Comic Book Fans?

[Areala]

Anybody else here collect or read comics (or have you done so in the past)? If so what did/do you enjoy reading? Got a favorite series or artist or writer? If you stopped collecting them, what made you decide to quit?

*huggles*

Areala

[atik]

I used to read 2000ad (a futuristic sci-fi comic from the u.k.) back in the day.

This was such a great comic with some amazing character's like Judge Dredd. I used to read each issue over and over and count down the day's untill the next issue would be out.

I haven't read 2000ad in years but maybe I'll check it out again just for old time's sake.

[Areala]

I used to read 2000ad (a futuristic sci-fi comic from the u.k.) back in the day.

This was such a great comic with some amazing character's like Judge Dredd. I used to read each issue over and over and count down the day's untill the next issue would be out.

I haven't read 2000ad in years but maybe I'll check it out again just for old time's sake.

2000AD! One of my favorite illustrators/inkers (John Higgins) started out on that title.

*huggles*

Areala

[Schloss Ritter]

I didn't really collect comics as a kid, except maybe an odd issue here and there, instead spending my allowance on candy, toys, or saving up for Nintendo games. It wasn't until I had a bit more disposable income as a teen that I started picking up on a few series, though I became disinterested again a couple years later when I started reading more novels, got my first real job, and got my first computer to keep me busy. A few ones that I did follow for a bit were:

Transformers: Generation 2

http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/Generation_2_%28Marvel_comic%29

Transformers: Generation 2 is a series published by Marvel Comics from 1993 to 1994, in support of the Generation 2 toyline re-launch. Set in the same continuity as the original G1 book, it directly continues that book's story, introducing a new generation of Cybertronians that threaten the Autobots and Decepticons alike.

I never picked up any G2 toys, being beyond that interest, but I did still have a few G1 ones and was a big fan of the 80s toon. This was more a continuation of the G1 comic continuity though, which I didn't know had skewed off slightly from the cartoon. All I knew was that it featured the more of the original G1 characters, less of the post-movie season 3 replacements. Also, the covers and content were pretty brutal in this series, "The series made a very deliberate change of direction for the franchise, bringing it into the 1990s with extreme violence and carnage, huge guns, gritty plot lines, and a fair amount of gratuitous character death." Either I missed the last handful of issues, or the drugstore stopped carrying the series, but I recognize the first seven issue covers.

The Trial of Superman

http://superman.wikia.com/wiki/Superman

After a battle with the Parasite (who has been modified, and know has a split personality) leaves him near death, Superman is easily arrested by Brute at the behest of an intergalactic group known as the Tribunal. Superman manages to escape the ship and fall into the sun, which powers him up, but even then Brute is able to recapture him. Superman is put through a show trial for the destruction of Krypton (his guilt was already assumed). Their argument is that the Kryptonians need not have died if not for the actions of Superman's ancestor, and since they believe that the sins of the father shall be paid by their sons, Superman is guilty for the planet's destruction.

I "never had time" to keep up with the Superman comics, though I had been a fan of the franchise since seeing the 80s movies. Finding out and feeling disappointed that I missed the epic "Death and Return" story arc, I kept an eye open for the next big arc. The beginning of this one caught my eye, but it was hard to keep up with issues coming out for four different publications (offset by a week each), causing me to miss an issue in the middle. It was over anyway within a dozen issues and sadly ended with the canon being exactly in the same place at the end as when the arc began (at the time, I didn't know that was a common ploy of long-running series).

The X-Files

http://x-files.wikia.com/wiki/Comics

I was a big fan of the show at the time and happened to see the comic debut while browsing for one of the above, if i recall correctly. These were nice side stories, with heavy direction from Chris Carter himself. I can't remember much else, and I lost track of new issues after a couple years, around the same time I wasn't able to keep up with the show.

Star Wars: Dark Empire

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Dark_Empire

Dark Empire was a series of comic books written by Tom Veitch and illustrated by Cam Kennedy. They were originally released by Dark Horse Comics between December 1991 and October 1992 as a 6-issue bi-monthly series, which were later compiled and sold as trade paperback. The name generally applies to both the original Dark Empire, as well as its two sequels Dark Empire II and Empire's End. All three comic series detailed the resurrection of Emperor Palpatine in clone bodies.

I never collected these individually but later bought the trade compilations. I had intended to avoid the comics and just stick to the expanded universe SW novels, but the Jedi Academy novel trilogy made heavy reference to events in these comics. I therefore felt obliged to read them and try and understand references I had missed. Fortunately, the comics and novels haven't stayed as tightly knit since then (as far as I know), so one is free to read the novels without having read the comics.

