Just to show that I am paying attention.

§ March 10th, 2013 § Filed under collecting, flaming carrot § 10 Comments

A few of you responded to this post in which I wondered what I should read after finishing all the B.P.R.D. comics (which I’m nearly done with, by the way!).

John suggests Planetary, which is a good one, and in fact I did reread the series just prior to the long awaited last issue being released a couple of years ago. I could probably stand to read it again, but may give it a while since it still feels like it’s maybe too soon since the last reread.

Michael suggests Yummy Fur, which is fair enough since I just made a big hoohar over finally completing my run. Believe it or not, I’m not really ready for a Yummy Fur reread…I’ve reread Yummy Fur lots of times, relying on the trade paperback for the initial part of the “Ed the Happy Clown” story, and then reading the single issues that continued Ed’s story, and on through the autobiographical (and semi-autobiographical) stuff. When I finally got that issue #9, I read the Bible story back-up since I hadn’t had the opportunity to read it before. And then I put the number #9 in with my numbers 1 through 8 and 10 through 32, and then my full run of Yummy Fur and I pranced though the grassy fields, hand in hand. …I’ll probably sit down and read it straight through sooner or later, though.

Bruce and “Snark Shark” both recommend Grimjack, one of my all-time favorite series and one I do reread, not necessarily in whole but at least in part, every once in a while. I did a full reread of the series a few years back, and have since gone back and reread an issue or seven here and there when the mood strikes me. I’m pretty sure I wrote about reading the James Twilley-era Grimjack here on the site…or at least I posted a lot about Grimjack after reading all those Twilley issues.

Bruce also suggests, along with David G, Legion of Super-Heroes, which David favoring the ’70s/’80s material, while Bruce extolls the virtues of the Legion era circa Legion Lost (original, not the New 52 version). I have been a Legion man, as David G asks, for many, many years, only recently giving up on the franchise following the, what, fourteenth or fifteenth reboot. I almost, almost, got back on the wagon when I saw that Keith Giffen was drawing an issue or two of the New 52 Legion, and that the Fatal 5 were coming back, and oh boy oh boy the Legion fanboy buried deep within me nearly clawed his way back to the surface, but I stopped him just in time.

…I have reread some short runs of Legion not long ago, such as the “Great Darkness Saga,” and I feel like I reread all the “Five Year Later” stories straight through to the Zero Hour “conclusion” not too long ago (well, maybe about ten years ago), so I’m probably good on those for the time being. However, those later stories that Bruce mentions, the Legion Lost and Legion Worlds comics, I may go back to soon. …I don’t even remember what Legion Worlds is about, so that’s probably a good candidate for a return visit.

philfromgermany is going to make me admit my secret shame: I’ve only read a smattering of Suicide Squad, Hourman and the Christopher Priest Black Panther. …I know, I know, I’m a horrible human being and should be ashamed to call myself a comics fan, but I can say I did like what I read, and should the opportunity arise, I’ll attempt to read them all in toto. (“You stay out of Toto!” “Sorry, Dorothy!”)

Aaron asks, in regards to my Flaming Carrot mention, if I backed the Kickstarter to reprint issues 6 through 12 of the series. Sadly, I did not, but I am glad that the Carrot comics are remaining available for people to read. I really do think that’s going to be the next Big Reread for me, though I’m sure it’ll remind me I don’t have the Kilian Barracks one-shot which always frustrates me. (But I have at least read it at one point, so I can’t complain too much.) I’m especially looking forward to rereading the Carrot comics with Harvey Jerkwater’s particular interpretation in mind.

And in response to Bill: I mean removable labels like these to seal your comics. Pretty much the only thing I use to seal comic bags at home and at the shop. Avoid those pesky tape tears!

• • •

Thanks to everyone for your kind words regarding my post about Errol. I’m still in that phase where I’m still not quite accepting the idea that we’re never going to see him again. I mean, it doesn’t seem like he’s passed away…he only came to the store once a month, with calls between, so right now it just feels like he’s running a little behind on his regular schedule, not that he’s gone forever.

…Sigh. Stop dying, people I like.

10 Responses to “Just to show that I am paying attention.”

  • I’d second that recommendation of Priest-era Black Panther. That’s a very underrated run of comics that often gets overlooked when talking about the so-called “Nu Marvel” era.
    I’ve actually pulled portions of the run (I don’t have all of it, and my collection is particularly spotty in the stretch between issues 13 and 35 or so) and it holds together pretty well.
    Solid comics that I’d put in the same class & style school as Busiek’s Avengers run.

  • Ray Cornwall says:

    I just saw this, so here’s my recommendations:

    1. Cerebus. C’mon. Be a man.

    2. Mark Waid’s Irredeemable/Incorruptible. Really fun comics, and I actually felt the ending lived up to the story in Irredeemable. Incorruptible’s a little slighter, but still fun.

    3. Pick any Alan Moore ABC series. They’re all fun. (I’m partial to Tom Strong myself.)

    4. Strangers in Paradise.

  • Snark Shark says:

    also, the OLD Jonah Hex series! starting with Weird Western!

  • Snark Shark says:

    “Priest-era Black Panther.”

    those were allright! I like the Mark Waid Ka-Zar BETTER, though.

  • Mike Loughlin says:

    Chuck Austen X-Men. I triple dog dare you.

  • Tom the Dog says:

    You know me, I couldn’t more strongly concur with the GrimJack suggestion. In fact, it might be time for another rereading of my own.

  • Pal Cully says:

    The Invisibles.

  • CalvinPitt says:

    I’d third – or is it fourth by this point – GrimJack. What’s your favorite run of GrimJack (if you have one in particular)? I’ve only read through the Twilley issues once, so I can’t really compare them to the Trade Wars, or the first year Tom Mandrake was the artist.

  • "O" the Humanatee! says:

    Journey (one of my all-time favorite comics).

    Zot.

    And I second Snark Shark’s suggestion of old Jonah Hex, especially because I think Gray and Palmiotti just don’t get the character.

  • Adam says:

    Is it heretical of me to have liked most of Mark Waid’s Legion threeboot a few years ago? I even enjoyed it when DC editorial crammed Supergirl in there for no reason, though it helped that the Legion version of Supergirl was much, much preferable to Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness’ Worst Supergirl Ever that was catching fire at the time.