Getting back into comics.

[The Barking Shark]

Hey guys, how's it going? Glad to see that some of you guys are still here! So in the last 6 months or so I've gotten back into reading comics, we bought a pretty big house and I now have a huge comic book room, and I can actually get to my comics. I stopped buying around 2007 or 2008 and all my new purchases in the last 6 months have been older stuff on eBay, and I've also been re-reading my old books.

So I'm looking for recommendations on new books. I'm way out of the loop. Seems like Tom King, Ram V, Jeff Lemire, and Kieron Gillen are the top writers, is that right? I did buy and have read the whole run of Sweet Tooth and read a little bit of Gideon Falls. I wasn't too impressed with Lemire. I'm thinking about giving him one more shot with Black Hammer.

Anyway, looking forward to some recommendations!

[Jeff]

Welcome back Barking Shark!  Glad to hear your jumping back in and I’m jealous of your comic book room!

I imagine you’ll get lots of recommendations here.  What kind of comics have you enjoyed in the past? That might help with recommendations tailored to your interests.

You are right about King, Lemire, and Gillen being top writers right now.  I would add James Tynion III and Tom Taylor to that list. Also, Donnie Cates and Chip Zdarsky are knocking it out of the park.

Here are some of my favorites off the top of my head:

Supergirl, Woman of Tomorrow - 8 issue mini and the collected trade just released.  It’s Tom Kings latest and, in my opinion, best.

Black Hammer - You mentioned this above. Definitely read the original series.  Most of us here liked it.  The expanded universe tie in series are hit or miss.

The Human Target - Another Tom King book that’s currently being released.  I’m reading it on DCUI so I’m six months behind and on issue 4 of 12 but it’s really good so far.  Especially if your a fan of the old Justice League International.

DCeased - by Tom Taylor is an alternate version of the DC universe where our heroes are turning into zombies.  It’s a lot better than it sounds, I promise.

House of X, Powers of X - Jonathan Hickmans X-Men reboot is a great read for getting to the new world of the mutants.

Immortal Hulk - Al Ewing’s 50 issue run on the Hulk is a great read with some pretty gnarly art that blew us away.  It’s a Sci Fi Horror story that’s hard to beat.

Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion III - my personal favorite series this year.  It follows Erica Slaughter and the mysterious organization she is a member of while hunting monsters in small towns.  The real story is pealing back the onion of the organization she is in.

Rachel Rising by Terry Moore - Rachel wakes up at sunrise on a shallow grave in the woods and discovers the freshly murdered body in the dirt is her own. Great immortality story with fascinating characters including my favorite, Zoe.

Serial - which brings me to Terry Moore’s sequel starring Zoe where she hunts down a serial killer.  This is my favorite Terry Moore book but really, all of his books are good.

Lol.  For someone who says he doesn’t like horror, I see I sure have a lot of favorites that could be classified into that realm!

Anyway, I hope that helps.  I’m others will have bigge lists too.  

[The Barking Shark]

Jeff, thank you for all the great suggestions! I'll definitely look into those, especially the Terry Moore books. I loved Strangers in Paradise and I'm going to read that again soon. Is it the same Human Target that Peter Milligan wrote?

As far as the types of books I like, here are some of my favorites..

Lucifer
Hellblazer
Groo
Transmetropolitan
Gotham Central
Catwoman (Brubaker)
Scalped
Captain Marvel (Pad)
Spider-girl (DeFalco)
Strangers in Paradise
Age of Bronze
Concrete
Sandman
Preacher

[Perry]

Hey Shark, Yes, Welcome back. Hope all is well.
I think I am going to hold off on giving too many recommendations because I don't know what "floats your boat" nowadays to give a proper thought to, but like Jeff mentioned James Tynion, Tom Taylor are doing great "caped stuff" and I have been impressed with Zdarsky ad Cates as well. And yes, Supergirl was amazing.

In-fact, it looks like Jeff threw some really good stuff atcha and I will just agree with them all!  However I will say that while I really did enjoy Black Hammer, the early stuff is the best... if you like homage type stuff, ya can't go wrong with that stuff

I will add two other titles that I really have enjoyed and that is:
House on the Lake if you like mystery/sci-fi stuff
and
A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance if you like crime/intrigue

Other than that, I will give it a good thinking on and come back when I have more time
Wife is calling me for dinner and I am NOT missing that
 

Peace and good to see ya around again
 

[The Barking Shark]

Hey PT, thanks for the reply and I hope things are going well for you, too! I guess what floats my boat now are the same types of books that did back then. I need to figure out what currents books those are now.

I'm thinking I would probably enjoy the Vision mini that came out a few years ago and also Mr. Miracle. I'm think Saga would also float my boat.

One thing I've notice that has definitely changed... What's up with almost every book having 5 covers? Starting to feel like the 90s when every other book has a wrap around foil cover or a hologram.

[Jimmy T]

SHARKY!!!!

How you been man?!!! 

Great to hear from ya; hope everything is just fine and great, especially if you got yourself a new house!!

PAD just wrote 2 of 3 mini series detailing how Hulk became the Maestro we see in Future Imperfect. The last one of the 'trilogy' is almost all finished.

Big Superhero-y stuff would be Hickmans double Avengers run; that was epic1

Definitely a must on Saga!!

We are really enjoying Once and Future; a twisted tale of current day and past versions of King Arthur! Issue 28 is to release, and it ends at 30.

Now I'm trying to think back over a decade and more....

