Also, I read Orbiter (a Warren Ellis story) and it was pretty good. I'm doing Transmetropolitan now, and I got the style already but it may take a little getting used to all the anger.

Also I'm trying to get into X-Men it's harder then you'd think. I just got into Batman graphic novels (I noticed you had The Dark Knight Returns, good story).

Anyways, I hope to see a new one soon

I'm more of a DC guy than I am a Marvel guy. So far I've gotten 52, which in my opinion is as good as Linkara says it is, flows pretty well, and didn't require a neophyte like me to learn too much about it. It did have its flaws, but I don't feel like getting into those. Let's just say it blows Countdown out of the water.

Anyway, the next DC story I got was Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth. I know, I know, that's a Grant Morrison work, but I liked Arkham Asylum so much I picked it up, and it isn't that bad. Dave McKean's art helped seal the deal for me, though the choice to use such a stylized, artistic style is also a point of contention. The only other things I've read of Grant Morrison's are 52 (though he shared that project with three other writers, so it's not as weird) and The Filth, which… I guess it's alright for the mindfuck factor. I guess that's the main reason why I don't hate him as much as you do. I like good mindfucks. Oh yeah, and I did read Batman: R.I.P. and Final Crisis. The first one is extremely ballsy for one particular plot point regarding Batman. I won't spoil it for you. The second… was a huge fucking letdown. The only good part was Darkseid's monologue in issue five or six, I forget where, exactly.

Anyway, the third and current DC thing I'm getting into is Blackest Night. I'm actually kind of considering collecting all the tie-ins, though I probably won't jump onto most of these series. I think Booster Gold is my most likely choice, as something about that guy just really appeals to me. Anyway, this is really my first crossover, as I'm relatively new to the world of comics, and even after I joined up, I was only interested in Vertigo titles for a while, but can you blame me?

Anyway, if I had to pick one author I really like, it would be… Brian K. Vaughan. He did excellent work on Y: The Last Man (very awkward title to say out loud, by the way), and Ex Machina. Something that amazes me about his work is how even-handed it is, politically speaking. He isn't horribly biased or interested in just taking cheap shots at figures he doesn't like, but he gives different characters very different beliefs that are given more or less equal weight. You want me to recommend a comic without superheroes? Y: The Last Man is IT. And pick up Ex Machina, while you're at it. It is about superheroes, or rather _a_ superhero, but it's closer to Watchmen than DC or Marvel in tone. Hell, you know how good this guy is, you've read Runaways, which he created! Oh, and he wrote for Lost, which is a show I like despite knowing its faults full well.

Anyway, one last thing, it's pretty interesting how different your tastes are from Linkara's. I'm sure you noticed this already, or he's already told you, but he's a really idealistic sort of reader who HATES Garth Ennis as much as you hate Grant Morrison. And he's probably none too fond of Ellis, either. As for me, well, Transmetropolitan is one of the Vertigo series I'm currently collecting (besides Sandman and Ex Machina), and Preacher was probably the first Vertigo series I ever read (out of order, since I saw it in the public library). Hell, even my dad, who isn't really that into comics and nerdy stuff like that, and just lets me show him that stuff as a form of bonding, admits that it's one of his favorites. I'm not sure if it's still his favorite right now or if it's been replaced by Death Note (I know, I know, not the right kind of comics, but it's not _terrible_).

Geez, I've probably typed enough shit here to rival one of Spoony's videos. And for what? Oh well. Here goes, hope you enjoy reading it.

Tack on the fact that the publishing companies have just been dumping mounds and mounds of series, only which a small percentage is worth reading or watching, and then have the gall to charge you 30 bucks or more for only a handful of episodes of a cheap cartoon or 15 dollars for a black-and-white book no bigger than your hand. They got greedy! The two series that sell well at all in the US are Naruto and Bleach, and both of those suck anyway (it’s just Dragonball Z again but with Children or Swords).”

You DO realize that manga is outselling American comics like ten to one right? Spidey is lucky if he gets 70,000 sales a month, Naturo easily outstrips that…and anyother American Comic by an insane margin….at best. There is a reason Manga is at every cafe, Barnes and Noble, book store, while Comics AREN’T.

While I agree with most manga sucks…most of everything sucks. That and your choices for good manga blows.

“Monster, Berserk, Neon Genesis (yes I said, grow up. I’m sorry Anno makes fun of your ass in his anime and it hurts your nerd feelings, but its a great anime. Because of the whinny loser wetsuit boy too), 21st Century Boys, Fist of the North Star, Ghost in the Shell, Gurren Lagaan, Zeta Gundam, some parts of Jo Jo’s Bizarre Adventure and Black Lagoon and One Piece…because unlike you I realize that grim dark does not equate good.

If I hear one more person tell me Death Note rocks, I’ll track them down and kick them square in the balls…or well let’s tone down to crouch just in-case its a girl. Its high-school level philosophical rantings and morals mixed with 4 grade cat and mouse games, do not equate a good series.

I’m not even an anime fan though, and I’m getting sick oft he E-Hate for anime. Get over it, Spoony…there are just as many jackasses who dress like Spock that dress like Cat Girls; and TWICE as many racist 13 year olds on X-Box live as their as there is yaio on Deviant Art.

For horror comics, go with EC Comics, like Tales From the Crypt, etc. A lot of great stories. Same for science fiction comics. Dark House is releasing the complete Creepy and Eerie Magazine out in hardback. Great work. Good stories and phenomenal artwork. Along the horror line, I’ve heard Marvel’s Tomb of Dracula is phenomenal.

Either than that, try going with Howard the Duck by Marvel, the seventies version written by Steve Gerber. It is one of the most unique comics ever written, and beautifully drawn by Gene Colan. Funny, heartfelt, and, in my opinion, one of the best comic book series of all.

Also, Chester Brown’s work is really quite interesting if you are looking for historical comics; his Louis Riel biography was epic.

Love the site, keep up the good work.