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Just recently started reading comic books again. Wanted really got me hooked and would like something similar, with really good art and doesn't shy away from violence. Of course, excessive fan service is cool too.
Currently, I am reading Clive Barker's The Great and Secret Show. I would like something that has been published completely, so I can buy the entire set or book together.
Thanks!
Answer
Some of my favorites:
1. The Ballad of Halo Jones - There are 3 books in this series which revolve around a 50th century every woman named halo jones. The 3 books chronicle more than 10 years of her life. Book 1 takes place in the course of 1 day in the life of 18 year old halo jones and her violent and semi comical misadventures on a shopping trip. Books 2 involves halo as a stewardess on a year long voyage in space. Book 3 (set 10 years later) has halo becoming a soldier in an interstellar guerilla war.
2. The Sandman - Focuses on Dream of the Endless (the other endless being: Destiny, Death, Destruction, Despair, Desire and Delirium) who is the lord of the dream realm. One of the best graphic novels I've ever read.
3. V for Vendetta - If you saw the movie, don't think that the comic and the movie are the same thing, they are totally different. The comics much better.
4. Hellblazer - The main character John Constantine is a streetwise magician. This is a difficult comic to just sum up in a few sentences but there are demons, heaven, hell, magic and John Constantine involved, you don't want to skip over this one. This is a continuing series which started in the late 80's so there's lot's of stuff to keep you entertained.
5. Ghost World - A more realistic series than the above mentioned, it features two friends, Enid and Rebecca, wandering more or less aimlessly through their small town criticizing pop culture and basically everything else. You see how their friendship is being stressed and how they eventually grow apart, this is an amazing comic. Even if you don't think this is your kind of thing pick it up anyway and give it a try, you won't regret it.
Also check out: Doktor Sleepless, Transmetropolitan, Y: The Last Man, and anything written by Alan Moore (he wrote The Ballad of Halo Jones and V for Vendetta listed above)
Some of my favorites:
1. The Ballad of Halo Jones - There are 3 books in this series which revolve around a 50th century every woman named halo jones. The 3 books chronicle more than 10 years of her life. Book 1 takes place in the course of 1 day in the life of 18 year old halo jones and her violent and semi comical misadventures on a shopping trip. Books 2 involves halo as a stewardess on a year long voyage in space. Book 3 (set 10 years later) has halo becoming a soldier in an interstellar guerilla war.
2. The Sandman - Focuses on Dream of the Endless (the other endless being: Destiny, Death, Destruction, Despair, Desire and Delirium) who is the lord of the dream realm. One of the best graphic novels I've ever read.
3. V for Vendetta - If you saw the movie, don't think that the comic and the movie are the same thing, they are totally different. The comics much better.
4. Hellblazer - The main character John Constantine is a streetwise magician. This is a difficult comic to just sum up in a few sentences but there are demons, heaven, hell, magic and John Constantine involved, you don't want to skip over this one. This is a continuing series which started in the late 80's so there's lot's of stuff to keep you entertained.
5. Ghost World - A more realistic series than the above mentioned, it features two friends, Enid and Rebecca, wandering more or less aimlessly through their small town criticizing pop culture and basically everything else. You see how their friendship is being stressed and how they eventually grow apart, this is an amazing comic. Even if you don't think this is your kind of thing pick it up anyway and give it a try, you won't regret it.
Also check out: Doktor Sleepless, Transmetropolitan, Y: The Last Man, and anything written by Alan Moore (he wrote The Ballad of Halo Jones and V for Vendetta listed above)
Buying Star Wars Books Finding the Best and Avoiding the Worst?
Lord of De
Ok right now im buying tons of different novels series that i have heard good things about and now im at Star Wars. I have looked over the star wars books and seem to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of books. I am already getting the Republic/Imperial Commando series and will get the x-wing series and Darth Bane but not to sure of any others.
So if you guys could give me a list of both your favorite star wars series and also your least favorite series (books to avoid) i would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks
1 other thing is the Galaxy of Fear series any good?
