View Full Version : Who Will Be The Next Moore, Miller or Lee?
There are comic writers who achieve such a level of success and quality in their work that they clearly exist in a class above their peers of the moment and their historical peers. There are a handful of examples of this phenomenon and I'll choose three to illustrate the different reasons why I think they've achieved this status.
1. Stan Lee - Clearly no writer has had more impact on the Marvel U than Stan Lee. Stan Lee created characters that have endured in story after story for almost 50 years now. He created the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, the X-Men, Daredevil, Dr. Strange, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther and many more. He nearly populated the entire Marvel Universe with his creations. He makes this class for his role as a creator who created toys that hundred of writers have played with in the decades following.
2. Alan Moore - Alan Moore has created characters and stories in stand-alone situations that have been a cut above the rest. Examples of his volume of work include Watchmen, From Hell, V For Vendetta, Lost Girls, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. He has time and again raised our expectations about what one can do in the comics genre. His stories carry such depth and meaning. They are the stuff of actual legitimate literary work done with silly little pictures for us to enjoy. He makes this class as a creator who told stories that exist amongst themselves in quality and also situation.
3. Frank Miller - Frank Miller is a versatile writer who has done things that fall into many categories. He has excelled in the shared universe situation and actually managed to seemingly reinvent characters that had stood the test of time. He has also created stories that stand by themselves.
In the existing property category, he has written probably the best Batman stories ever told. The stories he told in Year One and Dark Knight Returns will live through the ages in the upper echelon of Batman, and for that matter, comic stories. This is remarkable; especially when you consider that Batman has been around since the 1930s.
He has also achieved this with other long-standing properties. Another magnificent example is Daredevil. Frank Miller breathed life and darkness into a character with an already rich history. He wrote The Man Without Fear, Born Again, and many other classic Daredevil stories.
In the new property category, Miller created Sin City and 300. Both of these stories stand as magnificent examples of graphic art and storytelling that could never have been done by someone else. They will also live on in the canon of the best that can be accomplished in the comic medium.
So, after giving three historical examples, I pose the question: Who amongst the writers of today may at point join the pantheon? There are a lot of people that you could point to as possible qualifiers by one of the examples above. Some viable candidates probably include: Bendis, Brian K Vaughn, Geoff Johns, Brad Meltzer, Winnick. This is a topic that we could endlessly discuss. Who will it be? How will we know when they're there? What will push them over the line?
Ed Brubaker is my choice. I think that he has a good chance within the Frank Miller model.
In the shared universe model, Brubaker has been magnificent. He has constantly delivered and well above expectations. My first example is his current run of Captain America. Coming into this run Marvel only had one rule in the 616 universe: Bucky stays dead. Brubaker brought him back to life, after approximately 60 years no less, and it was totally believable. Bucky is now just a part of the Marvel U again.
Another example is his current run on Daredevil. When Bendis left Daredevil, there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth and as well there should've been. He had just completed an excellent run of the highest quality. At the end of it, he had also painted Matt into a corner. How would Brubaker get him out? How would Brubaker ever meet the quality? He did it and did so convincingly. His run has the potential to be better than the previous Bendis run.
In the standalone/create your own model, Brubaker has also done great work. He's presently a few issues into Criminal, a noir crime book that is very promising. He's also had great success with Sleeper and a few others.
What will it take to put Brubaker into the previously vaunted company? Criminal has to be a big success. Daredevil needs to surpass Bendis' run. It may in a year or so more. He needs to do more creator owned items as well. I think that these things would push him over the line.
I think that Brubaker will be next, but I think you could make a case for the potential of any of the people I mentioned a few paragraphs above. Of course, none more so than Bendis.
What do you think?
acomicbookgirl
02-02-2007, 12:38 AM
I would consider Neil Gaiman up there with them. Ed Brubaker? Hmm.. I don't know about that one yet..
Sorry to go off topic but are we going avatar happy fred? Its a tv rerun stroll along memory lane with you. ;) Do you take requests? ;)
I would consider Neil Gaiman up there with them. Ed Brubaker? Hmm.. I don't know about that one yet..
I would disagree here but I really haven't read enough of his work to say.
Sorry to go off topic but are we going avatar happy fred? Its a tv rerun stroll along memory lane with you. ;) Do you take requests? ;)
I'm an avatar happy mofo. It's the way I was raised.
Yes I take requests.
