What Comic Should I Read Next?

[Johnny Unusual]

Which comic should I read next: Abraham Stone (a western by Joe Kubert), One Hundred Tales by Osamu Tezuka, Astonishing Times (a superhero book about journalism or something), Who Was the Greatest (a little book about Muhammad Ali).

 

[Olli]

Go for Who Was the Greatest because it looks dope

 

[Kirin]

I’m curious about the Tezuka book, I haven’t seen much of that one.

 

[FelixSH]

I think you can't really go wrong with Tezuka.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

I read the Ali book, which was slight but informative and had some really good art for what is essentially cliff notes for the Thrilla and Manilla. And weirdly, though it is slight, it both romanticizes the legendary fight but also gives some brief critical looks are how Don King kinda sucks and the fight happened in a location of human rights violations. Mostly, though it was just decent art for something that feels like it could be a Scholastic book for older kids.'

I also read 100 Nights. It's classic Tezuka and also has a demon woman who turns into a series of sexy animals.

The actual story is a samurai who is not so much a warrior but a high class accountant is asked to kill himself due to being a small pawn in some corruption. He sells his soul to a demon for three wishes: a chance to start life over, to be married to the most beautiful woman in the world and to have his own kingdom. The demon can't give these with a flick of the wrist (except the first one) so they quest together to make the dream come true with her doing the heavy lifting as his servant. It's late stage Tezuka and the art is very good. A Faust story, except the demon becomes more sympathetic and is in love with the main character. It's more goofy and humourous than the plot sounds and there's a lot of fun creativity (and lots of Tezuka poking fun at himself).

OK, here's my next line up. These all look pretty good.

The Shazam one is from Jeff Smith, the creator of Bone, my all time favourite comic
Thieves and Kings was a sleeper critical hit when it came out and alternates between comic and prose.
This Mister Miracle book is from DC's young adult line of graphic novels, which I hear are generally stylish and good
The Wrong Earth is by Tom Peyer, a writer I dont have strong feelings about but I really like the premise: what if Adam West Batman and Frank Miller Batman switched places.

 

[Torzelbaum]

Shazam and Thieves & Kings look the most interesting to me.

 

[lincolnic]

Shazam or The Wrong Earth, both seem cool.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

I definitely wouldn't put SHAZAM as high as Bone or even RASL (which, I must admit, I remember nothing about except I liked it). Still, it is a fun book and a really fun take on Captain Marvel, one that is mostly traditional and rides a weird line between doing all the classic goofy stuff but also being back to basics. It's at it's best when it really cuts loose on the silliness and it ends with a 70 foot tall superhero, so that's fun.

OK, next on my list...

From Under Mountains is the one I know least about but it seems to be traditional high fantasy with good art.
I love EC Comics and I haven't read this one. It's from the last era of EC Comics original run were they basically weren't able to do horror and crime anymore and desperately tried to rethink their series. This one feels like the series that had to deviate the least from that norm.
The Castaway in Dimension Z saga seems fun, with Cap trapped in a pocket universe created by Arnim Zola. It's been a while since I read an a-list main continuity superhero title.
Harley and Ivy is the mid-2000s mini series from Bruce Timm and Paul Dini plus all of Paul's Harley stories in the animated continuity he wrote for comics.

 

[Torzelbaum]

I love EC Comics and I haven't read this one. It's from the last era of EC Comics original run were they basically weren't able to do horror and crime anymore and desperately tried to rethink their series. This one feels like the series that had to deviate the least from that norm.

I was going to suggest this but I don't know about non-horror/non-crime EC.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

I was going to suggest this but I don't know about non-horror/non-crime EC.

One of EC's most famous published stories is one of their sci-fi ones. An astronaut from an intergalactic Federation travels to a planet of robots that want to join. It's a good read.

https://www.cbr.com/judgment-day-ec-comics-code-authority/

 

[Torzelbaum]

OK, maybe EC sci-fi has some legs...

 

[Johnny Unusual]

I had people vote on what to read but every book had one vote except one. So I chose the one nobody voted for; From Under Mountains. It's a political intrigue fantasy book and I think the art was good and the characters interesting... I gotta admit I was kinda lost with the Who's Who. It's like I'm turnin' into my mom when we were watching Dune.

Anyway my next three picks:

The Secret Voice - No idea but it's in a nice hardcover.
X-Ray Robot - It's a Mike Allred. All I know and perhaps all I need to know.
Nick Fury Vs. SHIELD - This one I know more about; an 80s book from Bob Harras (who I know more as an editor than a writer) where Nick Fury discovers all the LMDs are taking control.

 

[Torzelbaum]

The 1st 2 look the most interesting to me. The last one feels like the type of story we've seen so many times before.

It's a Mike Allred. All I know and perhaps all I need to know.

Is that good or bad?

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Good. Big Allred fan.

The last one feels like the type of story we've seen so many times before.

Yep but this is the first comic where "SHIELD is the bad guy, actually". This was from the 80s era of prestige no-ads mini-series.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

X-Ray Robot was good but while being heavy with crazy concepts and exposition and philosophy, it's also kind of slight as a story. Still, it is a pretty looking and enjoyable read.

