*Main Post* 30 Days of Scans_Daily: Day 20: Storyline/Book you could read over and over again?

[kingrockwell]

Hey everyone, kingrockwell here, I'll be your guest host on the 30-Day Meme for the next two days. Today we'll be looking at the storyline/book you could read over and over again.



There are a lot of reasons Cry For Blood is near and dear to my heart. It introduced me to my favorite writer in Greg Rucka, it introduced me to my favorite character in Vic Sage, it got me interested in the Batfamily again. It's hard not to devolve into mindless gushing with this book.

Helena's story here is more crime fiction than cape drama, though the Bat-books at their best tend to be an intersection of the two. If you've ever been curios about her or just thought you didn't get the appeal, this is the book I'd point you to. They always say it's when the pressure's on that you find out who a person really is, and when backed into a corner, Hel's going to do what's necessary to survive. And she'll shoulder the guilt from it, too. But there's also the theme of the differences between suvival and living, a lesson Helena needed to hear at the time.

The streamlining of her history makes it a great entry point, and it provides an interesting glimpse at mafia culture. Rick Burchett's clean pencils tell the story exquisitely, and I dare you not to love Vic for his constant smirking. But that ending! Rucka definitely has a tendency to connect you with the story emotionally only to break your heart at the end.

This is easily my favorite book. I could revisit it over and over again and always enjoy myself. I recommend it to everyone.

So what's yours, scans_daily?

Comments

[perletwo]

Legion: The Great Darkness Saga. Only use of Darkseid I've ever actually liked. Close second: the Eye For An Eye arc, same title, first six (?) issues of the Baxter paper run.

[big_daddy_d]

I always wanted to read the Great Darkness Saga, but sadly never got to. Is it collected?

[neuhallidae]

Well, coming from me, this should be of absolutely no surprise to anyone.

[kingrockwell]

I've really been meaning to get more Busiek Avengers. Money is stupid for being so far away from me when I'm at the comics shop.

[althechi]

Any of the three Thor Essentials I own (1 to 3). The sheer amount of ideas in those stories and their great execution grounded me as a Thor fan from the instant I read them.

[big_daddy_d]

I've never read this book, but was interested. One thing that held me back from reading it though was the fact that a certain something happened to Helena in her childhood and idk, that stuff can work for stories when done well but still gives me a cringe factor, especially when it comes to characters I really like. All the same, do you think I should just man up and read it? Because if it's that good, I just might.

As for me. I have a lot of books and having a hard time choosing. lol Hmm for me.. I'll make a list.

Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps - I think this book was definitely the game changer for the Green Lantern mythos and opened the door to the great stories we have now and other corps. Plus, all around great story and the action was superb.

Justice League of America: The Tornado's Path - Introduced me to the Red Tornado and man you really get a look into his character and even downright feel sorry for him. I've heard of Red Tornado before obviously, but never cared enough let alone knew enough until this story. Plus this story introduced me to what I thought was a downright scary side of Solomon Grundy.

Ultimate Spider-Man: Kingpin - 3 words. 4 syllables. Kingpin. Fat. Jokes. That scene alone was just comedy gold and I just overall loved the arc. Additionally anything that had Doc Ock in it.

Alias: Introduced me to one of my new favorite characters, Jessica Jones. Not to mention I also became a Luke Cage fan following so almost anything with Luke.

Lastly, almost anything with Roy Harper..minus Cry for Justice, The Rise and Fall books, and the issue of JLA where Hawkgirl dreamed of sexin up Hawkman while with Roy. Other than that, I've been a definite Roy Harper fan, so if there's a particular book I'd choose, it'd be Outsiders: Sum of All Evil. When i collected the Outsiders, at the time, the store didn't have the first volume so I had to get vol. 2. I originally wanted to collect the series because Nightwing was in it, but man, this book was what introduced me to Roy Harper. Prior I saw Roy on the Teen Titans animated series as Speedy and throught he was a good character, but thanks to Outsiders, he jumped to becoming one of my absolute favorite characters. Not to mention I was introduced to Lian. So for the "sentimental" reason alone, Outsiders: Sum of All Evil. Too bad DC ruin Roy now though..

[kingrockwell]

If the "certain something" is what I think it is, that was actually her origin from the '80s. Cry For Blood doesn't mention it and might have quietly retconned it through omission?

Or if "certain something" means "has her family killed in front of her", then okay, that still happens.

