Best MARVEL & DC books out right now

[cobra_commander]

I don't buy new comics anymore, not when if you wait a few months, you can find most of them in a store's bargain bin. For example, I was pretty jazzed when I saw Neal Adams was going to do a short X-Men story in Giant Size X-Men #3, however, I think the price was $3.99 or something like that, so I passed on it. Just this past week, the local shop I found with the quarter bins had a stack of this book, all for a nice shiny quarter each.

[myron]

I don't buy new comics anymore, not when if you wait a few months, you can find most of them in a store's bargain bin. For example, I was pretty jazzed when I saw Neal Adams was going to do a short X-Men story in Giant Size X-Men #3, however, I think the price was $3.99 or something like that, so I passed on it. Just this past week, the local shop I found with the quarter bins had a stack of this book, all for a nice shiny quarter each.

words of wisdom...

[Todd Luck]

I don't buy new comics anymore, not when if you wait a few months, you can find most of them in a store's bargain bin. For example, I was pretty jazzed when I saw Neal Adams was going to do a short X-Men story in Giant Size X-Men #3, however, I think the price was $3.99 or something like that, so I passed on it. Just this past week, the local shop I found with the quarter bins had a stack of this book, all for a nice shiny quarter each.

words of wisdom...

That's a great idea IF that works at your comic shop. Check your shop before you depend on their discount bin.

All of them are different. The one in my are does that a little. You'll find some things from on the shelf in the discount bin months later but they usually sell through most of their stock if it's a remotely popular comic (unless they just over ordered). Of course, I've also seen one that kept old issues at cover price on the shelf for a year and one that automatically puts every issue left over from the shelf into their back issues and charges you at least $3.25 a pop for them regardless of guide price!

[IMJ]

the order from marvel is becoming one of my favorite books

x's 2 and I can't believe it....

The Mandarin is coming back in Iron Man in a big, big way too... It's beginning to look like Armor Wars III, but based on Extremis. There are also interesting things going on in Avengers Initiative related to this, but I'm not sure if many people have picked up on that yet.

[Tim]

Of course, I've also seen one that kept old issues at cover price on the shelf for a year and one that automatically puts every issue left over from the shelf into their back issues and charges you at least $3.25 a pop for them regardless of guide price!

Since you're from Greensboro, you must be talking about ACME on Lawndale.

[Cyberstrike]

None and none

Holding out for more Miracleman issues?

kidding.

I was going to put All Star Batman & Robin since that is about the only Batman story that DC has put out in the last 10 years that me care about Batman, but at the rate Miller and Lee are going Miracleman #26 will be released before they get done with it.


Besides I've decided to read All Star Batman & Robin (IF Miller and Lee ever finish their run) in TPB or HC.

[Tim]

Yeah, It'd probably be best to read it that way with all the delays.

I haven't read it, but it's been almost unanimously paned by everybody. I might give it a look when it's all done.

Speaking of Miracleman and delays, though, made me glad I didn't start reading that series when it was serialized.

here's the breakdown of when the delays during Miracleman:

6 months between #9 and #10

then 4 months between #10 and #11

then 5 months between #11 & #12

then 5 between #13 and #14

a year and one month between #15 and #16

6 months between #16 and #17

a year between 22 and #23

another year between #23 and 24

I would totally have lost interest.

[Lightning Strike]

Yeah, It'd probably be best to read it that way with all the delays.

I haven't read it, but it's been almost unanimously paned by everybody. I might give it a look when it's all done.

Speaking of Miracleman and delays, though, made me glad I didn't start reading that series when it was serialized.

here's the breakdown of when the delays during Miracleman:

6 months between #9 and #10

then 4 months between #10 and #11

then 5 months between #11 & #12

then 5 between #13 and #14

a year and one month between #15 and #16

6 months between #16 and #17

a year between 22 and #23

another year between #23 and 24

I would totally have lost interest.

THAT is insane

[Cyberstrike]

Yeah, It'd probably be best to read it that way with all the delays.

I haven't read it, but it's been almost unanimously paned by everybody. I might give it a look when it's all done.

Speaking of Miracleman and delays, though, made me glad I didn't start reading that series when it was serialized.

here's the breakdown of when the delays during Miracleman:

6 months between #9 and #10

then 4 months between #10 and #11

then 5 months between #11 & #12

then 5 between #13 and #14

a year and one month between #15 and #16

6 months between #16 and #17

a year between 22 and #23

another year between #23 and 24

I would totally have lost interest.

