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Good TPB For A Newcomer?

Vann DirasVann Diras Registered User regular
edited June 2007 in Graphic Violence
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?

Vann Diras on
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Posts

  • HooraydiationHooraydiation Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    X-Men: First Class sounds like a good idea, but the results were a disappointment. I'd sooner opt for earlier issues of Ultimate X-Men, up until the point where the book started to suck.

    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).

    Hooraydiation on
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  • BalefuegoBalefuego Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    Runaways Runaways Runaways Runaways.

    Edit: also Kraven's Last Hunt is one of the greatest Spider-Man stories of all-time.

    Balefuego on
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  • Vann DirasVann Diras Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    Well, Runaways seems to be a sure thing. Long Halloween looks nice too. I'm With Stupid and Kraven will be looked into.

    And Balefuego, it appears that we were born polar opposites. But at least we're both supreme.

    Vann Diras on
  • KreutzKreutz Blackwater Park, IARegistered User regular
    edited May 2007
    I can't recommend House of M enough. It was my first TPB and the reason I started reading comics again.

    Kreutz on
  • bobgorilabobgorila Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    Invincible?

    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.

    bobgorila on
    I like my women how I like my coffee.

    Anally.
  • delphinusdelphinus Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    runaways was one of the funnest books ive ever read. no continuity issues, brand new characters...just great.

    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?

    delphinus on
  • MunchMunch Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    Vann Diras wrote: »
    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?

    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?

    Munch on
  • hughtronhughtron __BANNED USERS regular
    edited May 2007
    Munch you forgot that it does feature Spider-Man once.

    hughtron on
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  • HooraydiationHooraydiation Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    Naw, Marvel Team-Up featured Invincible and Spider-Man once.

    Is that story in a collection anywhere, by the way?

    Hooraydiation on
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  • MunchMunch Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    Yeah, it's collected in the League of Losers TPB. Which is another great, though sadly underrated Kirkman comic. I mean, it's got Gravity, Speedball, Darkhawk, and Terror Inc. It's kind of continuity-heavy, but still excellent.

    Munch on
  • MaximumMaximum Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    The Astonishing X-Men trades are a must buy for any X-Fan, theres three of them so far, and each trade contains a 6 issue story-arc. Great dialogue, great art, no real continuity mumbo jumbo to scramble your brains. I thought House of M (the core mini, not the spin-offs) was a fun read, and I don't know if you like Daredevil but you can get the last two story story arc's (The Devil Inside & Out Vol. 1 & 2), they're a great jumping on point to the series.

    Maximum on
  • BalefuegoBalefuego Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    MaximumJ wrote: »
    The Astonishing X-Men trades are a must buy for any X-Fan, theres three of them so far, and each trade contains a 6 issue story-arc. Great dialogue, great art, no real continuity mumbo jumbo to scramble your brains. I thought House of M (the core mini, not the spin-offs) was a fun read, and I don't know if you like Daredevil but you can get the last two story story arc's (The Devil Inside & Out Vol. 1 & 2), they're a great jumping on point to the series.

    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.

    Balefuego on
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  • DJ EebsDJ Eebs Moderator, Administrator admin
    edited May 2007
    If you love Spider-Man, I'd check out Spider-Man: Blue. New Avengers and House of M don't exactly star Spider-Man, but he's written pretty well in those, I think.

    DJ Eebs on
  • AlgertmanAlgertman Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    I enjoy Sensational Spider-Man

    straight up Spidey vs. Badguys comic

    Algertman on
  • DJ EebsDJ Eebs Moderator, Administrator admin
    edited May 2007
    The Sensational Spider-Man annual is one of the best comics I've read in a while. Fraction really seems to do his best work when he's dealing with the contrasts between Silver and Modern age stuff.

    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.

    DJ Eebs on
  • Munkus BeaverMunkus Beaver You don't have to attend every argument you are invited to. Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited May 2007
    Nextwave.

    Munkus Beaver on
    Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
  • SentrySentry Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    Geebs wrote: »
    The Sensational Spider-Man annual is one of the best comics I've read in a while. Fraction really seems to do his best work when he's dealing with the contrasts between Silver and Modern age stuff.

    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...

    Sentry on
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    wrote:
    When I was a little kid, I always pretended I was the hero,' Skip said.
    'Fuck yeah, me too. What little kid ever pretended to be part of the lynch-mob?'
  • Zeeb!Zeeb! Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    Do not pick up A Death in the Family.

    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.

    Zeeb! on
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  • Zeeb!Zeeb! Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    Also, New Frontier.

    And the entirety of Punisher MAX.

    Zeeb! on
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  • HtownHtown Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    For Batman, pick up and read Year One and The Long Halloween.

    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.

    Htown on
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  • BlankspaceBlankspace __BANNED USERS regular
    edited May 2007
    I suggest that the best jumping on point for Big Blue is Superman: Birthright. It's a great origin story with beautiful art.

