Top Five Fridays 1/18/08
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
- Fell
- New X-Men
- The Incredible Hercules
- Umbrella Academy
- Transformers: Devastation
Dave Farabee
- Miki Falls Vol 4 Winter
- Fell
- American Virgin
- The Incredible Hercules
- DMZ
Dan Grendell
- Fell
- Hulk: The End HC
- New X-Men
- Atomic Robo
- Miki Falls Vol 4 Winter
Randy Lander
- Fell
- American Virgin
- Miki Falls Vol 4 Winter
- Grendel Behold The Devil
- Atomic Robo
David Martindale (D3)
- Fell
- New X-Men
- The Immortal Iron Fist
- Amazing Spider-man
- Resurrection
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Amazing Spider-man?
Today I am ashamed to call you a friend, D3.
18 Jan 2008 at 1:53 pm
QuoteMy expectations were so low I could not help but love Spider-Man.
18 Jan 2008 at 3:21 pm
QuoteHey, *I* liked it, too. At least Slott’s first two issues. Admittedly, you don’t know ME, but still …
18 Jan 2008 at 3:22 pm
QuoteAlso really liking “The Incredible Hercules” and “The Twelve,” though “Immortal Iron Fist” tops my favorite list whenever it comes out. That book is awesome!
18 Jan 2008 at 3:23 pm
Quote1. Immortal Iron Fist
2. Fell
3. Grendel Behold The Devil
4. Incredible Hercules
5. Umbrella Academy
18 Jan 2008 at 4:14 pm
QuoteI’m in the UK, so we get our books a day after the States, and even though I haven’t got round to reading most of this weeks pile I notice some of these lists feature titles that came out last week. Do we think there weren’t even five titles worthy of a mention this week?
18 Jan 2008 at 4:50 pm
QuoteNo, that’s just D3 and Nick being lazy and/or busy and not having updated their lists yet. They’ll Get to it soon.
Maybe.
18 Jan 2008 at 4:53 pm
QuoteUpdated mine.
See, I’m not that lazy.
18 Jan 2008 at 5:32 pm
Quote1.) The Umbrella Academy – I’m anxious to see how this will wrap up next issue.
2.) Angel: After the Fall – This series is finally starting to gel for me.
3.) Booster Gold – It will be interesting to see how the events of this issue play out down the line.
4.) Shadowpact – Still the best team book DC is putting out IMHO.
5.) The Sword – I don’t like it as much as Girls, but it’s still a solid read.
6.) Boneyard – I’ll be sorry to see this series go on hiatus after next issue.
7.) Fell – Another interesting issue. Hopefully the book will get on a more regular schedule.
18 Jan 2008 at 5:42 pm
QuoteThis issue of American Virgin was the last issue, wasn’t it? (not sure since I buy it in trades) Any members of the panteon have some closing thoughts to share on that series?
18 Jan 2008 at 6:16 pm
Quote1. Incredible Hercules
2. Umbrella Academy - Apocalypse Suite
3. Atomic Robo
4. Scalped
5. Captain America
6. Robin
I didn’t read the newest issue of Scalped or Captain America until this week, which is why they’re on my list. I’ve loved (and still love) Captain America since Brubaker took over, and I’ll be pissed if Bucky doesn’t end up as the new Cap; and Scalped (despite some dodgy artwork) continues to improve and impress me.
Robin isn’t great, but it’s solid and enjoyable; and Incredible Hercules is pretty much the ideal superhero comic for me — it has action, humor, melodrama, and heroes fighting against the villainous Iron Man and the evil S.H.I.E.L.D.
Umbrella Academy and Atomic Robo are just great, crazy fun.
I know how much the Panteon love Sentry, so here’s a little gift for y’all:
http://www.comicartcommunity.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=27219&sessionid=494445e618bbd6179300e137e0258b80
18 Jan 2008 at 10:30 pm
Quoteof what i picked up checkmate #22 was my favorite. it’s pretty much my favorite series right now. i also liked booster gold and DMZ.
19 Jan 2008 at 7:25 pm
Quote1) 100 Bullets-It’s finally monthly again and the last arc is starting next month. I’m happy and sad.
