Think I'm a much more casual reader than a lot of you guys, mostly just read DC and skim Marvel/some indies, but I've really been enjoying the general direction of DC recently. The DC K.O. storyline is wonderfully ridiculous and over-the-top, but I really do like that it feels like the editorial is working together to make something linewide that's generally cohesive. I fell off comics in general after Flashpoint, and it's been fun to look forward to Wednesdays again.
hello person who's only made one post on this site so far. huh, i generally don't find big crossover events very appealing. and dcko kinda sounds like it's being edgy for the sake of it. maybe it's just not for me. i'm glad you're enjoying it, tho! at least it's getting you into comics again. i mostly just follow characters or creators i like, and outside of dc stuff i tend to gravitate towards horror. i honestly didn't start collecting single issues until fairly recently, but i have a lot of trades and standalone graphic novels in my room i still haven't gotten to yet
My feelings on DCKO are very negative, but I’m a bitter old cynical bitch, so whatever, lol. I generally find a lot of the “core” DC fairly “fanboy”-minded and a lot of the other stuff surprisingly strong. Though, out of spite from the whole Gretchen Felker-Martin situation, I’m down to just reading 3 ongoings from there monthly (Supergirl, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman). Really working on making my primary focus non-“Big 2” comics. Marian Heretic that just started up is super promising so far, if anyone is looking for a new ongoing written by a queer woman to jump onto. And, I don’t know if Juni Ba’s second Monkey Meat miniseries is out in trade yet, but that’s easily some of the best comics I’ve read this year (and because it’s an anthology, you can read it without having to go back to the first one right away).
I've had accounts on and off here since the absolutepunk days, just can't remember any logins and don't really care to hunt them down lol By no means am I trying to convince you to read K.O., but it hasn't struck me as edgy, more like... pointless 90's Marvel vs. Capcom dynamics? if that makes sense lol - felt less edgy and more fun to me. I considered collecting more singles, but... whew are they getting a bit pricey. I've been having fun digging through dollar bins. Any writers/artists you'd recommend I may have missed in the past... decade and a half? lol I feel like I've gone the other direction on getting older and cynical, I just like the over the top fun stuff if it's Batman/Superman/etc., like... they're flying around with magical rings and bat-themed jets, let's have fun and get ridiculous with it, but I totally understand not having that outlook lol Supergirl has been pretty great, been trying to fill in the back issues on Poison Ivy and Catwoman before I dig in, but I look forward to every new issue of Supergirl, it's been so fun, I love how they're filling out her supporting cast.
Mariko Tamaki Tillie Walden G Willow Wilson Stephanie Phillips Nicole Maines Maria Llovet Luana Vecchio Kelly Thompson Marguerite Bennett Ram V Greg Rucka Cliff Chiang Gene Luen Yang
Ram V has been an instant pull for me, need to find his stuff outside of DC, but his run on Detective Comics and his more current New Gods and Resurrection Man Mini were great. Pretty sure I've enjoyed some runs from Maines, Rucka and Thompson, definitely will be checking out some of the others. Thanks for taking the time :)
Oh, I do like when comics are ridiculous and fun, as long as they have an imagination or a personality or a sense of style or humor, etc. Like, that’s why I love Sophie Campbell’s Supergirl so much: She seems to be actually playing with a modern version of the vibes good Silver and Bronze Age comics give me. My criticism of Scott Snyder’s DC event books and shit by Williamson, Adams, etc., is that it feels so written to what a “fanboy” would find “cool.” Nostalgia and lore and power levels, etc.; it all leaves me feeling so cold. Like, what do you mean Darkseid’s iconography, which is supposed to represent fascism, is instead a generic power-up everyone is having a tournament to acquire (like what Jason Aaron did to the Phoenix in his Avengers)??? Sorry, I just think they can do better, lol. You reading Artificial? I still have #2 on my to-read pile, but #1 was a really strong first issue, imo. No one in direct market comics does sexy thriller shit like she can.
I get that, for sure. Definitely plenty currently happening that they could be doing with Darkseid, seems like Kirby would have rolled Trump and co. right into the Apokolips cast lol Guess I just enjoy leaning into the escapism aspect more, especially with the Big Two. Can totally see the fanboy aspect of it, but it's been (to me at least) fun, mindless stuff.
Digging through dollar bins and such is something I need to do more often. Found some Futurama comics and an old issue of Mister Miracle. DC KO does looks like dumb fun to me, but I don't really have any urge to read it. I'm reading the Death and Return of Superman compendium right now. I've read Death a bunch of times but none of the stuff after it. So I'm excited to see where it goes. A recent read I really liked was Toxic Summer. Two best friends are excited to spend the summer hitting on hunks at the beach as life guards when the beach is over run by toxic slime and mutants. These guys have to save the beach and their summer. The colors really pop. Derek Charm is such a great artist and it's cool to see that his writing can be fun and funny as well.