THAT is insane

Yes it is insane but between: a dispute between Moore and Davies, a dispute between Moore and Marvel over the name of the series.
Then the series suffered under an unknown and untalented hack named Chuck Austin, the controversy of the "graphic" birth of Miracleman's baby in #9, then factor in John Totleben's eye disease.
Gaiman's refusal to write an issue without being paid for the last one he wrote, and bad management from Eclipse.
It's a wonder that got it as far as it did.

FTR: I got into the series in 2003.

[Todd Luck]

Of course, I've also seen one that kept old issues at cover price on the shelf for a year and one that automatically puts every issue left over from the shelf into their back issues and charges you at least $3.25 a pop for them regardless of guide price!

Since you're from Greensboro, you must be talking about ACME on Lawndale.

The one that keeps the old ones on the shelf forever I was thinking of was the now defunct Silver Bullet Comics in Winston.

You hit the nail on the head, the one with the $3.25+ back issues is Acme (though they do keep some of their stock on the shelf awhile). They do have the best back issue election in the area (basically because no one wants to pay that *SQUEE* for backissues, so they just sit there in boxes) and when they have their annual sell you can get really good deals.

[Todd Luck]

Yeah, It'd probably be best to read it that way with all the delays.

I haven't read it, but it's been almost unanimously paned by everybody. I might give it a look when it's all done.

Speaking of Miracleman and delays, though, made me glad I didn't start reading that series when it was serialized.

here's the breakdown of when the delays during Miracleman:

6 months between #9 and #10

then 4 months between #10 and #11

then 5 months between #11 & #12

then 5 between #13 and #14

a year and one month between #15 and #16

6 months between #16 and #17

a year between 22 and #23

another year between #23 and 24

I would totally have lost interest.

THAT is insane

No, it's called an independent comic. One of the reason I don't get too many of them any more.

[myron]

Of course, I've also seen one that kept old issues at cover price on the shelf for a year and one that automatically puts every issue left over from the shelf into their back issues and charges you at least $3.25 a pop for them regardless of guide price!

Since you're from Greensboro, you must be talking about ACME on Lawndale.

The one that keeps the old ones on the shelf forever I was thinking of was the now defunct Silver Bullet Comics in Winston.

You hit the nail on the head, the one with the $3.25+ back issues is Acme (though they do keep some of their stock on the shelf awhile). They do have the best back issue election in the area (basically because no one wants to pay that *SQUEE* for backissues, so they just sit there in boxes) and when they have their annual sell you can get really good deals.

that's soooooo stupid...why wouldn't you lower your back issue prices to increase foot traffic through the store on a regular basis...and increase your sales that way.

[Tim]

FTR: I got into the series in 2003.

I got into MM around 1997 which was a good time. I bought issues 1-6 out of dollar boxes and had about 2-3 of each. Found #9, 10, 16 and the whole Gaiman run later on for a couple of bucks a piece. Found 4 copies of the Golden Age TPB at a used bookstore for $5 each.

After a few years I sold off the ones I had duplicates of for an obscene amount of money on eBay especially the Gaiman stuff. The Golden Age TPB's sold for around $40 each.

So now I have a complete reading set and I plan to hang on to it.

I have 1 through 7, eight was reprints, so I'm not interested in that one, #9 and the last two trade paperbacks. I also have Apocrypha, Miraclaman Familty #1 and Miracleman 3-D.

[Tim]

that's soooooo stupid...why wouldn't you lower your back issue prices to increase foot traffic through the store on a regular basis...and increase your sales that way.

Greensboro is a huge city and the only other comics store is Parts Unknown on Spring Garden which, being practically on the UNC-G campus makes it a pain to get to and an even bigger pain to find somewhere to park.

ACME hasn't got to worry about foot traffic because they're effectively the only choice for comics in Greensboring.

They have a super nice store, though, and if you don't mind paying a little bit more for stuff you can find practically anything you want.

[Todd Luck]

that's soooooo stupid...why wouldn't you lower your back issue prices to increase foot traffic through the store on a regular basis...and increase your sales that way.

Greensboro is a huge city and the only other comics store is Parts Unknown on Spring Garden which, being practically on the UNC-G campus makes it a pain to get to and an even bigger pain to find somewhere to park.

ACME hasn't got to worry about foot traffic because they're effectively the only choice for comics in Greensboring.

They have a super nice store, though, and if you don't mind paying a little bit more for stuff you can find practically anything you want.

