adams. I thought overall the book was kind of boring and I just wasnt that into it but people who are big into the old universal films might like it.

Also read Green Arrow Quiver by Kevin Smith which collects the first 10 issues of his run and it was so good. There was just so much good about it that its impossible to describe it all but you can definately tell Smith is a big Moore fan by the writing, guest appearances and even the title and storyline of one particular issue, now that I think about it the entire book Smith pretty much does to Green Arrow what Moore did to Swamp Thing. This may be my favorite work of Kevin Smith including his movies.

abacusand13south

10-24-2006, 05:06 PM

Read X Men Deadly Genesis recently and wow was it awesome. I love stories built on prior continuity so this was just awesome, I just wish I didnt know about Vulcan going in.

abacusand13south

10-25-2006, 05:35 PM

Read the third volume of Mark Millars run on Superman Adventures and its pretty much the same as the other ones. Its what episodes of the animated series would be like with Millar writing them and they actually reference episodes of the series.

abacusand13south

10-26-2006, 05:21 PM

I read the decimation tie in book Generation M by Paul Jenkins last night and really liked it. Its about a reporter named Sally Floyd reporting on former mutants after M-Day and features very little super heroics during it. Its a very good story.

bigyanks

10-26-2006, 07:43 PM

i just read the 2nd trade on Young Avengers It gets into details of each character and how they came to having their powers.

originx

10-27-2006, 03:28 AM

I bought up part 2-4 of the Planet Hulk storyline.

Good artwork. Good story. Fast pacing. I'll wait a few months to buy the rest of the storyline.

When will the Hulk return to earth?

proglodyte

10-27-2006, 12:08 PM

When will the Hulk return to earth?

My guess is sometime before or during Marvel's next big event "World War Hulk". I think it begins sometime next summer?

abacusand13south

10-27-2006, 05:27 PM

Read Batman The Cult the other day and its really different that most Batman stuff ive read but was still really good. It stats out with Batman tied up and being held underground by a religious cult of homeless people and Deacon Blackfire. Blackfire breaks Batmans will and brainwashs him into working for the cult and gotham ends up in a martial law situation because the city becoems over run by the cult. Really good and really different for a Batman book.

Also while it isnt necassarily a book I listened to the audio book for World War Z. The audio book is 5 disc's and over 6 hours long, it covers roughly a third of the book and instead of just having someone read the book they got voice actors to play each character and set it up as a series of interviews. Some of the actors are Alan Alda, Mark Hamill, Henry Rollins and lots of others even John Turturro is in there. Really good and now I want to read the book even more.

originx

10-27-2006, 06:57 PM

My guess is sometime before or during Marvel's next big event "World War Hulk". I think it begins sometime next summer?

World War Hulk?? Holy Bananas Batman!! That's the first I hear about it, but I'll tell you it sounds very intriguing!!

Whoo yeah!!

Spazkake

10-28-2006, 01:59 AM

Finished reading

The Push Man and Other Stories (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Push-Man-Other-Stories/dp/1896597858/sr=1-2/qid=1162000599/ref=sr_1_2/026-6645403-0397265?ie=UTF8&s=books)

and

Abandon the Old in Tokyo (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Abandon-Old-Tokyo-Yoshihiro-Tatsumi/dp/1894937872)

By Yoshihiro Tatsumi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshihiro_Tatsumi), and both were really amazing. Gritty, often with hints of noire. Would be perfect for the "Comics for people who don't like comics" segment.

diela

10-28-2006, 01:55 PM

I just received my pre-order of Stephen King's "Lisey's Story" and I'm about halfway through it. It's turning out to be a strange mix between "Gerald's Game" and "Secret Window" so far. Not my favorites by far.

"The Time Traveller's Wife" is up next.

iggystar

10-28-2006, 02:39 PM

"The Time Traveller's Wife" is up next.

If you don't absolutely love this book I will personally buy your next one. :)

I like medical thrillers so I'm reading the latest by Robin Cook, Marker. Well, I've been reading it for the past month and I haven't gotten far at all...now I need to find the thing.

diela

10-28-2006, 06:11 PM

If you don't absolutely love this book I will personally buy your next one. :)

I may hold you to that. I'm a HUGE time-travel movie fan, so if I don't love-love-LOVE it I will be flabbergasted, after the raves I saw about it here.

burgerbob23

10-29-2006, 06:37 PM

I Own The Forums *****es, This Is My House

herod

10-30-2006, 12:58 AM

I Own The Forums *****es, This Is My House

WTF are you talking about? And no, you don't...

But since we are in this thread, I am reading The Informers by Bret Easton Ellis. Anyone else a big Bret Easton Ellis fan? I started off with Less Than Zero and I loved it, then i read American Psycho, that was insane...

Could you guys recommend a book or two... I am running out of books and need to try something new. Any book that you guys thought was really really great...

proglodyte

10-30-2006, 11:05 AM

Could you guys recommend a book or two... I am running out of books and need to try something new. Any book that you guys thought was really really great...

Ever read any Kurt Vonnegut? If not I suggest you go out and get Breakfast of Champions and/or Slaughterhouse Five right now.

iggystar

10-30-2006, 01:23 PM

I may hold you to that. I'm a HUGE time-travel movie fan, so if I don't love-love-LOVE it I will be flabbergasted, after the raves I saw about it here.

Make sure you post the minute you're finished! :)

herod

10-30-2006, 02:02 PM

Ever read any Kurt Vonnegut? If not I suggest you go out and get Breakfast of Champions and/or Slaughterhouse Five right now.

Wow, thanks! They both sound really interesting. Next time I am at barnes & noble I am definitely going to pick those up.

proglodyte

10-30-2006, 03:44 PM

Wow, thanks! They both sound really interesting. Next time I am at barnes & noble I am definitely going to pick those up.

Well that was an easy sell. I do hope you like them. If you enjoy either of those I have other Vonnegut suggestions to go along with those. Those two are easily my favorites though. But you can't really go wrong with any of his stuff. I get on a big kick of reading everything of his I have every year or so.

abacusand13south

10-30-2006, 05:43 PM

So over the weekend I read Wanted and really liked it. its about a guy who been a loser asshole his entire life only to find out that his father was one of the biggest supervillians around and he inherited his identity and all that comes with it. Its really good and definately not for the kiddies but while reading it I kept wondering how are they going to pull this off as a movie, I have no idea how they'll do it but ill watch since I watch all the other comic adaptations.

Also read Gotham By Gaslight written by Brian Augsutyn with art by Mike Mignola. The story is an elseworlds tale and puts Bruce Wayne in the Jack the Ripper era and he gets accused of commiting the murders and has to clear Bruce Waynes name, really good story with awesome art by Mignola.

fluxcapacitor

10-31-2006, 04:21 AM

I finished Preacher. No words can describe its awesomeness.

abacusand13south

10-31-2006, 05:16 PM

bigyanks

11-01-2006, 02:16 PM

I finished Preacher. No words can describe its awesomeness.

i second that. Im Reding the Spiderman-the other evolve or die tradeback

proglodyte

11-01-2006, 05:03 PM

So over the weekend I read Wanted and really liked it. its about a guy who been a loser asshole his entire life only to find out that his father was one of the biggest supervillians around and he inherited his identity and all that comes with it. Its really good and definately not for the kiddies but while reading it I kept wondering how are they going to pull this off as a movie, I have no idea how they'll do it but ill watch since I watch all the other comic adaptations.

I read Wanted myself a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it too. I heard from somewhere that in the movie adaptation the supervillain stuff may either be drastically downplayed or eliminated altogether.

abacusand13south

11-01-2006, 05:17 PM

abacusand13south

11-01-2006, 05:24 PM

I read Wanted myself a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it too. I heard from somewhere that in the movie adaptation the supervillain stuff may either be drastically downplayed or eliminated altogether.

Yeah ive heard some similar stuff about eliminating the supervillian stuff but ive also heard James Macovy who has been cast as Wesley Gibson say that their will still be villians but Shit-head wont be in it, so its heard to tell how much of the actual comic will end up on screen. I also wish Millar was involved in the movie in anyway but it seems he choose option b when he signed over the rights, while Vaughan and Kirkman take less money to write the script and actually be involved with the adaptation of their properties.

