JonesDeini

This user has not updated recently.

3593 180 251 216
Forum Posts Wiki Points Following Followers

Recommended Vertigo Reading?

By JonesDeini 20 Comments

Vertigo is my favorite comic publisher of all time and is what ushered me back into reading comics. Not only that it matured me into the reader I am today. I've been meaning to delve back into the classic works of the company for a while now. The revelation of the "dark" line of new DCU comics coming in September really made me want to take a look at the real version of these characters before I take on their DCU incarnations. Sandman's my favorite comic of all time and Gaiman's my favorite writer (sorry Silkcuts). Alan Moore's my close second, in fact he's 1-B and I own all his essentials aside from his Swamp Thing which I will own before I die! I have a short list of things I want to read but am open to any suggestions from my fellow viners. What are your favorite Vertigo works? What would recommend? 
 
Things I've Read/Reading: Sandman, Preacher, V for Vendetta, Watchmen, Y: The Last Man, Dysart's Unknown Soldier, Unwritten, American Vampire   
Things I want to read more into: Transmetropolitan, Fables, Ex Machina, Hellblazer...definitely Hell Blazer. 
Things I KNOW I should've read already but haven't yet: Moore's Swamp Thing, Milligan's Shade, Morrison's Animal Man/Doom Patrol, Carey's Lucifer, Scalped, Madame Xanadu, Hell Blazer...yes I have Constantine on the brain lately.
Things I'd like some feedback on: The Dreaming, Sandman Mystery Theater

20 Comments
20 Comments
Posted by JonesDeini

Awaits Aztek and Silk...

Edited by Adnan

You haven't read Moore's Swamp Thing? What the hell, go do that NOW! Morrison's Animal Man and Doom Patrol are great too. If you're planning to pick up Lemire's Animal Man title this September, you might wanna pick Morrison's Animal Man, since it's based upon that interpretation of him.
 
Give Morrison's 'Invisibles' a go.

Posted by JonesDeini
@Adnan said:
You haven't read Moore's Swamp Thing? What the hell, go do that NOW! Morrison's Animal Man and Doom Patrol are great too. If you're planning to pick up Lemire's Animal Man title this September, you might wanna pick Morrison's Animal Man, since it's based upon that interpretation of him.  Give Morrison's 'Invisibles' a go.
I know, I know it's the grand daddy of this "genre" and it's blasphemous that I haven't read it :( 
 
I'm definitely reading Lemire's Animal Man. I've heard nothing but good about Morrison's run and the bits I've been able to peak at were great, great stuff. I definitely will read it in whole. I'm really on the fence about reading Invisibles checked some reviews of the series on Amazon and it was split right down the middle. With it's detractors siting many of the things I don't like about Morrison as turn offs for them. Anyways, sooo glad Lemire's going to continue his Animal Man based on Morrison's. 
Posted by Adnan
@JonesDeini: I've only read a few volumes of Invisible, it starts off a little weak, but it get's better as you read more, in my opinion. I'm borrowing the volumes of one of my friends - who's opinion in particular I value a lot - and she says it's pretty engaging stuff once you get up-to-date with it. It does seem like a marmite 'love-it-or-hate-it' sorta thing though.
 
And yeah, Lemire's Animal Man should be good. His Frankenstein, whilst not Vertigo (I think) should be good too, I think it's based on Morrison's Seven Soliders of Victory, which I enjoyed a lot.
Posted by JonesDeini
@Adnan said:
@JonesDeini: I've only read a few volumes of Invisible, it starts off a little weak, but it get's better as you read more, in my opinion. I'm borrowing the volumes of one of my friends - who's opinion in particular I value a lot - and she says it's pretty engaging stuff once you get up-to-date with it. It does seem like a marmite 'love-it-or-hate-it' sorta thing though.  And yeah, Lemire's Animal Man should be good. His Frankenstein, whilst not Vertigo (I think) should be good too, I think it's based on Morrison's Seven Soliders of Victory, which I enjoyed a lot.
Yeah, after the appearance of the Creature Commandos in JL: Generation Lost I was really hoping to see them again in the DCU. glad Lemire's taking over that title if I had the dough I'd spring for his Flashpoint tie in. I'm on the fence on getting Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. because I have an already large pull list as is. But man, the DCU Dark titles sound more and more appetizing the more I hear about them from the creators. And yup he's using that Frank from SSOV
Posted by MatKrenz

I higly recommend Sandman: Mystery Theater. In the first volume alone we get a great muder mystery with fantastic characterization across the bord. It's simply great pulp storie's, also it has some tie's to Neil Gaiman's Sandman, since Wesley Dodds has prophetic dreams. So happy readings.
Posted by aztek_the_lost

Vertigo is my favorite publisher of all time too!

