Deadshot 666 Posted June 13, 2013 (edited) With the end of E3 nearly here where KH13 is all about the cool new games that willl come out sometime in the future (especially kh 3 for some reason) and with the release of Man of Steel tomorrow. It's time to talk about some comics mostly my favourite comics ever made. Notes- This is my opinion, I probably like different things than you do. But if you want to ask why something not on the list. Feel free as along as your respectful.- Manga's and other international comics have harder chance of being on this list due amount of those I've read, not saying their bad just haven't read as much of them.- Now my list is very modern but it fits my tastes as a reader.- So enjoy the list and hope it helps you find a cool story you might have missed. Honorable Mentions ( in no order)- Bryan Q Miller's run on Batgirl- The Walking Dead- Batman: Year One- V for Vendetta- Blacksad- Box Office Poison- Magneto testament- Gotham Central- Batman: the long Halloween- New York Four/Five 30) One SoulCreator: Ray FawkesThis comic is unlike any other; One Soul is set on the classic 9 panel grid. Over two pages you have 18 panels and on those 18 panel you have 18 different stories set in 18 different era's with 18 different characters with different social graces. That all work together like poem but still manage to tell each character life story though different times in their life. You can read the story anyway you want. When a character dies there panel goes black and when first time it happens it's little heartbreaking. It's very impactful story and one that can only be done in comics medium. All of the characters are connect by, yes you guessed it one soul. The comic itself is very ambitious maybe to ambitious but it's one of a kind which may lead it to be very jarring and confusing to keep up with each character but when you get swing of the story, the payoff is incredible and makes One Soul one of the finniest graphic novels out there. 29) Umbrella Academy Writer: Gerard WayArtist :Gabriel BáColorist: Dave Stewart"Umbrella Academy is a series with unlimited potential and quirky, original characters that are unlike anything you’ve ever read before. With a story being told in six issue runs, we’ve only gotten two of them thus far, Apocalypse Suite and Dallas, both of which seem to be only the tip of the iceberg on where this series could be headed. Way’s writing and Ba’s handiwork are quite literally a match made in heaven, and I hope their partnership continues through this upcoming decade as well. "- Crave Online: Joey Esposito 28) Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge: "Only a Poor Old Man" Creator: Carl BarksThis collection of classic Uncle Scrooge stories is important for many reasons not only is it a showcase for what a world class talent Carl Barks is. Who was also one of the first three inductees into the The Will Eisner Awards Hall of Fame with Will Eisner himself and Jack Kirby. It is also important due to the fact that it is real origin of Scrooge McDuck and what gave birth to Ducktales. Out of the 27 stories in this collection filled with many of one-pagers, there is also such classics as “Back To the Klondike,” “Tralla La,” and the titular “Only a Poor Old Man,”. What these three stories do so well is that it takes you on exciting adventures featuring with some very well crafted storytelling. All 27 stories have one thing in common Uncle Scrooge's fortune. They range in different genres but always remain funny and for all ages but aren't afraid of having deeper meaning and theme's story like —“Tralla La”—involves him(Uncle Scrooge) moving, because his nerves are shot, to a mythical land deep in the a Himalayan mountains where the people have no money. That story then becomes about what happens when the concept of wealth is introduced to a society that did not have it previously. 27) Hey, Wait... Creator: Jason "Hey, Wait..." marks his first solo book in the States. A story about tragedy and regret told in a sweetly simple way, it stands out as one of the most beautifully sad comix in recent memory. Much of the book's power comes from its pacing. Jason has a gift for taking advantage of comix' unique structure of moments. On a large scale you may notice each page amounts to a singular event told in six panels — a kind of poetic meter. Events have a dramatic structure, including climax and denouement. Jon spies the cute girl from school coming down the path. He hides. She doesn't seem to notice. Or does she? On another page the boys kick the ball around until one notices something through an apartment window. It's a nudie calendar. Here then are the short dramas that amount to life's narrative. Jason has a simple brush technique that eliminates shading and texture. It's a style that lends itself to the simplified, parable-like premise of a man's life decided by a single regrettable event. The ingenious title of "Hey, Wait ," not only relates to the story but to the act of reading the story. Panels that display a character's quiet moment likewise become our quite moment, for real. Unlike traditional literature, comix, and particularly Jason's simple style, allow the reader to fully move into the space provided. Slowly, but altogether too fast, you look back and see an entire book, and an entire life, has gone past.