[Abyss]

polishgenius, on 31 March 2017 - 08:41 PM, said:

... to go back to the subject that I began my rant on, the other problem with Final Crisis is that the core idea is an exact copy of the Rock of Ages arc in said JLA run, which tells much of the same story far more elegantly.

Slight retro reply to agree with this, btw.
ROCK OF AGES was pure JLA brilliance on historical and fistpump levels, and Final Crisis only suffers (more) by comparison.

[polishgenius]

The irony is that in RoA it was 15 years into the comic future, but Final Crisis came out 12 real-life years after it, so

Spoiler

with Final Crisis the ending of Rock of Ages proves to be at best completely pointless and more likely to actually have hastened the Darkseid-takeover considerably (especially when you add that time passes a lot slower in comics, usually... good job, Metron!)

[Abyss]

Also, RoA had the perfect end point to Darkseid's story, making the finale in Final Crisis look even weaker.

[QuickTidal]

And now I want to read RoA.

I don't need MORE stuff to buy you guys!

[Abyss]

Payback for THE FORGETTING MOON.
If i have to suffer, so do you.


RoA is vol 3 in the collection of Morrison's JLA run. It's worth getting volumes 1-3 and reading them in one go. Vol 3 is a perfect end point if you don't want to continue with the run (and arguably 1 and 3 are the strongest stories in any event).

[polishgenius]

Abyss, on 06 April 2017 - 05:20 PM, said:

It's worth getting volumes 1-3 and reading them in one go. Vol 3 is a perfect end point if you don't want to continue with the run (and arguably 1 and 3 are the strongest stories in any event).

Probably fair. If you like the first three you'll probably like the rest, but it's New World Order and RoA that are the real classics.

On the other hand if you do read the whole thing you should also read DC One Million. It was DC's 1998 crossover, and while it's quite throwaway by the standards of these things in many ways that's a good thing because it's not required to read loads of tie-ins from before and after to get the whole story; it doesn't get included in the list usually of Morrison's JLA run but it is basically a standalone JLA story with a couple of non-JLA characters popping in to help.
And in my opinion it's a really really good one.

This post has been edited by polishgenius: 06 April 2017 - 09:36 PM

[PLUGO]

polishgenius, on 06 April 2017 - 07:03 PM, said:

Abyss, on 06 April 2017 - 05:20 PM, said:

It's worth getting volumes 1-3 and reading them in one go. Vol 3 is a perfect end point if you don't want to continue with the run (and arguably 1 and 3 are the strongest stories in any event).

Probably fair. If you like the first three you'll probably like the rest, but it's New World Order and RoA that are the real classics.

On the other hand if you do read the whole thing you should also read DC One Million. It was DC's 1998 crossover, and while it's quite throwaway by the standards of these things in many ways that's a good thing because it's not required to read loads of tie-ins from before and after to get the whole story; it doesn't get included in the list usually of Morrison's JLA run but it is basically a standalone JLA story with a couple of non-JLA characters popping in to help.
And in my opinion it's a really really good one.

let us not forget the JLA's stand along graphic novel EARTH 2, which lays much of the groud work for the concepts Morrison explores in greater depth with FINAL CRISIS and MULTIVERSITY.

[polishgenius]

I was a bit miffed today because I went to the English bookshop to finally get Sandman: Overture which they had last week but apparently that was the only copy they had in store and they sold it. And the lady I talked to couldn't see the option to order the full trade in.

But instead I finally got started on Saga, which is awesome, and Descender, which is also awesome. Judging by first volumes, not sure which is better.

[QuickTidal]

polishgenius, on 21 April 2017 - 10:16 PM, said:

But instead I finally got started on Saga, which is awesome, and Descender, which is also awesome. Judging by first volumes, not sure which is better.

Both continue to be awesome. Enjoy!!

[Abyss]

PLUGO, on 07 April 2017 - 03:46 AM, said:

... EARTH 2, which lays much of the groud work for the concepts Morrison explores in greater depth with FINAL CRISIS and MULTIVERSITY.

That's not necessarily a selling point
...but EARTH 2 is totally worth reading.

[JPK]

I finished Planetary vol 4 a couple of days ago. I'm STILL at a general loss for words. I saw a couple of the big twists coming from miles away

Spoiler

Ambrose having froze himself in a timelock, and their real task having been finding a way to save him. Also, as soon as I saw the second member of The Four - Jacob Greene - it was very apparent that they were a twisted version of the Fantastic Four. While I'm on the topic of The Four, the final confrontation between Snow and Dowling was a huge letdown. I also felt that the ending was obviously rushed and the team could really have used 3-4 more issues to expand and wrap things up more cleanly.

Overall, I'd give this series a 9/10. It had a couple of flaws that were pretty much limited to the last three issues for me, but there was so much fucking awesome that came before that it was still easily one of the best graphic novels I've ever read.