Things I've Read/Reading: Sandman (one of the greatest comics ever), Preacher (fun stuff), V for Vendetta (I liked the movie...and I don't feel guilty about it), Watchmen (you are not the first or probably even the twentieth person I've come across who's thought this but Watchmen is NOT Vertigo), Y: The Last Man (ah, I absolutely love this book), Dysart's Unknown Soldier (cancelled before it's time but the ending was amazing), Unwritten (loving this one, I can't wait to see where it's going), American Vampire (I'm excited for this book's future)

Things I want to read more into: Transmetropolitan (Ellis' greatest work IMO, the series is actually very depressing when you let yourself be confronted by the truth, it's Spider that keeps us sane), Fables (a lot of people complain about the early issues of the series but it's definitely a book that gets better with each story and in the end you won't regret the early stuff...I for one never disliked the early stuff but some people complain), Ex Machina (again, not Vertigo, it's WildStorm but I have the first five trades on my shelf right now unread...going to buy the last five and read it all in one shot), Hellblazer...definitely Hell Blazer (definitely).

Things I KNOW I should've read already but haven't yet: Moore's Swamp Thing (this was actually one of my last priorities, I realized it was essential too but to be honest I'm not the biggest Moore fan...some of the stories for me were some of the best Swamp Thing stories ever...but the run definitely had its dips in quality IMO but don't listen to me on this, Silkcuts will convince you it's the greatest thing ever and I'm okay if others liked it more then me...however, don't forget other Swamp Thing writers...BKV wrote a 20-issue series...it's about Swamp Thing's daughter but it's a great series, unfortunately it was cancelled before he wrote Y:TLM and everyone realized how amazing he was), Milligan's Shade (my second favorite comic! I understand without a complete trade collection it's difficult to read it all but it's all awesome...the book is mainly three distinct eras #1-32, #33-50, #51-70...the middle of the three is definitely my personal favorite but the series as a whole is an amazing example of experimentation in the medium, great stuff), Morrison's Animal Man/Doom Patrol (Doom Patrol DEFINITELY! also Animal Man from him was indeed great...but...and I know I'm alone in this, I think Delano wrote a better Animal Man...a more animal-oriented one...it's not in trade unfortunately but it's issues #51-79), Carey's Lucifer (my favorite comic of all time...now, I'm not saying it's the greatest ever made but it's the one that personally stuck with me, it was also my first Vertigo comic), Scalped (this series is great, very gritty and depressing), Madame Xanadu (cut short before its time but definitely a good read...also some amazing art), Hell Blazer...yes I have Constantine on the brain lately

Things I'd like some feedback on: The Dreaming (definitely underrated, I went into this book expecting little, I mean it was never really collected so it couldn't have been that good...and that's where I was wrong. it started out as a rotating cast of writers with their own stories to tell though and I'll admit I didn't like ALL of those stories but some were amazing...and eventually Caitlin Kiernan became the official writer of the book and starting with 17 an ongoing storyline kicked off...it's really an essential read if your a fan of the supporting cast in Sandman such as Lucien, Cain and Abel, Matthew, etc. a lot of new stuff about them is established), Sandman Mystery Theater (ah, another classic, don't know why they don't have a ninth trade solicited for this summer but it's a really good book, not my typical comic though, it's very formulaic as these things are...every arc is four issues, introduces a new serial killer, Dodds has to stop them, etc. but there's also an ongoing story behind it all including his relationship with Dian AND it's also a look at the underbelly of society of course as all stories set in the 30's would have to be)

Others:

Now I don't want to bog you down and I don't want to sit here typing all day but here's a few (not all the Vertigo comics I liked) essential reads (at least IMO) in the first list while the second list is comics I wouldn't call essential but that I found personal joy in

  • 100% (the superior of Paul Pope's two Vertigo titles)
  • 100 Bullets (this is an amazing story, and it's so great watching it all unfold to its inevitable conclusion, crime/noir stuff)
  • Black Orchid (Gaiman's is essential...I'm actually in the process of reading the ongoing series that spun-off, I thought the first seven or so issues were bloody amazing but then the book took a turn for the worse and until I finish it I can't decide if the ongoing is worthwhile or not)
  • Daytripper (the first eight issues, I'm not a guy who likes an answer with books like this so the last two issues weren't personal favorites but the first eight are DEFINITELY essential)
  • Death (I assume you've read them, but the Death minis, High Cost of Living and Time of Your Life)
  • Demo (okay, this should probably be on the second list but this series is the best demonstration of Wood and Cloonan at their best, I think the 2nd volume topped the 1st, but both are great)
  • Human Target (Milligan's Human Target, only half collected but it's definitely essential, story about a man who's trying to find his identity)
  • Pride of Baghdad (OGN about a family of lions in the modern day wartorn Baghdad, beautiful but sad story)
  • The Books of Magic (Gaiman miniseries...there's also some good stuff throughout the various series that followed, but rarely anything consistently awesome)
  • The Filth (Morrison)
  • The Invisibles (same as above)
  • The Alcoholic (I think this is my favorite semi-autobiographical comic ever)
  • Adventures in the Rifle Brigade (this isn't essential in the slightest but it's worth more then a few laughs...it's classic Ennis humor mixed with World War II equaling quests for Hitler's lost bollock, a man who is constantly faking his own death in order to get homosexual favors from his superior officer and of course an American who says nothing but "Gawd Dammit!")
  • American Virgin (I'm not sure how essential this series is so I put it in this list but I very much enjoyed it...all about sex of course and fifty different viewpoints on it)
  • Vertigo Crime (all the Vertigo Crime graphic novels have been great so far, definitely makes me appreciate the noir genre more)
  • Beware the Creeper (I really liked this one, it's a French Creeper from the 1920's I believe...great story)
  • Blood and Water (just the first three issues...the last two kind of felt like a lame ending for me)
  • Crossing Midnight (Mike Carey's unsuccessful attempt at an ongoing between Lucifer and Unwritten...the art's probably not for everyone but I enjoyed the story, 'twas a pity it got cancelled)
  • Faker (Mike Carey mini, great stuff...just a little story about a girl with a problem regarding the truth and other stuff)
  • Finals (recently got a Vertigo Resurrection, fun little book, ah, reminds me of my high school)
  • House of Mystery (the current series, I've never been able to pin down in so many words why I enjoy it so much but it's a great read)
  • Jack of Fables (first 36 issues are hilarious, great fun and douchebaggery, skip the stuff after that though...)
  • Seaguy (it's incomplete and I doubt Morrison will ever finish it because he's too busy with his mainstream stuff rolls eyes but it's a good read IMO)
  • The Nobody (Jeff Lemire's Invisible Man)
  • The Other Side (taking a look at both sides of the Vietnam War)

