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[aku:jiki]

Most of the discussion centers around weekly reading, so if that's all made up of people who read superhero books, that's going to monopolize the conversation.

That's true, I guess, and to be fair, only spandex comics actually ever come out on time and weekly at that. Reading alternative stuff means waiting four months between issues, which for most of us means "just wait for the TPB." Which, in turn, means everyone ends up getting different books at different times and no internet discussion.

 

[LiQuid!]

I think part of the problem is that people who don't read superhero comics also don't support weekly comic buying, which is weird to me.

Equal parts funny, sad and true. I wish I had a dollar every time I heard someone say "I love [creator_owned_comic_x] but I'm reading it in trades" and then goes home every week with the absolute dregs of the New 52 or whatever the latest crossover slop Marvel is crapping out.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

That's true, I guess, and to be fair, only spandex comics actually ever come out on time and weekly at that. Reading alternative stuff means waiting four months between issues, which for most of us means "just wait for the TPB." Which, in turn, means everyone ends up getting different books at different times and no internet discussion.

Equal parts funny, sad and true. I wish I had a dollar every time I heard someone say "I love [creator_owned_comic_x] but I'm reading it in trades" and then goes home every week with the absolute dregs of the New 52 or whatever the latest crossover slop Marvel is crapping out.

We can make things better! We can work together!

 

[Mr. Sam]

Subscribed. I've got I Kill Giants in my collection - wouldn't mind giving it a re-read.

 

[Parch]

It's easy enough to avoid superhero domination. OP can make the 3 voting choices similar. Each month can have a different theme so that superhero is only a choice during a superhero month. Different month, different genre, or different company, or different era, or maybe 3 Batman choices, whatever the OP decides is a good theme for the month.

 

[Bleepey]

Why...did you buy all of that? I'd understand if you had a few piles of TPB's of seminal comics that you haven't gotten around to, but you seem to have bought piles of random junk and WWF and Xena comics instead. I'm confused.

Some are lost (my mum threw about 100 away see this thread http://neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=471946) but i own most of what's their. I am presently cataloguing them and the column with Y on it shows what i have catalogued that's still in my possession. Most of the Preachers are gone barring two issues. > There's a place near me that sells old 2000ADs and gaming magazines 3 for £1 and i might have to check them out once my thesis is submitted. As for why i have not read a lot of them, the Internet has killed my attention span and i am going to do a book a week once i have finished all my school shit i.e from tomorrow. I feel guilty about it so i often try to lend my books to my friends. My 10 year old self would faint if he saw my present comic book collection and my little brother often tells me his friends can't believe the insane number of comics he (I) owns.

 

[Mikeside]

It's easy enough to avoid superhero domination. OP can make the 3 voting choices similar. Each month can have a different theme so that superhero is only a choice during a superhero month. Different month, different genre, or different company, or different era, or maybe 3 Batman choices, whatever the OP decides is a good theme for the month.

Yeah - I won't be picking the 3 choices each time, but I definitely think that if we read a superhero book, then we shouldn't be reading another one for a couple of months unless everybody REALLY wants to.

If I Kill Giants wins this time, I'll be actively looking for something totally different for next time. For me, that's the whole fun of something like this - we get to experience a vast array of different things and help lead each other to hidden gems or well known but fucking awesome reads.

The regular comic book thread is there for people to discuss the weeklies, so I don't see it being as much of a problem as people are anticipating.

 

[Necrovex]

Looks like I Kill Giants will win this, I should order the book soon.

When will this thing officially start anyway?

 

[Mikeside]

Looks like I Kill Giants will win this, I should order the book soon.

When will this thing officially start anyway?

On Monday - I think we'll keep on this for 3 weeks, then do the next vote for a week, if everyone is happy with that?

 

[olympia]

This thread makes me want to start an alt comix OT, I want to make the OP, who's down?

I've read and own all three of these books, so I've subbed and I'm down with whatever.

 

[Mikeside]

This thread makes me want to start an alt comix OT, I want to make the OP, who's down?

I've read and own all three of these books, so I've subbed and I'm down with whatever.

I'd definitely take part in that

 

[Necrovex]

On Monday - I think we'll keep on this for 3 weeks, then do the next vote for a week, if everyone is happy with that?

That's perfect, that should be more than enough time to read through a standalone comic.

