Comic Pants Podcast #47: 2nd Annual Golden Pants Awards pt 1
Welcome back to the Comic Pants podcast! To kick off 2008, we’re doing our Second Annual Golden Pants Awards, celebrating our favorite series, issues and collections of 2007. In part one of this two-part podcast, Nick Budd, Randy Lander, David Martindale and Dan Grendell name their Best of 2007 choices, and Dave Farabee provides color commentary and makes “unofficial” picks as well.
As always, commentary is welcomed and encouraged. Let us know what you thought of the podcast, and if you’ve got suggestions for future podcast topics, leave us a comment! And listeners who write in could win cool comics every week! Please drop us a line at comicpantsfeedback@gmail.com to give us some questions or comments for the next show.
For the benefit of those who can’t listen to the podcast or who just want a text list, we’re presenting the complete list of Best Of choices here as well. Context for these choices, not to mention runner-ups, are mentioned only in the podcast, and the lists are protected by our spoiler tags so that anyone who doesn’t want to see them before listening to the podcast doesn’t have to.
Randy’s 2007 Golden Pants Recipients:
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Dave (D3)’s 2007 Golden Pants Recipients:
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Nick’s 2007 Golden Pants Recipients:
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Dan’s 2007 Golden Pants Recipients:
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Use the podcast feed buttons on the sidebar to subscribe, listen via the flash player below, or directly download the MP3 here:
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i loved all star superman #6. great issue.
that GA mini i think you’re speaking about is green arrow wonder years by mike grell.
12 Jan 2008 at 8:56 pm
Quoteoh, and empowered is awesome.
12 Jan 2008 at 9:44 pm
QuoteCan’t come up with a full list, but I’ve got a few shout outs.
The Spirit and Immortal Iron Fist are not entirely new this year, but they really almost were since they launched at the very end of 2006 (Iron Fist was last day of November, Spirit was December). It wouldn’t have been fair to call them a favorite new series of 2006 with only one issue, so I think it’s proper to consider them here. I find it hard to pick a good Indie new series since they came out so sporadically, but I guess Dynamo 5 could be it (is Image indie though?).
Single issue stories that stood out for me:
Captain America # 25, which was not just an event, but a really great issue in itself, showing the past, present, and hinting at the future of the character, not to mention the exceptional-as-always action sequence.
Usagi Yojimbo # 102, the first part of Jei’s backstory which shows us where he came from. Creepy and very humanizing.
Annihilation: Conquest # 1. I’m enjoying the mini-series as it’s been going along, but this first issue was just note perfect.
For best limited series, I’m behind all of the Conquest tie-ins. I’m liking Transformers: Devastation. And, sad to say, it looks like we’re about to call American Virgin a limited series
(I know, I know, Seagle intended it to be an ongoing).
Finally, I actually enjoyed Shazam! Monster Society of Evil; Smith probably could’ve done it better - and it does unfortunately seem like his writing, and even at times art, isn’t quite as sharp as it used to be - but I still enjoyed it a lot. I’m a huge fan of Bone, and I kind of thought it could be Smith’s next big thing - there’s easily potential to write an epic almost as long as Bone from his take on Shazam. It may be a crazy idea, but I’m thinking I’d actually want to see Smith on a reverse-Mignola; get a different writer while he focuses on the art and just co-plots. Sacriligeous? Maybe, but I would like to see it.
On Best Ongoing, the usual shout-out to Captain America, which is really the best I’ve seen of the character, and I have read all of the acclaimed runs on the title from the ’80s onwards. I don’t see it get talked up a lot here, but Hellblazer continues to be surprisingly good and really one of the most solid ongoing books ever, even at 200 plus issues. I’m of course a big Usagi Yojimbo fan, and though this year has had a longer-running story rather than my favored single issue stories, it’s still great. And The Spirit, even though many will see the departure of Darwyn Cooke as an “end”, is still an ongoing and still fantastic.
I’d agree with you on Fables, but I’ve been less happy with it this year than before. I actually really, really liked “Burning Questions”, even with the cheats, but the Good Prince arc has been pretty dull. The saving grace has been the stuff actually occuring in Fabletown; all the buildup and preparations to the war, and finally showing us the Woodsman, is making me excited for what’s to come.
I haven’t read many graphic novels this year either, and none spring to mind, except Scott Pilgrim vol. 4. I agree that the story actually seems to be getting better as it’s been going along. I love how Scott finally started to grow up in this one.
