Top Five Fridays 6/15/07

by Randy Lander on Jun 15 2007

Categories: Top Five Fridays | 6 comments for now

6 Responses to “Top Five Fridays 6/15/07”

1. Bob #

   Here’s my current 5 favorites in no order. It may be a little out of step with what’s going on, just because I read odd things at odd paces.

   1. Exit Wounds by Rutu Modan- The latest beautiful hardcover from D&Q- as usual with their books I just like holding it and looking at it. The story is set in Tel Aviv about a boy who learns his dad may have been killed by a suicide bomber, yet so far nothing about it is remotely as depressing as that description. I’m not very far into it but I love the bold, vibrant, art and the story is shaping up to be a good one.

   2. Korgi- It’s a bit flimsy but it’s tough not to just stare at the amazing linework on each page.

   3. World War Hulk- This is maybe the first superhero book I’ve bought in a month, but it’s really just the way you’d want a big superhero blockbuster to be. Perfectly paced, the right amount of tension, and AMAZING artwork. Plus I hate to compare this to Civil War, but I never really felt the stakes were high in Civil War, even though I was told constantly that they were. WWH is the first superhero book I’ve read in a while with a real sense that the stakes are high.

   4. Gutsville- It’s already all been said on this website. But this is a fun book, and I’m hoping we’ve only scratched the surface.

   5. Essential Moon Knight Vol. 1- I know people love Moon Knight, but I’ve always thought he was kinda dumb. Anyway, this collection is really hit or miss and the transfer to B&W is occasionally murky, but at the moments when Moench’s noir writing works, it works, and it’s worth the cover price just to watch Bill Sienkiewicz evolve immensely as an artist between the covers of this Essential book. Is a new Mutants Visionaries: Bill Sienkiewicz book out of the question? Probably. Phooey.

   15 Jun 2007 at 6:07 pm

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2. fil #

   1) Fables: Continues to be the most consistent joy in comic reading for me. They are over 60 issues in and it still feels fresh. I think the decision to continually change focus, status, lead characters and so on really helps with this. Can’t wait to see where this goes. I wonder if this book would still thrive without the pressure of the war in the homelands to keep the tension up?
   2) Nova: What a nice opening arc. Well paced, good action in the books and some pointed dialogue that speak to what fans have been saying since Civil War began, namely that the heroes forgot how to be heroes and also have vision as narrow as can be. I liked the evolution in the decision process that took Nova home, considered if he fit in, and finally made a decision that made sense without rushing it. Nicely done. Hope the new Annihilation arc is as good as the first one. I haven’t checked…is Giffen overseeing this one, as well?
   3) World War Hulk: I agree with Bob above and others that point out that THIS is how to do a major event book (well, so was Annihilation, but I digress…). Art was great, pacing was spot on and the action scenes played out as I hoped they would. I didn’t read much of Planet Hulk but in that arc did he ever change back to Banner? I always enjoy the ever changing intelligence level of Hulk from nearly brainless brute to tea sipping, housecoat wearing Hulk (well, almost). He is in such a Conan mood…an amazing warrior, crafty if not brilliant and driven. And Green. Hope it holds up…and hope it works with just the main line of books because I don’t have the dough to buy every single crossover.
   4) Runaways: Okay, no new one this week but I am lending out my collection and before I do so, I wanted to read them again. These were fantastic books. I like Whedon’s arc just fine but that first 19 issue arc was top notch comic writing. It kind of misses something without the parents dogging their steps. They need to get back to running more, soon.
   5) Annihilation Series: In prep for the new series, I read this again. Fantastic stuff that ties a lot of good storylines neatly together with a big, superheroic bow. Good mix of superheroics, status changing oomph (Skrull gone??? Well, there is that horrible Bendis rumor to contend with…) and space opera. Great art for the most part, too. Detailed without being too busy and worth re-reading to get in all the details.

   16 Jun 2007 at 12:13 pm

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3. Dan Grendell #

   I didn’t read much of Planet Hulk but in that arc did he ever change back to Banner?

   He changed back to Banner once, to show his secret, shameful side to the woman he fell in love with. He changed back to Hulk like three seconds later. I just read that Plane Hulk hardcover, by the way, and I really liked it. I would really recommend it for people who are digging World War Hulk.

   16 Jun 2007 at 4:51 pm

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4. KB #

   I’ve heard a lot of grumbling about the paper quality on Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus Vol. 1. I see that three of the five in the Panteon have it in their top fives, though. I have mine on back order from Amazon. Guys, is it worth the money or should I cancel it?

   17 Jun 2007 at 8:57 pm

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5. Dan Grendell #

   I’ve heard a lot of grumbling about the paper quality on Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus Vol. 1.

   I see that three of the five in the Panteon have it in their top fives, though. I have mine on back order from Amazon. Guys, is it worth the money or should I cancel it?

   It’s on high-quality newsprint instead of glossy paper, which I think looks better for that era of Kirby’s work. It probably should have been forty bucks instead of fifty, but given that you get 16 beautiful color issues and the ones you are getting are some of Kirby’s most mind-blowing work in my opinion, yeah, I think it’s worth the money. I dropped my cash without a question even though I had already seen it opened. For comparison, I bought Marvel’s Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne V.7 that same week for $25, and it had all of four issues in it (though one was double-sized) and two annuals. It was on glossy paper and is a paperback. Really, fifty bucks isn’t out of the realm of reason.

   18 Jun 2007 at 3:25 am

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6. KB #

   It’s on high-quality newsprint instead of glossy paper, which I think looks better for that era of Kirby’s work. It probably should have been forty bucks instead of fifty, but given that you get 16 beautiful color issues and the ones you are getting are some of Kirby’s most mind-blowing work in my opinion, yeah, I think it’s worth the money. I dropped my cash without a question even though I had already seen it opened. For comparison, I bought Marvel’s Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne V.7 that same week for $25, and it had all of four issues in it (though one was double-sized) and two annuals. It was on glossy paper and is a paperback. Really, fifty bucks isn’t out of the realm of reason.

   Cool! I’ve never read the material so I’m really looking forward to it. I wish Amazon would ship it to me already!

   18 Jun 2007 at 10:48 am

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