Going to make my order now! I just noticed my local library has a copy of it. I'm going to grab it from there! I finally get to use my local library. Bloody hell, my library trolled me big! Gah!

 

[Quake1028]

I Kill Giants.

 

[Ephemeris]

I Kill Giants it is. Will try to get it by then. Never read.

 

[Grenouille]

I vote for V for Vendetta.

Or Scalped.

 

[Pau]

You guys are in for such a treat with I Kill Giants. I wish I had my Titan edition with me so I could reread it along with the club but I don't.

 

[Mikeside]

That's perfect, that should be more than enough time to read through a standalone comic.

Going to make my order now! I just noticed my local library has a copy of it. I'm going to grab it from there! I finally get to use my local library. Bloody hell, my library trolled me big! Gah!

Don't worry - there's plenty of time to get it delivered

 

[NEO0MJ]

On Monday - I think we'll keep on this for 3 weeks, then do the next vote for a week, if everyone is happy with that?

I think we should provide more time for people to acquire the comic. Say next week we choose the next book for comic club.

 

[Mikeside]

I think we should provide more time for people to acquire the comic. Say next week we choose the next book for comic club.

Won't that just get in the way of the discussion, or should I start a seperate voting thread?

 

[GrandHarrier]

Why the Superhero hate? I've noticed this weird trend to shit talk the genre and promote some of the lowest selling ho-hum "creator owned indie" stuff like it was the second coming. I just find it weird. Yeah, Superman may be a clusterfuck right now, but I doubt 60k are still buying it for no reason while indies languish at sub 7k numbers.

The only series I've found enjoyable that deserve its success lately is Saga (40k).

It's infuriating to watch a book I enjoyed JLI (30+k) get canceled while garbage like I, Vampire (13k) is still getting made.

Just my thoughts. Mean no offense. I'd like this "club" to not stigmatize Super books.

 

[Mikeside]

Why the Superhero hate? I've noticed this weird trend to shit talk the genre and promote some of the lowest selling ho-hum "creator owned indie" stuff like it was the second coming. I just find it weird. Yeah, Superman may be a clusterfuck right now, but I doubt 60k are still buying it for no reason while indies languish at sub 7k numbers.

The only series I've found enjoyable that deserve its success lately is Saga (40k).

It's infuriating to watch a book I enjoyed JLI (30+k) get canceled while garbage like I, Vampire (13k) is still getting made.

Just my thoughts. Mean no offense. I'd like this "club" to not stigmatize Super books.

As I've said before - there's nothing wrong with super books, but a lot of people (myself included) don't want to see this turn into a superhero comic reading club when there's so much more stuff out there.

This is just the equivalent to a normal book club not wanting to JUST read sci-fi. There's a lot out there, and some of it is great, but there are a million other genres that we want to explore too.

I just finished reading the first 12 issues of the new Batman run on Jedeye's recommendation and they're fantastic - something like that is, in my opinion, most welcome here - we'll do some super hero comics, but there's plenty of other stuff to enjoy too.

 

[Sblargh]

Some indie comics being overhyped is something to discuss either and I'm sure we'll cross upon stuff here that is critics heaven and then find it not all that hot.
Quality is not even the issue, overexposure to one single genre is the issue.

I kill giants is on comixology, by the way, so for people like me who can't wait for import, that's an option.

 

[Tizoc]

If we ARE going to have a week/period where the focus is Superhero comics, I recommened that among the choices, it's not Batman+any 2 other series; make it a choice of any 3 Batman books. Otherwise any 3 series is fine.

...so uh when will it be decided what to read, I don't know how these things usually work and I am rather looking forward to joining in on this ^_^;

 

[ReiGun]

Quality is not even the issue, overexposure to one single genre is the issue.

But is it even an issue, yet? The first three suggestions aren't cape books (except V maybe).

I don't think we need to have a special "Capes Month" or whatever. The OP states we're going to choose the three options from randomly within the thread, and then have a further vote after that. So the way I see it, if people want to limit the amount of cape comics, just suggest/vote for something else.

This is coming from someone who doesn't really care what we read as far as genre is concerned.

 

[Mikeside]

If we ARE going to have a week/period where the focus is Superhero comics, I recommened that among the choices, it's not Batman+any 2 other series; make it a choice of any 3 Batman books. Otherwise any 3 series is fine.

