Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities Comics suck.

I'm down to just a few titles. For the first time in 15 years I'm putting X-Men comics back on the shelf (yes, I know it should have happened years ago, but I'm a loyal guy). Here's what I'm getting now: Hawkman, JSA, Legion (just about my only bright spot), Tom Strong, the aforementioned X-Men/Uncanny/Astonishing, Astro City.

What can I do to restore my faith in comics, or is 33 just too damn old to appreciate them anymore?

AFB I hear your music. I'm buying a lot right now, but a lot of it is out of habit and if I stopped, I probably wouldn't miss it. Also, I just dropped bunch of stuff including Catwoman and Exiles. Legion has indeed been a bright spot; I read it standing up in the store each month and my friend the local CBS owner will tell you that I'm as giddy as a schoolgirl afterwards.

As for what you can do to restore your faith? I don't know. For me, as an old-school silver age fan, it was reading DC New Frontier and the new Legion series. For Marvel fans though, I don't know what's bolstering their faith. Seems like Marvel changes their editorial direction about twice a month these days. I guess the best thing I could say is to find out what's new and fresh in the Marvel universe. Either that, or what celebrates Marvel's history.

There's lots of good comics out there to enjoy. Here's the trick: ONLY buy what you really like! DON'T keep buying anything that "used to be good" but hasn't been for, say-- DECADES. And DO NOT limit yourself to only buying from "the big two". The bloated corporate-owned publishers have been knokcing out the same characters for so long, they've been living off their reputations longer than most of the old characters were ever good in the first place. (But that's just me...)

I agree but I would recommend looking into the following titles. I really enjoy them and we seem to have similar tastes.

1. Flash - This is one of the best comics on the market today. Well written, good art, a great read;

2. Teen Titans - The new series started out slow and I almost dropped it after the first few issues but they seem to have hit their stride and the recent 3-4 issues have been excellent;

3. Invincible - I'm really liking this book. It's a fun read. The arts a little cartoonish but I can deal with that in order to get the grins on my face;

I'm also enjoying the New X-Men/Academy series and the Ultimte X-Men book. Those are the only two X books I even bother with.

You're never too old for these kind of things.

Prof has the right idea: Sometimes you just need to go out and look for something outside of the big names. I stumbled across an excellent series of minis called Neotopia that I never would have found if I hadn't taken the time to look.

Hey AFOB,

I share your sentiments. I gave up comics completely when I was your age, disenchanted with mid-90s DC, the wretchedness of the Legion at that time, and the end of Gaiman's Sandman. JSA and Tom Strong brought me back to comics a few years ago. I probably buy more comics now than I actually enjoy. I do really enjoy JMS's Spider-Man--it seem's like a modern take on a classic character, very character-driven stories, which I prefer.

I know exactly what you mean. A few years ago, the only comic I was reading was Legion, and that's because I was devoted to following it, not because it was any good. (IMHO) I picked up a few things here and there, just to experiment, and found that Crossgen was putting out some really good stuff. Currently, I am reading about 7 titles, but the only ones I would recommend as "yeah, you gotta read this" are Legion and Birds of Prey. I think that Runaways and Fantastic 4 are pretty good, though.

IntimatesIntimatesIntimatesIntimatesIntimatesIntimatesIntimatesIntimatesIntimatesIntimatesIntimatesIntimatesIntimatesIntimates
IntimatesIntimatesIntimatesIntimatesIntimatesIntimates IntimatesIntimatesIntimatesIntimates... Intimates

Did I mention I really like Wildstorm's The Intimates?

I have to recommend The Walking Dead. One of the best books being published right now. And if you go to Amazon you can pick up the first two trades for less than $20 for both of them. I'd at least grab the first TPB and read it.

Thanks for the input. I'll take a look at Intimates, Walking Dead, and Flash. Teen Titans, maybe. A larger issue for me seems to "Why bother?" I was looking at my 8 long boxes of comic books, containing shipwrecked titles I once loved: Green Arrow, Avengers, Wonder Man, X-Factor, Detective Comics, all of which were either cancelled or overtaken by shitty writing, art, or editorial decisions (I wonder how many former collectors are looking at their beloved old Legion comics, thinking, "I really loved that comic. Why did the editors/PTB screw it up? Good thing I dropped it..."). It was a little depressing. Can anyone give me a good reason for hanging on to my complete run of Atlantis Attacks Annuals from 1989 (other than the fact that no one would want them!)? The comics industry as a whole is starting to remind me of Major League Baseball. They've taken me for granted for so long and crammed an at times crummy product down my throat for so long I'm starting to be ashamed of myself for supporting them. Ech. Any of my money lining Joe Quesada's pockets makes me queasy.

But here's another problem: My 6 year old LOVES comics, but the only ones that seem remotely appropriate for him are the animated ones like JLA Adventures, Batman, and Teen Titans GO! Any other recommendations besides going through the quarter bins for 70s comics, which I'm already doing?

Y'nkow, I was surprised to find that Sonic is so popular. The local CBS orders 25 copies of Sinic every month, and sells out of them. Didja know Sonic #1 sells for about $100? I was amazed. (My 4-yr-old is very into Sonic.)

Get Cable/Deadpool.

Comic books suck, all right... right outta my wallet.

~$80 a month for new stuff, at a decent discount, and I really try not to think about my back-issue forays too much, either online or in my area stores.

Eh-- it's either comics or crack, and Crack Kills, so...

*sssssssssssssssslllllllllllllllllluuuuuurpppp!

I am down to the fewest monthlies in quite a while. On the bright side I think the quality of comics overall is amazing. BUT just don't care for the general direction of many of them.

On the bright side it looks like other publishers are offering more stuff that I like. Darkhorse, Moonstone, Image just to name a few.