- Time: Andrew D. Arnold 26) Spider-man: Blue Writer: Jeph LoebArtist: Tim SaleColorist: Steve Buccellato"As with all of Loeb and Sale’s “color” books at Marvel, Spider-Man: Blue takes a look between the panels of the hero's formative years, in this case Spidey's budding romance with Gwen Stacy – which grows complicated by his first meeting with Mary Jane Watson. While the story holds the familiar structure of a trip through Spider-Man’s rogues gallery, the series is framed around Peter speaking into an old tape recorder on Valentine’s Day, trying to capture his feelings in a recording to Gwen that she’ll never hear.The story is honest and heartfelt, capturing one of Peter’s greatest tragedies through the eyes of the modern day incarnation of the character. It’s an area that’s traversed often, but it’s never been as personal as it is Blue. We get to witness moments from classic Spidey history (although with some continuity adjustments) – from “Face it, Tiger, you just hit the jackpot” to Flash Thompson joining the army and more – but Loeb shows us how all of those moments are inevitably tied to Peter’s feelings for Gwen.Best of all, the ending manages to encapsulate and reaffirm the relationship between Peter and MJ as well, when she overhears most of his recording. Instead of being angry for remembering another woman, she simply asks Peter to say “hi” to Gwen for her. It’s a sweet moment that reminds us of how important everyone in our lives can be; how every relationship contributes to, and hopefully betters, who we are as people." - IGN: Joey Esposito 25) Batman: the Black Mirror Writer: Scott SnyderArtist: Jock & Francisco Francavilla During when Dick Grayson was Batman, it brought in a whole new dynamic to Batman as a character. He was final a much more human character that expressed his feeling and relying on a support as much as himself. Which makes me think is he the better Batman? and this story is gives helps make argument worth talking about. This story is also great tribute to past Batman stories from Year one to Death in the family, while still standing on it's own. It also brought back a long forgotten character in James Gordon. Jr that helps remind you that Gotham is city of nightmares. This story also helps make him one of the most interesting Batman villains out there. While it's still Batman story like Year One it also has big focus on Jim Gordon dealing with his son and the past in their family. There's also excellent artwork by both Jock and Francesco Francavilla with Jock handling the Batman-centric chapters and Francavilla the Gordon installments.While both of their styles are different they work together well with their approach they take to each chapter with especially Francavilla's art adding to the creepy atmosphere of the story. Edited June 13, 2013 by Deadshot 2 Zola and Demyx. reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Demyx. 10,064 Posted June 13, 2013 Looks pretty good man. Keep it up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Firaga 5,947 Posted June 13, 2013 Disney had comics? Shocker. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deadshot 666 Posted June 13, 2013 24) Criminal: the last of the innocent Writer: Ed BrubakerArtist: Sean PhillipsColorist: Val StaplesNow Criminal is a series of mini series about crimes and i decided to pick one of these great stories for the list, Criminal: the last of the innocents seems to be the last comic in criminal line and the best one. What makes this story so special from the others and just a real stand-out is that it deals with nostalgia and how memories transform over time. The main character, Riley Richards thinks back to how life was better back when he was kid and it begs question were things even better back than. In these flashbacks Phillips changes his noir art style to more of an Archie like cartoon art-style which really sells how these flashbacks are used and purpose of them. How they decide to use these to artsyles for the different time in Richards life is brilliant to see how they contrast each other also really sets a nice flow for the story. This device is also something that can only be done in comics and rarely is. The is also engaging crime story done by two of best in biz for this genre about trying to escape a life you feel struck in. I won't get into to spoilers another than "trailer" image below but the last of the innocents set bar not only for Brubaker and Phillips but for crime comics in general this is how you do them. 23) Batman: The Killing Joke Writer: Alan MooreArtist: Brian Bolland"The Joker. Batman's greatest foe. His goal is chaos, but the beauty of his madness is the incredible amount of thought he puts into each caper. In the Killing Joke, the Clown Prince of Crime decides he wants to prove that, given the right