...so uh when will it be decided what to read, I don't know how these things usually work and I am rather looking forward to joining in on this ^_^;

So the voting goes on until Sunday night, then I'll post a new topic (and link it here) for us to discuss that book. Then I guess we'll use this thread to vote for the next round? Who do I PM to change the name to reflect that this is a voting thread?

But is it even an issue, yet? The first three suggestions aren't cape books (except V maybe).

I don't think we need to have a special "Capes Month" or whatever. The OP states we're going to choose the three options from randomly within the thread, and then have a further vote after that. So the way I see it, if people want to limit the amount of cape comics, just suggest/vote for something else.
This is coming from someone who doesn't really care what we read as far as genre is concerned.

Exactly this, though if we read Batman one time, then I'd probably discourage anyone from suggesting another Batman for a few rounds, let alone doing capes twice in a row.

But yeah, as you say, even if it's suggested, people won't vote for it unless they want to read it.

 

[Sblargh]

Is not yet, but it could become given how the industry is.
I rather have this discussion now than after this actually starts, sorry if I'm being a pain.

 

[aku:jiki]

But is it even an issue, yet? The first three suggestions aren't cape books (except V maybe).

I'd wager that I'm not the only one in the thread who went "Ooh, ooh! A comics thread that isn't about capes!" Doesn't mean that it has to be exclusively non-spandex material, but that, hey, those of us on the other side of comics would like to have a thread too. As already discussed, the regular comics thread is completely useless to alt readers.

I guess it'll be less of a problem if there's an alt OT created.

 

[GrandHarrier]

Exactly this, though if we read Batman one time, then I'd probably discourage anyone from suggesting another Batman for a few rounds, let alone doing capes twice in a row.

But yeah, as you say, even if it's suggested, people won't vote for it unless they want to read it.

Lumping all Superhero books as "capes" is no different than lumping all indy books as "indy". Shouldn't do two indies in a row either then? Is this going to be a comic book club or an indy comic book club? Best to make your intentions known so people can decide if it's worth participating.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

Has anyone got dibs on next month's thread? Walked around my bookshelves this morning and found three choice options.

 

[Garryk]

I think we're putting the cart in front of the horse a little. Let's just get this first meeting out of the way to see if the format works before we worry about whether or not cape books will dominate the future.

 

[Mikeside]

Has anyone got dibs on next month's thread? Walked around my bookshelves this morning and found three choice options.

I was just gonna pick 3 people at random each time to suggest a book and go from there.

Lumping all Superhero books as "capes" is no different than lumping all indy books as "indy". Shouldn't do two indies in a row either then? Is this going to be a comic book club or an indy comic book club? Best to make your intentions known so people can decide if it's worth participating.

My whole point is that it's neither. I'm happy to do cape stuff, I'm happy to do indie stuff, I'm happy to do other random shit like Walking Dead, Y:TLG etc. Do we really have to lock it down for people to be happy?

I jus' wanna read some comics, mang.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

My whole point is that it's neither. I'm happy to do cape stuff, I'm happy to do indie stuff, I'm happy to do other random shit like Walking Dead, Y:TLG etc. Do we really have to lock it down for people to be happy?

I jus' wanna read some comics, mang.

AGREED.

They're all fucking comics, dudes!!

If I can manage to enjoy AvX AND Ganges AND 100 Bullets AND Scott Pilgrim AND Uncanny X-Force AND Batman Inc AND Hilda And The Midnight Giant AND Scalped AND Fear Itself AND Mister Wonderful AND Blacksad AND Thunderbolts AND Final Crisis AND Queen & Country AND Vimanarama AND Criminal AND Adventure Time AND Achewood then GOOD LORD what's stopping anyone else? We all have the same brain composition!! Just get on the stick and READ THEM.

Good comics are good comics, jeepers creepers.

 

[GrandHarrier]

My whole point is that it's neither. I'm happy to do cape stuff, I'm happy to do indie stuff, I'm happy to do other random shit like Walking Dead, Y:TLG etc. Do we really have to lock it down for people to be happy?

I jus' wanna read some comics, mang.

Alright, cool. I'm in then. Just wanted to understand the ground rules. Was/am getting an anti-superhero vibe which was dampening my enthusiasm to participate.

