I Read Comic Books discussion

Ryan wrote: "Kate- Thanks for the suggestions! I actually just ordered The Vision, Volume 1: Little Worse Than A Man - I've heard great things and really look forward to reading this one."

I'll recommend Grayson, Volume 1: Agents of Spyral from King if you haven't picked that one up yet. I really like that it features a familiar character from the DC universe with a spin on it.

Phillip-
Thanks for the tip! I actually picked up issue #1 of Grayson as a freebie from my local shop. It was an excellent read. Now it'll definitely make my To Read list.
THANKS...Ryan

Hi, Dan here. I live in Central New York (CNY), and I am a booktuber who reads (a lot ) of comics, and posts reviews. I do read other stuff, but a majority of what I read is comics. I like all sorts of genres in comics, but not really into Japanese..sorry manga fans.

Nandez here. Originally from Cincy, OH. I have lived in Indianapolis the last few years. I started reading comics back in 2008-2009 and quickly fell in love with the works of Kirkman and eventually spread my wings and started to seek out more books and events to read through. I love a good Image comic, and I have been slowly growing my reading and knowledge of the DC universe, but I am mostly a big mark for Marvel. I just tend to gravitate to the work more.

Dan wrote: "Hi, Dan here. I live in Central New York (CNY), and I am a booktuber who reads (a lot ) of comics, and posts reviews. I do read other stuff, but a majority of what I read is comics. I like all sort..."

Welcome Dan! Read anything good lately?

Ryan wrote: "Nandez here. Originally from Cincy, OH. I have lived in Indianapolis the last few years. I started reading comics back in 2008-2009 and quickly fell in love with the works of Kirkman and eventually..."

Hey Ryan! Thanks for joining! What's been your favorite non-Kirkman Image book you've read lately?

I recently just went through the entire recent run of the Marvel Secret Wars by issue and that was a pretty fun ride but. I most preferred Kirkman's Invincible Universe comics, but I am a large fan of Jeff Lemire. I really enjoy is solo work but I have recently been reading his stuff from DC and Marvel and I have enjoyed that. Especially his run with X-Men and characters. I am a big mark for Mutants. I really want to read his recent run of Hawkeye.

Ryan wrote: "I recently just went through the entire recent run of the Marvel Secret Wars by issue and that was a pretty fun ride but. I most preferred Kirkman's Invincible Universe comics, but I am a large fan..."

Welcome to the group Ryan! I thought Lemire's Hawkeye run was good, but his Black Hammer series is fantastic. I can't recommend it enough.

Dan wrote: "Hi, Dan here. I live in Central New York (CNY), and I am a booktuber who reads (a lot ) of comics, and posts reviews. I do read other stuff, but a majority of what I read is comics. I like all sort..."

Welcome to the group Dan! I've never been able to get into manga either. What's your favorite comics genre?

Mike wrote: "Dan wrote: "Hi, Dan here. I live in Central New York (CNY), and I am a booktuber who reads (a lot ) of comics, and posts reviews. I do read other stuff, but a majority of what I read is comics. I l..."

Actually a few... good reads. Red Thorn is a new Vertigo series.

Kate wrote: "Dan wrote: "Hi, Dan here. I live in Central New York (CNY), and I am a booktuber who reads (a lot ) of comics, and posts reviews. I do read other stuff, but a majority of what I read is comics. I l..."

Has to superheroes and then horror

Hello All.

New to the group. Am a blogger and YT creator(videogaming) and joined to primarily make a dent in my backlog of graphic novels. The community here seems friendly and is a nice bonus. Will be nice to make a few new friends and discuss comics etc.

Have voted on the last two polls but unfortunately the books chosen were ones I don't currently own. I have enforced a ban on buying any more comic books until I've read my backlog!!

Cheers!!

DM wrote: "Hello All.

New to the group. Am a blogger and YT creator(videogaming) and joined to primarily make a dent in my backlog of graphic novels. The community here seems friendly and is a nice bonus. Wi..."

Welcome!!

I deeply know that feeling of the backlog, but I have very little restraint to not buy new comics...

Hopefully we'll read your pick next!

DM wrote: "New to the group. Am a blogger and YT creator(videogaming) and joined to primarily make a dent in my backlog of graphic novels. The community here seems friendly and is a nice bonus. Wi..."

Welcome to the group! I have quite the backlog going as well. What sorts of comics/OGN's do you have stockpiled? Is there a particular title at the top of your to-read pile?

