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A friend of yours (assuming you have one) approaches you about your comic fandom. Apparently, they've been thinking of collecting, but they want to read some good comics. You can recommend ten titles to your friend - the universal stuff that every reader should have experienced.
What ten titles do you recommend?
(*NOTE* - Entire series or runs can be included if they were written by the same author - i.e. Morrison's JLA, Ellis' Planetary, Gaiman's Sandman, etc.)
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"Hey this is PCG342's bro..." 15000+ posts
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Chuck Dixon's run on Robin (#1-100? Plus all the miniseries)
Dixon's run on Nightwing before Devin "The miserable cunt" Grayson sunk her claws into the book.
FUCK, pretty much anything Dixon wrote that was Batman related...
Morrison's JLA
Waid's run on Captain America
Dan Jurgen's run on Captain America
More to follow, maybe...
"Are you eating it...or is it eating you?" [center] ![[Linked Image from i13.photobucket.com]](http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/captainsammitch/boards/banners/blogban3.jpg) [/center] [center] ![[Linked Image from i13.photobucket.com]](http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/captainsammitch/boards/banners/jlamiska.jpg) [/center]
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I walk in eternity 15000+ posts
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the VERY first Brood saga , around X Men 162 - 169
All Star Squadron - The Ultra Humanite Saga circa 1983
Adventure Comics Featuring Superboy and the Legion of Super heroes issues 340 to 373
Power Pack - issues 1 thru 4
Legion Of Superheroes - 368 through 382 from 1981
Infinity Inc - issues 1 thru 12
Spiderman issues 1 through 76 - from 1963 to 1969
Fantastic Four issues 1 thru 63
"I offer you a Vulcan prayer, Mr Suder. May your death bring you the peace you never found in life." - Tuvok. 
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Son of Anarchist 15000+ posts
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Gaiman's Sandman
Carey's Lucifer
Kingdom Come
Moore's Watchmen
Spiderman: Kraven's Last Hunt
Carey's run on Hellblazer
Ultimates
Wolverine: Origin
PREACHER, bitch.
Marvel Zombies
I was tempted to put a lot of Elseworlds titles in my list since I found a lot of them fun to read but I realized that they have more impact if the reader is familiar with the character's continuity. I'm gonna wait until my friend is more knowledgeable about character histories before I get him hooked on EW stuff(technically, M. Zombies and Kingdom Come are of the same type, but they seem to stand as good reads by themselves)
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Educator to comprehension impaired (JLA, that is you) 50000+ posts
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Authority (Ellis/Hitch).
Maus.
Preacher.
Sandman.
Sin City.
Top Ten.
Transmetropolitan.
Y: The Last Man.
The Walking Dead.
Watchmen.
Thing is- I can’t spell or type. I spell so badly my spell check doesn’t even know what I was trying to spell. And I have five Eisners HAHAHAHHA!!
-Brian Michael Bendis
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1 Millionth Customer 10000+ posts
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Transmetropolitan
Planetary
Ellis' Stormwatch/Authority
Gaiman's Sandman
Carey's Lucifer
Carey's Hellblazer
Watchman
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Giffen/Demattis JLI
PAD's Young Justice
PAD's Hulk
PAD's Captain Marvel
Morrison's Animal Man
Morrison's JLA
Ultimate Spider-man
Millar's Ultimate X-men
Bow ties are coool.
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Hip To Be Square 15000+ posts
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Hip To Be Square 15000+ posts
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Regenerated 15000+ posts
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- Millar/Quitely's The Authority
- League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1
- Barry Windsor-Smith's Weapon X
- Watchmen
- Kingdom Come
- Garth Ennis' The Punisher: Welcome Back, Frank
- Transmetropolitan
- Planetary
- Darwyn Cooke's New Frontier
- James Robinson's Starman
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devil-lovin' Bat-Man 15000+ posts
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devil-lovin' Bat-Man 15000+ posts
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Quote:
britneyspearsatemyshorts said:
THRILLER!
You forgot Sonic Disruptors and Slash Maraud.
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Regenerated 15000+ posts
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And, of course, BLASTERS...
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living in 1962 15000+ posts
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living in 1962 15000+ posts
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Quote:
Prometheus said:
And, of course, BLASTERS...
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Regenerated 15000+ posts
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Regenerated 15000+ posts
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living in 1962 15000+ posts
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it burns! it burnsss!!!!!!!!!!!
