Top Five Fridays 08/10/07
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
- Nova
- Last Call Vol. 1
- Criminal
- Dynamo 5
- Batman
Dave Farabee
- The Hedge Knight 2: Sworn Sword
- Criminal
- Star Wars Rebellion
- Nova
- Incredible Hulk
Dan Grendell
- Essential Dazzler V.1
- B.P.R.D.: Killing Ground
- Invincible Ultimate Collection HC V.3
- Fables
- Dynamo 5
Randy Lander
- Black Metal Vol 1
- Dynamo 5
- B.P.R.D. Killing Ground
- Criminal
- Nova
David Martindale (D3)
- Criminal
- Nova
- The Hedge Knight 2: Sworn Sword
- DMZ
- Batman
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Another really good week, and I could easily have put together a Top 10 for this week.
1. Black Metal Vol 1 - Terrific Oni graphic novel from Rick Spears and Chuck BB, all about heavy metal and demons and swords and hell and all that cool stuff. Full review coming soon.
2. Dynamo 5 - Some great reveals, further character stuff and, as always, great art and action
3. B.P.R.D. Killing Ground - Another strong BPRD outing, you can see more in my Wednesday Number One blurb.
4. Criminal - Brubaker’s best book, pure crime stuff with gorgeous art by Phillips. Some truly twisted character dynamics, and if it’s not quite as action-packed as the heists and car chases in the last two issues, it’s packs a pretty hefty emotional punch for the characters
5. Nova - Spacefaring action at its best, as Rich Rider is out of action but a new female Nova (first of a new Nova Corps?) goes into action to save her starship crew from the Phalanx. Possibly Marvel’s best book right now, better than both Thunderbolts and New Warriors (both books I really like).
6. DMZ - Concluding the latest story arc with tragedy and some great moments between Matty and Zee. The end of the arc isn’t as great as the rest of the arc has been, but it’s a good ending, and the series continues to impress
7. Fables - The art took a little getting used to, but the Snow/Bigby/kids dynamic is some of my favorite stuff about the book, and I really enjoyed this look at an important birthday for the cubs
8. Invincible Vol 3 Ultimate Coll HC - Honestly, I haven’t even unwrapped this sucker yet, but I’m sure it’ll be great. The extras and packaging on the first two were excellent, and I’m completely into Kirkman and Ottley’s superhero opus at the moment
9. Last Call Vol 1 GN - I’ve only read the first 30 or so pages, but I know this one to be a good one as well. Gorgeous art from Vasilis Lolos, a fun, creepy vibe, ghost trains and lost kids and all that jazz
10. Daredevil - Not sure I like those last few pages, which are emotionally charged but take Milla to a place I don’t think she can come back from… but I loved the reveal of the villain. As a longtime Daredevil fan, I should have seen it coming, and I didn’t.
Incredible Hulk (better than WWH, in my opinion, and this issue’s a particularly strong one) could easily have come in there as well, and while I haven’t read Star Wars Rebellion yet this week, I’m betting it could have been a favorite as well. I’ve been really digging the second story arc in that book, which features intrigue, as criminals and rebels go up against a nasty, powerful set of Imperial troops headed up by Vader, with some nice double-crosses in the midst. Seriously, it’s like Star Wars noir. Gorgeous Ryan Sook covers, too.
10 Aug 2007 at 12:02 am
QuoteYou Dazzler haters sicken me.
10 Aug 2007 at 12:47 am
QuoteA few years back I picked up the first 12 issues of Dazzler and they were a hoot! Fun and endearing character, too bad she lost that charm later on.
10 Aug 2007 at 1:39 am
QuoteFables, Criminal and Nova are definite favorites. Casanova was hilarious, I’m hooked on that now too.
10 Aug 2007 at 5:03 am
QuoteNo Jack of Fables? Lots of interesting stuff going on over there, and it was awfully neat the way Fables (rather mysteriously) tied in this week.
I’d also add some love for Stormwatch: PHD, though this wasn’t the strongest outing (another murder mystery?) and I’m less impressed by Andy “Boobsalot” Smith’s artwork with each passing issue. Still, it’s fun to see Gage working in a more self-contained setting than his Marvel stuff.
Oh, and I sort of looooved Batman this week.
10 Aug 2007 at 9:22 am
QuoteAnd Criminal!
10 Aug 2007 at 9:24 am
Quote1. Pulphope - Finally got my copy from Amazon and it kicks as much ass as everyone said it did.
2. Batman - Morrison’s best issue of this title yet with some gorgeous artwork from JH Williams III.
3. DMZ - Very emotionally charged finale to a great arc. Consistenly excellent book.
4. Criminal - As long as Brubaker and Phillips keep making crime comics together I will be a happy man.
5. (tie) Fables/Dynamo 5 (Just cuz I didn’t want to leave one out
- Great interlude from Fables and Faerber keeps D5 moving along at a breakneck pace.
