Top Five Fridays 2/01/2008
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
- Captain America
- Blue Beetle
- Proof
- Casanova Book One: Luxuria
- The Spirit
Dave Farabee
- The Spirit
- Gon V.3
- Teen Titans
- X-Men First Class
- What If Spider-Man Vs Wolverine
Dan Grendell
- Blue Beetle
- Captain America
- House of M Avengers
- Wormwood: Calamari Rising
- Manhunter Vol 4 Unleashed TP
Randy Lander
- Y The Last Man
- House of M Avengers
- Proof
- What If Spider-Man Vs Wolverine
- Manhunter Vol 4 Unleashed TP
David Martindale (D3)
- The Spirit
- Captain America
- What If Spider-Man Vs Wolverine
- Daredevil
- Action Comics
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1. Wormwood: Calamari Rising After reading and enjoying the one-shot from a month or two back (which was my first exposure to the book), I decided to check out this mini; I liked the first issue so much that now I have to hunt down the TPB(s) for the previous series.
2. Captain America Another excellent issue of the series, with a cool action scene featuring the new Cap. Captain America is one of those series that almost always makes my Top 5 list the week it comes out.
3. What If? Spider-Man vs. Wolverine If Jeff Parker’s name hadn’t been attached I wouldn’t have bothered with this but I decided to check it out, and I’m glad I did. The story was dark but entertaining, the motivations and actions of the characters actually seemed plausible, and I thought it had some really cool ideas. After disliking most of the more recent (and disposable) What If? one-shots this was a pleasant surprise.
4. X-Men First Class Fun and entertaining, as usual. This is the only X-book I read on a monthly basis. ‘Nuff said.
5. Fantastic Four Probably the last issue of this series that I’ll be reading for awhile, it was fun, entertaining, clever, and heart-warming. I’ll miss McDuffie and Pelletier on this book.
01 Feb 2008 at 7:34 pm
QuoteJust wondering what was the consensus on the new issue of the Spirit. Considering the majority of you said that the book would end after Darwyn Cooke left. Obviously Dave feels otherwise, what about the rest?
02 Feb 2008 at 3:37 pm
Quote1. Y: The Last Man - See Randy’s review. Great ending to a great series.
2. Captain America - I wish I could say I was surprised that the new Cap works so well but Brubaker has done such a great job establishing the character that this latest development feels completely logical and “right”.
3. Ultimate Spider-Man - Who needs Brand New Day? Nice light issue after the heavy previous ones with some truly funny dialogue from Bendis perfectly accentuated by Immonen’s art. The Quato line killed me. Hard to believe Bendis wrote some of the wince-inducing lines in the New Avengers annual after reading his sharp USM.
4. Action Comics - I’m a sucker for the Legion and this story keeps getting better. Gary Frank is one of the best in the biz, his three panel Brainy scene where he struggles to admit a mistake is greatness.
5. Daredevil - After a slow start this storyline has picked up for me the last couple issues. I didn’t care much about Mr. Fear at the start but Bru has made me a believer.
03 Feb 2008 at 3:57 pm
QuoteThis week’s 5:
1. Captain America
2. Y: The Last Man
3. Action Comics
4. Proof
5. Fantastic Four
04 Feb 2008 at 10:17 am
QuoteMy top five:
- Y: the Last Man 60 - end to one of the best books of our day.
- Captain America 34 - debut of the new Cap not as big as an issue if you’ve been with Brubaker’s run since the begining. The continuing storyline is so good and this just a nature extension of it.
- Green Lantern 13 - I thumb my nose at people not digging Johns’s superhero stuff of late. I thought the Alpha Lantern thing was gonna be lame but this issue was so good.
- Black Adam: the Dark Age 6 - the secret word revealed! Awesome ending and Doug Mahnke’s art is the best.
- Fantastic Four 553 - McDuffie we hardly knew ye. Interested to see if/when the Doom thing gets mentioned again.
04 Feb 2008 at 11:19 am
QuoteLooks like most of us posters agree …
1. CAPTAIN AMERICA #34
2. AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #9
3. FANTASTIC FOUR #553
4. ACTION COMICS #861
5. DAREDEVIL #104
Can’t believe “Initiative” is getting so little love, though. Am I the only one who’s reading this title?
04 Feb 2008 at 12:55 pm
QuoteI won’t speak for the rest of the Panteon but Avengers Initiative just isn’t holding my interest. Slott occasionally does some good stories (the Spider-Man/Scarlett Spiders one specifically comes to mind) but for the most part the stories just feel a little blah and I can’t get into them.
As for my long overdue Top 5 list, if in fact any of you care:
Captain America
Blue Beetle
Proof
Casanova Book One: Luxuria
The Spirit
04 Feb 2008 at 1:15 pm
QuoteWell I’m back and being negative Nelly, sorry but I just don’t get all the Cap love.
