Graphic Novels - for Gordo

[Leisher]

Ok, with comics becoming all the rage in Hollywood I've been picking up a few graphic novels here and there as my interest was renewed. As it turns out, graphic novels are the hot new thing in the comics inductry. I swing by my old comic shop and the guy who runs the place was telling me all about how graphic novels are in really high demand as some people view them as easier to read because typically the storyline gets wrapped up in one read rather than reading a piece at a time each month if one is simply collecting the comics.

I'll cover what I know and let some others like Vince, DD, Paul, DC, etc. fill in the blanks.

First of all, if you're reading Marvel books, you have to know that there are alternate universes. What that means is that there is a regular line of books and then other books that feature the same characters only slightly altered and living in a totally different storyline. Marvel did this years ago to make comics more accessible to new readers. (I'm not a fan of the new line.) Thus, you'll want to avoid the "Ultimate" books (not to be confused with the Ultimate Guide I mentioned in another thread). There are others that are outside the normal universe and time period like "What If", "Origins", "2099", etc., but you should be able to figure them out. (Just ask before purchase if you need to.)

That being said if you're looking to catch up on specific titles, like The X-Men, that can be difficult AND really easy.

Let's start with the Essential collections. Go to any comic store in your area and they'll have these books. They are numbered volumes that contain black and white versions of a number of comics for a specific title. For example: Essential X-Men #4 contains issues #162-179, Annial #7, and another story for $17. That makes the Essential books really easy ways to catch up from day 1 if you wanted to.

Moving on to the graphic novels, these are best for reading specific events. Again, if you're focusing on the X-Men, the best events, IMHO are:
-The original issues with the original 5 mutants (Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl, Beast, and Angel)
-The new team saves the old team (New team is Thunderbird, Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Banshee...am I missing someone?)
-The Brood (first storyline) - Aliens who take over the host bodies of their victims. A good Wolverine storyline.
-The original Wolverine limited series.
-The Wolverine and Kitty Pride limited series
-Fatal Attractions storyline (This one kicks much, much, mush ass.)
-The Onslaught storyline. (Not so much a great story as its importance for one character...)
-I need some help with this one, Cable's son tries to remake the Horsemen with Wolvie as Death... What is this storyline's name? Great Wolvie story with a fantastic ending.

*NOTE: I'm trying to do these in chronological order and this begins an area where I wasn't reading comics. I need help here. I know the Mutant Massacre occured here, but were there other major events? And when does the Genosha thing happen in this timeline? What's that storyline called?

-Age of Apocaplyse - I recommend you know these characters before you get this one.

That's most of the X-Men stuff I can spout off about at this second. However, here are a few more than are much more recent but involve Wolverine and other heros (Spiderman, Captain American, Iron Man, etc.)more than the other X-Men:

-Secret War - Not to be confused with Secret Wars, although that's a decent read itself (80s story involving EVERYONE). This is like a setup punch for this portion of the list.
-Avengers Disassembled - HUGE storyline in the Marvel universe that sets up a "new order" and everything coming up. It is an effort to make the Avengers very important again instead of bit players. Considering who ends up on their new roster, you'll want to read it.
-New Avengers: Breakout
-Spiderman: New Avengers
-House of M - I don't think it will be totally necessary for you to know everybody and it's probably not possible unless you read a LOT of other stuff too, but this storyline is really good and essential to the current Marvel universe. (You can pick up any of the House of M: insertnameofherohere books if you want to as well, but they're not critical and kind of unnecessary.)
-New Avengers: Secrets & Lies
-New Avengers: Sentry ...(I might have Sentry and Secrets & Lies backwards.)

I think that's the really big stuff that has JUST happened in Marvel's universe that I highly recommend.

However...you should also pickup "The Other". It's a Spiderman story and is important if you're reading New Avengers (and you should be).

Currently, Marvel is running a new event called Civil War which is pretty cool in concept. Basically, a fight between superheros and villains results in the deaths of 600 civilians, a lot of them kids. The government now wants to register superheros and know who they really are, thus no more secret identities. It has just begun and Marvel is pumping it up saying it will change everything. That's comic talk for them altering a few things here and there and maybe killing someone. Issue 1 starts the series off well with Captain America going rogue as he's against the Registration Act, Iron Man is heading up the "for" heros, Spidey is about to go public with his identity, and Wolverine is going solo to track down the villain who killed all the kids. This series promises a lot of good guy versus good guy battles with an interesting backdrop of politics.