As far as I'm concerned, go off topic as much as you like. I've been know to do the same.
acomicbookgirl
02-02-2007, 12:50 AM
I'm an avatar happy mofo. It's the way I was raised.
Yes I take requests.
As far as I'm concerned, go off topic as much as you like. I've been know to do the same.
Bosom Buddies.. :D
Luthor
02-02-2007, 12:52 AM
Most likely the next big name will be someone we all know. Somebody that has been around for a while. Someone who always puts out quality but isn't thought of as the next big thing. Whomever that person is will most likely put out a book that is under the radar, and that book will be the thing that makes them the big name.
As for who? No idea...but that seems to be the path that the other three took to get there.
acomicbookgirl
02-02-2007, 12:56 AM
chachi is next
Your call.. I wanted Bosom Buddies.. Either one of them.. Funny we were talking about him at work.. One of my co-workers has a thing for Scott Baio. She also has a thing for Tom Selleck.. There's another one...
JGG0610
02-02-2007, 12:58 AM
I think my choice in more of the Alan Moore mold would have to be Brian K. Vaughn. He has clearly created his own universe's in both Y the Last Man and Ex Machina. Now, with Pride of Bagdad, he has produced one of the most touching original graphic novels that I've had the pleasure to read recently.
The other writer that comes to mind who is more along the lines of Frank Miller is Greg Rucka. He has clearly demonstrated his abilities at creating his own world in White Out/Queen and Country. He also has demonstrated his ability to work in an existing world like that of Batman and have a lasting impact on the character.
orlov
02-02-2007, 01:07 AM
I think Brian K. Vaughan will honestly be the next big name in comics and movies/tv. Nobody ever whole hartedly agrees with anyones opinion but my opinion is that he will succeed faster than any other writers out there at the moment. Y: The Last Man, Runaways, Ex Machina, and Ultimate X-men are all great great floppys, and his GN Pride Of Baghdad is also very well done. Now that hes on the writing staff of lost who knows where his career will go, but I will take a guess he'll be "movin on up" sooner than the rest.
marcushill73
02-02-2007, 01:28 AM
I have to take issue with Fred's assertion of of the impact Stan Lee had in the creation of Marvel's mainstay characters and titles.
What about Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko?????
Those familiar with Marvel's method of production know how plots are given to artists then illustrate before story is scripted. I am sure there are details I am missing out on, but my point is if someone were to view either Kirby's or Ditko's storyboards, you can see most of the plotting was done by these two artists, not by Lee.
Feel free to looks at Jack Kirby Collector published by TwoMorrows publishing. The consistently provide examples of Kirby's storyboards. Fantagraphics a few years back published The Comics Journal Library. Jack Kirby was the first featured creator. Each of his interviews with TCNJ over the years are collected here. Is this publication biased towards Lee? Yes. But it does provide an insight into what Kirby did, and what Lee did (as well as did not do).
Ditko is finally recognized at the latter end of his run as plotting stories of Amazing Spider-Man. As I described above, Ditko as the artist was plotting and drawing stories, before handing them off to Lee. Latter issues of Ditko's run on Spider-Man. At the latter point of Ditko's run, I am not even sure if Ditko and Lee were communicating. (Read the teaser at end of Amazing Spider-Man #35 for next issue: "Next Ish....A Swingin' Super-Villain So Different, So New, We Can't Even Tell you His Name Yet!") Lee didn't even know this character until subsequent issue.
Am I lessening Stan Lee's importance in the creation of Marvel Comics. Yes! We could argue until the cows come in who did what, and to what extent. But the fact remains that Stan Lee is co-creator of these properties, in the same way Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko are co-creators of Marvel's characters.
Considering Kirby's 102 issues on Fantastic Four and Ditko's 38 issues on Amazing Spider-Man.....which characters were created during their respective tenures.....to what extent are they vital to Marvel's success today?
Cheerio,
Marcus
Marcus, I don't disagree about Ditko and Kirby. I was going at it from a strictly writing standpoint though. As an illustration, I left out all of Miller's work as an artist which, much like Keebler cookies, is also uncommonly good.
I think Brian K. Vaughan will honestly be the next big name in comics and movies/tv. Nobody ever whole hartedly agrees with anyones opinion but my opinion is that he will succeed faster than any other writers out there at the moment. Y: The Last Man, Runaways, Ex Machina, and Ultimate X-men are all great great floppys, and his GN Pride Of Baghdad is also very well done. Now that hes on the writing staff of lost who knows where his career will go, but I will take a guess he'll be "movin on up" sooner than the rest.
