Favorites - Didn't Make the Cut - Mini Series Part 1
In no particular order, six Miniseries that aren’t part of my top 20. There are five more that I’ll write about in Part 2.
JLA/Avengers
Four Issues
Marvel and DC Comics
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: George Perez
I can't believe Perez injured his wrist
Maybe it’s because this was released so recently that I enjoyed it so much. Yes, it’s not accessible to anyone who doesn’t read the books regularly but the way that Kurt Busiek handled this crossover was superb. There was a lot of anticipation and many crossovers have come before, but Busiek offered something fresh to people. He managed to capture the essence of both DC and Marvel universes and show how heroes from each felt out of place. He used some of the tools from Avengers Forever where he mixes in all the different time periods. You could tell there was an affection for both sets of characters and their long histories. George Perez on art turns in a great work, each character’s face unique and he was able to keep so many people straight. Unreal that he injured his wrist drawing the cover to the third issue. One of the best inter-company crossovers ever.
DC 2000
Two Issues
DC Comics
Writer: Tom Peyer
Artist: Val Semeiks
When the Spectre meets a computer...
A sort of “sequel” to DC One Million where the JLA goes back into the Golden Age to retrieve modern items that have been dropped off back in time. The old JSA finds computers, machine guns and questions the cynicism it sees in its future counterparts. A great way to play off of the One Million concept. Time travel misunderstandings of course, are always amusing as well.
Earth X
Fourteen Issues
Marvel Comics
Writer: Jim Krueger and Alex Ross
Artist: Jean Paul Leon
By Alex Ross. Sort of.
Wizard asked Alex Ross to imagine his “Kingdom Come” story for the Marvel Universe and the concept for Earth X was born. I’m not a big fan of Jean Paul Leon’s art, and much of the story takes place in prose, but this is a widespread epic story that discusses the grim future of the Marvel Universe. It was followed up with Universe X and Paradise X which were both not terrible, but each series was quite long, and borderline tiresome (14-20 issues each).
Infinity Gauntlet
Six Issues
Marvel Comics
Writer: Jim Starlin
Artist: George Perez and Ron Lim
Adam Warlock is a strange fellow.
All the Marvel heroes get together to stop Thanos, who has the most powerful weapon in the Universe. Of course these big get-together type stories appeal to my enjoyment of the shared universe. Captain America versus Thanos was a great character moment. This was better than Secret Wars, in my opinion. It, like Earth X, was followed up by two weaker sequels – Infinity War and Infinity Crusade.
Punisher (Marvel Knights)
Marvel Comics
Twelve Issues
Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Steve Dillon
A badass again.
At some point, I think Marvel executives made some pact to steal talent from DC’s Vertigo line and put them on all Marvel books. So the critically acclaimed team from Preacher takes on Marvel’s Punisher, and it’s great. It’s got this dark humor and simple art that is terrific. Each issue presents the Punisher with another brutal yet humorous way to remove gangsters from the world. This miniseries was stronger than the ongoing series that followed. Now, the book is in a less humorous MAX incarnation.
Sleeper (Volume 1)
Wildstorm Comics (DC Comics)
Twelve Issues
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Sean Phillips
The best book nobody reads.
Season 2 of Sleeper is just starting, and if it’s as good as the first “season” then the whole title may vault into one of my all-time favorites. Holden Carver is a secret agent who has infiltrated a super-villain organization. He was picked because he cannot feel pain (and thus is immune to torture). The one problem: the only man who knows Carver is in deep cover is in a coma. So Carver has to find his way out. Each issue is a self contained story that fits in well to the larger story (very similar to Planetary). This would translate quite well to TV. The choices that Holden have to make are difficult, the moody art by Phillips is perfect for the mood and the supporting cast has a lot of great characters (such as Genocide, Miss Misery and Tao). Depending on Season 2, this whole thing might be some of the best comics I’ve ever read.
JLA/Avengers
Four Issues
Marvel and DC Comics
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: George Perez
I can't believe Perez injured his wrist
Maybe it’s because this was released so recently that I enjoyed it so much. Yes, it’s not accessible to anyone who doesn’t read the books regularly but the way that Kurt Busiek handled this crossover was superb. There was a lot of anticipation and many crossovers have come before, but Busiek offered something fresh to people. He managed to capture the essence of both DC and Marvel universes and show how heroes from each felt out of place. He used some of the tools from Avengers Forever where he mixes in all the different time periods. You could tell there was an affection for both sets of characters and their long histories. George Perez on art turns in a great work, each character’s face unique and he was able to keep so many people straight. Unreal that he injured his wrist drawing the cover to the third issue. One of the best inter-company crossovers ever.
DC 2000
Two Issues
DC Comics
Writer: Tom Peyer
Artist: Val Semeiks
When the Spectre meets a computer...
A sort of “sequel” to DC One Million where the JLA goes back into the Golden Age to retrieve modern items that have been dropped off back in time. The old JSA finds computers, machine guns and questions the cynicism it sees in its future counterparts. A great way to play off of the One Million concept. Time travel misunderstandings of course, are always amusing as well.
Earth X
Fourteen Issues
Marvel Comics
Writer: Jim Krueger and Alex Ross
Artist: Jean Paul Leon
By Alex Ross. Sort of.
Wizard asked Alex Ross to imagine his “Kingdom Come” story for the Marvel Universe and the concept for Earth X was born. I’m not a big fan of Jean Paul Leon’s art, and much of the story takes place in prose, but this is a widespread epic story that discusses the grim future of the Marvel Universe. It was followed up with Universe X and Paradise X which were both not terrible, but each series was quite long, and borderline tiresome (14-20 issues each).
Infinity Gauntlet
Six Issues
Marvel Comics
Writer: Jim Starlin
Artist: George Perez and Ron Lim
Adam Warlock is a strange fellow.
All the Marvel heroes get together to stop Thanos, who has the most powerful weapon in the Universe. Of course these big get-together type stories appeal to my enjoyment of the shared universe. Captain America versus Thanos was a great character moment. This was better than Secret Wars, in my opinion. It, like Earth X, was followed up by two weaker sequels – Infinity War and Infinity Crusade.
Punisher (Marvel Knights)
Marvel Comics
Twelve Issues
Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Steve Dillon
A badass again.
At some point, I think Marvel executives made some pact to steal talent from DC’s Vertigo line and put them on all Marvel books. So the critically acclaimed team from Preacher takes on Marvel’s Punisher, and it’s great. It’s got this dark humor and simple art that is terrific. Each issue presents the Punisher with another brutal yet humorous way to remove gangsters from the world. This miniseries was stronger than the ongoing series that followed. Now, the book is in a less humorous MAX incarnation.
Sleeper (Volume 1)
Wildstorm Comics (DC Comics)
Twelve Issues
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Sean Phillips
The best book nobody reads.
Season 2 of Sleeper is just starting, and if it’s as good as the first “season” then the whole title may vault into one of my all-time favorites. Holden Carver is a secret agent who has infiltrated a super-villain organization. He was picked because he cannot feel pain (and thus is immune to torture). The one problem: the only man who knows Carver is in deep cover is in a coma. So Carver has to find his way out. Each issue is a self contained story that fits in well to the larger story (very similar to Planetary). This would translate quite well to TV. The choices that Holden have to make are difficult, the moody art by Phillips is perfect for the mood and the supporting cast has a lot of great characters (such as Genocide, Miss Misery and Tao). Depending on Season 2, this whole thing might be some of the best comics I’ve ever read.
posted by Blogman @ 01:25
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home