MC's Comic book post

[Fzoulcmbyl]

Here is MC's post from Gmv, March 10th 2004.


"I remember fzoul mentioning at one point that he used to work in a comic book store of some sort and is a bit of an expert. Anyway, with the movies coming out by Marvel I've started to get pretty interested in the Marvel characters, namely The Punisher and the relationship between the different characters...I never knew before that Daredevil, Spiderman, and The Punisher actually existed in the same world let alone fought each other. I just think that's so cool.

Anyway, I'd like to start reading these and maybe even collect a few. I'm not one to put down a ridiculous amount of money on a rare issue or anything, at this point I'm mostly just curious. I would appreciate it if some comic savvy GMv'ers could help me begin by pointing me in the right direction. I would like to start by reading The Punisher, although I hear he actually got his start in a spiderman comic or something so things seem pretty complicated. I'm not interested so much in buying the original punisher comics that came out, I'd just like to read as many as possible, in one form or another. Is there some sort of compilation book out there that has a bunch of the comics?

I would also appreciate some links to a few good comic websites. I just love reading about this stuff...it's fascinating. "

End

[Fzoulcmbyl]

and a few replies....


I think someone here said something to the effect of..

"Great Memory!"


:wink:


I'll try and point you in the right direction, and I will have to do it in spurts, so keep checking this for edits MC....

god knows Chai will be all over this like white on rice.....

:joker:


( I kidd!.... please don't ban me... )


Fzoul


Edit #1:

The Punisher 1st appeared in Spiderman #129

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/77906321824.129.gif


Then after a few cameos in other spiderman books, he ended up with his own series.

Punisher #1 This series is still going, and the early stuff just rocks.

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/65894733778.1.gif


Here is a very cool site for comics...I believe they have a "compilation" book for a few of the storylines of The Punisher, I'll update you in a bit.

Mile High Comics (http://www.milehighcomics.com/)


*

[Fzoulcmbyl]

Ya, the classic stuff from the 60's and 70's are ok, I have read alot of those and I understand their place in comics history.....that said, I think the 80's produced some of the best stories in comics history, and I'm sure between everyone here, we can give you some real good gems to look at.

I'll start with the 2 you mentioned, Spidey and Punisher.

If you want some of the best Spiderman stuff, start with Amazing Spiderman #238

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/77906321824.238.gif

This will lead into Amazing Spiderman #252

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/77906321824.252.gif

If you want the full story on the black costume, then you will have to pick-up a 12-part mini-series "Secret Wars" that takes place on another world, and involves practically every Marvel character.

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/72795747460.1.gif

Otherwise, Amazing Spiderman has some great stories, all the way through to #350 at least.

This will include the first appearance of Venom #300, and the Todd McFarlane era..

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/77906321824.300.gif

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/77906321824.308.gif

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/77906321824.325.gif

Also, Spiderman at one time had 4 books with different titles, and stories going. If I were to recommend 1 other Title, it would be Web of Spiderman. It also had some great writing, along with very good artwork, and stories featuring "The Rose" "Silver Sable" and "The Sinister Six" which included Doc Ock, Electro, and Sandman.
I would say that you could start with issue #26, and go from there.

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/94711729058.1.gif

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/94711729058.32.gif

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/94711729058.84.gif


Onto Punisher......

Stick with Punisher #1, as I showed you above....those all have great stories, though issue #100, then like Spiderman, Punisher also spawned 2 other books.
My recommendation would be Punisher: War Journal...really great stuff.

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/65997099780.1.gif

This will give you the best "Punisher vs Wolverine" stuff ever made.

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/65997099780.7.gif

and you'll also get some Team-up work with Spiderman...

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/65997099780.15.gif

and Ghost Rider....

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/65997099780.29.gif


This Punisher book ended it's run at issue #80.....they were all great.

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/65997099780.58.gif


I'll give you 1 or 2 more characters in another Update.

:thumbup:

Fzoul

[Fzoulcmbyl]

and from Chai........


" I'm glad Fzoul got here first. He's done all my work for me!

Hmm...there are a few ways to tackle getting into the characters.

The first (and most recommended) is to look for some trade paperback collections called "The Essential xxx" where xxx is the superhero in question. These are collections of classic stories of the hero - whether it's the Hulk, XMen, Captain America or Spiderman or Punisher. This is very useful for coming up to speed with the important villains and storylines in a superhero's background, and also extremely cool because you can see how the character has developed over the years.
There's also other collections called 'Annuals' and 'Marvel Masterworks'. Best bet is to look at them physically if possible as some stories are repeated between collections.

The second choice is to jump straight in - choose a series and start buying. This means buying the latest issue (try to jump in at the start of a new storyline) and see how you go, buying back issues when you have the money. This can be very expensive and hard to follow, but is the most up to date.

The third choice is to go for the Ultimates series - the Ultimates are Marvel's retelling of the origin of the heroes in a modern day. The basic premise is still the same, as are the villains, but the details are different. Some love it, some hate it. The Spiderman one is quite well done, in my opinion.

For specific Spidey arcs - look for the Todd McFarlane era - brilliant art (when he was just getting big) with some great stories - especially the Venom stuff.

