Your Favorite Things of the Year! (Est. 2017)

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

In previous years, this was a memory box so we didn't miss any good nominations for the Cappies. With the Cappies hypertimed away, that doesn't mean we have to discontinue these threads. I've always liked going back at the end of the year and seeing the books and stories and moments that people really champion -- including plenty of stuff that I've forgotten about come Christmastime. 

So have at it, Legionnaires! It's a bold new year! What in 2017 has knocked you out?

[Jeff of Earth-J]

MONSTERS!: A collection of Lee/Leiber/Kirby monster stories unique in the following respect: they are presented in commission order rather than published order. The best thing about this book? There’s a volume two due in August!

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

I just want to mention how much I'm enjoying Marvel Unlimited. I can sit with my tablet and breeze through a recent run of a Marvel book -- most recently were Brian Bendis's Invincible and International Iron Man comics -- and really enjoy them without thought of cost, single-issue pacing, or any other consideration. Then I can go back and pick up another title -- I'm thinking I might read Nick Spencer's Sam Wilson: Captain America series -- while slowly keeping up with the others I caught up with, issue by issue. It's a real stress-free, low-impact way to read, as long as I don't care about spoilers too much. (And for Marvel titles, I generally don't!)

There are a lot of back issues available, too -- Marvel just put a lot of Marvel Fanfares on the system in the last week or two -- but for the most part, it's the recent stuff I'm reading. And enjoying the heck out of. 

[Jeff of Earth-J]

Has it really been three months since anyone’s posted here? That can’t be right. I know I’ve been lax, but…

PLANET OF THE APES ARCHIVES, Vol. 1: This volume collects, in its entirety, the complete “Terror on the Planet of the Apes” serial from Marvel’s 1970s B&W Planet of the Apes magazine. I have read most of the POTA comics published over the last 40 odd years, but “Terror” remains my absolute favorite, hands down. It was solicited to be published in color, but that was a mistake. Artist Mike Ploog’s style (full pencils) wouldn’t have looked good with color added, anyway. This goes to the top of my reading list. Volume two, which will collect the adaptations of the first two movies among other features, has been solicited for December 13 release.

[Mark Sullivan (Vertiginous Mod)]

A.D.: After DeathScott Snyder, writer; Jeff Lemire, illustratorImag...

This is a standout sci-fi story which almost certainly would make my best of the year list.

[Wandering Sensei: Moderator Man]

I bought the hardcover from Amazon when it came out, but I have yet to read it. I hope to find some time this weekend.

Mark Sullivan (Vertiginous Mod) said:

A.D.: After DeathScott Snyder, writer; Jeff Lemire, illustratorImag...

This is a standout sci-fi story which almost certainly would make my best of the year list.

[Richard Mantle]

I've had this pre-ordered for a while - the company still hasn't started shipping it's copies yet, so I'm REALLY jealous Jeff!

Jeff of Earth-J said:

PLANET OF THE APES ARCHIVES, Vol. 1: This volume collects, in its entirety, the complete “Terror on the Planet of the Apes” serial from Marvel’s 1970s B&W Planet of the Apes magazine. I have read most of the POTA comics published over the last 40 odd years, but “Terror” remains my absolute favorite, hands down. It was solicited to be published in color, but that was a mistake. Artist Mike Ploog’s style (full pencils) wouldn’t have looked good with color added, anyway. This goes to the top of my reading list. Volume two, which will collect the adaptations of the first two movies among other features, has been solicited for December 13 release.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

Have you read it before or will this be the first time?

[Richard Mantle]

I believe I read most of the tales as weekly installments of the British Planet of the Apes Weekly where they began but I am not sure I read every week's episode and certainly haven't kept any of the poor quality newsprint black and white publications so it will be a welcome collection.

I am kind of surprised that VOLUME 1 didn't start with the films adaptations as the comics did - anyone know why they're mucking about with the chronology?
 
Jeff of Earth-J said:

Have you read it before or will this be the first time?

[Travis Herrick (Modular Mod)]

I have the originals, but like WS I haven't gotten around to reading the story yet. 

Mark Sullivan (Vertiginous Mod) said:

A.D.: After DeathScott Snyder, writer; Jeff Lemire, illustratorImag...

This is a standout sci-fi story which almost certainly would make my best of the year list.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

I’ve bought a few “omnibus” editions recently…

PUNISHER: I’ve never been a huge fan of this character, but this volume includes every appearance from his firt up to and including the five-issue mini-series by Steven Grant ad Mike Zeck which really made the Punisher super-popular. This is the kind of “accidental” character development I love, and having it all between two covers is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

BRONZE AGE SWAMP THING: Here’s another character that became super-popular in the ‘80s when, in this case, Alan Moore took over. This omnibus collects every appearance of the muck monster in his first series, plus the pre-Moore issues of Saga of the Swamp Thing.

HEROES RETURN THOR: I have a theory that most long-running series have two main “classic” runs. For example, for Fantastic Four it would be the Lee/Kirby issues and the John Byrne issues. But so much time has now passed since I first formulated that theory, that some series have three (or more) “classic” runs. For Thor the runs would be 1) Lee/Kirby, 2) Walt Simonson and 3) Jurgens/Romita/Janson.

[Detective 445]

Jeff of Earth-J said:

BRONZE AGE SWAMP THING: Here’s another character that became super-popular in the ‘80s when, in this case, Alan Moore took over. This omnibus collects every appearance of the muck monster in his first series, plus the pre-Moore issues of Saga of the Swamp Thing.

I've been hoping a digital edition of this would come out. The singles are available but I'd like to have them all in a nice neat package.

[Travis Herrick (Modular Mod)]

I recently read Jeff Lemire's OGN Roughneck and that was really impressive. A story about a ex-professional hockey player, and his inner and outer demons, as well as his sister's, and the way the deal with them up in Canada.I really liked it a lot.