    Blankspace on
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  • HtownHtown Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    I only failed to recommend that because I haven't read it.

    Is it still canon, post-IC?

    Htown on
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  • BlankspaceBlankspace __BANNED USERS regular
    edited May 2007
    I believe so. Well, with the LOSH stuff that's going on in JLofA maybe not.


    It's still a great Superman story.

    Blankspace on
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  • GuekGuek Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    ULTIMATES
    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

    Guek on
  • Herr CaesarHerr Caesar Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    bobgorila wrote: »
    Vol 1 of Gaiman's Sandman was my first TBP, so I'd recommend it in a heartbeat.
    Everytime someone recommends Sandman, I have to over-recommend Swamp Thing.

    Get Saga of the Swamp Thing.

    Also... We3

    Herr Caesar on
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  • bobgorilabobgorila Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    bobgorila wrote: »
    Vol 1 of Gaiman's Sandman was my first TBP, so I'd recommend it in a heartbeat.
    Everytime someone recommends Sandman, I have to over-recommend Swamp Thing.

    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.

    bobgorila on
    I like my women how I like my coffee.

    Anally.
  • Zen VulgarityZen Vulgarity What a lovely day for tea Secret British ThreadRegistered User regular
    edited May 2007
    Fucking Annihilation.

    Zen Vulgarity on
  • lostwordslostwords Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    For a well-done, self-contained TPB, its hard to beat Pride of Baghdad. Just a great book that one has to reread several times to appreciate. Vaughan at the top of his game, basically. And the ending is just... man

    lostwords on
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  • Herr CaesarHerr Caesar Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    bobgorila wrote: »
    bobgorila wrote: »
    Vol 1 of Gaiman's Sandman was my first TBP, so I'd recommend it in a heartbeat.
    Everytime someone recommends Sandman, I have to over-recommend Swamp Thing.

    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.
    I thought it wasn't available in TPB form.

    Herr Caesar on
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  • bobgorilabobgorila Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    bobgorila wrote: »
    bobgorila wrote: »
    Vol 1 of Gaiman's Sandman was my first TBP, so I'd recommend it in a heartbeat.
    Everytime someone recommends Sandman, I have to over-recommend Swamp Thing.

    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.
    I thought it wasn't available in TPB form.

    Oh? I read the issues, I just kind of assumed because it was so awesome.

    bobgorila on
    I like my women how I like my coffee.

    Anally.
  • The_LightbringerThe_Lightbringer Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    Nextwave.

    I'd recommend against nextwave until you have a bit more detailed knowledge of the marvel universe.

    The_Lightbringer on
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  • HooraydiationHooraydiation Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    I liked it without knowing who any of the members of the team were.

    Hooraydiation on
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  • BalefuegoBalefuego Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    The first few issues are like 10x funnier if you know who Fin Fang Foom is though.

    Balefuego on
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  • Vann DirasVann Diras Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    Well, this is certainly a nice list to start with. I borrowed a friend's Runaways volume 1, and it is indeed awesome.

    Funds pending, most of these will be read at one point or another. Thanks for the help, PA.

    Vann Diras on
  • MuddBuddMuddBudd Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    Sandman

    MuddBudd on
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  • Munkus BeaverMunkus Beaver You don't have to attend every argument you are invited to. Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited May 2007
    I liked it without knowing who any of the members of the team were.

    Munkus Beaver on
    Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
  • noir_bloodnoir_blood Registered User regular
    edited May 2007
    If you like Spiderman, definatley check out the few first volume of Stracinski(?) Amazing Spiderman. That was actually my starting point into comics, and I really dug them. John Romita Jr's art is awesome, and the first fight between Spidey and Morlum was incredibly well done. Plus it has the 9/11 issue as well as Aunt May discovering his identity.

    noir_blood on
  • AlgertmanAlgertman Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    bobgorila wrote: »
    Vol 1 of Gaiman's Sandman was my first TBP, so I'd recommend it in a heartbeat.
    Everytime someone recommends Sandman, I have to over-recommend Swamp Thing.

    Get Saga of the Swamp Thing.

    Also... We3

    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

    Algertman on
  • Tucanwarrior13Tucanwarrior13 Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    -The Walking Dead TPBs
    -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.

    Tucanwarrior13 on
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  • DharmaBumDharmaBum Registered User regular
    edited June 2007
    I don't know if anyone has recomended it yet, but Hellboy is absolutely fantastic. It has a sort of superhero feel to it, with cool paranormal/religious storylines. If you're into that sorta stuff I highly recomend it. Also because of the superhero feel it's kind of a good place to start (atleast it was for me) if you're intimidated by all the continuity and retconning that has been going on for the past few decades in the superhero books.


    B.P.R.D. (the semi-follow-up to Hellboy) is also, from what I hear, supposed to be better than Hellboy.

    DharmaBum on
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