2014: a lot of people on the internet said a lot of things about comics
December 10, 2014 7:36 AM Subscribe
They're not just for kids any more!
posted by ominous_paws at 8:17 AM on December 10, 2014
posted by ominous_paws at 8:17 AM on December 10, 2014
I was tempted to do a "Zap! Bam! Pow!" title for the post but I remembered that it is legally mandated that I be thrown from a cliff if I do that.
posted by Artw at 8:20 AM on December 10, 2014 [8 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:20 AM on December 10, 2014 [8 favorites]
But wait, I thought comics were just for kids?
posted by almostmanda at 8:43 AM on December 10, 2014
posted by almostmanda at 8:43 AM on December 10, 2014
I will fight you
posted by ominous_paws at 8:44 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by ominous_paws at 8:44 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
I must confess, I mostly read Comics & Cola for the shelfies.
As far as best comics commentary of the year goes, I don't read enough of it to make a judgment, but if anyone has said something along the lines of $500??? WTF, Fantagraphics?, they get my vote.
posted by Sys Rq at 8:55 AM on December 10, 2014
As far as best comics commentary of the year goes, I don't read enough of it to make a judgment, but if anyone has said something along the lines of $500??? WTF, Fantagraphics?, they get my vote.
posted by Sys Rq at 8:55 AM on December 10, 2014
Rachel Edidin is a national treasure.
posted by kyrademon at 9:07 AM on December 10, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by kyrademon at 9:07 AM on December 10, 2014 [5 favorites]
Comics? You mean those graphic things they're doing based on the Avengers movies? Are they any good?
posted by happyroach at 9:08 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by happyroach at 9:08 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Yeah! And they're not just for kids!
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:11 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:11 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
I will fight everyone in this thread
posted by ominous_paws at 9:12 AM on December 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by ominous_paws at 9:12 AM on December 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
Zap! Bam! Pow!
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:17 AM on December 10, 2014
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:17 AM on December 10, 2014
Easy, old chum.
posted by entropicamericana at 9:19 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by entropicamericana at 9:19 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Rachel Edidin is a national treasure.
My favorite part of the Rachel and Miles X-plain the X-men podcast (which I am admittedly behind on) is her unending enthusiasm for Cyclops. She makes the point that most people who hate Cyclops were introduced to him through the 90s X-men cartoon, where he basically takes on the role of everyone's annoying stepdad. Her pitch of him as an autism-spectrum kid raised in a paramilitary organization who knows no other way to live his life than to lead the X-men has completely turned me around on him as a character.
posted by almostmanda at 9:24 AM on December 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
My favorite part of the Rachel and Miles X-plain the X-men podcast (which I am admittedly behind on) is her unending enthusiasm for Cyclops. She makes the point that most people who hate Cyclops were introduced to him through the 90s X-men cartoon, where he basically takes on the role of everyone's annoying stepdad. Her pitch of him as an autism-spectrum kid raised in a paramilitary organization who knows no other way to live his life than to lead the X-men has completely turned me around on him as a character.
posted by almostmanda at 9:24 AM on December 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
Given the somewhat loose and playful nature of commentary in this thread thus far, might a cat get away with asking what people's favourite more-conventional-superhero type comics are, esp. considered from the POV of someone who'd traditionally read indies but was being tempted over by how much they'd enjoyed the new ms. marvel?
posted by ominous_paws at 9:31 AM on December 10, 2014
posted by ominous_paws at 9:31 AM on December 10, 2014
This is a pretty good list; it's interesting that one of the best pieces and the reaction to it helped inspire one of the others.
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:43 AM on December 10, 2014
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:43 AM on December 10, 2014
> "... might a cat get away with asking what people's favourite more-conventional-superhero type comics are ..."
The Williams III / Rucka / Blackman run on Batwoman was quite good.
posted by kyrademon at 9:48 AM on December 10, 2014
The Williams III / Rucka / Blackman run on Batwoman was quite good.
posted by kyrademon at 9:48 AM on December 10, 2014
Fraction's Hawkeye and Gillen/McKelvie's Young Avengers are things you might like if you specifically want superhero stuff, ominous. If you are into fantasy AT ALL, go read Rat Queens, do it now.
posted by almostmanda at 9:49 AM on December 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by almostmanda at 9:49 AM on December 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
I don't care who you are. GO READ RAT QUEENS THIS VERY MOMENT.
