Comics that have made me laugh

[Gold Rush]

Okay, too much responding. A pure post to some of the DC leftover questions will have to wait. Time for some fun.

So, I bring you, comics that have made me laugh or smile, specifically series. Mind you, I rarely crack up, especially aloud at jokes, but these have been gems so far.

Green Arrow = You know, after all the trouble Deathstroke, the Terminator has caused, before and after Infinite Crisis, for some reason, him getting shown up by GA and the last panel had me in stitches. It was just so damn funny and righteous. Sure, we know his incarceration won't last long, but who has really gotten the drop on Deathstroke in recent memory? (I don't think Batman has ever battled him). It was great to see his comeuppeance! And the series also has other great moments, like with GA and the Brick (I think that's his name?) fighting zombies, some of the lines are great! Read this to get a good laugh mixed in with your action.

She-Hulk = You know, I've always heard She-Hulk was a great fun comic, even when Bryne was writing. Never really fell for it even though I know I shoulda. Sure, I see some soap operey stuff in their (Star Fox's touch on She-Hulk and Jameson's life), but there are some genuine funny moments. I mean, who would have thought J Jonah Jameson would keep such things in his attic?

America's Top 10 = An Alan Moore thing. Now, long-term, as has been mentioned elsewhere, it flops, because it's more of a description of life on their world than a continuing story. In other words, mosly encyclopedic knowledge, but, there have been some amusing panels with a "spot-the-famous-character/vehicle/whatsis". And a few allusions to what a regular heroic society can have on the mundane world can be interesting and fun, but for all the set-up, even though I am grateful, when does one get to stories? I think they are elsewhere. I've got a few issues of things, but most are filled with explanations and not as much stories. I would recommend this for a short visit, not a long-term read. There has been some efforts at funny stories, specifically Splash Brannigan and that Intelligent Kid, but the jokes tend to fall flat for me more often than not. I can see the enthusiasm in the stories; I WANT to like these stories, but the presentation is...flat.

Hmmm...there may be one or two more. Mostly single issues.

-----------------------------------------------------

Gold Rush

[Solario]

Scott Pilgrim = Every single thing from Psychic Vegan Powers to Scott being assaulted by Ninja Poster Pop Girl Sensations summoned by Ninja Magic and scrolls. Confused? I'll let Bryan Lee O'Malley, the author and artist on Scott Pilgrim, explain: "Scott Pilgrim's life is totally sweet. He's 23 years old, in a rock band, "between jobs," AND dating a cute high school girl. Everything's fantastic until a seriously mind-blowing, dangerously fashionable, rollerblading delivery girl named Ramona Flowers starts cruising through his dreams and sailing by him at parties. Will Scott's awesome life get turned upside-down? Will he have to face Ramona's seven evil ex-boyfriends in battle? Short answer: yes. Long answer: SCOTT PILGRIM, VOLUME 1."

The manga (I guess it counts as manga. *cough* Better art though), as mentioned above, is basically about a young guy's, Scott Pilgrim's, relationship with a girl and having to defeat her Seven Evil Ex-Boyfriends in fights that would make Street Fighter look like Nintendogs. It's half romance and humour and half videogame, given the fact that there are bonus lives, powerups and save points.

Dan Slott's She-Hulk = Awesome Andy is indeed awesome. And the not-so-subtle remarks about Waiting for Trade and then getting saved by the trade waiters was great.

Death Jr. = The book is about the Son, around the age of 10, of the Grim Reaper and his misfit friends that range from a little goth girl, Pandora, with an afliction to open boxes and other forbidden stuff, to Smith & Weston, two conjoint twins with opposite personalities, to Stigmarta, a girl who starts bleeding when she's nervous to the ever-lovable Seep, an angry underdeveloped fetus in a jar. Don't let the fact that it's based on a videogame fool you. The comic is fantastic and I've heard it's even better than the game.

The best thing about it though is that it doesn't fall into the trapping of making it cynical or extremely dark. Death Jr. or DJ is one of the most positive and look-on-the-bright-side-kind of guys I've read in a story.

[coldcut]

Preacher. I'm sorry. I have religious friends who I know don't take this stuff very well. But the direct descendant of Jesus had me on the floor for a good five minutes.

[Gaia]

Next Wave! Oh how I love this book. I can not get enough of it. So much funny stuff. (Giant phones, ridiculous gadgets, dactile men, human resources department.) Least we forget the giant weapons of mass destruction hidden all over the US. (Fin Fang Foom!) Heck even the Q & A at the front of the book giving the synopsis from the last issue is funny. (go see my thread) "My robot brain craves beer!"

[Gold Rush]

Hmm, Gaia mentioned Fin Fang Foom, which was part of Marvel's Last Summer event. These monsters from Marvel's days at doing horror comics that had monsters big and small in them were hilarious. I wanted to mention them last summer but never got around to it. They were also very educational as to Marvel's history. Some reprints with Kirby art. I thought it funny Fin Fang Foom's origin story, that an ancient dragon wore shorts that just happend to be the same color as his skin. I guess comic censors back then were clueless to the anatomy (or outward lack) of real reptiles.