Star Wars: X-Wing: Rogue Squadron

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/X-wing:_Rogue_Squadron_%28comics%29

The greatest starfighters of the Rebel Alliance become the defenders of a New Republic in this massive collection of stories featuring Wedge Antilles, hero of the Battle of Endor, and his team of ace pilots known throughout the galaxy as Rogue Squadron!

I ended up buying the first 4 (8?) issues of this initially thinking it would tie in to the X-Wing computer game. Then I found out they tied more in to the X-Wing novels instead, but fortunately as I said above, not too tightly, leaving me free to enjoy the novels without worrying about keeping up with the comics.

Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_Tales_of_the_Jedi

Set during the Old Republic era, six of the eight Tales of the Jedi story arcs take place during the time surrounding the events known collectively as the Great Sith War, a conflict instigated by Sith forces aimed at galactic domination....

Hungry for any information on the history of the Star Wars universe (before anyone knew the prequels were coming), I ended up picking up a large part of this multi-series, albeit not until they were compiled into trade paperbacks. It was an interesting run, but I was unable to keep buying after the first few compilations due to financial problems and other distractions.

Star Wars expanded universe novel adaptations:

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Thrawn_Trilogy_%28comics%29

The Thrawn Trilogy of novels by Timothy Zahn (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising and The Last Command) is the official continuation of the original trilogy. It starts at 9 ABY and culminates at the Battle of Bilbringi. The series of eighteen comic books converts the book trilogy into a graphic form. That book series introduced many notable characters such as Mara Jade, one of the most popular Expanded Universe characters—still appearing in new books to this very day, and Grand Admiral Thrawn, one of the more notable Expanded Universe villains.

While collecting some of the above, I also picked up the comic adaptations of the Timothy Zhan novel trilogy that helped to relaunch interest in the franchise in the mid-90s.

[Areala]

I have the first 40 issues of the monthly X-Files comic that Topps did, in addition to a couple of the specials they put out, one digest-sized 'zine, and the issue of X-Files: Season One that comic-ized my favorite show, "Ice". I thought the stories in the comics were usually very well done, and the cover paintings by Miriam Kim always blew me away with their life-like accuracy in depicting Mulder and Scully; they alone were worth the price of the book each month.

Manga was my big obsession back in the days when I was big into comic collecting though. Nowadays, it's passe to say that because manga is ubiquitous; you can walk into any bookstore and find whole columns of shelves devoted to it. Back in the late 80s and early 90s, though, there were plenty of comic shops that had no idea what manga was. I can't count the number of odd looks I got when I'd ask for it, even after specifying, "You know, Japanese comics?" There was absolutely no mainstream interest in it, and really only three studios out there that were catering to the interest: Antarctic Press, Viz, and Dark Horse. Lucky for me, the local comic book guy ordered from all 3 of them, and I could satisfy my cravings.

You might have guessed it from my name, but Warrior Nun Areala was another comic I enjoyed reading; that's her in handy action figure form in my avatar.

*huggles*

Areala

[Darydrus]

When i was younger i collected all those old weird tales and tales from the crypt type comics. Nowadays i'm into "The walking Dead", probably the greatest zombie comic ever. Also i'm a huge Adam Warren fan.

[KiwiArcader]

I had a LOT of Disney's Uncle Scrooge comics. And while they aren't comics I also had many issues of "Famous Monsters of Filmland" right from issue 1 all of which I threw out in the rubbish when I got married. Considering the worth of those things nowadays I'm sore from kicking myself now.

[Schloss Ritter]

Back in the late 80s and early 90s, though, there were plenty of comic shops that had no idea what manga was.

Yeah, I had no idea of its existence then either. Pretty ironic considering that many of the cartoons I grew up with I found out later were re-cut, re-dubbed Anime (Speed Racer, Voltron, Transformers, etc).

Speaking of Manga, I'm currently reading the second (of five) translated compilations of Osamu Tezuka's Adolf series. No, it's not starring Hitler, but rather features the war from more of the Japanese point of view, with an interesting conspiracy story. This author is the "father of Manga/Anime" who also wrote Astro Boy [Tetsuwan Atomu], Kimba the White Lion (arguably where Disney stole many ideas for the Lion King from), and other works.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osamu_Tezuka

[Toocool100]

Early edition Spider man Comics are great

[Kombatologist]

The Walking Dead, Batman and Amazing Spider-Man for me.

[Mister Zero]

I don't have many comics anymore, but I used to love Amazing Spider-Man, Batman and X-Men back in the 90s. I was big into the 70s Batman comics for a while, the artwork was awesome. The only comics I have left are basically all of the Dark Horse Mask comics and my Sonic comic collection. I also love the Walking Dead.

I have some manga too, not much, but the full collection of Viz Lum, Battle Angel Alita and some Ranma.