I got into comics in the early 90s when the Xmen and Batman animated series were running strong.  I read them off and on, usually at a Borders or Barnes & Noble, and presently try to follow some of the major storylines i.e. Death of Captain America, Blackest Night.

 

Just a few of my favorites and why:

 

Captain America (Steve Rogers): There have been maybe 9 or 10 Captain Americas, but I've always liked the Steve Rogers version the most.  He's basically Marvel's copy of Superman:  American colors, idealistic, dual personalities (until a few years ago), larger than life, highly moral, etc. 

 

Hitman: Hitman is a now dead character in the DC universe, but his comics in the 90s were dark, funny, and always entertaining as hell.  It's about...well..a hitman who has some rarely used superpowers.

 

The Boys: In this world, superheroes are basically no better than supervillains and so there is a small CIA organized group called The Boys who police the superhero community.  And by police I mean ripping their faces off and killing them sometimes.  It's a very graphic series and features tons of allegories to Marvel and DC characters.

 

Watchmen: The movie was boring junk save for the first 15 minutes, but the originally series is simply flawless.  It's on everyone's best list for a reason.

 

Plastic Man: Plastic Man is a strange character in that everyone has heard of him, he's had cartoons and his own (failed) comic series, is HILARIOUS, and has great powers.  But for some reason he doesn't have a real presence in the DC universe and is very much ignored in major story arcs.  Strange.

 

Ultimate Spiderman: This is probably Marvel's best series and feature a teenage Spiderman.  I like it due to its consistency - never a bad story arc - and while the Marvel Ultimates line has become a bit of a failure, this one still rocks!

 

Punisher: One of my favorites, he kills and tortures people unapologetically.  There is a lot of humor and fun characters.  Also, Punisher: War Zone is one of the best comic book films I have ever seen as it really matches the comic closely.

 

Wanted:  Awful, awful movie that had nothing to do with the comic.  But the series, which features a rapist-murderer-Eminem-superhuman-protagonist fighting slightly worse supervillains, all of whom are (like in the Boys) noticeable allegories to mainstream supervillains, has perfect art, the greatest last page in the history of all comics, and has a real magic to it.

 

Just a few.  I'm curious what other people think.

 

Nightcrawler.

You had me up until the bit about ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN and PUNISHER: WAR ZONE being anything resembling a good movie.

I was never more than a passive comic book fan (I like the usual, like X-Men, Spiderman and Richie Rich, but I don't know the names of any of the specific series)

 

However, a friend recently lent me The Watchmen, and I have to say, it was really a fantastic read. While I went through the whole book in about 2 nights, on first read, I spent a lot of time going back and re-reading certain segments to try and recapture some of what he was writing about, and re-visiting some of the artwork. Great comic, or illustrated novel, or whatever it's called.

In no particular order 

• Spawn
  
• Wonder Woman
  
• Lex Luthor
  
• Charles Xavier
  
• Magneto
  
• Grodd
  
• General Zod
  
• Mystique
  
• Cat Woman
  
• The Phoenix
  

However, a friend recently lent me The Watchmen, and I have to say, it was really a fantastic read. While I went through the whole book in about 2 nights, on first read, I spent a lot of time going back and re-reading certain segments to try and recapture some of what he was writing about, and re-visiting some of the artwork. Great comic, or illustrated novel, or whatever it's called.

 

Is it too late for me?.... considering I already suffered through that god-awful movie

What I liked about Punisher: War Zone was that it really matches the style and feel of the comic, in particular the MAX series, closely.  Movies like Spiderman and Dark Knight are pretty good in their own right, but I see them more as movies that feature comic book characters rather than  being true adaptions.

 

I felt that the nitty grittiness, silliness, and over-the-top exaggerated reality of the Punisher comics were well adapted into the sequel.  The film felt surreal, a kind of hyper-reality.  It really is a proper translation of the comic book material that I haven't seen in too many other films.