On collected editions, I have some odder picks. Absolutely love the “Batman: Vampire” tradepaperback that was put out. Those were really, really great Batman stories, some of my favorite ever in fact. The Captain America Omnibus was kickass. Then there’s the long overdue collection of Garth Ennis’s missing year of Hellblazer issues in “Hellblazer: Bloodlines”. A real blast from the past, and vintage Ennis stuff is still the best. The Tim Sale Batman collection also had some really great early Sale stuff, and is the only place I can find a reprinting of the James Robinson-penned “Blades” story. Frank Miller’s “Daredevil Omnibus” was SPECTACULAR, the only problem being its priciness, thus my resorting to only borrowing it from a friend.
Lastly - to further bemoan One More Day and give you an idea of where I stand on it - Marvel had three great collections of Spider-Man stories put out this year: “Birth of Venom”, a massive collection that has all of Spidey possessed by the symbiote (an excellent story), as well as the first two stories with Venom (also excellent stories, just before he started getting overexposed as hell). There was a hardcover reissue of “Kraven’s Last Hunt”, accomplishing the rare feat of a dark Spidey story done right. And “Son of the Goblin”, documenting the rise and fall of Harry Osborn, with the final two stories in it, “The Osborn Legacy” and “Best of Enemies”, probably being the two best Green Goblin stories ever. And that’s why I continue to mourn how great stories like that are unfortunately being written out of continuity
12 Jan 2008 at 9:45 pm
QuoteMaking these picks gets tougher for me every year, as i’m increasingly becoming a trade-only reader, and usually get around to reading things years after they’re first published. The books i read monthly these days are just a handful of Marvel and DC superhero titles (and even that bunch is shrinking as my trade buying habits continue to grow), which i’m not generally as into as the books i get in trade form (Vertigo, Dark Horse, indies, etc). That said here’s what i got:
Best ongoing series I’ve been reading in trade: DMZ
Read all 3 trades this year (i think) and have been continually blown away. This is the only book whose trades i buy immediately after they’re available.
Best ongoing series I’ve read in monthlies: Daredevil and Ultimate Spider-man
Surprised Daredevil didn’t even get a mention from you guys. Cap falls in my trade pile and i’m way behind on that one, but that aside, I’ve always preferred Brubaker’s work on DD. And i know you guys hate Bendis’ Marvel work and particularly his Spidey, but USM has been consistently entertaining for me, and Immonen’s art has given the book new life in my opinion. And it’s just nice having a Spider-man book that i can read each month without baggage. (btw, just read the Spider-man Loves Mary Jane hardcover on your recommendations and loved it).
Also Action Comics has been great since Gary Frank came on board. If there’d been more issues of that (and less Countdown tie-in filler) it would’ve made a good run at my pick.
12 Jan 2008 at 10:53 pm
QuoteSo if anybody wants ‘em, here is my giant list of stuff that was in serious contention for best of the year. It’s a huge list, but I figured those who had it go by too fast on the podcast might be interested.
BEST NEW SERIES: Dynamo 5 (#1-9)
Runner-Up: Nova (#1-9)
Also In The Running:
The Order (#1-6)
Thunderbolts (#110-117)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (#1-9)
Proof (#1-3)
Brave and the Bold (#1-9)
BEST SINGLE ISSUE STORY: The Goon: Satans Sodomy Baby
Runner-Up: Incredible Hulk #110
Also In The Running:
Marvel Adventures Avengers #9 (The MODOC issue)
Marvel Adventures Avengers #12 (Ego the Loving Planet)
Usagi Yojimbo #100
Johnny Hiro #1
Multiple Warheads #1
Courtney Crumrin And The Fire Thiefs Tale
Wormwood One Shot
BEST LIMITED SERIES: Green Arrow Year One #1-6
Runner-Up: Annihilation Conquest Star Lord #1-4 (plus Quasar, Wraith and Conquest mini - 2 issues)
Also In The Running:
Highwaymen #1-5
House Of M Avengers #1-3 (incomplete)
Hellboy Darkness Calls #1-6
