The Comic Book Thread

[MrEco]

Figure it's better to post here than start a whole new thread, I've got a simple problem that needs simple answers.

I've never really gotten in to comic books. But I do read a lot, and I'm familiar with a lot of comic book characters from movies, TV, and video games. In particular, I really like Batman.

I figure now is a good time to try and get into some Batman comics. Currently I own two, Gotham by Gaslight and Joker. I also plan on picking up The Killing Joke, because of course I've heard about The Killing Joke who hasn't? Oh and I think I'll be skipping Batman: Year One because I've already seen the animated movie based off it. I've heard it's very true to the original material, but correct me if I'm wrong.

But besides that, I'm open for suggestions. I'm mostly looking for one-off stories that stand on their own. I love the psychological side of Batman stories most, but also stuff like Gotham by Gaslight is great for just being an entertaining "what if?" type of story.

[jmbarnes101]

There is so much good Batman stuff out there that you really can't go wrong. I'm going to suggest some trades that are very good and you can go from there. Since you're looking for done in ones I'll leave stuff like Batman by Brubaker and Morrison and the Knightfall saga off this list.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
Batman: Year One
Batman: The Killing Joke
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Generally these four are considered the must haves in a Batman library

Others I'd recommend:
The Long Halloween - if you like this story set over his first year the follow up is Dark Victory, Haunted Knight, and Catwoman: When in Rome. None of those are needed to enjoy this story however.

Batman Adventures: Mad Love - set in the animated universe and reveals the origin of Harley Quinn. Speaking of the animated universe...

Batman Adventures - it doesn't get much better then this if you're looking for good, well crafted, one off stories. They just released, or are releasing, 4 TPB's that cover the entire series. Grab one or all 4.

Batman: Ego and Other Tales - a collection of fan favorite Darwyn Cooke's bat stories. One of my favorites. Also did the Catwoman's Big Score Graphic Novel and New Frontier, one of my absolute favorite stories ever featuring a bunch of silver age stars.

Batman: Hush - Jeph Loeb writes, see Long Halloween, with pencils by Jim Lee. This 12 issue story is a mind bender featuring his best rogue's gallery stars and a new villian that seemingly knows all of his secrets.

Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams - some of the best 70's stories are in this three volume set but all of these stories were 1-2 issues long so you can just buy one if you want. The recolored artwork is generally reviled but the stories are great.

Legends of the Dark Knight and Tales of the Batman HC's - all of these offer a focus on a premiere writer or artist - I've enjoyed all of them. My favorites are Tim Sale, Kelley Jones, and Norm Breyfogle.

Batman Brave and the Bold - if you liked the cartoon any of these trades would be fun reads

Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity - 3 issue limited series starring the three going up against a trio of baddies

DC Comics Presents - a line of 96 page books that reprint some nice stories. These are in the comic book format but contain a single collected story.

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies - President Luthor has declared them public enemies and people like Power Girl, Captain Atom, and Captain Marvel attempt to apprehend them. Cartoon is based off of this.

Tales of the Multiverse: Batman - Vampire - the classic Red Rain trilogy in one TPB, Batman vs Dracula drawn by Kelley Jones

And a nice list of the top 25 Batman graphic novels
http://m.ign.com/articles/2014/04/10/th ... hic-novels

I've probably missed some so that link will help. If there is a particular kind of story you're looking for let me know and I'll try to steer you in the right direction.

[MrEco]

Thanks for the solid advice Barnes, I wasn't expecting anything so thorough. I think between your recommendations and that link you gave me that seems like a really good place to start.

Also I'd just like to say how impressed I am with that list. I've never seen a "top x" or "best of whatever" type list before that actually explained it's choices so well, and made them sound so intriguing, that I actually want to check each of them out.

[jmbarnes101]

You're welcome, glad I could help.
#19 on that list is a great story. The sequel is Batman and the Mad Monk which is also fantastic. If you like Judge Dredd there is a nice HC featuring all of the Batman/Judge Dredd team-ups. Other worthwhile team-up books would be Batman/Planetary, Batman/Deathblow, and most of the Superman/Batman books by Loeb.

[flojocabron]

Bumping this thread with a little, off site, mini blog post I did earlier! Hope you like it!



Here's something different! It's based on our mutual hobby. Video game based comic books! I'm pretty sure I have more somewhere. But these are a few I had on hand. I'm thinking that the bulletwitch comic is a pre-order or bonus. I dont see a UPC on it. I forgot where I picked it up. I've had it for a few years now. The Alone in the dark is dated 2003 and its done by image comics. So I'm thinking its based on the PS2/dreamcast game. Maybe Infogrames got greedy and decided to stamp their logo on the comic too? I'm pretty sure I picked up that Perfect Dark comic at the fleamarket. I saw it on the side and it looks like a strategy guide. But it wasn't. It was made by Prima Games and the font looks like their product. But this was a comic all the way. Maybe they tried to get into the comic market a few years ago? Lastly There's Legendary. It seems to me like the game its based on is a forgotten seventh generation title. I've not seen it in a while. Maybe I"ll have to pick it up just to have it? This comic I picked up a month or two ago and the lady selling them at the fleamarket had two boxes full of them! Like if they never made it to their destination. Well, it did make it to me! So that's a good thing! Do you have any strange or interesting comics based on video games too? Put them up and lets talk about it!

[jmbarnes101]

I've got some interesting comic books based on video games and there is actually a lot out there.
Castlevania: The Belmont Legacy
Adventures of Bayou Billy
Double Dragon
Blast Corps

Just to name some of the stuff I have and I'm putting together for a special project that is taking way to long.

Valiant had the Nintendo license in the early 90's and of course there is Sonic and Mega Man. Archie even made a NIGHTS comic series in the 90's.

[flojocabron]

I've got some interesting comic books based on video games and there is actually a lot out there.
Castlevania: The Belmont Legacy
Adventures of Bayou Billy
Double Dragon
Blast Corps

Just to name some of the stuff I have and I'm putting together for a special project that is taking way to long.

Valiant had the Nintendo license in the early 90's and of course there is Sonic and Mega Man. Archie even made a NIGHTS comic series in the 90's.

I have the Nights comics. I read them so much when I was a teen that its in less than spectacular conditions. But being the internet and all, there should be scans of them or torrents at least where you can read them.

Archie comics of course have their sonic. And its still going to this day.

And we haven't even scratched the surface of Udon Comics and their Street Fighter/Capcom license. That can be a thread in itself.

[flash1987]

The old Valiant Nintendo comics are pretty entertaining in a very bizarre way and financed the company to let them buy up the Gold Key licences in the early 90s, which in turn led to them being 3rd biggest publisher during the huge comic boom.

[Stark]

I almost guarantee that the Legendary comic is better than the game. The game is one of the worst games I have ever finished. I just kept expecting it to get better until it suddenly, finally and mercifully ended.

[flojocabron]

It made sense to me as I was inventing it with microsoft paint a while ago.

I hope you get my nerdy humor.

But why is every fanboy getting so worked up over Captains Hail Hydra line?

You know its just controversy to sell more comics.

comics, everyone!