Whitechapel - What monthlies should I be reading?

What monthlies should I be reading?

sacredchao — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:48:08 -0800

I tend to go into the comic shop every few months and buy enough to catch up on Y: The Last Man and The Boys. I also read American Virgin when I get a chance, and Fell whenever it comes out.

What would you folks recommend as something I should try to keep up with? I'd prefer something that's early in it's life cycle so I can easily grab up any missed issues, but if it's so awesome that I just can't live without it, I may be willing to grab the TPBs.

Likes, other than what's already been mentioned:
The Sandman
The Watchmen
The Invisibles
Desolation Jones
Ex Machina
Alias
V for Vendetta
Dislikes: Capes, when not in a POMO revisioning context (Miller, Morrison, etc.).

Thanks!

What monthlies should I be reading?

Shawn — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 02:36:03 -0800

One new thing right now that seems pretty cool is Vinyl Underground. It's sort of an Invisibles -ish title taking place (thus far) in mainly in London, and involving a sort of 'occult crime' set up. Great art. Definitely a treat as something that looks more like an old school Vertigo title. By Si Spencer, Simon Gane and Cameron Stewart. It's only on #2.

Also, and granted this is further into the series on this one, but Walking Dead is the first book I read every month. When I finally got into it, I read the first four trades in about a day and then jumped to the monthly some time back, but really, it is a great book, worth the catching up.

And do I even need to say Doktor Sleepless and Black Summer. I may read Walkng Dead first every month but Doktor Sleepless is the one that resonates the most. The effect it has on me reminds me a lot of how The Invisibles affected me. Surface emmanations behind which we get only glimpses of something so much bigger...

What monthlies should I be reading?

Azmoooo — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 02:51:55 -0800

Can't go past DMZ.
No capes and only 3 trades in thus far.
Everyone wins.

What monthlies should I be reading?

Ted — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 04:22:35 -0800

Booster Gold! Sure, it's a little cape-y (actually quite a lot cape-y), but it's pretty self-aware, and quite intelligently handled. Geoff Johns isn't above using the humour therein to highlight some of the idiocies of superheroes, and their publishers.

R Stevens, creator of the wildly brilliant Diesel Sweeties webcomic, recommended it a while back. I bought it on his advice (it's only 4 issues in now) and absolutely love it.

What monthlies should I be reading?

TechnocratJT — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 05:50:08 -0800

Hmm.

Fables - fantasy epic with political overtones
Crossing Midnight (early) - Mike Carey (Lucifer) doing j-horror (if its not canceled, I buy trades of this one)
Powers, clearly, if you liked Alias, capes or no. (Bendis's other super hero Noir)
Criminal (early) (Brubaker's holy shit this is good crime book, if one new book then this is it)
Casanova (Fraction's SF spy/crime book that can sit right next to Desolation Jones)

Based on Alias and Watchmen, I would possibly say Checkmate (spy super hero stuff by Rucka), but that might be too cape. Looking above, I like Booster Gold myself, but its very traditional super hero stuff - very, and rooted in serious DC continuity and nostalgia.

What monthlies should I be reading?

Scribe — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 07:13:37 -0800

DMZ
Brodie's Law
The Boys - it has capes, but they get the shit kicked out of them
Desolation Jones
Y-The Last Man - almost to issue 70, but you can find the collected works without much problem
Fell
100 Bullets
I'm not a huge Fables fan, but I like Jack of Fables

What monthlies should I be reading?

Red Scharlach — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 07:29:01 -0800

If we're talking about ongoing titles, consider that Garth Ennis' run on the Punisher MAX is amazing, informed and a welcome throwback to the days where pulp anti-heroes were just as scummy as the people they gunned down. Read it. That and Jason Aaron's Scalped. Aaron is fresh new American talent and he's showing nothing but promise, no matter what kind of project he's worked on so far. Other MAX titles worth a look are Terror, Inc. by David Lapham, and Foolkiller looks like it could be going interesting places. The last issue was pure black comedy.

DMZ is a great concept, the later arcs are brilliant, once Matty realises his worth as a political football, but the current issues are side-stories varying in quality.