I know not everyone has access to a library that stocks trades, but if you have one, I highly recommend it for reading BotM's. That's how I get them almost every month, either in physical or digital (more often the later). Do UK libraries use Hoopla like many libraries do in the US?

Kate wrote: "DM wrote: "New to the group. Am a blogger and YT creator(videogaming) and joined to primarily make a dent in my backlog of graphic novels. The community here seems friendly and is a nice bonus. Wi...."

Hello Kate. Just working my way through Locke & Key at present. Have read the first two volumes. Libraries in the UK(certainly where I live) don't have a vast selection...not sure about Hoopla.

Stephen Brophy from Los Angeles, CA. I write and publish superfiction in the wee small hours when I have a minute to breathe. I read everything from mainstream Marvel stuff to a small army of Image titles to any indie book that strikes me in the sweet spot. I love stuff that has a bit of fun with deconstructing the mythic multiverse of superheroics by contrasting it with the mundanity of everyday life, which I've found successfully done by all the publishers and creators I've brushed on. I also love crime comics, scifi, pulp, espionage and relatable human stories in no particular order. I try not to draw lines between the "high" and "low" in literature, art or culture. It all has its place, and as long as it entertains me and maybe even makes me think about things a bit differently, I'm in.

Stephen wrote: "Stephen Brophy from Los Angeles, CA. I write and publish superfiction in the wee small hours when I have a minute to breathe. I read everything from mainstream Marvel stuff to a small army of Image..."

Welcome to the group Stephen! Do you have a favorite comic, or a comic writer that has influenced your work the most?

Huu wrote: "Hello everyone, my name is Huu and I live in Austin, TX. I read mostly Image Comics and occasionally dip into the big 2. I been loving the 'I Read Comics' podcast so much that I went back and liste..."

Thanks for listening Huu, and welcome to our group! It's always great to hear that people are enjoying the show :) I know exactly what you mean about bro-y podcasts. I'm not a fan of them either.

You read a lot of great books. Kill or Be Killed, Vol. 1 is on my to read list. Have you read another of Brubaker's Image books, Velvet, Vol. 1: Before the Living End? I bet you'd like it if you're enjoying KoBK.

Huu wrote: "Hello everyone, my name is Huu and I live in Austin, TX. I read mostly Image Comics and occasionally dip into the big 2. I been loving the 'I Read Comics' podcast so much that I went back and liste..."

Huu! My heart! Thank you so much for listening to all of our show!

Huu wrote: "Kate wrote: "Huu wrote: "Hello everyone, my name is Huu and I live in Austin, TX. I read mostly Image Comics and occasionally dip into the big 2. I been loving the 'I Read Comics' podcast so much t..."

Ah, yeah, Velvet is definitely a slow burn. Fatale is on my to-read list too.

Kate wrote: "Stephen wrote: "Stephen Brophy from Los Angeles, CA. I write and publish superfiction in the wee small hours when I have a minute to breathe. I read everything from mainstream Marvel stuff to a sma..."

The comics writer who most directly inspired me to start injecting superheroes and henchmen into my prose, and who got me back into reading comics after quite a few years of pretending to be a "grownup" was Ed Brubaker, with everything from his Criminal, Sleeper and Incognito series to his run on Catwoman and of course Captain America and The Winter Soldier.

The current mainstream writer whose work I most adore is Nick Spencer, especially for his work on Superior Foes of Spider-Man and Ant-Man. No one does a better job of fusing humor and the frustrating mundanity of day-to-day existence with the wildly fantastic science-magic of a superpowered universe.

Also really love Dennis Hopeless' recent work on Spider-Woman for many of the same reasons.

Stephen wrote: "Kate wrote: "Stephen wrote: "Stephen Brophy from Los Angeles, CA. I write and publish superfiction in the wee small hours when I have a minute to breathe. I read everything from mainstream Marvel s..."

And a big thumbs-up for Velvet. I am digging Kill or Be Killed, but Velvet's '70s spy-fi setting and badass female hero is more my jam. I love Brubaker in espionage mode that just skirts the edge of the fantastic--he demonstrated his love for that genre with my beloved Cap and Winter Soldier. Fatale for me started out great for the first two volumes, then lost steam when the story hit the '90s through to the present. Dug The Fade Out pretty well, but for me, yeah, Velvet's where it's at.