push, anyone would fall into madness. To go about this, he torments down-to-earth Jim Gordon. All the while, we're given glimpses into the Joker's origin and see what pushed him over the edge.The Killing Joke isn't just a brilliant origin story for comics' most famed villain, it also clearly defines what separates the good guys from the crazy guys. When push comes to shove, the sane ones shove back; the crazies allow themselves to go over the edge. "- IGN: Hilary Goldstein 22) Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand Story by Jim Henson & Jerry JuhlArt by Ramon PerezThe lost screenplay by Henson and Juhl that was rewritten 3 times finally see the light of day thanks to Archina and Ramon Perez that brings their story to life that's unlike any other in comics. The story is mostly wordless and personal piece that is very experimentally story than your typical Henson tale. While the story is enjoyable and interesting, the reason to read Tale of Sand is for Perez's astonishingly dynamic art and books uncanny presentation. Everything on art side is miles head on what you normally see in comic from different art styles used to how its colored. " Especially given their wild beauty and the absurdity pervading this epic chase from start to finish. If readers ever find themselves confused, it is no failing on Perez’s part. The clarity of these frenzied sequences is paramount, which is why it’s so impressive that each and every panel is a celebration of line, form and color. As noted in the Foreword, Henson was so enraptured by sound and motion, he actually discarded illustration and painting for film and animation. Perez champions the illusory power of comics, generating movement and even sound out of 2D space. You don’t look at the following spread passively. It envelops you."- Ifanboy: Paul Montgomery 21) Richard Stark’s Parker: The Score Creator: Darwyn Cooke Darwyn Cooke's third adaptation of Doanld Westlake's Parker novels is easily the best one in the series. The story has simple yet engaging premise, Parker and some best caper men there is get an offer they can't turn down. The offer is to rob an entire town and it goes horribly wrong. It's one of the most fun caper stories i've read with a stand-out character being Grofield whom is a fun and charming character who with his daydreaming sequences steal scenes in the book. Now this story also shows what a master storyteller Cooke is, from colour platete of only using orange,black and white adding depth and tone to the story. To capturing the setting perfectly to what characters are wearing to how book looks inside and out. It also needs to be said how Cooke takes advantage of comics medium to make this book feel like it's alive and in motion, where you get lost in the art giving it it's own personalty. It's also impressive the way the panels flow into each other it's simply flawless. The Score is masterpiece from Darwyn Cooke showing what master he is of this medium, i feel like I've haven't even scratched the surface of what makes this one of the best comics he's done. 20) Superman: Secret Identity Writer: Kurt BusiekArtist: Stuart Immonen"Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen’s Secret Identity is another Superman tale that’s not actually about Clark Kent. Well, not really. This is a story set in our own world – where Superman is a character in the comic books – that follows a boy named Clark Kent (a clever joke by his parents) as he learns that he’s got super powers comparable to the fictional Superman.The narrative follows Clark through his life, from child to old man, as he uses these powers for good, is set up on a joke date with a girl named Lois (but actually does fall for her), raises a family, and gets in trouble with the government. On their own, these characters and their predicaments are interesting. But as an exploration of Superman, Secret Identity is a shamelessly optimistic take on the character’s importance.We see Secret Identity’s Clark gain superpowers and never question for a moment what it is he should do with them, inspired by the fictional Superman he’s so familiar with. Busiek and Immonen’s commentary on the inherent goodness of the Superman character is what helps Secret Identity place so highly on this list."IGN: Joey Esposito 19) Naoki Urasawa's Monster Creator: Naoki UrasawaOften known as one of the best Manga's of all-time, due to it's sophisticated storytelling and complex plot weaving, memorable characters. It's hard to tell you what Monster is about in just couple paragraphs but I'll just focus on what makes Monster such great read. In terms of characters Monster does a great job, It makes it feel painless when it changes focus on different characters in the cast by bringing in more interesting ones as it continues on. My personal favourites being Johan Liebert, Richard Braun, Wolfgang Grimmer and Martin. While it changes characters the plot always stay compelling and keeps you invested in what going on in the story. I could continue on about what makes Monster one of the best comics out there, but save you the time and just say it has fantastic story with excellent art. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deadshot 666 Posted June 13, 2013 18) 52 Writers: Geoff Johns,Grant Morrison,Greg Rucka,Mark Waid and Keith GiffenArtist: Various52, really should have been a failure. 52 issues every week for a year featuring C list DC characters like the question, booster gold and steel who would be lucky to get 12 issues in the new 52. It also featured no batman, superman or wonder woman but due to a constant art team and the some of the best modern superhero writers, 52 was something special. While there were some down moments, this series was intense and thrilling read where you didn't know what was going to happen as well as being filled with great character moments and drama. All story lines felt different from each other, giving freshness to overall comic. Also most stories had great ending and each story had some kind of great pay off. The risk of 52 paid off giving DC one best comics it's published and one they couldn't pull off again. My favourite storylines were Booster Gold, Question's and Black Adam'sLeast favourite: the space story and infinity inc 17) Locke and Key Writer: Joe HillArtist: Gabriel RodriguezColorist: Jay Fotos Locke and Key is the best horror series in comics, what makes it the best is how well the story is crafted. You can tell how planned out series is and it rewards the reader for reading the whole series and paying attention. For most good horror stories you have to care about your cast and Locke and key does, each of the main characters are flawed complex characters that make mistakes and have to live with them. There's always sense of danger and mystery to each arc in the series but there are also calm moments with nice character building. Locke and Key focus's on the Locke family as the move back to their old family home after the murder of their father which leads to twist and turns. The stories among best in comics for putting you on edge of your seat and waiting what will happen next. Gabriel Rodriguez’s art is as rich and atmospheric and he gets the right tonal variation required imparting the Gothic themes and harsh twists that befall the Locke family. He also captures motion and expressions for the characters while having it look very polished. Note: Locke and Key still has two issues left 16) Ex Machina Writer: Brian K. VaughanArtist(s): Tony Harris, Chris Sprouse and John Paul LeonInkers: Various Colorist: JD Mettler"Brian K. Vaughan strikes again (along with artist Tony Harris) this decade with Ex Machina, bringing his character building skills and witty dialog to a post-9/11 New York City. When Mitchell Hundred, former superhero vigilante and savior of the second tower during the terrorist attacks, is elected as mayor, political intrigue and civil rights discussions ensue. In much the same way as Vaughan’s own Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina truly has everything. It’s funny but with a political punch, it’s got super heroics and complicated relationships. And just as the cause of the gendercide is the overarching anchor of Y, the source of Mitchell’s abilities to speak to machines is Ex Machina‘s.This isn’t a book meant only for the politically savvy, and it’s also not preachy nor a soapbox for Vaughan’s own agenda. It’s a story with characters that are confronting the same issues that the rest of the world was, and still is, dealing with after this decade took a turn for the worst."- Crave Online: Joey Esposito 15) Astonishing X-Men: By Whedon & Cassaday Writer: Joss WhedonArtist: John CassadayColorist: Laura Martin Out of all thing Joss Whedon has done this is easily my favourite while i do love Firefly and Dr. Horrible, Astonishing X-Men has everything that people love about his work but it got it's full run. It's filled with great character work, jokes and heart wrenching moments. It's gets to heart of what being an X-Men is all about and explores the theme's in familiar yet unique way. The main cast is well explored and features maybe strongest stories for them especially Cyclops, Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost. It's epic story and that also features the strongest work from John Cassaday who makes this one of the best looking Marvel comics out there. Everything about this comic is nearly Astonishing. 14) Essex County Creator: Jeff Lemire"Without any superpowers or fantasy elements, Jeff Lemire’s Essex County is an honest, real world drama about a small Canadian community and the families that inhabit it. This twisting character study is more like an indie film than a typical comic book. Lemire brings a visual flare to the whole thing that reminds us why this story could have only been told in this format.These are stories of sibling rivalry, father issues, lost loves, and compassion as Lemire ties the seemingly separate lives of these characters together through a sprawling history of real human emotion. Whether it's a young child masquerading as a superhero, the dreams of two siblings on a pro hockey team, or the struggles of a middle-aged nurse, Essex County delivers a collection of characters so genuine that by the end you'll swear they're real.It's as warm as it is devastating—there are plenty of moments that should move you to tears throughout. No matter how somber it becomes, Essex County never feels too sappy."