There is good capes stuff out there. At the moment, there are the mini-series All-Star Superman, by Morrison, which actually makes me give a damn about one of my most hated figures in superhero mythos, and Brian Azzarello's run on Deathblow is both hilarious and bizarre. It's very reminiscent of Frank Miller's Hard Boiled in a lot of ways. His Loveless is also quality stuff.

And Greg Rucka's Queen & Country's first season has come to an end with issue #32. If you enjoy realistic portrayals of covert and intelligence operations, with deep characters coping with their duties, now is a good time to catch up on it.

And I'm going to recommend him because he's got two new mini-series coming up which sound fascinating, and he's another brilliant American new talent, but pick up Jonathan Hickman's The Nightly News, in anticipation for Pax Romana and A Red Mass for Mars. It's Network as written by a paranoid-schizophrenic conspiracy nut cultist, is one way of looking at it, and boasts one of the most interesting graphic layouts and design ethos comics have seen in ages. And yes, catch up on Desolation Jones. I can't wait until Ellis gets back to that one. I think it's just about the best thing he's done aside his Apparat label material.

What monthlies should I be reading?

nleavitt — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 08:05:35 -0800

I'm going to recommend Punisher War Journal, with this quote from a recent issue:
"What is it?"
"It's a gun, Frank. A gun that shoots swords."

What monthlies should I be reading?

Mike Wolfer — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 08:23:05 -0800

Warren Ellis' GRAVEL.

Issue #0 shipping before Christmas, monthly beginning with #1 in March 2008. I should remind everyone that #0 contains material that will not be reprinted in #1; this is not a "preview" book, but the prologue to the series. (See Warren's "sticky" From GRAVEL #0 thread for a peek at the art.)

What monthlies should I be reading?

sacredchao — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 11:50:06 -0800

Awesome recommendations, all around. Thanks! Ill try to get a few of them and see what's up.

I actually started Punisher Max when it first started, but I got sidetracked and lost the continuity. I miss Alias quite a bit (The Probe just couldn't cut it. Jessica's constant use of the f-bomb made the book for me.) so I'll definitely give Powers a look.

Definitely interested in Gravel. Hopefully they'll have it at the local shop. They have a pretty good indy selection, so I should get lucky.

What monthlies should I be reading?

Red Scharlach — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 11:54:21 -0800

Punisher: War Journal has its ups and downs. When it works, it's like The Venture Brothers, though.

What monthlies should I be reading?

Bill Reed — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 14:32:13 -0800

All Star Superman is the perfect Superman story-- even if you hate the character.

Casanova is a cool and sexy superspy book that's so much more than I can describe. Also, it's two bucks.

What monthlies should I be reading?

joe.distort — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 14:38:48 -0800

casanova, casanova, and this book called casanova. best current ongoing. 11 issues, 2 bucks apiece, like fell.
lets look at my table...PHONOGRAM, WANTED, NIGHTLY NEWS, UMBRELLA ACADEMY (possibly too superhero-ish, but in a fraction/morrison vein),DOKTOR SLEEPLESS, UNFUNNIES, AMERICAN VIRGIN...
these are all great, great stuff to try out.
first issue of brian wood's NORTHLANDERS just came out and looks to be a long viking trip that you could get in early on.

What monthlies should I be reading?

Unsub — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 16:14:51 -0800

I have the entire run of punisher Max. Even the few non Ennis stories are good. The first Barracuda story blew my mind.
There seriously are people like that and they are way scarier than most capes. I have even liked the more capy war journal.
I am not a fan of the Punisher as a character ,I mean a Mack Bolan rip off but Garth is the PERFECT guy for this series.
As a gun and knife nut I really like seeing actual weapons. Real weapons designers are way more far out and creative than most comic book writers so there is always a real weapon that will work for the story. There are these types of machine guns that instead of shooting bullets shoot mortars. Imagine what one of those could do.
There are also real puke gas bombs ,guns that shoot around corners, a robot went crazy in SA just like the one at the start of Robocop2 and killed a bunch of army staff.

I am definitly going to start picking up Casanova.

I got the new Northlanders and the new Grendel.
Powers , Criminal and Walking dead are all indy goodness.
Scalped,I have the first few DMZ but then lost interest. I will pick up a trade or 2 to check out if I made a mistake.