Big Doze

11-02-2006, 12:43 AM

Read the fourth Invincible trade called Head of the Class and this series keeps getting better and better. There wasnt the huge plot twist's in this one like there have been in previous books but still everything keeps moving forward. Invincible is one the the best solo superhero books currently running.

Can't argue there, man. Just read the most recent issue and I love how Kirkman gets you into the characters. After 35 issues I'm just as intrigued with how Mark will handle his lovelife as I am the outcome of the next big super battle. Also, the subplots (Robot, little Oliver) hold just as much weight as the main stuff. High quality all around.

Also, is anyone reading Daredevil these days? For me this feels less like a "comic book" and more like a serial adventure out of the hayday of the genre (if that makes any sense). It has the urgency and intrigue of the greatest globetrotting mystery thrillers (it ellicits Bond for me, for some reason) with just enough super hero to remind you where you are. For my money, one of the best books out there right now.

bcstar80

11-02-2006, 01:35 AM

Since owning the individual issues isn't enough for me, I've been buying all the trades of Y: The Last Man and reading them quickly. In the last three days, I've read three years worth of that series.

It's an amazing read. So witty and inventive, and with each story arc the story continues to get deeper and more involved for the characters (and the reader). I tell me wife about the story constantly in the hope that she'll read it one day. She did ask me tonight over tacos if the story deals with transsexuals, transgendered or transvestite folks. I don't think so. Plus, I was too busy eating tacos.

Definitely the best series that Brian K Vaughan is currently writing. If you haven't read it, I pity you...

briangilmore

11-02-2006, 05:33 PM

Read Kravens last hunt and holy crap it was awesome. The entire story was extremely well thought out and awesome but the characterization of Vermin in the book was so good also. I cant say enough good things about this book, possibly the best Spiderman story around.

dude I was sayin this months ago!!! I'm glad you read it dude!!! Finally someone who's read that that i like.

Dude, this book should've been about Vermin. I mean, it basically was, but this tone is perfect for a character like Vermin. It makes him from just another antagonist into a really tragic figure that you don't want to see hurt, but you want to see either happy or dead. Black spidey costume also sick. The point that Kraven's dementia drove him to is absolutely ridiculous and makes you afraid of human beings. It is the only spidey book that is kinda eerie to me cause Kraven's a character that is moderately grounded in reality and I know people with obsessions and how far they can bring us just terrifies me and made for such an amazing story.

briangilmore

11-02-2006, 05:35 PM

i second that. Im Reding the Spiderman-the other evolve or die tradeback

piece of shit except the stuff from "amazing"...even then though. i'm surprised (in a bad way) that straczinsky did the story arc though.

abacusand13south

11-02-2006, 05:47 PM

Finished the first Batman Black and White trade collecting a bunch of Black and White Batman anthologies. Every story was atleast decent and most were pretty good but my favorite was probably the Bill Sienkiwicz story. If you like Batman or just mostly noir stories in general then you should check this out.

abacusand13south

11-02-2006, 05:54 PM

dude I was sayin this months ago!!! I'm glad you read it dude!!! Finally someone who's read that that i like.

Dude, this book should've been about Vermin. I mean, it basically was, but this tone is perfect for a character like Vermin. It makes him from just another antagonist into a really tragic figure that you don't want to see hurt, but you want to see either happy or dead. Black spidey costume also sick. The point that Kraven's dementia drove him to is absolutely ridiculous and makes you afraid of human beings. It is the only spidey book that is kinda eerie to me cause Kraven's a character that is moderately grounded in reality and I know people with obsessions and how far they can bring us just terrifies me and made for such an amazing story.

I dont remember you saying anything about it earlier but yeah totally agree on all points. Did you read it in the new premeier hardcover? Because theres a forward by JM about how the story evolved and how he had originally pitched it many times originally as a Batman story and then a Wonder Man story and so on until he got the gig as the regular spiderman writer and created his own villian for the Kraven role and decided that the role fit Kraven so much that he wanted him in it even though editorial didnt want it as much. I cant see the story having a fraction of the power it did with a new villian as the protagonist.

Also besides the intro by JM it has pretty much all of the pencils that Zeck did for the story as a bonus in the back and they look even better as pencils then they do with inks and color.

bigyanks

11-02-2006, 08:42 PM

piece of shit except the stuff from "amazing"...even then though. i'm surprised (in a bad way) that straczinsky did the story arc though.

yes i finished last night and was very dissapointed from know on im going to ask you guys before i buy crap liek that. the story just seemed interesting but i was like wtf! at the end of it.

abacusand13south

11-03-2006, 05:32 PM

Read the marvel knights Punisher trade Streets of Laredo recently and the stories in it are good but I really couldnt get into the other two guys who did the art in the book. Steve Dillon only did 2 issues (the first and last) and maybe because I like his style so much that it makes the other guys look bad or what but I just didnt dig it.

Also read Batman Black and White 2 and while there are more bigger name guys involved I didnt think it was as good as the first but still a good read.

PaulSaves

11-05-2006, 04:52 AM

Is anyone gonna pick up the Punisher: War Journals. I know the first few issues are gonna be Civil War Tie-Ins. Any thoughts?

soundwave2.0

11-06-2006, 02:24 PM

i am reading the book "little children". pretty good.

abacusand13south

11-06-2006, 06:20 PM

Read the fourth and final trade of Millars run on Superman Adventures and its just as good as the others.

Also read Truth: Red, White, and Black. Its about the original recipients of the Super Soldier Serum that made Captain America. Its inspired by the story of the tests and experiments the government performed on the Tuskegee troops. The story is really good but the art just didnt click for me but everything else ive seen about it people loved the art so its just me I think. Young Avengers fans should probably check it out also because it will add alot to the Patriot character.

briangilmore

11-06-2006, 07:39 PM

yes i finished last night and was very dissapointed from know on im going to ask you guys before i buy crap liek that. the story just seemed interesting but i was like wtf! at the end of it.

Yeah, man, The Other is a must-read for Spidey fans, just b/c it fits into the regular continuity and you can complain about how Straczinsky's Amazing is the best spiderman ever written, but The Other just showed that even the best fall sometimes. Anyway, I'd say hell no to this on movies, but on comics, JLo has been spot on so far.

dicknixon

11-07-2006, 03:07 PM

dicknixon

11-07-2006, 03:24 PM

I've been offline for awhile, reading a lot. If anyone cares (yeah right) this is a brief summary:

Back to SF books after my Sherlock Holmes escapade, I read The Child Garden by Geoff Ryman and The Complete Roderick by John Sladek. Both really disappointed me, because they started out as really cool concepts - cancer is cured by viruses but now nobody lives beyond middle age; a robot tries to tell everyone he's a robot but they think he's crazy - but ended up overlong and tedious books.

I finished Neil Gaiman's new short story collection, Fragile Things, which is as good as his old one, Smoke and Mirrors, although both books have stories that I love and stories that were misses. Since I enjoyed reading short stories and couldn't face another long disappointment, I picked up a few collections - Fancies and Goodnights by John Collier, Driftglass by Samuel R Delany, and The Avram Davidson Treasuary by Avram Davidson. So far I've only read the first of the three, but I am in love with John Collier. Anyone who wants to read interesting, macabre, and hilarious stories should check out that book.

A sort-of-comic I read was The Fate of the Artist by Eddie Campbell, which I'd highly recommend by have trouble described. Fury by Garth Ennis is a brilliant Nick Fury story, and if you liked his Punisher work you should check it out. I'd like to see more og Nick Fury in Punisher MAX. I also read Demo by Brian Wood, and for all you people who liked Blackets, this is another one to check out.

Finally, a question. There's a new Runaways book out soon, written by BKV. Is this the last trade of his work on the series before Whedon takes over? And another question: has anyone here read the Fables collection 1001 Nights of Snowfall (I think is the title)? I know it is not part of the ongoing story, but I was going to check it out. Is it any good?

