Just curious how others feel about this. Please list the title, and the reason it makes your Top 3 list:
Ultimate Spider-Man. While the movie did a lot of things right, this title literally does everything right. A perfect examination of a kid who stumbles into his superpowers, and still fights to maintain some semblance of a normal high-school life. I can’t say enough positive things about this book, and its writer Brian Michael Bendis. As good as “Powers” is, this book is better.
The Punisher. I’ve been a longtime fan of the character, and have held on even through the rough spots, because I’ve always felt the proper writer could fully realize the potential. The new relaunch introduces a number of good elements, and finally portrays Castle for who he really is – a psychopathic, flawed, and broken man, clinging to his “war” because it’s all he has and all he is.
The Walking Dead. I’ve only started picking it up, but the premise is solid – Romero’s Dead movies landscape, as told in an ongoing series. It’s become my new cracky goodness.
So you have to cut down to 3 titles per month. What are they?
The Legion. I’m a very heavily involved Legion fan, and it would probably take a death threat to make me stop collecting it.
JSA. I started on it because I was a fan of James Robinson’s Starman. I stayed with it after Starman left because I was a fan of Matt Wagner’s Doctor Mid-Nite. Geoff Johns turns in excellent stories month after month.
H-E-R-O. I just started picking this up, after flipping through some of the back issues at my local shop. This series is an interesting personality study, exploring how different people might behave if suddenly given the power to change into a super-being. Quite different from most books, where the personality of the main character is something of a constant and that’s being tested against different situations.
This would be rough since it comes out sporadically, but it is so worth the wait. I am looking very forward to the next story arc dealing with the Silver Agent so we can finally put this “To Our Eternal Shame” business behind us.
JSA
I am really enjoying this book right now. The Black Reign storyline was great and Geoff Johns is doing a masterful job juggling such a large cast of characters.
<Insert current Grant Morrison book here>
IMHO, this man can do no wrong. From Animal Man and Doom Patrol to his most recent stint on New X-Men, he never fails to write great super-hero stories with unexpected, thought-provoking ideas.
Not necessarily my favorite 3, but if I only could pick 3 from here on I’d go with
Ultimate Spider-Man
Ultimate X-Men
Ultimate Fantastic Four
If it were on a consistant schedule, I’d replace Ultimates for Ult FF. I already have every issue of these books, and they are consistantly good month to month. If I only could get those books, at least I’d always have a complete story.
Sadly I’d have to forgo limited series like Supreme Power, 1602, etc.
S/B because the writing for Batman there is better than anywhere else… Supreme Power because I want to see where it’s going… and Fables because it’s just so different.
There’s no question for me - Supreme Power, Stormwatch: Team Achilles and The Authority. Not because they’re the best of the titles I buy or because they’re my favourites, but because the others - Y: The Last Man and Lucifer - are on the TPB fast-track.
Superman/Batman: What an incredible team-up of Jeff Loeb and Michael Turner. The writing is top notch, the art in incredible. See issue #9 (on newstands now) page 3 and 20-21. Just wow…
Marvel Knights: 4 : I also read Ultimate FF, but I think that the current storyline is incredible. Seeing Mr. Fantastic helping a dude about to jump off a ledge was really, really good. (Quick aside, Ultimate FF issue 3 with Torch on the cover has to be the single greatest cover of all time… wow.)
pVp: The is hands down the best webcomic ever for nerds, and now that Kurtz sold out ( ) and went to Image it has just gotten better. Humor, satire, and excellent cartoony art makes this a must grab.
I also like Thor: Son of Asgard, a new title from Marvel that looks at Thor as a young boy. Along with two pals they set out on an adventure for Odin. The story is coming along nicely, but the art is just incredible. A must have fourth pick I suppose.
Two more notes:
Is Brian Michael Bendis the King Midas of comics? Everything he touches turns to gold (i.e. The Ultimate series)
Check out Marvel’s dot Comics if you haven’t already. Its a great way to read comics online if you have a broadband connection
Legion. I’ve been buying it since the 80s and don’t intend to stop now. Planetary. Despite an irregular release schedule, it’s one of the best books out. Ultimates. The book I talk about with my comic geek buddies after I read it.
Just missing the cut (hey, look at me cheat and list more than 3!): Bone JLA Astro City
The Punisher, because I never thought Garth Ennis would top the Warner Bros. cartoon-style violence of “Welcome Back, Frank.” He did. Even in the latest two issues where Frank doesn’t kill anybody.