I like Peter Davis even though he does exactly they type of genre I usually don't like(cape ,humour) X Force was great until crossover crap happened.

What monthlies should I be reading?

Red Scharlach — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 16:43:42 -0800

Oh God, how could I forget the new Grendel mini? That series is practically essential reading.

What monthlies should I be reading?

Unsub — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 17:08:53 -0800

Hunter Rose was by far the best Grendel and it is Matt Wagner.
The original series might make a good choice for TPB but it would piss me off as I went to the trouble of finding all 40 original isuues and even the Mage ones with
Devil by the Deed as an extra story.

What monthlies should I be reading?

Red Scharlach — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:30:00 -0800

Oh, I agree. Rose is the original and best, but as an epic series, Grendel is fascinating. Who was the third Grendel again? The failure? I recall that arc also being something else.

They've since reprinted Devil by the Deed, I believe. It dates sure, but you can already tell Wagner's brilliant layout sense.

What monthlies should I be reading?

F. David Swallow II — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 21:02:01 -0800

if you post apocalyptic type stories, i can't reccomend Wasteland enough. Absolutely brilliant and the second volume is about to come out.(If not already)

I just checked, and you can actually buy both volumes on amazon right now for about $21.50 combined. not a bad deal at all.

Then you can pick up the new issue next month!

What monthlies should I be reading?

sacredchao — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 22:36:17 -0800

Oh god, oh god, overloading...

Read the free issue of wasteland online this morning. I think I may like it, but I'll have to read a bit more to find out.

What monthlies should I be reading?

joe.distort — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:09:36 -0800

wasteland is good, but i feel its kind of hit-or-miss over the last three issues.

What monthlies should I be reading?

Telecart — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:59:57 -0800

Doktor Sleepless and Criminal are my current favorite floppies. Particularly since, like Fell and Local and other such wodnerful titles, they give extra value in floppy format over the trade.

What monthlies should I be reading?

Zachary Cole — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 10:44:09 -0800

I just ordered subscriptions (from the DC website, which was probably a mistake) for Robin, Nightwing and Brave and the Bold. All ahve (or will have) sound creative teams, and will hopefully put out good work.

What monthlies should I be reading?

joe.distort — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 12:06:09 -0800

booster gold has actually beenkind of cool in a disposable fun kinda way (thats not some sarcastic comment either, its just the best i could come up with)

What monthlies should I be reading?

Andre Navarro — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:53:02 -0800

If you like The Boys (like me), you will certainly love Garth Ennis' Punisher Max. It's Marvel, but has no superheroes at all. It's an adult title. And it's magnificent. It's in issue #52 right now, all written by Ennis. All excellent.

What monthlies should I be reading?

sacredchao — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 19:15:59 -0800

I got the first volume of Powers. It's pretty awesome. Lots of dark comedy. I bought DMZ vol 1, but it's still in the mail. I read issue 1 of Casanova, but didn't care for it. Also got Walking Dead vol 1. It's OK, not great, but pretty good. I've caught up on The Boys. Had to buy 4 or 5 issues all at once. It's not Preacher, but still pretty funny.

What monthlies should I be reading?

DavidBrown — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:09:52 -0800

Punisher by Ennis is brilliant. I recommend the Baraccuda story arcs.

Black Summer

Doktor Sleepless

Y: The Last Man (great series, but a really quick read.)

What monthlies should I be reading?

Andre Navarro — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:12:48 -0800

Punisher by Ennis is brilliant. I recommend the Baraccuda story arcs.

Finally! I never understood why so many people didn't like the "Barracuda" arc on Punisher Max. It's not as clever as The Slavers, but fuck is it good fun, cohesive and with an interesting plot (Punisher finally hitting Wall Street). And "Barracuda" had me laughing all the way from part 1 to 6.

What monthlies should I be reading?

Mr. Pants — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:37:35 -0800

Non Cape Recommendations

Ramayan Reloaded - I like Epic Fantasy and really have enjoyed Virgin's retelling of this myth. It's both mythological and futuristic at the same time and is just a very entertaining read.

Pax Romana - Or quite frankly anything by Jonathan Hickman.

Usagi Yojimbo - Probably one of the best books every month on a consistant basis. If you like historical japan this book is for you. Just Great Stuff.