BKV is actually in my big 3 with Bendis and Brubaker. I think that out of the three he has the best chance to get there in the Alan Moore mold but I also think that he has the least chance of the 3 to get there.
marcushill73
02-02-2007, 01:35 AM
From a writing perspective, I would argue he didn't do a heck of a lot other than embellish upon other's plots, and artwork.
He was (is) a great front man for Marvel. But I think that is about as far as it goes.....
I think my choice in more of the Alan Moore mold would have to be Brian K. Vaughn. He has clearly created his own universe's in both Y the Last Man and Ex Machina. Now, with Pride of Bagdad, he has produced one of the most touching original graphic novels that I've had the pleasure to read recently.
The other writer that comes to mind who is more along the lines of Frank Miller is Greg Rucka. He has clearly demonstrated his abilities at creating his own world in White Out/Queen and Country. He also has demonstrated his ability to work in an existing world like that of Batman and have a lasting impact on the character.
I agree in principle on Vaughn(see above).
Rucka is an interesting choice. He's quite good and frankly I can't believe that I forgot him in my list. His Wolverine is an awesome example of excellent work.
Your call.. I wanted Bosom Buddies.. Either one of them.. Funny we were talking about him at work.. One of my co-workers has a thing for Scott Baio. She also has a thing for Tom Selleck.. There's another one...
oooooh Bosom Buddies
marcushill73
02-02-2007, 01:36 AM
Robert Kirkman would be my number one pick. He is out there creating his own properties and doing a FANTASTIC job on the properties Marvel is letting him work with.
From a writing perspective, I would argue he didn't do a heck of a lot other than embellish upon other's plots, and artwork.
He was (is) a great front man for Marvel. But I think that is about as far as it goes.....
I will admit that Stan Lee's writing has impressed me less than his ideas and the characters that he birthed. When talking about him as a co-creator it's important to note that he co-created with several different people and was the common thread in all of them. Could X-Men have taken off without Kirby? Yes. Could it have without Stan? I say no. And don't get me wrong, I love Jack Kirby but the commonailty in most everything that is huge in the Marvel U is Stan.
Robert Kirkman would be my number one pick. He is out there creating his own properties and doing a FANTASTIC job on the properties Marvel is letting him work with.
He's also quite good. I would put him more into the Moore vein though as his shared universe stuff(while good) hasn't been groundbreaking or sales record shattering
marcushill73
02-02-2007, 01:45 AM
Fred, we'll just have to agree to disagree.
Cheer, Marcus
Derek
02-02-2007, 02:46 AM
I would consider Neil Gaiman up there with them. Ed Brubaker? Hmm.. I don't know about that one yet..
I agree with you on Gaiman. He is my favorite writer bar none, beating out even Moore and Miller. Almost everything he does is so well planned and crafted it is amazing. Sandman, Black Orchid, Books of Magic, the Death books, Miracleman, Mr. Punch, Violent Cases, Stardust, all are incredible works. Even his books that aren't quite up to his normal excellence (Eternals, 1602) are still miles better than most everything else out there. He's not as popular, probably because he has never done any true superhero stuff. He sticks to Vertigo or stuff on the fringes of the superhero universes. When it's all said and done though, he crafted my favorite piece of fiction of all time in Sandman, and I will always love him for it.
MastaP
02-02-2007, 04:59 AM
Yeah, Neil Gaiman is one of the best writers, up there with Moore. By the way has anyone read signal to noise? I've been looking everywhere for a copy. If you read it, did you like it?
marcushill73
02-02-2007, 05:53 AM
Has anyone else out there Gaiman's run of Miracleman? I know this series is tied up on red tape between McFarlane and Gaiman disputing ownership, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that one day he will get to complete Miracleman: Silver Age.
MastaP
02-02-2007, 06:03 AM
I didn't like his run as much as Moore's, it wasn't bad, but it was average. And if you follow legendary with average, the average comes out looking alot worse.
dustinsemo
02-02-2007, 06:07 AM
Wow, this is such an interesting question. BKV and Brubaker certainly seem to be great bets at joining the writer "pantheon," but BKV has never really set the mainstream world on fire, and I think he may have been LOST to tv. Brubaker certainly has a nice resume of indie books, his own creations, and interesting marks made on shared universe characers. He already has three runs I think will be known as classic (Captain America, Sleeper, and Gotham Central - although Rucka should get 66.7 percent of the latter). We may see Daredevil and Criminal join that yet.