However, a friend recently lent me The Watchmen, and I have to say, it was really a fantastic read. While I went through the whole book in about 2 nights, on first read, I spent a lot of time going back and re-reading certain segments to try and recapture some of what he was writing about, and re-visiting some of the artwork. Great comic, or illustrated novel, or whatever it's called.

 

Is it too late for me?.... considering I already suffered through that god-awful movie

 

I didn't see the movie, but having read the book, I can see where they would have had a lot of difficulty translating to the big screen. Yes, it's about superheroes, but the superpowers aren't really a focal point of the story. A lot of inner dialogue

 

To that point, I'd like to add Rorschach as one of my favorite comic book anti-heroes.

However, a friend recently lent me The Watchmen, and I have to say, it was really a fantastic read. While I went through the whole book in about 2 nights, on first read, I spent a lot of time going back and re-reading certain segments to try and recapture some of what he was writing about, and re-visiting some of the artwork. Great comic, or illustrated novel, or whatever it's called.

 

Is it too late for me?.... considering I already suffered through that god-awful movie

 

Hey...watch that language!  That was a good movie!

 

AJ93 gets it!

However, a friend recently lent me The Watchmen, and I have to say, it was really a fantastic read. While I went through the whole book in about 2 nights, on first read, I spent a lot of time going back and re-reading certain segments to try and recapture some of what he was writing about, and re-visiting some of the artwork. Great comic, or illustrated novel, or whatever it's called.

 

Is it too late for me?.... considering I already suffered through that god-awful movie

 

I didn't see the movie, but having read the book, I can see where they would have had a lot of difficulty translating to the big screen. Yes, it's about superheroes, but the superpowers aren't really a focal point of the story. A lot of inner dialogue

 

However, a friend recently lent me The Watchmen, and I have to say, it was really a fantastic read. While I went through the whole book in about 2 nights, on first read, I spent a lot of time going back and re-reading certain segments to try and recapture some of what he was writing about, and re-visiting some of the artwork. Great comic, or illustrated novel, or whatever it's called.

 

Is it too late for me?.... considering I already suffered through that god-awful movie

 

Hey...watch that language! That was a good movie!

 

AJ93 gets it!

However, a friend recently lent me The Watchmen, and I have to say, it was really a fantastic read. While I went through the whole book in about 2 nights, on first read, I spent a lot of time going back and re-reading certain segments to try and recapture some of what he was writing about, and re-visiting some of the artwork. Great comic, or illustrated novel, or whatever it's called.

 

Is it too late for me?.... considering I already suffered through that god-awful movie

 

I didn't see the movie, but having read the book, I can see where they would have had a lot of difficulty translating to the big screen. Yes, it's about superheroes, but the superpowers aren't really a focal point of the story. A lot of inner dialogue

 

 

Yeah, my friend said the movie made a lot more sense for him, having read the book, than for someone who just came in and watched the movie by itself. I guess this was something the author was struggling with as well.

 

In that way, it sounds like the movie was a lot like 2001: A space Odyssey, where if you hadn't read the book, you didn't know what the F@#$ was going on at the end of the movie (Count me as one of those...completely baffled until someone explained to me what was happening).

However, a friend recently lent me The Watchmen, and I have to say, it was really a fantastic read. While I went through the whole book in about 2 nights, on first read, I spent a lot of time going back and re-reading certain segments to try and recapture some of what he was writing about, and re-visiting some of the artwork. Great comic, or illustrated novel, or whatever it's called.

 

Is it too late for me?.... considering I already suffered through that god-awful movie

 

Hey...watch that language!  That was a good movie!

 

AJ93 gets it!

However, a friend recently lent me The Watchmen, and I have to say, it was really a fantastic read. While I went through the whole book in about 2 nights, on first read, I spent a lot of time going back and re-reading certain segments to try and recapture some of what he was writing about, and re-visiting some of the artwork. Great comic, or illustrated novel, or whatever it's called.