Daredevil, because I’ve always wanted a comic about the political implications and interactions of superheroes, and only Astro City ever came close before. This book is awesome.
Challengers of the Unknown, because I’ll buy anything Chaykin writes and draws sight unseen.
1Tom Strong -cos Alan Moore does such delightful things making this an adventure comic, a science-fiction comic, a superhero (oops, sorry, Science hero) comic, and a romance comic, all at the same time! Now watch ME cheat and add in Tom Strong’s Terrific Tales, cos neither comic seems to be monthly, so let’s alternate, yeah? These two titles sum up what comic reading SHOULD be about- FUN!
2100 Bullets -although this is on shaky footing as a number 2 pick. The writing is usually good, but the stories can drag. that said, the art is a delight! And there’s NO changes to the creative team, so it’s consistent all the gosh-darn time!
3Superman/Batman- I’ve got to agree with the others, this is a solid title and a really nice way to get my superhero fix monthly without buying ALL the Superman or ALL the Batman titles.
and now to cheat even more: JLA -but only recently, I couldn’t stand Grant Morrison’s stuff (sorry Twin), even though I stuck through it, but the recent stories, and this Claremont/Byrne/Ordway story is intriguing and has a nice late-silver age feel to it.
Ultimates,
Ultimate Xmen and
Ultimate FF These titles reimagine the Marvel Universe with so much vibrancy! Much sweetness!
I tend to follow writers, or conversely writer/artists: Garth Ennis, Warren Ellis, Alan Moore, Christopher Priest, Jeff Smith, Darwyn Cooke, Kurt Busiek, Mark Millar, Brian Michael Bendis, Peter Bagge… With Bone almost done, Moore’s ABC line apparently winding down and other all the titles I’m interested in coming out sporatically or in mini-series (The aforementioned Planetary and upcoming 49s mini-series) it’d be hard for me to pare my list down to three regularly published monthly titles. I just don’t get a monthly fix anymore.
That said, these are some series I’m currently buying exclusively in trade paperback format:
Will Eisner’s The SPIRIT ARCHIVES
Bendis/Oeming’s POWERS
Warren Ellis’ TRANSMETROPOLITAN
(honorable mention, already pre-ordered) The COMPLETE PEANUTS, when it finally comes out in May.
I actually raised my voice when I discovered a pull-list oversight meant I’d missed the second issue! (man did the shop get uncomfortable for about 30 seconds!). I ran down the street and bought it at the overpriced, but much snazzier shop in the mall! (to my eternal shame).
Finder is simply the best comic on the stands - and also the best comic no one’s ever heard of. Describing it as science fiction feels wholly inadequate. Reading an issue is like receiving a dream-feed straight from one of the most brilliant and innovative minds you’re ever likely to encounter. My one absolute can’t miss.
Rex Mundi is a clever little muder mystery set against the quest for the Holy Grail in Paris, set in an alternate world where the Holy Roman Empire never fell. Well-thought out, and always compelling.
Queen & Country. Finally, spy stories that even I enjoy - and with a compelling female protagonist as an added attraction.
Turns out I already am down to just 3 titles a month:
Hellboy and B.P.R.D.: These don’t come out regularly, so I can list both in 1 slot. Hellboy is the best comic book series ever. Really.
Legion: I’ve always liked the concept but never been a regular reader of the series. I loved the Giffen/Bierbaum issues, but that didn’t last too long. So I’ve got no idea what’s going on, but I’m sticking with it anyway.
Swamp Thing: Just picked up the first couple of issues and I’m interested so far; they seem to be on the right track. I’ve never read any of the series other than the Alan Moore issues with John Constantine, so most of it is new to me.
Web comics (the only ones I regularly read, anyway):
Ghastly’s Ghastly Comic (not going to link to that one)
Sexy Losers (are you freakin’ crazy?) Lore Brand Comics
As far as serialized comics go, well, I just don’t really tend to read any that are still regularly printed. Even the ones that are, I rarely pick up. Those would be:
Milk & Cheese
The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers (IIRC, Gilbert & Shelton are still at it)
…
Man. I can only think of two monthly paper comics that a)still come out and b)I actually like? I’m losing geek points over this, for sure. Sure, Spiderman was a great movie, but I can’t really stand Marvel or DC’s stuff. Archie’s just too old (and I suspect he’s f*cking Mr. Weatherbee). I expect my comics to be funny, and I just can’t get into drama comics. I can’t even count Short Cuts since Pulp stopped publishing.