If Stan Lee is in the discussion, then I think Bendis needs to be. Bendis has shaped the MU like no one person since Jim Shooter, and that doesn't look to be slowing down. He's absolutely prolific, and occassionally brilliant (Daredevil, Powers, and especially Alias). Yet, he's missed a few (House of M jumps to mind, Ultimate Team Up). He's maddeningly up and down (New Avengers). But he'll probably be most remembered for establishing the Ultimate Universe. Don't you guys remember how we ALL thought that was a bad idea until we read "Power and Responsibility."
But neither one of those guys (nor Rucka, Johns, Morrison, Meltzer, Whedon - comics Whedon, anyone) has written THE BOOK like Moore or Miller. No Dark Knight or Year One. No "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow" or Watchmen. No 300 or V for Vendetta or From Hell.
That's why I'll nominate Darwyn Cooke. I think he's following the opposite path of others - he did the TV and is now doing comics, but he's a great storyteller. And DC: The New Frontier is that type of book.
Cooke should have been in my list of possibles along with Loeb, Rucka, Ellis, and Morrison
and probably a few more
Yeah, Neil Gaiman is one of the best writers, up there with Moore. By the way has anyone read signal to noise? I've been looking everywhere for a copy. If you read it, did you like it?
Here's the thing about Gaiman for me. I haven't read much of his stuff. I think I've only read Sandman and presently I'm reading Eternals. However, I've heard about his other stuff. It seems to me that he has written a hell of a lot of stories about gods. Whether it be living their immortal lives, dying, or forgetting that they are in fact deities. Doesn't that seem like a slightly singular focus for someone that would be placed among the best?
This is only my opinion of course as I know that a lot of you love him. And it's not even that I hate him; I just think that he's never going to get to this status.
JAFlanagan
02-02-2007, 05:32 PM
About 5 years ago, I would have said that Warren Ellis was on track for that slot. Easily. Since then, his work has flown more under the radar, and he never came back with that next hit. I feel like he needs another Transmetropolitan to really cement himself. But he got it into him to only be subversive, and it's hurt him I think. At least in this sense.
Gaiman, for me, in comics, is sort of a one-hit wonder. Sandman is what it is, and very few can deny the place it holds, but nothing else he's done has ever really had much resonance. They've all been OK, but nothing awesome again. And as Fred says, all of his work does pretty much have the same theme.
It could have been Ennis, but see the explanation for Ellis.
It's not Brubaker. Not yet anyway. Brubaker does standard really well, but he's not groundbreaking. He's just letter perfect at the work he does, but he's not breaking any ground.
For my money, the lead guy right now is Bendis. He can do numerous styles. He can control the Marvel Universe, and be really funny. He can do creator owned stuff. The thing is this: for him to get to that next level, he's got to go out there, and do some other shit that we would never have suspected of him. Start a new creator owned on-going that has nothing to do with superheroes, or something like that. He's got to do that one more next level thing, like 300 and Sin City, or From Hell and LoEG. He hasn't done that in his late career. And I know he can.
It's too early for BKV I feel, but he's never done a definitive story on an existing comic character. But I think in 5-10 years, we'll know one way or the other with him....but for all we know, he could be done in comics for a bit.
ConorKilpatrick
02-02-2007, 05:48 PM
**** i forgot ennis
Ennis does one style really, really well. But that's it. He hasn't shown the ability to branch out and master different writing styles the way Moore or Bendis has shown.
It's not Brubaker. Not yet anyway. Brubaker does standard really well, but he's not groundbreaking. He's just letter perfect at the work he does, but he's not breaking any ground.
As much as I swear by Bru, I would agree - an interesting question may be whether Criminal has the potential to put him over the top. Has anyone tried previously to so faithfully (ie, not mashed up with other genres) bring the classic pulp/crime/noir genre to comics? And if it does go on to become a landmark series, is bringing noir to comics a big enough stretch to break new ground?
Another question - where does Grant Morrison fit in the discussion? I'm not too familiar with his runs on JLA and (New?) X-Men, but they're often name-checked; his Animal Man run is significant for it's themes and breaking the fourth wall; the ambition and scope of Seven Soldiers could one day make it considered a classic; for creator-owned, I think We3 gets overlooked; The Filth is significant for being inscrutable. And so on.