You may now resume you normal life...

diela

11-07-2006, 03:57 PM

Make sure you post the minute you're finished! :)

TTW was wonderful. It made me laugh, cry, and on occasion hungry for sushi and Pad Thai.

I do NOT see how a movie could ever do the book justice, though.

abacusand13south

11-07-2006, 05:12 PM

[QUOTE=dicknixon;29040]Finally, a question. There's a new Runaways book out soon, written by BKV. Is this the last trade of his work on the series before Whedon takes over?
QUOTE]

The 2nd hardcover out next month collects issues 1-12 of the second series and then in march there will be the third hardcover which finishes up BKV's work on the series and sets up for Joss to take over in April. There is also the digest's (small trades) and they will wrap up BKVs work in march also.

So the quote didnt work for some reason, oh well.

Read the Green Arrow Sounds of Violence trade the other day it wraps up Smiths short run on the series nicely but it wasnt quite as good as Quiver whish I thought might be the best thing Smith has ever worked on, now I just wish I could get a hold of the Meltzer trade that comes next before Winicks run.

dicknixon

11-07-2006, 08:23 PM

Finally, a question. There's a new Runaways book out soon, written by BKV. Is this the last trade of his work on the series before Whedon takes over?

The 2nd hardcover out next month collects issues 1-12 of the second series and then in march there will be the third hardcover which finishes up BKV's work on the series and sets up for Joss to take over in April. There is also the digest's (small trades) and they will wrap up BKVs work in march also.

I've been reading the manga sized books, not the hard covers, so I've already read 1-12 of the 2nd volume. Amazon (the UK site, anyway) lists 'Runaways: Parental Guidance v. 6 (Paperback)' for release on Nov 8 2006, so I'm wondering if that is collecting 13-18?

dicknixon

11-07-2006, 08:32 PM

Tuding

11-08-2006, 01:51 AM

I just read Pride of Baghdad amazing comic, dam you geekdrome getting me addicted to comics!

Its well worth a read i recommend it highly!

conbon

11-08-2006, 01:54 AM

And another question: has anyone here read the Fables collection 1001 Nights of Snowfall (I think is the title)? I know it is not part of the ongoing story, but I was going to check it out. Is it any good?

I liked 1001 Nights a lot. It was much better than I thought it would be. It's compiled of several short stories that explain some of the background stories for some of the characters like Snow White and the Frog Prince. The art is interesting since each short story is done by a different artist. I will probably be getting it for my friend (also a fan) for Xmas, seeing as it comes in a fancy hardcover and all. But yeah, I definitely recommend if you like Fables.

blacksymbiote

11-08-2006, 04:24 AM

Yeah, man, The Other is a must-read for Spidey fans, just b/c it fits into the regular continuity and you can complain about how Straczinsky's Amazing is the best spiderman ever written, but The Other just showed that even the best fall sometimes. Anyway, I'd say hell no to this on movies, but on comics, JLo has been spot on so far.

I remember reading the Other story arc, and he gets extra powers and such at the end, along with his fancy stingers... but ever since then, and all through Civil War, there seems to be no mention of them. What happened? Anyone know?

On a side note, I seem to recall the spider totem god telling Peter that he has to accept who he is and stop hiding his true nature... I thought that foreshadowed Peter giving away his secret identity in Civil War. Also, Peter going with Tony and using that new suit doesn't lend to his abilities. What's the point of enhanced spider-sense and beefed up agility if you're bulletproof?

abacusand13south

11-08-2006, 01:48 PM

Checking around, the 6th digest does indeed collect #13-18 of volume 2, which will be collected in the 2nd hardcover (#1-18 of volume 2). Marvel says it is due out on 25/10 but its not on Amazon.com, while Amazon.co.uk says 08/11. And that BKV is still writing as of #24 - when does Whedon take over though? It seems to imply #25.

Yeah Whedon takes over at 25, the 6th digest called Parental Guidance collecting 13-18 should already be out and the 7th collecting 19-24 will come out in march at the same time as the third hardcover even though they havent officially been announced yet.

bigyanks

11-08-2006, 02:15 PM

Also, Peter going with Tony and using that new suit doesn't lend to his abilities. What's the point of enhanced spider-sense and beefed up agility if you're bulletproof?

tony was using the enhsnced suit to keep track of peter.

iggystar

11-08-2006, 02:16 PM

TTW was wonderful. It made me laugh, cry, and on occasion hungry for sushi and Pad Thai.

I do NOT see how a movie could ever do the book justice, though.

I'm stoked that you enjoyed it. I haven't read anything myself in awhile. I'm kinda in the mood for some sci-fi.

I agree. As much as I'm usually curious at how a book would look on the big screen...it almost always pales in comparison. It's probably best left alone.

I wonder if anyone here has read any of Octavia Butler's novels. I've only got two that I haven't read of hers. She's very interesting, sci-fi.

abacusand13south

11-08-2006, 05:17 PM

Finished Grant Morrisons Fantastic Four 1234 trade of the miniseries and while I liked it im unsure of what the actual point of the series was. Each issue focus's on a different team member and the whole story focus's on Doom altering reality but in the end everything goes exactly back to normal and nothing was really accomplished. But up until the ending I was into it and was interested in seeing what would happen. Jae Lee's art in the book was phenomonal as always.

blacksymbiote

11-09-2006, 01:08 AM

tony was using the enhsnced suit to keep track of peter.

Yeah, I know that now. But as far as what they built up in The Other arc, Pete's supposed to embrace his spidery goodness, and then he turns around and starts using this suit which pretty much lets him be lazy and ignore his new powers, exactly what the totem god said NOT to do. I guess I'm just hoping there will be some repercussions related to The Other storyline that they hyped so much last year.

And I want to see that spider-woman villian that poped up at the end of The Other.

abacusand13south

11-09-2006, 05:46 PM

Read the Dark Horse Book of Hauntings and it was ok but not as good the book of the dead they put out. A good Hellboy story and another good Evan Dorkin/Jill Thompson story but other than it pretty average.

Also read Batman Strange Apparitions which collects Steve Engleharts short run on the series in 1978. Really good and ahead of its time its just too bad that alot of people think Batman was always like the tv show until Frank Miller showed up and thats not the case at all.

bigyanks

11-09-2006, 06:32 PM

abacusand13south do you work in a comic book store or something, you seem to read alot.

bogart

11-09-2006, 08:31 PM

Just finished up Dan Brown's Digital Fortress, decent, but I always feel a little dirty after reading his 2 pages per chapter. Starting The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl. Much smarter, but I'm having a hard time starting it.

I think I suffer from serious adult ADD, I can't read like I use to.

abacusand13south

11-10-2006, 01:50 PM

abacusand13south do you work in a comic book store or something, you seem to read alot.

No I dont but that would be pretty sweet, I just get a lot of books from the library.

bigyanks

11-10-2006, 04:50 PM

No I dont but that would be pretty sweet, I just get a lot of books from the library.

What library haves all those comics?

diela

11-10-2006, 05:12 PM

What library haves all those comics?

They don't carry comics, but some of them do have the trades. It depends.

abacusand13south

11-10-2006, 05:26 PM

What library haves all those comics?

Well I go to my local libraries website (all transactions are internet based now) and I can request books, movies, and cds from all the libraries in the state of Ohio. When you place a request its put you on the queue for it sometimes there will be people in front of you but usually its only for very recent material. The comics they have alot but also are missing some essential stuff and usually only have one copy of it while other books like best sellers and stuff will have 20+ copies some times. Its a very good resource for reading stuff without having to spend loads of cash on stuff, and plus it helps get younger people into the medium without having to spend money they dont have.

Finished up the most recently released Hellboy trade Volume 6 Strange Places and I wasnt into it as much as the others. Its not bad but I didnt think it was good as the previous volumes.

abacusand13south

11-10-2006, 05:31 PM

They don't carry comics, but some of them do have the trades. It depends.