Walking Dead - Quite simply the best zombie story on the market. In truth what makes this series is how the main characters try to survive in a world without many of the amenities we take for granted, Robert Kirkman creates some of the most fascinating characters I've ever read.

One last suggestion and it's capy but...

Blue Beetle - Probably consistantly the best superhero comic month in and out. Two of the best things about it is that it virtually has little to do with the rest of the DCU and Blue Beetle and company are probably some of the best characters in comics. Why this book isn't read by more people I'll never know. (Actually, I do know. Bad marketing.)

What monthlies should I be reading?

Randy74 — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:24:25 -0800

I agree with a lot of these...

Blue Beetle is very good...i mean really good.
Jonah Hex, phenominal.
Conan still great..
GODLAND
CRAWLSPACE XXXOMBIES
PAX ROMANA
THE EXTERMINATORS
THE BOYS
NORTHLANDERS was a pretty good first issue, it will take getting used to, the modern slang quips i mean.
DMZ
USAGI YOJIMBO seconded
IRON FIST!!!
ATOMIC ROBO
ALL STAR SUPERMAN, never liked the character but ive said it before...WOW...this is what superhero comics should be...
Morrison's Batman also very good....very enjoyable
THE SPIRIT has been excellent...underrated and under-read
SCALPED
im sure i'll think of more

What monthlies should I be reading?

sacredchao — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 23:26:15 -0800

I got Northlanders 1. It was cool. I'll try to keep up. Unfortunately, my spending has to decrease as we've decided to start saving for a trip to Europe summer 09. Makes me sad, as Im on vol 5 of Walking Dead and Powers, as well as vol 2 of DMZ.

The Spirit - you mean Eisner? Isn't it generally considered classic?

What monthlies should I be reading?

abkosher — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:25:37 -0800

Randy74, I think you have my pull list. Well, a lot of it anyway. Randy's list is great. I'd emphasize The Exterminators which doesn't get nearly enough love - it sounds like a bad superhero book, but the title is literal. C'mon, ancient Mayan bug gods, dirty tenements, war criminals, corporate conspiracy and the unadulterated slaughter of nature's tiny monsters? Killer.

Speaking of love, I was very skeptical about Army @ Love at first, but I'm totally addicted to it now. Incredible satire and a sharp read. Rick Veitch's last Question mini was pretty wonderful too and horribly ignored.

I'd also like to add Greg Rucka's Checkmate which takes some DCU supporting players and makes them very interesting, combining action with political intrigue. Like the Alias TV series with capes and more women, this series is best when it doesn't have to tie-in with a cross-over event.
Another DCU title (I'm trying to pick the sort of far-out cape stories sacredchao might like, though my taste might not always be as dark as his) I love is Gail Simone's All-New Atom (though I don't think she's got much longer on the title, unless that newest solicitation is a guest story). So brilliant and original and fertile with great ideas.

Eric Powell's The Goon, anything by Jeff Parker (X-Men First Class is the first X-book I've bought in decades and his Walk-In for Virgin was great too), a little levity goes a long way - speaking of which, though it comes out irregularly (only 3 issue so far), Michael Kupperman's Tales Designed To Thrizzle from, um, Fantagraphics (?) is hilarious, a real favorite. Casanova has plenty of humor and plenty of wonderful ideas too. I'm enjoying a lot of Matt Fraction's work. His ingenuity reminds me a little of Warren's.

The Spirit and that new Shark-Man title from Image are both very much in the mold of the old serials, but with a more modern sensibility - a lot of fun to read. In the same category, but on hiatus until the next chapter is Frank Espinoza'a Rocketo which I recommend at every turn. An incredibly original painting style for graphic literature and a tremendous sense of wonder in the writing - think the old classic strips, but with more depth: Flash Gordon, Dick Tracy, Terry & the Pirates.

There have been some awesome Westerns these last couple of years - Jonah Hex, Streets of Glory, Loveless, Deadlander (just beautiful to look at).

Also on that list above and very deserving of the attention it's getting is Jason Aaron's Scalped which should still be read by more people. Looking forward to is Ghost Rider.

