Is anyone here a comic book geek?

[deerwalk]

I love comics. Mostly, off the mainstream stuff- David Cooper, David Lapham, The Hernandez Bros., etc. I do love Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise, Echo) and back was a big "Sandman" fan. Anyone else?

[JigOvLife]

Yeah, bud, I'm a huge Alan Moore fan from way back when.
My ex girlfriend still has my 500+ collection of 2000 a.d's stashed in her attic (Don't think I'll see them again).
Other top faves are Transmetropolitan, Preacher, early Hellblazer and Simon Bisley's artwork.
Bit behind the times to be honest.
Any top tips?

[JigOvLife]

Oh I also like most stuff that Grant Morrison's done and Jamie Hewlett's work (Followed him all the way from his first strip in 2000 a.d through Tank Girl to the lofty heights of Gorrilaz and that 'Monkey' opera thing.

Gaiman's Sandman is sublime, I'm stuck between 'The Doll's House' or 'A Game Of You'...have you read any of his novels/short stories ?

[C23]

Well I wish I could say I am still a big comic person, but I was when I was growing up. Had more of the mainstream stuff. Some of it is still worth a lot to.

[Strangef8]

Dude! Iused to be. I have over 4,000 in the closet. I stopped collecting when I became an OTR truck driver. I am/was more into mainstream comics, mostly Marvel. But I am such a geek that I have a ton of comic character tattoos, lol.

[JigOvLife]

Hey Strange, there's a tattoo thread too that's not been doing a lot recently.

Stick some pics up, see if you can't liven it up a bit

[Strangef8]

Point me in the right direction!

[deerwalk]

Alright! I thought this thread was a dead end... I have to get my hands on some Preacher, I have been hearing about it for years! I read "Good Omens" by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaimen- very fun read with silly arcane references. I was a "Tank Girl" fan years ago but dropped her in favor of "Love and Rockets"- those boys can draw! It is a soap opera, so, you guys may not get into it. However it is full of beautifully drawn figures and the early issues have a bit of a futuristic, sci fi theme and also takes place in the early LA punk scene, so lots of fun references there as well.

JigOvLife- Ouch! But the good news... you can now buy so many of those seperate issues (yes I know they are a glory in and of their own) neatly compiled and save space on the bookshelf for.... More comics!

I have read only one book of "Transmetropolitan" and loved it.

So there's a cute little series called "Teenagers From Mars" that a couple of kids did a few years back.
I am a bit behind as well. I would reccommend anything by David Lapham, "Stray Bullets" or his "Amy Racecar" collection, especially if you are a Tank Girl fan.

And Paul Pope is also phenomenal

[Strangef8]

I have heard of a lot of these titles but alas I have a new passion, movies! So I don't buy any comics but I do try to see all the movie adaptions or animated stuff.

[JigOvLife]

Deerwalk, m'dear,

Good Omens, cracking little book, I especially liked the fate of the telesales call centre and Crawley's subtle altering of the layout of the M25 motorway, to create the magical sigil, "All hail the great beast, devourer of worlds", much chuckles.

Gaiman's first proper novel, 'American Gods', is an absolute blinder, kinda reminiscent of the pantheons of Sandman, but with a great take on backwater Americana...thoroughly recommended.

I think 'Love and Rockets' got serialised in 'Deadline' a British, nineties comic/fanzine along with Tank Girl, I remember being a bit bemused, not knowing what was going on (The soap opera thing). Must check it out again, it seems it's been going so long and I like the idea of these Hernandez's, ageing the characters in real time.

The L.A punk scene, eh? that'll be Mr Jello Biafra et al, good stuff. I had a thing for The Cramps, when I was a pasty, faced 80's Goth. Of course the debate still rages as to started punk, I'm an Englishman and though I doff me cap to The Ramones and The New York Dolls...we all know it started here!

There's an indie comic shop in Leeds, just up the road, that will probably stock some of your recomendations, I shall peruse.

Ta ta for now.

[Lenina]

Terry Pratchett and a Ramones here too! I used to really be into Zap Comix back in the day. R Crumb and Robert Shelton. I loved Fat Freddie's Cat and Hungry Chuck Bisquits, Mr Natural and the rest! I don't know what became of my collection, lost in one of my many moves back then, I suppose.

"The Depths of Despair" I like too. You'd never guess it looking at me, though. My high school principal told me I had the face of cheerleader and the mind of an anarchist. That amused me a great deal at the time. I sorta liked the image.

Love,

Lenina

[JigOvLife]

Yeah, Shelton's fabulous Furry's used to do the rounds, when I was in school. A particular favourite was a strip of the bros sat at the kitchen table, morose and stationary, during a dope drought.
Frame by frame the drawn strip, morphs into photo realism (come blokes wearing excellent paper mache masks) as the trio return gradually to reality after 10 years debauchery and panic...tickled me pink!
There's apparently a claymation feature film on it's way, co-starring Fat Freddy's Cat and the roach army. I hope they keep the faith.

