Has anyone else read the Forever Evil story arcs? Ive just finished the last of the tie-in trades that follow the stand alone, AMAZING! Of course, I have always been a bigger fan of the baddies than the good guys so this one was right up my alley from the word "go."

Let's talk about it or any other DC comics run you are currently reading.

Also, if you have some recommendations, please tell us here.

(05-26-2015 09:33 AM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  

Has anyone else read the Forever Evil story arcs? Ive just finished the last of the tie-in trades that follow the stand alone, AMAZING! Of course, I have always been a bigger fan of the baddies than the good guys so this one was right up my alley from the word "go."

Let's talk about it or any other DC comics run you are currently reading.

Also, if you have some recommendations, please tell us here.

Hmm, may have to check it out if you liked it that much. I did read a few of the Villains Month issues that led into the bad guys' push in the DCU, but I often avoid the big stuff like this since I'm afraid I won't read enough of it to appreciate the full story. (The last big DC event I really paid attention to was Infinite Crisis, if that gives you an idea of how well I keep up.)

I will bring up two thoughts, though: (1) I recently finished DC: The New Frontier and thought it was pretty badass. Have you checked it out? It's like a tribute to the Silver Age with a dash of Watchmen-style modernism. Really good stuff (and Darwyn Cooke's art is awesome...). And (2) Do you have any thoughts on DC's reshuffling of titles, dropping the New 52 designation, all that? It doesn't really affect me much because I buy so few these days (although I did manage to start keeping up with GL again...kind of looking forward to Hal going "rogue"), but it was fun to follow the development of the new DCU after the relaunch in 2011.

Hey Pounce, I really recommend picking up the Forever Evil graphic novel, especially if you are a "Villains Fan" like me. I don't know if you prefer issues or trades but I do the latter more often than not when it comes to the "majors" and I always finish the arc when I do it that way.

As far as them dropping "The New 52" I am up in the air about it. Ive really enjoyed N52 so if they are planning on rebooting again, and from what I hear Convergence is looking like it's going to do that, then I might be annoyed. It shouldn't affect me right away because like I said I read most DC and Marvel in TPB format, but when I do have to start reading post-N52 stuff I do hope we don't have to go back to origins.

I'm a huge Green Lantern fan, that is my favorite story in the DC Universe. It's cool you're getting back in to that. "Blackest Night" was so damn good IMO, loved how the Lantern series carried the torch for backdrop. Sinestro makes his presence known in Forever Evil, which is awesome of course. Have you read the "Godhead" run yet? It features the return of the New Gods and the ever-mysterious Source Wall. I have all of the issues collected but took a break on it a little while ago to get to some independent runs I'm in to. I think ill pick them back up now and finish the New Gods arc.

While I love the Majors, I am really an Indy guy when it comes to subscriptions. My top reads are: Uber, The Walking Dead, God is Dead, Extinction Parade, East of West, all G.I. Joe runs, The Boys, Southern Bastards, and Manhattan Projects. I love Avatar Press, Image, and IDW.

How about you?

I'm very streaky when it comes to picking up single issues. I have a longtime love of GL and will have periods where I'm really good about getting every issue (got through about two years of the New 52 before getting spotty)...I like that month-to-month storytelling, I guess because it kind of reminds me of the way I enjoyed comics as a kid. But then I'll go a couple of months without setting foot in the shop (haven't even seen any of the Convergence titles in person, and I know I'd enjoy some of them...).

Other than runs of GL and occasional times when I pick up another series for a few months (I'm a DC guy, so it's usually those heroes I'll follow occasionally), I'll grab single issues of things that happen to seem interesting when I'm browsing. I grabbed a couple of those X-Files Conspiracy crossovers last year (Ghostbusters and TMNT) because the idea was just too hard to resist. I'll often pick up early issues or one-shots to sample stuff. I've found some good stories (like Beasts of Burden), but rarely do I really get hooked.

Trade-wise, I guess I generally go back to older stuff that I missed the first time around. Just finished The New Frontier and have The Superman Chronicles Vol. 1 in my bag right now. I'm also in the midst of Archie Goodwin's old run on Manhunter. For some reason, I had a phase where I picked up sets of single issues for some old DC non-supers stuff, so I had a chance to enjoy Arak, Amethyst, and the Hex series where he's in a Mad Max-style post-apocalyptic wasteland. I wish I could find a good price for a Kamandi lot on eBay!

Not sure if I shared this when comics came up previously on this board, but FWIW, my favorite comic stories ever are All-Star Superman, Red Son, the Dark Knight Returns, Watchmen, and Joss Whedon's first arc on Astonishing X-Men. The comic series that I reflect upon with the most nostalgia is Justice League International from the late 80s. So...as much as I like non-supers stuff, I suppose I have a definite style to my preferences.

Wow...that was a long post...thanks for letting me geek out for a minute!

EDIT: Should probably add We3 to the list of my favorite comic stories, and if single issues can go there too, I can't leave out that issue of Animal Man, "The Coyote Gospel" (I think it was issue #4? ...it's in the first Animal Man trade), where Grant Morrison starts to take it in a really surreal and postmodern direction. Great stuff.

