105 replies to this topic

[J.H.]

e can argue which point DB took a spill all day but we do agree that Toriyama is incredible at layout of action. He has stated that he basically studies everything he's ever read by Tezuka to get the right feel for flow ofevery type of scene be it a fight or simple comedy. Given how good Tezuka was it only makes sense that Toriyama looks to him for inspiration. He is one of the post Tokiwa-so mangaka that just worships Tezuka.

James

[Brian Fowler]

Common ground~!

Excellent Comics Alliance article on this very point from last fall.

[TheZ]

If you only read one manga, make it 20th Century Boys. Just so incredibly good! And I'm not even a big manga fan, but this is one my favorite comic books period.
Just read the first volume and you will be hooked immediately.

[The Victator]

J.H., on Mar 7 2012, 08:29 AM, said:

e can argue which point DB took a spill all day but we do agree that Toriyama is incredible at layout of action. He has stated that he basically studies everything he's ever read by Tezuka to get the right feel for flow ofevery type of scene be it a fight or simple comedy. Given how good Tezuka was it only makes sense that Toriyama looks to him for inspiration. He is one of the post Tokiwa-so mangaka that just worships Tezuka.

James

Dragonball picked up at the tourney that introduced Tenshinhan and never really let up. The Saiyan/Namek arc was fantastic. The Androids stuff was good and became great at the Cell Games. The parts before that seemed too mechanical. It did not feel like Toriyama was having fun at that point. Then the Cell Games started and Mr.Satan was introduced and it picked up. I love the Buu arc since it was so crazy and all over the place. Though it really went by too fast, like he was ready to be done. This did help the anime as there was less need for blatant filler and instead they simply expanded on the existing story.

Going to the early parts of Dragonball. The first story arc is the weakest, simply because I don't think Toriyama knew what the series was yet.

After that until the introduction of Tenshinhan it is a mixed bag. The first tourney is awesome and so is the Muscle Tower Arc. The fight with General Blue is a bit boring until the Dr.Slump crossover. The Mercenary Tao intro was great. Since it played up on the pattern of seemingly dangerous bad guy gets clowned by Goku. It looks like it will happen again until Tao kills Upa's Dad and nearly kills Goku.

Needless to say I love the series and if I had to take one series to a desert island, it would be Dragonball.

[piranesi]

I'm thinking I will exhaust Bleach, or go as long as I can with it, and then stick with series that begin with BL, since other recommendations for humorous Pilgrimesque series I've heard include BLUE MONDAY and BLACK BUTLER (which based on the title I was worried would be a racist manga version of BENSON...but apparently is not).  

One thing I like about Bleach is the idea of irrational confidence coming from the feeling of power.  Every character, as they get in touch with this energy becomes so completely convinced of their invincibility that they get themselves into trouble.  It is a nice touch that reminds me of something they waited too long to address in Buffy: namely why do these vampires and demons keep coming at the slayer when they are so clearly overmatched.  

There was an episode in season seven of that show where a brand new vampire described the euphoria of feeling attached to this monolithic unstoppable base of power and his absolute certainty that he would defeat her.  

Right from the start of Bleach, Kubo does a great job of capturing that sense with the main characters and once you hit the Soul Society arc, you see that it is like a common condition that separates these creatures from regular people.  Everyone is charged with a certainty of their power and this complete immersion in it.  The effect is that it becomes something different and more fantastic than the "regular guy has to come to terms with a strange world" thing that we get in a lot of fantasy films.  

The regular is left waaaay behind right from the start.  However, I'm also guessing this is pretty common in manga.

[AlwaysPissedOff]

TheZ, on Mar 7 2012, 05:10 AM, said:

If you only read one manga, make it 20th Century Boys. Just so incredibly good! And I'm not even a big manga fan, but this is one my favorite comic books period.
Just read the first volume and you will be hooked immediately.

Very much this. The first half of 20th Century Boys is just amazing. Literally had to force myself to stop reading it so I could go to bed and get a little bit of sleep for work the next day.

My main issue with Bleach is that after Soul Society, it's just Kubo kinda going through the motions with "surprises" that really fall flat(especially during the recently finished Winter War arc). I'm still reading Bleach to the end since I'm a completion freak, but it seems like more of a chore at this point to me.

[J.H.]

Kubo seems to like the swerve a lot. That is another cue he takes from Kurumada, who totally stunned his readers by making Andromeda Shun the host for Hades in Saint Seiya. I think Kubo misses the point that if you keep having a big shock in every major story, then they cease to be big shocks.

James

[piranesi]

J.H., on Mar 7 2012, 11:41 PM, said:

Kubo seems to like the swerve a lot. That is another cue he takes from Kurumada, who totally stunned his readers by making Andromeda Shun the host for Hades in Saint Seiya. I think Kubo misses the point that if you keep having a big shock in every major story, then they cease to be big shocks.