Terry Pratchett has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimers. The BBC starts a series next week, following his autodocumented progression.
A mind that lively, intelligent and creative...makes you weep.

[Lenina]

Yes, very sad news about Pratchett.

I would love to see the Fat Freddie's Cat and the Roach Army movie. I know I still have at least one of Robert Sheldon's Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers books somewhere.

Did you see "American Splendor"? I thought it was pretty good.

Love,

Lenina

[deerwalk]

Haha Jig, sorry but Patti Smith and The Stooges trump all- and it wasn't about fashion! I will have to check out "American Gods", I haven't read anyhting fun in a bit- I amreading "The Affluent Society " by John Galbraith. That's awful about Pratchett.

Saw "American Splendor", loved the actors did not care so much forthe real guy tho I think I may youtube those interviews on Letterman.

I have a box of stuff at my local shop that needs to be picked up but everything's on hold til I get a job!

[Lenina]

I enjoyed "American Gods" too! Anyone interested in Anime, I think it's spelled. I've been looking at Manga and it just doesn't strike me. My nieces and nephew love it though.

Love,

Lenina

[getr345]

I collected in 1984 through 1991.

Lots of good books came out during that time including two of my favorites, The Watchmen series by Alan Moore and Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns. Those were great years for comics...

I still have my collection, in fact I recently re-bagged and re-boarded them all.

[Lenina]

And I miss Fritz the Cat. R Crumb was right to kill Fritz off after that horrible movie was made.

I recall one Furry Freak Brothers that showed Fat Freddie trying to remember a phone number. He got all the way home and noticed a empty pickle jar. I think it was Franklin who said something like "Me too! I ate one sour one too!" and totally screwed up Fat Freddie's memory. You may want to say the quoted line out loud to understand.

Love,

Lenina

[Strangef8]

Originally Posted by Lenina

I enjoyed "American Gods" too! Anyone interested in Anime, I think it's spelled. I've been looking at Manga and it just doesn't strike me. My nieces and nephew love it though.

Love,

Lenina

I watch a bit of anime. Just whatever stries my fancy. I do like the classics - Akira, Vampire Hunter D, Battle Angel Alita.

[Strangef8]

Originally Posted by getr345

I collected in 1984 through 1991.

Lots of good books came out during that time including two of my favorites, The Watchmen series by Alan Moore and Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns. Those were great years for comics...

I still have my collection, in fact I recently re-bagged and re-boarded them all.

Some of my faves as well. Looking forward to the Watchmen movie.

[JigOvLife]

Yeah, what are they gonna do with the Watchmen movie?
The graph novel was of it's time, the closing chapters of the Cold War and there's a lot of personalities, history and concurrent plotlines to fit in.

However V for Vendetta, I eventually decided, wasn't a half bad dilution at all and translated reasonably well from a Thatcherite England to a post 911 one.
Alan Moore wouldn't have anything to do with it but that's usual for the bearded one, he chucked his teddy outta the cot after League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

I wish I could enjoy Anime. Akira was fantastic but everything else I've seen since with the possible exception of Ghost In The Shell and Hayao Miyazaki's stuff has been a bit lost in translation, too many cliches, stereotypes and subliminal tentacle shenanigans.

[deerwalk]

I agree Jig, "Ghost In the Shell" and a few of Miyazaki's animations were outstanding. I adore "Princess Mononoke". Besides that, well I saw "Sin City" and though the comics were all the rage in college, I thought the art was a bit lacking (I know, so bad of me!)- the movie actually disturbed me enough to make me want to leave the theater- but I stuck it out and it was great- I won't watch it again though!

I also enjoyed "Blood: The Last Vampire" - I think I got that right.

Still no money for comics ... Got catching up to do.

Anyone here like Dave Cooper? He's hilarious and also a pretty good painter

[Strangef8]

I enjoyed V and it is actually one of my wife's favorite movies. I have never read the comic so have nothing to compare it too.

Watchmen is going to rock. Zach Snyder is staying as close as possible to the GN. However, I do know that the Ending (Ala the GS is not in it) and the comic in the comic has been pulled from the theatrical release. It will however be either included on the dvd or offered as a seperate dvd.

[JigOvLife]

That's a neat idea, to film the stuff and if it runs over, include it later.
I liked that particularily grim pirate comic, felt it contrasted nicely.

Did anyone see the stuff that 'anonymous' did against the scientoligists, with 'V' masks?

Should be starting my tattoo apprenticeship next week. Gotta stock up on graffix for inspiration...Todd Mcfarlenes stuff would ink up well.

[deerwalk]

What's "V"? It was a silly show about aliens when I was kid but beyond that I am in the dark! "V for Vendetta"?

[JigOvLife]

Yeah, V for Vendetta, pure class.

I do remember that show though, loved it as a teeny, saw half an episode recently and it was Dynasty with lizards, laughable, Freddy Krueger...um, Robert Egland was in it, hamming it to the max.

Ah well back to the drawing board, my new boss is a big fan of Boris Vellejo, who does loads of beutifully produced but well cheesy, Conan, type stuff. I'm designing a dragon sleeve in his style...