Answer
The books of the Star Wars EU (Expanded Universe) stretch from a little more than a 1000 years before the events of the prequel movies to, as it stands right now, about 50 - 60 years after the events of the OT and ep VI. In comic book form the story stretches back over 5000 years before the events of the prequel movies and about 150 years after the events of the OT. Here's a couple links to the site of DelRey books the official publisher of SW books:
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/starwars/timeline.html
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/starwars/art/starwarstimeline.pdf
The biggest thing to remember when reading SW books is that they all fit in a step by step time line ... the stories build on each other. It is possible to read some of the books out of order and not get lost. Of the ones you've mentioned you have stories from the "Old Republic" Era, this includes the Clone Wars, the "Imperial Era", the time when the Empire was in control. There are three Darth Bane books, "Path of Destruction", "Rule of Two", "Dynasty of Evil" ... they are set 1020 years before the events of the prequel movies. The "Republic/Imperial Commando" series is set in the Clone War period and the beginning of the Imperial period. The X-Wing series is actually a long one ... 9 books and counting stretching from the time right after the events of the OT to 10 years beyond ... and a hell of a good read if I do say so myself as are the other two that you mention.
The list to avoid is very short so I'll give that first ... "The Crystal Star" ... perplexing book that doesn't add much if anything to the overall story ... set 10 years after the events of ep VI ... worst 30 dollars I ever spent. Most of the other books range from OK to spectacular although I would avoid reading the novel versions of ep IV - VI since they are no longer an accurate telling of the story as it stands now with all the new info from the prequel movies. As for the comics, I've never been much of a Marvel Comics fan and some of their SW titles were absolutely horrid. Dark Horse Comics, the current publisher of SW comics, are mostly good to spectacular.
As you look at the time lines you can see 2 different "sections" of it. Meaning everything up to just before ep IV and the other being everything after the events of ep IV. They can be seen this way because you can read the ones before the events of ep IV as a group and not get lost and you can read the ones after the events of ep IV as a group although these stories are much more of the "build on each other" mold.
When asked to recommend a place to start reading the books of SW I always say the same thing ... The Thrawn Trilogy. The titles are "Heir To The Empire", "Dark Force Rising", & "The Last Command". They were brilliantly written by Hugo Award winning author Timothy Zahn. These 3 books marked the "rebirth" of the SW story after it had laid mostly dormant for almost 10 years. They are set 5 years after the events of ep VI and are freaking awesome. "The Last Command" remains as only one of a very few books that I have read cover to cover in one sitting ... I just couldn't put the damn thing down that is how good it was. The next place is where you have already got books ... the X-Wing series ... at least books 1 - 7. The next book is "The Courtship Of Princess Leia". This book takes place right after book 7, "Solo Command", of the X-Wing series. At that point you will have pretty much all the info you need to read any of the other books of the group of books after the events of ep IV. There is one book titled "Splinter Of The Mind's Eye" that is set in between ep IV and ep V ... a great read. Some say that it is not canon to the "new" story line because it uses part of the story that have been refuted but the truth is that it only uses a little of that and fashions a great story. In this book we get to see Vader go to blades with BOTH of his children although none of them know anything about them being related at the time. Vader takes Leia apart almost killing her but Luke stands toe to toe with the Dark Lord and the fight ends in a draw ... very much like the mirror image of the duel between Luke & Vader in ep V. Another book titled "Shadows of The Empire", set in between ep V & ep VI, adds much to the overall story. It shows the search for Han by Lando & friends, Luke's growing power in the Force & the construction of his new lightsabre. It also tells us where Leia got the bounty hunter's outfit that she used in ep VI. Other notable series, The Jedi Academy trilogy, The Corellian Trilogy, The Hand of Thrawn Duology, The New Jedi Order Series, & The Legacy of the Force series.
In short skip "The Crystal Star" and the novel versions of the OT and you'll be set.
May The Force Be With You ...
EDIT: I've only read a couple of the Galaxy of Fear titles ... I'd give them 3 out of 4 lightsabres so far but they do rehash some already known info.
.