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:09 AM on December 10, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:09 AM on December 10, 2014 [4 favorites]
Fraction's Hawkeye and Gillen/McKelvie's Young Avengers are things you might like if you specifically want superhero stuff,
SERIOUSLY, BRO. SERIOUSLY.
posted by entropicamericana at 10:39 AM on December 10, 2014 [4 favorites]
SERIOUSLY, BRO. SERIOUSLY.
posted by entropicamericana at 10:39 AM on December 10, 2014 [4 favorites]
Given the somewhat loose and playful nature of commentary in this thread thus far, might a cat get away with asking what people's favourite more-conventional-superhero type comics are, esp. considered from the POV of someone who'd traditionally read indies but was being tempted over by how much they'd enjoyed the new ms. marvel?
Well, I just did a cmd+F on the link to see if there was any commentary on the different Transformers series out there. The books are put out by the publisher IDW, so they straddle a line between indie and superhero sensibilities.
But generally the writers behind the Transformers books, John Barber and James Roberts, had the genius idea to say "Okay, these two factions have been at war for four million years. Let's end the war in some very unique ways, and then focus the books on the aftermath--the civil society that tries to reemerge, how the characters deal with the immense moral costs of millennia of war, the corruption of emerging governments, etc." Yes, it's toy robots, but I've rarely read a mainstreamish action comic with the emotional resonance of these two, and I've read comics for 30 years now.
Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye has an ongoing love story between two male* characters that has gotten praise and has become quite complex over the series. Characters who were traditionally villains are surprisingly moral and characters who are traditionally heroes can be surprisingly immoral. The plot is very, very tight, but also complex. I can't recommend it enough. The sophistication of the comics is in an amazing inverse proportion to the idiocy of the movies. Thankfully, the comics have absolutely nothing to do with the movies.
* - To the degree that the Transformers have gender, which is a question the two series look at.
posted by Slothrop at 10:49 AM on December 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
Well, I just did a cmd+F on the link to see if there was any commentary on the different Transformers series out there. The books are put out by the publisher IDW, so they straddle a line between indie and superhero sensibilities.
But generally the writers behind the Transformers books, John Barber and James Roberts, had the genius idea to say "Okay, these two factions have been at war for four million years. Let's end the war in some very unique ways, and then focus the books on the aftermath--the civil society that tries to reemerge, how the characters deal with the immense moral costs of millennia of war, the corruption of emerging governments, etc." Yes, it's toy robots, but I've rarely read a mainstreamish action comic with the emotional resonance of these two, and I've read comics for 30 years now.
Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye has an ongoing love story between two male* characters that has gotten praise and has become quite complex over the series. Characters who were traditionally villains are surprisingly moral and characters who are traditionally heroes can be surprisingly immoral. The plot is very, very tight, but also complex. I can't recommend it enough. The sophistication of the comics is in an amazing inverse proportion to the idiocy of the movies. Thankfully, the comics have absolutely nothing to do with the movies.
* - To the degree that the Transformers have gender, which is a question the two series look at.
posted by Slothrop at 10:49 AM on December 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
Also, I've been picking up Ms. Marvel, too, and have at times gotten the new She Hulk series by Charles Soule and Javier Pulido. It's pretty fun!
posted by Slothrop at 10:50 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Slothrop at 10:50 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Man, Zainab Akhtar has indeed been crushing it. Really good stuff and she's added to my "didn't know it existed but gotta read" pile.
She makes the point that most people who hate Cyclops were introduced to him through the 90s X-men cartoon, where he basically takes on the role of everyone's annoying stepdad.
I adore Chris Sims and Ask Chris, but probably the thing I love most about reading him is how utterly goddamn RIGHTEOUSLY ANGRY I get when he starts his "Cyclops is the worst character ever" routine, which he himself admits is mostly based on that old terrible cartoon. Because you are WRONG, SIR, and I don't know how you could normally be so insightful and funny and yet here on this issue it appears that your BRAIN is a SWIRLING VORTEX of WRONG WRONG WRONG.
posted by middleclasstool at 10:59 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
She makes the point that most people who hate Cyclops were introduced to him through the 90s X-men cartoon, where he basically takes on the role of everyone's annoying stepdad.
I adore Chris Sims and Ask Chris, but probably the thing I love most about reading him is how utterly goddamn RIGHTEOUSLY ANGRY I get when he starts his "Cyclops is the worst character ever" routine, which he himself admits is mostly based on that old terrible cartoon. Because you are WRONG, SIR, and I don't know how you could normally be so insightful and funny and yet here on this issue it appears that your BRAIN is a SWIRLING VORTEX of WRONG WRONG WRONG.
posted by middleclasstool at 10:59 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Something that's very distinct in tone and style from Ms. Marvel but (I think) equally creative and awesome is the Warren Ellis/Declan Shalvey/Jordie Bellaire run on Moon Knight. They only did six issues, but holy crap, what a six months. Gorgeous and atmospheric and minimalist in the best way.