but I'm getting tired (and I'm sure you're not even going to read this far in the post before you shake your head and move on) so I'll stop...hope this was at least somewhat helpful

Moderator
Posted by Emperor Gonzo Noir

All we need is a post from Silkcuts and this thread is over.

Posted by RedheadedAtrocitus
The Exterminators man, awesome book, and I absolutely love Bite Club as well. 
 
@aztek the lost: You included Watchmen even though, as you agree, its not a Vertigo?
Posted by aztek_the_lost

@RedheadedAtrocitus: no, the first section at the top is his post and the bold is just my comments on each item he already mentioned...the lists below that are my original suggestions

I enjoyed Exterminators and Bite Club as well...so I'm going to run out of here before I start continuing my list...someone else needs to take a turn

Moderator
Posted by JonesDeini
@aztek the lost:  
I realize that stuff like Swamp Thing/Watchmen/etc.  "aren't " Vertigo books, but let's not kid ourselves, they are. That's where the spirit started. The moment Alan Moore penned his first Swamp Thing script the Vertigo imprint was born into reality. And yeah I realized Ex Machina was a Wildstorm book after I posted this. Thanks for the suggestions and comments. 
Edited by Orpheus

Aztek the lost has pretty much covered most of it lol.... I personally really enjoyed The Invisibles (Check it out now, if you haven't already, the first three graphic novels are up there with ' a game of you' and ' Watchmen' for me), Moore's Swamp Thing, Shade The Changing Man, Moonshadow ( Totally underrated, not originally a vertigo title but they now publish it, as a Sandman/Gaiman fan your bound to fall in love with it as I did). From the 'newer' Vertigo titles ( Yeah I'm kinda old school, lol) I really liked 100 Bullets. Gaiman consider's Mr Punch one of his best works, and I'd recommend that ... Oh and Doom Patrol, that's great too. 
 
I'm certainly no expert on The Dreaming and Sandman Mystery Theatre, but from the few issues I read they definitely maintained Vertigo's level of quality but for me weren't up there with better known works if you see what I mean. They're definitely worth further investigation though. 

Posted by JonesDeini
@Orpheus said:
Aztek the lost has pretty much covered most of it lol.... I personally really enjoyed The Invisibles (Check it out now, if you haven't already, the first three graphic novels are up there with ' a game of you' and ' Watchmen' for me), Moore's Swamp Thing, Shade The Changing Man, Moonshadow ( Totally underrated, not originally a vertigo title but they now publish it, as a Sandman/Gaiman fan your bound to fall in love with it as I did). From the 'newer' Vertigo titles ( Yeah I'm kinda old school, lol) I really liked 100 Bullets. Gaiman consider's Mr Punch one of his best works, and I'd recommend that ... Oh and Doom Patrol, that's great too.  I'm certainly no expert on The Dreaming and Sandman Mystery Theatre, but from the few issues I read they definitely maintained Vertigo's level of quality but for me weren't up there with better known works if you see what I mean. They're definitely worth further investigation though. 
I just started Shade a few weeks ago. Thanks for the heads up on the other books. I've been interested in Mr. Punch and Black Orchid. 
Posted by KenTheProfile
@JonesDeini: 
Sandman mystery theatre is a great noir crime fighter tale. fun villians and arts that's diffrent enough to set it apart from anything else.
Posted by JonesDeini
@KenTheProfile:  
Thanks for the info, man!
Posted by Billy Batson

Sweet Tooth

BB
Posted by JonesDeini
@Billy Batson:  
After reading Lemire's Animal Man I really want to see what else dude's capable of. 
Posted by Billy Batson
@JonesDeini:  

Sweet Tooth is pretty awesome and interesting. 

BB
Posted by kfhrfdu_89_76k

@aztek_the_lost:

Posts that long should be forbidden by law! = )

Posted by JonesDeini

@kfhrfdu_89_76k:

Lmao

Use your keyboard!

  • ESC