I've never been a big Superman reader, I prefer him in the Justice League runs. However, I LOVE "Red Son" due to its connection to the Soviet era. I'm a big history buff so I tend to gravitate to stories that deal with that somehow, currently "Uber" is king of that mountain.



Have you read any "Uber?" Awesome series, my favorite of all time actually.

Here's the premis:

The Russian army is fighting it out with Nazi fanatics in Berlin, the war is lost and Germany knows it. Hitler puts the pistol to his temple, but Goebbels stops him with the news that, "We are delivered mein Fuhrer, the wunderwaffen have arrived!" He is referring to the Ubermenschen (Over Men).

Genetic science under the control of the SS has succeeded in producing human weapons, or Ubers. These men and women are bigger stronger faster than the average soldier. Able to withstand gun fire as powerful as a tank round, and harnessing control of a devasting energy force known as the "Halo Effect," these Ubers immediately put an end to the Battle of Berlin. Then Hitler unleashes them on the Allies.

Sound interesting?

(05-27-2015 01:31 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  I've never been a big Superman reader, I prefer him in the Justice League runs. However, I LOVE "Red Son" due to its connection to the Soviet era. I'm a big history buff so I tend to gravitate to stories that deal with that somehow, currently "Uber" is king of that mountain.

Have you read any "Uber?" Awesome series, my favorite of all time actually.

Here's the premis:

The Russian army is fighting it out with Nazi fanatics in Berlin, the war is lost and Germany knows it. Hitler puts the pistol to his temple, but Goebbels stops him with the news that, "We are delivered mein Fuhrer, the wunderwaffen have arrived!" He is referring to the Ubermenschen (Over Men).

Genetic science under the control of the SS has succeeded in producing human weapons, or Ubers. These men and women are bigger stronger faster than the average soldier. Able to withstand gun fire as powerful as a tank round, and harnessing control of a devasting energy force known as the "Halo Effect," these Ubers immediately put an end to the Battle of Berlin. Then Hitler unleashes them on the Allies.

Sound interesting?

Sounds pretty awesome, actually. It's going on the list for me. With your interest in history (and comics' take on it), you really might enjoy DC: The New Frontier. Gives some nice historical perspective to the DCU (Hal Jordan as a Korean War vet, reference to the civil rights movement, some Cold War paranoia), and it's cool that Darwyn Cooke treats the Silver Age heroes he deals with as if they appeared on the scene at the time they were actually first published.

I haven't read a new story line in 5+ years but I'm a big DC fan. Have loads of old Bronze and Silver Age comics. With the Suicide Squad movie in the making I'd look for the attention towards Villians to boom.

(05-28-2015 08:21 AM)ChooChoo Wrote:  With the Suicide Squad movie in the making I'd look for the attention towards Villians to boom.

Good point. I have high hopes for that one. DC needs a win at the movies that's not Superman or Batman (and Man of Steel was kinda borderline...).

Well it seems we can all agree on DC. Marvel just can't compare in print, although I do love their movies. I wish the Green Lantern film hadn't sucked, it could be DC's answer to Guardians. Plus I've always been a huge Lantern fan.

I hope you do get around to picking up Uber, it's the only series I rank higher on my list than Lantern. The alternate history take paired with the story emphasis being on the global conflict rather than a specific individual, gives it a unique and exciting feel. The art has been great too.

(05-30-2015 07:22 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  Well it seems we can all agree on DC. Marvel just can't compare in print, although I do love their movies. I wish the Green Lantern film hadn't sucked, it could be DC's answer to Guardians. Plus I've always been a huge Lantern fan.

I hope you do get around to picking up Uber, it's the only series I rank higher on my list than Lantern. The alternate history take paired with the story emphasis being on the global conflict rather than a specific individual, gives it a unique and exciting feel. The art has been great too.

Yeah, I'm sold on Uber and will be looking to pick it up soon.

I agree on the GL movie...didn't think it was terrible because it didn't seem to take itself all that seriously, which was good, but Guardians (and to a lesser extent, Thor before that) showed what an opportunity they missed to do something awesome with it. Especially since...well, have you read much 80s Green Lantern Corps? The blueprint for the Guardians-style mashup of characters was already there, from brute to hotshot to alien chick to little furry guy...!

Yes I've read Lantern for YEARS, but I freely admit Geoff Johns' stuff has been my favorite.

I recently scored a DC "Rebirth era" GL issue 1 signed by Johns (244/1000) at a Con in Atlanta for $7! Guy didnt know what he had obviously, that's a $60 issue!

Hey Pounce, PM me your Facebook page so I can friend you. We definitly need to be talking more often about comics man.

Agreed, and sent! (Nice snag on the signed #1!)

I want in the GL DC love train. I agree with everything said above.

(06-04-2015 09:43 AM)ChooChoo Wrote:  I want in the GL DC love train. I agree with everything said above.

Great! Yeah Pounce and I are long time Lantern fans. Have you read a lot of the difference GL runs? Which would be your favorite if you had to choose? Same with characters.