Not so much making a case as asking if one could/should be made?
JAFlanagan
02-02-2007, 06:27 PM
As much as I swear by Bru, I would agree - an interesting question may be whether Criminal has the potential to put him over the top. Has anyone tried previously to so faithfully (ie, not mashed up with other genres) bring the classic pulp/crime/noir genre to comics? And if it does go on to become a landmark series, is bringing noir to comics a big enough stretch to break new ground?
Criminal, while EXCELLENT, is just doing a classic genre in comic form. It doesn't feel new in any way. It's a great part of a resume, but it's not a career making book. If anything, Sleeper was a much newer and fresher idea, which no one apparently read.
Grant Morrison is kind of a wild card. He's incredibly important, but he's not what Fred's talking about. I'm not sure why.
I think that both Morrison and Ennis belong on the list for consideration because they have the potential to be among the best one day. That's more of what I was going for. I don't truly think that anyone mentioned in this thread (other than Moore, Miller, and Lee) are there yet. I'm interested in who will be there in the future, and when that will be, and what it will take for them to get there.
Personally, I think that Brubaker and Bendis have the best chance. BKV is up there too but he's definitely last for me in that group of 3 and now that he's going off to do tv...... who knows what will happen?
JAFlanagan
02-02-2007, 08:19 PM
I think that both Morrison and Ennis belong on the list for consideration because they have the potential to be among the best one day.
I disagree. That train has sailed. Unless Ennis does something wildly out of his mileu, he's already made his mark. And now he'll just putter along selling other versions of that work until he stops.
I disagree. That train has sailed. Unless Ennis does something wildly out of his mileu, he's already made his mark. And now he'll just putter along selling other versions of that work until he stops.
I get that on some level but I have faith in his abilities, it's just a question of whether or not he can faithfully execute them at a high enough level again.
JAFlanagan
02-02-2007, 09:13 PM
From I've seen so far, nope. He just keeps digging the same hole.
Derek
02-02-2007, 09:19 PM
Gaiman, for me, in comics, is sort of a one-hit wonder. Sandman is what it is, and very few can deny the place it holds, but nothing else he's done has ever really had much resonance. They've all been OK, but nothing awesome again. And as Fred says, all of his work does pretty much have the same theme.
It could have been Ennis, but see the explanation for Ellis.
It's not Brubaker. Not yet anyway. Brubaker does standard really well, but he's not groundbreaking. He's just letter perfect at the work he does, but he's not breaking any ground.
For my money, the lead guy right now is Bendis. He can do numerous styles. He can control the Marvel Universe, and be really funny. He can do creator owned stuff. The thing is this: for him to get to that next level, he's got to go out there, and do some other shit that we would never have suspected of him. Start a new creator owned on-going that has nothing to do with superheroes, or something like that. He's got to do that one more next level thing, like 300 and Sin City, or From Hell and LoEG. He hasn't done that in his late career. And I know he can.
It's too early for BKV I feel, but he's never done a definitive story on an existing comic character. But I think in 5-10 years, we'll know one way or the other with him....but for all we know, he could be done in comics for a bit.
While I would agree that Gaiman does one genre very well and has never really ventured out of that box, I would disagree that he is a one-hit wonder. Black Orchid, Books of Magic and the Death books are all outstanding. And pretty much all of his other stuff has been at least above average if not better. I know I'm biased on this because I love the genre he excels in and I love Sandman but I wouldn't call him a one-hit wonder. I would agree however that he would need to expand into other genres before being considered in the same league as Moore, et al. He's still my favorite nevertheless.
And just to weigh in on the other guys being mentioned, I don't think any of them have had a groundbreaking book that a large amount of people will still be talking about 10 years from now the way they talk about Watchmen, Dark Knight, etc.. except for possibly Bendis' Daredevil run. But I think Josh is right, Bendis needs to have a groundbreaking book that when people think of it they think "God that Bendis was awesome". I don't think he's done that yet, at least for a large percentage of comic readers. But he has a chance.
With Brubaker and BKV it's way too early to tell. I love them both but neither have done anything really groundbreaking that has impacted a huge portion of the comics-reading community. But they have plenty of time.