 

[ReiGun]

Exactly this, though if we read Batman one time, then I'd probably discourage anyone from suggesting another Batman for a few rounds, let alone doing capes twice in a row.

But yeah, as you say, even if it's suggested, people won't vote for it unless they want to read it.

That would be fine.

Hell, I'd probably vote against things I would normally want to read just to ensure that there is some variety and everyone feels their needs are being met.

Is not yet, but it could become given how the industry is.
I rather have this discussion now than after this actually starts, sorry if I'm being a pain.

You're not being a pain at all. I think the issue is worth discussing certainly (especially since so many people feel that regular comics-gaffers have "slighted" non-superhero books), but like Garryk said, I think it is putting the cart before the horse a little.

I'd wager that I'm not the only one in the thread who went "Ooh, ooh! A comics thread that isn't about capes!" Doesn't mean that it has to be exclusively non-spandex material, but that, hey, those of us on the other side of comics would like to have a thread too. As already discussed, the regular comics thread is completely useless to alt readers.

I guess it'll be less of a problem if there's an alt OT created.

I don't see why an alt OT would need to be created. Comics-Gaf, from my view, has always been open to discuss and promote "indy" books. The entire July OP was dedicated to indies, and I can name a couple members that promote series they love, new books being released, or kickstarters for interesting projects. The problem, I think, is that people into alt comics don't come in the threads/make ones for topics they want to discuss, and when they do, they have the wrong attitude ("I want to talk about [X], but I see you all are into Marvel/DC, so you probably don't care.")

Basically, what I'm saying is, why can't we all just read and discuss comics - all comics - together like a big happy family? <3

 

[Mikeside]

That would be fine.

Hell, I'd probably vote against things I would normally want to read just to ensure that there is some variety and everyone feels their needs are being met.


You're not being a pain at all. I think the issue is worth discussing certainly (especially since so many people feel that regular comics-gaffers have "slighted" non-superhero books), but like Garryk said, I think it is putting the cart before the horse a little.



I don't see why an alt OT would need to be created. Comics-Gaf, from my view, has always been open to discuss and promote "indy" books. The entire July OP was dedicated to indies, and I can name a couple members that promote series they love, new books being released, or kickstarters for interesting projects. The problem, I think, is that people into alt comics don't come in the threads/make ones for topics they want to discuss, and when they do, they have the wrong attitude ("I want to talk about [X], but I see you all are into Marvel/DC, so you probably don't care.")

Basically, what I'm saying is, why can't we all just read and discuss comics - all comics - together like a big happy family? <3

I declare this a happy family zone. Bring your cape AND your Converse - the comics are on me! (OK, they're not, but shut up - this is a reading area)

edit: you're in the OP.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

Basically, what I'm saying is, why can't we all just read and discuss comics - all comics - together like a big happy family? <3

AMEN.

 

[ChaChaChaChia]

I'd like to join in on this. I haven't read comics for a few years and it would be fun to read some new ones. I've never been into superhero comics but willing to try it if/when one gets picked.

 

[Jedeye Sniv]

I declare this a happy family zone. Bring your cape AND your Converse - the comics are on me! (OK, they're not, but shut up - this is a reading area)

edit: you're in the OP.

I like that turn of phrase man

Chiming in on the great cape debate - I don't really think 'superhero' is a genre anyway. It's primarily adventure stories sure, but you can get detective stories, actioners, sci fi, fantasy, romance even (ASS #3, swoon).

This thread should be fun though. I could happily do one a week.

 

[Mikeside]

I like that turn of phrase man

Chiming in on the great cape debate - I don't really think 'superhero' is a genre anyway. It's primarily adventure stories sure, but you can get detective stories, actioners, sci fi, fantasy, romance even (ASS #3, swoon).

This thread should be fun though. I could happily do one a week.

Agreed, though I'd probably get swamped in other things and not really have time to fully digest and discuss

Out of interest -how many people here are going to be reading the physical comic, and how many are going the Comixology route, like me?

 

[JeTmAn81]

I'm interested to know how I Kill Giants readers end up feeling about the main character. When I started reading it, I got turned off pretty quickly. I can't stand characters who constantly flaunt their supposed superiority to everyone else.

 

[ReiGun]

For IKG, I'm doing physical because I already own it. In the future, I'll just do whatever is cheaper/most convenient.

