So, who here is a comic book or graphic novel reader?

I'm just finishing up Preacher, which is fantastic.
I'm halfway into The Watchmen, Black Hole, Tomie, and a few others.

*raises hand*

i'm new to graphic novels but i'm already addicted.

i've read both 'box office poison' and 'tricked' by alex robinson. just finished 'ghost world' by dan clowes last night. i have a bunch in line to read when i get the chance... including 'american splendor', 'palomar', 'black hole', 'blankets', 'the watchmen' among others...

told you i was addicted.

I haven't read all that many, but I want to read more. I'm a fan of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series though. I have his book, Endless Nights thats related to that series.

Too many to list. People who know me here, know I love my comics.

Wonder Woman, obviously. I'm thrilled Gail Simone has taken over the books for now (for the most part). I'm a DC person, although I love other publishers as well. Dark Horse offers up good fare, as does Vertigo, although Vertigo is somewhat the naughty extension of DC.

Right now I'm rereading JLA trades:
Tower of Babel and Obsidian Age 1 and 2 (both JLA comics)

Preacher is outstanding. I'm so glad to be seeing you read that, Nate. How are you liking the Buffy series? Oh and have you read any Fray? Outstanding series about the future Buffy (like, post apocalyptic Buffy, but without a real apocalypse, so to speak).

I'm actually hitting my shop on Sunday, since my tax returns (state that is) has been deposited.

I recommend Hellboy and BPRD strongly if you (anyone) hasn't a chance to read any. Pick up a trade or two to catch up. Oh and check out iFanboy.com podcast. Their weekly reviews are typically spot on.

Where's the line?
What determines whether something is a 'comic book' versus a 'graphic novel'?

Preacher is quite fantastic. Some lame-o took my last collection from my locker and I haven't been able to read it - it's killing me. Getting really antsy to finish it.

I've read the first collection of Season Eight, but that's it really. I have the rest of the released issues, I just need to read them. So far, It's very faithful to the style and heart of the show (or at least I think so), and it's really great because of that. It's awesome to see where they took it with the new medium, and I love the choices they've made both artistically and "plot-wise."

I hear in the original series they decided to include Dawn... I'm excited to see how they do that. I heard that received a lot of criticism for it, but I think it's a great idea.

As goes anything else, I've only heard of and browsed... when I get the time, I'll definitely be checking all of that out.



There is no line. The terms 'graphic novel' and 'comic book' are, in all practicality, synonymous. The only thing that 'graphic novel' has done for the world of comics is made them a bit more acceptable. The stigmatization and narrowly defined world of 'comics' is a sad misrepresentation of a beautiful and amazingly open art form.

Speaking of, who has read Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics? It's seriously amazing. I'm half way through it and it's definitely the most insightful, interesting, and consciousness-expanding piece of theoretical analysis of the (invisible) artistry of comic books. If you haven't picked up yet, do it! It's a must read for any comic fan.

Oh, and the best part? It's a comic itself! Not only does McCloud use the persuasion of written word, he also shows his audience exactly what he's talking about.

Batman HUSH,George perez's version of wonder woman,Pretty much anything DC though i got into spiderman recently but those are ones with my 3rd favorite ally blackcat (see siggy)

I am also a fan of dark horse comics stuff but those are really manga's like ghost in the shell.

I've never read DC. Am I bad person?

Yes, Nate. You are a complete wretch.

DC is VERY commercial, I'll warn you of that. So is Marvel. Part of the reason why I keep reading DC is became I'm somewhat of loyalist and it was my first comic-verse. So in a way, it's like coming home.

You might like Teen Titans (not the Go! aka Cartoon Network version). It's angsty, but believe or not, there's some fantastic story telling in that series. Hush is good and you can pick up or borrow a trade. In fact, I know my library has it so yours might as well. Avoid anything Batman related material Frank Miller writes. I love Frank Miller and am very fond of Sin City, but after a few reads, I don't like his Batman voice. The Killing Joke is f**king amazing. I think you should pick that up for a first DC-verse read.

Mad love pwns.

OMG I FINNALLY FOUND OUT WHAT ZATANNA LOOKS LIKE FROM READING Identity crisis (which is sad and awesome)

Shes hot.
Shes like...almost as hot as black cat...