Mind you, I still hate Fin's face; always looked weird to me and I like conventional dragon faces, but these books made me appreciate him more. :)


Also, I forgot to mention the current series of The Thing. A favorite since childhood, they have given Ben his own comic once again and I've been reading them all. Nice good standard stories that have nothing to do with the Civil War (so far and I hope it never does). Good personality development and just day-to-day mundane stuff that only Ben Grimm can pull. Good decent art as well. Sure, it's a feel good comic, but it's time for one of those! Has some warm touches in there mixed in with the Mighty Marvel landscape. Heck, just last issue you get to see MANY heroes playing poker AND a barmitzvah! (SP probably). Nice sentiment, especially since most all of Marvel's titles have focused on Civil War. I hope there is a TPB, but my experience is sometimes things this good don't last long and a TPB doesn't get printed, so try out an issue and if you like it, get the whole series via back issues if you can!

yeah, I am really going to have to look for Preacher now, too many good reviews to avoid it long. See, I tend to have this quirk, if something is too popular, even if good, I shy away from it. Just take the TV show "Lost" for example, I know it's good. Everyone talks about it, but for some reason, I find it hard to tune in. Only a bit afterwards, like when hoopla dies down or I catch an errant episode, i get interested. (Needless to say, I finally saw some episodes. I have a few ideas on what may be happening, but I am slowly getting hooked). Seems if I am the first, it's fine, but if it gets TOO popular, I either put away my interest for awhile, it dies down, or I lose interest all together. :)

------------------------------------------

Gold Rush

[Solario]

You mean the CANCELLED Thing? Goddamn those Marvel bastards! It's getting collected though. Tell a friend! Save the Thing like we saved Slott's other Marvel book, She-Hulk, by buying the trade!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Solario/thingbanner.jpg

And Nextwave is fantastic. And Ellis actually adresses what you're talking about, Gold Rush. His sole motivation to wreck the city is that Fin Fang Foom has a burning desire to mate but no genitals.

http://www.warrenellis.com/artfile/nwfff.jpg

[UnSub]

Gold Rush - by "Top 10", do you actually mean "Tomorrow Stories"? "Top 10" was the ABC's police series and, while funny in parts, doesn't seem to fit what you are talking about. The hit and miss nature of "Tomorrow Stories" seems to better fit your comments.

One comic that has made me laugh is "Barry Ween - Boy Genius" by Judd Winick. Got better as it went on and ended on such an emotional note that it made a lasting impact on me.

[Gold Rush]

I do tend to mix up the two. But yeah, like I said, seems like both of them are alright for a quick peek for an issue or two and you can safely put it down. :)

-----------------------------------------------------

Gold Rush

[Meltman]

Transmetropolitan made me laugh all the time when I read it, but, then again, I have a fairly dark sense of humor.

Bone was pretty funny during the lighter parts.

Most comics by Giffen, DeMatteis, and Maguire

[Joe Schmoe]

Young Justice had awesome comedic elements in it. First DC Comic to pull me away from the Marvel Universe. :) (Think I've said that a million times..)

[Nerfed]

Anything with Squirrel Girl makes me laugh. :D

[Solario]

Transmet is, as mention by Meltman, also great. A bit of black humour, like Spider Jersualem, our fair journalist-protagonist, urinating in the baptismal font of the Official Serbian Church of Tesla to deliberately shooting the president with his Bowel Disruptor.

Had a lot of heart, a good story, fantastic dialog, characters and setting. Good clean fun (or maybe not. ;))

(And to repeat myself, Scott Pilgrim. It's what all the cool indie hipster kids read.)

[Maveric]

knights of the dinner table - every issue (no lotion required)

-Mav

[Gold Rush]

I forgot to mention this before, since it is an infrequent read of mine, depending which artist is being highlighted and if I can even FIND a copy, DC Comics puts out this comic called "SOLO", which showcases one artist for one issue. They are free to do anything, either related to a DC comics character or a private story. If DC related, it is not really considered "continuity".

Of course, this can give birth to interesting high-brow stuff or fun stuff. One of my favorite issues is the Mike Aldred stuff (may be getting name wrong; He did Madman). Lots of nice retro comments and a look back at childhood through DC Comics. Then there is also the Sergio Argonnes (I know that must be SP!). One interesting story he tells is how he is responsible for Marty Feldman's death! :p He's a pretty cool cat iRL; I got to hang out with him since I was with a friend who also hailled from Mexico City (and he was a Dealer at the con).

Back issues may be hard to get if you want to track down a favorite artist that has already done an issue. Just keep your eyes peeled and give it a whirl/support.

------------------------------------------------
Gold Rush

[Solario]

Solo has been canceled. It had a couple things against it from the start though: A. It was actually really good, which is always a negative in commercial comics, B. It wasn't always filled with Superheroes and C. It was an anthology book.

But yeah that Allred issue was great. Did you read the Darwyn Cooke issue? Hands down, the best of them all.

[Gold Rush]

Okay, I gotta find back issues! Haven't read that one yet.
Way of the world, the really good intellectual stuff gets canned, but it seems to have lasted for a time, longer than anything Marvel tries to put out in the same league. I have to give kudoes to DC for trying now and again, even if it is doomed. Heck, the Vertigo line is still being printed.

------------------------------------------------------

Gold Rush