The leisurely comic discussion thread

[Missy]

That's just... odd.

[Luke]

It's from Godzilla vs. Charles Barkley, a fairly recent (I think) Dark Horse comic. I was so overwhelmed I had to share.

[Dan]

It's from Godzilla vs. Charles Barkley, a fairly recent (I think) Dark Horse comic. I was so overwhelmed I had to share.

Oh, Lord forgive me... I own this.

[Missy]

And oddly enough, I figured that's what it was from... even though I've never read the book! How did I know that?!

[Dan]

And oddly enough, I figured that's what it was from... even though I've never read the book! How did I know that?!

Well, you are the Emperor. Perhaps you had forseen it.

[James D.]

And oddly enough, I figured that's what it was from... even though I've never read the book! How did I know that?!

Because we should have known from the start that "Charles Barkley" has always been a secret identity for King Ghidorah.

[Malpractice]

Between that and your quite astounding review, I'm morbidly curious, especially to hear Batman call Spawn 'punk' fifteen times.

I believe Batman calling Spawn 'punk' continously is from Spawn/Batman: Red Scare (which is excellent btw) not War Devil.

[Missy]

Red Scare is far from "excellent."

[Malpractice]

Red Scare is far from "excellent."

I disagree. When looked at as a metaphor for "established old school comic characters vs. new school hotshot comic characters" or better yet "established old school comic creators vs. new school hotshot comic creators" the whole book makes a lot more sense. You can almost sense that Frank Miller loathes Spawn and much of the Image stable of characters in every page of this book (which i am sure he feels somewhat responsible for), but at the same time a begrudging respect for the people who created these characters and the company which houses them. It's also just a really funny and absurd book which turns something as monotonous as an inter-company crossover into an intresting read which acts a window into a certain time period in the comic business. It also has one of the best final pages in a comic ever!!!

[Missy]

Even looking at it as a metaphor for new v old, it still failed to entertain. Yes, the last page is cool. Yes, Todd's art is (mostly) remarkable. But the story is nonsensical, and the dialog is nauseating.

If I want a window into the 90s, I'll read Youngblood or WildCATs. At least Liefeld and Lee were trying. From this book, I get the impression that Miller simply collected a check. This isn't even "so bad it's good." It's more like "it's so bad I want my money back."

[Dread]

The whole Spawn Batman crossover was utter pish. Pish, I say!

My window into the nineties comes straight from Savage Dragon because it holds up.

[Malpractice]

Even looking at it as a metaphor for new v old, it still failed to entertain. Yes, the last page is cool. Yes, Todd's art is (mostly) remarkable. But the story is nonsensical, and the dialog is nauseating.

It failed to entertain you, but it didn't fail to entertain me. I wouldn't call Todd's art remarkable, but I would call it neccessary for this book to work. Todd's grotesque, and exaggrated visuals play into what Miller is trying to do (and what he will do in the future) with the character of Batman, and having the guy who's creation/movement you are parodying actually draw the book adds a much needed subversive vibe to this work (kind of like Jim Lee's art on ASB&R). The dialogue, and story are purposely ridiculous, and you have to embrace the absurdity to enjoy it.

If I want a window into the 90s, I'll read Youngblood or WildCATs. At least Liefeld and Lee were trying. From this book, I get the impression that Miller simply collected a check. This isn't even "so bad it's good." It's more like "it's so bad I want my money back."

I think both you and Des misunderstood what i meant by "a window into the 90's". I didn't mean a look at what was going on in comics in the 90's but a look into the mind of Frank Miller, and his views on the industry in the 90's, and the general vibe between the old and the new creators in the 90's. Frank Miller did not phone this work in, and this does fit into the larger picture he is trying to paint of the Dark Knight. This work bridges the gap between Frank's macho Batman of the 80's, and his absurd Batman of the 00's.

[Dread]

I think you're giving Miller too much credit. I think that he wrote shit. For much of his output outside of Batman, Daredevil and Sin City, he's written mediocre at best work. He's a great artist, an ok writer.

[Guest]

Madrox: Multiple Choice - Some issues with the art, mostly with Bishop looking like an R&B singer, but the story itself was a freaking mindtrip. Just twist after twist. Felt like a genuine detective story and offered a really cool perspective on the ramifications of Jamie's powers.

Oh yeah, and STRONG GUY~!

Up next for me is Green Arrow: Quiver.

[Aaron Robinson]

Picked up X-Factor 1-6 for cheap, so I'll probably be reading through that soon.

Has anybody here read The Hood miniseries? I've seen it around, and was thinking of gabbing it. The art looks nice, and the story sounds interesting. I’ll give either Preacher or Y: The Last Man a shot in the next couple of weeks too.

[Guest]

Green Arrow: Quiver - I'm very mixed on Kevin Smith as a comic writer. He can construct a good story, but for the love of christ his characters need to shut up sometimes. It takes me twice as long to get through anything he does because there's so much meaningless dialouge throughout. Even worse, he'll write someone out of character for the sake of making a joke. I cringed when Ollie and Stanley had their little "let's tease being gay and argue like Dante and Randall" moment. I don't think he understands that most people don't wax philosophy for hours on end about every little aspect of the world.

Okay, that came off as super-negative. I did like the book, and love Green Arrow as a character but that shit just irritates me.

[Missy]

Has anybody here read The Hood miniseries? I've seen it around, and was thinking of gabbing it. The art looks nice, and the story sounds interesting.

Though I haven't read the complete miniseries, I liked what I read.

[Stavros]

Best comic of the week? Power Pack #1!

"Hulk's self-worth shattered." :laugh:

[Luke]

I was totally shocked at how much I loved World War Hulk Aftersmash: Damage Control, since the title makes it sound like the most uninteresting comic book ever released, but it's actually really really funny. Admittedly it's more of a snarky comics Robert Kirkman/Deadpool funny than The Office funny, but it had me giggling away.

In other news, I'm enjoying everything Geoff Johns does.

[Missy]

Ditto about Damage Control. I was so prepared to hate that book, but it was a fun three-issue miniseries. If it was always at that level, yeah, I'd buy it as a monthly.

[Guest]

I'm going to finally read the Killing Joke this week.

[Stavros]

"I'll come down on you like a ton of bricks"

[Missy]

So far the first volume of Avengers: The Initiative is pretty good. The art is fantastic, and the story has me hooked. Some of the dialog is a little stilted, but overall I'm digging it.

And drq is right about one aspect of New Warriors: when did Jubilee's chest get so large? Granted, I know she's older here than she was in X-Men, but she either had a major growth spurt or some surgery!

[Dan]

I went to the comic shop this weekend and got me a heaping helping of Joss Whedon; I have something like eight back issues of Astonishing X-Men, as well as Serenity. Good stuff.

[Aaron Robinson]

I just finished reading The Dark Knight Returns. Awesome stuff.

I also picked up the second book of Preacher. I’ve thought about grabbing the first, but I keep hearing that the series doesn’t start picking up until 2. Is it worth seeking out and reading through the first one before I read the second?