# So I've watched the movie, now I want the comic books..( Xmen) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-watched-the-movie-now-i-want-the-comic-books-xmen/365827 "2006-07-24T15:49:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Selkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Selkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Selkie)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-watched-the-movie-now-i-want-the-comic-books-xmen/365827/41 "2006-07-26T13:26:33Z")
Ah, grammar is good … not that you can tell by my previous post. :smack: > [@Cisco](#): > > I completely agree. I still pick up the Ulitmate X-Men TPBs as they show up at the library because they’re such quick and easy reads, but I think not being a huge X-Men fan in general helps make them more tolerable to me. I can’t speak to what the books are like now, but I know at the beginning, it seemed like a lot of the characterization consisted solely of reversing them exactly 180 degrees: “Character A is a solid, reliable citizen in the regular continuity? Well, that means he’s going to be sneaky and untrustworthy in the Ultimate line.” I have no real attachment to the regular versions, but the Ultimate versions bored me precisely because they were so predictably reversed. > [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > I am bookmarking this thread for future reference when I need to expand my comic book knowledge. The library is your friend. Few fans have access to a large, well-rounded collection of graphic novels at their local library as I do, - I love any place that carries everything from the hardcover _Spirit_ archives to _The Ghosts of Silver Cliff_ to _Ultimate Spider-Man_ - but most carry at least a handful, and that handful often contains some of the classics. Worth investigating, at any rate. ---
**Author:** ![First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/First_Amongst_Daves)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-watched-the-movie-now-i-want-the-comic-books-xmen/365827/42 "2006-07-26T13:53:03Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > After watching the movies, I got my wife the [Dark Phoenix saga](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785122133/sr=8-1/qid=1153779750/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-7644561-4039136?ie=UTF8)and the[Days of Future Past](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785115609/sr=1-1/qid=1153779814/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-7644561-4039136?ie=UTF8&s=books) books to get her up to speed. It worked. A very good place to start, and conveniently collected as trade paperbacks. I’d also think about the Asgardian Wars because they were fun and Art Adams was in his prime with the art, and that fantastic X-men annual (#12?) with Horde, which really was Chris Claremont firing on all cylinders. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-watched-the-movie-now-i-want-the-comic-books-xmen/365827/43 "2006-07-26T13:59:25Z")
Some libraries carry comic books? Oh Rapturous Joy! **Selkie** Thanks for the **Understanding Comics** link. I could invest my time into learning something important for daily life to better myself and increase my ability to earn more money for my family, but frankly chasing after whatever my newest obession is is far more rewarding and fun! ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-watched-the-movie-now-i-want-the-comic-books-xmen/365827/44 "2006-07-26T14:14:14Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > By far your best bet is to go to the [Comic book shop locator](http://csls.diamondcomics.com/) and type in your zipcode. Unless you live 3 hours outside of Yellowknife or something like that, the nearest comic book shop is going to be a lot closer than you think. > > Go talk to one of the gee- I mean sales associates there and give him or her a feel for what you want. Pick up some of the Trade Paperbacks and backissues, flip through them, find exactly what you want. They’ll be more than happy to help. > > Oh yeah, and welcome to the fold. > > 🆒 Thanks for that link! I’ve probably driven past two of My Local Comic Book Stores and never noticed them. Obviously they had a Shield of Obscurity around them or maybe my inner geek hadn’t manifested yet. ---
**Author:** ![Selkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Selkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Selkie)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2006, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-watched-the-movie-now-i-want-the-comic-books-xmen/365827/45 "2006-07-26T14:26:29Z")
**Shirley** , glad to help. I think you’ll find, what with all the art history and discussion of perception, that _Understanding Comics_ might even qualify as “bettering yourself,” even if you’re unlikely to become filthy rich as a result of reading it. But, as I said, read it because it’s engaging and fun, not because “it’s good for you.” I think you’ll find that most libraries carry some graphic novels. They are definitely one of the “hot things” at public libraries these days. If you’re fortunate, they’ll be prominently displayed in a self-contained section. If not, they’ll be racked alongside non-graphic novels according to whatever genre they fall into (at best - at worst, they’ll be scattered, seemingly at random, along the shelves) If the latter case, you’ll probably need to know what specific titles you’re looking for, rather than experience the pleasure of browsing. I missed the part in your OP where you asked fror comic book sites. There are about a gajillion, each of which seems to cater to a specific niche, but here are a few to get you started: [Artbomb](http://www.artbomb.net) [Comics Worth Reading](http://www.comicsworthreading.com) [Ninth Art](http://www.ninthart.com) [Sequential Tart](http://www.sequentialtart.com) [The X Axis](http://www.thexaxis.com/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-watched-the-movie-now-i-want-the-comic-books-xmen/365827.md?page=2)