(Speaking of Bellaire, can we talk about how that woman is some kind of cyborg color-wizard? Not only is her work amazing, it's effing everywhere.)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:29 AM on December 10, 2014
(Speaking of Bellaire, can we talk about how that woman is some kind of cyborg color-wizard? Not only is her work amazing, it's effing everywhere.)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:29 AM on December 10, 2014
I am sick and tired of people recommending Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye and Robots In Disguise! I'll show you! I'll order all 12 of those trades for my library RIGHT THE FUCK NOW.
Showed you!
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:42 AM on December 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
Showed you!
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:42 AM on December 10, 2014 [2 favorites]
(Speaking of Bellaire, can we talk about how that woman is some kind of cyborg color-wizard? Not only is her work amazing, it's effing everywhere.)
I think she might have a team of flatters, which helps, but yeah, she's everywhere in 2014.
posted by Artw at 11:43 AM on December 10, 2014
I think she might have a team of flatters, which helps, but yeah, she's everywhere in 2014.
posted by Artw at 11:43 AM on December 10, 2014
"Cyclops is the worst character ever" routine, which he himself admits is mostly based on that old terrible cartoon.
Not that he needed that cartoon, considering how much of a douche Cyclops has always been, from leaving his pregnant wife to start a mutant hunting business with his old chums to fighting Storm for leadership of the X-Men and getting his ass kicked by a depowered Ororo to shagging the White Queen of the Hellfire club on top of his dead again wife's gravestone.
He is the personification of the Nice Guy.
posted by MartinWisse at 12:25 PM on December 10, 2014
Not that he needed that cartoon, considering how much of a douche Cyclops has always been, from leaving his pregnant wife to start a mutant hunting business with his old chums to fighting Storm for leadership of the X-Men and getting his ass kicked by a depowered Ororo to shagging the White Queen of the Hellfire club on top of his dead again wife's gravestone.
He is the personification of the Nice Guy.
posted by MartinWisse at 12:25 PM on December 10, 2014
WRT Soule's She-Hulk: I'd extend that to Soule's just about everything. Swamp Thing, Thunderbolts, even, Rao help me, the Red Lanterns.
posted by Halloween Jack at 12:33 PM on December 10, 2014
posted by Halloween Jack at 12:33 PM on December 10, 2014
I am sick and tired of people recommending Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye and Robots In Disguise! I'll show you! I'll order all 12 of those trades for my library RIGHT THE FUCK NOW.
Showed you!
Yeah! I just got my Transformer wings! Now to decide if they should be Monstructor wings, Predaking wings, Airrazor wings, Mindwipe wings...
No, seriously, this is the first series I have bought monthly floppies for in decades!
posted by Slothrop at 12:41 PM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Showed you!
Yeah! I just got my Transformer wings! Now to decide if they should be Monstructor wings, Predaking wings, Airrazor wings, Mindwipe wings...
No, seriously, this is the first series I have bought monthly floppies for in decades!
posted by Slothrop at 12:41 PM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]
Rachel Edidin is a national treasure.
Does that Miles guy ever shut up and just let her talk? It turned me off the podcast the way he'd keep interjecting lame attempts at humor over her explaining the X-Men.
posted by davros42 at 12:46 PM on December 10, 2014
Does that Miles guy ever shut up and just let her talk? It turned me off the podcast the way he'd keep interjecting lame attempts at humor over her explaining the X-Men.
posted by davros42 at 12:46 PM on December 10, 2014
Given that the whole thing is scripted by both of them I'm not sure that's his fault.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:02 PM on December 10, 2014
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:02 PM on December 10, 2014
...WHAT?!?!?
posted by Artw at 1:07 PM on December 10, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Artw at 1:07 PM on December 10, 2014 [3 favorites]
An insult to Mr. Stokes is grounds for fisticuffs, sir.
posted by kyrademon at 2:07 PM on December 10, 2014
posted by kyrademon at 2:07 PM on December 10, 2014
Yay Claire Napier! I am a very very very occasional contributor to Women Write About Comics, and have worked with Claire a couple of times -- I can attest that she's not only a great writer with a sharp mind but an all-around excellent human.
posted by bettafish at 8:17 AM on December 11, 2014
posted by bettafish at 8:17 AM on December 11, 2014
Upon reading some of her other stuff, I can tell I wouldn't normally be part of her audience anyway. Although, this is a pretty great piece of writing.
posted by P.o.B. at 12:47 AM on December 13, 2014
posted by P.o.B. at 12:47 AM on December 13, 2014
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::Facepalm::
Great post and I look forward to reading all the many links later on today.
posted by Faintdreams at 7:47 AM on December 10, 2014