Actually alot of Libraries carry comics as well. They have subscriptions to select titles mostly just top selling mainstream titles though.

dicknixon

11-10-2006, 07:45 PM

comradelazyman

11-12-2006, 10:12 PM

Justice just suddenly took a turn and is about to get really good. And Green Lantern has an interesting new character for any gl fans.

briangilmore

11-12-2006, 10:51 PM

I remember reading the Other story arc, and he gets extra powers and such at the end, along with his fancy stingers... but ever since then, and all through Civil War, there seems to be no mention of them. What happened? Anyone know?

On a side note, I seem to recall the spider totem god telling Peter that he has to accept who he is and stop hiding his true nature... I thought that foreshadowed Peter giving away his secret identity in Civil War. Also, Peter going with Tony and using that new suit doesn't lend to his abilities. What's the point of enhanced spider-sense and beefed up agility if you're bulletproof?

*possible civil war spoilers*
that's an interesting point, yet i respectfully disagree. Here's why:

The spider told peter to accept his true nature and was trying to make Peter give in to the "spider" in him and leave the "man" behind, so I don't see the foreshadowing there too much.
Also, Peter's true nature is not to blindly give in to something Stark tells him to do and in doing so jeapordize his aunt and wife, the two people who he's always been able to protect; Peter's true nature is to do what is right no matter what and if that spiderthing during the Other was a foreshadowing (which i don't think it was), it would be a foreshadowing to what happens in #535(he realizes what he's done and switches sides)

The no-mention of Peter's new powers is b/c they were already explored in a few issues of Amazing already, I even read a Spectacular which outlined his new powers. Pick up the collected "road to civil war" Amazing issues and you'll see some mention of his powers. They're not mentioned during Civil War b/c Civil War isn't about powers too much (and he casually uses his new suit/powers and i think we'll probably see these new powers now that Peter has switched sides), it's about characters, relationships and the humans behind the masks, what they stand for, what they'll fight for, and what they're willing to die for.

PaulSaves

11-13-2006, 04:49 AM

A really long time ago I heard that there was this Punisher story arc called "The Tyger". I haven't read it but, it's coming out on hardcover with "The Cell" and "The End" (Haven't read those either, shit, I'm behind). I was wondering if anyone knew about this and if it's worth it to pick up the HC.

blacksymbiote

11-13-2006, 01:25 PM

The no-mention of Peter's new powers is b/c they were already explored in a few issues of Amazing already, I even read a Spectacular which outlined his new powers. Pick up the collected "road to civil war" Amazing issues and you'll see some mention of his powers. They're not mentioned during Civil War b/c Civil War isn't about powers too much (and he casually uses his new suit/powers and i think we'll probably see these new powers now that Peter has switched sides), it's about characters, relationships and the humans behind the masks, what they stand for, what they'll fight for, and what they're willing to die for.

I just really want to see some stinger action, and those sweet new high-speed blur reflexes he's got. That night vision was pretty cool too. :D

*possible Civil War spoilers*
Seems like he'll go back to his old suit soon, it doesn't look like the new suit will survive the Thunderbolt's attack. Finally a Spider-Man that doesn't fly.

abacusand13south

11-13-2006, 02:37 PM

Abacus, since you are the all knowing comic book geek of the drome, I have a question for you.

What do you know about the new League of Extraordinary Gentlemen book? I heard that there is a new one, but that's about all I know.

(Also, where do you get all you comics info, so I won't have to ask you retarded questions in the future?)

The new Black Dossier book has been indefinately delayed and no ones real sure when it will come out. Everything about it is done and there is also supposed to be a musical element to it but it was solicited to be released in November and then promply delayed and removed from all shipping list's.

But the actual content of it is supposed to be a prequel to the League seen in the first two books and focus on the older leagues. I just wish they would put it out so Moore would get to work on more League stuff to be released by Top Shelf.

As for the information theres no actual one place I get my stuff from I jus read alot sites and interviews, but I have no problem at all with answering questions and helping people out.

a few sites I visit

Newsarama.com
Comicbookresources.com
Silver Bullet Comics has a good weekly column called All the Rage but most of the other stuff is rehashed from other sites, ditto for Wizard besides Bendis' Interview column.
And a good one for trade info is http://tplist.millarworld.net/index.html which is run by Rob Helmerichs who is a very helpful and nice chap himself.
IGN Comics is also very good.

abacusand13south

11-13-2006, 05:36 PM

Read the Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft and maybe it was just the subject of witchs that im not much of a fan of but again it was decent if only because of the Hellboy story and Evan Dorkins and Jill Thompsons animal stories.

Also read Hellboy Weird Tales volume 1 and this is how anthologies are done. It features a bunch of different people from all sorts of places working on there own Hellboy stories I particulary like the John Cassaday story which is his comics writing debut. Must read for hellboy fans.

araym

11-13-2006, 07:05 PM

just bought Pride of Baghdad...loved it!!!

dicknixon

11-14-2006, 04:01 PM

just bought Pride of Baghdad...loved it!!!

I so want to read this but my sister is buying it for me for Christmas so I have to wait.

abacusand13south

11-14-2006, 05:20 PM

I read the first trade of Robert Kirkmans relaunch of Marvel Team up and was really surprised at how good it was and how much I liked it. I was expecting mindless team ups to fit a villian in a one and done story but there is an overarching story in the series and lots of good dialogue and references. I love it.

briangilmore

11-15-2006, 03:32 PM

I just really want to see some stinger action, and those sweet new high-speed blur reflexes he's got. That night vision was pretty cool too. :D

*possible Civil War spoilers*
Seems like he'll go back to his old suit soon, it doesn't look like the new suit will survive the Thunderbolt's attack. Finally a Spider-Man that doesn't fly.

*spoilers Civil War*

yeah, dude, definetely. i think, if i know my mcniven, the shot of spidey either putting on or fighting in his new suit in the next civil war (i'm guessing it'll be there) should be EPIC. Poster quality, I'm hoping!

dicknixon

11-15-2006, 05:26 PM

Also read Gotham By Gaslight written by Brian Augsutyn with art by Mike Mignola. The story is an elseworlds tale and puts Bruce Wayne in the Jack the Ripper era and he gets accused of commiting the murders and has to clear Bruce Waynes name, really good story with awesome art by Mignola.

I finally read this book (it's been on my shelf for a while because I bought it straight away when I saw it in a shop - it looked so cool - but was too busy to read it).

I really liked it. Batman, especially the darker Batman, has always seemed kind of Jack The Ripper-ish to me, and the stories were really good. I'd like to read more steampunk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk) Batman, like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, is anyone knows of any such books.

abacusand13south

11-15-2006, 05:31 PM

Read JLA Welcome to the Working Week and really liked it. Its written by Patton Oswalt and is written really well. I expected it to be really funny and it was but it also had a serious storyline running through it and I dont want to spoil it but I was really surprised by how good of a writer Patton is.

abacusand13south

11-15-2006, 05:35 PM

I finally read this book (it's been on my shelf for a while because I bought it straight away when I saw it in a shop - it looked so cool - but was too busy to read it).

I really liked it. Batman, especially the darker Batman, has always seemed kind of Jack The Ripper-ish to me, and the stories were really good. I'd like to read more steampunk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk) Batman, like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, is anyone knows of any such books.

Cant really help you out on any similar stories but im curious if the copy you have of Gaslight has the sequel included as well? I know it was released recently with the sequel (Master of time?)included and the copy I had was an older printing with out the sequel and if it was included what did you think about it?

divadawg9234

11-15-2006, 06:12 PM

NOT Harry Potter book 7... DAMN YOU J.K. where the heck is our next book?!?!?!?!

iggystar

11-16-2006, 06:47 PM

Ok I'm totally reading a Nicholas Sparks book The Rescue...sue me. My next book will be cooler. :o

dicknixon

11-16-2006, 08:22 PM

Cant really help you out on any similar stories but im curious if the copy you have of Gaslight has the sequel included as well? I know it was released recently with the sequel (Master of time?)included and the copy I had was an older printing with out the sequel and if it was included what did you think about it?