 

Is it too late for me?.... considering I already suffered through that god-awful movie

 

I didn't see the movie, but having read the book, I can see where they would have had a lot of difficulty translating to the big screen. Yes, it's about superheroes, but the superpowers aren't really a focal point of the story. A lot of inner dialogue

 

 

Yeah, my friend said the movie made a lot more sense for him, having read the book, than for someone who just came in and watched the movie by itself. I guess this was something the author was struggling with as well.

 

In that way, it sounds like the movie was a lot like 2001: A space Odyssey, where if you hadn't read the book, you didn't know what the F@#$ was going on at the end of the movie (Count me as one of those...completely baffled until someone explained to me what was happening).

 

You should buy it.  ;)

However, a friend recently lent me The Watchmen, and I have to say, it was really a fantastic read. While I went through the whole book in about 2 nights, on first read, I spent a lot of time going back and re-reading certain segments to try and recapture some of what he was writing about, and re-visiting some of the artwork. Great comic, or illustrated novel, or whatever it's called.

 

Is it too late for me?.... considering I already suffered through that god-awful movie

 

Hey...watch that language! That was a good movie!

 

AJ93 gets it!

However, a friend recently lent me The Watchmen, and I have to say, it was really a fantastic read. While I went through the whole book in about 2 nights, on first read, I spent a lot of time going back and re-reading certain segments to try and recapture some of what he was writing about, and re-visiting some of the artwork. Great comic, or illustrated novel, or whatever it's called.

 

Is it too late for me?.... considering I already suffered through that god-awful movie

 

I didn't see the movie, but having read the book, I can see where they would have had a lot of difficulty translating to the big screen. Yes, it's about superheroes, but the superpowers aren't really a focal point of the story. A lot of inner dialogue

 

 

Yeah, my friend said the movie made a lot more sense for him, having read the book, than for someone who just came in and watched the movie by itself. I guess this was something the author was struggling with as well.

 

In that way, it sounds like the movie was a lot like 2001: A space Odyssey, where if you hadn't read the book, you didn't know what the F@#$ was going on at the end of the movie (Count me as one of those...completely baffled until someone explained to me what was happening).

 

You should buy it. ;)

 

No, I'll just borrow it from the library, and burn a copy!!

did i read the mighty thor is getting a movie treatment soon? that could be fun, hamma time haha!

There was a 5 minute preview of the new Thor movie a few months ago.  It didn't look all that good

I don't care about movies or whatever the truly original incarnation was when the comic was first drawn - it just doesn't get better than THIS, imho:

 

 

Absolutely rockin' bod; FABulous accessories (helLO, superpowered accessories!!!), great hair... c'mon.

I can't wait for that Green Lantern movie - Reynolds was a good choice. 

 

It's so bizarre how DC only takes their live action Superman and Batman films seriously whereas everything else is complete junk (The Losers, Steel, Catwoman, Watchmen, Jonah Hex).  They such an incredible library of characters that would make for amazing franchises: Wonder Woman, Flash, Plastic Man, JLA, JSA, Starman (1990s version), Hitman, Preacher, etc. 

 

Meanwhile, Marvel is printing out movie after movie every year that really range in quality as we have utter crap (Fantastic Four series, Blades 2 + 3, Hulk, Electra) to mediocre (Iron Man 2, Spiderman 3, Daredevil) to good (Xmen, Spiderman, Incredible Hulk) to damn good (Xmen 2, Spiderman 2, Iron Man 1, Punisher: War Zone, Blade I).  The Thor movie looks weak so far and I wasn't crazy about the Captain America stills (the uniform looked really bulky), but still, Marvel is really doing a great job at least getting those films into production.

 

But then again, DC keeps printing out impressive comic book animated films with only a few misses, I find whereas Marvel's are almost all pretty boring.  The more recent DC ones are just incredible (Under the Red Hood probably had the best action sequences of any film I've seen all year) 

Cincinnatus showed me his comic book collection; I think he said these were his favorites:

 

 

 

Kinda scary.