- Complex: Jason Serafino 13) Local Writer: Brian WoodArtist: Ryan Kelly "Published by Oni Press, it's a collection of stand-alone vignettes that ultimately form a larger slice-of-life portrait of one young woman named Megan. The beauty of the series is that any chapter can be enjoyed completely on its own, but if you read it sequentially it tells the story of Megan's search for her place in the world. Really, it's a coming-of-age kind of tale, but told in a way that only comics can do. Heap onto to that the stunning black-and-white art of Ryan Kelly, and you've got one of the best comics of the last ten years.Local is life-affirming in a way that I'll never get from superhero comics. I love superheroes as much as the next guy, but seeing your every day concerns and troubles brought to life in a comic book with such sincerity and emotion, relating to it, and then realizing it helped you deal with your own issues is just fantastic. I go to superheroes for escape, but it's comics like Local that helps me confront real life head-on."- IGN: Joey Esposito Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deadshot 666 Posted June 13, 2013 12) THOR: THE MIGHTY AVENGER Story by Roger LangridgeArt by Chris SamneeColorist: Matthew Wilson Thor: The Mighty Avenger is a lot of things. It’s a superhero story—there are plenty of things and creatures and villains for Thor to hit with his fists and his trusty hammer, Mjolnir . It’s a love story—Thor and Jane’s tentative romance is one of the most heart-warming in recent comics history. It’s a team-up book—almost every issue finds Thor meeting someone new like Captain Britain, Ant-Man and Wasp, Iron Man, or Namor. It’s a comedy—Thor’s (mis)adventures are laugh out loud funny. It’s an all-ages book—there’s nothing that happens that so adult as to be inappropriate for kids but nothing so kiddie as to be inappropriate for adults. One of the most impressive things about what the creative team, led by writer Roger Langridge, has done is take all of the elements listed above and weave them together into one of the best and most entertaining comic books in recent memory. Langridge couches the entire story in a tone very similar to that of Batman: The Animated Series. It feels modern and the story is clearly in a contemporary setting, but from Tony Stark’s awesome Howard Hughes mustache and giant clunky Iron Man armor to the way that the superheroes are all can-do do-gooders, there are enough throwback and classic elements as to recall the past, in this case the 1960s.Thor: The Mighty Avenger also features the wonderfully lush and detailed pages that Samnee is now famous for. The tragedy of Thor: The Mighty Avenger is that it’s unfinished. What was originally intended to be a 12 issue story only made it to 8 and we’ll never know which other heroes Thor was meant to team-up with, which other villains were set to feel the power of Mjolnir, and we’ll never know for sure just who the villainous Mr. K was (I’m still holding out hope that it’s Kermit the Frog). But I am not here to lament, I am here to celebrate and to raise a glass (of mead, mayhap) to one of my favorite books of the last few years, and possibly of all-time. It’s the way that Thor would want it—let us not cry for Thor: The Mighty Avenger. Let us tell tales and laugh and sing songs in praise of its gloriously short life that, much like the flash from a lightning bolt called down from Mjolnir itself, shone brightly and then suddenly vanished."- Ifanboy: Conor Kilpatrick 11) Asterios Polyp Creator: David Mazzucchelli"Few creators have followed a career arc as complicated as that of former superhero-book penciler turned European-style avant-gardist David Mazzucchelli. With the publication of his first solo graphic novel, Asterios Polyp, Mazzucchelli proved that it was worth the long wait. The book follows a middle-aged architect whose fate seems governed by ancient urges and forces he can barely perceive. His story is rich and evocative, and made all the more astonishing by how carefully the art matches the plot: Mazzucchelli’s confident visuals illustrate every divergence and digression of the clever, funny narrative just so. Asterios Polyp represents one of the best-ever fusions of art and story, in a medium where such fusions are supposed to the very reason the medium exists. This book is the rare example of something that feels like an enduring classic the moment it appears."- AV Club: ? 