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| From "Saga", which was part of the first New Golden Age list here at TooBusy. |
All eras have their front-running elite of exceptional comics. But the most memorable periods in comics history are often those distinguished not just by those few laudable masterpieces, but also by a substantial chasing pack of thoroughly worthwhile peers too. As we've discussed before - here - it's the wallet-busting presence of such an unytpically large number of enticing and agreeable comic-books which marks out 2012 as a new, and strangely often largely uncelebrated, Golden Age. In the wake of yesterday's review on TooBusyThinking of the truly contemptible Rorschach #1, I thought I might regain my composure, and perhaps even pep up my ordure-flattened enthusiasm, with a look at another 25 examples of well-worthwhile New Golden Age titles.
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| From "The Dandy", also on that first list |
My criteria for what is and what isn't a "Golden Age" book are, I will readily admit, entirely lacking in objectivity. According to my own admittedly questionable taste, each of the following comics are marked at the very least by conspicuously entertaining scripting or artwork. In the best of what follows, both story and illustration are self-evident excellent. These may not all be brilliant comics, though some of them quite clearly are, but they are all rewarding experiences. They're books with their own distinct character and integrity, and even those without a personal liking for a particular example ought to be able to find something that's of interest within its covers. Should any of them be revealed to be the last comic in the pile after a long afternoon's reading, the reader can be assured that it's still very much worth the effort of persevering to the end.
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| From "Fatima The Blood Spinners", which was, yes, also on the first list. |
Most of these comics have been recommended by kind visitors to TooBusyThinking here on the blog or via Twitter. It would be very much appreciated if you'd consider keeping the blogger in touch with the comics which he ought to be reading. As for those of commentators' choices which haven't been referred to in what follows, please be assured that there's still a considerable number of comics still to be bought and enjoyed.
Finally, please do rest assured that the comics below aren't listed in any order of preference, and nor does a mention of a book mean that I've read every single issue of it or that I zealously approve of everything associated with a specific title.
It just means that most of everything I've read has made me glad to be buying comics in 2012.
1. Popeye, by Roger Langridge, Tom Nelly et al (Boom Studios)
2. Locke & Key; Clockwork, by Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez et al
3. Reset, by Peter Bagge (Dark Horse)
4. X-Factor, by Peter David et al (Marvel Comics)
5. Near Death, by Jay Faerber, Simone Guglielmini et al (Image)
6. The Phoenix Comic (UK), by a host of talents
7. Revival, by Tim Seeley, Mike Norton et al (Image Comics)
8. Atomic Robo, by Brian Clevinger, Scott Wegener et al (Red 5 Comics)
9. The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Century: 2099, by Alan Moore, Kevin O'Neill et al (Top Shelf/Knockabout)
10. Jennifer Blood Annual 1, by Al Ewing & Igor Vitiorino et al (Dynamite)
11. Wolverine & The X-Men, by Jason Aaron, Chris Bachalo, Jorge Molina et al (Marvel Comics)
12. Unwritten, Mike Carey, Peter Gross et al (Vertigo)
13. The Sixth Gun, by Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt et al (Oni Press)
14. The Li'l Depressed Boy, by S. Steven Struble, Sina Grace et al (Image Comics)
15. The Shade, By James Robinson et al (DC Comics)
16. Courtney Crumrin, by Ted Naifeh et al, (Oni Press)
17. B.P.R.D. Hell On Earth, by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, James Harren et al (Dark Horse)
18. Rachel Rising, by Terry Moore, (Abstract Studio)
19. Tales Designed To Thrizzle, by Michael Kupperman (Fantagraphics)
20. Judge Dredd Megazine, by a host of talented folks (Rebellion)
21. Takio, by Brian Michael Bendis & Michael Oeming (Icon)
22. Godzilla: Half-Century War, by James Stoke (IDW)
23. Hawkeye, by Matt Fraction, David Aja et al (Marvel Comics)
24. Chew, by John Layman, Rob Guillory et al (Image Comics)
25. Glory, by Joe Keating, Ross Campbell et al (Image)
The original New Golden Age list of 28 fine comics can be found here.