 

[Necrovex]

Agreed, though I'd probably get swamped in other things and not really have time to fully digest and discuss

Out of interest -how many people here are going to be reading the physical comic, and how many are going the Comixology route, like me?

I'll be getting the physical copy each time because Amazon usually makes it cheaper than the asking price at Comixology.

I'm interested to know how I Kill Giants readers end up feeling about the main character. When I started reading it, I got turned off pretty quickly. I can't stand characters who constantly flaunt their supposed superiority to everyone else.

I love characters like that. <3

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

Why the Superhero hate? I've noticed this weird trend to shit talk the genre and promote some of the lowest selling ho-hum "creator owned indie" stuff like it was the second coming. I just find it weird. Yeah, Superman may be a clusterfuck right now, but I doubt 60k are still buying it for no reason while indies languish at sub 7k numbers.

The only series I've found enjoyable that deserve its success lately is Saga (40k).

It's infuriating to watch a book I enjoyed JLI (30+k) get canceled while garbage like I, Vampire (13k) is still getting made.

Just my thoughts. Mean no offense. I'd like this "club" to not stigmatize Super books.

Because most Marvel and DC cape comics is the funnybook equivalent of a theater that plays nothing but Michael Bay and Zack Snyder movies.

Superhero comics sell 60k a month, a measly sum compared to their glory days - actually today's sales figures are laughable in general; so it's really hard to justify cape comics through sales. It's all a joke since nobody but people already drinking the Flavor Aid are reading them.

Ignoring that, the problem with indie sales is in the direct market most comic shops stop placing orders when they finish paging through the Marvel and DC sections. It's not a case of your local comic shop ordering 30 copies of Superman and 30 copies of Invincible and Superman outselling Invincible. Your LCS orders 30 copies of Superman, and 5 copies of Invincible.

Really, it's a joke to justify anything in comics with their sales. Sales of all comics are for shit. It's a ghettoized medium and until American perceptions of comics as a medium changes, we're screwed.

Saying all that, as with everything else there is good and bad. IMO Marvel / DC's unchanging and unending parade of characters and the hapless fans who read them month in and month out are a big problem.

If New Frontier and Kingdom Come were the rule and not the exception then I'd be more inclined to give a shit about Marvel and DC books.

But keep bitching about AvX and buying it suckers! ^_^

 

[Jedeye Sniv]

Agreed, though I'd probably get swamped in other things and not really have time to fully digest and discuss

Out of interest -how many people here are going to be reading the physical comic, and how many are going the Comixology route, like me?

I'm physical because I own it.

With books like this, unless it's on sale on Comixology I'll usually go for the paper trade since that way I can lend it out and give it to the missus (she loved IKG too).

Although that said, I read Jeff Lemire's Essex County on Comixology and it was a wonderful experience. Even better cos it was cheap

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

But keep bitching about AvX and buying it suckers! ^_^

I buy it because I enjoy it.

 

[Baconsaurus Rex]

Out of interest -how many people here are going to be reading the physical comic, and how many are going the Comixology route, like me?

I'll be going the digital way.

Much easier for Europeans, or at least that's the case for me

 

[Parch]

Chiming in on the great cape debate - I don't really think 'superhero' is a genre anyway. It's primarily adventure stories sure, but you can get detective stories, actioners, sci fi, fantasy, romance even (ASS #3, swoon).

Different flavors of ice cream, but it's still ice cream. I would consider superhero as a genre.

So much gets labelled as just "indie" when the variety of those books is a lot more different than superhero books. Different definitions by different people I suppose, but generally it seems that "indie" is considered everything not DC/Marvel. That's how I consider it, even though there are a lot of indie books that are superhero.

If considering it like that, then the superhero vs indie split seems fair. DC or Marvel one month, something else the next month.

 

[pulga]

I Kill Giants, when do we start?

 

[Mikeside]

I Kill Giants, when do we start?

Thread goes up Monday

 

[Dynamite Ringo Matsuri]

I'm going digital. Cuts down on clutter and I'll only buy physical if I really like the art or the story strongly resonates with me. Sad for my local comic shop, but gas, time, and space are legitimately killing it for me. That and issues are sold out within two days and back ordered for weeks (I'm looking at you Saga :l )