The V

I was thinking there should be a thread for graphic novels/tpbs/collected editions/whatever the feck they're called. I'm sure a fair few folk here read comics, but aren't keeping up to date on the latest Secret Invasion x-overs. So could this thread function as a catch all thread for people like me who just want to talk about anything non current they've just read?

AMERICA VIRGIN Vol 1 - Picked this up on a whim. Not bad. It's an interesting premise. At least it would be, if I knew where it was going. A fundie Christian hero is a nice twist on the typical Vertigo hero. Cloonan's art looks much nicer in colour and her storytelling is damn good now. I thought the first volume ended a little abruptly and I'm not srure I want to read more. Does it get better or worse.

AZTEK - As a big Morrison and Millar fan, this was a bit disapointing. Feels like it got cut off when it was going somewhere. It was alright, but fairly unremarkable. It did make me want to re-read JLA to see what happenned Aztek, a character I mostly ignored on previous reads.

PUNISHER MAX 9 - Long Dark Whatit. Brilliant. I'm not quite as keen as everyone else on Punisher Max as everyone else. As brilliant as it is, my lack of empathy for the main character made it harder for me to love than Hitman or Preacher. There was just enough character development in this one to make me really care. Almost makes me wish the Punisher was creator owned, since no one bar Ennis should touch him. Thank God we have Punisher: the End, so I can ignore the rest.

Eoin

So this isn't quite specifically about books like the Bone one volume edition and the Morrison New X-Men omnibus?

No, I just wanted to avoid another "It's not a graphic novel, it's a trade" argument where we have to guess the creator's intent. I just wanted a "What I just bought at the comic shop" style thread, but thought that'd get too current.

Although i did see the Punisher Omnibus on Amazon and was mighty tempted. That's one brilliant, very thick comic book.

Eoin

"Feels like it got cut off when it was going somewhere."

Yeah, I think that's a fair assessment.

mack - el - hat - ton * Photogregphy MarathonGreg * Read About Comics

Some of those huge, thick marvel trades are more of a gimmick then something actually readable. Though I have the big omnibus, and bought the issues during it's initial release, Marvel's been releasing New X-Men yet again in, apparently, three good, thick softcover trades that look mighty tempting.

While I agree they are too big, they are handy. I rread most of Ennis Pnisher and Morrison X-Men on loan. I saw no reason to buy it when my brother and friends all had copies. I'm too cheap and lazy to pick up the trades now, but i might splash out on one of those giant collections.

Eoin

This seems like a good place to bitch: I'm reading The Walking Dead in trades and finally picked up the latest, vol. 8, and I think it's ridiculous and very poor at this point to STILL have no page in the front with a Who's Who of the cast and a recap of what's gone on before.  The book has a very large cast of characters (some of whom look very similar) and a lot going on and I think it's just plain dumb not to have it when I'm only going to read the book about twice a year.  It was very a very frustrating read at times.

That said, *SPOILER* it looks like I'm saying this just in time for the book not to need a the Who's Who at all. *END SPOILER*

What I'm saying is that they're not handy because they are too big. They sit on the shelf well and it's handy in case of burgulary but it's not suited to being read.

Just in case, i'm referring to the single edition hardcover type of book that's several inches thick.

I usually can't stand Seagle, but what I've read of American Virgin (1-3 of I think 4, as it was cancelled) is decent. I definately think it improves after the first volume though, which was a tad to predictable. Not that it gets all that shocking, but definatley moreso than the obvious twist about the dead girlfriend in volume one.

I have no strong feelings on most of Seagle's work, but I love It's a Bird. I have a mate who swears by Sandman Mystery Theatre. I may buy American Virgin 2, but I probably won't. I still haven't read past Book 2 of the Losers and I actually really liked that comic.

Eoin

"Marvel's been releasing New X-Men yet again in, apparently, three good, thick softcover trades that look mighty tempting."

Am I wrong or are those trades actually more expensive than the original oversized hardcovers?

Don't know about the old hardcovers, these softcovers at 35$us a pop are a bit more expensive then the single hardcover which was being sold at, iirc, 100$us.

But I think I've sene them on amazin for 10$us off.

*Amazon.