Stephen wrote: "The current mainstream writer whose work I most adore is Nick Spencer, especially for his work on Superior Foes of Spider-Man and Ant-Man. No one does a better job of fusing humor and the frustrating mundanity of day-to-day existence with the wildly fantastic science-magic of a superpowered universe. "

I really liked Spencer's work on Ant-Man. I only read the first arc and have been meaning to go back and read the rest ever since.

I don't know that I've ever read any of Hopeless' work. I don't read anything in the spider-verse. Has he written anything outside of it that you'd recommend?

Velvet is fantastic, but it's so genre that I can understand why it's not for everyone. I just purchased volume 3, but I'm holding off on reading it until I have time to reread 1 and 2 first. I love binge reading series when a new trade comes out.

Yeah, Spencer's so good, I'm even looking forward to reading the crazy stuff he's doing with Cap once it's collected (and on sale). Superior Foes is one of my favorite things of ever (I have a major soft spot for stories about henchmen, seeing as my own series of novellas is about one).

I don't know that I've read anything else by Hopeless. And I'm not much of a Spider-verse reader myself (though I loved Superior Spider-Man for the surprising creativity that occurred when Doc Ock took over Peter Parker's body and his heroing). But this Spider-Woman is so much its own thing, I really would recommend giving it a try, esp. if you're a fan of that Spencer stuff. It's got a very similar smart, wryly comedic approach to the superhero genre in general and the Marvel Universe in particular--one of those books like Fraction's Hawkeye that reads like your favorite TV show. There's a storyline involving a town where the abused wives and families of various low-level supervillains and henchmen have holed up to protect themselves and formed their own utopian community that is both funny, thrilling and has something very smart to say about domestic violence and women's issues. Just great stuff.

Velvet is so good that I have a crush on that tough, gorgeous ol' broad.

Stephen wrote: "Yeah, Spencer's so good, I'm even looking forward to reading the crazy stuff he's doing with Cap once it's collected (and on sale). Superior Foes is one of my favorite things of ever (I have a majo..."

I really didn't like his Hydra Cap stunt. He was either purposely courting white nationalists, or he was just trying to make a click-baity comic book. Either way, it's not something I want to support.

I have heard his work on The Fix, Volume 1 is fantastic. Have you read that?

I'm intrigued by what he's doing with the Hydra Cap thing only because I think it's both bold and ridiculous, and because I think it's all ultimately a preposterous ruse where he's been brainwashed to believe he's something he's not. So I'm sure there will be an epic climax to the whole thing where he comes back to himself and gets to tear down the mess he's created and get revenge on Red Skull or whoever's doing it to him. It could turn out to be a big mistake or it could turn out to be an interesting commentary on the insidious rise of neo-Nazism. From what I know of Spencer, I don't think he'd have any interest in courting white supremacists (that's more Nathan Edmonson territory). So I'm giving him the slight benefit of a doubt and am willing to see if he can stick a landing with this. Plus, if I inherited a legacy character like this, I'd want to do something no one else has tried yet (and killing them off for a couple of years has been done, all puns intended, to death, so...)

I've read just the first few issues of The Fix and enjoyed it, but it didn't stick to my ribs like his mainstream Marvel work.

Hello! Newcomer to the group here. I'm Andréa; I'm a library assistant / storytime leader in Virginia. My passion lies with kids and kids' books, so the bulk of the comics & graphic novels I read are aimed at the younger crowd. Favorites include Bandette, Volume 1: Presto! and the rest of that series, El Deafo by Cece Bell, Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova, and Monster on the Hill by Rob Harrell. I absolutely loved Viminy Crowe's Comic Book, which is a hybrid novel / graphic. I also read the Love series by Frédéric Brrémaud & Federico Bertolucci, the Heavenly Nostrils series by Dana Simpson, the new Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson, the Manga Classics series from Udon, Hope Larson and Raina Telgemeier and Joelle Sellner and Victoria Jamieson, plus the Unshelved series by Bill Barnes & Gene Ambaum.

Publisher-wise, I rarely read DC and Marvel, but I read almost everything put out by TOON Books and First Second. The Diamond Book Distributors reps are always some of my favorite people at ALA Midwinter, even if I don't read all their comics.

Andréa wrote: "Hello! Newcomer to the group here. I'm Andréa; I'm a library assistant / storytime leader in Virginia. My passion lies with kids and kids' books, so the bulk of the comics & graphic novels I read a..."