Just know that most of the stuff you saw in the movies is to be considered "Alternate Universe". What I mean is that most of the facts you got there are bullshit. Get your knowledge from us here, Marvel, or a local comic shop person.

Everything I listed above those comic shop guys will know what it is and find it for you.

Now that's all Marvel stuff and I await questions and help filling in the blanks. However, before you go, let me recommend three DC graphic novels to you. DC being the universe with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, etc.

-The Nail - Great story where the Kents get a flat and never find Clark.
-Kingdom Come - Critically acclaimed, a must read.
-The Dark Knight Returns - Superman versus Batman written by Frank Miller. It's very good.

*whew*

[WSGrundy]

I definatly have to give thumbs up to Ultimate Spider man. It update the whole story with stuff from today(Like using a PC instead of a typewriter and stuff like that) but still keeps the older comic feel. Spider man is still jokey instead of the whole cynical brooding thing you would expect from todays teenagers.

I haven't read all the ultimates so I am sure some suck and I haven't read all the Ulitmate Spider mans but so far so good and definatly worth reading.

Another good one is 1602. Where the whole marvel universe is living during that time period. Instead of mutants they are all witches/warlocks and is has a cool story and setting.

The best thing about graphic novels is that you can get them at the library and don't have to worry about getting burned if they turn out to be crap. $3.00 for 20 pages of comic and 15 min of reading seems like a rip off anyway.

Also if you are recommending DC stuff League of Extraordinary Gentlemen kicks ass. Most of Moores stuff kicks ass with the exception of swampthing which is too preachy.



Edited By WSGrundy on 1149483354

[Zetleft]

I edited Zetleft's post here, which is excellent and full of info because it had tons of detailed spoilers. (Don't worry Zetleft I saved the full unedited post.) I was trying to keep things sort of spoiler free for people who haven't read these stories and are using this thread as a guide to catch up. Considering Gordo is one of those people and HATES spoilers, I figured I'd remove the spoilers from your post. I'll put them in another chain.

-I need some help with this one, Cable's son tries to remake the Horsemen with Wolvie as Death... What is this storyline's name? Great Wolvie story with a fantastic ending.

You are mixing up a few storylines there, Cable's son (genesis) tried to spoiler to be one of his horsemen but spoiler (don't know the name of the storyline).

After a time then apocolypse kidnapped spoiler and had them fight out how would have the right to get spoiler and become death. spoiler. This was during or right before the Onslaught storyline. All the issues with spoiler are as follows: Wolverine (2nd series) #145, Astonishing X-Men (2nd series) #1-3, Hulk (3rd series) #8, X-Men (2nd series) #95, Wolverine (2nd series) #145, Cable (2nd series) #75, X-Men (2nd series) #96, Wolverine (2nd series) #146

Of course you can't really read that without reading how he spoiler in the series where Magneto spoiler. That series was called "Fatal Attractions" X-men #25 is where he spoiler but the whole series goes chronologically through X-Factor volume 1 #92, X-Force volume 1 #25, Uncanny X-Men #304, X-Men volume 2 #25, Wolverine volume 2 #75, and Excalibur volume 1 #71. This series also directly leads to the Onslaught series which is a great read as well.

The brood storyline is a classic one mentioned earlier and can be read in Essential X-Men Vol. 4.



Edited By Leisher on 1149506822

[Leisher]

-Astonishing X-Men- a brand new X-Series written by Josh Whedon fits in there somewhere with the current stuff I listed too and is a good jumping on point for a new reader to the X-Men. You can get issues #1-5 or something like that in a graphic novel and I understand there's another volume that does a few issues after that.

I was told that Marvel gets the graphic novels out for their storylines pretty quickly after they get done running in the comic.

[DoctorChaos]

-Astonishing X-Men- a brand new X-Series written by Josh Whedon fits in there somewhere with the current stuff I listed too and is a good jumping on point for a new reader to the X-Men. You can get issues #1-5 or something like that in a graphic novel and I understand there's another volume that does a few issues after that.

I was told that Marvel gets the graphic novels out for their storylines pretty quickly after they get done running in the comic.

The first year is available in two graphic novels. I enjoy the series (even if I can't find it).

[Zetleft]

I hadn't read any of Whedon's work on X-men but everyone seems to think highly of it. Should pick it up sometime, it's been a long while since I collected.

[Leisher]

The only criticism I've heard of Weaton's work is the second storyline because some claim it's been done. Still, it's short and not too bad for what it is. Besides, they go places that other media can't go.

[Leisher]

Another good DC one is the Death of Superman. Very well written story. From start to finish it has a feel of something epic.