Top Five Fridays 3/23/07
Some of you may have noticed on the sidebar, we have our “Top Five of the Moment” listed. These are the five books that are most clicking with each Pants writer. It may or may not represent the best books we’ve read all month, year, or just what we’re digging that week. We generally try to update it with books from that week, but there are no hard and fast rules. Inspired by an email from one of our readers, we’re going to post every Friday with the most recent Top Five from each member of the Panteon, and hope for your comments on our lists, or maybe even your own “Top Five of the Moment.”
Also, just as the Wednesday Number Ones feature is generally our spot for folks to talk about the comics of the week, we hope that Top Five Fridays is where you’ll come to talk about what’s going on in comics in general. News in the comics world, thoughts on comics you’ve recently read, talk about comic-related movies that release this weekend and more are welcome in the comments thread for Top Five Fridays.
This week, the Top Five Books of the Moment are:
Nick Budd
- The Spirit
- The Brave and the Bold
- B.P.R.D. Garden of Souls
- Cable and Deadpool
- Birds of Prey
Dave Farabee
- The Spirit
- Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser (TPB)
- Brave and the Bold
- Transformers Spotlight: Soundwave
- X-Men: First Class
Dan Grendell
- Empowered GN
- Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service
- Marvel Adventures: The Avengers
- Birds of Prey
- X-Men: First Class
Randy Lander
- Marvel Adventures The Avengers
- The Spirit
- Brave and the Bold
- The Walking Dead
- Y The Last Man
David Martindale (D3)
- The Spirit
- Birds of Prey
- Hellblazer
- Y the Last Man
- 52
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Relatively light week of comics for me, but a pretty good one. The Spirit continues to be excellent, and Cooke is slowly but surely delving into the wide ranging cast of the Spirit book, while not leaving relative newbies (like me) in the dark. Marvel Adventures: Avengers is supervillain schtick at its best, with classic superhero action thrown into the mix. Brave and the Bold is pretty close to the ’80s balance of more adult yet still all-ages superhero storytelling that is my ideal, and George Perez’s art is really nice. Love the “17, Hal” bit.
Walking Dead had a very strong issue, and while the Governor storyline almost put me off the book, the last couple issues have won me back. And Y The Last Man has a pretty interesting start to the next arc, looking forward to seeing where it goes from here. Although I am thinking that Vaughan needs to let go of the dream sequence tool for storytelling… he’s used it a *lot* in this book. Twice in this issue alone.
23 Mar 2007 at 12:06 am
Quote*sigh* This is why I hate living a town away from my comic shop. One of these days, I’ll make it to my comic shop before you guys post this…
23 Mar 2007 at 2:23 am
Quote1. Y - The Last Man
2. Nightly News
3. Local
4. Blacksad: Arctic Nation (TPB)
5. Jae Lee’s Complete Hellshock (TPB)
23 Mar 2007 at 4:01 am
Quote1. The Spirit - Another fantastic issue. Best series out there right now.
2. X-Factor - Good issue with some good plot developments and nice, if small, character bits. The only problem I have with it really is that characters are disappearing for issues. For example, M & Theresa have completely vanished despite having been a huge part of the previous storyline and Rictor and Wolfsbane went MIA for the previous 2 issues.
3. Captain America - Re reading Brubaker’s run and really enjoying the 24 like espionage take on the book.
4. Elektra: Assassin & 5. Promethea Vol. 1 - Really light week for me so including the trades I’m reading at the moment. Elektra: Assassin is a classic and Promethea is a book I picked up a few weeks ago but only got around to reading it now. Really good and it’s got JH Williams art. Roll on June when he returns to the Batman titles.
Also, 300 finally arrived on these shores yesterday so checked it out and was really disappointed. Just found it to be really boring and the constant slo-mo fight scenes just pissed me off by the end of the movie.
23 Mar 2007 at 5:53 am
QuoteI’m with you on that, Randy. The relentless brutality in the Governor storyline was strangely out of place, even for a ‘zombie apocalypse’ story. It wasn’t out of character for the people in the story necessarily, but felt like an aberration in the overall tone of the book. And immature, to boot, if that makes any sense.
I wonder if for a moment, Kirkland was trying to cater to the Saw/Hostel crowd who somehow think that explicit torture is ‘awesome’.
That said, the last 2 issues have shown a complete recovery from that nasty diversion.
23 Mar 2007 at 8:33 am
QuoteAnybody reading Wisdom from Marvel? Really enjoying this little sleeper, worth a look if you haven’t checked it out! Unique, devious charm.
1) Wisdom
2) The Brave & The Bold
3) The Killer
4) Okko: Cycle of Water
5) BPRD
23 Mar 2007 at 10:28 am
QuoteSome regulars and new appearances here. Adam Warren’s new graphic novel Empowered really impressed me, with its fun and sexy story of a superheroine who gets her powers from a revealing suit that rips at the slightest touch. Unfortunately, the more damaged the suit gets, the more the powers fade… Her issues with low self esteem, supportive thug boyfriend, drunk ninja buddy, jealous teammate, and Warren’s obvious playing of the T&A (no actual nudity, even) as a gag and character/plot element instead of just eye candy won me over fast.
Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service continues to be excellent, with the team trying to find the proper body for a black market organ that wants to go home in one story and using graffitti to trick a killer in the other.
Marvel Adventures: The Avengers and Birds of Prey hit my list pretty much every time they come out, as they’re just that good, and another Jeff Parker book that I’ve been missing out on also rates this week with X-Men: First Class. Cool, fun adventures of the original X-Men team, in done-in-one style. I like it.
23 Mar 2007 at 10:28 am
QuoteCompletely with you there. Actually dropped the book during that storyline and haven’t gone back to it. To be honest, Kirkman’s work has been wearing thin with me lately. Invincible is still quite good though.
On another note, just saw the new trailer for Spider-Man 3 and it was just fantastic. Amazing even
Would’ve put it in my top five if I had seen it sooner!
23 Mar 2007 at 10:31 am
QuoteAmen. The best thing about seeing ‘300′ in the theater? The Spider-Man 3 trailer.
23 Mar 2007 at 11:50 am
QuoteI’ve expressed this similar sentiment several times but here we go for Birds.
Birds of Prey. I dropped off Birds when it was pulled into the crossovers.. War Games, and Infinite Crisis and so on. But I think we’re more or less clear of that. But if I were to pick up the One Year Later trade, would I be totally lost? Or is Gail just rocking it while DCU burns?
ok.. that was overly dramatic.. i don’t know if it’s burning.. i don’t read it.
23 Mar 2007 at 2:46 pm
QuoteI dropped Birds of Prey when it was getting entangled by crossovers.. War Games, Infinite Crisis and whatever.. I was really disappointed to drop it because I liked so much about Gail’s run. Do you think that if I were to pick up the one year later trade I would be able to fall back into the swing of things? Is the book working on its own again?
23 Mar 2007 at 5:00 pm
QuoteAh, Dan, always the stickler - the only one without The Spirit in the top five. Not reading the book, or it just didn’t make the cut this week? Most of my stuff didn’t come out this week, but that’s fine.
1. Army @ Love - Wow, I loved this issue (but Nick was right - it did lack some focus in regards to its characters). I buy Vertigo stuff exclusively in trade, but this book will probably be the exception.
2. Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse - still up here. LOVE this book, and a great trade came out recently. Typical IDW beauty.
3. Garth Ennis 303 - Avatar mini from a couple years back. Trade just came out recently. Pretty great stuff, actually - Ennis balances two separate POVs pretty well, Ennis doing his best with soldier-y stuff, not to mention typical Ennis sensationalism. Add in some attractive art from Jacen Burrows, and you have a fine read.
4. Buddha volume 1 - Been meaning to try this, and your recommendations gave it some priority. Haven’t finished it yet, but it’s pretty enjoyable so far.
5. D’Airain Adventure - Ashley Wood still rules my picks from last week.
23 Mar 2007 at 5:48 pm
QuoteHeh. I’m reading The Spirit, and digging it, but I actually felt this issue was the weakest so far. It felt like the same character bits just reiterated over and over for 22 pages. Fun, but not what I would rate as top 5 material.
As far as Buddha goes, it’s one of my favorite older manga. Reading it inspired me to seek out more Tezuka work, and I’m glad that I have, as the man was a master. If you’re anything like me, you’ll like the first volume of Buddha, but each successive volume will grab you more and more.
24 Mar 2007 at 1:44 am
Quotecheers justin!
i’m reading wisdom too - it’s pretty bizarre and i’m not sure if i really like it or not - but i am loving the skrull beatles!
24 Mar 2007 at 3:37 am
QuoteI’ve been having problems posting replies. Most recently, I hit submit and my post don’t show. Any how I just have to say that the Governor torture fit exactly in the book. I didn’t find it needlessly gratuitous at all. Honestly, I am amused by the amount of “i’m dropping it” I’ve heard regarding that issue. Anyway, I also had something to post about the Birds of Prey but I think I’ll write the pansters about my missing posts first.
24 Mar 2007 at 8:44 am
QuoteMy 5 books:
The Spirit
Fell
Mighty Avengers
Brave and the Bold
Ultimate Spider-Man
24 Mar 2007 at 12:09 pm
QuoteThis is in response to no one in particular -
Recently DC has wooed me with a couple of their titles, The Spirit in particular. I enjoyed this last issue, but I was confused by Satin’s sudden kiss of the Spirit. What brought that about? Is there some history here that I have missed? Everywhere else in the book she seemed independent, but suddenly she is overwhelmed with passion? Desire?
Yeah, I could see the whole - “combative/flirtatious” angle that was played throughout the book, but I just didn’t buy the sudden kiss, and felt it undermined the story a little bit.
24 Mar 2007 at 5:32 pm
QuoteHonestly, I haven’t been digging the book since the One Year Later change. It’s got its moments and good ideas, but losing Black Canary is a huge blow, and the newly expanded cast, while not a bad idea, doesn’t hold my interest.
I’ll probably go back to it at some point, if only because Gail does such a good job with the book and, after some time away, I’ll probably want to read some more of her take on Lady Blackhawk, or Huntress, or Oracle… but the post-OYL status quo definitely weakened the book, in my opinion.