10) We3 Writer: Grant MorrisonArtist's: Frank Quitely & Jamie Grant "We3 is a touching story about three scared animals in robitic suit looking a home. A compact slice of minimalist storytelling mastery, that's one most heartfelt, kinetic, violent, and universal lost-animals-going-home-story ever told. Morrison and Quitely have often described their approach to We3 as "Western Manga": nonstop kinetics and wildly dramatic angles given the weight of line and photorealism of Western comic books. Not a comic book western. (That's what I thought, too.) But it's more like an anime you can watch without a screen. There's a liquidity to Quitely's black-guttered panels, a heft of realism given to the animals wearing manga supersuits that's oddly filmic (aided by the super-wicked coloring of Jamie Grant), but in a way only comics can be. The narrative pulse of the visual story and Morrison's acute sense of pace keep the story constantly flowing, frameless, just occurring on its own tempo. Sound effects are nowhere to be found, replaced with iconography and the reader's imagination, deepening the collaborative relationship and allowing the reader to add their own soundtrack."- Comics Alliance: John Parker 9) Scott Pilgrim Creator: Bryan Lee O'Malley "Mixing a 90s slacker vibe with classic video game fights and gags, Scott Pilgrim stars one of the dimmest heroes of recent years, a wonderfully clueless and perpetually confused bass player who has to battle the seven evil exes of the woman he loves to win her hand. Why? We’re not sure, but it all made sense at the time. Filled with sight gags, surreal touches and geeky references, the six books in the series are warm and witty and hugely likeable, filled with characters that will immediately feel like your best friends. Assuming your best friends aren’t upwardly mobile yuppie types, who are singularly absent from these pages. Or, even worse, vegans, with their terrifying mind powers (just read the comics and that joke’ll make sense)."- Empire Online: HELEN O'HARA 8) BlanketsCreator: Craig Thompson"Craig Thompson’s Blankets, published by Top Shelf, is a deeply personal look at the author’s own "coming-of-age". It’s well written and more importantly, beautifully drawn. The themes here are certainly nothing new – spirituality, sexuality, family, love – but it is in Thompson’s ability to articulate his experiences that draw upon excellence.I love Blankets because it’s unlike a lot of other things I’ve included on this list. It’s not about "the big picture". There’s no metaphysical discussion or exploration of archetypes or ethical dilemmas. It’s simply an artist doing his best to express the most immediate and arguably the most important occurrence of all: growing up."- Crave Online: Joey Esposito 7) Daytripper Creator: Fábio Moon & Gabriel BáColorist: Dave StewartRD: 2010"Despite the fact that Daytripper is still relatively new, it’s impossible to ignore its absolute brilliance. Every chapter in Vertigo's 10-issue series begins with the retelling of an important event from different points of the life of obituary writer Bras de Olivias Dominguez, and each one closes with his sudden death. Then the next issue begins without him even knowing he died previously, and we're shown the same routine throughout the entire series.It’s a strange concept that writers Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá keep from feeling like a cheap gimmick. The book is a meditation on life and death, and how at any moment, whether that moment is filled with joy or tragedy, it can all end in a flash. Daytripper examines all that we hold dear, looks at the inevitability of the end, and challenges us to live with purpose every day.Moon and Bá bring such poetic beauty and sorrow to each page that it makes Daytripper one of the most successful examples of a comic book in the magic realism genre. With moments of sheer bliss and portions that will break your heart, Daytripper will challenge every emotion you ever thought a comic book could elicit."- Complex: Jason Serafino Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Demyx. 10,064 Posted June 13, 2013 I'm glad you mentioned 52. I love that series. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deadshot 666 Posted June 13, 2013 (edited) 6) Brian Bendis & Alex Maleev’s Daredevil "Perhaps no superhero character has been dragged through the mud more than Matt Murdock. While his book may be pretty light-hearted and fun currently, there was a time when the odds were stacked so high against Daredevil that we could see no possible light at the end of the tunnel. The epic run of Bendis and Maleev on Daredevil continued the street-level take on Daredevil that Frank Miller had popularized, with Matt battling elements both physical and psychological. Each subsequent story arc of their run on Daredevil introduced a new threat for Matt, from protecting his new love to protecting his very secret identity and, quite often, failing to do so. Bendis and Maleev had no interest in giving Murdock a happy ending, however, as Miller had upon his exit.Best of all, Bendis and Maleev's run on Daredevil is eclectic in its influences; it's the kind of work that you can hand off to a comic book fan that doesn't typically like superheroes. More importantly, it's the kind of work you can give to someone that doesn't read comics at all. Hand this book to a fan of a TV drama