A Cap who kneecaps people with a gun? That’s not my Captain America, flies in the face of what Cap stands for you ask me, worse yet this ground all been covered before with Walker.
I just don’t get it, a year of glacial progression; I mean what’s happened in the year since Caps death that couldn’t have been handled in an issue or two of good old non decompressed comics.
A year and we get the Punisher clone we all knew would be wearing the costume or rather a terribly ugly version of the costume and everyone’s happy.
Oh well different strokes I guess, but I still don’t get it to me Bru’s nixed everything that made Cap great and gives instead some angst ridden, cybernetic bad boy with issues. Hip Hip F-ing-ray!
04 Feb 2008 at 1:28 pm
QuoteActually, I loved The Spirit this week.
1. The Spirit
2. Captain America
3. What If Spider-Man Vs Wolverine
4. Daredevil
5. Action Comics
04 Feb 2008 at 2:07 pm
Quote1.Action Comics
2.Daredevil
3.Captain America
4.Y-The Last Man
5.Jack of Fables
6.Fantastic Four
7.Green Lantern
8.The Spirit
9.Star Wars:KOTOR
10.Superpowers
04 Feb 2008 at 3:52 pm
QuoteI’m pretty much with you, Gray. I can enjoy Cap when I read it at a distance, but anytime I stop to think about it my gut rebels against the tone. And I had an epiphany the other day when I realized that in 34 issues - nearly three years of comics since the relaunch - Cap hasn’t faced a single threat that wasn’t related to the Red Skull/Lukin plot from the first issue. I don’t care how good a book is…that’s an INSANE level of self-indulgence.
I think Brubaker’s positioned the new Cap to represent how unsure America is in the post-9/11 world, and in doing so he’s probably calculated right commercially, but a compromised Cap seems particularly galling. Here’s a character who’s always been played as representative of America, The Dream, not the ugly realities. He can encounter those realities, but when he becomes them…it’s a bit like the Dream has died, isn’t it?
04 Feb 2008 at 5:48 pm
QuoteHere’s a character who’s always been played as representative of America, The Dream, not the ugly realities. He can encounter those realities, but when he becomes them…it’s a bit like the Dream has died, isn’t it?
The American Dream™ is, and always has been, a big lie. It hasn’t died because it never was.
Brubaker’s Captain America mirrors the darker, more cynical, post-9/11 world that we live in and the new Cap (psychologically damaged, morally compromised) is reflective of this — for better or worse. Personally I enjoy this series immensely; it reminds me of the Bourne movies to some extent.
04 Feb 2008 at 9:56 pm
QuoteI understand your intent, but I reject that a dream or ideal can be a lie. The very fact that we have a black man as a serious contender for the Presidency within decades of the 60s race riots speaks to the potential for the country to evolve - our current President notwithstanding.
Honestly, if Cap doesn’t stand for that ideal I’ve got no use for him as a fictional character. I can watch 24 if I just want a patriotic-themed ass-kicker and nothing more.
04 Feb 2008 at 11:10 pm
QuoteAw, Dex… and here I thought we were of like minds on nearly every comic-based subject.
Like Dave, I reject the notion that the American Dream is a lie. It’s an ideal, perhaps an unreachable ideal, and that is what Cap should stand for. Just like Superman stands for Truth, Justice and the American Way, the X-Men stand for racial harmony, Jesse Custer stands for backing your friends even when God is against you and Lobo stands for fraggin’ bastiches.
Wait, kill that last one.
But while I dig what Brubaker is doing on Cap, the reason why Gruenwald’s Cap will *always* be superior for me is that Brubaker is writing good action/superhero stories with a noir filter and Gruenwald was writing great Cap stories. Too often these days, our superheroes are dragged down to our level, where we can identify with them, see that they’re just regular guys doing their best, not something noble to aspire to.
A sentiment that generally pisses me off. I don’t want my heroes to be like me, only with powers. I want my heroes to be *better* than me, to give me something to look up to, something to inspire me.
I don’t disagree that this new Cap is more reflective of the post-9/11 world, or more reflective of the reality of modern America. I don’t even question that this is probably more popular commercially.
I question whether it’s a somewhat mundane take on what should be a fantastic (in the sense of grandeur, not talking qualitatively) character. For all of Brubaker’s strengths, his biggest fault is his inability to write characters who are noble and good, rather than compromised and tortured. And for all the strength of his Cap run, in the end I’d rather Cap was decisive and cinematic than uncertain and realistic.
05 Feb 2008 at 2:11 am
QuoteWhat’s funny to me is that I basically agree with everything you say, but for some reason I still dig Brubaker’s Cap run anyway.