My copy was purchased recently and has two stories - 'Gotham By Gaslight' and 'Master of the Future'. The second story was set in the same time period as the first and was, as you say, a sequel. It involved the people of Gotham staging a World's Fair type event and coming under attack from a villian in a flying zeppelin type ship. It was entertaining enough - as I said before, I'm a fan of that genre - but really not as good as the 'Gotham By Gaslight' story. And Mignola didn't do the art, so that was also disappointing. But I think if you liked the story it would be worth picking up the version with the sequel.

dicknixon

11-16-2006, 09:07 PM

Hey. Can some of you who are into SF and Fantasy help me out.

I have recently entered a bet with my sister (we do stupid things like this way too often). She says that I read nothing but science fiction and fantasy books (which is not true, but I do love genre books) while I say that she is dismissing all science fiction and fantasy without having read any (which is true, with the exception of 'The Hobbit' which she read as a kid).

So we have agreed that she will pick a book for me to read, and I'll pick a book for her to read. I read much faster and I've already finished her book, and now I have to find something for her to read. This is actually much harder than I though, especially as I want something she'll enjoy (or at least finish).

My current thoughts are: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, American Gods by Neil Gaiman or Land of Laughs by Jonathan Carroll, which are all favourites of mine and not too SF for her to get into. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

Or, and if anyone cares, the book she gave me was 2 1/2 Pillars of Wisdom by Alexander McCall Smith, which was funny in one or two places but very repetitive, and just too long. (She was shocked to learn that, yes, I had indeed already read Catcher In The Rye , To Kill a Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men, which kind of proved her wrong).

abacusand13south

11-17-2006, 05:45 PM

I havent read nearly as many "real" books as id like but Enders Game seems like a great book for your particular situation and plus its great for showing someone that theres more to sci-fi than just monsters and space ships.

Read Hellboy Weird Tales volum 2 the other day and it fits the same premise as the first book but is slightly better I beleive, mostly because of John Cassadays Lobster Johnson serial that is just awesome.

Also read Marvel Team up Volume 2 Master of the Ring. It too was just as good as the first volume and continues the story even further I particulary liked the few scenes of the Punisher and Blade meeting. Kirkman can do no wrong.

blacksymbiote

11-18-2006, 01:59 AM

I just read the comic "What If... Spider-Man: The Other" and I thought it was really cool. I want more comics with this alternate universe character! Has anyone else read this?

dicknixon

11-19-2006, 01:33 PM

I just read Daredevil Yellow, which is the first Daredevil book I've ever read. I have to say I really liked it. I've said before that I'm not really into superheroes, but it is more that I don't like the whole superhero universe thing. Every time I pick up an X-Men book, it's a whole different team, and at least one of the guys is someone I don't recognise. The Justice League and the Avengers are even worse. But reading a superhero book about just one superhero is actually pretty cool, like some of the Batman books I've read. I'd definitely check out Daredevil again (even if the Fantastic Four made a brief appearance in this one). I saw the Kevin Smith Daredevil book in the store - is that any good?

calvinslug

11-19-2006, 03:53 PM

I just bought Black Hole, but I haven't started reading it. Pricey, but looks good.

dicknixon

11-20-2006, 12:03 PM

I just bought Black Hole, but I haven't started reading it. Pricey, but looks good.

I was actually disappointed with it. I heard good stuff but I though it was nothing special. But that may just be me, as everyone seems to love it. Let me know what you think.

abacusand13south

11-20-2006, 06:04 PM

Read Batman A Death in the Family and really liked it. I usually find Jason Todd to be terrible as Robin but the character actually had redeeming qualities in this and his anger actually made sense and then bam he gets killed. Now I knew he died in the story (since his death is the point of the story) but didnt expect to like Jason at all. You can also actually feel Batman starting towards the crazy side that we all know now after Jason died. The only thing I really didnt like about it was what The Joker becomes towards the end.

abacusand13south

11-22-2006, 02:46 PM

Recently read Captain America Winter Soldier Vol. 1 and loved it. I really havent read much Brubaker stuff but his Cap is just awesome.

briangilmore

11-23-2006, 04:21 AM

PaulSaves

11-23-2006, 05:01 AM

briangilmore

11-23-2006, 05:48 AM

How do you think the Punisher War Journal Civil War tie-in is gonna be? I'm gonna pick it up on friday (cos i think it came out this week).

Also, should I pick up all of the Civil War Tie-Ins? If so, should I just do so now? or wait for the trades?

no do not pick up all the tie ins. at all. get amazing spiderman, main title, fantastic four, the one shots which are just cool to have, i've read some of punisher war journal so far, i'll get back to you tomorrow, cause i also picked up pride of baghdad and Scott McCloud's "making comics". also, pick up civil war #1 director's cut if you can instead of the original one. i just picked up mcniven's sketchbook for the opneing of civil war. i love that man.

so yeah, not all tie ins at all.

amazing spiderman(535 an 536mmmmm)
fantastic four
new avengers
iron man #13
punisher war journal
civil war 1-5 and yes 5 is good.

i think those ar ethe most important ones. don't pick up x-men. at all, unless you get astonishing, then of course. but no civil war xmen.

and if you're into runaways i've heard the timeline on those is out of whack.
but pick it up anyway.

hope that helps.

PaulSaves

11-23-2006, 06:30 AM

no do not pick up all the tie ins. at all. get amazing spiderman, main title, fantastic four, the one shots which are just cool to have, i've read some of punisher war journal so far, i'll get back to you tomorrow, cause i also picked up pride of baghdad and Scott McCloud's "making comics". also, pick up civil war #1 director's cut if you can instead of the original one. i just picked up mcniven's sketchbook for the opneing of civil war. i love that man.

so yeah, not all tie ins at all.

amazing spiderman(535 an 536mmmmm)
fantastic four
new avengers
iron man #13
punisher war journal
civil war 1-5 and yes 5 is good.

i think those ar ethe most important ones. don't pick up x-men. at all, unless you get astonishing, then of course. but no civil war xmen.

and if you're into runaways i've heard the timeline on those is out of whack.
but pick it up anyway.

hope that helps.

Don't worry Gilmore, I agree with you, I think Civil Wat 5 is good too. I already have the Runaways tie-in, and I didn't really like it at all. That's why I asked about the other tie-ins. I got very undecided after that. But thanks a lot, I'll definitely pick those up.

baldmonkey

11-23-2006, 09:11 AM

Is there anyone else here reading Criminal that was talked about in Episode 46? The two issues that I've read so far are really great. It's got a great Ocean Eleven/Heat feeling to it.

satansmagichat

11-23-2006, 02:26 PM

Is there anyone else here reading Criminal that was talked about in Episode 46? The two issues that I've read so far are really great. It's got a great Ocean Eleven/Heat feeling to it.

I am. I'm enjoying it, too. I also checked out The Killer, which was briefly mentioned, and it's interesting too. I just like any of the smaller comics that are this solid. I mean, it's 2 issues into Criminal, and stuff is actually happening. Someone should show Garth Ennis!

satansmagichat

11-23-2006, 02:27 PM

and Scott McCloud's "making comics".

Gilmore, man. You gotta check out McCloud's Reinventing Comics when you're done with that. Making Comics says stuff that most comic people already know, but Reinventing Comics has a lot of interesting stuff to think about that even comic fans might miss.

dicknixon

11-23-2006, 05:23 PM

hey dick nixon, i've been meaning to ask, you read civil war at all?

As I said, I'm not to into superheroes, but after all you guys going on about how good it is, I'll definitely be picking up the first trade (I only buy trades and graphic novels, so I have to wait).

Right now I'm reading Superman: Red Son, which so far is great. I read Ministry of Space by Warren Ellis as well, which was also great.

mikeydub

11-25-2006, 06:24 AM

I'm almost done with the 1st Eragon book (the movie that is coming out like next week). It's okay once you get past the fact that the young writer is trying very hard to be Tolkien, but isn't. the story itself is pretty enjoyable.

As for comics, I'm loving Civil war and all the different tie-ins and branched comics. I especially love Wolveriene who's been investigating everything. - Also I recently finished about 5 Daredevil TPB's, which have A LOT of Civil War roots if anyone is interested (it's also written by Bendis who is one of my favorites, and the art is really gritty giving the man without fear a lot of soul).

