Not a huge fan of comics, though when I was young I did like Matt Wagner's Mage series.

I think Bill Sienkiewicz' Stray Toasters was quite good, especially from an art perspective, but I don't really care about anything he's done for anyone else.

Even though I lived in Japan for a number of years, I never got into manga or anime. I did read Lone Wolf and Cub (Kozure Okami) while I was there. It's a fairly old series, from the 70's. If anyone wants to see what the original cover art of the Japanese volumes looks like, I can dig one up and scan it. It's nothing special though (just thought I'd offer since there appear to be a few fans here.)

I did like a very odd comic by a guy named Yoshida Sensha (a pen name) called Utsurun desu - which can be loosely translated as "contagion." - but it's not a manga. It's just a series of unrelated 4 or 5 panel cartoons which are just so absurd as to be abstract, but often funny. Sometimes certain characters would reappear (several several pages later - in another unrelated 4 panel strip), but there was never really any continuing story line so to speak.

I've gone ahead and scanned one in and translated it for your amusement or perplexity. This happens to be a 5 panel one. But that's it. There's nothing else beyond this, both the preceding and following pages are completely unrelated.

(click on it to see it full size.)

sleepkid wrote:I did read Lone Wolf and Cub (Kozure Okami) while I was there. It's a fairly old series, from the 70's.

Dark Horse did an amazing translation of this a few years back, and I still re-read them from time to time.

My favorite Japanese manga guy now is Mauro Suehiro, but his books are impossible to find here in untranslated form.

Anyone else reading World War Hulk? I'm surprised at how much I'm liking it. You actually end up rooting for the Hulk against all the heroes.

It's not clear to me how they're going to end it either. I was thinking that this was going to be used as the event to heal the marvel universe, but it seems too soon for that.

burun wrote:

sleepkid wrote:I did read Lone Wolf and Cub (Kozure Okami) while I was there. It's a fairly old series, from the 70's.

Dark Horse did an amazing translation of this a few years back, and I still re-read them from time to time.

My favorite Japanese manga guy now is Mauro Suehiro, but his books are impossible to find here in untranslated form.

I'm a big fan of LW&C as well. Those Dark Horse translations are very good. The appended glossary was a really nice touch. Very helpful for us non-experts in Edo-period Japanese history.

Burun and sleepkid, have either of you read Samurai Executioner? That one is also great. Only gripe I have about it is that it's too short. I wish it were as voluminous as Lone Wolf & Cub.

2 more manga series I really like are Monster and 20th Century Boys. Naoki Ursawa is one of my recent favorite Manga artists.

I collect the Hernandez Bros.' "Love And Rockets", which I think is great, even though it has gotten a bit out of control since 1994 or so...

I'm not really a comic fan, but I loved "V for Vendetta", and Craig Thompson's "Blankets". From time to time, the library around here gets new graphic novels, some are really good.

The Code is Almighty wrote:Anyone else reading World War Hulk? I'm surprised at how much I'm liking it. You actually end up rooting for the Hulk against all the heroes.

It's not clear to me how they're going to end it either. I was thinking that this was going to be used as the event to heal the marvel universe, but it seems too soon for that.

I have heard so many recommendations for World War Hulk from so many different people. Seems like it's a must-read. I guess I should get myself over to the local comix shop and purchase it right away.


Other suggestions:

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
It's the true story of her and her siblings growing up in a funeral home with a father who is struggling with his sexuality. It's funny and intense and totally engaging.

sleepkid wrote:I think Bill Sienkiewicz' Stray Toasters was quite good, especially from an art perspective, but I don't really care about anything he's done for anyone else.

I remember reading this when it came out and being blown away by the use of different drawing styles and collage. It seemed so completely unique at the time. But I also haven't been too interested in his subsequent work.

But I think that Alias (the comic, not the show) uses Sienkiewicz as inspiration and I love the 4 part graphic novel series.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alias_(comics)
Here is her Marvel bio:http://www.marvel.com/universe/Jessica_Jones

Jessica Jones, a hard-drinking, ex-superhero turned low-rent detective, is one of the best characters to come around in a long time. She's also incredibly funny. Very sarcastic.

But I think that I feel that way about most of the writing done by Brian Michael Bendis. He has also written some of the Daredevil books. Those are the only ones I check out. Basically I'll buy anything with his name attached to it. He's pretty good at delivering interesting stories featuring characters with real depth.


Totally want to second Y: The Last Man.

And the people behind the gigantic Little Nemo in Slumberland are about to release a second gigantic, newsprint-sized book. I think it's going to be Gasoline Alley.

Big John wrote:Michael Kupperman - Tales designed to Thrizzle - Fantagraphics

Sam Henderson - Magic Whistle

http://www.indyworld.com/henderson/

Lauren Weinstein - Girls World and Vinnyland, Goddess of WAr

http://www.vineyland.com/

Seconded.

For people completely new to the Marvel Universe, I highly recommend Marvels.

ok, haven't read over the thread but Stray Bullets is amazing, as is Barefoot Gen though totally different. Also digging walking dead, but that's because I'm an unashamed romero geek (though Land... can fuck right off).

2000 AD and JDTMG of course, but then that should go without saying if you know who the fella to the left is.

Apologies if any have been mentioned before.

Haven't read Stray Bullets yet, but I'm a big fan of Barefoot Gen.

It surprises me how many supposed "hardcore manga fans" have never read or even heard of Barefoot Gen, which is a classic and very influential work. It's kinda like being into rock music but having no idea who Chuck Berry is.

Strontium Dog, innit?