I don’t know that it will hold up for me over time, but I always enjoy the read, even if I wasn’t as wild about Cap #34 as most… it was a solid B read for me, and like Dave, I am starting to wonder if we might ever see a new villain or a new story, given that it’s been three years.
05 Feb 2008 at 2:15 am
QuoteYou know despite all my complaining about Bru I can agree with that, which attests to the man’s skills in tale weaving, it just that I stop and think about it too much.
05 Feb 2008 at 10:28 am
QuoteThe man can write the gritty, I just don’t care for the way he’s brought those gritty sentiments to a character I love.
As a bright note, to me anyway, it seems others are started to see things I do, a few months ago I searched the web, trying to find to find folks who didn’t think he walked on water, I was hard pressed, but more and more lately I’m seeing folks share the same complaints I have. Not that it makes a difference, it’s not like the near universal negative buzz on Bendis has changed anything, but at least it feels like some folks are starting to look at the Emperor and say, “Does that Dude look kinda naked to you?”
05 Feb 2008 at 10:48 am
QuoteFunny, I think I mentioned in another thread here that this is one of the things I’ve found fascinating about the book. I don’t see what the problem is here. Nor do I see how self-indulgence enters the equation. The Red Skull is Cap’s antithesis and major villain, complaining that it’s self induglent to make the series a long war between the two seems strange to me, so long as it doesn’t get boring. Haven’t there been times when Daredevil basically fought Kingpin for years on end? Heck, hasn’t Daredevil pretty much *only* fought Kingpin or enemies tied in to Kingpin for 20+ years now? 3 years of Cap/Skull is nothing by comparison.
05 Feb 2008 at 1:14 pm
QuoteThings is, while DD has had a long history with Kingpin, the stories were more varied, their were many battles in that war, which broke things up. This has been one long, protracted, drawn out story, and to me the tease, tease, small reveal, cliff hanger formula that every issue seems to have HAS gotten somewhat boring and repetitive.
Miller’s initial run on DD lasted less than three years, in that time many stories were told. In the three years we’ve had Bru on Cap we haven’t had a tenth of the story progression, so yeah I’d call that self induglent.
05 Feb 2008 at 2:13 pm
QuoteFair enough. Although, usually I really like stuff that gets leveled with the “self indulgent” criticisms so it may be a matter of personal taste. I guess I generally enjoy it when writers or filmmakers or artists or musicians indulge themselves in what interests or engages them, even if they go overboard a little.
05 Feb 2008 at 3:22 pm
QuoteActually, I think the last couple issues of “Initiative” has been the best, and there’s some actual story “momentum.”
And “Casanova” would have made MY top five as well if I hadn’t already put the previously released hardcover version on the last at the time.
05 Feb 2008 at 11:26 pm
QuoteTwo things: If you hate Bru’s book so badly, why are you still reading it (if you are)? And frankly, I think Miller is as self-indulgent and overrated as anyone in comics. Especially his “Daredevil” run.
05 Feb 2008 at 11:28 pm
QuoteApparently you missed the “House of M” tie-in issue. Though it wasn’t exactly the strongest story of the run.
05 Feb 2008 at 11:30 pm
QuoteLike Dave, I reject the notion that the American Dream is a lie. It’s an ideal, perhaps an unreachable ideal, and that is what Cap should stand for. Just like Superman stands for Truth, Justice and the American Way, the X-Men stand for racial harmony, Jesse Custer stands for backing your friends even when God is against you and Lobo stands for fraggin’ bastiches.
I don’t think that Truth and Justice are unique to The American Way, since those concepts (as we define them in the western world) predated the United States and were championed by Enlightenment philosophers in Europe (who obviously influenced the Founders). And let’s be honest: historically speaking “the American way” has been conquest, slavery, labor exploitation, genocide, and war-mongering since the very beginning.
In terms of ideals — Liberty, Equality, Justice — characters like Captain America and Superman should indeed be inspirational and noble; I just don’t think it’s a bad thing to explore a version of those characters who doesn’t quite live up to those high-minded ideals.
We all know that Steve Rogers will eventually return, but for the time being I’m really interested in watching the Winter Soldier, as damaged as he is, striving to live up to his mentor’s legacy. Brubaker doesn’t seem like the type of writer who will settle with simply giving readers an “angst ridden, cybernetic bad boy with issues” without some exploration of and commentary on the methods and ethics this new Cap uses to achieve his ends. I could be wrong, but time will tell.
06 Feb 2008 at 12:15 am
QuoteYou’re familiar with Superman, right? Truth, Justice and the American Way is his catchphrase from the beginning. And it’s not Truth and Justice *is* the American Way, it’s Truth, Justice *and* the American Way, thus implying that the American Way is a third thing he stands for.
