Top Five Fridays 08/03/07
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 Annotated Northwest Passage HC
- Metal Men
- New Warriors
- Thor
- World War Hulk
Dave Farabee
- The Annotated Northwest Passage HC
- Miki Falls: Summer TP
- Godland Celestial Ed HC
- Thor
- Inanna’s Tears
Dan Grendell
- Killing Pickman
- Godland Celestial Ed HC
- The Annotated Northwest Passage HC
- Fantastic Four/Power Pack
- New Warriors
Randy Lander
- The Annotated Northwest Passage HC
- Immortal Iron Fist
- Godland Celestial Ed HC
- New Warriors
- Fantastic Four
David Martindale (D3)
- Battle Royale
- X-Factor Vol 2
- New Warriors
- The Hood
- Incredible Hulk
Loading ...
I’d like to see a brief explanation from each of you as to why the particular books end up on your list for that week. I know it’s a bit more work for you, but c’mon, it’ll be fun!
03 Aug 2007 at 1:13 pm
QuoteD3, what does that second volume of X-Factor cover? The blurb says something about Civil War splitting the group in two! Is it handled well? I am a crossover hater (i suppose).. so just wondering.
(btw, I think this is a theme for me.. asking you all ‘how much is Book A affected by Crossover B?’)
03 Aug 2007 at 1:14 pm
QuoteAny idea when the first Iron Fist trade is coming? I liked the first two issues, but didn’t keep up with it, for some reason.
03 Aug 2007 at 2:03 pm
Quote1. World War Hulk
2. Fantastic Four
3. Thor
4. New Warriors
5. Hellboy: Darkness Calls
03 Aug 2007 at 2:38 pm
QuoteThe trade is due out in October, I think… the hardcover (with is $20 for 6 issues, trade is $15 for same) is out now.
I just reread the whole thing the other night, and really liked it. And I think #7 is the best issue yet, a standalone of sorts featuring the last female Iron Fist.
03 Aug 2007 at 2:59 pm
QuoteWe get this request a lot, and here’s the standard answer: If we were to do the brief explanation every week, we probably wouldn’t have time to post Top Five every week, and it wouldn’t be a weekly feature. So we’ll always do our best to chime in with our reasons in the comments thread. In fact, I’ll be doing so later tonight or tomorrow. But the point of this feature is also just to inspire some discussion of what folks liked this week, so our top five lists are more discussion starters than anything else.
03 Aug 2007 at 3:01 pm
QuoteThe volume covers issues #7-12, and only #8 and #9 were Civil War tie-ins. The two Civil War issues in this volume manage to slightly serve the Civil War story, but they really serve the overall X-Factor story to a much greater degree. I felt that after the Captain America tie-in issues, the X-Factor tie-in issues were the second best handled Civil War tie-ins.
03 Aug 2007 at 3:21 pm
Quote1) World War Hulk 3: Fun final page lead in to #4. Silly as all get out but Pak is no doubt having some fun with the story. Interesting fight between Dr. Strange and Hulk (speaking of that, I like the ads for the Doc Strange animated movie. This series has a kind of workman-like charm to them. Good on ‘em).
2) Invincible TPB #8- Gotta catch ‘em all.
3) Shanna the She-Devil: For a T&A comic (admit it, that is probably the initial draw), Gray and Palmiotti serve up a very light, fun and action-packed first issue. They don’t shirk away from one of the artistic draws to the story but don’t make her rather buxom physique the center of it. Comics haven’t been this free and loose in a while. Monster Island! Pirates! Giant Bees!! Hungry Giant Bees!
4) Metal Men: Sweet.
5) Fantastic Four/Power Pack: Groovy.
03 Aug 2007 at 3:46 pm
QuoteBattle Royale is fantastic. Thanks for that manga podcast; I finished reading the final volume during the week and intend on buying the hardcover collections when they come out soon. Can’t comment on this weeks titles, I just saw Battle Royale there and had to comment.
03 Aug 2007 at 6:48 pm
Quote1. Killing Pickman: Like Seven or Silence of the Lambs with a supernatural twist and amazing art that looks like a darker version of David Mack.
2. Thor: Sure it’s moving slow but at least it is moving slowly with style (and great art).
3. She-Hulk: Far from new reader friendly but just a very fun, light-hearted comic. Slott is wrapping up his run with a bang.
4. Midnighter: Giffen seems to have a good handle on Midnighter and is taking him different directions, including a civilian identity.
5. World War Hulk: The least of the three issues so far but still a wildly entertaining mini-series (and only two weeks after the last issue!).
