Comics are truly great. But they can be a little intimidating, there’s no denying. Issue numbers in the hundreds and beyond. Comic book stores with wall-to-wall selection staring down at you. What’s an average Joe or Jane to do? “Like This/Read That!” is your semi-recurring comic book breakdown here at Being Geek Chic, sending out fresh reading recommendations that are simple, sensible, and positively super.
I’m going to start this round of comic book recommendations on a somewhat somber note. Since my last post, the comic book store in my neighborhood closed its doors. It was a humble little store, but it had personality (along with a truly epic Marvel Comics mural on one of its walls). For many years, it served as my main go-to for issues new and old. I hope you’ll join me in pouring one out for Twin City Comics in Minneapolis, and that you’ll make a point to grab a book or two from your local shop, if you’ve got one.
As a reflection of my sentimental, nostalgic mood, my recommendations this week are what I’d call my “comic book comfort food” – the titles that have shaped my love for comic books over the years, the ones that will always take me back to the time and place in which I read them. Some may be obvious, some a bit bizarre, and some may not even be all that great. But they mean a lot to me, and accordingly, I hope you’ll find something to like here too.
Read This: Ultimate Spider-Man (Digital, Print), Ultimate X-Men (Digital, Print) and The Ultimates (Digital, Print)
Truth be told, when I was a kid, I didn’t really read comic books. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that my love affair with them began. The first book I can remember buying – and being truly captivated by – was an early issue of Ultimate Spider-Man. Marvel Comics introduced their Ultimate label in 2000. It gave new origins to some of their iconic characters. It was a fresh start and it was perfect for me. I still remember hunting for a way to get the issues in my small town, reading issues of Ultimate X-Men at the library and finding old issues of Ultimate Spider-Man at the thrift store. To this day, the legacy of these lines can be felt. When I personally think of Spider-Man, I think of the Ultimate incarnation. And the Nick Fury you know so well today, played on the silver screen not by David Hasselhoff, but instead by Sam Jackson? You can thank the Ultimate Marvel Universe for that.
Read This: Superman for All Seasons (Digital, Print), Watchmen (Digital, Print)
Ponder this, what’s your favorite comic book of all time? That’s not a question I can answer easily. My answer is ever changing, but I know that these two titles will always be in contention. In many ways, they could not be more different. Watchmen is oppressively cold, dark and harsh. Conversely, Superman for All Seasons is filled with such warmth, humanity and heart. The thing they share in common? They represent the superhero genre at its finest. Watchmen features some of the most iconic lines and scenes in all of comics, while Superman for All Seasons is my preferred story featuring the original superhero, with gorgeous artwork and one line of dialogue in particular that will always be one of my all-time personal favorites.
Read This: Scott Pilgrim Series (Digital, Print)
When I picked up the first volume of Scott Pilgrim, I was a recent college graduate trying to piece life together. Searching fruitlessly for a full-time job, health insurance and some sense of purpose or direction, I found it easy to relate to this titular hero, who shambled through adult life in scattered, child-like fashion, viewing every challenge through the lens of 8-bit video games, anime and other nostalgia. It’s a goofy and lighthearted tale, full of nerdy references and in-jokes. But it’s also a heartfelt meditation on relationships and growing up, and both the comforts and dangers that can come from escapism and nostalgia. Whether you get the originals or the newly released hardcover color editions, you can’t go wrong.
Read This: Eyeshield 21
For many of my formative years, I was first and foremost a reader of Japanese comics, better known as manga, so I would be remiss if I did not recommend any of these comics from the other side of the globe. When I parted ways with my large collection of manga a number of years back, this was the one series I had to hold on to. As a lover of sports and anime in equal measure, I could not resist the unique charm of Eyeshield 21. It’s a classic sports underdog story crossed with the madcap craziness of Japanese action adventures – think the Mighty Ducks or Bad News Bears meets Dragon Ball or Naruto. Now tell me that doesn’t have your attention?!
Read This: The Muppet Show
Growing up, I adored the Muppets. I have these hazy memories from my earliest years of watching Muppet movies and old episodes of The Muppet Show. A number of months ago, I found some issues of this series in the ‘back issues’ drawers at the comic book shop. I had never heard of them and accordingly my expectations were low. In just a few pages though, those hazy memories from years ago came rushing back and I was a giddy young kid in front of the TV once more. These comics capture so perfectly the tone of the old Muppet Show, interspersing backstage studio stories with on-stage skits and bits. For just another day at the comic book store, talk about a lucky find and the best kind of surprise.
So tell me, what is your “comic book comfort food?” What are the all-time favorites you’ll never forget? Discuss them with me in the comments. And until next time, happy reading!
Guest post by Adam Giorgi, who also happens to be my brother. He’s a writer, gamer, reader and Potter head. He also makes cool comics from time to time. Check out his blog: Geek-Attack. Follow him on twitter: @adamgiorgi