The American Way in this case presumably meaning championing the little guy and equality, i.e. the American ideal.
Which was in no way exported from its European forefathers, right?
I don’t want to get into a big argument about America here, but I think that ignoring what’s good about this country in order to point out its foibles (which it certainly has) is unfair to say the least.
But that’s not really comics related, so let’s let that one go. If you want a last word on the subject, feel free, but I think arguing more on this aspect is beyond the scope of where I want to go in the discussion.
Which brings me back to…
I don’t either, which is why I can enjoy Brubaker’s Cap. But lately, it seems that this notion of “heroes are us, warts and all” has completely overtaken the “heroes are us, only more inclined to do the right thing even if it costs them personally” that was Spider-Man, Captain America, the Fantastic Four, etc. early on. I don’t mind it as a change-up, but it’s become the defacto status quo, and that does bug me from time to time.
06 Feb 2008 at 1:18 am
QuoteNot actually true. Superman originally stood only for Truth and Justice. It wasn’t until he hit television in the 1950’s, when there were Reds around every corner, that the American Way part was added. Original Superman? He stood for ideals that had nothing to do with America specifically.
06 Feb 2008 at 1:40 am
QuoteI had my FLGS stop pulling for me when he killed Rodgers, though since then I’ve ended up keeping up with it anyway, mostly because Cap has been one of my favorite characters since I was 11.
06 Feb 2008 at 10:37 am
QuoteNo instead he’ll probably give the old, “Reluctant hero who slowly realizes that he is worthy of the title after all” Of course doing it his in his own bad boy kneecapping way. Yawn.
06 Feb 2008 at 10:42 am
QuoteWell, there’s always the “Marvel Adventures Avengers” book that features the character. And it’s a decent, old-fashioned read. I’m wondering what you think of Millar and Loeb’s “Ultimate” charactertization of Cap …
06 Feb 2008 at 11:01 am
QuoteI pick up “Marvel Adventures Avengers”, and I agree it’s a fun old-school-like read.
I’ve only read a hand full of the Millar Ultimates bopok, and never really got on board with it.
I’ve read Loeb’s two issues so far, maybe it’s because I never read the Millar version but I thought it was OK, certainly don’t have the hate for most seem to have, from what I’ve seen of his Cap so far he seems OK. Though it being a different universe helps.
06 Feb 2008 at 11:28 am
QuoteNot actually true. Superman originally stood only for Truth and Justice. It wasn’t until he hit television in the 1950’s, when there were Reds around every corner, that the American Way part was added. Original Superman? He stood for ideals that had nothing to do with America specifically.
Was it on t.v. or radio where “the American way” became a part of his credo? I forget. But yeah, they added that last part to establish Superman’s bona fides as an anti-communist (and to a large extent an anti-leftist).
Also, I thought Superman’s original credo was something like “Strength, Courage, and” …?
But that’s not really comics related, so let’s let that one go. If you want a last word on the subject, feel free, but I think arguing more on this aspect is beyond the scope of where I want to go in the discussion.
I think we should just agree to disagree before someone starts accusing other people of being a Nazi.
06 Feb 2008 at 1:53 pm
QuoteI really don’t want to re inflame an argument, but I’m a latecomer to this discussion, and I feel the need to weigh in.
I can certainly see where both sides of this discussion are coming from, and I feel there are very valid points on either side, but I’m going to have to side with Randy & company here. The American Dream has never been attained and fully actualized, but that does not make it a lie.
In fact, I feel that it’s an unattainable goal, and it will never be fully actualized. That’s what makes it the greatest sort of dream to strive for. With an unattainable goal, no matter how far we progress as a nation, there will always be room for improvement, and an ever-changing and ever-improving America is the America I want to live in.
Did the Founders think that women and blacks should hold the office of President of the United States? Probably not. That doesn’t mean that the ideals this country was founded on are lies. It means that the Founders, like ourselves, have fallen short of attaining those ideals in full.
As we grow as a people and a nation, we constantly find ourselves confronted with new challenges to those ideals. Sometimes those challenges come from within ourselves. We wouldn’t be where we are today if we didn’t have a long history of not only making mistakes, but admitting to them and attempting to correct them, and it is my hope and belief that we are continuing to do so today.
We may never reach perfection, and we may take a few steps back from time to time, but our willingness to admit our mistakes and address them to make a better America for us all says that the American Dream is alive and well inside the hearts of most Americans you walk past on the street today.
07 Feb 2008 at 10:48 am
QuoteWhew…. after having said all of that, I actually really liked the latest issue of Cap
07 Feb 2008 at 10:52 am
Quote