Comic Book & Manga Discussion Thread v1: Comic Book Guys Unite! - General

[IMG]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/c8/d7/a2/c8d7a24c1e2b9af95bf0fce6313aa95d.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://www.brandsoftheworld.com/sites/default/files/styles/logo-thumbnail/public/032012/dc_comics_1974.ai-converted.png?itok=8-tMMpJ7[/IMG][IMG]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/IDW_Publishing_logo.svg/180px-IDW_Publishing_logo.svg.png[/IMG] So Marvel and DC have their own movie threads. I thought it'd might be appropriate to have my first thread in the General Discussions a comic book thread. It can be about anything from Marvel, DC, IDW, or any other comic book publisher and franchise. This thread can also discuss video game tie-ins, TV adaptations, speculation, and collectibles just like the other Movie and TV threads. Let's try to keep out posts cool, civil, and clean when things...happen because things are happening in comics more than you might think. Also post reading guides for those who want to follow along a certain arc or line. Without further ado, here's my entry: IDW's own [B]Transformers[/B]. [T]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CcwTnZEW0AADVmy.jpg:large[/T][T]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CcwT-qkW8AAG81T.jpg:large[/T][T]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CcwUKR1WoAAM6pX.jpg:large[/T] IDW Transformers is a monthly comic series (currently two Wednesdays a month) that started in 2006 as a modern reboot to the original cartoon. Instead of the Autobots and Decepticons crash landing on Earth for millions of years, they [B][I]battle[/I][/B] for four million years from evacuating the dead planet Cybertron to taking the fight across the universe. Since then its had a bunch of story arcs from the Cold War elements of "Escalation" to the earth-shattering "All Hail Megatron." As of 2012, the series has branched off into to new series still within the continuity; the award-winning [B]"More Than Meets the Eye"[/B], a Star Trek meets Firefly adventure with a bit of violence and robot gore, and [B]"Robots in Disguise"[/B], an action-packed/political drama with what remains of the Transformers species [sp]now that the Great War is finally over.[/sp] A spin-off TV series based on some of the characters and current toy-line is due later this Summer. Here is a reading guide for the series: [t]http://www.idwpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/11x17_TF_Timeline_2015_updated.jpg[/t] The IDW Collections will contain the older stories harking back to 2006 where it all began.

couldn't you just discuss manga in fast anime instead? the western comic books should just stay here though

[QUOTE=Trixil;50563129]couldn't you just discuss manga in fast anime instead? the western comic books should just stay here though[/QUOTE] Never understood why that's there and not somewhere convenient like in the GD forum. I guess you can leave it there, I just think it's rather nifty to have some things in one place. Should probably change the title too since they DO talk about some manga. I neglect to mention that any comic book spoilers should use spoiler tags for [B]30 days[/B] until the next issue comes along.

I think I'm gonna double-dip and put up another comic that I read recently, Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers #5. It's part of a 5 issue mini series tied around the same universe as IDW Transformers. What I really like about it is that you could read all five and you could understand what's going on without having prior knowledge of other Transformers comics. Its just a book about a covert ops team coming to terms with their past troubles in a mix of sci-fi and a crime drama. It's a awesome ending to an awesome mini-series. To keep it short, I loved it. From the [sp] Osteros/Springer revelation, Tarantulas as a major threat, The Noisemaze, Tidal Wave being this massive child, Impactor and Prowl coming to terms of the blood on their hands, Guzzle biting it,[/sp] all of it. [t]http://orig05.deviantart.net/5d8c/f/2015/192/3/f/sins_of_the_wreckers_up_close_by_dcjosh-d90wglw.jpg[/t] [sp]With the Wreckers apparently gone, Impactor wanting a revolution with the Mayham Attack Squad, Arcee and Prowl going their separate ways, and Springer on Earth with a vitalized Verity due to Tarantula's experimentation, I wonder what's gonna happen next for all of them.[/sp]

Funny how this thread ain't active. Over the past few months I finished Preacher, then Transmetropolitan and now I've jumped into The Boys. Finished with Vol. 2 the other day, waiting on my credit card to arrive so I can pick up Vol. 3 and finish it. I think Warren Ellis is my favorite writer in comics so far.