Ennis and Ellis I don't think are in that top tier either. They have great stuff, but they also have average stuff, and it doesn't seem to be consistent (particularly with Ellis). They have worked on some very impactful books (Preacher, Transmet) but I don't think those are on the same level as Moore's stuff or Miller's stuff.
dustinsemo
02-02-2007, 09:22 PM
where does Grant Morrison fit in the discussion?
Somewhere, I'm just not sure where. His runs on Animal Man and JLA are probably better and more important than anything Bendis has done at Marvel. And We3 is an underrated project that will get more exposure if they make it into a movie (a la 300 and V for Vendetta). But he has spottier runs on the resume. New X-Men is brilliant but messy. Doom Patrol deteriorated into an incomprehensible mess after a great first 20 or so issues. I'm still not sure what I thought about 7 Soldiers. And the Filth was crap.
Not to mention that Jim Lee has ruined his career. I think Morrison will never be able to concentrate on one thing long enough.
That said, the guy's been around for a long time and written a ton of brilliant comics. While not Alan Moore or Frank Miller (I'm leaving out Stan Lee - discussion for another post), we're lucky to have the guy around. He's still so prolific, I think we forget his importance historically. I mean, his Animal Man and Doom Patrol books are probably just as responsible as Swamp Thing for the creation of Vertigo.
It should've been one trick pony rather than one hit wonder
Does anybody recall or know - as Watchmen and Dark Knight were coming out, was there this palpable sense that comics history was being made? Or did it take time? Just curious - 'cause if that is some measurement of what will be the next in line, is there any book today that feels like history-in-the-making? Is my only contribution to this thread going to be asking ponderous questions?
From I've seen so far, nope. He just keeps digging the same hole.
I've seen worse holes
Does anybody recall or know - as Watchmen and Dark Knight were coming out, was there this palpable sense that comics history was being made? Or did it take time? Just curious - 'cause if that is some measurement of what will be the next in line, is there any book today that feels like history-in-the-making? Is my only contribution to this thread going to be asking ponderous questions?
it's a good ponderous question though
i am not old enough to answer
JAFlanagan
02-02-2007, 09:30 PM
I would disagree that he is a one-hit wonder. Black Orchid, Books of Magic and the Death books are all outstanding.
I agree with everything you said, but I would say that Books of Magic and Death are just versions of Sandman. Have to plead ignorance on Black Orchid. But there's no reason you can't consider him your favorite writer. He's great at what he does. But, much like Ennis, he's never matched the work he did in Sandman since then. I'm only talking about in comics, but an argument could be made for the novels as well.
Derek
02-02-2007, 09:38 PM
I agree with everything you said, but I would say that Books of Magic and Death are just versions of Sandman. Have to plead ignorance on Black Orchid. But there's no reason you can't consider him your favorite writer. He's great at what he does. But, much like Ennis, he's never matched the work he did in Sandman since then. I'm only talking about in comics, but an argument could be made for the novels as well.
Good points all. And Black Orchid is not dissimilar in style and tone to his other books. It is really good though. I would agree he has never matched Sandman. And I am also speaking only of comics - while I have read his novels and enjoyed them, I wouldn't say they are anything other than average or in some cases slightly above. Definitely not great.
MastaP
02-03-2007, 12:16 AM
Bendis needs to have a groundbreaking book that when people think of it they think "God that Bendis was awesome". I don't think he's done that yet, at least for a large percentage of comic readers. .
For my mony Bendis' best work is still Torso. and as much as I love his Daredevil and noir stuff, i just don't see him being called 'legendary' or 'groundbreaking'.
If you're looking for the next 'great one' among the all-star bunch, then my mony is on Vaughn, I wouldnt have thought this a year ago, but Pride shows how much he can strech his style, and that combined with his penchant for tough topics, could bear a very interesting body of work. But this is all speculation at this point, he needs to get back from lost first.
Also a writer that i think has potential to give us the next big thing: Brian Wood
Also a writer that i think has potential to give us the next big thing: Brian Wood
I think Wood has shown flashes of goodness but he has a looooong way to go before he's in a league with Miller, Moore, and Lee.
acomicbookgirl
02-03-2007, 02:29 AM
It should've been one trick pony rather than one hit wonder
What happened to chachi? :confused:
acomicbookgirl
02-03-2007, 02:56 AM
It should've been one trick pony rather than one hit wonder
Fred! What happened to Chachi?! :confused:
Sorry for the 2nd post.. How does one delete a message here?