I've always gone to Parts Unknown for my pull box and I've always found it much easier to get to (I've always, found the roads around Acme confusing and hard to navigate, though they get helluvalot of traffic). But Parts Unknown is run like a mom and pop store, they'll often sell out of what you're looking for within hours of the shipment arrving and their back stock is limited (But my God they have the greatest dollar boxes ever!).

And again you hit the nail on the head, I go to Acme whenever John shorts me at Parts Unknown or if I absolutely need a back issue. You pay for the selection but if you're desperate, it's worth it. Acme is the oldest, biggest and most successful comic shop in the area.

[Tim]

ACME is actually where I got he aforementioned Miracleman issues.

[Cyberstrike]

FTR: I got into the series in 2003.

I got into MM around 1997 which was a good time. I bought issues 1-6 out of dollar boxes and had about 2-3 of each. Found #9, 10, 16 and the whole Gaiman run later on for a couple of bucks a piece. Found 4 copies of the Golden Age TPB at a used bookstore for $5 each.

After a few years I sold off the ones I had duplicates of for an obscene amount of money on eBay especially the Gaiman stuff. The Golden Age TPB's sold for around $40 each.

So now I have a complete reading set and I plan to hang on to it.

I have 1 through 7, eight was reprints, so I'm not interested in that one, #9 and the last two trade paperbacks. I also have Apocrypha, Miraclaman Familty #1 and Miracleman 3-D.

I got Miracleman #1-4, #8 and a signed and numbered edition of #16 with CoA, and all 3 issues of Miracleman: Apocrypha and an extra copy of #2.
Plus I got all 4 of the main Miracleman TPBs (I bought a NM copy of The Golden Age TPB off eBay for $20.00 and it was the cheapest one ) and Kimtoa: The Miracleman Companion which got me started on Miracleman.

[Tim]

I'd like to sell or trade my copies of 1-7 and 9 for the
"Dream of Flying" and "Red King Syndrome" TPBs, but I'm not in any hurry.

[400yrs]

If I could interject some non DC/Marvel books into the mix I recommend BPRD and The 99.

What is that book about and who puts it out?

[Tim]

What is that book about and who puts it out?

I'll let Todd field this one, because my mother always said "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"

[cobra_commander]

FTR: I got into the series in 2003.

I got into MM around 1997 which was a good time. I bought issues 1-6 out of dollar boxes and had about 2-3 of each. Found #9, 10, 16 and the whole Gaiman run later on for a couple of bucks a piece. Found 4 copies of the Golden Age TPB at a used bookstore for $5 each.

After a few years I sold off the ones I had duplicates of for an obscene amount of money on eBay especially the Gaiman stuff. The Golden Age TPB's sold for around $40 each.

So now I have a complete reading set and I plan to hang on to it.

I have 1 through 7, eight was reprints, so I'm not interested in that one, #9 and the last two trade paperbacks. I also have Apocrypha, Miraclaman Familty #1 and Miracleman 3-D.

I thought 1-10 or 1-5 or something like that was all reprints...from the UK

[Tim]

I thought 1-10 or 1-5 or something like that was all reprints...from the UK

They were. Issues #1 through #5 of the Eclipse series reprinted the black & white Marvelman stories from "Warrior" in color.

#8 reprinted old Marvelman stuff from the '50's & 60's and contained no Alan Moore material and from my understanding had nothing to do with the new stories.

[Cyberstrike]

I'd like to sell or trade my copies of 1-7 and 9 for the
"Dream of Flying" and "Red King Syndrome" TPBs, but I'm not in any hurry.

I would only trade my TPBs for the hardcovers.

[Zool]

The best book Marvel is putting our right now is probably Captain America, which is amazing considering that during Brubakers run it's handled two of comics biggest cliche's, the death of a main character and the return of a character long established as dead.

But man is it good, bad *SQUEE* super agents, credible foes, and oldschool favourites like Falcon, Black Widow and the Red Skull. I can't stress enough how consitently good Bru's run has been, do check it out.

I'm not a huge DC fan but I've been loving Paul Dini's single issue stories in Detective Comics. Continuity lite tales that pay off by page 22. They remind you why Batman is so cool to begin with.

[400yrs]

I'm not a huge DC fan but I've been loving Paul Dini's single issue stories in Detective Comics. Continuity lite tales that pay off by page 22. They remind you why Batman is so cool to begin with.

That sounds like something I could get into. Thanks for the heads up.