[QUOTE=Jojje;50753467]Funny how this thread ain't active. Over the past few months I finished Preacher, then Transmetropolitan and now I've jumped into The Boys. Finished with Vol. 2 the other day, waiting on my credit card to arrive so I can pick up Vol. 3 and finish it. I think Warren Ellis is my favorite writer in comics so far.[/QUOTE] With the Preacher series on the horizon, might as well jump in somewhere and see what the hype is about.

[QUOTE=maddogsamurai;50759150]With the Preacher series on the horizon, might as well jump in somewhere and see what the hype is about.[/QUOTE] Haven't seen the TV series any. I dunno how faithful it is to the comics but a cursory glance shows not too much. Totally recommend the comic book though, one of the best I've read

Still trying to gather up cash to buy the complete editions of Godzilla: Rulers of Earth

[QUOTE=Zillamaster55;50771345]Still trying to gather up cash to buy the complete editions of Godzilla: Rulers of Earth[/QUOTE] Speaking of Godzilla, see if you can pick up Godzilla in Hell. It's only five issues long and its nothing but Godzilla going through all of the levels of Hell, absolutely no dialogue, and beautiful wallpaper worthy panels. [IMG]http://i.onionstatic.com/avclub/5472/77/16x9/960.jpg[/IMG] A list of comics I've been meaning to try picking up: 1. The Walking Dead 2. Kickass- the inspired the film 3. Preacher 4. Some of the Godzilla: Rulers of Earth issues 5. Sin City 6. 300- this came before the film, and apparently mildly racist And to add to the discussion, keep 3-page previews out of discussions unless you plan on putting spoiler tags. I think comic book spoilers last as far as a month or two, much shorter than movie & tv spoilers.

I could ramble on about manga and i've been tempted to do it in this thread since i first saw it although i wasn't too sure seeing how it started off more comic book like. I've been neglecting reading stuff, need to get back in the swing of things but the lack or a consistent bus journey to get to college or work has made me forget about reading manga for quite some time.

I literally [I]just[/I] finished American Alien before I saw this thread. Pretty good mini series, but a little anti-climactic. I don't really read comics that much, but I enjoyed it. Definitely made Superman feel more interesting to me, although it's a shame it basically had to exist in its own lil pocket universe for that to happen.

I finished The Boys this morning. I'm pretty bummed out it's over but it was great. Lovable, screwed up characters and a very interesting plot. Think I'll go back to Garth Ennis' Punisher run that I'd started previously before going off to other stuff.

So I finally read the "Season finales" to Transformers comics twin stories; More than Meets the Eye, All Hail Optimus, and the one-shot "Titans Return". My thoughts on the matter; More than Meets the Eye #55: An excellent wrap up to a gripping series of unfortunate events. Revelations were found, lives were lost, and [sp]Megatron's path to redemption for his crimes still continue after running into an old friend from the past. The DJD are gone, but the identity to the enigmatic Tarn is finally reveal: nobody. Sure he has a name and characterization in previous issues, but then that was it. All this time this little Autobot tried all he could to feel important, but nothing changed, and the system of Old Cybertron's governemnt kept him oppressed. The only thing he could rely on was Megatron's book, as he too was oppressed, and thus discarded his old identity for a new one in hopes that by swearing unwavering to the Deception cause would give him clarity. Instead, he ruined for everyone else and Megatron kills him with his old name on his lips, shattering any chances for his "warriors death." And through it all we lost Ravage and Skids along the way.[/sp] :cry::dead::dead: tl;dr: Tarn was a great twist. [sp] He was an Autobot during the Shadowplay arc that suffered an identity crisis and not Rollar as everyone thought.[/sp] 5/5 All Hail Optimus Finale: This great issues in the series had less twists but had a ton of "Holy shit!" moments. [sp]Arcee, Optimus Prime, and Soundwave team up to take down Galvatron once and for all in Jupiter's clouds. They all have a grand battle to end all TF battles as they beat him and Optimus Prime fucking executes him; shoots him in the spark and tears his head off! Prime doesn't fuck around when both Cybertron and Earth are in danger of another war, which is sadly on the horizon as Galvatron "The Barbarian" foretold. The Metrotitan that awakened from underneath Earth (Transformers AHO #54) was called on by Optimus then transforms into a new heaven for all Cybertronians. An "Outer Heaven" if you will. Starscream's gonna get seom flak as apparently the Titan that reactivated was the same one that declared him a savior (Transformers Annual 2012). Wonder what the people of Cybertron think now that only a Prime could activate a Titan. Poor Astrotrain was a casualty though.[/sp] tl;dr: [sp]Optimus Prime's brutal as fuck killing Galvatron, Starscream is proven once again that he is a slimy backstabbing glory hound, Autobots have a homebase on Earth, and said planet is finalized as part of the Council of Worlds ie Mass Effect's Galactic Council-lite.[/sp] 5/5 Transformers: Titans Return- A interesting development for what's to come for Transformers and More Than Meets the Eye #'s 56. [sp]Sentinel Prime returns after long though dead when Megatron was a rebellious gladiator. This time his head turns into a smaller Sentinel, who might actually be him all along after his revival.[/sp] The art's a bit weird in some places, and the new guy is hardly recognizable until Ironhide called him by name. 4/5 Now my back log of comics is clear, and I can read other stuff and take a break as the TF fandom is tearing itself apart from these issues, a daily reminder of why the TF fans are the worst fans ever.

