Tom’s Comments (group member since Jan 17, 2019)

Tom’s comments from the I Read Comic Books group.

The recent goings on in the Arrowverse's Supergirl have reminded me how important it is for a hero to have a good villain. What are some of your favorite comic square-offs?

I think my all time favorite is Hal Jordan vs Thaal Sinestro - always a good read when those two go at it in my opinion. Having just finished Ultimate Spider-Man #1 I have to list Peter Parker vs. Norman Osborne too.

Chad wrote: "Bendis's Ultimate Spider-Man is fantastic. I recommend the entire run. It's so much fun."

Started Lone Wolf and Cub, Vol. 1: The Assassin's Road and it seems to me like Zatoichi in graphic novel form.

Corbier wrote: "Chad wrote: "this is all you need to read"
But what if I wanted to read all the garbage. How can I find what comes before a certain series?"

I just wanted to say I love the way you think because I'd do the same.

Finished Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 1: Power and Responsibility today and loved it. I'm happy that the Spider-Man I knew as a kid (being of a certain age myself) is recognizable in this incarnation. Plus, even knowing the story, it was told/paneled in such a way to still be surprising with a couple of big reveals. Perhaps the best I can say though is I had that "Wait, what? That's the end? More please!" feeling when it ended altogether too soon.

Hermit wrote: "I just started Megahex and got to the "Fetch me your finest cheese-grater" scene. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time."

That's one of those "Oh no..." moments you'll not soon forget.

Cool giveaway! Picked up the issue in the DC Leading Ladies sale.

From Under Mountains
Megahex
Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 1: Power and Responsibility
Last Sons of America
Mech Cadet Yu, Vol. 1
Star Wars: Darth Vader, Vol. 1: Vader

I think I fall into the I just didn't get it camp. The art was great, especially in the atmospheric scenes, but it was not unusual for me to not know what was going on despite having read the pages a few times. Also the characters seemed rather too similar in appearance at first so I found myself going back for names and descriptions pretty often.

Regarding mythology, it seems the characters in the books tie to the gods mentioned at the end of the chapter:
Rhyd = Lord Crowe
Onil = Elena
Nysis = Tova
Hanhara = Avisleth
Vekha = Mardin?
Attar and Nanita = Elena and Mardin given time?
Iosa = Lady Ure?

Speaking of not getting it - who was Elena's proposed groom? Did we see him before?

I think I'd need another read through or two to try to understand a bit more, but not sure if I'm prepared to do so.

Edited to add: I think my favorite scene from the book was when Marcellus tells Elena how she's lucky that their father isn't on her case all the time - when that's all she's ever wanted.

I note that as of now, every respondent's given it 5 stars.

I recently finished a second reading of Watchmen and was wondering what the IRCB communities' thoughts on it were. Also saw the theatrical version of the film, also fair game.

Chad wrote: "Tom wrote: "That said, could I keep reading and re-reading the same stories over and over again? Probably not."

There are certain stories that are so good I revisit every few years. Dark Knight Re..."

I'm not saying that a good story shouldn't be re-read. I just would find it difficult if that was my only reading. And actually, I just finished a second reading of Watchmen - got a lot more out of it too.

In terms of art you return to, nostalgia I think is certainly a powerful determinant in that equation. I am not sure I could point to specific issues I read as a kid that I really liked, I just remember really liking the character. And to be honest, I still get the same joy when reading about Hal Jordan, Barry Allen, Oliver Queen and Stephen Strange. (Not limited to them but you get the idea.) That said, could I keep reading and re-reading the same stories over and over again? Probably not. Hence the need for new comics involving old favorites, or finding new favorites.

The start to Ep 2. was great (and much discussed on r/DCComics).

(view spoiler)[Didn't Octavia find Charlotte's pregnancy test in that Canadian bathroom (p. 68) ? If so, why is she all "new phone, who dis?" later on in the book when they've encountered Roxana? (hide spoiler)] Or am I missing something?

Mike wrote: "Brian wrote: "Tom wrote: "Thanks so much for your replies.

Well it's said that art is a mirror so I get the impression I'm the one checking boxes, not the book. So I will likely revisit it, hopefu..."

That's why I just finished Assassinistas. Really liked it.

To be absolutely honest, I've only really used DC Universe for the originals (Titans, Doom Patrol and Young Justice S3, which I find totally worth it. (I already own a sizeable collection of DC content much of which has to be gone through.)

Who's watching? What do you think?

Hermit wrote: "The teaser for Heavy Vinyl, Vol. 1 stated: "Her local indie record store is also a front for a teen girl vigilante fight club!" I was thinking Chuck Palahniuk. I was wrong."

You're not alone.

Tetris: The Games People Play
Heavy Vinyl, Vol. 1
Kill or be Killed, Vol. 1
Kill or be Killed, Vol. 2
Kill or be Killed, Vol. 3
Kill or be Killed, Vol. 4
Descender, Vol. 1: Tin Stars
Assassinistas
Watchmen

Used the Comixology Valentine's Day 50% Off Dark Horse coupon to get:

Black Hammer Library Edition
Lone Wolf and Cub (all trades)
The Massive, Volumes I and II
Sword Daughter, Volume I (I think this was talked about in the War Comics podcast episode)
Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser - as I've read a few of the novels I was surprised as anything to see a graphic novel was made.