2) DMZ- very good but I’m ready for the long arcs again.
3) Umbrella Acadamy- If Way can pull off a cohesive ending, it’ll make my month.
4) Iron Fist
5) Fell
19 Jan 2008 at 9:50 pm
Quote1. The Immortal Iron Fist
2. Tales of the TMNT- specifically, last week’s issue #41- a beautiful story by Steve Murphy, writing what is sadly his last Turtles story for the foreseeable, and artist Steph Dumais. This title really doesn’t get credit for telling solid, interesting stories month after month, and given that it likely won’t survive the year, that’s a real shame.
3. I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets!: The Fantastic Comics of Fletcher Hanks- normally I disdain on Golden/Silver Age leg humping like this, and by any aesthetic definition Hanks WAS a hack… but great googly moogly, it’s so loopy I just don’t care.
4. The Action Heroes Archives Vol. 2
5. Omega Flight: Alpha To Omega
19 Jan 2008 at 10:13 pm
QuoteNow I’ve caught up with my reading this is my Top 5:
1. Fell
2. Resurrection
3. Amazing Spider-Man
4. Booster Gold
5. Immortal Iron Fist
20 Jan 2008 at 6:39 am
QuoteThanks, Dan, Dave, and Randy, for putting ‘Miki Falls Winter’ in your top five! You really have been a big boost for me on this series; it’s great to have the thumbs up from people who know as much about comics as you guys do. Thanks again, and Long Live Comic Pants!!
mark
20 Jan 2008 at 12:51 pm
QuoteThank you for giving us such an enjoyable series, Mark. Now that it’s over, I’m already looking forward to your next work, and very curious to see in what direction you head this time.
20 Jan 2008 at 4:07 pm
QuoteI’m going to extend a nice big Thanks too. Just finished up reading all four volumes today and I have to say that this series was a whopper of a good time. Great art, terrific characters and some clever ideas made it so I couldn’t stop reading.
If you have liked any of Hayao Miyazaki’s work (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service), then Miki Falls is something that you’re definitely going to enjoy.
20 Jan 2008 at 7:45 pm
QuoteLet the man rest, Dan! He just wrote, draw and everthing-elsed a four volume, epic supernatural romance - he deserves at least a catnap!
As an aside, Mark, that double-page splash of Miki and Hiro arriving at the fishing boat amidst a snowy twilight may be the most beautiful page you’ve ever produced. I can’t say enough good things about the emotive quality of the environmental work you did throughout this series and I applaud the decision to structure it around the four seasons.
Not to hang overmuch on the comparisons to Miyazaki, but these moments readily call to mind favorite environmental sequences in his movies, from the rainstorm after school in Totoro to the sequence in Nausicaa where the pollen falls like snow as Nausicaa’s scavenges a shed Ohmu skin. And I should add that even the production of Miki Falls (and Akiko before that) calls to mind a personal drive reminiscent of Miyazaki’s industrious character types. It’s a drive I’m supremely envious of, and well aware that it’s no magical gift but the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.
Hats off!
20 Jan 2008 at 8:29 pm
Quote1. Immortal Iron Fist
2. Grendel Behold the Devil
3. Incredible Hercules
4. Angel: After the Fall
5. Booster Gold
Honorable Mention: Checkmate, Fell
20 Jan 2008 at 9:07 pm
QuoteRandy, I hate to break the flow of the reponses. But I just read your review/overview of Hitman where you go over the whole series. You claim Hitman is Garth Ennis’ best work and it is better than Preacher. But hasn’t it been established in the online community that Preacher is Garth’s best work?
I should admit I have not read either of them but I am going to start up Preacher very soon. Then if Hitman comes out again I will be able to decide for myself.
21 Jan 2008 at 2:33 am
Quoteobviously it is a matter of personal opinion. I just reread the piece and you explain why you think it edges out Preacher. You say it is more mature and heartfelt. I just always hear about Preacher when it comes to Ennis.
21 Jan 2008 at 3:01 am
Quote1. Grendel: Behold the Devil
2. Immortal Iron Fist
3. Umbrella Academy
4. 100 Bullets
5. Fallen Angel
Damn good week overall. DMZ, Resurrection, Booster Gold and The Sword were also very good.