James

I just hit the Soul Society twist and I'm sort of mad at myself that I didn't see it coming.  It's not like I'm a neophyte to serials of any kind.  In fact, I see most plot twists coming a mile down the road.  And this one, in retrospect was just screaming at me.  In some ways it was downright formulaic but it still took me by surprise.  And I quite liked all the little explanations that tied various actions together going all the way back to the opening volume.  

I'm fine with that being the high point because it was pretty fantastic.  As I've said before I rarely root for the heroic archetypes in stories, they usually bore me, but when Ichigo shows up in that final fight I was stoked and ready to see some motherfuckers get what's what.  

I'm also quite taken with details about the swords and such.  I've never ever ever ever been someone who collected items related to anything I've ever liked...memorabilia is something that just confuses me as a hobby...but goddamn his sword is awesome.  It's so perfectly character-specific.  I could see a little Ichigo with sword on his shoulder sitting on my desk in the future.

Jesus, what have I become.

[J.H.]

piranesi, on Mar 8 2012, 03:05 AM, said:

Jesus, what have I become.

O-TA-KU...

;)

James

[piranesi]

J.H., on Mar 8 2012, 08:19 AM, said:

piranesi, on Mar 8 2012, 03:05 AM, said:

Jesus, what have I become.

O-TA-KU...

;)

James

Why am I suddenly filled with terror and remorse?

[Kronos]

J.H., on Mar 8 2012, 10:19 AM, said:

piranesi, on Mar 8 2012, 03:05 AM, said:

Jesus, what have I become.

O-TA-KU...

;)

James

That'd be all of us, would it not?  We're posting on a wrestling forum in 2012.  In the comics section.

:-)

[Hail Sabin]

How is the Avengers The Initiative storyline?
Anyone know where you can find Basic Training for a discount?

[Cliff Hanger]

Up until Dark Reign starts, AtI is absolutely fantastic.  The second half of the run suffers from the initial concept being so badly derailed, but there are still some thoroughly worthwhile parts like The Johnny Guitar issue and the Constrictor plot.

[Hail Sabin]

Cliff Hanger, on May 1 2012, 07:12 AM, said:

Up until Dark Reign starts, AtI is absolutely fantastic.  The second half of the run suffers from the initial concept being so badly derailed, but there are still some thoroughly worthwhile parts like The Johnny Guitar issue and the Constrictor plot.

I got Vol. 2, 3 and 4 yesterday at a discount from my local books-a-million what did I need to know from Vol. 1  Basic Training if I can't find it or just start reading from Vol. 2 on?

[twiztor]

so, Stan Lee will be appearing at Wizard World Chicago Comic Com this year. someone school me on how this whole thing works, if i wanted to meet him and/or get an autograph or something? Like, i see they're selling different VIP packages and stuff, do i have to pick up one of these or would i be able to just stand in line for an hour or whatever?

http://www.wizardwor...om/chicago.html

[odessasteps]

Depends on the con and/or person.

And if they are a con guest, sponsored guest or if they just have theoir own booth/table.

For the funky flashman, id expect to pay someone.

[Cliff Hanger]

Last year at Dragon*Con, Stan Lee and William Shatner were nightmares to get to:  there was, like, a 3 hour line for each guy to buy a $100+ ticket to wait in another line to get an autograph.

[WholeFnMachine]

As I've mentioned before, I was an avid DC reader in the late 80s/early 90s and just started reading again with the launch of the New 52. I read 18 titles currently mostly focusing on the Batfamily. I have gone back and bought and read a slew of TPs and graphic novels since getting back into it. If I posted a list of the ones I have is it possible for you guys to give me some suggestions? My birthday just passed so I have some money to spend.

[Kronos]

Of everything mentioned in that DCnu1 thread, I have to agree that you should read ALL STAR SUPERMAN, SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS, and GOTHAM CENTRAL immediately.

NO MAN'S LAND is a great story that is currently being reissued in big trades. It's quite a commitment, but I loved it.

You might also consider e-comics from Comixology. Batgirl, 52, Red Robin, Power Girl, Zatanna, and more excellent stuff from the last few years is available there for $2 an issue -- and DC does a lot of sales, too. (plus, digital only titles like Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, which you need to be reading if you like Batman at all)

Once you get used to reading digital, you find that you are spoiled by the fact that nothing ever goes out of print. And the back catalogue gets bigger every week. And it takes no storage space.

I do not have an iPad, either. I read on my computer monitor or on my iPhone.

[Cameron Swift]

Can anyone give any recommendations for online comic shops? Preferably cheap, or with cheap shipping to Canada at least. Thanks :)