The books of the Star Wars EU (Expanded Universe) stretch from a little more than a 1000 years before the events of the prequel movies to, as it stands right now, about 50 - 60 years after the events of the OT and ep VI. In comic book form the story stretches back over 5000 years before the events of the prequel movies and about 150 years after the events of the OT. Here's a couple links to the site of DelRey books the official publisher of SW books:
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/starwars/timeline.html
http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/starwars/art/starwarstimeline.pdf
The biggest thing to remember when reading SW books is that they all fit in a step by step time line ... the stories build on each other. It is possible to read some of the books out of order and not get lost. Of the ones you've mentioned you have stories from the "Old Republic" Era, this includes the Clone Wars, the "Imperial Era", the time when the Empire was in control. There are three Darth Bane books, "Path of Destruction", "Rule of Two", "Dynasty of Evil" ... they are set 1020 years before the events of the prequel movies. The "Republic/Imperial Commando" series is set in the Clone War period and the beginning of the Imperial period. The X-Wing series is actually a long one ... 9 books and counting stretching from the time right after the events of the OT to 10 years beyond ... and a hell of a good read if I do say so myself as are the other two that you mention.
The list to avoid is very short so I'll give that first ... "The Crystal Star" ... perplexing book that doesn't add much if anything to the overall story ... set 10 years after the events of ep VI ... worst 30 dollars I ever spent. Most of the other books range from OK to spectacular although I would avoid reading the novel versions of ep IV - VI since they are no longer an accurate telling of the story as it stands now with all the new info from the prequel movies. As for the comics, I've never been much of a Marvel Comics fan and some of their SW titles were absolutely horrid. Dark Horse Comics, the current publisher of SW comics, are mostly good to spectacular.
As you look at the time lines you can see 2 different "sections" of it. Meaning everything up to just before ep IV and the other being everything after the events of ep IV. They can be seen this way because you can read the ones before the events of ep IV as a group and not get lost and you can read the ones after the events of ep IV as a group although these stories are much more of the "build on each other" mold.
When asked to recommend a place to start reading the books of SW I always say the same thing ... The Thrawn Trilogy. The titles are "Heir To The Empire", "Dark Force Rising", & "The Last Command". They were brilliantly written by Hugo Award winning author Timothy Zahn. These 3 books marked the "rebirth" of the SW story after it had laid mostly dormant for almost 10 years. They are set 5 years after the events of ep VI and are freaking awesome. "The Last Command" remains as only one of a very few books that I have read cover to cover in one sitting ... I just couldn't put the damn thing down that is how good it was. The next place is where you have already got books ... the X-Wing series ... at least books 1 - 7. The next book is "The Courtship Of Princess Leia". This book takes place right after book 7, "Solo Command", of the X-Wing series. At that point you will have pretty much all the info you need to read any of the other books of the group of books after the events of ep IV. There is one book titled "Splinter Of The Mind's Eye" that is set in between ep IV and ep V ... a great read. Some say that it is not canon to the "new" story line because it uses part of the story that have been refuted but the truth is that it only uses a little of that and fashions a great story. In this book we get to see Vader go to blades with BOTH of his children although none of them know anything about them being related at the time. Vader takes Leia apart almost killing her but Luke stands toe to toe with the Dark Lord and the fight ends in a draw ... very much like the mirror image of the duel between Luke & Vader in ep V. Another book titled "Shadows of The Empire", set in between ep V & ep VI, adds much to the overall story. It shows the search for Han by Lando & friends, Luke's growing power in the Force & the construction of his new lightsabre. It also tells us where Leia got the bounty hunter's outfit that she used in ep VI. Other notable series, The Jedi Academy trilogy, The Corellian Trilogy, The Hand of Thrawn Duology, The New Jedi Order Series, & The Legacy of the Force series.
In short skip "The Crystal Star" and the novel versions of the OT and you'll be set.
May The Force Be With You ...
EDIT: I've only read a couple of the Galaxy of Fear titles ... I'd give them 3 out of 4 lightsabres so far but they do rehash some already known info.
.
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