mcewan@uiucdcs.UUCP (mcewan ) (01/16/84)
#N:uiucdcs:36000005:000:1539 uiucdcs!mcewan Jan 14 13:53:00 1984 All anyone seems to talk about in this newsgroup is the latest crap from Marvel. I think it's about time someone mentioned some GOOD comics, so I guess I'll have to start (at the very least I hope to get some interesting flames from people who disagree with me). I'll start with the best comic book currently being published - THRILLER. Comics fans seem to fall into two groups with regard to this comic: either they think it's the best thing around, or they think it's confusing and impossible to read. It is complex, and you can get lost if you don't pay attention, but very worthwhile. I read each issue several times and enjoy it just as much each time. A close second and gaining is AMERICAN FLAGG! Howie Chaykin at his worst is pretty good and this is Chaykin at his best. Nuff said. Just to give Marvel its due, I'll mention THOR. This is the best book at Marvel (excluding Epic comics - I think of Epic as another company). Being the best book at Marvel isn't much of an achievement these days, but Thor is really good. I especially enjoy Simonson's characterization of Nick Fury (paraphrase of conversation in Thor 337 Don Blake:"How did you know I was Thor?" Fury:"It's my job. I'm supposed to know stuff.") I'm only sorry that this caught on so fast. I was hoping it would catch on slowly and then I could say I was a fan of Simonson's Thor before it was popular. Okay, I've started the ball rolling. Let's see other people favorites, or flames, or anything besides "isn't X-Men neat!". Scott McEwan uiucdcs!mcewan
pbw@cbosgd.UUCP (Paul Westerfield) (01/17/84)
O.k., I'll take up that gauntlet. First, I'm one of the ones who didn't find Thriller all that coherant, maybe I'll take a second look now. Secondly, I disagree about the BEST CB, I assert that it is easily Elfquest, in that the Pini's pen and ink is unmatched by any of the mainstream artists, including Claremont and Buscema (unless they really take the time, which is rarely). The plot is interesting, if not extremely intricate, and the characters are not subject the the Marvel 'feet of clay' symdrom. They are real, but not constantly mired in self doubt and pity. 'nuff said. Paul B. Westerfield cbosgd!pbw
moriarty@uw-june.UUCP (01/17/84)
Quite right! I hope my own reviews will help fufill the bill... this "lets knock Secret Wars" bit is getting boring. While I have a problem with Thriller (I think the story has potential, but the art is just not up to snuff... confusing and disjointed, and makes the story hard to follow, even during rereading), American Flagg is excellent. AF is an example of the book which is enjoyable the first time through, and then is even better on subsequent runs.... As to Thor, the small comments Simonson puts in are great (ever see his Battlestar Galacticas? He should have written for the TV show, they wouldn't have been cancelled).... my favorite so far being Blake changing into Thor in Fury's flying car, and the last issue with the dockworkers fleeing from Fafnir the dragon ("Golly, where the heck is Thor, anyway?"). Probably should have incuded Simonson in my best artists/writers list (ah, well). Lets hope we get some comments. The Napoleon of Crime | Currently skulking around | UUCP: MORIARTY | {...decvax!}tektronix!uw-beaver!uw-june!moriarty | ARPANET: AKA -jwm- | moriarty@washington