I haven’t read that much of Tynion’s work, but I’ll take any opportunity to shoutout The Deviant. What a brilliant book that was.
Kelly Thompson's Birds of Prey is over. Had such a good run. ofc, her Absolute Wonder Woman continues to be peak. Batgirl hasn't been good in months. Cass deserves so much better. Long lost brother arc is not it. Supergirl has been really fun, I love the lighter tone. I've been picking up Cheetah and Cheshire but haven't actually started reading it yet. I wasn't gonna get the holiday special but then I saw that Harlivy and Galaxy had stories in it so. I think Mari and Kara are in there too I haven't gotten any DCKO or any of their crossovers with Marvel tho. Not big on event stuff. My only non-DC pickups have been Maria Llovet's Artificial, Hello Darkness, Blink and You'll Miss It, and Murder Podcast. I think Luana Vecchio had something new come out this week so I'll check that out as well Don't tell anyone this but I may or may not have backed the Kickstarter for the Sunstone Artbook...
Have you checked out Marian Heretic? I think it’s a good time so far. Look forward to getting more of Marian’s backstory in issue 3 whenever that drops (I think the end of this month). Also. Roots of Madness by Stephanie Williams and Letizia Cadonici is only a couple issues in so far. It’s a bit of a slow burn so far, but I’m intrigued by the direction. On the note of comics by women, Stephanie Philips is going to be the new writer of Daredevil starting in I think February. I’m going into 2026 making sure my Big 2 reading is limited, but I’m definitely checking that one out.
I skimmed through the first two issues of Marian Heretic, still deciding whether to grab it. Still can't confirm whether it's sapphic, but I'm definitely getting that vibe. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I got all of that recent Krypto series once the fifth issue came out, basically read it all in one sitting. Some of it is really sad but all of it is really good. I know you're trying to limit you DC pulls but I heard Wonder Woman is going to have a guest writer for a couple issues, ppl are saying we should get them (and no other issues) to sort of protest Tom King being on the series
It’s too early to say, but the vibe between Marian Heretic and Ravenna is so sapphic thus far, lol. That sexy witch is definitely seducing her in one way or another. (And either way, the writer is an actual bisexual woman, so.) I believe the guest story in Wonder Woman is by Stephanie Williams. And I love the idea of supporting a black woman in comics. However… I think the best way to support her is to buy Roots of Madness, her creator-owned book with a new publisher. Buying a company’s comics isn’t really a “protest” of the company’s hiring policies, imo! I might get the issue or two she does eventually, but I’m not gonna order them in advance or anything.
Oh Roots of Madness is Ignition Press? I picked up both issues like you suggested but I'll probably also get her WW issues as well (My two closer LCS don't get Ignition Press so I picked them up along with Murder Podcast from the one slightly farther away from me that's on the way to my friend's place)
Oh, Luana Vecchio was just the artist for one of several stories in I think a Christmas themed horror anthology titled Dread the Halls. I might still get it since that sounds very much my shit, but I'm just a teensy bit disappointed it's not a whole thing from her
My two oldest kids loved the Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud. Such a cool collaboration!
Oh shit Greg Rucka is going to be doing a new Batwoman title? How did I miss this? Or did I just forget? Barbara and Kate each getting their own solo series is so exciting
I just read Four Gathered On Christmas Eve by Eric Powell, Mike Mignola, Becky Cloonan, and James Harren. Really cool little horror anthology my gf got me for Christmas!
read the last two issues of Maria Llovet's Artificial, that was really scary! i guess in hindsight of course it went in that direction, but i really didn't see it coming. really good erotic thriller of the three titles i've picked up from Ignition Press: First two issues of Roots of Madness were good. First two issues of The Beauty were a little less good. Murder Podcast has easily been my favorite. I might pick up a couple more, Deluge and The Voyeur look interesting. a while back, i went rummaging through a local shop's dollar bins, came up with a handful of incomplete sets. this week i ordered the issues i was missing, and the package arrived today so i'm finally able to finish up reading these series. first up, Alice in Leatherland. just a sweet little lesbian romance. despite the title, it's actually not very kinky especially compared to something like Sunstone, but it's so delightfully cute and funny. i also got A Thing Called Truth, which i didn't notice until now is by the same author/artist team, Iolanda Zanfardino and Elisa Romboli. huh, looks like the second part of that story was kickstarted and will soon be available in the omnibus coming early next year