like The Wire or Breaking Bad that's never read comics, and they're bound to finally recognize the medium's potential. "- IGN: Joey Esposito 5) Bone Creator: Jeff Smith"What Jeff Smith accomplished the all-ages series Bone was unprecedented. With his simplistic art style and dialogue, Smith crafted an epic, Tolkien-esque fantasy tale that covers the traditional hero’s journey in a way that would make Joseph Campbell proud.The story begins when the Bone cousins—Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone—are thrown out of Boneville. From there they're caught up in events that lead them from their humble beginnings into a fight against the Lord of the Locusts, an overwhelming evil who's much like Sauron from The Lord of the Rings.Bone is a huge achievement for comics that further proves you don’t need sex and violence to sell books. Smith has simply crafted an effectively thought-out story that's as basic as it is rich."- Complex: Jason Serafino 4) PlutoWritters: Naoki Urasawa,Osamu Tezuka (Original creator), Takashi Nagasaki (Plot collaborator)Artist: Naoki Urasawa"Naoki Urasawa's "Pluto" is probably one of the best comics I've ever read. It's stark, uncompromising, driven, virtuosic, addictive and bull-headedly optimistic. Despite being an adult adaptation of a children's pop-culture phenomenon." Urasawa's reinvention of the story turns "Astro Boy" from a fun and rambunctious comic for kids into the manga equivalent of "Se7en." There are plenty of scenes of robots fighting other robots, often to devastating effect, but the real punch of "Pluto" comes from the emotional interactions between characters. Urasawa manages to portray a conversation in a coffee shop between two robots just as exciting as a wall-running, laser-firing, base exploding confrontation between two other robots. Equal parts melancholy and tense, "Pluto" manages to make what was a relatively brief story into an eight volume epic of intrigue, deceit, murder, and humanity."At heart of what Pluto does so well is just it's always character driven story, forcing you to invest into the cast of characters and worry about what might happen to them. It's incredible feat do to how short of time you spend with these characters. Now Urasawa's is master storyteller especially the pacing in his art and panel placement. It's subtle, yet at times very dynamic. His characters act so clearly with their faces and bodies that the captions might not be necessary.- Comic Alliance 3) All Star Superman Writer: Grant MorrisonArtist: Frank Quitely & Jamie Grant "Many of the best superhero comics of the ’00s spent time exploring what made us fall in love with superheroes in the first place. After the grimy, gritty, highly muscled ’90s, writers like Mark Waid, Geoff Johns, and others put a modern spin on the story-driven ’50s and ’60s Silver Age. Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s All-Star Superman takes the notion to an extreme, dropping the emotionally fragile Superman from the early-’60s stories of Jerry Siegel and Otto Binder into the body of a friendly god. Given a year to live in the first issue, Superman spends the rest of the series’ 12-issue run trying to set his life in order. In the process, Morrison puts a fresh spin on old Superman ideas—Bizarro, Jimmy Olsen’s monstrous transformations—and introduces some of his own, including a story in which Superman is secretly responsible for the world you’re living in right now. It’s enough to send even the most jaded comics fan outside to look up in the sky." - AV Club: ? Also below is interesting article about #4 and 3th pickhttp://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/04/07/morrison-x-urasawa-mining-the-past-without-strip-mining-it/ 2) DC: the new frontier Creator: Darwyn CookeColorist: Dave Stewart A comic made for someone who loves DC or just someone who wants to get into DC comics for the first time; this re-imagining of the silver age of DC comics is nothing short of breathtaking and a must read for any reader. New Frontier is also one of the rare superhero comics that brings you a sense of wonder and hope that can only be done in a superhero story. New Frontier takes place primarily in the 1950s, and depicts the Golden Age superheroes Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman meeting Silver Age characters the Flash, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter. The story bridges the gap from the end of the Golden Age to the beginning of the Silver Age in the DC Universe. With that being said it's great era piece that captures the time period perectly. The story is an modern classic, and shows what being superhero is, each character being handled very well and are very likeable. It's full of nods to other DC characters from the silver age era and feels like a love letter to DC comics, as well showing how rich the DC universe can be. While Cooke's writings is fantastic, it deserves to be said that his art is just as good, if not better. Cooke's animation-like artstyle is some of the best art in comics. Featuring some jaw dropping moments, it's something you want to look back on just due to how pretty it looks. DC: The New Froniter is one of those comics that is must read. It is the best superhero comic ever made. Fun Fact: Dawyne Cooke worked with Bruce Timm animation team doing storyboards for Batman and Superman the animated series as well doing Batman Beyond themeFun Fact #2: The major DC characters are introduced in The New Frontier appear in the same order that DC originally published them, even down to the correct month and year in the story's timeline. 