Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities Any recommendations

Isn't that the one about the... Adversary?

Nah, I'm just always an advocate of starting at the beginning! Hell, I've only read the equivalent of the first 18 issues, anyway. So therefore....

...I've no clue!

Alright then.

Yes.

Here's the official publisher's summary:

"Collecting issues #34-41 of writer Bill Willingham's Eisner Award-winning creation, HOMELANDS follows Boy Blue on a mission of revenge as he uncovers the Adversary's true identity! Plus, the 2-part story of Jack's adventures in Hollywood and the one-shot story of Mowgli's return to Fabletown."

They did some great things with the supporting cast, including Obsisdian and Cameron Chase.

But I always found the main character to be boring, and the retcons they pulled with Manhunter continuity were unnecessary and unforgivably bad.

Warning to potential Fables readers: Avoid TPB descriptions! One of them (probably the volume after this one), I'm quite certain gives away the Adversary's (the mysterious bad guy in the first uber-arc) identity! It doesn't spell it out, but if you know your fairy tales at all (read: seen a lot of Disney movies), it's TOO big of a clue!

I could be wrong because I don't want to spoil ever detail before I even read them, but it seems likely I'm not!

Yet the fact that the fans were able to keep it going prove as testament that fans can get things done.

Definitely avoid all Fables blurbs--there are many spoilers that can be given away. You've heard the praise and know the premise...you don't need anymore convincing!

I also recommend the Hourman series by Tom Peyer. It was the one that focused on the third Hourman, the android one Grant Morrison created, and had Snapper Carr as a co-star.

The late 90s really was a beacon of originality over at DC.

Hourman, Resurrection Man, Young Heroes in Love, Relative Heroes, Birds of Prey...

Yeah, there's a big spoiler in lots of blurbs, I'd imagine, that would easily spoil the first trade's twist.

I'll second all this and add Chase, Chronos, Challengers of the Unknown, and Starman.

Great stuff that mostly wasn't rewarded with great sales.

Hitman, too!

Though it reads seamlessly, I think DC pressured Garth Ennis to wrap it up somewhat sooner than he'd planned, IIRC. Never was the blockbuster seller it deserved to be.

If I ever start writing at DC I want to harken back to these books. God knows SOME of them were dark, but they weren't all bloody.

Lot of great series you guys mentioned.

The Hitman final issue actually made me tear up.

Chase was a solid series--whatever happened to D. Curtis Johnson? Did he leave comics all together? I actually used to read his blog back in '99.

Chronos was great and a lot of fun. It never had a chance but bravo for the attempt.

Hourman was fun but sometimes it would drag IMO. I was thinking about Hourman III the other day though. He was a GREAT character. I like Rick a lot but its a shame Ty is no more. Easy way to fix though.

The 90's get a bad rap and deservedly so, but DC always had a few really original and exciting series throughout the entire decade. Ostrander's Spectre earlier on, the Ray by Priest and others.

Oh GAWD, yes!

This one I definitely liked for a while. Seemed like it sputtered after a year or so, so I wasn't all that upset when it got cancelled. Ray coulda been the next big teen hero if allowed to grow.

Well, what exactly do they call that haircut Superboy and Ray used to have when they started out? I think that contributed to the bad rep.

I also can't recommend fast enough Devin Grayson's Arsenal miniseries and Relative Heroes.

Even if she had Tarantula rape Nightwing.

Wass that what they called a 'fade'? Where's Dean when we need him??

Oh a fade cut, that's it!

Aha. Okay. I'll definitely give 2 and 3 a go then. Thanks, OT.

What do you guys think about Secret Six? I just read the preview for the next issue and it's got me curious.

Arachne, Secret Six is one of DC's best ongiong series currently published. Period. This is the book that made me a Gail Simone fan. I think she's done many really good things in her career, but S6 is the book where her talent really shines.

Just an awesome, AWESOME book. Dark. Funny. Morally ambiguous. Flat-out entertaining!

It's kind of the spriritual descendant to John Ostrander's Suicide Squad without being imitative. It's a travesty that this book isn't a top ten seller on Diamond's monthly list.

Try it, Arachne. I doubt you'll regret you did!

If you do, you can send it to him for a refund.

LOL I think I'm more intrigues by this right now than by Fables. Maybe it's time to make a trip into the city to see what they have in stock, rather than ordering from my local CBS.

ETA: Or maybe I could just order from Chapters. If I ordered all four there'd be no S&H charges...

It really doesn't get better than Matt Wagner's Green Hornet: Year One by Dynamite Entertainment, which I reviewed here a few times in the Green Hornet thread . #3 is the most recent issue out and is another terrific execution of story & art introducing readers to the world of the Green Hornet & Kato.

I was not much of a Green Hornet fan prior to this but I sure am now. Wagner uses the global 1930's backdrop to flesh out both characters, and Aaron Campbell and Francesco Francavilla provide an art style evocative of the era the character was born in while feeling fresh and exciting.