East of West was really gnarly by Hickman as well. a sci-fi western dealing with versions of the 7 riders of apocalypse continuing to rise up?

Seven to Eternity by Rick Remender is a fantasy series about magic users who all have different, singular abilities, and then rising up against a king who became that way because of his power. About what men do and try and fail at, all the while wondering why they keep trying...

Copperhead is the expansionist exploration of Mars

Birthright is a finished swords and sorcery book crossed over with Flight of the Navigator.

[Jeff]

I will add two other titles that I really have enjoyed and that is:
House on the Lake if you like mystery/sci-fi stuff
and
A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance if you like crime/intrigue

It's called "Nice House on the Lake" just to clarify.  And Perry is right - both of these are excellent.

PAD just wrote 2 of 3 mini series detailing how Hulk became the Maestro we see in Future Imperfect. The last one of the 'trilogy' is almost all finished.

Definitely a must on Saga!!

I almost put these on my recommendation list too but wasn't sure of your tastes.  Now I can agree with Jimmy - They're both good!

Seven to Eternity by Rick Remender is a fantasy series about magic users who all have different, singular abilities, and then rising up against a king who became that way because of his power. About what men do and try and fail at, all the while wondering why they keep trying...

Copperhead is the expansionist exploration of Mars

Birthright is a finished swords and sorcery book crossed over with Flight of the Navigator.

I forgot about these but YES!  All very fun books.  Seven to Eternity is quite a mind bender too.

[Jeff]

Is it the same Human Target that Peter Milligan wrote?

Yes it is.  I haven't read the Peter Milligan Vertigo series but I may have to go back and pick it up now.

[The Barking Shark]

Jimmy! How you doing? Hope you are doing well!

Life has been pretty busy for me the last few years. I've got a daughter that is almost three and is in preschool, we bought our current house in March and had to do the big move plus get our old house ready to be a rental. I think the last few years of life being really hard is what has made me really nostalgic to when I had less responsibilities and did things I really enjoyed like read comics and play video games. Having my own space really helps, I literally couldn't even get to my comics before, they were stuck behind all of my gf's stuff in the basement!

How is life going for you? I'm sure your kids are keeping you busy!

[The Barking Shark]

I'll definitely have to lok into the PAD Hulk mini's.

East of West is definitely another that I've been looking at.

Jeff and PT,  Nice House on the Lake looks good, I'll have to check it out.

Jeff, Milligan's Human Target was fantastic. Just as good as his X-Statix run!

[Perry]

Okay, first off I have no idea how I missed your list Shark. I thought (for some reason) I was the one that had replied after Jeff. I didn't see your response, with your list, at all! Not until this morning. Sorry about that.
Old eyes?
 

And Jeff, thanks for the save, yes, NICE House on the Lake indeed
Old Brain?
 

Jimmy added some more good ones as well, but I am also throwing in the recent Catwoman Lonely City three issue mini by Cliff Chang. He does everything in the book (writing, pencils, inks, coloring and even lettering) and it is a good in and out story. It is set in the future, but not like 400 years or anything
 

Oh, and for the Human Target, Not taking away from Milligan, at all, but the current Human Target run by Tom King is masterful. The artwork alone by Greg Smallwood has my eyes stuck to the pages!! And to that point, I just read issue #4 last night... as we are all on the DCI digital kick here (except for Rodney  ) and we have to wait the six months from print so we are just now getting that fourth issue... and let me tell ya, it is, so far, and off the top of my head  , my second favorite DC title of "this" year (right behind the Supergirl World of Tomorrow maxi, which again, should... will... better win countless awards)

And now, after looking at your list, you MAY also like a book I really dug for awhile and need to get back to called Ice Cream Man. From Image, it is... well... it is a very mental book, but... man, I can't explain it and honestly there were a couple issues I get lost in it  , but it is pretty trippy good.

I don't see any crime books on your list, but as you like Brubakers Catwoman you should probably at least try all of his Criminal runs, and also Zdarsky's Newburn (also from Image) as both of those have me smiling. Jeff is more ahead on the Newburn stuff however as I am TRYING to wait on a trade to continue on.
 

I'm thinking I would probably enjoy the Vision mini that came out a few years ago and also Mr. Miracle. I'm think Saga would also float my boat.

I say yes, yes, yes to all of those. Vision is amazing, Saga is epic and Mr. Miracle is... Haha, yes, that's perfect...
MISTER MIRACLE IS....
(and sorry if you don't get that joke, but if you read it, you will)
 

One thing I've notice that has definitely changed... What's up with almost every book having 5 covers?

Right? Hell, you're lucky if you find an issue that only has 5 covers nowadays it seems
 

[Gay Titan]

Welcome back, buddy!

[The Barking Shark]

Welcome back, buddy!

Thanks, Rodney! I hope you and your family are doing well!

[Gay Titan]

Welcome back, buddy!

Thanks, Rodney! I hope you and your family are doing well!

Doing quite well. Working from home and landscaping on the side. My daughter will be a teenager this weekend and my son is starting his freshman year of college.

Perry finally convinced me to get Marvel Unlimited but I still prefer my DC comics on a weekly basis.

[The Barking Shark]

Welcome back, buddy!

Thanks, Rodney! I hope you and your family are doing well!

Doing quite well. Working from home and landscaping on the side. My daughter will be a teenager this weekend and my son is starting his freshman year of college.

Perry finally convinced me to get Marvel Unlimited but I still prefer my DC comics on a weekly basis.

Good to hear! Yeah, I tried reading comics online, but I also prefer the real thing.