Other Comics
well, quite a few people have asked "so, what have you been reading since sam stopped maxx?" well i read what i've always read. which are the comics/writers on this list. if u liked maxx you might like these comics. this is my reccomended reading list and contains comics which i have deemed a good read.
Frank Miller:
ok, Sam was good. Frank Miller's writing surpasses Sam's, anything by this guy is good and anytime i get something new that was written by him i never cease to be blown away. his art quality varies depending on which book you get. if you have the time and money, do yourself a favor and pick up a sin city book, or the dark knight returns. these are two of his more memorable works.
i do believe the future just got weird. Rob Scrab has done a beautiful job with these books, theyre not as weird as the maxx but its a witty read. defiantely worth your money (published by fire man press ltd.)
all i can say is that this guy created the crow, one of the most original comics i have ever read. not many people realize that the crow was a comic book, it was. and a damn good one at that. if you enjoyed the movie, check out the book, even if you didnt see the movie, see if someone you knows has it. its really good. (published by kitchen sink press)
another case of a popular show made from a comic that people dont realize is there. once again, a great comic, insanely funny, and i feel obligated to salute ben edlund (the creator/writer/artist) as the comic was funnier than the show and a more intellegent form of comedy. (from NEC press)
Jeff Smith wrote this multi award winning comic, its a cute little story with a lot of imaginaton and heart packed in every bit. this is one of those for all ages stories, so dont expect raunchy humor, but expect to find something for yourself in there. (published by cartoon books/ image comics)
this one was an unexpected pleasure. i picked it up on a whim after having heard a friend talk about it constantly. it was great. drew hayes has achieved something fun and serious in this comic its a bit obscure and you may have to have it special ordered but its well worth it. great art/ writing and well worth your time. (published by sirius comics)
normally i try to stay away from the "big two" unless something really good comes along. this was one of those exceptions. I, joker is an elseworlds story that was really intrigueing.art wasnt bad either. only problem with this is i havent seen it that much since its newsstand run. if you can find it get it. (published by dc comics)
Shannon Wheeler has definately hit on something so odd its funny here. basicly the stories of a half-assed superhero with both caffene and niccotine addictions. strangely funny and some of the concepts are very odd. go ahead and laugh you fool you know you want to.(publised by dark horse comics)
i know what youre thinking. "how do you pronounce that" well according to him you pronounce it "joe(as in mighty joe schlong)-nen(as in jhonen)" now with that issue done, this is one of the most insanely funny men in comics. creator of johnny the homicidal maniac, squee, i feel sick, fillerbunny, and the bad art collection; i have been at least left rolling by everything i have read by him. work up the 3 or so bux to get one of his comics youll be glad you did.(published by slave labour graphics)
yah i know i broke my "no big two" rule agian, but what i like about this one wasnt the series that dc made, but the numerous miniseries. a few of these miniseries were done by simon bisley, and beautifully done at that. memorable ones include the "paramilitary christmas special", the first miniseries later titled "the last czarnian" and "lobo's back" (published by dc comics)
yah i bought this miniseries. i find it odd myself. however; it was decent and i often find myself re reading it for reasons unknown. a highlight is that all the rob leifeld image characters were killed off during this series also includes a maxx cameo or 2. (published by image comics)
QUIT HOUNDING ME!!!! i dont like spiderman, and its a general fact that todd mc farlane cant write for crap. however, he fluked out and did a good job here. (marvel comics 1991)
bill messner-loebs did this for his solo project. if you dont know who bill messneer loebs is you cant possibly be a maxx fanatic. another touching story about a bum making it in a harsh city, there were only 2 issues image released before canning it, but it was a solid series, needed more publicity.(image comics)
ok this one has no set story, just that its an animal sacntuary somewhere in maryland. written by frank (monkeyman) cho it is an insanely funny strip, and appears daily. in my local paper however if your paper doesnt carry it check online comic shops it is being collected into comic books. (published by the creators syndicate)
the most critiacally acclaimed series of the 90s written by fantasy writer Neil Gaiman this was a truly groundbreaking and very good series. now only available in the format of 10 separate graphic novels. i own the first book in this series and if you didnt know already the original artist was sam kieth himself. that alone should tell you to pick up a copy and see what the rage is about. tecnically this doesnt break my "big 2 rule" because it is published by vertigo, a subsidiary of dc, not dc directly (published under the vertigo line)
like many popular comic books this one started out strong in all departments, art, writing, etc. but it then fizzled out after the first few issues. i own issue no.1 and it was good enough that should i get the oppertunity and a reasonable price on it ill get more issues. this one was good in the first few issues and those are the ones which are reccomended. keep in mind though that this comic has (much like the maxx) very loyal fans and (unlike the maxx)billions of them. and is thus hard to get a hold of older issues. (published by top cow)
youre asking yourself "garfield!?! this guy is reccomending garfield?!" normally no. however i found this little gem of a collection in with my old graphic novels. and a little while ago i found that it had been moved to the adult fiction section of a library, prompting me to re read and find out what the fuss was about. i found this book actually rather good and off the usual path associated with the character. its a collection of 9 short stories done by other writers and artists, and then edited by creator jim davis. stories in this volume take a darker tone in some cases and are very good. if you can get a hold of this book (i havent seen it in years) pick it up. youll be glad. (published by ballantine books)