Fred! What happened to Chachi?! :confused:
Sorry for the 2nd post.. How does one delete a message here?
I just poked around and I can't figure out how to delete one either.
This morning I was using a combined Chachi, Sam Malone, Bosom Buddies avatar but it just didn't work. Not enough space. So I went to Sam Malone alone for now.
Here's my failure:
acomicbookgirl
02-03-2007, 03:51 AM
I just poked around and I can't figure out how to delete one either.
This morning I was using a combined Chachi, Sam Malone, Bosom Buddies avatar but it just didn't work. Not enough space. So I went to Sam Malone alone for now.
Here's my failure:
Its not a failure. I just enjoy your avatars with matching signatures. Grant it, I didn't the one with Mr. Belvedere. :( Its all good. Just as long as you them separately at one point or another.. Although, I liked Cliff or Norm in Cheers.. ;) I doubt, you'd do this but Charlie's Angels.. :p Or even The Monkees..
marcushill73
02-03-2007, 03:57 AM
I Jones' run on Incredible Hulk. This was during Nu Marvel, and his change in pace was a fresh way of looking at both Bruce Banner, Hulk, as well as long-time villains like Mr Hyde, Abomination, et. al. I am expecting in mail this week the final volume: Incredible Hulk: Big Things.
Based his writing, I picked up his Warlord series from DC. I was less than impressed with this series. Bart Sears left the series before it was concluded with the tenth issue.
He did however write a great one-shot with Bernie Wrightson that was published by Image Comics: Freak Show. It was rare gem in the frequently poorly written horror genre.
Can anyone recommend any other well written stories by Bruce Jones. Based on what I have written above, he seems to have a flare for horror and intrigue. I know he is currently writing Deadman for DC's Vertigo, but wanted to to see if anyone is currently reading this.
Cheers,
Marcus
I'm reading Deadman. I hated it for the first 4 issues and almost dropped it but the last 2 have been great. I'm in for at least 4 or 6 more.
:p Or even The Monkees..
The Monkees? What of my street cred?
marcushill73
02-03-2007, 04:20 AM
Fred, what did you hate about first four issues. I have only read the first and was on the fence....
acomicbookgirl
02-03-2007, 04:20 AM
The Monkees? What of my street cred?
Wishful thinking on my part.. How about Shaft? How about that for steet cred for you.. :D
Fred, what did you hate about first four issues. I have only read the first and was on the fence....
I'm a big fan of clarity. No that's not it. I can deal with shifting premises and inferred meaning. The first 4 issues timeshifted a lot between alternate versions of the same reality. It was hard to follow. I needed an abacus and a sliderule and shit.
Wishful thinking on my part.. How about Shaft? How about that for steet cred for you.. :D
He's a bad mutha
shut yo mouth
I'm just talkin bout Shaft
I would do that but it would have to be Richard Roundtree not that fake Sam Jackson Shaft bullshit
Like Shaft's Big Score Shaft
marcushill73
02-03-2007, 04:24 AM
I saw that the first five issues are going to be collected in a TPB. Perhaps it will read better in this format
I saw that the first five issues are going to be collected in a TPB. Perhaps it will read better in this format
at least the last issue anyway
not it really might. I'm glad I hung in but it was tough
acomicbookgirl
02-03-2007, 04:28 AM
He's a bad mutha
shut yo mouth
I'm just talkin bout Shaft
I would do that but it would have to be Richard Roundtree not that fake Sam Jackson Shaft bullshit
Like Shaft's Big Score Shaft
But of course! For Samuel L. Jackson you either have to do Mace Windu or Afro Samurai.
But of course! For Samuel L. Jackson you either have to do Mace Windu or Afro Samurai.
or Dave Chapelle as Sam Jackson for Samuel Jackson(beer)
acomicbookgirl
02-03-2007, 04:44 AM
or Dave Chapelle as Sam Jackson for Samuel Jackson(beer)
ROTFL!! You so made my day.
JGG0610
02-03-2007, 04:58 AM
I'm reading Deadman. I hated it for the first 4 issues and almost dropped it but the last 2 have been great. I'm in for at least 4 or 6 more.
I'm with you on this series and I'm glad to hear that someone else felt completely lost for the first few issues. I didn't know a lot about Deadman going in and I thought it might just be my lack of history with the character that was getting me lost. Also, you're dead on: the last two issues have made a big difference. I've been considering going back and rereading it from issue 1 forward and see if now it makes more sense.