21 Jan 2008 at 3:29 am
QuoteI generally only read 3-4 titles per week, precluding a top 5, but of the 4 this week, 3 were good reads.
1. Immortal Iron Fist - The Prince of Orphans lays the smack down on Davos. Great stuff.
2. New X-Men: I’m still enjoying Messiah Complex and have enjoyed the twists and turns, even if Ramos’ action sequences get a bit too chaotic for me to follow.
3. Resurrection: Not as strong as the opening issue, but still definitely compelling.
21 Jan 2008 at 9:28 am
Quote1. Iron Fist - I love this title, but I’m still waiting for Danny Rand to become the main character instead of one of the cast. I just reread the entire tournament books and they’re effectively building Davos and Danny’s father up pretty good, but it just seems like they are only establishing Iron Fist’s power levels and how awesome his predecessors are/were. Still, the story and characters make this the top of the stack.
2. BPRD - I’ve been in mainstream comics too long. I started with the Lobster Johnson book that just finished, based on recommendations from this site. Now, I’m devouring back issue bins for the other BPRD mini’s. I’m getting them all, so let me know if there is something I should stay away from.
3. Scalped - I read someone bagging on the art for this series, which I don’t understand. It’s gritty and sketchy, but the perspectives used really keep it fresh and you can feel the misery on these character’s faces. This series is fucking awesome. For example, this last issue Bad Horse finds out his mom was murdered, and it’s juxtaposed with a meth-addicted mom dying and leaving 4 or 5 kids. Bad Horse retains any emotion, but thanks to the art, you can tell he is seething underneath. You don’t know if he’s going to lose his mind or if he’s already plotting revenge.
4. Fables - Again I started getting this series after high praise from every single person who reads it. Completely warranted. I want the Good Prince arc to wrap, because it has been brewing for some time, but each new issue throws in something else that makes it better. That’s a good series that makes you aggravated, but in a good way.
5. Faker - I obviously read a lot of books that no one else is, but I’ve been transitioning off the main universe titles (both Marvel & DC) because I don’t give a shit about the characters. This book has characters in spades and deserves more attention. I love Jock, and his style may be wrong for the tone of this book, but I’ll take it in whatever form it comes (put him on Batman for crying out loud). The story is involving and has been twisting with each issue.
Just outside: Pax Romana, Captain America, Casanova, Jack of Fables, Black Summer and Avengers: Initiative.
21 Jan 2008 at 2:35 pm
QuoteOk… so it’s like 4 days late, but here’s my Top Five Friday list:
1. Fell
2. New X-Men
3. The Immortal Iron Fist
4. Amazing Spider-man
5. Resurrection
21 Jan 2008 at 2:38 pm
QuoteActually that was my list from last week, but after making my list for this week… I still Like Brand New Day
21 Jan 2008 at 2:41 pm
QuoteI don’t know that it’s been established with flowcharts and theorems and such.
I think you’ll find that more people have a fondness for Preacher than for Hitman. But in my opinion, despite loving Preacher, Hitman is a better book.
Of course, they’re both considerably better than most of Ennis’s autopilot output these days, IMO.
21 Jan 2008 at 5:52 pm
Quote…don’t make me work up a new graph
22 Jan 2008 at 2:32 am
QuoteCrap. Heard the news that The Order is cancelled. I’m disappointed as it’s best new superheroes series at the moment. I just hope Nova and She-Hulk won’t be next, as sells are not exactly been high.
22 Jan 2008 at 5:58 pm
Quotecancelled?! argh noo! that was an excellent marvel series and it has been getting nothing but praise. that’s a bummer.
22 Jan 2008 at 7:26 pm
QuoteI don’t necessarily agree with Randy about that assertion, but I will say I liked the ending for “Hitman” more than the conclusion of “Preacher.” And I never trust “the online community” or the masses. If popularity equated to quality, then “Civil War” was brilliant … and “Spider-Man 3″ and “Shrek the Third” were the best movies of 2007!
23 Jan 2008 at 12:42 pm
Quote