Pr0n5t4r

11-26-2006, 07:17 PM

I appologize if this book has already been posted... I haven't read through the entire thread yet, so I'm unsure... but I recently finished the book, 'Anansi Boys' by Neil Gaiman.

It's a pretty good book with tie-ins from one of Gaiman's previous books, 'American Gods.' I found it to be a good read, simply because it goes in a direction not often travelled. It mixes reality with fantasy, like some of Gaiman's other books (American Gods, Neverwhere, namely).

What more or less happens is you meet the main character, (Fat) Charlie, and his life seems to be doing pretty well. He's got a good job, a nice fiancée, and he's going to get married soon. He learns his father-- who's pretty obnoxious and makes an effort to embarass Charlie throughout his life-- recently died, and returns to Florida from England to attend the funeral.

While in Florida, he learns a few other things: his father was the God, Anansi, and he has a twin brother that he hadn't even met... Charlie tracks down his brother, and that's when his life starts to fall apart.

Overall, it's pretty fun. It also incorporates Anansi stories and fables to emphasize the point and feelings of the story. I'd recommend it, even without reading 'American Gods' first, simply because the tie-in's aren't major ones.

abacusand13south

11-27-2006, 02:16 PM

Gilmore, man. You gotta check out McCloud's Reinventing Comics when you're done with that. Making Comics says stuff that most comic people already know, but Reinventing Comics has a lot of interesting stuff to think about that even comic fans might miss.

You should probably also check out Understanding comics which was the first of his books, I have all three coming in for me at the library but just havent gotten around to reading them yet.

abacusand13south

11-27-2006, 02:21 PM

I appologize if this book has already been posted... I haven't read through the entire thread yet, so I'm unsure... but I recently finished the book, 'Anansi Boys' by Neil Gaiman.

While it may have been talked about (dont think so though) new opinions on things are always welcome so welcome to the drome.

Ive going to get into Gaimans stuff for a while but just never got the chance so I was wondering what Gaiman fans recomend to start out with (im looking at you nixon) I was thinking American Gods would be a good start followed by Anansi Boys and then the short stories but it would be better to just follow his work chronologically?

abacusand13south

11-27-2006, 05:57 PM

Read another House of M book recently, this time it was Mutopia X and while these other series that take place in House of M are just meant to see what is going with other characters and places alot of them seem kind of pointless and dull. Maybe it was because the only character that had a name I even knew was Bishop but I really didnt care much about the characters at all.

Also read Sentinel Squad ONE which is a Decimation tie in that fits in immediately following House of M and I liked it. Ive liked pretty much all the decimation stuff ive read and while this one isnt the best it still a decent story dealing with the new sentinels that are human controlled and the team of people that control them. There is also an issue with a fight between the sentinel team and some telekinetic t rex's.

dicknixon

11-27-2006, 07:15 PM

Ive going to get into Gaimans stuff for a while but just never got the chance so I was wondering what Gaiman fans recomend to start out with (im looking at you nixon) I was thinking American Gods would be a good start followed by Anansi Boys and then the short stories but it would be better to just follow his work chronologically?

If you are talking about novels then definitely go for American Gods, which is a great book, but longer than his other ones. Anansi Boys is good too, but much lighter and funnier. If you like short stories, either Fragile Things or Smoke and Mirrors are good reads, but he does tend to shift style and genre a lot of every story is very different. With the exception of American Gods, I prefer his short fiction.

If you are talking comics, you must read Sandman. It can be hard to get into and the first trade is not as great as some of the later ones, but worth reading for the background, and for the last story in the collection (#8?) which is the perfect intro to Sandman. Read the Sandman trades in order if you read them at all though, as it is one (loose) story.

If you like Swamp Thing and Hellblazer then check out Neil Gaiman's Midnight Days, which has some Swamp Thing and Hellblazer stories he wrote, and a great crossover between his Sandman and the original Sandman. His novel Stardust is also out as a graphic novel, which is more just an illustrated, comic sized version, from Vertigo.

You should definitely read some Gaiman though, as he is one of the most interesting and varied writers of SF and Fantasy.

dicknixon

11-27-2006, 07:22 PM

I finished Superman: Red Son. This book is awesome and the last few pages are the coolest twist I've read in ages. I didn't expect that much coolness from a Superman book, but I forgot that Mark Millar was writing it. I love some of his other work (Wanted in particular) and now I'm inclined to check out his other superhero stuff.

Oh, and I thought I'd mention how much I like Invincible by Robert Kirkman. I've read some of it before, but I reread the first trade today while waiting for Amazon to send me the other comics I ordered (I'm going to read Powers) and I really love this book. Robert Kirkman is definitely on my Top 5 list of Comics Writers.

Baldric

11-27-2006, 09:25 PM

Preacher, Y the Last man, Conan, 100 Bullets,

Strangely I am reading this stuff independent of listening to geekdrome.

Baldric

11-27-2006, 09:29 PM

Red Son was awesome, and for the truly nerdy the Toys DC direct put out for it are sweet. I might get communist Superman for my dad for Christmas. Authority Milar's stuff on authority was awesome too.

abacusand13south

11-28-2006, 02:45 PM

If you are talking about novels then definitely go for American Gods, which is a great book, but longer than his other ones. Anansi Boys is good too, but much lighter and funnier. If you like short stories, either Fragile Things or Smoke and Mirrors are good reads, but he does tend to shift style and genre a lot of every story is very different. With the exception of American Gods, I prefer his short fiction.

I most talking his prose so American Gods it is.

If you are talking comics, you must read Sandman. It can be hard to get into and the first trade is not as great as some of the later ones, but worth reading for the background, and for the last story in the collection (#8?) which is the perfect intro to Sandman. Read the Sandman trades in order if you read them at all though, as it is one (loose) story.

If you like Swamp Thing and Hellblazer then check out Neil Gaiman's Midnight Days, which has some Swamp Thing and Hellblazer stories he wrote, and a great crossover between his Sandman and the original Sandman. His novel Stardust is also out as a graphic novel, which is more just an illustrated, comic sized version, from Vertigo.

You should definitely read some Gaiman though, as he is one of the most interesting and varied writers of SF and Fantasy.

Ill eventually read his comics work and in order (im a freak about reading things in order) but ive just always kind of put on the backburner because of his huge goth following (lame reason not to read something) but would you recomend reading Mindnight Days before after or during my Sandman reading. I ask because im a huge Swamp Thing and Hellblazer fan and that sounds really interesting to me but if it effects the proper series of Sandman id prefer not to mess anything up by reading it out of order. I just saw that the Midnight days has as Hellblazer #27 Hold Me in it and that story is damn good.

I finished Superman: Red Son. This book is awesome and the last few pages are the coolest twist I've read in ages. I didn't expect that much coolness from a Superman book, but I forgot that Mark Millar was writing it. I love some of his other work (Wanted in particular) and now I'm inclined to check out his other superhero stuff.

Red Son is so good, its my favorite Superman story not written by Alan Moore. Definately check out Millar on the Ultimates if you havent already. Also its not a superhero book but Chosen is very good but I think I remember that you may have already read it.

Oh, and I thought I'd mention how much I like Invincible by Robert Kirkman. I've read some of it before, but I reread the first trade today while waiting for Amazon to send me the other comics I ordered (I'm going to read Powers) and I really love this book. Robert Kirkman is definitely on my Top 5 list of Comics Writers.

Kirkman is so good, I really like Invincible and Walking Dead but his Marvel Team Up is so awesome and underrated.

wookiewombat

11-28-2006, 03:34 PM

what i read last night:

The Boys #4 and #5 - seriously, this book ****ing rules so much. If you like Preacher, or Transmetropolitan, give this book a try. Its so ****ing vile and hilarious at the same time, like the whole superhero sex scene i just couldnt stop laughing at. And Robertson's art is so good, his style reminds me so much of Brian Bolland *who is one of my all time favorite artists*

Runaways #22 - **** you Chase! im not gonna spoil anything but **** YOU CHASE!