I'm still somehow in the mood for more Ellis, so next up I'm going to start a run on Transmetropolitan.

[T77]

Speaking of Ellis, I'm about 30% into Stormwatch vol 2 and it's great so far. I thought vol 1 was good, not great. I picked up a bunch of his work from the recent sale on Comixology based on recommendations from a few in here. I will dive right into The Authority after this.

I read Bendis' Avengers up until Siege and put it aside to read other things. Not that it wasn't good, just wanted something different. There was a dip in quality when it hit Mighty and Dark Avengers, but still good.

I finished Fraction's Hawkeye run. I've read so many rave reviews about this, but I thought it was just OK. I felt it was trying too hard to be different and I never felt that drawn into it.

I read Green Arrow by Lemire. I liked this more than Hawkeye, but thought it was just pretty good.

[amphibian]

Being deaf, Fraction's Hawkeye run was brilliant. It was the right setting, the sign language was brilliant, and it worked for the story instead of in addition to or in spite of.

[polishgenius]

So this week I did get hold of Sandman: Overture. And I have to say- well, the writing is as expected fantastic. Worthy addition to the canon even if some of the concepts introduced fuck with some ideas from the original a bit much. It's Sandman, at Sandman levels- it's awesome.

But the art, man. JH Williams III is fucking incredible. Honestly, you read books drawn by other great artists and yes they're great but then you flip to something by him and it's a different world. I can't think of anyone who can compete with him. And he's the perfect choice for Sandman, too. Unreal.

[QuickTidal]

‘Pon the recommendation of some trusted names on-thread (Abyss, and PG) I have bought and started JLA: Vol. #1 by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter on my way to the aforementioned “excellent” ROCK OF AGES Vol. #3 (which has since been noted as “the best of Morrison’s run” by my best friend as well.

I’m only 3 issues into this, but it’s already Morrison-excellence. Also, Mullet Superman was awesome. And it’s been SO long since I read a comic with Kyle as Green Lantern that I forgot how he pretty much fills the “young untested member” quotient of the team.

Anyways, I’ve ordered Vol. #2 and 3 now (they are largely unavailable in stores round here, they had #1). I’ll continue on with this after 3 as well if it stays good.

Thanks for the recco guys, this stuff is superteam awesomeness!

[polishgenius]

The first story is the Hyperclan one, right? Batman is fucking awesome in that.

[QuickTidal]

polishgenius, on 01 May 2017 - 05:41 PM, said:

The first story is the Hyperclan one, right? Batman is fucking awesome in that.

'Tis indeed. So far it's a great arc! And Batman is awesome in it thus far.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 01 May 2017 - 12:52 PM, said:

'Pon the recommendation of some trusted names on-thread (Abyss, and PG) I have bought and started JLA: Vol. #1 by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter on my way to the aforementioned "excellent" ROCK OF AGES Vol. #3 (which has since been noted as "the best of Morrison's run" by my best friend as well.

I'm only 3 issues into this, but it's already Morrison-excellence. Also, Mullet Superman was awesome. And it's been SO long since I read a comic with Kyle as Green Lantern that I forgot how he pretty much fills the "young untested member" quotient of the team.

Anyways, I've ordered Vol. #2 and 3 now (they are largely unavailable in stores round here, they had #1). I'll continue on with this after 3 as well if it stays good.

Thanks for the recco guys, this stuff is superteam awesomeness!

QuickTidal, on 01 May 2017 - 06:35 PM, said:

polishgenius, on 01 May 2017 - 05:41 PM, said:

The first story is the Hyperclan one, right? Batman is fucking awesome in that.

'Tis indeed. So far it's a great arc! And Batman is awesome in it thus far.

Morrison wrote Batman as a superhero, mere human notwithstanding. I know he gets some flak for this, but I loved it.

[T77]

I finished volume 2 of Stormwatch and it was great, although the ending was a bit abrupt. I heard there's a missing alien crossover event that's not in the Comixology volume I have, so maybe that's why the ending seemed sudden. Seems it's only available used and it's more than I want to pay for it. Already about 30% into The Authority and it's very good so far. Ellis is certainly at the top of my list of comics writers.

I finished Waid's Fantastic Four and thought it was mediocre, except for the art, which I really liked. I see it listed as one of the best FF runs, but I didn't think it was in the same league as Hickman's run. I'm slowly working my way through Lee and Kirby's FF run and I like it so far. I don't plan on binging it as it's huge and figure I'll just chip away at it.

Up next, Miller's Daredevil and Ellis' Iron Man run, which is only six issues.

[amphibian]

Story wise, Miller's Daredevil is mediocre. However, the catchiness of his concepts and costume design is what made him so great on that run.

I loathe Miller's politics and general sameness of his stories, but the man can draw a very very catchy costume for a bit segment of the audience to immediately glom onto.