Fear Agent Last Goodbye #1-4
JLA Hitman #1-2
Grendel Behold The Devil #0-2 (incomplete)
BEST ONGOING SERIES: Fables (#57-68) Two-part Bigby story, Reader Questions, but then the rest of the year is “The Good Prince”
Runner-Up: Naoki Urusawa’s Monster (Vols. 6-12)
Also In The Running:
American Virgin (#10-21)
BPRD (Garden Of Souls #1-5 and Killing Ground #1-4)
X-Men First Class (Special, Volume 2 #1-7)
Criminal (#4-10)
The Spirit (#2-11)
DMZ (#15-26)
Invincible (#39-47)
The Killer (#3-6)
Walking Dead (#35-45)
Captain America (#23-33)
True Story Swear to God (#4-8)
Immortal Iron Fist (#3-11)
Mouse Guard (Vol. 2 #1-3)
Usagi Yojimbo (#100-108)
BEST ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL: Scott Pilgrim Vol 4 (Oni Press)
Runner-Up: King City Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Also In The Running:
Incredible Change-Bots HC (Top Shelf)
Korgi Vol 1 (Top Shelf)
Pulphope (Adhouse)
Miki Falls Vols. 1-3 (HarperTeen)
Drink and Draw Social Club Vol. 1 HC (Image)
Hellboy Animated Vol. 1: Black Wedding (Dark Horse)
Empowered Vol. 1-2 (Dark Horse)
Goon Chinatown (Dark Horse)
BEST COLLECTED EDITION: Annotated Northwest Passage (Oni Press)
Runner-Up: Perry Bible Fellowship The Trial of Colonel Sweeto And Other Stories (Dark Horse)
Also In The Running:
The Killer Vol 1 HC (Archaia)
Beyond! HC (Marvel)
Toupydoops Vol 1 (Lobrau)
Grendel Archives (Dark Horse)
X-Men First Class HC (Marvel)
Captain America Omnibus Vol 1 HC (Marvel)
52 The Covers HC (DC)
Question Zen and Violence TP (DC)
The Escapists (Dark Horse)
Dan Breretons Nocturnals Vol 1 (Olympian)
Plus new volumes of BPRD, Fables, DMZ, Ex Machina, Criminal, Manhunter, Invincible, Walking Dead, Jack of Fables, Age of Bronze and American Virgin and the first trades or hardcovers of Wasteland, The Damned, Thunderbolts, Dynamo 5, The Spirit and Nova
13 Jan 2008 at 12:11 am
QuoteGreat picks all around, and very diverse as well. Thanks for the extended list Randy, it just shows that despite some of the garbage that came out this was actually a really good year for comics. Here’s my quick list:
Best New Series: The Order
Best Single Issue: 100 Bullets #84
Best Limited Series: Nightly News
Best Ongoing: Immortal Iron Fist
Best OGN: Scott Pilgrim v. 4
(Don’t buy many collected editions so I will abstain from that category).
13 Jan 2008 at 10:26 am
QuoteBest New Series: Dynamo 5 (Image)
Best Single Issue Story: Captain America #25 (Marvel)
Best Limited Series: The Killer (Archaia Studios Press)
Best Ongoing Series: Criminal (Marvel)
Best Original Graphic Novel: Fables:1,001 Nights of Snowfall (DC/Vertigo)
Best Collected Edition: Mouse Guard:Fall 1152 (Archaia Studios Press)
13 Jan 2008 at 10:48 am
Quotei haven’t listened yet.. but wow, 112MB netcast? Do you guys wanna try 64kbs bit rates and see if anyone complains? I’ll say it again.. if it’s good enough for TWiT.tv, it’s good enough for Comic Pants?
13 Jan 2008 at 11:56 am
QuoteYeah, just noticed I encoded at 128kbs… oops. That’s not the norm, but it’ll have to do for this episode.
I usually encode at 96kbs, and I’m sure that 64kbs would sound fine, but that’s when I get the weird chipmunks-speed voices when using the embedded player. Sooooo, 96kbs it is.
14 Jan 2008 at 12:17 am
Quotemy two pieces.
Best New Series: Nova (I like Simon Dark a lot as well but wd 4 issues be enough to qualify?)
Best Single Issue Story: Captain America #25 (Marvel)
Best Limited Series: Modok 11/Starlord
Best Ongoing Series: Criminal/Ironfist/Ultimate Spiderman
Best Collected Edition: Cap Omnibus
Quite clearly a marvel(lous) year.
Disclaimer- I read a lot of dc, marvel, vertigo, a little here and there so my opinions are quite limited to the Big Two
14 Jan 2008 at 12:45 am
QuoteI had been steadily dropping Marvel after Civil War. Read first Issue of OMD and that was when I dropped Amazing Spidey. I am reading Nova, but when JQ starts screwing with it, I am gone. Six months will not have me back. I have stopped caring about my favorite Character. I was once a loyal Marvel Reader, but unlike the ones who complain and then keep reading, when it sucks to me, it is gone.