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devil-lovin' Bat-Man 15000+ posts
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Quote:
Prometheus said:
And, of course, BLASTERS...
"Blasters" can't be considered a run, Pro. There was only one glorious Invasion spin-off one shot. Now, Millenium spin-off series "New Guardians" was a different story...
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[insert non-dated reference here] 10000+ posts
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That comic taught me to not judge flamboyantly gay Spanish people.
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Regenerated 15000+ posts
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Quote:
Im Not Mister Mxypltk said:
"Blasters" can't be considered a run, Pro. There was only one glorious Invasion spin-off one shot. Now, Millenium spin-off series "New Guardians" was a different story...
Quite right and well played, sir. "New Guardians" set the pinnacle for the new century of comics...
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2500+ posts
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Super-hero books...
Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate Marvel Team-Up.
The first half of Bendis's run on Daredevil and maybe the second half if they're still interested...
The entire run of Alias, but not The Pulse.
Roger Stern and John Romita Jr.'s run on The Amazing Spider-Man.
Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's run on The Amazing Spider-Man.
Claremont and Byrne's run on The Uncanny X-Men.
Marv Wolfman and George Perez's first run together on The New Teen Titans
Paul Levitz's entire second run on The Legion of Super-heroes and then continue it all the way through Keith Giffen's last issue of the five year gap stuff.
The first half of John Byrne's run on The Fantastic Four. They can quit reading after Byrne stopped inking it.
And, for sentimentality, Roger Stern and John Buscema's run on The Avengers.
Get the fuck out!
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Son of Anarchist 15000+ posts
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I also recommend Mxy's run on Not a Man
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notnotnotnotnotnotnotwedge 2500+ posts
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I'd probably have a tendency to steer people toward "funny" books if I was asked.
PAD's X-Factor (both the old and current)
PAD's Young Justice
PAD's Captain Marvel
PAD's Hulk (anyone sensing a pattern here?)
Busiek and Perez's Avengers
Brubaker's Captain America
PAD's Fallen Angel (there he is again!)
Nextwave
Watchmen
PAD's Supergirl (don't want her to feel left out)
Seriously, I'd probably just tell them to read anything by PAD.
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My top ten, in random order: - Alan Moore's Watchmen - The quintessential comic book deconstruction and the essential reading guide for comic books fans after 1986. Moore takes the absurdity of costumed heroics and redefines the genre by combining it with the grittiness of real life. The ultimate must-read for any comics fan.
- Neil Gaiman's Sandman - The flagship title for DC's Vertigo line. Influenced by the work of Moore (especially his work on Swamp Thing) and defined by Gaiman's own unique narrative flair, the adventures of Morpheus and his Endless family helped to define a generation and continue to captivate new readers who are still discovering them.
- Mark Millar's The Ultimates - This book is to this decade what Watchmen was to the '80s. It manages to perfectly capture the times and weaves the world of superheroics in almost seemlessly. Super soldiers and metal men don't seem as far-fetched in this context and the combination of Brian Hitch's art makes for a story that is truly epic.
- Warren Ellis' Planetary - Practicing elements now popular on television before they were, in fact, popular on television, Warren Ellis managed to craft a complex story with a defined beginning and end that spans the whole of popular culture as well as comic-dom. Pulling in ghosts, aliens, ninjas, mad scientists, conspiracies, and all other manner of dark elements, Ellis sets the stage for a fascinating story drawn by one of the industry's finest artistic talents - John Cassaday.
- Mike W. Barr's Camelot 3000 - Combining Arthurian legend and classic sci-fi elements, Barr brings a story that proves that good comics don't have to involve superheroes to be dubbed classic. Recreating an epic tale on a universal scale helped to propel this classic tale of good vs. evil to one of the most hottly anticipated comics of the '80s.
- Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - Simple in theory, but epic in execution, Moore's League combines characters and comics from classic Victorian literature into one grand tale. Beyond that, even, Moore manages to keep all characters true to form and character throughout: Hyde is evil, Griffin is sadistic, Nemo proud, Quatermain skilled though old, and Mina steadfast. This alone, more than any other element of this multi-faceted gem, makes League worthy of this list.
- Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns - Say what you will of Frank Miller's current work - unless you're saying it's good, you'd probably be right - his Dark Knight forever redefined Batman for the world. From skilled detective to demon of the night, Miller's startling recreation captured the gritty comics movement of the eighties and brought it to the mainstream DC lineup, changing the face of one of its classic heroes forever.
