Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities Vertigo Title Review (R.I.P.)

I did read it and I found it distasteful. I don't even know what they were trying to say on first reading.

I do enjoy Vertigo's two other war series that are ongoing at the moment "DMZ" and "The Other Side" and also the recent "Pride of Baghdad GN". It's clear what they're saying but they do it with much more respect.

I picked up Young Liars on a whim, and it was actually quite good. Only #1 issue into it and I really like the set-up so far. The two main characters are very likeable while the other four are extremely unlikeable, but I'm sure as the series goes on they'll all shift.

A very interesting set-up, a lot going on (which is a must have for me these days) and a great sense of foreboding and excitement in what's to come. I reccomend and will at least check it out for the time being.

With Y: the Last Man over, I'm basically only collecting Fables (which is in another thread) and now have picked this up. Anyone reading anything else Vertigo?

Vertigo still remains the most authentic and 'you know what you're getting' company on the market. I pretty much consider it a 100% different entity than DC comics and praise Paul Levitz for ensuring DC can't get its hands on anything Vertigo.

I was getting Azzarello's Loveless until the original artist, Marcello Frusin, left the book... I tried to continue with it but couldn't get into the following artists. It was especially jarring because Frusin kept doing the covers following his run on interiors...

Picked up House of Mystery #1. A good, solid first issue that will get me to come back. It began a little slow for my tastes but gave me just the right super-weird/crazy story I was hoping for in the middle.

And man was that weird. So weird it just awesome.

Bill Willingham can do no wrong these days it appears.

Haven't filled the Y:The Last Man void yet. Picked up a Luna Brothers book that I liked

The final Y trade will be in my mid-June shipment...

Seriously, you guys should read the HoM book. It has a woman having sex with a fly. A woman having sex with a fly. For the first time in awhile I stopped reading and thought "wow, I don't think I've ever seen that at all before. I've got to tell my brother."

Well, Young Liars is continually interesting and completely insane over the top. I hardly know all that is going on but I'm enjoying that fact.

There are also several very intense, downright creepy, scenes each issue. The writer does an excellent job combining humor and the seriousness of violence, even over the top uber-comic book violence.

So I've added several Vertigo titles to my weekly list. I'm going to keep updating this thread as I review them but two stick out in my mind (Fables has its own thread, and Young Liars I've reviewed elsewhere but will probably do again here at some point).

The Unknown Soldier - I love the concept of the Unknown Soldier, so the idea of a relaunch with another Soldier initially put me off--enough that I didn't give #1 a try. But in my attempt to diversify my readings, I gave the first two issues a try at one read. AND WOW. This...this is excellent. Powerful. And ruthless to the reader. Thus far, the Unknown Soldier has provided a dynamic, intriguing and edge of your seat pacing that has immediately drawn me right in. It takes place in Ugunda, which should say a ton to anyone familiar with it: this is not an easy comic to read. Its probably the most brutal comic I've read that isn't being brutal for the sake of being brutal; its not outright gor, but just the horror of the entire situation. I generally dislike comic books attempting to use the African political problems as a story line, because they never seem to get it right, but this works here. Its not preachy or giving answers, its just providing a realistic, unflinching background. And the new Unknown Soldier is a very interesting and complicated character thus far. I like it.

Madame Xanadu - I grabbed this too and quickly filled up the back issues (its up to about #6 now). Yet another stellar surprise by Vertigo. Totally catching me off guard, I was shocked at how much I enjoyed it. It reminds me of Sandman in the usage of historical settings and intricate yet fun plots. The art is nothing short of fantastic. Madame Xanadu, who I've always liked but never have *loved* is really intresting here, and its fun to learn about her long life. I was very hesitant about the use of the Phantom Stranger here, but so far I've enjoyed it. It reminds me a bit of "The Time Traveler's Wife" which is probably my favorite love story I've read / seen / heard about in the last 15 years of my life.

So yeah, I'd say Vertigo is kicking ass right now. In addition to these two, I'm reading Young Liars, Fables and just picked up the Haunted Tank (but haven't read that one yet).

Cobalt, you irredeemable sunnuvabitch! You're not reading Scalped--possibly, one of the very best monthlies being published right now? Getcher ass over to your CBS and buy/order the first trade, "Indian Country"! Now!!!

You'll hate yourself forever (hell, it may already be to late! ) if you wait more than another week to pick it up! A history buff like you needs to read this to see how it sheds light on the injustices done to Native Americans from a modern perspective!

Plus, it's got an Indian mob boss and the badass protagonist uses nunchuks! And, yes, there's BOOBIES!!!

Best Vertigo title since Y: The Last Man without being anything like it! And no fantasy, scifi or supernatural elements!!! (okay, maybe a spirit walk or two...)

Vertigo's flag-bearers: Sandman, Preacher, Fables, Y...and now, Scalped. It's THAT good!
So why are you still reading this post?!?! Go out and pick it the hell up!!!!!

Yes, yes, yes, yes! This is the post I've been waiting for! Of course I've seen Scalped tons of times, passing it by only to be schnookered by the latest issue of Astonishing X-Men or Teen Titans. I needed someone to grab me by the back of the neck, doink me in the eyes and clear my head and tell me about it!