I relate a lot to Hal Jordan, especially in his role with the Justice League. Guy Gardner, after switching over to the Red Lanterns, is a personal favorite. He really made that run interesting! My absolute favorite character though, is Larfleeze. That guy is hilarious, especially in his own solo run. Only survived a year but it was great!

They've canceled the Red Lantern series and replaced it now with Sinestro. I think it was a good time to do so. You can only do so much with rage filled brutality, lets see what the Master of Fear himself cooks up for us.

By the way, Geoff Johns IS Green Lantern for me. Plenty of people have written for GL but Johns' stuff is the best.

I had the entire run of the Hard Traveling Heroes with Hal and Ollie from the original series. Collected everything GL from the 80's thru the dreaded Bad Hal/Parallax fiasco until his return to glory in the 2000s. Hal has always been one of my favorites as well. My son and I really enjoyed the GL Animated Series. If the movie had been more along those lines it could have been something special for sure. Just poor choices all around by the powers that be for that film. I still love it, but only because its a Green Lantern movie but it isn't very good to be honest.

Yeah, the movie was a total flop. I don't think there are any plans at the moment to relaunch that one. Also, I think Stewart is going to be the GL in the Justice League movie. I like Jonny boy fine and all, but c'mon...let's see Chris Pratt as Jordan, ya know?!

Hey if either of you are interested in "mature audience" comics, Garth Ennis' "The Boys" is killer! I've been reading them in trades format, there are 12 volumes I believe, I'm on 7. Even scored myself a couple of autographed copies, which I like to do because I'm a total fanboy.

So the premise is this. After WWII, Compound V was introduced by a mega company called Vaught-American. They use is to create super humans (aka supes). Now these supes are publicly very much like all of your traditional Justice League/Avenger types. People love them, buy their comics and merch, give em keys to cities and all that. However, most of these folks are really sh*tty people. They use their powers to enjoy themselves at others expense, for example, the Flash mimic guy used his speed to steal pain killers from the children's hospital when they went to visit cancer kids.

OK, so what do you do about all of this? How do you tell a Super "No"? You call in The Boys. A small secret black ops CIA team. They are tasked with keeping tabs on these people. They spy on em and dig up all of their dirty little secrets which they use to blackmail them in to doing what we want. Doesn't always work our perfect though, lol.

It's a funny action comic designed for adults only. Nudity, vulgar language, and definitely adult situations. But the story is so good it doesn't really need any of that stuff IMO, just icing. I've always been big on the indy titles so that's how I found this one. The author Garth Ennis does a lot of indy stuff.



Also check out these other indy titles: Uber and The Extinction Parade from Avatar Press. Im a big fan of AP, read a lot of their runs.

I was born in 84, my Lantern reading began in about 94. I took a break in college, didn't start back till 2007. Got back in time for Blackest Night and road that through till New 52, which I really like.

Basically Geoff Johns has dominated my majors reading since the beginning. He is Lantern as far as I'm concerned. I Iove the multispectrum corps set up he implemented and the purpose of the white lantern. Sinestro, Arkillo, Attrocitus, Larfleeze, Relic, Black Hand, the Third Army, Black Lantern Corps, the First Lantern, the Manhunters, it just keeps freakin' going! Johns has created and/or helped define so many great villains, and I'm a villain's guy all the way. Batman has great baddies too, respect.

I read my Green Lantern runs in graphic novel format typically, same as all majors. I subscribe monthly to all my favorite indy runs at the local shop downtown. I am currently enjoying New Guardians volume 2, good stuff. Larfleeze as a Guardian?! Yes please.

Sometime, I need to just start with Rebirth and go through all of Johns' GL saga to really get a feel for his impact. I've long had a like-him-don't-love-him attitude toward his work that has kept me from going all-in on his stuff with the limited comic time/money I spend these days. I really liked Rebirth, and he occasionally writes some amazing moments (I think it was in Blackest Night #0 when Hal and Bats are talking about losing their dads, and Hal says something like, "Maybe that's why we're both so screwed up," and Batman replies with a smile and a "Speak for yourself." Love that!).

ChooChoo, awesome that you followed GL through some of those iconic storylines. I think Hard-Traveling Heroes is a cool read for anyone interested in comics history...really groundbreaking, and yet it seems so dated to read it now (doesn't help that Denny O'Neill has the subtlety of a crowbar in his writing). With the GL/GA series, I really like the theme of it after it took a hiatus and was brought back, when DC decided to just drop the "relevance" and make it a space opera adventure series. Fun stuff.

As far as favorite GLs, I have a soft spot for Guy because of my love for JLI growing up, and I probably identify most with Kyle, but Hal has become my favorite, largely because I think of him as THE iconic GL now. I'm fine with John Stewart's use in media, though, as the League needs a shot of ethnic diversity to maintain relevance with audiences, and the easiest way to do that is to use a really good character like Stewart that already has recognition among audiences (especially after his use in the cartoons). As much as people recoil at the idea of using characters because of their race, it is ridiculous to maintain the image of the Justice League of America as pretty much a bunch of white folks (including the alien, the Amazon, the Atlantean, etc.!), and I'd much rather have strong characters like Stewart (or Cyborg) than someone like Vixen.