What comic books/graphic novels are you reading at the moment?

Just finished the very bloodthirsty Rawhead Rex

I'm catching up on modern classics. Just finished Alan Moore's "Watchmen" and started "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen". I have "V for Vendetta" waiting on my nightstand. I also bought some Batman and Superman trades I hadn't read yet; "Frank Millers "Dark Knight Returns" and "Batman Year One", Jeph Loeb's "The Long Halloween" and "Dark Victory", Grant Morrison's "All Star Superman" and Mark Miller's "Superman Red Son".

Monthlies I read: Invincible, Dr Strange, Spawn, Savage Dragon, Tokyo Ghost...
I'm exited for DC's Rebirth stuff to start rolling out. Plan on getting Wonder Woman, Titans and Super sons.

Wraith01 said:

I'm catching up on modern classics. Just finished Alan Moore's "Watchmen" and started "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen". I have "V for Vendetta" waiting on my nightstand. I also bought some Batman and Superman trades I hadn't read yet; "Frank Millers "Dark Knight Returns" and "Batman Year One", Jeph Loeb's "The Long Halloween" and "Dark Victory", Grant Morrison's "All Star Superman" and Mark Miller's "Superman Red Son".

Monthlies I read: Invincible, Dr Strange, Spawn, Savage Dragon, Tokyo Ghost...
I'm exited for DC's Rebirth stuff to start rolling out. Plan on getting Wonder Woman, Titans and Super sons.

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Some good reads in there - enjoy.

I guess this is the place to post about all the manga I read...

Recently read Laughing Under the Clouds (Donten ni Warau) which was a really excellent historical fantasy set in Japan's Meiji era. (Also has an anime adaption which I'm currently watching and is also very good.) Only 6 volumes too so not a huge investment.

After that I started reading Blast of Tempest (Zetsuen no Tempest) since I had really loved the anime adaption but I'm hoping the manga has more details and explanation for the background of the story. This is also a relatively short, finished series. So far though the art isn't very good so the anime is probably a better experience.

Ongoing manga I follow: Akatsuki no Yona (quasi-historical fantasy series about a displaced princess who gathers a group of supernatural warriors to aid her in helping her kingdom), Vanitas no Carte (steampunk vampire story set in 19th century France), D. Gray-man (dark fantasy series set in a fictional 19th century about a war between monsters called "Akuma", the Exorcists who fight them and other mysterious forces behind it all), Black Butler (dark fantasy with Victorian setting about a young lord and his demon butler), Attack on Titan (small remnant of humanity under attack from creatures called Titans), and Bungou Stray Dogs (characters based on famous Japanese and Western authors who have unique superpowers going to war with each other in modern day Yokohama).

I have just finished Dreadstar omnibus volume 1 by Jim Starlin. I have now started to read Tales Of Asgard ( Kirby ) and Warlock Complete Jim Starlin. I also have at the pile The Coming of Galactus ( Kirby ) and The New Gods Complete ( Kirby ).

Currently reading some early Giraud (aka Moebius) Lieutenant Blueberry / Fort Navajo adventures.

Enjoy the New Gods, zlogdan. The whole Fourth World thing is my favourite Kirby period

Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue. A fictional account of the life of the legendary Miyamoto Musashi.

So with the recent sale on Comixology I've seriously dipped into the hugely popular SAGA. However one thing I've noticed that really makes it stand out from a lot of other comics isn't the story. Instead its the artists ability to show facial expressions upon the characters. Whilst one would think this commonplace for comics; in truth whilst many can draw faces, few can capture a facial expression so well as in Saga. This think contributes to its success; a subtle element that allows a panel to tell more than just action and words; but to convey a sense of emotion.
Whilst some might consider some of the expressions a bit of over-acting - I think that actually works well for a comic; well for something that captures a single moment in time and thus should show the peek of that emotion.

For those who showed an interest earlier I can confirm that East of West is good - and it gets only better! The story takes twists and turns and just as soon as you start to feel you understand the past of the world you start to chase fast with the characters toward the rest of the tale as it unfolds! Indeed I'm finding I'm slowing my reading of it considerably to try and pace it out so that more volumes can be published least I end up against a wall of waiting.

I'd also like to draw peoples attention to two further ongoing series.
1) Yiu - what happens when Warhammer meets Ghost in the Shell (kinda really more the Warhammer!)


In the past I've raved about the artwork in Requiem; well now Yiu is going to join it in that block. The artwork is oustanding and if you've ever been a fan of Warhammer its VERY inspired by (I would not be surprised if the artist had not worked on both projects in the past or was not heavily influenced by). Dark; gothic technology in a futuristic world with a heavy religious angle imposed upon the story.
And against it all one heroins break-neck quest to save her brother. Indeed she throws herself into her missions much akin to the Major in Ghost in the Shell - little concern for herself. For the artwork alone I'd recommend this series, for the story furthermore. It's a bloody rip-roaring dark adventure and still ongoing.


2) Elephantmen.
This is in fact roughly 3 series comprising of the ongoing "Hip Flask" series;
Elephantmen
Elephantmen Digital Comics - Comics by comiXology: Web UK
Hipflask
Hip Flask Digital Comics - Comics by comiXology: Web UK



In the main series of Elephantmen, the artwork jumps around a lot as does the story somewhat. There is most certainly a long running story; but inter-spaced between are bits of history; little snippets of story that build up toward the characters as they are in the "current" story timeline. The jumping nature of the artwork often reflects the nature of the stories and how they shift in charm and appeal. Some might consider this a distracting way to read a series; but I find it refreshing without being overbearing - even if sometimes I'm a little eager to read through some snippets of story a bit faster than some others.
But enough of art this is a tale of war; of those who survive and how one deals with the aftermath when one what many would consider a monster in body. Indeed whilst I'm aware that animalistic characters might turn some readers away with the childishness of such a concept; but I would urge any to pause and give a read of, at the very least, Hipflask. This series is far from childish and the way the characters are presented and drawn brings out their humanity - yet without shedding any of the beast within and without.