Consider me sold--I shall be checking it out in the next few weeks.

PLUS!!! - I'm of Native American descent! So I *should* be picking this up! (Seriously, my great-grandmother on my Dad's Mom's side was a full-blooded Mohawk Indian...so I'm partially Native American, at least enough to make refernce to!).

PLUS!!! You knew nunchuks and boobies would peak my interest. And The 'hell it may already be too late didn't hurt )

PS - I forgot to say I'm also collecting House of Mystery which is excellent and I highly reccomend it. A must read for fans of Fables.

Anybody here already mentioned the new mini-series "Greatest Hits" by David Tischmann?

It's a wild ride with fantastic artwork by Glenn Fabry, dealing with a Beatles-like group of four superheroes. The son of the McCartney character gets the job to do a docu about his fathers team. the story jumps through time, showing the feats and misdeeds of the "Fab Four" and the trouble of the son in doing the documentation piece.

Three issues out thus far, I really digged it, great fun, highly recommended!

I'll echo Cobie's comments on House of Mystery. It's a great read, with a little nod to the Vertigo-verse without being clunky. We get two stories each issue; the ongoing drama and a quirky bar story. Give any issue a chance ,and you'll enjoy it.

And Madame Xanadu is another interesting read. Matt Wagner is giving us the history of Xanadu, heavily influenced by the Phantom Stranger. We get these sort of two issue tales as we travel through Xanadu's history. Again, easy to jump into with each issue.

YES! I knew my "I Heart DC" sales pitch would eventually snag someone!

Heed the advice of this convert people. Madame Xanadu rocks!

(And Scalped is really good too.)

Well, Blacula, you certainly got me interested!

I, of course, consider Vertigo a completely seperate entity than the DCU Proper. Mainly because Didio isn't allowed anywhere near it (which I love!!!). I'm 100% behind Vertigo--they've always done great things and recently they've seen to really release a bunch of titles and mini-series I find appealing and of very high quality.

Vertigo is really kicking ass lately!

Never thought I'd be posting in this thread, but I've jumped on the Madame Xanadu train. Anyone who loved fairy tales and myths and legends as a kid would probably like this book. It's also a good reminder that I still need to sample writer Matt Wagner's cult series Mage and Grendel.

Oh, and, Cobie, did you ever read the Vertigo series from a few years ago The Losers? Track down the trades, it's well worth it. Written by Andy Diggle.

There's a few titles that have me curious, and I'm hoping some of my fellow LWers can give me the thumbs up or down on them along with a few comments: Northlanders, Loveless & DMZ. A Viking tale, a western and war story with a twist. All sound very intriguing, but I'd like to see if anyone's read them. There were some comments on DMZ here a couple of years ago but nothing more recent. I haven't read any Brian Wood and very little Brian Azzarello, so I don't have much to go on. Help?

Also...read Scalped NOW!!!!

Though I agree with the sentiment about VERTIGO's aggregate personality, I sure wish characters like Black Orchid, Fury and Hector Hall *were* placed in DC's hands and that *Vertigo* couldn't get *their* hands on these properties.

'Cause, really, what do they need them for? Those three don't even really fit in any Vertigo title that I can think of, anymore.

Sitting at home waiting for me: TPB of the first issues of Scalped! You demanded it Lardy, and it shall be read!

I reckon we'll hear back from yuh in about a week---it'll take that long for yuh to be able to sit down at your computer and post cuz it'll kick yer ASS so hard when yuh read it!!!

Bought and read the first issue of Haunted Tank. You know what? Pretty damn entertaining! So far, very fun without taking the easy cliche way out. (Black ancester of Jeb Stuarts? In the hands of Judd Winnick this could be torture to read).

OK, read it today. AWESOME. Everything you said about it Lardy was spot on! Very intense, and a very intelligent read. So far the characters have sprung to life, and the intricate backstory is fascinating and opens up a long range of places to go.

You've hooked me. So now the decision is to continue in trades or pick up single issues? I've basically been doing single issues for everything I read, so maybe this will be a TPB series for me.

Oh, that makes a sudden quite huge Vertigo title count for me! Fables, Scalped, Madame Xanadu, House of Mystery, Unknown Soldier, Haunted Tank, Young Liars, Jack of Fables (occassional trades). Within the last few months I think Vertigo, which has always published a bunch of great comics strait on through, is suddenly exploding with great material again! A new wave of greatness is here!

The good news, there, is that there are already two more volumes in print, "Casino Boogie" and "Dead Mothers"!

"Casino Boogie" chronicles the opening of the casino from the perspectives of several major characters. It doesn't immediately follow up on the murder at the end of "Indian Country", but you won't be disappointed. One issue has a fight between Dash and Diesel that is over-the-top, but I would KILL to see choreographed in a movie!

"Dead Mothers" follows up on the murder from the first volume emotionally, but it's another murder that takes center stage. Dash really gets some subtle but profound character development here.

And Chief Red Crow is fast becoming one of the most compelling characters in comics!

Personally, I couldn't wait for trades, but Vertigo back issues can sometimes be harder to come by with the smaller print runs.

It's good to know you have great taste!