Superdickery.com has a ton of those kinds of comics.  They used to do a ton of S&M back in the day (think old school Wonder Woman comics) and it was all pretty tongue in cheek.

Tbideon,  you may be alright dude after all! 

Is it me, or am I the only person whose character list is "evil" heavy?

That's no surprise.  At all.

That's no surprise.  At all.

 

http://www.hulu.com/embed/a76ipfjZDM1q10BPpQhz2g/62/89

Batman, Green Lantern, Nightwing, The Authority, I've started reading JSA recently.

 

I'm pretty new to comics...always had a fascination but never knew how to get into it.  Now i've been reading and collecting some for the last couple years...starting with the Dark Tower series and then into the Battle for the Cowl and Blackest Night...

 

Just got the first book of the Alan Moore Swamp Thing.  I also really like the stuff by Ed Brubaker and Warren Ellis...those guys are awesome.

I love you DC Comics kids!  THANK YOU...REALLY!  :clap:

don't **** up Green Lantern.

don't **** up Green Lantern.

 

In brightest day, in blackest night, No evil shall escape my sight

 

Let those who worship evil's might, Beware my power... Green Lantern's light!

 

 

Maggy and Hopey

(yes, I date myself with this choice...but it reminds me of my Califas days)

 

 

is that Ghost World?

....Dan Clowes?  No, his artwork is different.

 

This is Love & Rockets, by Beto and Jaime Hernandez.  Though I think some early Clowes stuff was in 1980s editions of their comic book, though.

 

I didn't realize this or know this until recently but Jaime Hernandez was born in 1959, the same year I was (brother Beto was born in 1956 or 57), so his influences might have been what was out there back in the 1960s and 1970s, which would have included "Archie".  L&R  is sort of an updated Archie.

 

L&R did catch a certain aspect of the California scene back in the 1980s, that chicano meets postpunk alternative culture thing. I was sort of the the fringes of that, via the  gay scene.  Interestingly the Hernadez's did some artwork for gay/les publications back them, like OutLook (a short-lived literary/cutlural mag) and  did some cover art a few years back for an Indigo Girls CD.

 

@@@@

 

In the 1970s, I used to like the Freak Brothers (are they still around?):

 

 

...and Fat Freddies Cat.  Which makes me think of Bill the Cat in Bloom County (maybe a precursor).

 

@@@@

 

In the 1960s (as a kid) I didn't read comic books much but was an avid follower of the strips.  In Chicago we had four daily papers and they all had Sunday editions with color comics sections.  So a lot of comics!  My granfather would save them up and send them to me after I moved to Louisville (which had different comics) 

 

Comic books: I recall the Harvey Comics....Caspar and Ritchie Rich....and there was Mad Magazine (which was sort of subversive in its satrical/wise-guy way).  For adventure comics I seem to recall something called "Sgt. Rock", sort of a war/heroic comic book.

 

 

 

 

 

I've read some of Sgt. Rock stuff.  Those war comics are always good reads.

 

I forgot to mention All Star Superman and how brilliant a series that is.  It did a really good job capturing the essence of old school comics (where things really weren't that serious i.e. Superman spanking Lois would be on the cover of every other issue).  The art is great, there are multiple iconic images, in particular the cover of the first issue where Superman is sitting calmly on the clouds looking over Metropolis, and the storyline is very satisfying.  An easy 10 out of 10. 

 

Not sure about the upcoming straight to DVD animated film.  If it's just another Luthor vs Superman storyline, then they're missing the point of the series.  You can see it here.  http://www.411mania.com/movies/news/154460/%5BMovies%5D-Trailer-For-All-Star-Superman.htm

 

And on an unrelated note, look at Chris Evans as Captain America here.  He got JACKED.

http://www.411mania.com/movies/news/154664/%5BMovies%5D-First-Look-At-Chris-Evans-&-Hayley-Atwell-In-Captain-America.htm