HipFlask series is a bit of an oddball. First let me say the artwork in this outstanding and really draws you into the mood and atmosphere. Many have likened it to Blade-Runner and I can see why. Whilst the world is distinctly different it shares that dark, rainy, gritty feel. A distinctly American "Big City" feeling that comes across brilliantly.
Now for the oddball bit; the series kind of acts as an introduction to Elephantmen (indeed part of the opening issue appears again in Elephantmen as a background segment); but at the same time its most clearly a story set at some point either during or after that long-running and ongoing series (I say at some point only because I'm only 2 volumes into Elephantmen).
I read Hipflask first and its got me hooked; even if some of the story twists of the main series are revealed to me its not a disappointment as the series has its own major plots and twists.
Sadly Hip Flask is one issue away from finished and far behind on its targeted release date; I'm led to understand that this has happened for most of the issues and thus its a waiting game; but with Elephantmen still being published and written I have little fears that the end will be written; its just a case of when.

Few things;
1) New volume of Requiem is out on Comixology - not read it yet but been waiting for this one for ages now!

2) I've not read it nor bought it but there's a Labyrinth Comic out to make the 30th Anniversary
Jim Henson's Labyrinth 30th Anniversary Special - Comics by comiXology: Web UK

Just finished reading Kirkman's Outcast Volume One. Read the whole thing in one sitting. Absolutely superb. Volume 2 has since been ordered

I am "reading" that is, transcribing / translating (using google, & others) the original version of CAPTAIN ATOM. It was part of a limited edition 7 set re-release of original MIGHTY ATOM comics. More than a few changes had been made to the longer stories, especially to cram the series into 23 volumes of pocket-sized books. In fact, this story was rewriten to make Atom the main character.

The series Yiu (as mentioned above) is now finished and goes out with a huge bang as the world goes insane all around the heroin as she pushes all she has to simply save her brother and be reunited. An emotional story to a backdrop of techno-religion in a decadent world of the future. As I mentioned earlier the artistic style and style of the architecture and machinations are very reminiscent of Warhammer 40K (at least to my eye). Was a great read and I'd heartily recommend it to others.

In addition I've been dipping into a bit of SPAWN as they had a sale on semi-recently. Enjoying it and looking forward to when the comic story advances beyond where the TV show got to (although I'd honestly say that if you get a chance to - see teh TV animation. It really builds well upon the comic and is a fantastic adaptation - a great shame it never got to complete the story - then again the comics author says that Spawn is a comic that whilst it has an end - is very very far off).
One other thing I like is that Spawn is one of the few who has a single continuity. There's no re-boots or retellings or huge alternate retellings (although there's a few stand alone series that look into historical Spawns). It's refreshing in a market dominated by Marvel and DC superheroes to have some that are big names; but without the confusing legacy that makes them not only expensive; not only somewhat repetitive but also very hard to get into if you're the kind that likes to read things from the beginning.

There's also a brand new Metabarons series being released. Two volumes are already released and continue the story from the end of the first series with a further 6 volumes planed;
The Metabaron Digital Comics - Comics by comiXology: Web UK

In addition there's a current sale on a lot of the Metabarons series and associated works; if you like a style of art that harckens back to the golden sci-fi age then I'd recommend it even just for the artwork in the metabarons series!
Comics on Sale - Comics by comiXology: Web UK

Finally finished Maus.

And there's a lot of things I could, or should, say about it but I'll keep it down to two things.

1) It is an incredible story and insofar as must-read media exists, this is it.

2) Anyone who ever wants to see how rooting a story in the minute details of mundanity permits the fullest range of expression need look no further.

I had considered reading Maus, but am very uneasy/sickened by anything about death camps. WWII history is interesting, but that part, I find sickening. Though a comic, I still, being rather ignorant about details, have thus far chosen to resist it. Am I wrong?

I've been reading Trigun. A story of an accidental human colony on a planet barely capable of sustaining life and a protagonist who is not human at all, but cherishes human life because he loved someone a long time ago.

Jeffbert said:

I had considered reading Maus, but am very uneasy/sickened by anything about death camps. WWII history is interesting, but that part, I find sickening. Though a comic, I still, being rather ignorant about details, have thus far chosen to resist it. Am I wrong?

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Probably not. Its not graphic or gruesome about it, but it still goes into a fair amount of detail about the death camps in an unflinching manner. If you very much want to avoid the topic then no, I would not recommend Maus.

Blacksad

Just finished all three volumes as currently published (really hope there's more to come). It's a really mature take on an anthropomorphised world set in the USA in a post WWII era. A time when private detectives had offices with their name on the door in glass and wore trench coats.
Great fun and great artwork and really good to read.

tarzan planet of the apes cross over

Well, Dr. Strange, everything from the top on through till his own title. The Ditko art is what launched it. And, Jonah Hex, starting with appearances in Weird Western and whatnot, could be the best comic ever. No superheroes please, just sixguns and grit, Ma'am. And The Spectre, the 60s stuff is good - Gardner Fox and a lot of Lovecraftian lingo, as the Discarnate Detective solves crimes like only a Spectral Sleuth can solve. The later issues feature ghastly ends for the baddies, no repeat supervillians allowed. Oh, and early Pogo comics, 10 cents was a lot then.