[quote=fred;57861]or Dave Chapelle as Sam Jackson for Samuel Jackson(beer)[/QUOTE
ROTFL!! You so made my day.
It'll get you drunk
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bjfEjOy3g-s
acomicbookgirl
02-03-2007, 05:23 AM
[quote=acomicbookgirl;57863]
It'll get you drunk
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bjfEjOy3g-s
That did the trick.. :cool:
bryan riot
02-03-2007, 06:11 AM
i've recently gotten back into comics after a long break, and it's an interesting question from that perspective. when i first started reading books as a kid, noone knew who a lot of the people that we're talking about were. i know this is a long shot, and perhaps isnt qualified to stand with frank miller and alan moore, but joss whedon is really the reason i started to read again. a friend recommended astonishing to me, and although ive picked up other books again as well, i must say that nothing is as fun for me to read each month as that one. the problem is that he doesnt have a great catalog to pull from like bendis or brubaker (who is my other choice), but i think that if he continued to write, he might get there. i guess i'll have to go catch up on runaways...
i've recently gotten back into comics after a long break, and it's an interesting question from that perspective. when i first started reading books as a kid, noone knew who a lot of the people that we're talking about were. i know this is a long shot, and perhaps isnt qualified to stand with frank miller and alan moore, but joss whedon is really the reason i started to read again. a friend recommended astonishing to me, and although ive picked up other books again as well, i must say that nothing is as fun for me to read each month as that one. the problem is that he doesnt have a great catalog to pull from like bendis or brubaker (who is my other choice), but i think that if he continued to write, he might get there. i guess i'll have to go catch up on runaways...
Joss Whedon is really great but he's a screenwriter. This crazy comics thing he's into now will never be his main focus because of how much more money there is for him in Hollywood.
Also, you should read Runaways. It's really good. You can catch up fairly inexpensively too as they have them available in digest format. You get like 6 issues for I think about $7(that may be after my discount though I can't remember). There are 6 digests out now and a seventh coming in Feb or March. I just ordered it in the last few weeks and I can't remember the release date. Whedon is taking over where the eigth digest will end
MastaP
02-05-2007, 10:43 PM
Did anyone read Ennis' Wormwood that came out this week? I thought it would suck, but it's not bad, not great but not bad. Kind of a mix between preacher and Dogma.
Did anyone read Ennis' Wormwood that came out this week? I thought it would suck, but it's not bad, not great but not bad. Kind of a mix between preacher and Dogma.
I haven't read it. I've heard mixed reactions to it. It was good?
schark
02-05-2007, 11:42 PM
I haven't read all the comments, so forgive me if anyone else has covered this ground, but I just have to say that I think that BKV is over-rated. I think he comes up with great premises, but I personally don't care for his writing, and to lump him in with Alan Moore and Frank Miller, I think, is highly premature.
I'd have to vote for Darwyn Cooke. I think New Frontier will stand the test of time alongside some of the great graphic novels, and I don't think I've ever not loved any of his work (wait, let me double-check the negatives there to make sure that's what I mean to say...um, carry the one...yeah, that's it).
I think Neil Gaiman has a shot. He probably deserves inclusion just from "The Sandman".
BKV for me has the potential to be there one day, that's why I mentioned him. Gaiman, for me and some others above in the thread, hasn't done a wide enough range of premises to be considered. But that's why we discuss these things; because we don't all agree
Humphrey Lee
02-09-2007, 08:44 AM
I think my choice in more of the Alan Moore mold would have to be Brian K. Vaughn. He has clearly created his own universe's in both Y the Last Man and Ex Machina. Now, with Pride of Bagdad, he has produced one of the most touching original graphic novels that I've had the pleasure to read recently.
That's pretty much my thought on the matter. Just like I've never read a bad Alan Moore comic (though obviously he has had his fair share of "just alright" ones) I have also never read a bad BKV comic. Even when he's off his game a little, it still a nice little read, whatever it happens to be, but when he's on, he's working on a whole different game from the rest of the writers in the business. His ability to create his own vivid worlds like in Y: The Last Man and Ex Machina, his ability to work in the genre of the superhero as well as any other writer out there like in Runaways and his UXM run, and just creating such a seminal work like Pride of Baghdad, the man is an all around creative beast like Moore is and was. He might not be redefining the medium like Moore did, but who says he has to now?