Now what's next:

Unknown Soldier - Garth Ennis is generally better at straight war stories than other genres. That said, I think this is an espionage version of the old war character.
Justice League: The Last Ride - No idea, except Chip Zdarsky is supposed to be a good writer.
Enigma - This is Peter Milligan, the Grant Morrison we have at home. To be fair, he can be really good with the right project. The closer he is to a mainstream title, the worse it tends to get. And this is his Vertigo series that people seem to like that isn't Shade.

 

[lincolnic]

I'll vote for Justice League, Chip Zdarsky is cool.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Finished the Last Ride. In many ways, it's a very traditional "final story" story with some fun twists. I will say, there are definitely antagonists that I kind of get tired of in terms of overuse. Still, strong meat and potatoes Justice League story.

Next.

What If? - The original run (this is not the huge omnibus but it seems to be at least 8 issues thick)
Superman: Up in the Sky - Like Chip, I've yet to read a Tom King comic but people seem to like him.
Batman '66 and Wonder Woman '77 - I have read Jeff Parker books. I always find him to be a consistent 6-7/10 writer. Like never goes higher or lower. But also people seem to really liked his Batman 66 book. I haven't read it but I think I'll be able to follow along.

 

[Torzelbaum]

I am torn between saying What If? and 143.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Superman: Up in the Sky is very good. I guess it recently went in a "Best of Superman super collection" with Superman for All Seasons, Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow and All Star Superman and really it fits right in. There are big fights but it's more a series of fables and conversations but it all works.

Next on the docket;

Clue: Candlestick is supposed to be far better than a comic based on a board game should be.
Rock Candy Mountain? Don't know much but I love books about hobo mythos.
Fire Power - Kirkman is a solid writer. Everyone seems to like Chris Samnee a lot but I haven't read any of his works yet.

 

[Torzelbaum]

Clue or the hobo book sounds the most interesting to me.

 

[lincolnic]

Clue or the hobo book sounds the most interesting to me.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Clue: Candlestick is top notch comic booking. It's clearly inspired by Tom Scioli's work and like it there are lots of silly bits, including the reveal that Mrs. Peacock was married to Uncle Pennybags for a time. Also, I didn't bother to solve any but each issues comes with puzzles and clues, some of which can help you solve the mystery before the final chapter (in theory, I didn't do them. It's definitely a high quality read.

Which comic should I read next:

The Black Widow one seams pretty shorts (so short I wonder if it was originally an online release). Astonishing Times seems like a generic premise of "character with a job that isn't a superhero in a superhero world" but the art seems nice. Abraham Stone is a Western and Joe Kubert and that's all I know.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Finished Astonishing Times. Art was good but pretty basic-ass story. Turns out, people are still making "what if Superman was a bad guy" stories for some reason. The "normal journalist in world of superheroes" has not only been done, it barely matters to this one. Fairly disappointing. I knew I was in trouble when the foreword barely talked about the series and is basically "I grew up with superheroes and now everyone thinks they're cool".


OK, what should I read next?

The Bullseye book could be fun. He's a fun villain. Kaijumax is about a prison for Godzillas and is done by the guy who did art in Top 10 who isn't Gene Ha. Incredible Science Fiction is from the last gasp of the original EC Comics when they were trying new stuff that society wouldn't shun.

 

[Torzelbaum]

Kaiju or EC.

 

[Olli]

Kaiju

 

[Kirin]

Yeah Kaiju prison seems like an interesting concept

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Kaijumax season 1 was completely great and ended on a high note. I'll have to track down the other seasons in the near future. It's much darker than it looks and while there are lots of easter eggs and references to Kaiju fiction, it doesn't get pandery. If anything, it's a solid sister series to Top 10, one of my all time favourite series (that Zander Cannon also worked on). Worth checking out but also content warning for sexual assault.

Now my next choices...

The Captain America one has Kyle Baker art, which means a lot to me. By complete coincidence, two different works by two of the Henendez Bros.! I read one Love and Rockets story a long time ago, Luba, but just one story in the middle of the series. I haven't read any of this. Sloth I know nothing about.

 

[Olli]

Hernandez Bro(s) always.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Sloth is a comic that is really good but feels best to be read in your late teens to have maximum effect. This isn't, like, a negative but the fact that it upends its narrative about half-way through make it a disorienting read (in a good way) and it feels like the kind of teen drama meets surrealist, enigmatic storytelling that can really hit you at the exact right time when you aren't prepared for it. By the end, I don't know exactly what happened but there's a dream logic to it, and yet it also feels more accessible than and more focused than a lot of writers who use dream logic, even if there are no clear answers. A strong recommend, even if I can't quite tell you what it all meant.

OK, what should I read next?

The Wrong Earth is "What if Frank Miller Batman and Adam West Batman switched places"
I don't need to tell you what Nick Fury is. This is the Lee-Kirby run before the much more beloved Sterenko run.
Shakespeare Manga Theatre is Tezuka doing Shakespeare. Based on the cover, a candleabra is involved.

 

[Büge]

The Wrong Earth!