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| From "Daredevil", another comic which .... |
My thanks to everyone who nominated one or more of the above. You were right! I will, of course, keep working on finding the time and pennies to enjoy more of folks' much-appreciated recommendations.
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Reading through this list, you would assume that Big Two comics are so editorially driven that it is nearly impossible for a quality title to escape the sausage factory. Meanwhile, creator-owned (or driven) titles are thriving at the edge of the radar.
ReplyDeleteHello Dean:- You might assume that indeed.
DeleteMind you, there are some interesting and rather individual books just starting to appear at Marvel. Captain Marvel and Hawkeye, for example.
But as a general rule ...
More great choices here. Some of these I've been meaning to pick up, like Rachel Rising and Locke and Key (I only ever see the hardcovers of volumes 3 and 4 at my local bookstore). Others like Revival and Shade, I'm definitely trade-waiting.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember if it was the last "Golden Age" article some other piece, but I seem to recall recommending Adventure Time. Here's a short preview of #7: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/08/16/adventure-time-7-preview/
Of course, I'd also recommend checking out the show. It's a very charming show I'd say, though I'm not sure if it airs anywhere in the UK.
Hello Joe:- I think just about all of the above are comics which I wasn't paying attention before the comments to the Reader's Roulette posts. I can never review more than a tiny number of the books recommended, but that doesn't mean that I don't hunt them down and read them. And all the better for it I feel.
DeleteI've not been able to track down a copy of Adventure Time so far. I was looking for a copy on digital just this week. But it's on the list, and of course now I've got access to a preview.
Do I lose points if I own up that I didn't know it was a show? You see, I rely on the kind visitors to TooBusyThinking to keep me informed. Thank you for doing so :)
It's too bad that you don't have the time to review much of these comics, because there are definitely some that I'd like to see your thoughts on. And others that I'd like to know in more detail why they're worth checking out.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the show is currently in its fourth season and has a 5th planned. I mentioned earlier that Ryan North does a great job capturing the voice of the characters in the comic.
Here's a link to two earlier episodes. If you like these then you'll probably like the comic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aldgSCWCdA&playnext=1&list=PL319752DB68ADD632&feature=results_video
Hello Joe:- Thanks for saying that. I must say, I think it's wonderful that there's so much fantastic work, but I would like the time to be able to really the chance to chin-stroke about it all. And when you add in the graphic novels etc which I'm reading for elsewhere, it just becomes impossible to do anything more than read carefully and just try to keep up.
DeleteWhich is a brilliant privilege, so I'm not moaning.
Thank you for the links. I enjoyed the Adventure Time strip you linked to in your first comment here. A smart little riff on time travel and no mistake ...
hi, colin--
ReplyDeleteso many fine comics! i'm glad that i waited to buy Rachel Rising in trade paperback. i ended up reading the whole thing in one sitting on my porch. it's bad enough waiting between books, but waiting between issues would've killed me. i'm planning on starting Sixth Gun. i've been getting pdf. review copies of it, but i have a hard time enjoying it on my laptop.
anyway, thanks for providing an excellent list that both cheers me in my own beloved comics and has many new ones to seek out!
carol
Hello Carol:- It's true, there's SO many splendid comics. Add in the graphic novels, smart press, web-tales and so on, and it's a time of entirely improbable quality in never-before-seen quantity.
DeleteRachel Rising was entirely unknown to me until several kind souls recommended it. The same with the Sixth Gun. I almost dread to think how many other fine comics there out there. Not because I'm not excited about the presence of all this great stuff, but because I'll never keep up! There have been long years when relatively few books of any quality have been regularly available. To have arrived at a time of such riches is ... surprising and rather shocking too :)
Another great list, I'm particularly glad to see Stokoe's Godzilla and the revamped Glory found their way in! And with so much tough competition too.