14 Jan 2008 at 9:54 am
QuoteYou could have a nice little side business selling snippets of your podcast banter as ringtones. I’m just sayin’.
14 Jan 2008 at 3:04 pm
QuoteI’m really surprised to have heard nothing mentioned about the Sinestro Corps saga. It was pretty much DC’s answer to Annihialtion but it was awesome and one of the only positive things DC had going this year (but on a side note, it was covered on every other website/blog ad nauseam and one of the things that makes the panteon kick ass over most review sites is your coverage of books that are way often times overlooked that deserves praise- and to great length at that).
Oh yeah, and any chance of a down the line style podcast for the whole of 2008? Rumors, stuff you can’t wait to get your hands on, industry trends, etc?
14 Jan 2008 at 4:06 pm
QuoteI enjoyed Sinestro Corps. It was nice that DC made a crossover that does not suck. Usually I stay away from big event crossovers because they have burned me in the past, no matter who makes it. Whether SC is better than Annihilation, it’s up for debate. But it’s good that these two space sagas are done well.
Anyway, no love for Potter’s Field?
14 Jan 2008 at 4:48 pm
QuoteMy picks:
Best New Series: Booster Gold
Others: Brit, Astounding Wolfman
Best Single Issue Story: The Goon: Satan’s Sodomy Baby
Others: Multiple Warheads #1
Best Limited Series: The Umbrella Academy
Others: The Highway Men, MODOK’s 11
Best Ongoing Series: Jack of Fables
Others: Invincible, Walking Dead, Iron Wok Jan
Best Original Graphic Novel: King City
Others: Silverfish, Scott Pilgrim #4, Wonton Soup, Goon: Chinatown, LOEG: Black Dossier (I guess I’m under Alan Moore’s evil spell too).
Best Collected Edition: The Escapists
Others: PFB: The Trial of Colonel Sweeto, Doctor 13: Architecture and Morality, Conan and the Songs of the Dead
14 Jan 2008 at 5:29 pm
QuoteI second the motion for a “things to look forward to in 2008″ podcast
14 Jan 2008 at 7:49 pm
QuoteAll Star Superman #6 was awesome. Anyone who says otherwise is just a hater.
I was kinda expecting more love for the Spirit. It was named, of course, but I expected more. It’s a wonderful little book. New team’s got big shoes to fill.
Wow, and here I dropped Bru’s Captain America after the issue where he brought back Bucky. Maybe one day I’ll actually check out the rest, what with all the singing of praises. Maybe.
Nova is indeed awesome, and I’ll check out Dynamo 5 since it’s so highly recommeded. Oh, and my best new title pick is Yotsuba&. I know it started coming out earlier, but I just discovered it this year so suck it. Or, whatever volumes came out this year as best graphic novel or whatever. I highly recommend reading it, along with Dan’s fucking column.
As for Brand New Day, can someone please explain to me why it was necessary at all when we have unmarried Spider-Man in the Ultimate AND Marvel Adventures universes? Hell, X-men First Class is a sweet book. Why not just do it X-Men First Class style? Unnecessary and silly. Bummer that, since I wanted Dan Slott on a Spider-Man book ever since I read Spidey/Human Torch. I feel kind of like how I did when I got happy that Dwayne Mcduffie was gonna write Fantastic Four, then sad when I thought that the Civil War nonsense had ruined Reed Richards forever. Mcduffie still managed to make that book work, but he had to spend an issue cleaning up the mess too. Dan is stuck with a bunch of nasty stains he’s not allowed to mop up. Damn.
14 Jan 2008 at 8:52 pm
QuoteBEST NEW SERIES: tie between Nova and Proof. (But if miniseries count, then the clear winner in this category for me is Atomic Robo…)
BEST SINGLE ISSUE: Atomic Robo #2. Honourable mentions to Johnny Hiro #1, Nova #1, and Buffy #9 (the brilliant concluding issue to the Faith arc)
BEST LIMITED SERIES: you guessed it, Atomic Robo (and I promise that’s the last time I’ll mention this book, but it is just THAT good). Honourable mentions to the Annihilation Conquest miniseries Starlord and Wraith.
BEST ONGOING SERIES: Nova
BEST ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL: The Incredible Change-Bots (I’m rationing out my Scott Pilgrim, so I haven’t read #4 yet. I read #2 this year, and if it was eligible it would have got my pick in this category).
