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Good TPB For A Newcomer?
Vann Diras
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Always loved comics, never liked the idea of buying them. But recently I broke down and began to read. I've read through quite a bit of Ultimate Spider-Man (Up to issue 102), Spider-Man: Reign, Amazing Spider-Man: Civil War (Dear God I love Spider-Man, if it weren't obvious), Batman: Hush (These two books were wonderful, a favorite of mine), and Civil War.
Obviously I'm deep into Marvel (Not just Spider-Man... But especially Spider-Man.), but Batman is always an option for me. So, my question to you, dear PAers, is where should I go from here? I'd prefer to keep purchases limited to TPB, because I don't want a bunch of single issues lying around and would like to have a complete (Or as close as it comes) arc contained in the pages.
I've been looking at the X-Men: First Class books, and perhaps other Civil War books such as New Avengers or X-Men. House of M seems to be a good purchase as well. And, are the Runaways good?
So, long story short, I'd like some really good TPB since I'm limited on money. Given what I've read and am interested in, what should I go for?
Obviously I'm deep into Marvel (Not just Spider-Man... But especially Spider-Man.), but Batman is always an option for me. So, my question to you, dear PAers, is where should I go from here? I'd prefer to keep purchases limited to TPB, because I don't want a bunch of single issues lying around and would like to have a complete (Or as close as it comes) arc contained in the pages.
I've been looking at the X-Men: First Class books, and perhaps other Civil War books such as New Avengers or X-Men. House of M seems to be a good purchase as well. And, are the Runaways good?
So, long story short, I'd like some really good TPB since I'm limited on money. Given what I've read and am interested in, what should I go for?
Vann Diras on
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Runaways is great.
Conventionally recommended Batman books are Long Halloween and the sequel, Dark Victory.
New Frontier is an excellent primer on the DC Universe as a whole, if you need that.
Other good Spider-Man stories are Spider-Man/Human Torch: I'm With Stupid (covers a fair chunk of history) and Spider-Man: Blue (if you like Long Halloween's style).
Edit: also Kraven's Last Hunt is one of the greatest Spider-Man stories of all-time.
And Balefuego, it appears that we were born polar opposites. But at least we're both supreme.
Vol 1 of Gaiman's Sandman was my first TBP, so I'd recommend it in a heartbeat.
Red Son is an excellent gateway into the DCU.
Ohshi... 1602.
Anally.
if you can find it, Thanos Quest was one of my faves. who needs strength to fight gods when youve got the brain of a genius tactitian?
Invincible (be wary of spoilers) by Robert Kirkman is something I can always reccommend with complete faith and earnestness. Probably the best superhero book being published today, it stars Mark Grayson, aka Invincible, the son of the world's greatest superhero Omni Man. The entire book is just Mark's journey as a hero, growing up, making friends, taking on new responsibilities, and saving the world. It has one of the best supporting casts ever, including the physics-bending Atom Eve, bickering superscientist Mauler Twins, and self-replicating Dupli-Kate.
To get started, you should buy the first hardcover, which is guaranteed to hook you. Or, if you want to invest a little less, you can just get the paperback containing the first arc, though the story doesn't really get moving until the second arc, and it really distinguishes itself as something special with the third arc, which makes the hardcover a smart purchase.
If you're still not convinced, you can read the first issue online HERE. Really, I cannot overstate how highly I think of this series. Now I'm not gonna bullshit you, it doesn't feature Spider-Man, the Marvel Universe, Batman, or any of the other stuff you seem to enjoy, but it does feature a wisecracking teenage superhero forced to juggle a personal life, responsibilities, and murderous supervillains making attempts on his life, and really, isn't that all a person needs from their superhero comics?
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Is that story in a collection anywhere, by the way?
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Man if you are going to jump on Daredevil you may as well go all out and start from the Kevin Smith relaunch, Smith, Mack, Bendis, and now Brubaker.. it's all been awesome.
And yes Astonishing X-Men is so amazingly good.
straight up Spidey vs. Badguys comic
Of course, I'm basing this on just the Sensational annual and Punisher: War Journal #4, but they're probably my two favorite single issues this year, almost.
I agree completely. Both of those issues were absolutely phenomenal. Something about juxtaposing the "innocence" of the Silver age with the darkness of the modern one just seems to work out really well. Maybe it's a nostalgia factor.
Which brings us to Spider-Man: Blue... a great TPB to pick up.
Also, since you like Batman, you should pick up A Death in the Family.
Go on... pick it up. I dare you...
Are you mad, Sentry? That story is awful up until the last issue or two.
What you should pick up, if you haven't already, is The Dark Knight Returns. I'd skip the sequel, The Dark Knight Strikes Again, since it is not nearly as good and Batman is actually barely even in it.
And the entirety of Punisher MAX.
If you want X-Men, hold off on the Astonishing stuff until you read Grant Morrison's New X-Men run, which is probably the best jump-on point for the X-Men in the last twenty years. Anything before that and you pretty much have to go back to the early Claremont stuff.
If you're interested in Superman at all, Red Son isn't really the best place to start. (Even if it is awesome.)
Try Superman for All Seasons. Also, the recent "Up, Up, and Away" trade is really good. And the All Star Superman hardcover is really great.
Invincible is the best superhero not on Marvel or DC, and the series is better than just about anything they've got. But you really, REALLY have to read from issue (or trade or hardcover) number one AND DO NOT, EVER, EVER SKIP AHEAD. Seriously, spoilers will ruin this one more than any other comic I've read.
Is it still canon, post-IC?
It's still a great Superman story.
MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDERMAN VOL. 1, 2 & 3 (down among dead men, venomous and the last stand)
SPIDERMAN: BLUE
HULK: GREY
DAREDEVIL: YELLOW
ASTONISHING XMEN
ALL STAR SUPERMAN
those are all really really fantastic. as you can see, i'm a marvel-boy, but all star superman and batman: hush (which you already have) are great too.
if you're looking for more, try the house of M trade or the avengers disassembled + new avengers trades. they're alright, but not as good as some others imo
Get Saga of the Swamp Thing.
Also... We3
And then I have to over-recommend BKV's Swamp Thing Vol 3, the one that focuses on Swampy's daughter. It is fucked.
Anally.
Oh? I read the issues, I just kind of assumed because it was so awesome.
Anally.
I'd recommend against nextwave until you have a bit more detailed knowledge of the marvel universe.
Funds pending, most of these will be read at one point or another. Thanks for the help, PA.
The harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the sun.
OH good ones. Moore's Swamp Thing is my second favorite comic run.
Right behind Grant Morrisons ANIMAL MAN!
YES on WE3! that comic can make yousad and happy at the same time
-Batman: Wargames
-The Ultimates
-Invincible TPBs
-Ghost Rider: Road to Damnation
-Marvel Zombies
-1602
-Batman: The Long Halloween
-Nightwing: A Darker Shade of Justice
Always good places to start.
B.P.R.D. (the semi-follow-up to Hellboy) is also, from what I hear, supposed to be better than Hellboy.