View Full Version : BKV Question
k33k3r
03-02-2007, 01:55 PM
I want to start reading some of BKV's non marvel trades. I'm looking at either Y: The Last Man or Ex Machina.
I kind of know the stories behind each and was wondering which of the two everyone out there thinks I should pick up some trades of.
Let me know and thanks
kwok_talk
03-02-2007, 02:43 PM
I just started Y: The Last Man due to recommendations from the folks here. It’s good, but the series is pretty deep in and there are a lot of volumes to catch up on. I think Ex-Machina is not as far into the run (I could be wrong), so it might be easier to catch up to speed with that.
paper
03-02-2007, 02:49 PM
From an art and writing standpoint, Ex Machina is probably the superior book. It's always top notch. It just feels more...concentrated. It's perfect if you like The West Wing. It's also pretty funny, and the flashes of Hundred's superhero past are excellent. I'm not sure that the Great Machine could sustain his own ongoing series, but something as layered as this makes for great comics.
Y is also a great book, but at times it meanders. It's a big story, but some of the small beats as of late haven't been as thrilling as the beginning of the run. That's just my opinion. That said, I devoured the existing trades in something like a month and a half, and I can't wait for the next one.
I just started Y: The Last Man due to recommendations from the folks here. It’s good, but the series is pretty deep in and there are a lot of volumes to catch up on. I think Ex-Machina is not as far into the run (I could be wrong), so it might be easier to catch up to speed with that.
There are 8 trades for Y (9th is due out in May). Ex Machina has 4, but the 5th is coming out on Wednesday.
iSteve
03-02-2007, 02:53 PM
You really can't go wrong with either title.
Steve's right. They are both great. Also check out Pride of Baghdad.
Y is my personal favorite, but I can understand why Ex Machina does it more for others
iSteve
03-02-2007, 03:06 PM
Steve's right. They are both great. Also check out Pride of Baghdad.
Y is my personal favorite, but I can understand why Ex Machina does it more for others
Fred, tell me about PoB. I've heard good things, but I don't know what it's about.
Fred, tell me about PoB. I've heard good things, but I don't know what it's about.
Pride of Baghdad is an OGN based on a true story.
During the initial bombing of Baghdad, the Baghdad zoo was hit. The book follows the paths of the animals which actually try to represent the different aspects of the people of Iraq regarding their future. It's touching, scary, and thought-provoking. BKV is also masterful in that he really doesn't take a side. We've discussed it a lot on the main site, but I truly believe that no matter what your opinion on the war you could take something away from it.
the art is beautiful
and it's so awesome that I actually bought a second copy last weekend because I met BKV and I wanted him to sign it for me
kwok_talk
03-02-2007, 03:19 PM
Do the lions and animals talk? Or is it all narration?
paper
03-02-2007, 03:20 PM
they "talk" in the same sense that Garfield talks.
kwok_talk
03-02-2007, 03:21 PM
they "talk" in the same sense that Garfield talks.
Do they drop kick each other and eat a lot of lasagna? Or they just sound like Bill Murray?
Do the lions and animals talk? Or is it all narration?
they talk
the 4 main characters are lions
there is a lion cub that doesn't know what freedom is
there is an elder lioness who prefers the security of tyranny to the insecurity of freedom
there is a lioness who hungers and wants to fight for freedom
there is a male lion who is basically lazy and scared and wants whatever comes easiest
Do they drop kick each other and eat a lot of lasagna? Or they just sound like Bill Murray?
there is shockingly little lasagna in the desert
jaflanagan
03-02-2007, 03:37 PM
Did he sign it "with much pride," cuz that's his thing with that book?
k33k3r
03-02-2007, 03:39 PM
Aight sounds good. I'll etl yinz know what I go with.
Did he sign it "with much pride," cuz that's his thing with that book?
I was in the middle of replying to this when the power went out at work. After waiting over an hour for it to come back, they let us go home. YAAY
My response:
No. He just signed his name. It was really crazy though and I had to get a ticket and wait in line for 45 minutes just to meet him. I love his stuff so much that I got to the front of the line and totally geeked out. I think I said something like: 'I love your work. I'd never wait this long to meet anyone else.' Then I walked away disgusted with myself. He was very nice though
xyzzy
03-02-2007, 06:53 PM
I want to start reading some of BKV's non marvel trades. I'm looking at either Y: The Last Man or Ex Machina.
