Welcome to Comic Smack...after writing about comics a few blog postings back and recently creating a program about perceptions based upon a comic book page, I thought, you know I like comics...I'm kind of a fan boy...why don't I write philosophically and thoughtfully and sarcastically on the comics industry (like all things in life it brings equal parts pleasure and pain). So welcome to Comic Smack, hopefully some friends will join me as well.
DC Comics, of which I'm slightly more dedicated to than Marvel, has recently announced the Top 30 Must Read Graphic Novels.
http://www.dccomics.com/sites/essential30/
Now, this is somewhat "on par" with the 100 books you must read (a very daunting yet influential list of which I think I've read like...20). Obviously, you can see the overly straightforward "hey we're trying to get you to buy these books "masked in "these are the most important comic collections of our time." But let's take a look at this list, in part, since it's about one in the morning and I need to eat my Taco Bell.
Books I've Read, Seen in Movies, or am Familiar With, Which Should Be On This List
The Watchmen: I read it when I was like 12, and didn't get it. But it paints a good picture of life, "real life," if superheroes were joe average folks. It takes away the myths while adding the realistic problems of being super.
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: More Alan Moore...unlike the Sean Connery film, this shit's kind of intense. Like, R-rated intense. Read it, be mystified by the old timey art.
V for Vendetta: Did you see the movie? Yep, so did I. The book is just as good.
The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes: I was never familiar with Neil Gaimann until my brother bought me this book for Christmas. It's one of those stories where the good guy...pretty much always wins but he interacts with regular DC Universe characters and some randos who all seem to want to knock him off his throne. Oh, and the art's pretty wicked too.
Batman: Arkham Asylum: Scary ass shit. Read it and cry.
Batman: Dark Knight Returns: If you've been living under a comics pop culture rock for the past 20 years and haven't heard of this book then you relinquish all of your rights to geekdom and need to realize that Frank Miller is a genius, more so than Alex Ross, more so than Alan Moore, more so than any current or former writer of comics EVER. Pay attention to Miller's use of dialogue, how he invents his own lingo, and his use of poetic repetition.
Batman: Dark Knight Strikes Again: Although I still think Miller's sequel is a bit forced in plot, I do believe that this book is meant to be way more focused on the rest of the DCU and not Batman. His interpretation of Plastic Man, Martian Manhunter, and the Atom...classic.
Batman: Hush: I'm not a fan of most current Batman stuff...I find it a bit trite at times...a bit too brooding...like everyone who writes after Miller is trying too hard. But Hush, it's kind of cool. Batman deals with all sorts of problems (love, his childhood, crime, his own idiosyncrasies) and comes off as more human than he's usually depicted in other non-batman titles (see JLA Rules of Engagement...yeah...dude you're jet blew up...Ronnie Raymond is not that fast...you're dead).
Identity Crisis: I've mentioned this in Quixotic Thoughts...Brad Meltzer has written some great comics...and this is his best work. He knows his DCU, he knows dialogue, he knows a great murder mystery. Next to the next title, this will always be the defining moment of the DC Universe.
Crisis on Infinite Earths: It's classic...whether you like it or not you kinda hafta read it if you're a DC fan. Plus it's the first major collection which kills off a huge mess of characters (many, quite popular) in order to combine and synthesize many titles. RIP Barry Allen (who by the way...still dead...).
Transmetropolitan: I've read parts of this, and I admit, I don't get it. But it was one of underground comics' most influential books. So I have to give it props and say "maybe you shouldn't have been bought out by DC."
Books I've Read, Seen in Movies, or am Familiar With, Which Should NOT Be On This List
Kingdom Come: Alex Ross...great artist...added his own style to comic art (although Adam Hughes kicks his butt any day of the week). As for his story...yeah, it's kind of ok. It's like he stole all his ideas from Frank Miller, added nothing creative or new (other than his art) and tried to present something which has been done many times before. Not impressed. Oddly enough I think the follow up to this is way more intriguing and it doesn't even have Ross' art in it.
JLA New World Order: Of all the series 3 JLA you're gonna put in here...you pick this one!?! Dan Didio is definitely running this company...possibly into the ground.
Green Lantern Rebirth: Great...Hal Jordan came back...great...way to erase two huge crossover series and a great plot line that the most trusted and revered DCU character can go bad. Not impressed in the slightest (Kyle Rayner kind of beats Hal to the punch by bringing back...oh...ALL of the Green Lantern Corps.).
Batman/Superman: Public Enemies: I do like the art...I do like the basic concept...I do like the foreshadowing to Identity Crisis. I cannot stand the highly simple and basic "oh Batman and Superman really understand each other depsite being different." This series should've ended after this collection.
Superman: Birth Right: I admit...I didn't read it...nor did I read Red Son, Superman of All Seasons, or anything else Superman related...you know why...BECAUSE SUPERMAN IS MOST INTERESTING WHEN HE'S DEAD!!!!
Books These Fools Forgot
JLA The Nail: Imagine the DCU without Superman...yep, kind of cool isn't it? Read this and find out why.
JLA Welcome to the Work Week: Highly underrated and never publicized. Patton Oswalt (Everybody Loves Raymond...except me) writes this beautifully drawn one shot about a kid who sneaks aboard the watchtower and sees the JLA during their day to day. Like Meltzer and Kevin Smith, Oswalt knows the DCU in and out and it shows in all of the characters in the story. And the ones he needs to invent, equally priceless.
Young Justice Sins of Youth: Total bias because this concept is from Peter David the fantastic (and seemingly hated by DC) writer who took his series, Young Justice, and crossed it over with every title, reverse aging all the characters and how they struggle with their new lives (he's not the only writer for this collection, but the range of art, writing, and plot is pretty good for an overarching conflict). This is also a good series for younger kids to read as well.
Aquaman Time & Tide: Aquaman...pretty boring. Imagine reading a series where you think "whoa...he's kind of badass." This is it. Read it.
JLA The Obsidian Age: There are MANY other JLA titles which are worthy. Joe Kelly is a genius and needed to stay on JLA for at least another 20 years. Although Meltzer starts the most current incarnation, he's a temp, and will be replaced by someone who sucks. Kelly had this ability to make the "Magnificent 7" more memorable. Match that with great art and you've got a pretty decent tale. I pick this collection because you have a possible JLA team that seems to be as intriguing as the well known heroes.
Kevin Smith's Green Arrow: I'm sorry, Smith knows his shit. He knows his characters. He writes funny dialogue. And he handles the revolving door of death tactfully. Like Aquaman, Green Arrow is kind of a boring character. Then you read Smith's collection and think...wait, he's got issues too. A letter Hester/Parks art goes a long way. Like watching Clerks the animated series with DCU characters.
I could easily start a list of non-DC comics to add here. But this post is long enough. In short, DC likes to pat itself on the back for comics written by people who are so anti-establishment that they miss some good mainstream series which have huge DCU implications.
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