- Warren Ellis' Authority - Much in the same way Moore did it in the '80s, Ellis used this book to redefine superheroics for the twenty-first century. Heroes took a more proactive approach, fighting battles on an epic scale that most heroes wouldn't be able to consider, much less overcome. Ellis simultaneously made heroes stronger, more fallible, and more human. Kudos.
- James Robinson's Starman - Though I'm just starting out on this series myself, I have to admit, it's pretty great. Seeing the creation and realization of a new hero right before my eyes helps to cement this series in my mind as one of the greats.
- Grant Morrison's JLA - Morrison reinvented the world's greatest superteam to include the world's greatest superheroes. A novel concept but, until that point, one that had not been explored. Morrison made the JLA great again, pitting them against global threats and making them, once again, the elite team of the DCU.
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Banned from the DCMBs since 2002. 15000+ posts
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Banned from the DCMBs since 2002. 15000+ posts
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Why I Hate Saturn (even my wife liked this one) Sandman: The Wake X-men Annual #11 (from memory - the one with Horde) Quote:
Im Not Mister Mxypltk said:
Quote:
britneyspearsatemyshorts said:
THRILLER!
You forgot Sonic Disruptors and Slash Maraud.
You bastards. I like Thriller.
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Joined: Oct 2000
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Educator to comprehension impaired (JLA, that is you) 50000+ posts
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Educator to comprehension impaired (JLA, that is you) 50000+ posts
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you are the Scabbard of the RKMBS!
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Banned from the DCMBs since 2002. 15000+ posts
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Banned from the DCMBs since 2002. 15000+ posts
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You mean I lost my head in a helicopter accident and it was then used by Ambush Bug as an ashtray?
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Educator to comprehension impaired (JLA, that is you) 50000+ posts
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Educator to comprehension impaired (JLA, that is you) 50000+ posts
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post *SPOILERS* next time david!
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Banned from the DCMBs since 2002. 15000+ posts
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Scabbard recovers his head.
Spoilers for those still getting through the DC Explosion back issues.
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I walk in eternity 15000+ posts
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I walk in eternity 15000+ posts
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How the Earth will end!
Spoilers! Spoilers!!!
The sun will turn into a red giant in a few billion years, completely engulf Mercury and Venus, the two innermost
planets, and will either engulf the Earth and desintigrate it, or turn it into a burned out cinder.
"I offer you a Vulcan prayer, Mr Suder. May your death bring you the peace you never found in life." - Tuvok.
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Doog the MIGHTY 10000+ posts
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Planetary
The Sandman
The Authority (Ellis & Hitch - Millar & Quitely)
Watchmen
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Kingdom Come
Liberty Meadows
The Ultimates
Astonishing X-Men
Fables
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brutally Kamphausened 15000+ posts
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Quote:
Son of Mxy said:
Danny said:
r3x29yz4a said:
Prometheus said:
Chewy Walrus said:
Alan Moore's WATCHMEN
I won't fight the consensus. This is a story that belongs on any top 10 list.
I'd only add...
2) SWAMP THING 21-50
3) MIRACLEMAN 1-16
and
4) V FOR VENDETTA
... as the other quintessential Alan Moore series.
5) Quote:
rufusTfirefly said:
Roger Stern and John Romita Jr.'s run on The Amazing Spider-Man.
Specifically, AMAZING SPIDERMAN 224-250
The definitive Spiderman, even surpassing the Stan Lee/Ditko/Romita Sr run it is tribute to.
6) Quote:
rufusTfirefly said:
Claremont and Byrne's run on The Uncanny X-Men.
Specifically X-MEN 108-109, 111-143. The quintessential X-Men run, occasionally equaled, never surpassed.
7) Quote:
rufusTfirefly said:
Paul Levitz's entire second run on The Legion of Super-heroes and then continue it all the way through Keith Giffen's last issue of the five year gap stuff.
I'd limit it to the early Levitz/Giffen issues (specifically LEGION 285-306, from 1982-1984).
One of my all-time favorite series.
Although the 3rd series, where Levitz continued on mostly without Giffen (issues 1-63, from 1984-1989), are consistent with this run, and only slightly diminished.
The Five Year Gap storyline (vol 4, issues 1-61, from 1989-1994), while I enjoyed many elements, is a bit flawed, incoherent and overly dark.
But both these latter two runs are a good continuation for one who enjoys the early Levitz/Giffen issues, and craves more.