Batman - Face the Face TPB

i wish i could have picked this up sooner, this is a really good one year later story, a lot better then the Superman one. I highly recommend this Batman story, also Under the Hood was one of my recent favorites.

and Robert Kirkman is one of my favorite writers, him and Brubaker. But Kirkmans Invincible is so damn good and i love Walking Dead. His ant-man series is really good too, but i couldnt get into MTU, but i do like Battle Pope too even though i have the singles from the orginal black and white book, i still buy the colored ones.

dicknixon

11-28-2006, 05:26 PM

I didn't want to start a new thread, but I thought maybe some of you comic geek might like this (http://xxx.lanl.gov/PS_cache/cond-mat/pdf/0202/0202174.pdf). Its a paper (this is a PDF file) about the Marvel Universe as a social network. Some of it is interesting, if you want to read it.

dicknixon

11-28-2006, 05:37 PM

Ill eventually read his comics work and in order (im a freak about reading things in order) but ive just always kind of put on the backburner because of his huge goth following (lame reason not to read something) but would you recomend reading Midnight Days before after or during my Sandman reading. I ask because im a huge Swamp Thing and Hellblazer fan and that sounds really interesting to me but if it effects the proper series of Sandman id prefer not to mess anything up by reading it out of order. I just saw that the Midnight days has as Hellblazer #27 Hold Me in it and that story is damn good.

The Goth thing put me off a little too, but Sandman is not really a Goth book, it is just that parts of it appeal to them. Like Death, for instance. Gaiman himself isn't into that, I don't think. You can read his blog at neilgaiman.com.

Midnight Days only features Gaiman's Sandman character briefly, and if I recall correctly it is set before the Sandman series. It is mainly an original Sandman story (Wesley Dodds?). It is worth reading first if you don't want to read all the Sandman trades at this point.

Red Son is so good, its my favorite Superman story not written by Alan Moore. Definately check out Millar on the Ultimates if you havent already. Also its not a superhero book but Chosen is very good but I think I remember that you may have already read it.

Kirkman is so good, I really like Invincible and Walking Dead but his Marvel Team Up is so awesome and underrated.

What Alan Moore Superman books would you recommend? (I never though I be wanting to read a Superman book, but now I'm interested. Especially if it's Alan Moore.)

Ultimates is on my list, and I'll get to it eventually I'm sure. Chosen I've read already and I agree that it's great. I'm not sure about getting Marvel Team Up yet, but I have Marvel Zombies on order.

abacusand13south

11-28-2006, 05:40 PM

Finally got around to finishing Max Brooks World War Z and while I liked it I wish I had waited until I had read the book to listen to the audio book. I loved the audio book but I feel that since I listened to it first it took some of the experience of the book away.

Also read Wolverine Classic Volume 4. Now I love these Wolverine stories from the 80's and I still really liked this one which was written by Archie Goodwin with art by a pre completely insane John Byrne, but it just didnt really hold up well. I really liked the story but towards the end there is a villian called spore which is a cocaine monster that I just couldnt get into at all. I like Wolverine much more when he is dealing with more real world threats instead of giant cocaine monsters.

dicknixon

11-28-2006, 05:43 PM

Off topic a bit, but I just watched the film of 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen'. I think my head exploded a bit. Why? Why?!

abacusand13south

11-28-2006, 05:55 PM

The Goth thing put me off a little too, but Sandman is not really a Goth book, it is just that parts of it appeal to them. Like Death, for instance. Gaiman himself isn't into that, I don't think. You can read his blog at neilgaiman.com.

Midnight Days only features Gaiman's Sandman character briefly, and if I recall correctly it is set before the Sandman series. It is mainly an original Sandman story (Wesley Dodds?). It is worth reading first if you don't want to read all the Sandman trades at this point.

Yeah Gaiman isnt into the Goth stuff at all but but I will definiately read it all probably sooner thatn later.

What Alan Moore Superman books would you recommend? (I never though I be wanting to read a Superman book, but now I'm interested. Especially if it's Alan Moore.)

Ultimates is on my list, and I'll get to it eventually I'm sure. Chosen I've read already and I agree that it's great. I'm not sure about getting Marvel Team Up yet, but I have Marvel Zombies on order.

Check out the trade called DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore, it has all of his DC work (besides Watchmen and V, and the Swamp Thing run of course) collected into in even Killing Joke and Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow. It has 3 Superman stories in it that are jsut fantastic. Whatever Happend to the Man of Tomorrow is a two part story that was the final Superman issues before John Byrne "rebooted" Superman and changed all kinds of stuff but WHMT is really good and kind of an elseworlds tale about the end of Superman. Another Superman story is For The Man Who Has Everything which has Superman being given a plant type parasite that stops your body while making you live a dream of everything you really wanted, they made this into an episode of Justice League Unlimited and also there is and episode of Angel that is very similar to the story. And the third story is called the Jungle Line which features Swamp Thing having to help Superman who is dieing and cant remember who he really is. The book also has all kinda of other good stories in it.

Another good Superman story is Jeph Loebs Superman For All Seasons which has been mentioned on the show before

abacusand13south

11-28-2006, 06:00 PM

Off topic a bit, but I just watched the film of 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen'. I think my head exploded a bit. Why? Why?!

I have no idea why they even called it League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, there is hardly anything for the book in the movie and the characters are all public domain. If it didnt associate itself with the movie it may have been half decent but as an adaptation it is terribly bad.

abacusand13south

11-28-2006, 08:20 PM

Im posting this here because I hate creating threads and I feel it fits in better here than in its own thread. Alan Moore was fan boy radio last week and heres the link http://media.libsyn.com/media/fanboyradio/fbr_349.mp3
It was a really good interview and it might even be better than when he was interviews by Stewart Lee a few years back. He discuss's his appearance on the Simpsons, South Park, his thoughts on the current climate of mainstream comics and much more. Its really good so listen to it!

briangilmore

11-29-2006, 03:08 AM

dicknixon

11-29-2006, 09:25 AM

abacusand13south

11-29-2006, 05:03 PM

Thanks! Alan Moore has a kind of creepy voice, that makes everything he says sound really cool. And it is.

I find his voice strangely comforting, I love when he does interviews like this because it gives people the oppurtunity to see that he is a real person who is has a sense of humor.

I read Captain America Winter Soldier Volumer 2 last night its really good. Brubaker writes such a good Cap that is very accesible, you dont need to know much about the characters going in and it plays out alot like a movie. Its a very good series and even people who arnt into the usual super hero fare should check put the 2 Winter Soldier books.

abacusand13south

11-30-2006, 05:41 PM

Finally got around to reading Pride of Baghdad last night and wow it was awesome. So much has already been said about this book my many others that I will just say they are all right, this is just amazing. Highly recomended for anyone, I even thought about giving it to my mom to read and she hasnt read a comic since Gold Key comics in the 60's and 70's.

iggystar

11-30-2006, 07:36 PM

I might make it out my diabetic coma to read another book. Things are looking grim though.

Sometimes I want some light, brainless, romantic reading but goodness this Nicholas Sparks book is dog gone awful...well more awful than the rest.

I need to pic a new genre. I think I want a vampire novel next.

dicknixon

11-30-2006, 07:43 PM

I think I want a vampire novel next.

The best vampire novel ever is 'Fevre Dream' by George RR Martin. It's about vampires travelling the Mississippi on steamboats in the 19th century. Sounds strange, but it's really good.

dicknixon

11-30-2006, 07:57 PM

So as you may or may not know, I love comics but I only read trades. This wasn't always the case (I have the entire run of 'Preacher' in my closet* and a few other books from series that I now read in trades, like Y and '100 Bullets') but I gave it up mainly cause of the costs (college student = poor) and the lack of good stores nearby.

Now, however, I have been watching Geekdrome and reading these forums and other sites and I'm really excited to read things like 'Civil War' and 'The Boys' that aren't in trade yet. So I gave in and found an online store to buy some books. So I'll be getting some comics in the mail soon.

I may hate myself for this.

* Which is weird because I also have all the trades, including two copies of Vol. 3 and Vol. 4 - don't ask.

conbon

12-01-2006, 05:53 AM

I finally finished American Gods. It started off kind of slow, but once I got into it it was a quick read. I like how they incorporated all the different gods into the book.