I kind of know the stories behind each and was wondering which of the two everyone out there thinks I should pick up some trades of.
Let me know and thanks
They're both great. I'll say Y, only because by the time you get to the end, it'll probably be done (sometime around the end of the year, I think).
mikegraham6
03-02-2007, 06:54 PM
I was in the middle of replying to this when the power went out at work. After waiting over an hour for it to come back, they let us go home. YAAY
My response:
No. He just signed his name. It was really crazy though and I had to get a ticket and wait in line for 45 minutes just to meet him. I love his stuff so much that I got to the front of the line and totally geeked out. I think I said something like: 'I love your work. I'd never wait this long to meet anyone else.' Then I walked away disgusted with myself. He was very nice though
its always great when that happens, i remember when we had the blackout across the east coast a few years ago and since they wanted to conserve energy and i was a nonessential government employee, i didn't have to back to work for 2 weeks, and i got paid for it! best summer of my life!
ive been meaning to pick up Pride of Bagdad, i hope it still in print because they dont have it on amazon.
i recommend y last man over ex machina, it sustained my interest longer and i find the story more engrossing
derek
03-02-2007, 07:53 PM
I enjoy Y more than Ex Machina, but it's just personal preference. I still love Ex Machina more than 95% of any other comic out there.
FYI, BKV does have a couple of new comic-related things coming up. He's doing an issue of Midnighter in April or May (can't remember), and he's also doing the second arc of the new Buffy series. I think that starts with issue 6.
humphrey-lee
03-03-2007, 03:05 AM
Pride of Baghdad and The Escapists are easily the best things I read all of last year. Those are a good start.
Ex Machina after that. I think that's going to go down as the best of his more "epic" runs than Y and Runaways, and you wouldn't have more than a handful of trades to buy to catch up.
jgg0610
03-03-2007, 05:22 AM
Pretty much the bottom line is that you can't go wrong with BKV.
jaflanagan
03-03-2007, 05:23 AM
I never did read his Swamp Things. Those are supposed to be awful.
jgg0610
03-03-2007, 05:23 AM
ive been meaning to pick up Pride of Bagdad, i hope it still in print because they dont have it on amazon.
I wouldn't worry too much. It'll probably come out in soft cover within the next year and it's definitely worth the read.
jgg0610
03-03-2007, 05:25 AM
I never did read his Swamp Things. Those are supposed to be awful.
I had no idea that he wrote an arc on Swamp Thing, but then again I've never found the character interesting enough to pick up the Alan Moore run which is supposed to be great.
jerome
03-03-2007, 05:26 AM
Look again buddy. (http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Baghdad-Brian-K-Vaughan/dp/1401203140/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-5032584-0133440?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1172899619&sr=8-1)
I never did read his Swamp Things. Those are supposed to be awful.
I heard him making fun of it recently. I think it was at nycc's vertigo panel
orlov
03-03-2007, 05:30 AM
Y: The Last Man hands down. Especially if you are in your 20's; and judging by your icon of clerks 2 its an easy choice. I love all of Kevin Smith's movies and his sarcasm and writing and you will notice BKV's similarity with his sarcasm and other things throughout the story that are like Kevin's comedy. But I read anything and everything by BKV so after you are done with Y you might do the same. You also might want to check out a book called Nightly News its my new favorite and is a smart completely new style of comic book.
jaflanagan
03-03-2007, 05:51 AM
BKV's first job at Vertigo was a relaunched Swamp Thing where the story was about the original SW's daughter Tefe. She was half teenage girl/half swamp monster. It made it about 7 issues I think. Even he doesn't think it was any good.
Alan Moore's Swamp Things are a modern classic. If you're on the fence, try out the first one, and if you like it, you can feel safe continuing on. I didn't have much interest in the character either, but I dug those books a lot. Beautiful art by Steve Bissette I think.
jerome
03-03-2007, 06:00 AM
"Anatomy Lesson" is one of my favorite single issues ever.