Welcome Andréa!

I haven't heard of a whole bunch of those comics (save Ms. Marvel)! I'll have to check some out. Got a favorite?

Mike wrote: "Welcome Andréa!

I haven't heard of a whole bunch of those comics (save Ms. Marvel)! I'll have to check some out. Got a favorite?"

I definitely think everyone should read El Deafo; it's a kids' comic, but it's a memoir about Cece Bell going deaf at a young age, and what it was like growing up with a disability. She does a great job at really making the reader understand what she's going through (and the graphic novel medium is what makes that work so well).

And the Love series is amazing because they're wordless graphic novels that depict various animals in their natural habitats, so they include lions on the hunt and small animals hiding and all the other aspects of the animal experience.

Andréa wrote: "Hello! Newcomer to the group here. I'm Andréa; I'm a library assistant / storytime leader in Virginia. My passion lies with kids and kids' books, so the bulk of the comics & graphic novels I read a..."

Welcome! Ms. Marvel and the Love series are both good. Bandette is one that's been on my list for a while.

Any particular books from First Second you'd recommend? I've read some of their books and they have all been fantastic so far. I loved the Delilah Dirk books, so check those out if you haven't yet.

Phillip wrote: "Any particular books from First Second you'd recommend? I've read some of their books and they have all been fantastic so far. I loved the Delilah Dirk books, so check those out if you haven't yet."

First Second: Andre the Giant: Life and Legend by Box Brown was really interesting. I just finished Castle in the Stars: The Space Race of 1869- Book 1 by Alex Alice, which was a cool steampunk-y read, but of course it ends on a bit of a climax and now book #2 can't come soon enough... I have read Delilah Dirk, and while I like them, they're not a favorite; I think it's partly because she's dressed a bit more like a "traditional comic book heroine" than Bandette, for example. Oh, and The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang was excellent!

Andréa wrote: "Mike wrote: "Welcome Andréa!

I haven't heard of a whole bunch of those comics (save Ms. Marvel)! I'll have to check some out. Got a favorite?"

I definitely think everyone should read El Deafo; it..."

I'll definitely be checking out El Deafo. Thanks for the recommendation!

Mike wrote: "I'll definitely be checking out El Deafo. Thanks for the recommendation!"

Awesome! I've seen Cece Bell talk / met her 3 times now, and I've read the book at least 3 times, too. I don't re-read books often, and I have a hard time picking favorites, but El Deafo ranks right up there with The Westing Game for me in terms of my emotions for them and how much I can re-read them.

Andréa wrote: "Hello! Newcomer to the group here. I'm Andréa; I'm a library assistant / storytime leader in Virginia. My passion lies with kids and kids' books, so the bulk of the comics & graphic novels I read a..."

Welcome to the group Andréa! Your job sounds like so much fun. Thank you for all the recommendations. I've added El Deafo to my to-read list.

I recently read Robot Dreams, a wordless comic for kids about friendship. I was interested from the standpoint of visual storytelling. It's so easy to just credit the comic book writers for all of the storytelling, but that's so unfair, because it really is a team effort. Robot Dreams demonstrates that beautifully, and if you haven't read it, I highly recommend checking it out!

Kate wrote: "I recently read Robot Dreams, a wordless comic for kids about friendship. I was interested from the standpoint of visual storytelling. It's so easy to just credit the comic book writers for all of the storytelling, but that's so unfair, because it really is a team effort. Robot Dreams demonstrates that beautifully, and if you haven't read it, I highly recommend checking it out!"

I've seen Robot Dreams on the shelf a lot, but never actually read it. I've added it to my to-read list! I'm always impressed by wordless comics (and picture books), because they have to be done so well to be effective. The Love series I mentioned is wordless, as are the Three-Story books by Lee Nordling; both those series are excellent examples of effective wordless storytelling.

Hello everybody.

I'm FilipeAlves from Portugal. Been reading comics since i was 10, and big / huge fan of comics and "Bande Desinee" (french / belgian) BD.
HellBlazer / Batman - my favorites comic
Blacksad / Largus Winch / IR$ / XIII / Bouncer - my favorites BD

And right now - starting to dive into Fables!!!

Best regards
FilipeAlves

Filipe wrote: "Hello everybody.

I'm FilipeAlves from Portugal. Been reading comics since i was 10, and big / huge fan of comics and "Bande Desinee" (french / belgian) BD.
HellBlazer / Batman - my favorites comi..."