Very good week over all. I have really liked Hedge Knight up to this point but this issue was way too talky. The 2nd and 3rd to last pages were so crammed with text it almost felt like a prose piece with pictures. Still enjoying it but a down issue for me.
10 Aug 2007 at 9:28 am
QuoteWell for the first time in a while I’m not so behind on my reading that I can participate. I think I only got a top three but then it was a light week for me.
1) Incredible Hulk: So far I’ve been enjoying World War Hulk well enough, but this issue just hit all the right notes for me, great action, heroics, drama, hard choices, this one was just fun and gripping read.
2) Batman, I had lost interest in this book, but after reading Nick’s review of issue 666, I decided to give another chance and I’m glad I did. Morrison seems to have hit his stride with this book. Loved the silver age meets whacked out Morrison vibe this issue had, my favorite issue in his run so far.
3) Nova, I was a little concerned at the end of issue 4, but my fears have been allayed this issue, like the new character, always liked Gamora, good read.
I’ll give Daredevil and honorable mention, cause for the first 2/3 or so of the book I was moaning about what a lousy job Brubaker was doing writing Mila and my mind was already preparing a rant about how overrated the guy is, but just about the time DD went up against the Enforcers it all fell together for me and I have to admit I was impressed. That said, I have to agree that he may have well taken the character to a point of no return.
10 Aug 2007 at 9:34 am
QuoteAbout Brubaker - I can’t deny that the guy has chops. His Daredevil and Cap stories regularly garner praise. His first arc in Criminal was fantastic and it sounds like I may have to jump back on board.
But why can’t he get X-Men right?
10 Aug 2007 at 10:09 am
QuoteOh, and I got grief for recommending ‘28 Weeks Later’ and yet Dan gets a pass for having ESSENTIAL DAZZLER in his top 5???
This site is an abomination.
10 Aug 2007 at 10:11 am
QuoteMy guess is that he has trouble with team books. Anybody out there know of a superhero team book that Brubaker has done especially well? He appears to do everything else so well, but team cape books may be his Kryptonite.
10 Aug 2007 at 10:15 am
QuoteA pass? The man deserves a medal! Or at least a disco ball pendent to wear with pride. The original Dazzler stories were gems of glittery roller rinking kitsch laden goodness.
10 Aug 2007 at 10:17 am
QuoteBatman tops my list. Liked Green Lantern and DMZ as well.
10 Aug 2007 at 11:45 am
Quote1. X-Factor - Marvel are really cranking out some great team books right now. This, along with Fantastic Four, Thunderbolts, The Order & New Warriors are all providing some brilliant reading right now
2. Batman - Traditional “killer loose in large house” set up but done with The League of Batmen? Genius. And great art by Williams. Can anyone tell me which artists he was channeling in his various depictions of the League? I got the McGuinness reference for the Knight & Squire and the Chaykin(?) one for Gaucho but not sure of the rest.
3. Criminal - Pure quality as always
4. Daredevil - I’m loathe to admit it, but right now I have no idea who the villain is. Having a total brain freeze and haven’t had a chance to read over my trades & issues yet. As with Criminal, quality as usual.
5. Green Arrow Year One - When I read this it made me realise how much I miss The Losers. Damn great book and this has all the same qualities. And I winced at the end
10 Aug 2007 at 12:26 pm
Quote10 Aug 2007 at 12:54 pm
QuoteI think that while Sleeper had an ensemble cast, it still had a very identifiable single protagonist. What I should have asked is if anybody can think of a book that he excelled at that did not fit the single protagonist mold.
(strange for me to be debating Brubaker’s faults as a writer; he’s one my favorites currently working in the biz)
10 Aug 2007 at 3:18 pm
Quote1. Criminal
2. Dynamo 5
3. Fables
4. Green Arrow:Year One
5. Daredevil
6. Jack of Fables
10 Aug 2007 at 10:10 pm
Quote1. Justice Society of America
2. Iron Fist
3. Nova
4. The Brave and the Bold
5. The Spirit
11 Aug 2007 at 12:30 am
QuoteCan’t think of one myself. Though I still think he’s much better at gritty crime/spy stuff than more traditional super hero stuff.
All part of my master plan.
11 Aug 2007 at 10:08 am
Quote1. Walking Dead
2. Casanova
3. Punisher War Journal
4. X-Factor
5. Criminal
These last 2 weeks have been great for comics….. NOVA, Batman…. I could go on and on.
But Punisher War Journal was a real suprise for me.
I had tried and dropped the book because I couldnt get used to Olivetti’s visuals and because I disliked Fraction’s overly jokey scripts, but I’ve loved the last two issues. They’ve been very serious, and either Olivetti’s found his stride on the book or I’m used to his art, but either way what a great issue!
11 Aug 2007 at 1:51 pm
Quote1. Nova. Mark me as one concerned with a frightening turn of events last issue to only have those ideas turned on their head and then twisted again! Fantastic read. Conquest is lining up to a great series. Question, can Nova as a comic make it on its own merit without an Annihilation event to tie into? I think the first couple issues showed it could but we will see. Great so far.