[bwhahahabeck]

This one is a twofer.


Including: Hero for Hire and Power Man

Also:

[minyandu]

Ah, kid Cable, and the Deadpool doll!

[psychopathicus_rex]

This is a tricky one, because MOST of the comics/graphic novels that I own are ones that I've read over and over again. However, I'll have to go with the Tintin albums in general, the 'Secret of the Unicorn/Red Rackham's Treasure'/'Seven Crystal Balls/Prisoners of the Sun' arcs in particular. I was practically raised on those; I've read them who-knows-how-many hundreds of times, and it's really amazing how well they hold up. I mean, I could probably narrate most of those books to you from memory at this point, and yet every time I read them, I find something new to appreciate, and remember the old stuff that I first appreciated when I was teensy. They're genuine masterpieces, and I don't think I'll ever get tired of them. .
For something more recent... well, I used to reread the first 'League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' collection a LOT back when I first got it. Also, I find something new and startling every time I reread my 'Top Ten' collections. The work of Alan Moore in general lends itself well to this.

[icon_uk]

I'd agree with those, Tintin and Asterix are almost like comfort food, I can re-read them endlessly. And Top 10 I can't even come across the individual issues without wanting to just sit down and read them.

"Great Darkness Saga", and "The Judas Contract" would also be on the list.

[suzene]

Tough one, but I'll have to go with Claremont's X-Men/Alpha Flight: The Gift. I love the nearly fairy tale quality of the story, and the way the final choice really put the screws to some of the characters in ways that meant I came away from that comic with a deep interest in some characters I'd hardly known about before (Northstar, Maddie Pryor) and a lasting dislike of some characters I'd been OK with before (looking your way Rasputin and Langkowski).

Runner up would be all of Age of Bronze to date. Just fantastic work in art and story.

[punishermax]

The entire CP9 arc in One Piece. The story goes from the tragedy of Robin's past to determination fueled by the Straw Hats, then to near constant, outstanding fights that push each member to the breaking point and finally to one of most triumphant endings in the entire comic as they escape, Spandem finally gets what he deserves and Robin finally accepts that she is worth saving and that she has a family now.

[arilou_skiff]

For pure cosmic cheese: The Infinity Gauntlet. Love it.

[newnumber6]

For me, it's probably the complete runs of DP7 and Psi-Force, of Marvel's New Universe in the late 80s, with the one shots "The Pitt", "The Draft", and "The War" as appropriate. I must have read them dozens of times over the years.

Other strong contendors would be Runaways and the oriignal Power Pack (though I haven't reread the latter in quite some time).

[werehawk.livejournal.com]

Good choices although Psi-Force really got good around issue 16.

[nezchan]

Mine is gonna have to be Obata and Hotta's classic, Hikaru No Go. There's something about this story, how well crafted it is, how honest it is, and how absorbing it is, the writing meshing perfectly with the art, that I absolutely cannot get tired of. It helps that at all times the characters are people, and believable in their roles and motivations, as well as all having the ability to grow and change. Hikaru's eventual transformation from bratty kid into young adult, and from aimlessness to focus, and his complex relationship with Touya, is a joy to read, and you really feel his anguish towards the end when he faces his lowest moment (which I won't spoil).

I don't think I'll ever be tired of that story.

[joasakura]

For some reason, over and over, I come back to my trades of JLA "Obsidian Age" - I LOVE that story arc ;D

[lanternicity]

Me too! Yay for not being alone! (and yes I know it's s_d, etc etc XD )

[crinos]

JLA/Avengers for me.

[werehawk.livejournal.com]

Soooo many easter eggs.

[yaseen101]

1) Practically every issue of Spider-Girl and DCAU comics

2) Ultimate Spider-man

3) Warren Ellis's Batman/Planetary cross over

[an-idol-mind.livejournal.com]

As a Hulk fan, any of Greg Pak's work on the character is solid gold, but Planet Hulk is the best he's done. The story is both epic and tragic, and was probably the first time in about a decade that a writer really showed he understood the Hulk. It's far and away one of the best Hulk stories ever, and is possibly my favorite storyline of all time.

[werehawk.livejournal.com]

I agree. I read it from the library but just bought the trade so I could read it again and again

[werehawk.livejournal.com]

Negation by Tony Bedard from the Crossgen days. I've read the 30+ issues (with mini and special) at least 4 times all the way through. It never gets old and there are great little bits I see each time I read it that I missed the first time.