I guess I've been on a Gaiman kick because I just started reading Sandman. I know, I'm REALLY behind, but I couldn't get into it until I finished American Gods. I agree that it was hard to get into in the beginning, but around the Dollhouse series it got really good. and it keeps getting better. I'm not done yet, but I know it's going to be awesome. Hm, I didn't think it was that gothy, but I guess I can see that. Death is still one of my fav characters though. I like that she's a woman and she's so nonchalant. Everything is so black and white with her.

Even though Good Omens is written by Gaiman AND Pratchett I still highly recommend it to any Gaiman fan. It's one of my fav books. Why it hasn't been made into a movie after so many years I'll never know.

dicknixon

12-01-2006, 09:21 AM

Even though Good Omens is written by Gaiman AND Pratchett I still highly recommend it to any Gaiman fan. It's one of my fav books. Why it hasn't been made into a movie after so many years I'll never know.

By that do you mean that you don't like Terry Pratchett? If so, I totally agree with you.

abacusand13south

12-01-2006, 03:15 PM

dicknixon

12-01-2006, 04:08 PM

And let me guess you have multiple copies of a few Preacher books for when thet changed cover scheme for some printings?

Yeah, that will teach me to buy things cheap on eBay. I just wanted them all with the same cover (nerdy but true), and then I ordered 3 and 4 and they came with the old covers. I'll sell them eventually.

abacusand13south

12-01-2006, 05:14 PM

Yeah, that will teach me to buy things cheap on eBay. I just wanted them all with the same cover (nerdy but true), and then I ordered 3 and 4 and they came with the old covers. I'll sell them eventually.

I have 5 and 8 that have the different covers so I know what your saying.

Recently read Batman Blind Justice. Its the 50 anniversary of Batman story written by Same Hamm who wrote the first Batman movie and its really good, especially for someones first comic work. The story is the first ever appearance of Henri Ducard who was in Begins and is the first time you see alot of Bruce Waynes training in the years he was gone from Gotham, its all told through flashback while Batman is trying to figure out who is using Waynetech to do strange experiments and such but its really hard to explain without spoiling any of the story so ill stop there but the story is really good and if your into Batman you should probably check it out.

dicknixon

12-03-2006, 10:05 AM

So I just read 'Tales of the Realm' by Robert Kirkman. This is not really like his other work - it's about this fantasy world where three TV stars try to rescue a kidnapped director to get a job in one of his movies. The premise sounds kida lame and it's definitely not a serious book, but it was funny and worth reading if you want something light.

dicknixon

12-03-2006, 03:20 PM

So as I said before, I bought the single issues of 'The Boys' that are out so far, and today I read them. I'm a big fan of Garth Ennis and I generally read anything he does (looking through my old comics I found 'Hulk Smash'!) so I was expecting this to be good. After I bought them I saw some bad reviews that disappointed me a little, but then I read the series and I wasn't disappointed at all. This is a really good book and while it may not be quite 'Out-Preacher Preacher' at this point I'm definitely looking forward to picking up the next issue.

diela

12-03-2006, 03:24 PM

dicknixon

12-03-2006, 03:52 PM

I just started "Brother Odd" from the Odd Thomas series of novels last night and I'm about halfway through. It's okay, but a little repetitive... at least for a third part of a trilogy. As a reader of the first two books, do I really need to be told all about the main character?

I've not read the book you're talking about, but I know what you mean about repititions in trilogies. I remember talking about this with my Dad, who's a high school English teacher, a few years ago, and he said that it's so people just picking up the third book or whatever know what's going on. That seems totally weird to me, because I'd never start reading something it the middle.

abacusand13south

12-04-2006, 06:06 PM

Read The Sentry Reborn, by Paul Jenkins and Johm Romita Jr and really liked it but im a fan of the concept of The Sentry and everything hes been featured in I have liked. Its definiately for people who have read New Avengers and the original Sentry series because if you havent read those then who have no idea of what is going on.

abacusand13south

12-05-2006, 05:30 PM

Read New Avengers volume 3 Secrets and Lies recently and I really liked it. The story introduces Ronin and there is all kinds of crazy stuff going on, it also helps that Bendis could make me care about any character, I never thought id give a crap about Spiderwoman but he made it possible.

dicknixon

12-06-2006, 04:33 PM

I was doing some rereading because the books I ordered were taking ages to get here.

I read 'Punisher: Born' by Garth Ennis, which is a Punisher origin story about his time in Vietnam. It shows that he didn't become the Punisher just because his family got killed, but that he was already has it in him, and it was just his family keeping him from going too far. As well as being a great Punisher book it's also a great war story as well. Ennis is an amazing writing, and I've never read any other Punisher books quite as good as his.

Then I read 'Batman: Year One' by Frank Miller, which I actually prefer over Miller's other famous Batman book, 'The Dark Knight Returns'. One thing I really like about this book is Jim Gordon, who is a brilliant character and in this book is just as important as Batman himself. If I had to give one Batman book to a non-Batman fan, to convert them, it'd be this one.

Then just as I was about to dig out something else, the mail came and now I have the newest trades of 'Ex Machina' (March To War), 'Punisher' (Barracuda) and 'Invincible' (Three's Company). So I'll be reading those three next.

abacusand13south

12-06-2006, 05:35 PM

I was doing some rereading because the books I ordered were taking ages to get here.

I read 'Punisher: Born' by Garth Ennis, which is a Punisher origin story about his time in Vietnam. It shows that he didn't become the Punisher just because his family got killed, but that he was already has it in him, and it was just his family keeping him from going too far. As well as being a great Punisher book it's also a great war story as well. Ennis is an amazing writing, and I've never read any other Punisher books quite as good as his.

Then I read 'Batman: Year One' by Frank Miller, which I actually prefer over Miller's other famous Batman book, 'The Dark Knight Returns'. One thing I really like about this book is Jim Gordon, who is a brilliant character and in this book is just as important as Batman himself. If I had to give one Batman book to a non-Batman fan, to convert them, it'd be this one.

Born is just so awesome, and I also prefer Year One over The Dark Knight Returns.

Read the only House of M/Decimation tie-in I hadnt previously read, Son of M. Its about Magnetos son Quicksilver finding out he lost his mutant ability and his attempt to get them back. I liked the story but I felt the second half of the story was a bit rushed but the ending was just ****ing incredible. Im also a big fan of the Inhumans and Black Bolt and they feature prominently in the book.

satansmagichat

12-06-2006, 11:21 PM

Okay, wow. So I went to the comic store wednesday, got two weeks of stuff. I also had a BUNCH of comics that I just hadn't gotten into you. So, these last couple days, I just breezed through a bunch.

In them, I read Captain America 23 and 24, New Avengers (whatever the newest one is), the entire Young Avengers/Runaways Civil War Tie In, the entire X-Men Civil War Tie-In, A couple Amazing Spider-Mans, the newest Punisher, the newest Daredevil (probably the weakest one in a LONG time. Still good, though), WILDCATS 1(the new Grant Morrison one), the last four weeks of 52 (Week 30 kicked so much ass), and the last 3 Incredible Hulks.

Of what I've read, the best was probably 52. I mean, I'm essentially a Marvel fanboy, but the way they're introducing me into this entirely new Universe is really working. If you've never read a single DC book, wait for the trade (which will have to be thick as hell) and check this out. Although Civil War's been good, there are too many tie-ins that are completely pointless (like the New Avengers and Runaways mini).

I promise, I'll eventually read real books. The kind without pictures. But I still got more old stuff to dig through.

tyroneslothrop

12-07-2006, 08:41 AM

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski is a great book that is totally original in its style, format, and context, and it gave me really messed up, creepy dreams (they were worth it). It's a book that totally sucks you in. I thought of little else during the time I was reading it.

If you're up for a challenge and a mindf*** check out Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon.

I just finished My Less Than Secret Life by Jonathan Ames. It's a collection of stuff he wrote (short stories, newspaper articles, essays, etc.), and it was really funny, honest, and delightful.

Kind of a long shot (being that the book came out at the end of November and is 1,100ish pages), but has anyone read Pynchon's book that just came out, Against the Day. I've heard good things.

That's all for now.