As far as ass-kicking (with some original ideas thrown in for good measure), you just can't beat the Avatar stuff. Ellis, Ennis (and soon Delano) are doing some really wonderful work, but the artists on these series, perhaps eclipsed by the bigger name writers, are their secret weapons. I have to admit, the art was an acquired taste for me - the extensive gore, slightly blocky anatomy and snapshot-style action initially came across as juvenile to me (though I don't seem to make the same judgments in film). But now I love it. The amount of detail here is just amazing, Juan Jose Ryp on Black Summer, Mike Wolfer on Streets of Glory, Raulo Caceres on Crecy (even more detailed and perhaps a bit different in his style when placed beside the other Avatar artists (I can't bring myself to say Avatartists)). I relish every drop of blood, every square jaw and flat top, every lick of flame in these pages. And those wraparound covers!!! Doktor Sleepless wraparounds should be made into posters - the black and white ones into color-by-numbers posters.

You're already reading Brian K. Vaughan. There's nothing very POMO about his Dr. Strange: Oath mini, but it's so damn good (and good looking) that it deserves a mention.

OK, that's it for now.

What monthlies should I be reading?

Andre Navarro — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:50:27 -0800

The amount of detail here is just amazing, Juan Jose Ryp on Black Summer, Mike Wolfer on Streets of Glory, Raulo Caceres on Crecy

... and Jacen Burrows on Chronicles of Wormwood. One of the best visual narratives I've seen in a long time.

What monthlies should I be reading?

abkosher — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 01:02:48 -0800

Yeah, I didn't mean to leave Jacen Burrows out.

What monthlies should I be reading?

Andre Navarro — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 01:41:55 -0800

Yeah, I didn't mean to leave Jacen Burrows out.

Hey, I know. Just thought I should add him, because I'm a fan of his art. Actually, I'm a fan of all the Avatar artists I've seen so far. Mike Wolfer, Juan Jose Ryp. Raulo Caceres, Jacen... they're all incredible. And, of course, the colorists, all excellent: Greg Waller, Andrew Dalhouse and Mark Sweeney. Those are the ones I know, and I'm constantly impressed by all of them.

What monthlies should I be reading?

Spiraltwist — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 07:04:55 -0800

@sacredchao

You could visit your local library for trades borrow and read.

What monthlies should I be reading?

sacredchao — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:46:58 -0800

Yeah, but I've read almost everything good the local library has. I've only got one friend who's into comics, and he just reads cape shit.

What monthlies should I be reading?

Randy74 — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:57:14 -0800

I forgot:
Cassanova
Black Summer
Army @ Love
Crossing Midnight
Testament
Snaked
Proof
Dok Sleepless

What monthlies should I be reading?

alwayscrashing — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:07:21 -0800

My current list. Some are not monthly, but this is what I get when it shows up at the comic shop, which in the case of the Morrison Wildstorm titles and JMS's Book of Lost Souls is probably 'never again'.

Hellblazer
Loveless
DMZ
Testament
Crossing Midnight
Faker
The Vinyl Underground
Desolation Jones
The Authority
The Authority: Prime
WildC.A.T.S.
Book of Lost Souls
Fell
The Boys
Doktor Sleepless
Black Summer
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Emily The Strange
Wasteland
Lenore

What monthlies should I be reading?

Spiraltwist — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:44:58 -0800

@sacredchao

I've read almost everything good the local library has.

Hmm..in that case, have you talked to the librarian(s) about bringing in specific titles? They always seem (here anyway) to be open to suggestions. And it never hurts to ask.

What monthlies should I be reading?

Mr. Pants — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:13:03 -0800

Book of Lost Souls is coming back.

What monthlies should I be reading?

alwayscrashing — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:32:18 -0800

Book of Lost Souls is coming back.

So is Jesus according to some people. I won't believe either until I see it myself.

In fact I'd put my money on Jesus making a comeback first.

What monthlies should I be reading?

Sarpedon — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:58:56 -0800

This thread has enriched my life. I picked up Vol 1. of DMZ on the collective suggestion and I've really enjoyed it. I've been meaning to read Chronicles of Wormwood for a while now too but this'll bump it back up the list. I'll have to keep watching for good stuff to read, though I have my work cut out for me already. Thanks everyone.