BEST COLLECTED EDITION: Haven’t read many of the collected editions that came out this year. The Immortal Iron Fist HC was very enjoyable. The best collection by a mile that I read this year, on Comic Pants recommendation, was an older one - the Street Angel TPB. That series was sheer brilliance…
15 Jan 2008 at 4:00 am
QuoteBest New Series: Scalped (Vertigo)
Best Single Issue Story: Acme Novelty library #18 (Drawn&quarterly)
Best Limited Series: The other side (Vertigo)
Best Ongoing Series: Fables (Vertigo)
Best Original Graphic Novel: The arrival (Scholastic)
Best Collected Edition: Elephantmen Wounded Animals (Image)
15 Jan 2008 at 10:44 am
QuoteI would have thrown out my full list earlier but someone had hijacked my notes for something or other and I only now just got them back.
Best New Series: Nova
Runner Up: Dynamo 5
Also in the Running:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
X-Men First Class
Hack/Slash
Proof
Brave and the Bold
Atomic Robo
Best Limited Series: The Killer
Runner Up: Green Arrow Year One
Also in the Running:
Annihilation Conquest: Starlord
House of M Avengers
Highwaymen
X-Men Messiah Complex
Umbrella Academy
Best Single Issue Story: Multiple Warheads #1
Runner Up: Incredible Hulk #110
Also in the Running:
X-Men First Class Vol. 2 #1
The Goon: Satans @#$%& Baby
The Spirit #11
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #5
Courtney Crumrin and the Fire Thief’s Tale
Best Ongoing: Captain America
Runner Up: Ex Machina
Also in theRunning:
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster
Incredible Hulk
American Virgin
Thunder Bolts
Blue Beetle
Immortal Iron Fist
Criminal
All-Star Superman
Best Collected Edition: Jack Kirby Omnibuses
Runner Up: The Annotated Northwest Passage
Also in the Running:
Battle Royale: Ultimate Edition
Mouse Guard HC
52 the Covers HC
Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil
Batman: Ego and Other Tails HC
Best Original Graphic Novel: Last Call Vol. 1
Runner Up: Scott Pilgrim Vol. 4
Also in the Running:
King City
Empowered Volumes 1 & 2
Pulphope
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier
15 Jan 2008 at 2:00 pm
Quote1. gentlemen thanks for a most enjoyable podcast. MOST LAUGHS yet
2 I never comment on “best of worst of” Feels a litte too GOD LIKE for a guy in a wheelchiar who sorts mail for a living(grin)
3. I will say that I am extreamly pro All star super-man 6. I think it may be the best use of “Superman’s alone on earth” idea ever.
Don’t get me wrong i’m glad his parents are alive in the regular book (becuse he really should know more pepole than just Batman and 19 verions of supergirl)
Superman as mythic hero is differnt than Superman editoral whipping post though and HIS father is dead.
4 will be checking out Nova. I was’nt going to. I liked the warm- ups to anilation a lot better than the series.
ps I LIKE STAR TREK!
15 Jan 2008 at 3:07 pm
QuoteBest New Series: Dynamo 5 (Image)
Best Single Issue Story: Detective Comics#831 (DC)
Best Limited Series: Dr. Strange: The Oath (Marvel)
Best Ongoing Series: Rex Libris (SLG)
Best Original Graphic Novel: Scott Pilgrim Vol.4 (Oni)
Best Collected Edition: Agents of Atlas HC (Marvel)
16 Jan 2008 at 12:42 pm
QuoteNot much love for Scalped, which is a shame. The first trade is pretty slow as it sets up the characters. I’d recommend checking out the second trade, “Casino Boogie.” Both Jason Aaron and R.M. Guerra knocked that one out of the park.
21 Jan 2008 at 11:01 am
QuoteI’ve been finding Scalped pretty interesting, but it isn’t quite resonating with me. I am a bit behind, though, so I’ll check out that second trade as you suggest and see what that does for me.
21 Jan 2008 at 4:44 pm
Quotethank you! I’ve kind of been in a drought with comics, and this podcast gave me a lot of new titles to look at.
22 Jan 2008 at 4:58 pm
QuoteI say comment on best of, worst of. What’s the internet if not a place to make godlike proclamations. Everyone has to wake up every morning and face their lot in life. At least here, what you do and what you are doesn’t matter. So say it with me, “I hate my job, I’m pretty sure my girlfriend hates my guts and One More Day sucked.”
26 Jan 2008 at 8:13 am
QuoteFirst episode of the podcast I listened to and I LOVED it. great job guys!!
26 Jan 2008 at 7:06 pm
Quote