1) Y: The Last Man Writer: Brian K. VaughanArtist: Pia Guerra, Goran Sudžuka & Paul ChadwickInker: Jose Marzan Jr. "At the beginning of this series, every last man and male animal on Earth drops dead, more or less simultaneously. Except, that is, for a guy called Yorrick and his pet monkey. Why have they been spared? What do they do now? And how are they going to survive in a world where half the population’s gone and half the remaining half have gone a little nuts? The story that results is massive in scope but also intensely personal, taking in gender politics and geophysical realities but, in the end, coming down to a small group gathered around a boy and a monkey, with one of the most moving finales we’ve ever read."- EmpireOnline: HELEN O'HARA Now to wait until tomorrow for when The Last of us comes out Special Note: My top 6 favourite current comics6) American Vampire5) Hawkeye4) Daredevil3) Locke and Key2) Saga1) Mind Mgmt Edited June 13, 2013 by Deadshot Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hardrada 117 Posted June 13, 2013 No mention of "Watchmen" "Sandman" or "Fables"? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deadshot 666 Posted June 13, 2013 (edited) No mention of "Watchmen" "Sandman" or "Fables"? Read them, here's my opinion on them 1) Watchmen What liked it: 1)The story telling is well done, Gibbons artwork is easy to follow with his 9 panel grind and Moore's creates an interesting world 2) The detail in the writing with great use of back matter adding depth to the world 3) Character such as The Comedian, Ozymandias, Rorschach and Doctor Manhattan are great characters What didn't like: 1) The pirate story was boring to me 2) Underdeveloped and boring characters in Nite Owl and Silk Spectre 3) The story at times is over written 4) There's comics with much better art For me, I liked Minutemen and Silk Spectre mini series more than Watchmen itself Sandman just isn't my comic, I'll give it another chance one day And for Fables, has gone on waaaaaaaaaaaaaay to long and stopped caring about it. The story and art are fine nothing really stood out to me about it. Other famous comics and why there not my list The Dark Knight ReturnsWhat i liked: The core story and neat new robinWhat i didn't like: the writing doesn't suit me, the art is very rough, the charactization of superman, the many many panels of talking heads which leads to pacing problems, politicians of the story. Jimmy Gordon: The smartest man on earthWhat i liked: The level of craft in the art and presentation, it's also has nice sense of humorWhat i didn't like: Jimmy Gordon is not very likable character and it's very depressing Marvel / Kingdom Come(Marvels) Pros: Interesting and clever story about how all of Marvel characters comes together(Kingdom Come: Pros: An interesting take on future of dcu(Both) Cons: Alex Ross's artwork is static with poor panel to panel storytelling and slows down the pacing ofthe story. Sin CityPros: Can be entertaining and give you a fun yarn as well being the best Miller artwork.Cons: Could be considered sexist, written like every words 3 is a sentence which can feel choppy, feels like a parody of Noir at certain points and I'm not fan of Miller's artwork. Maus almost made my runners up Edited June 13, 2013 by Deadshot Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hardrada 117 Posted June 13, 2013 Well, I will point out that the pirate story was an allegory for Ozymandias, so it tied into his character. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave 5,715 Posted June 13, 2013 Well, I will point out that the pirate story was an allegory for Ozymandias, so it tied into his character. I always thought that it was serving to embellish the newspaper vendor and his view on the world. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deadshot 666 Posted June 13, 2013 (edited) Well, I will point out that the pirate story was an allegory for Ozymandias, so it tied into his character. Yeah doesn't mean it wasn't chore to read, some people to like pirate story tho. It did have purpose to the overall story. Edited June 13, 2013 by Deadshot 1 Dave reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deadshot 666 Posted June 14, 2013 (edited) Disney had comics? Shocker. 1940 to 1970's they were pretty popular. In 1950's they had some comics sold up to 3 million copies I'm glad you mentioned 52. I love that series. Yeah it's great series, alsmost was in my top 10. Edited July 5, 2013 by Deadshot 1 Firaga reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
