Debate: (10) Comic Book Everyone Should Be Reading

[The Night Phantom]

I thought it would be nice to discuss the candidates in each Jarvis category. Since there are a lot of categories, some of which have a lot of candidates, it might make sense to discuss each category in its own thread.

10. THE ONE COMIC BOOK EVERYONE SHOULD BE READING IS
+ Astonishing X-Men
+ Cable & Deadpool
+ Captain America
+ Fables
+ Jonah Hex
+ Justice
+ Mouse Guard
+ Rex Mundi
+ Runaways
+ Shadowpact
+ She-Hulk
+ The Thing
+ Trials of Shazam
+ Y: The Last Man
+ Young Avengers

Whew! A lot of good choices. I’ve even read some. My nominee was Mouse Guard (“it seems to have something for everyone [drama! mystery! suspense! swordfights! cute little mice!]”), but I’m open to other ideas. I see that my failed nominee for Best Marvel Comics Series, Runaways, is represented here. It’s hard to pick a comic for everyone. There are some series on the list of nominees that I enjoy but can’t see myself recommending for preadolescents, for instance.

What do you think?

[dlw66]

You've all heard me say how little I read nowadays -- my nominee, Justice, is the only title up there that I buy, despite many of the recommendations.

Good story, great art, speaks to those of us who loved the JLA, Super Friends, the Secret Society of Super-Villains, Mego action figures -- all of those things that made the 70's groovy!!!

[johnnyzemo]

dlw66 said:

Good story, great art, speaks to those of us who loved the JLA, Super Friends, the Secret Society of Super-Villains, Mego action figures -- all of those things that made the 70's groovy!!!

I will probably pick up the inevitable trade paperback.

I am very curious to see who wins in this category, because there was no agreement at all among the nominations.

[dlw66]

The first volume hardcover is already out, collecting the first four issues plus some "DVD-type extras" for $20. There will be three such books in all. My guess is that DC will also give it the "absolute" treatment with a slipcased omnibus edition later.

[dlw66]

Phantom --

Thought you'd appreciate this little tidbit I saw on comicscontinuum.com today:


* Diamond Select Toys will be producing collectibles based on David Petersen's Mouse Guard comic book from ASP Comics.

The licensing agreement will bring to life collectibles based on characters including heroes Saxon, Kenzie, Lieam, and Sadie. In time, others featured will include Celanawe the ancient mouse of the Old Guard, Conrad the brave but crusty peg-legged mouse, Midnight impersonating the Black Axe and more.

Details will be announced at the International Toy Fair.

[The Night Phantom]

dlw66 said:

Phantom --

Thought you'd appreciate this little tidbit I saw on comicscontinuum.com today:


* Diamond Select Toys will be producing collectibles based on David Petersen's Mouse Guard comic book from ASP Comics.

The licensing agreement will bring to life collectibles based on characters including heroes Saxon, Kenzie, Lieam, and Sadie. In time, others featured will include Celanawe the ancient mouse of the Old Guard, Conrad the brave but crusty peg-legged mouse, Midnight impersonating the Black Axe and more.

Details will be announced at the International Toy Fair.

Thanks! I wonder what they will look like. But it’s just idle curiosity—I’m not the comics-toy maven that you are. Still, it’s interesting news. I’m pleased if this has something to do with Mouse Guard reaching a widening audience.

On that note, I think I’m going to stick with Guard for my final vote. As I mentioned in the initial post, I like a lot of the other contenders but don’t see them being appropriate material for much of the potential readership. It’s not just an “all ages” thing, either; for example, I think series like The Thing and Justice aren’t quite so charming for people not already familiar with their respective universes.

[Nutcase65]

of the titles listed, I picked up Cable and Deadpool solely because of Civil War tie in. I like the tone of the book though and I plan on sticking with it.

[iastagehand]

I am a big fan of Jonah Hex. I remember reading him when i was a kid. My dad was a fan and that got me hooked. I am hoping that Scalphunter might make an appearance soon.Anyone remember him? Justice is very good as well. I just hate the long wait between issuses! Also i have posted about the boys in the past and its a crime that it was cancelled!

[The Night Phantom]

My pick, Mouse Guard, has concluded its limited series. It’s being collected in a single reprint volume, but I don’t know offhand whether the collection is available yet. If your interest has been piqued, go look for it yourself. A follow-up limited series is on its way, in June, I think. Yay! ;D

[silvermoth]

I heartily recommend Runaways to everyone as the series thats good enough to continue for 40 years or more but right now doesn't have many readers. Try it! You'll be hooked

[The Night Phantom]

silvermoth said:

I heartily recommend Runaways to everyone as the series thats good enough to continue for 40 years or more but right now doesn't have many readers. Try it! You'll be hooked

Original writer (in more ways than one) Brian K. Vaughan has just concluded his run on the series. This week sees the debut of #25, written by Joss Whedon. With the changing of the guard (no, that’s not a plug for Mouse Guard—but this is!), this may be a good time to try it out.

If you decide to check out earlier issues (whether original issues or reprints), I strongly recommend you read the stories in the original published order. Vaughan is an artful craftsman in mystery and plot twists. But if you want to read them out of order, go ahead; I’m not your mother. Note that issues of Runaways have been published in two different volumes: the first ran 18 issues in 2003–2004; the second, current volume (or “season”) debuted in 2005 with a new #1.