8) Quote:
rufusTfirefly said:
The first half of John Byrne's run on The Fantastic Four. They can quit reading after Byrne stopped inking it.
Yeah, this is an oft-overlooked series that's tremendous fun. I'd specify issues 232-276. Both a warm tribute to the earliest Lee/Kirby run, while also original, playful and intelligent throughout.
I'll round out the list with:
9) O'Neil/ Adams DETECTIVE COMICS and BATMAN issues.
Forget Frank Miller, forget all these other pretenders. This O'Neil/Adams run is the one true and definitive Batman.
( DETECTIVE 395, 397, 400, 402, 404, 407, 408 and 410, and BATMAN 232, 234, 237, 243-245, 251 and 255)
Reprinted and accessible in a multitude of formats.
( in the R'AS AL GHUL SAGA trade, and miniseries 1-4,
MANBAT VS BATMAN one-shot,
GREATEST BATMAN STORIES trade,
GREATEST JOKER STORIES trade,
DET 395 in a MILLENIUM EDITION reprint issue,
LIMITED COLLECTORS EDITION tabloid-size reprints,
and the complete run out in the recent BATMAN ILLUSTRATED BY NEAL ADAMS hardcovers vols 2 and 3,
and several other issues in scattered reprints )
10) Wein/Wrightson SWAMP THING 1-10.
Done from 1972-1974, these 10 issues still outshine just about anything published over the last 35 years.
Lavishly illustrated, charming characters, classic Hollywood monsters, written in a beautiful prose narrative, filled with nobility, tragedy and conscience, this is a series I've re-read often for its appealing combination of elements that is greater than the sum of its parts.
( Reprinted in ROOTS OF THE SWAMP THING 1-5,
and the SWAMP THING: DARK GENESIS trade,
a recent SECRET OF THE SWAMP THING digest book,
and several other formats )
Some others I'd list if I went beyond the 10 above:
Goodwin/Simonson MANHUNTER
Simonson's THOR 337-380
Englehart/Rogers Batman (DETECTIVE 471-476, or BATMAN: STRANGE APPARITIONS trade)
KAMANDI 1-40
CEREBUS by Dave Sim (first 5 volumes, up through Jaka's Story)
SUPERMAN: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE MAN OF TOMORROW, by Alan Moore and Curt Swan
Kirby's Fourth World series (FOREVER PEOPLE, NEW GODS, MISTER MIRACLE, JIMMY OLSEN)
DAREDEVIL 158-191, and 226-233 by Frank Miller
IRON MAN 115-156 by Dave Michelinie, John Romita Jr. and Bob Layton. A tremendoiusly fun series, that was my favorite when it was coming out, even over the Claremont/Byrne/Austin X-MEN run.
BIZARRE ADVENTURES 26 "Kull: Demon In A Silvered Glass" by Moench and Bolton.
The first 35 issues of SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN, by Roy Thomas, John Buscema and Alfredo Alcala, mostly adapting Robert E. Howard stories.
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Green Arrow. Anything Green arrow, but especially Kevin Smith. Yes, I do mean Judd Winnick, too.
Green Lantern. Not Hal Fucking Jordan, but Kyle Rayner. Hal sucks ass.
Green Lantern/Green Arrow Hard Traveling Heroes? I think thats what it's called, by Dennis O'Neal and Neal Adams. This is the one exception to the Hal Sucks rule. Mainly because Ollie doesn't suck.
Daredevil. Anything Daredevil, especially Kevin Smith.
She Hulk. Funny stuff.
Astonishing X-men. I don't care what most of you think of Joss Whedon, this is a good book and one of only 2 x-books I like anymore.
Robin/Teen Titans/Batgirl/Young Justice. I lump these together because if I'm suggesting these to someone, it's likely a younger person like my neices. They all kinda go together, especially if it's a girl looking for a girl superhero to identify with.
X-Factor. Written by Peter David and the only other X-book I care to read anymore. Pretty much anything by PAD is worth picking up. Though I personaly wouldn't recomend the Hulk books since I'm not a Hulk fan. Fallen Angel is really good, too.
Sandman & related stuff (Death, Lucifer)
Preacher. I stopped reading it a long time ago, but I remember it was really good. I think it was the first non superhero book I picked up.
That was over 10 I think...oh well.
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Thing is- I can’t spell or type. I spell so badly my spell check doesn’t even know what I was trying to spell. And I have five Eisners HAHAHAHHA!!
-Brian Michael Bendis
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