The original New X-Men were $30, $30, and $35 each. Marverl's oversize HCs have always been a bit of  a bargain price though, and if you factor in inflation, $35 a volume still isn't too bad. The individual trades for voume one came out to $33 or $35 anyway.

Just read the third CRIMINAL trade a few days ago. Just really good stuff. It seems that Criminal is growing towards a Stray-Bullet-esque larger canvas of the stories.

KG

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Anyone know when the second Berlin book is out.  I got the first one and thought it was aces.  I notice that we're up to about 16 now in single issues.  Book two should be due soon then, no?

http://www.diamondcomics.com/shipping/newreleases.txt

DCD says its out this week.

Yep, and the latest story that began with #4 continues that trend with a supporting cast character moving into the spotlight. Totally loving it.

mack - el - hat - ton * Photogregphy MarathonGreg * Read About Comics

The Incredible Herc vol 1 by Greg Pak
-Ordered this base don the incredibly good buzz it has and well, I'm kinda pissed at Marvel. Rather than containing the Incredible Herc series, this reprints the WWH tie-in issues of the main Hulk book, including the infamous "Hulk Maths" issue. Now it wasn't bad, per se, but it wasn't very good either, nor was it anything I was interested in reading. It certainly lacks the wacky fun everyone talks about the Incredible Herc having. 

That's disappointing. I hope the hardcover only includes Hercules.

There are two Premiere HCs up on Amazon with the Hercules title, one of which is Secret Invasion related and not out yet.

This is partially my fault, I suppose, for not double checking the issues in the trade. I was ordering some other stuff and that came up as a recommendation. I thought "Oh, the paperback is out, why not?" and just clicked to add it to my cart. At the same time, Marvel totally changed the title of the comic for the trade, so I feel somewhat justified in being miffed at them.

Almost forgot, what with the hercules debacle and all:

Ultimate Spidey vol. 20: Spidey and his Amazing Friends
-Wow, this series has really been on the upswing for most of the trades of late. I wonder how much of that is Immonen coming aboard and possibilly being enthusiastic while Bagely by all accounts was forced into the project from the beginning and hung around to get the Marvel consecutive issues record. Shockingly, despite there being only fives issues reprinted, Bendis tells three stories! Up front there's the titular, fun three parter with guest-stars galore. The opening few pages, where Peter, MJ, Liz Allen, Kong, and Johnny Storm each get their own page are Bendis at some of his best. Kong's page in particular is a standout.

The two one-offs actually advace the Roxxon subplot Bendis has been working on for awhile, but work on their own terms. In theory Ultimate Spider-man was supposed to appeal to a younger audience, in practice that doesn't completley seem to have been the case, this one seems perfect to hand to a younger teen.

One final note: I don't recall iff he did it in volume 19, but Immonen is totally drawing MJ with Tabby's hairstyle from Nextwave now.

<<At the same time, Marvel totally changed the title of the comic for the trade>>

That sucks.

I'll have to check the others.

See also: GRANT MORRISON'S Batman: The Ressurection of GRANT MORRISON Ra's Al GRANT MORRISON Ghuul trade. That manages to be so full of non-Morrison chaff I couldn't be bothered reading any of it.

Even the Morrison stuff in there is a bit gash. Totally pointless crossover, that.

Also, a note about the NEWXMEN Complete Omnibus thingy that came out a few years ago. Whilst it's nice to have Morrison's entire run in one handy book (Along with countless other nick-nacks), it is an absolute cunt to read. I mean, sitting with it on my lap, I felt the blood being cut-off to my legs. And you have to really strain to read text in the middle of the page later on. I'd preferably have a year-per-trade kinda thing.

To be fair, Dini's got equal billing on that one (while Niceiza, the artists, and the fourth writer are regulated to under the title status).

It is a lot gash, but the Morrison issues at least had some potable kung-fu scenes going on in them. But other than the punching, the whole thing was shit.

I'm reasonably sure that trade is called Incredible Herc: World War Hulk and has a picture of the Hulk on the cover. So you're getting what's on the package.

The first Hercules trade is Incredible Hercules: Agaist the World.

Cheers.

I just ordered it from Forbidden Planet online.  Cannot wait.

That's what I've been trying to say earlier. And those ne softcovers coming out now are exactly what you're asking for. Fat enough to be worthwhile whilst easy enough to just pick up and read for a bit.