Welcome to IRCB Filipe! I really liked Hellblazer, Volume 1: Original Sins and keep meaning to read more.

I love hearing about comics from other countries. Do you know if any of your favorites have English translations?

Hello Kate
Dark Horse published 3 books from one of our biggest comic author - Dog Mendonça and Pizza Boy.

They are great (and the stories happen in Lisbon). They even did a short story for Dark Horse Presents.

Hope it helps!
Best Regards

Filipe wrote: "Hello Kate
Dark Horse published 3 books from one of our biggest comic author - Dog Mendonça and Pizza Boy.

They are great (and the stories happen in Lisbon). They even did a short story for Dark ..."

Fantastic! I will have to check it out. Thank you :)

Hello everyone.

My name is Adam and I'm from Russia.
I read comic books almost three years and I'm a big fan of Geoff Johns's works. My favorite is the story arc "Blitz".

Earlier I was read only superheroes comics, but after my acquaintances with "The Walking Dead" I have begun to read another genres . Right now I'm reading Scott Pilgrim, Volume 3. Also I don't forget about monthly series. My list on today:
- Moon Knight
- Titans
- The Walking Dead

JanskiT wrote: "Hello everyone.

My name is Adam and I'm from Russia.
I read comic books almost three years and I'm a big fan of Geoff Johns's works. My favorite is the story arc "Blitz".

Earlier I was read onl..."

Welcome to IRCB! I have been meaning to read Moon Knight for ages. I've heard that it's fantastic. Are you enjoying it?

A friend in college lent me all of the Scott Pilgrim books, and I binge binge read them over one weekend. They're so much fun!

Kate wrote: "JanskiT wrote: "Hello everyone.

My name is Adam and I'm from Russia.
I read comic books almost three years and I'm a big fan of Geoff Johns's works. My favorite is the story arc "Blitz".

Earlie..."

You should totally read Moon Knight! I read the first trade and it was amazing. Mind you, I'm a huge fan of Moon Knight going back to the stuff from the 80s.

Kate wrote: "JanskiT wrote: "Hello everyone.

My name is Adam and I'm from Russia.
I read comic books almost three years and I'm a big fan of Geoff Johns's works. My favorite is the story arc "Blitz".

Earlie..."

I completely agree with the comment above. Moon Knight by Jeff Lemire is one of the best titles of last year. How could you miss it? :) Anyway, I recommend to examine. I'm pretty sure it won't leave you indifferent.

Hello, I'm Ross. Originally from Scotland but now live in St. Louis. Hate to be clique but love everything batman.

Also like to read preacher, Spider-Man, anything tomassi and will always try to understand grant Morrison.

Read a variety of novels (please feel free to suggest some), play my Xbox and binge watch Netflix

Ross wrote: "Hello, I'm Ross. Originally from Scotland but now live in St. Louis. Hate to be clique but love everything batman.

Also like to read preacher, Spider-Man, anything tomassi and will always try to ..."

Welcome to IRCB Ross! Batman is awesome. Do you have a favorite Bat trade?

A great superhero/villain related novel is Vicious. Do you watch many of the superhero shows on Netflix?

Hi, I'm Nazareno from Argentina (that country of South America where Messi was born).
I started reading comics 10 years ago and in the last years i loved Jonathan Hickman's Avengers, Rucka's Punisher, Remender's uncanny avengers, among others, and now i'm very interested in what DC will do with rebirth

Welcome, Naza. I've really been enjoying a lot of DC's Rebirth, hope you do, too.

Naza wrote: "Hi, I'm Nazareno from Argentina (that country of South America where Messi was born).
I started reading comics 10 years ago and in the last years i loved Jonathan Hickman's Avengers, Rucka's Punish..."

Welcome to IRCB Nazareno! Rucka is one of my favorite comic book writers too. Which Rebirth titles are you reading?

Hi all,

I'm Peter and I live in UK, London. In the past I mostly read Manga (which I still do) but after watching Young Justice TV-series I got interested in the characters. I'm not really a fan of superhero comics but I do enjoy the Justice League and all incarnations of the Flash.

I have tried to look into Marvel, but more into the DC Comic Universe.

Welcome, Peter!

If you're gonna read one Marvel book, start at the best in recent history: Hawkeye by Matt Fraction and David Aja. It's one of the best.