999 Reading Challenge Review and Discussion Tread

[Brian N.]

Farrell, have you read their miniseries Ultra?  I really enjoyed The Sword but now have no desire to read Girls.  If you've read it, how is Ultra compared to the two?

Ultra is a much more character driven (almost soap opera) piece.  I enjoy it, but it doesn't have the action of the Sword.  Of the three works I rank it in the middle, with the Sword first, and Girls last.  I really enjoy all three though and have them all in the slipcase editions.

[Jeppe]

Oh man, I am so far behind on the challenge already. Exam readings and draft articles be damned, I want to read some comics soon 

[petedrags]

Finished up the Vertigo Crime book Cowboys last night.  I really enjoy Gary Phillips prose work and I also really like Brian Hurtt, but something about this just didn't click for me.  Hurtts art was solid and did a pretty good job of distinguishing between the many different characters, and Phillips story certainly hummed, but I just felt disappointed at the end without being able to identify any reason why.  Maybe I was just tired, I'll try to read it again after the challenge is over. 

[whirlwindx]

11 down. One of Chris' picks.

The King
Never really been an Elvis fan but this was an interesting story of what seems to be the return of Elvis that I got from the Top Shelf sale.

[Robert]

Ultra is a much more character driven (almost soap opera) piece.  I enjoy it, but it doesn't have the action of the Sword.  Of the three works I rank it in the middle, with the Sword first, and Girls last.  I really enjoy all three though and have them all in the slipcase editions.

Curious.  I rather liked reading the GIRLS, but after reading the love that THE SWORD is receiving, I'll have to add it to my to-read list.

[S. Earl]

11 down. One of Chris' picks.

The King
Never really been an Elvis fan but this was an interesting story of what seems to be the return of Elvis that I got from the Top Shelf sale.

I'd say you don't need to be a fan to enjoy that book at all, just have a passing knowledge of the Elvis legend. Same goes for Bubba Ho Tepp.

But if you are one, it helps make it that much more sweet of a read.

[Farrell]

Farrell, have you read their miniseries Ultra?  I really enjoyed The Sword but now have no desire to read Girls.  If you've read it, how is Ultra compared to the two?

I liked it. It's more focused than Girls, but also a whole lot less ambitious. It's super soap opera, as Brian said; kind of like a singles version of Love & Capes.

 I'm not sad I read Girls by any means. It could have finished more strongly, but it's still the work that made me a fan.

[whirlwindx]

I'd say you don't need to be a fan to enjoy that book at all, just have a passing knowledge of the Elvis legend. Same goes for Bubba Ho Tepp.

But if you are one, it helps make it that much more sweet of a read.

I think I would have got more out of it if I was but the ideas and mystery were enough. Not a must read but good for a Top Shelf sale.

[S. Earl]

I think I would have got more out of it if I was but the ideas and mystery were enough. Not a must read but good for a Top Shelf sale.

I'd imagines so, I can't answer for sure because I am a disciple of the king. Either way you can't deny Koslowski's art. Kind of hits the same sweet spot that Scott Morse does for me.

[Thermite (Iz Wilkison)]

Oh man, I am so far behind on the challenge already. Exam readings and draft articles be damned, I want to read some comics soon 

I'm right there with ya. Life has conspired to get in my way...

[BobBretall]

The King
Never really been an Elvis fan but this was an interesting story of what seems to be the return of Elvis that I got from the Top Shelf sale.

Koslowski was selling pages from this @ WonderCon.   Some pretty reasonable prices too.