[werehawk.livejournal.com]

And after seeing some good ones listed above, I'd have to add:

GL: Sinestro Corps
JLA/Avengers
Crisis on Infinite Earths (cosmic scope, amazing art by Perez with tons of characters and meaningful tragedy)
Tempest (the mini by Phil Jimenez)
Peter Parker, Spectacular Spiderman 36-37 (vs. Swarm: eerie and Spidey in his heyday)

[akodo_rokku]

The Reach storline in Blue Beetle. Probably the single best superhero story of the last... ten years? Five, at least.

[dejadrew]

Finder: Talisman, by Carla Speed Mcneil.



I was once in a SciFi lit class where we studied, among other things, Snow Crash. And the boys in my discussion group were all talking about how that book felt like it was especially FOR them. They simply could not wrap their brains around it when I said I did not feel the same way. I liked it, I enjoyed the book immensely, but I never once was under the illusion that it had been written with me in mind.

Why do I bring this up? Because Talisman is the book that DID make me feel that way, like the author had hand delivered it to my door. All the Finder books are excellent, but everything in Talisman about the desperate love of stories... reading, writing, failing, obsessing... It felt, and feels, so, so intensely personal.

[sleepymax]

Flash: Born to Run. Hell, Mark Waid's run on Flash. Those were the first comics I actually consistently read as a kid and there's a good reason why. Such great storylines and characters. It doesn't hurt that Waid paired with so many great artist during his run on the series.

[benicio127]

Motto to you, King! I loved Cry for Blood and am so glad you recommended it.

Mine's this one:



I also absolutely love and can read Under the Hood, Teen Titans: Year One, Batman: Year One, Quiver, Batgirl: Year One, and Going Sane over and over

As for non Superhero comics, Maus and Safe Area Gorazde by Joe Sacco are my big loves. Pedro and Me was great, too. .

[kamino_neko]

For me, what comes to mind immediately is my 2 favourite manga...


Read or Dream is, by far, my favourite manga commercially available in the West. I have read it from the front cover of volume 1 to the back cover of volume 4 multiple times. (Vol 1 less that the other 3, as I was unfortunately unable to get a hold of it when I got the other 3.)

It's a fine blend of comedy, drama, and action (primarily toward the beginning of the series) - and even a bit of (mostly subtextual) romance. In other words, fun. I adore all of the characters, from the most minor supporting character or evil villain, right up to the Paper Sisters themselves - in fact, I have sworn that in the unlikely event I have a daughter, I will name her Anita.


Chocotto Sister is my other favourite. It's a toss up as to which of the two is my favourite of all time.

Again, drama, comedy, romance...action is replaced with vast swaths of nudity, but it's all good. >_> 8 volumes long, there are only a handful of chapters I haven't read multiple times - and I read volume 7 in Japanese after the translation stalled. Or tried to, anyway, as I am not fluent in the language...or even conversant... ... OK, I just looked at the pretty pictures. It was nice when the translation restarted and I could understand the words, too, but they were really pretty pictures. There are elements that make me reluctant to recommend it unreservedly, but nonetheless, I adore it.

I'd also love to reread Shin Angyo Onshi - but it's 17 volumes long, and I've got a whole bunch of other things taking up the time I set aside for reading. But Korean history, combined with fantasy, a healthy dose of fanservice, and positively gorgeous art combine into a wonderful work. (By the same creators as Let's Bible, but nowhere near as insane.)

[kamino_neko]

Oh, since I've done posts on both series, I might as well provide links... The ROD links I intend to save for another day, so, just Chocosis...

They're all under the Chokotto Sister tag.

[auggie18]

The Dark Phoenix Sag. I've read it about a million and a half times and it still chokes me up.

[thebigapricot]

So many but off the top of my head

Sensei and Student, IMO the best BoP arc in Volume 1.

Alias

Rucka's run on Wonder Woman particularly the first dozen issues.

JLA: A League of One

Elegy.

[aeolos_sakya]

Superman: Secret Identity.
I love that story.

[retro_nouveau]

New Frontier:



2. Catwoman: Selina's Big Score, 3. Batman: Mad Love, 4. Batman: Harley & Ivy, 5. the Justice League International run, 6. JLA: Crisis on Multiple Earths, 7. JLA: League of One, 8. Watchmen, 9. the Secret Six run to date, 10. Countdown: The Search For Ray Palmer (Yes, I went there!)