[QUOTE=maddogsamurai;50774560]Speaking of Godzilla, see if you can pick up Godzilla in Hell. It's only five issues long and its nothing but Godzilla going through all of the levels of Hell, absolutely no dialogue, and beautiful wallpaper worthy panels. [IMG]http://i.onionstatic.com/avclub/5472/77/16x9/960.jpg[/IMG] A list of comics I've been meaning to try picking up: 1. The Walking Dead 2. Kickass- the inspired the film 3. Preacher 4. Some of the Godzilla: Rulers of Earth issues 5. Sin City 6. 300- this came before the film, and apparently mildly racist And to add to the discussion, keep 3-page previews out of discussions unless you plan on putting spoiler tags. I think comic book spoilers last as far as a month or two, much shorter than movie & tv spoilers.[/QUOTE] I don't get what people find so racist about 300. If anything it's probably more accurate than the textbooks would have you believe. Also, the technically most faitfhul comic adaptation, since every page and dialogue are in the movie, with the queen getting fleshed out in the movie. Anyways, I just finished Preacher the other week, and got my sister reading The Killing Joke right now, and I'm reading the GNs of A Boy And His Dog.

This thread doesn't get enough love, anyways I'm not a huge comic book reader by any means but I did just start reading the new Archie series and I really really like it. The art style is modern but not flashy and the characters are all well written. If anyone is looking for something to read that is modern and fairly easy to relate to then give the new Archie a whirl.

[QUOTE=Jojje;50760852]Haven't seen the TV series any. I dunno how faithful it is to the comics but a cursory glance shows not too much. Totally recommend the comic book though, one of the best I've read[/QUOTE] First season was more of a "this is how we get to the beginning", a preamble if you will, despite some liberties taken. I'm sure the restof the show will be more faithful, given the limitations they have with cable tv.

Finished reading Brandon Grahams Prophet the other day and am eagerly awaiting its continuation. For those who don't know Prophet is a sci-fi epic that "reboots" Rob Liefelds original 90s fueled xtreme hero, similair to what Alan Moore did to Supreme and Joe Keatinge did to Glory, taking elements and designs and redoing them in a brand new and unique way. Set millions of years in the future John Prophet awakes on earth from his hibernation on a planet once known as Earth and from here[sp] must reunite with his fellow John Prophets so that they may continue their great crusade and humanity may once again rule the stars. Only one man and his team of talking plants, robots, lizards and man-turned-cyborg-turned-robot can stop the John Prophets. That man is John Prophet.[/sp] Characters are well fleshed out and good plays on Liefelds original creations and [sp]despite half the cast being clones of Prophet for various purposes they easily stand out and are instantly recognisable[/sp], the universe has so many interesting concepts that make me want to know so much more(some of which would be impossible in a medium other than comics) and once I picked up Vol 1 I didnt stop till I put down Vol 4. Featuring some absoloutely stunning art from multiple artists Prophet was exactly what I was wanting out of my sci-fi. These Liefeld reboots not by Liefeld have been pretty great so far and with the recently announced Youngblood reboot I hope they can remain being this high quality.

[QUOTE=Jojje;50778990]I finished The Boys this morning. I'm pretty bummed out it's over but it was great. Lovable, screwed up characters and a very interesting plot. Think I'll go back to Garth Ennis' Punisher run that I'd started previously before going off to other stuff.[/QUOTE] I loved The Boys. Hated the ending. You should check out Preacher if you like Garth's work.