24 Mar 2007 at 11:28 pm
QuoteI think it’s possible that there is some history there. While Cooke is keeping The Spirit remarkably accessible to those who don’t know the character or his supporting cast/villains at all (and I’m more or less in that category), I do get the vibe that there are lots of Easter Eggs for fans of the character, and I suspect this kiss was a payoff for those fans.
24 Mar 2007 at 11:30 pm
QuoteWell, you’re clearly wrong… that’s why your replies haven’t been showing up.
More seriously, it was an over-aggressive spam filter, hopefully we’ve got it fixed… if you ever have those troubles, drop us a line and we’ll take care of it ASAP.
As for the Governor and Walking Dead… I dunno, I’m pretty much in the camp that thought it was over-the-top, both the Governor’s repeated rape of Michonne and her issue-long revenge. Just felt gratuitous. I mean, yes, it worked to make the Governor’s folks a fear to be reckoned with, but wouldn’t that have been done just by cutting off Rick’s hand and revealing that they play gladiator games with zombies? To me, it was like having Dr. Light rape Sue Dibny, or revealing that she was pregnant when she was murdered, in Identity Crisis. Seems to me that the murder was enough, adding rape and a murdered baby into the mix is just unnecessarily grisly.
24 Mar 2007 at 11:32 pm
QuoteOn the topic of Walking Dead, does it get better after the first trade? I’ve heard so much good about it, and I was disappointed after reading volume 1. I thought the ending was laughable - “Daddy, it’s different than killing the dead ones.” I did really liek Moore’s art, but he only did the first trade. And the stuff Randy is talking about does sound a bit gratuitous, but it is a zombie tale, after all. Would you guys recommend trying out the second volume?
Maybe zombies just aren’t for me.
25 Mar 2007 at 9:26 am
QuoteI really enjoyed the first and second trade. The first (and only so far) hardcover contains all the same material as the first two trades plus all those great color covers. Without spoiling it, the HC volume has a logical and satisfying conclusion, and that is where my collection of the title ends.
Now, it did continue to be entertaining despite dropping a notch or two in quality all the way through the fifth trade, but I wanted to end on a high point.
The overly gratuitous aspects previously spoken of are part of the “governor arc” which doesn’t come around untill the 6th(?) arc. From what I hear, now that that arc is done, it’s gotten back to being a decent read, but I wouldn’t know; I dropped the book during the “governor arc.”
25 Mar 2007 at 12:58 pm
QuoteI’m not one to discourage a second look, but I will say that if the first trade didn’t hook you, Walking Dead probably isn’t your cup of tea. I think the first trade remains probably the strongest arc of the series.
25 Mar 2007 at 3:54 pm
QuoteMy top 5 from last week:
1.) Girls – I can’t wait to see how this wraps up next issue.
2.) Shadowpact – The best team book being done by DC IMHO.
3.) Y – The Last Man – It’s good to see the focus back on the main cast. I’ll be sad when this book ends.
4.) Walking Dead – I guess I must be completely inured to comic book violence as the “Governor Arc†didn’t really seem that off-putting to me. I will say that the torture issue could have been better spent on other story elements.
5.) 52 – I liked the Black Adam/mad scientists story, but the epilogue to the Luthor/Steel story was a complete waste of space.
25 Mar 2007 at 6:01 pm
QuoteTotally with Randy Lander on this one if you didn’t like the first trade you probably won’t like the rest of the series. It is definitely (IMHO) the best “arc” of the series
26 Mar 2007 at 2:04 pm
QuoteHow is Fables not on anyone’s list, either of the moment or of the ’some other longer period of time?’
Criminal. Local. Jonah Hex. Shazam-Monster Society of Evil. Runaways. (the departed) Nextwave. True Story, Swear to God. Usagi. DMZ. She-Hulk.
And these are just from the bigger publishers, there are many many many more that deserve mention. We’re living in a golden age!
And for what it’s worth: Making Comics, the latest by Scott McCloud, is brilliant and worth reading. It’s not just about how to make comics. It’s about how to tell good stories, and should be recommended reading for all.
26 Mar 2007 at 10:23 pm
QuoteThe Top Five isn’t intended to be all-inclusive. As stated in the introductory paragraph, “It may or may not represent the best books we’ve read all month, year, or just what we’re digging that week.”
Fables is a beloved book by everyone at Comic Pants, but I think we all felt the Mike Allred art wasn’t a great fit, and the last two-part arc was one of the weaker ones of the series. So it’s not a favorite of the moment. Many of us thought the first arc of Criminal ended on a weaker note, even though we generally love the series. It’s been several weeks since an issue of Local shipped. Etc., etc.
You’ll find that all of the series you’ve mentioned (except Jonah Hex, and maybe She-Hulk now) is a favorite of one or more of us, they just didn’t come out this week, which is why they’re not in the Top Five “of the Moment.” And Making Comics was in fact on Dave Farabee’s Top Five of the Moment for several weeks after it came out.
26 Mar 2007 at 10:47 pm
Quote