ReplyDeleteThere's very little I could add to what you've already listed above, although if you're after any further suggestions I'd happily recommend you try any of the following comics I stumbled across recently: Vertigo's new 6 issue mini 'Punk Rock Jesus', 'Axe Cop: President of the World' (3 issue mini), or 'Dark Horse Presents' (Eisner award winner for best anthology).
There's so many good comics right now it's practically torn my budget to pieces - and with some of the titles announced for the near future this is only going to become a bigger problem!
Hello Ed:- I'm hoping there's a great many other books that I can add to another New Golden Age post in the next month or so. Punk Rock Jesus I tried and I wasn't particularly won over by it. It was perfectly fine, absolutely professional; I suspect that I ought to try a few more issues when they emerge. There's a problem with these post, in which I'm picking things which I enjoy. I'm sure that there's a great many comics which could be quite justifiable pick in addition to those above. The Walking Dead, for example, is an obviously good comic. Value for money, very well told; that I can't as yet warm to it is no reflection - of course! - on it.
DeleteI've not read Axe Comic yet. That's obviously a very poor business which I need to sort out. Dark Horse Present is a fine title, though I can't say that I'm always enthusiastic above every issue. Yet I did use the Beasts Of Burden strips from its pages in the first list. So perhaps that'd past muster?
And with everything that's on the way. It seems to begrudge a golden age, but if only titles were a touch cheaper. Nobody's fault, but I would like to try more of what's out there.
Oh man, please write a review of Tales Designed to Thrizzle! It's such a weird comic - I largely dug it (volume 1, I mean), but I'd love to hear your take on it - how it manages to keep a good flow and structure among all the non-sequitor and weirdness, or what kind of thematic message it's getting across, or, you know, anything. Cousin Grandpa is amazing.
ReplyDeleteThat cover for Rachel Rising is very striking, too. I've read parts of Strangers in Paradise, and I enjoyed Echo, though not quite as much - but Terry Moore seems like an excellent storyteller and artist, and I've heard good things about RR on the Awesomed by Comics podcast. And I think he's one of those folks who is so completely on the right page about gender representation in comics, that it could be interesting for you to look at through your critical lens.
I'm glad you're making an effort to be positive (though you really always do, even at your most negative, I think), given the negative review Rorschach and those recent Bendis and X-Men books have received - but I still think "25 Books That Are More Worth Your While Than Before Watchmen" would have been an appropriate title, too. (Though the impression I get is that a good many books would qualify there.)
And I've said it before, but Axe Cop. Yes.
Hello historyman:- Yes, Axe Cop is NEXT! I've been encouraged to go for it three or four times in the past 24 hours and I can only say that I never meant not to check it out. I have been diligently doing my homework, but I just haven't got to the Axe Cop module yet.
DeleteReviewing Tales To Thrizzle would require no little body of thought. I've only just recovered from having 80 words to review Bulletproof Coffin for Q. (Which was a BRILLIANT experience, by the way, because that's the kind of moment when a measure of learning is the only alternative to drowning.)
Rcahel Rising was yet another comic recommended by good folks on this blog. It's clearly a well-made, well-told tale, and I've enjoyed reading the trade and the past few pamphlets. I'm still working out exactly what I think about it, but my respect is obvious, I hope, from the above.
I am trying to recognise the splendid as well as the problematical. I don't want this to be a negative blog, and, anyway, the value of a stinker of a review can be increased if it's not entirely surrounded by the same.
Colin, have you read Infernal Man-Thing yet? I finished off the final issue last night, and while I don't think it's the absolute best thing Gerber's ever written, it is a fitting post-script to his run on the character from the 70s and just a really good comic in its own right.
ReplyDeleteHello Andrew:- I'm holding out for the collected edition, though I've done far less of that this year. It's just ... it's STEVE GERBER, and I think I want to read it in a form that's none of the adverts and editorial material of 2012.
DeleteI am REALLY pleased to hear it's good stuff. I'm off to Amazon now. If it isn't going to be released soon, then I guess I really will go chasing the individual issues ...