Also - the 2nd 'Web of Spiderman' cover pictured by Fzoul (Spidey in a grave) if I remember comes from one of my favourite Spidey stories - Kraven's Last Hunt. Brilliant writing and made one of Spidey's lesser enemies into an amazing story.

While the Daredevil movie sucked - some of his stories are tremendous - look for stuff written by Kevin Smith (as in the movie director), and ones involving Elektra.

There's not much I personally can recommend on Punisher. I never was really into him. There are some good collections and crossovers where Punisher meets with Daredevil, Wolverine or Spidey, but I am not familiar enough with the Punisher's books in themselves. Sorry!

Check out: http://www.superherostuff.com/

Also - the Mile High comics link Fzoul posted is excellent - they are an AMAZING comic store in Anaheim. HUGE place, with so much stuff it ain't funny.

Another one is www.mayhemcomics.com which is pretty cool too.

Couple of links rather than pics:

Punisher Essential (http://www.mayhemcomics.com/store/index.cfm?section=store&cmd=product&catlist=-1,34,36,177&productid=2979)

Spectacular Spidey - Venom story (http://www.mayhemcomics.com/store/index.cfm?section=store&cmd=product&catlist=-1,34,36,112&productid=2435)

Collection of Todd McFarlane in Spidey (http://www.mayhemcomics.com/store/index.cfm?section=store&cmd=product&catlist=-1,34,36,112&productid=1419)

For latest comic news I usually look at http://www.newsarama.com/

A comment on the movies vs the worldset - it will be tough to actually see crossovers between the characters in the movies, much as we might like it. This is due to cost, and differing studios. The big example is Kingpin, who is a major villain for both Daredevil and Spiderman, but has obviously already been 'used' by DD, so we may never see him in Spiderman. It's a pity, but the reality of the movies.

In the comics - the crossovers are rampant, and OH SO COOL. One of the best stories ever was when the Fantastic Four were taken out of action by an enemy. In response, their computer 'activated' Reed Richards' backup system - which was to call in heroes to help out. The 'New Fantastic Four' was Spiderman, Wolverine, Ghost Rider and the Hulk. This just allows for an enormous amount of fun, creativity and coolness.

Other notable things of the single universe are Daredevil and Spidey's rivalry, and things like the Wolverine vs Punisher battle (as above). Some major heroes are introduced through other heroes rather than straight off as their own series - it makes it easier to test how well they work. Punisher started in Spiderman and Wolverine started in Hulk #180. "


*

[Fzoulcmbyl]

and again from Chai......




" Marvel Max - as R_Hooks said - it's more adult oriented. I can't recommend it because I haven't read the Max line myself.

http://www.mayhemcomics.com/store/index.cfm?section=store&cmd=browse&catlist=-1,4,17,101

Like all comics, it depends on the writers. Just because they have more leeway to explore the violence inherent in a character like the Punisher doesn't mean it's a good comic. It just might be gratuitous without being important - but there is potential there.

And if you wanna talk old classics - somewhere at home I have the first appearance of Punisher in Spidey. Except it doesn't have the cover, since I had it as a kid. Curses!

As Fzoul said (and I said before) - the most recommended way to get up to speed is the trade collections of the early issues. The only reason to buy single issues is to be an uber geek collector. "


*

[MasterChief]

Hey, thanks for reposting this fzoul. I've gotten started on reading some Punisher stuff...I got one of the warzone books which was cool. I also have issues 21 through 24 of the first volume. I plan on getting the first 20 as soon as I can...the comic book store near my house doesn't sell 'em. Loving it so far. :thumbup:

[Gary V.]

A couple of great stories are Kingdom Come by DC and The Infinity Gauntlet by Marvel. The Infinity Gauntlet revived my interest in comics in 1991 and I was a rabid fan until about 1995. Then the habit became too expensive and the quality of comics began to severly decline; a condition which I believe comics have never recovered from.

[Kalbrecht]

The best thing about the comic book industry of today is the massive diversity.

There has been an increase in strong indie publishers (indie as in anyone who isn't Marvel, DC, Image) and this has pushed the big boys to make their books better in many ways.

Stuff like the "Hush" storyline arc last year in Batman, or the Ultimates series (open to debate though) and the 1602 story in Marvel (also open to debate) have pushed forward intelligent stories with greater depth than we were seeing in the early 90s just before the market reached X-saturation, Spidey-saturation etc.

Then on the other side you have writers like Brian Michael Bendis, who I HIGHLY recommend. His Powers stuff is extremely interesting, well written and contains great art.

And don't count out a lot of webcomic republishing and webcomic writer/artist stuff being published - Dork Storm, PVP (now at image), PS238, Liberty Meadows. Excellent stuff overall.

The key these days is diversity - people read a wider range of material rather than jumping headlong into one hero or team.

[MasterChief]

While I was at a comics store near my house the other day I paged through a few books I was not familiar with. There was one called Preacher that looked pretty interesting...it's written by the guy who does the Punisher now.

EDIT: by the way, I just won an ebay auction for a few punisher comics...# 1-3 in the second volume and 4 others I can't remember, along with a couple other magazines. Got it all for 13.99, seemed like a pretty good deal.