03 Aug 2007 at 7:28 pm
QuoteBuffy The Vampire Slayer Season 8
Samurai Heaven & Earth vol. 2
Countdown
Nova
Brave & the Bold
03 Aug 2007 at 9:26 pm
Quote1. World War Hulk
2. Midnighter
3. Scalped
4. The Exterminators
5. The Invaders Classic Vol. 1- BUY BONDS!
03 Aug 2007 at 10:53 pm
QuoteYeah, I read a couple volumes this week, and even though it’s not at all recent, it was still the best thing I read all week.
03 Aug 2007 at 10:54 pm
Quote1. Killing Pickman
I was quite impressed with this story of a possibly demon-empowered serial killer and the cop who takes him down. The art is fantastic, and an excellent match for the mood being created.
2. Godland Celestial Ed HC
Casey and Scioli have been thrilling me with this crazy, energetic book since it kicked off, so when a sexy hardcover came out I just couldn’t resist. Cool extras include ads and multiple covers for each issue, sketches, essays, and an e-mail conversation between Casey and Scioli.
3. The Annotated Northwest Passage HC
Dave Farabee got me reading this wilderness adventure when it was being released, and this is a lovely hardcover edition with an informative section of notes at the back. I always dig that kind of extra info.
4. Fantastic Four/Power Pack
I’m a Power Pack fan. This is some fun stuff. The end.
5. New Warriors
I have no real connection to the old New Warriors team, but what’s going on here has been good regardless. It’s a bit superhero, a bit rebellion, and comes off with a “we’re gonna be heroes whether you like it or not, The Man” kinda vibe. I dig it.
04 Aug 2007 at 3:40 pm
QuoteHere’s my Top 5:
1. Catwoman
2. Walking Dead
3. Captain America
4. Thunderbolts
5. X-Factor
Iron Fist and Godland just missed this list, and next week Casanova will go on it. I have to say, I have the Godland trades, and I’m really, really envious of the Godland HC…
Catwoman is my number one because its just so great, easily the best book at DC over the last year, and its a shame that no-one’s reading it.
Walking Dead has really picked up too, the last few issues have just been tremendous, and of course Cap is always great, and I love Ellis’s and Deodato’s T’Bolts. I just wish that Ellis would write more Fell.
04 Aug 2007 at 4:57 pm
Quote1. The Annotated Northwest Passage HC -
In all honesty, I’ve only read the first volume that this trade collects, but going on the impression that I got from that, this is one of the best history/action adventure stories you can get your hands on. Scott Chantler’s art is sophisticated and sleek…i.e. some really great work, and after I watch Hot Fuzz tonight, I’m going to finish the book and delve into the sweet extras that are included.
2. Metal Men
I think out of everyone in the Panteon (probably not just there either), I liked this book the most. Duncan Rouleau’s art is so layered and gorgeous that I felt like a kid in a candy store. I do think that the book was dense, but I also think that there was a nice pay-off at the end of the story too. And really, this is a Metal Men comic. Hasn’t happened for awhile and I’m digging it right now.
3. New Warriors
Dare I say it…Best Marvel team book going right now? I loved the original New Warriors stuff but like Dan, the underground feel and the cool usage of characters has really won me over. Oh, and Paco Medina’s art is VERY nice.
4. Thor
This is the one that i was shocked to like. The first issue was okay. A little ho-hum for a Thor book but I really like the world-building that JMS is doing so far. The whole thing about Thor rebuilding Asgard and the interaction that he has with the members of the town is really engaging. Again, the art by Copiel is damn good too.
5. World War Hulk
Hulk Smash! That is All.
04 Aug 2007 at 8:50 pm
QuoteThanks for the explanation, Randy, and now that I think about it, it makes perfect sense.
By the way, I’ve been following both you and Don McPeherson since the Fourth Rail and beyond, and while I do miss the Siskel & Ebert of comics reviews (*sniff*), I think you both have moved on to even more interesting things.
Nick, Dave, Dan and David, I’m glad this site being started up exposed me to your work as well. I think, pound for pound, this is the best comics’ review site on the web.
06 Aug 2007 at 7:51 am
QuoteWhy, thank you. I’m glad you like what we’re doing.
06 Aug 2007 at 1:59 pm
QuoteHey Dave, thanks for including “Miki Falls: Summer” in your top 5! Glad you thought it was a worthy successor to “Spring”. Now if I can just get enough caffeine in me to finish “Winter” I’ll be able to put this little 670-page beast behind me!
I’m going to mention comicpants on my website and link to it next Monday. Thanks again for the support.
Mark
10 Aug 2007 at 11:22 am
Quote