PERSEPOLIS!
there is a book two as well

I'm reading Preacher: Gone to Texas (tpb)

This stuff is brilliant. I've read Preacher before, but I decided to start over with the first trade collection. Absolutely amazing. This is probably the best series I've read in a long time and definitely a topper on my list of what I need to read.

Everything in this book, from the dialogue to the art to the vivid characterizations are amazing. I haven't been this enthralled in a book, beit graphic novel or otherwise in a very long time.

edit: And Diana, Zatanna is definitely one of the hottest DC chicks EVER. Check out "Everyday Magic" sometime. It's a one shot, Paul Dini scribed graphic novel, put out by Vertigo (DC's bastard child).

runaways!

I just finished Black Hole and Shortcomings (Adrian Tomine). Does anyone have any recommendations for "indie" style graphic novels... similar to Alex Robinson, Adrian Tomine, Daniel Clowes work?

^Have you read any Love and Rockets? It's a Jaime Hernandez (and his brothers) penned indie comic that is really quite fantastic.

Oh and here's a recent issues rating from ifanboy. I LOVE those guys. I listen to their podcast weekly.

I'm just getting ready to read this (if not only because six of the title issues were written by Joss Whedon, ahh ha). How is it?



I just recently read I Never Loved You by Chester Brown. It actually really effected me. It's minimalist. I think a few pages were entirely blank, and several featured only a single black and white panel. It's an auto-biographical re-visiting of the author's childhood (leading up to the end of high school). Sort of strange, very subtle, very relatable (especially for a growing boy who sometimes suspects he's a bit sociopathic), sort of haunting, and even touching.

Find the book and read it in one sitting (not hard, and not something you would regret).

I haven't read anything lately in the comicverse. Time, money, all that stuff. I DO want to get the second tpb of Preacher though. Perhaps next month.

You know, I really mus tmake the effort to check out some of ths stuff... If nothing else Buffy 8 is definitely on my list.

I just started the Civil War event. It's so f**king good.

I just downloaded the complete chronological series, and, it's such a relief that someone organized it all into a torrent, cause, it would be so hard to track down all those paperbacks (and to put them into order). Really, though, it's a very exciting collection of comics. I'm looking forward to finishing it all.

P.S. Whose side are you on?

Dude, f**k Iron Man in Civil War. That's all I'll say until you've finished it.

BUMP

Did you ever finish Civil War?

Ha, unfortunately not. I'm still stuck about a fourth of the way through. I've been having a multi-media overload lately - watching a lot of movies (a movie a day so far this month), reading (comics, books, reddit, wiki), and television (arrested development, firefly).

But, I'm going to try to pick it up again.
Ack, this reminds me that I'm like two issues behind on Season Eight.

BUMP, to respond to this -



I paid like 25 something for mine when it first came out in trade form.

It's one of my favorite arcs, EVER.

I liked TOB.

Man ive come to 2 conclusions 1: Comics will make a girl go broke it seems
2: Im going to miss Michael Turner's (RIP) cover art dude

http://www.dccomics.com/dcu/comics/?cm=11872
http://www.dccomics.com/dcu/comics/?cm=11872
http://www.dccomics.com/dcu/comics/?cm=11872

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMGOMG

I f*cking LOVE Dini.

Diana, have you seen Gotham Girls?

Unrelated to comic books as literature, but last summer (August) I saw a cool exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that showcased the influence of comic book artwork on the fashion world.

Unfortunately, I forgot my camera that day. But I don't think I could take pictures anyway.

I was intrigued, so I researched:
http://www.metmuseum.org/special/superheroes/

I LOVE THIS. Comics can be dismissed as trivial and elementary and I've got to say, I've had the opposite experience more often than not. It seems as though the only time comics are "cool", is when a mega budget Hollywood movie is created based upon a comic or graphic novel. I mean seriously, can you honestly say that all the fan chicks out there lusting after Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark would have known who Tony Stark was before the movie Iron Man was released? There might be a few (and I proudly count myself among them), but more so, I'd have to say not.

This transcends comic book art into fashion art, and I'm impressed. The typical Superman themed shirt (which I'm guilty of owning) or Wonder Woman coffee mug (which I'm also guilty of owning) is neat, but I love seeing something more elaborate and original.

The google header is awesome today for DC comics fans. :D

Bump.

Because Gotham City Sirens is amazing.

I love everything by Adriane Tomine.

I've also read Black Hole, Watchmen, Torso among others... love them.