Those are comics written for little kids, based on licensed properties that aren’t terribly funny to begin with, so I’d be surprised if the comics were actually funny.
Just because it’s juvenile humor doesn’t mean it’s not intended as a “comical” book. You’re just not its target audience.
When I was a kid, I only read Donald Duck…they had the most plot, interesting stories and sometimes made me laugh out loud. Granted, I haven’t read one in ages, but it would be interesting to read one now to see how they have changed.
(I do remember buying one in Germany when I first moved there…quite interesting and had lots of factual information.)
I occasionally pick up a Powerpuff Girls comic at the Borders near my office when I don’t have anything to read on the Metro ride home. They’re chuckleworthy. Of course, I think the show is great, so YMMV.
As for the Simpsons Comics, I think they’re typically very good. For the last few years the main witer has been Ian Boothby with occasional turns by Ty Templeton and Chuck Dixon, all of whom are solid comedy writers. I’ve read some of the older issues written by other folks and they have a different feel than the current Boothby series, so if that’s what you’ve sampled before, go ahead and try some of the new stuff. Futurama Comics are great; the first half-dozen issues largely penned by Eric Rodgers weren’t so hot, but the writing’s been consistently strong over the last couple years. I think it’s on a bi-monthly schedule now.
I also echo the recommendation of Dan Slott. While his summer GLA series (Great Lakes Avengers) wasn’t actually a comedy (some of it was pretty powerful stuff), it was also hilarious. The follow-up one shot, the GLX Christmas Special which came out a few weeks ago and is probably still available at most shops, is more straight-up comedy.
–Cliffy
Check out the Marvel Holiday Special. It has, and I kid you not,
Ultron as Robot Santa!
That gag alone made my week!
One name too conspicuously missing from this thread: Peter David. Young Justice was hilarious, and he throws humorous touches into all of his works, from Hulk to Supergirl. Heck, he wrote the end of the Marvel “New Universe” series Justice, almost 20 years ago, and darned if I don’t still laugh remembering a few of the jokes he threw in.
I’m not sure what he’s doing right now other than Fallen Angel (which I haven’t yet gotten around to checking out, I’m not big on independents, generally), but I’ll bet it’s funny.
Just finished a stint on Hulk, and the Madrox miniseries, and is now writing the X-Factor ongoing.
Would it make you feel better to know Fallen Angel started as a DC comic, and they published the first several issues? I have #1 and #2 if you want 'em, but it isn’t a comedy by any means.
Since it hasn’t been mentioned yet: **Freshmen ** published by Top Cow. It has its’ drama filled moments, but its’ full of laughs. A group of college freshman get superpowers based on what was running though their minds at a certain instant (one was playing with post-it notes and got the ability to stick to any surface for example). Hilarity and angst ensuses.
How is Seth Green involved with this book? Just a nebulous “creator” credit, or did he actually write any of it?
I highly recommend Budd Root’s Cavewoman. It’s got a lighthearted tone throughout. Very much about the babelicious Meriem the Cavewoman, and it’s nice to see a comic featuring a babelicious heroine who enjoys her life, in most respects.
Also, The Goon is about a Mafia hitman fighting it out with a zombie preists and various Lovecraftian types fro control of a film noir city, and takes every opportunity, of which there are plenty, to be funny.
In that case, I must highly recommend Dan Slott’s She-Hulk to you. There are two trade paperbacks, and you’d probably enjoy them.
I bought the first tpb. Its obscure to the point of being pretentious.
There’s also the long-running long-neglected Soulsearchers & Company, which is so far below most retailers’ radars that it’d need to go up to reach the basement.
PAD’s been in a bit of a hiatus from comics-writing for a while, IMO, but it looks like he might be getting back up to speed now.
Dilbert! There are few days where I do not laugh at Dilbert.