EDIT:
Here's a link to where you can buy King pages from Koslowski's web-site:
http://www.richkoslowski.com/Results.cfm?category=8&secondary=8

[evaD]

Just finished reading my bound collection of Miracleman. It contains Alan Moore's run. I love the series and have read it many times over the years. I think this is the first time I've read it in such a short period of time. I usually read an issue here or there spread out over several weeks. The change in the way I read it made me come to some conclusions. First, there was a distinct change in Alan Moore's writing style and approach about midway through the story. Toward the end, particularly the last four issues, it was all told through narration in the past tense. The story becomes increasingly wordy to the point that the last issue is almost illustrated prose. Often the illustrations are just showing what is being said in the text. The pace becomes slow with very little action. It's almost as though there was so much he wanted to do, but didn't want to take the time to do it as a comic, jumping from one point in time to six years later, and explaining everything that happened during that time in an issue or two. And what happened was Miracleman took over the world and transformed it into a utopia.
The second thing I noticed was I was very aware of Alan Moore through out the latter half of the book. There were so many things imbedded within the story that made me think of other things his done since, his politics and belief system. At points the story comes across less as fiction and more as a lecture.

[Night (Travis) Nurse]

Just finished reading my bound collection of Miracleman. It contains Alan Moore's run. I love the series and have read it many times over the years. I think this is the first time I've read it in such a short period of time. I usually read an issue here or there spread out over several weeks. The change in the way I read it made me come to some conclusions. First, there was a distinct change in Alan Moore's writing style and approach about midway through the story. Toward the end, particularly the last four issues, it was all told through narration in the past tense. The story becomes increasingly wordy to the point that the last issue is almost illustrated prose. Often the illustrations are just showing what is being said in the text. The pace becomes slow with very little action. It's almost as though there was so much he wanted to do, but didn't want to take the time to do it as a comic, jumping from one point in time to six years later, and explaining everything that happened during that time in an issue or two. And what happened was Miracleman took over the world and transformed it into a utopia.
The second thing I noticed was I was very aware of Alan Moore through out the latter half of the book. There were so many things imbedded within the story that made me think of other things his done since, his politics and belief system. At points the story comes across less as fiction and more as a lecture.

So the entire run, including when Neil took over? Ive never read the entire thing, color me jealous. Well after reading you review, maybe not.

Travis

[petedrags]

Finished up Azzarello's Vertigo Crime book Filthy Rich last night.  Much better than the first Vertigo Crime book I read.  I love Azzarello though.  I wasn't familiar with Victor Santos's art before this but it really fit the story.  In the black and white he used a combination of pen and brush and it really worked.  If you were a fan of 100 Bullets I suggest giving this a shot.

[evaD]

So the entire run, including when Neil took over? Ive never read the entire thing, color me jealous. Well after reading you review, maybe not.

Travis

The entire Moore run. I'm working on the Gaiman run. Don't get me wrong, Moore's run is very good. Especially when you consider it's a first run at most of the themes that play out in every thing he's done since. But it is exactly that, a first attempt. The last issues feel like he has all these ideas he wanted to do, but felt like he didn't have the time to do it all so he crammed it all in.

[S. Earl]

Finished up Azzarello's Vertigo Crime book Filthy Rich last night.  Much better than the first Vertigo Crime book I read.  I love Azzarello though.  I wasn't familiar with Victor Santos's art before this but it really fit the story.  In the black and white he used a combination of pen and brush and it really worked.  If you were a fan of 100 Bullets I suggest giving this a shot.

I think that's the only one of those books I enjoyed from that line. Such a missed opportunity on Vertigo's part. I don't even think I was able to finish the Hellblazer one, and that's saying something.

[Ryan 'gobo' C.]

American Barbarian is SO good. Totally unbelievable.

[whirlwindx]

American Barbarian is SO good. Totally unbelievable.

Ugh...have to wait another 2 and a half weeks. I want it in my grubby little hands before I read the whole thing.

[JoeyN]

Pigs Vol1- Should be something I really like, but I don't. It's missing that hook for me.

[Night (Travis) Nurse]

Pigs Vol1- Should be something I really like, but I don't. It's missing that hook for me.

I think Im the only person that loves the hell out of that book. I read it in singles and its one of the few that I cant wait to read. I love the unraveling that it does to tell the history behind the crew and I dig all of the characters in the story. The art is the one are thats lacking. Its not bad, not great just mediocre. But I cant stop loving it.

Travis