Comics Break Out
 

I think 2008 - 2009 is the year when comic based movies and sequential art and storytelling in general are going to break into the mainstream art world and be considered to have emotional and artistic weight. Here's why:

1) Movies

The Dark Knight and Hellboy 2 both look amazing. The emotional and social punch that DK will have will really help advance the genre, and with an artistically freed Del Toro at the helm of HB2, that looks as if it is going to be a feast for the eyes. These movies will help establish what comic book inspried stories can bring to the table, artistically and emotionally.

Finally in early 2009, Watchmen will be released, based on the book that deconstructed the whole genre and really examined the soul and psyche of people who would want to be super heroes, and the comic movie genre is ready for a deconstruction to strip it bare and reveal the stories and nuances available within

2) The quality of comics out today is phenomenal. I got back into comics about 2 years ago and I've never been happier about a decision. The Walking Dead, Invincible, Astonishing X-Men, Mouse Guard, Y: The Last Man, etc. are all excellent and truly show what a medium that allows artistic freedom can achieve.

I think the level of comic book movie that will be released will really shine a light on the comic medium in general and advance this wonderful form of storytelling to the next level. Or I should say, if its EVER going to break out, now is the time that is most likely.

Recommendations:
Mouse Guard by David Petersen
The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman
Invincible br Robert Kirkman
Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon

Re: Comics Break Out
 

YES! YES!

The Walking Dead is so awesome.


We can finally be friends, Prof!

Re: Comics Break Out
 

I didn't know we had walkin dead fans on the site. :D
The story is sad and compelling at the same time.

Re: Comics Break Out
 

I trade-wait on The Walking Dead, so please, NO DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE PLOT!!!

Re: Comics Break Out
 

No worries, captain.

Also, I loved the Watchmen.


While on the topic of graphic novels, did you ever read Maus?

Re: Comics Break Out
 

Back in Middle School, actually. Great read. If you liked that, you should give Mouse Guard a try. Its like Lord of the Rings meets Stuart Little. The story takes a little bit to get going, but it gets good and the art is phenomenal.

Re: Comics Break Out
 

well i woud like 2 buy sum iron-man and hulk comics because those are both goign to be movies this summer

but i will also look at those that profesor s wrote about becuz they sound good

Re: Comics Break Out
 

Holy cow just read the last issue of Walking Dead.
Does GT have spoiler tags? haha

Re: Comics Break Out
 

When I was growing up (8-14ish, I believe) I was really into the Spawn comics, and my parents would always buy the new ones for me.

But since then I really, really fell out of them as I stopped recreationally reading. I wouldn't even consider getting back into comics again, to be honest, I've always found them sort of childish. That's not a pot-shot at them for actually being childish, nor is it at the people who read them claiming the to be childish. I just see them that way, and I don't know why.

If I was going to do any medium other than a movie, or TV show, it would be a plain-jane normal book.

Maybe I don't like comics because I'm not inclined to read them more than once. I don't know.

Re: Comics Break Out
 

I understand the feelings you've shared, but there are a lot of books out there that have far surpassed superhero comics like Spawn, which was a bit childish. Pick up a Walking Dead... you'll be pleasantly surprised by how well a comic book can tell a story. I honestly think the select comic writers I mentioned, plus Garth Ennis (Preacher) and Warren Ellis blow away most modern novelists.

Oh, and add Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing. Best gothic horror in any medium.

Re: Comics Break Out
 

I think I've read everything up until this month's issue of Walking Dead. But I think I'm not going to bother reading it until the next trade comes out this month.


Also, I bought the DVD-ROM of 40 Years of X-Men and that's pretty fun.

I'm sort of chugging my way through the 1960's comics which aren't very good but are entertaining in their own right.

Re: Comics Break Out
 

I want to go in the opposite direction of Strangler and recommend some good superhero comic book stories as it is still my bread and butter.

Geoff Johns' Green Lantern stories
Rebirth from 05
Sinstero Wars from last year
And it continues on

Anything from Morrison he is just out there.

Messiah Complex

52

Booster Gold

These are just recent.

Re: Comics Break Out
 

I want to check out the Watchmen. I will probably end up checking out some of the ones that the Prof mentioned.



I quite liked the Marvel Zombies series because they are just fun. I have yet to read the newest one though.

Re: Comics Break Out
 

In the sumemr i worked for Standard Building Supplies. They're a big supplier to movies filming in Vancouver, and low and behold Watchmen was a regualr customer. Plus they filmed an epispde of Aliens in America in our store, though i doubt any of you actaully saw it.

Re: Comics Break Out
 

This is an Alex Ross cover to X-men 500