2. Fables. I liked the Bigby family stories and this one continues with yet another winner. It just goes along with the ever changing tone, cast, setting and so on that makes Fables the most interesting read book to book.
3. Jack of Fables. Freakin’ fun. Great ending and its tie-in with the Fables continuity was cool (as mentioned above). I am half wondering if this series will be a “joke” played on Jack who will return to the Fables book, tail tucked between his legs. Hmmm… These weird tie-ins with the mother book make me think this, especially since it was to be a cut of sorts from that crew.
4. Elephantmen HC vol. 1: I always liked the idea of this book but it was so hard to find locally. This nice and very reasonably priced HC was a cool read. Great art, interesting concept and a pulpy/noir feel that I really am digging. I picked up the oddly numbered edition of another Elephantmen book called “Hip Flask” which on the spine said “2″ but inside said “Vol 1″ and god only knows what comes before or after it because other than some of the same characters, the storyline doesn’t seem to continue at all in the Elephantmen book. Who cares, though. This was a great book and so there.
5. Bone #6 TPB “Old Man’s Cave”: Still reading this with my daughter, alternating parts as we read through it (I get all the rat creatures and Phoney Bone’s lines, she of course gets Rose and the rest). Still a great read but as noted here it gets far more deeper and darker as it moves along but never completely loses its funny, quirky comic strip feel. Good stuff. #7 will be a long wait.
11 Aug 2007 at 7:46 pm
QuoteElephantmen is a bit odd. The “Elephantmen” series is a prequel to the “Hip Flask” series. It sounds like you have the 2nd Hip Flask collection there.
Is it called “Concrete Jungle” by any chance? If so, you might want to seek out the original Hip Flask collection which is Vol.1 Unnatural Selection.
I hope this helps.
http://www.hipflask.com/timeline/index.html
This gives you a timeline of the story.
Best advise is that you try and grab that first collection. I think it was a limited run though…
12 Aug 2007 at 9:07 am
QuoteWWHulk/Incredihulk are great just now -but is anyone reading the other WWhulk titles and if so are they any good???
Plus essential Dazzler RAWKKKKS!!!!!
12 Aug 2007 at 11:47 am
QuoteJohn, thanks for advice! Yah, I have Concrete Jungle. I will seek out Unnatural Selection. Sure is odd, but I like it.
12 Aug 2007 at 7:25 pm
QuoteHey, guys, love the podcasts, as usual. This is way off topic, but in light of Mike Wieringo’s untimely and incredibly sad passing, I would love to have you guys create a podcast spotlighting his work and his impact on the industry. His fans are legion, and will be missed greatly. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.
13 Aug 2007 at 9:48 am
QuoteI like this idea a lot, but not right away… right now, like many, I’m just kind of too stunned and saddened to talk much about it. I mean, Wieringo was posting on his blog just a few days ago! I can’t believe he’s gone, it’s a huge loss to the industry, and by all accounts he was one of the nice guys of the industry as well.
13 Aug 2007 at 12:03 pm
QuoteI’m waiting for the first volume to come out as trade instead of hardcover to give it another shot. I’m still not really thinking it’s for me, but Fraction has been so good on The Order and Iron Fist at Marvel, I want to give his other Marvel work a fair shake.
And Cory Walker (formerly of Invincible) coming on to do art is definitely something to look forward to.
13 Aug 2007 at 7:44 pm
QuoteI think Nova can go the distance. For one thing, Abnett/Lanning did great sci-fi cosmic action in their highly underrated (and criminally un-collected) Legion run at DC, and for another, those first couple Nova issues before The Initiative tie-in were really strong.
I’ve found that it’s best to think of Elephantmen more like a book of short stories than a standard ongoing narrative. I mean, there are definitely continuing tales and character building, but Starkings really seems to be aiming for a sort of “done in one” type of storytelling where building the atmosphere and the world is as important as telling a plot.
It is confusing how it all fits together. I had all the one shots, but recently bought the two Hip Flask hardcovers (Unnatural Selection and Concrete Jungle) and they are both gorgeous to look at and great reads as well. I’m not sure about both, but I know one of them is still something you can get your comic shop to order, because I ordered one for the shop fairly recently (last couple of months).
This is just the coolest thing ever. I hope to do this with my daughter when she gets a little older and can read herself.
Suggestion: Pick up the Castle Waiting hardcover from Fantagraphics. I bet you guys will love it, it’s got a lot of similarities to Bone in terms of great cartooning, memorable characters, humor and fantasy/all-ages tone.
13 Aug 2007 at 7:50 pm
Quote1. Immortal Iron Fist
2. Criminal
3. Casanova
4. Captain America
5. X-Factor
And man, did the ending of the latest “X-Factor” make it difficult for that book not to go higher. “Nova” was close to making the list, as was “Irredeemable Ant-Man,” “Annihilation Conquest: Starlord” and “Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four.”
13 Aug 2007 at 11:09 pm
Quote