What format are the bundles in? What do I need to read them?
JD's Comic Book Thread
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The bundles come with your choice of PDF or CBZ and from my experience, you can download them both, if you so choose. The PDFs would just require a reader, which I'm assuming you most likely have, already. The PDF format can also be uploaded to Google Play Books (I use Android stuff, so I'm not sure the procedure if you want them on an Apple device).
I am trying the CBZ format now. I downloaded the free program ComicRack to try it. They have a free app, but the premium version is $7.
I am trying the CBZ format now. I downloaded the free program ComicRack to try it. They have a free app, but the premium version is $7.
ComicRack is terrific. I highly recommend it.
I stumbled across the FCDB 2014 Valiant Universe Handbook on, and after hearing you guys talk about how great their stuff is I decided to get it. I'm up to the Archer and Armstrong entry so far, and this stuff sounds awesome.
So where would be a good place to start. I was leaning towards either Archer & Armstrong or XO-Manowar, but wasn't sure if they would be a good place to start.
Is the Valiant Classic stuff in a separate continuity from the current stuff?
So where would be a good place to start. I was leaning towards either Archer & Armstrong or XO-Manowar, but wasn't sure if they would be a good place to start.
Is the Valiant Classic stuff in a separate continuity from the current stuff?
There's a couple of cool sales going on at Comixology right now that I took advantage of to pick up a some new stuff. There's a Batman 1000 sale, with a ton of New 52 and old stuff, and IDW is doing a TV and movie comics sale. I took advantage of the Batman sale to pick up the first 7 issues of the current Scott Snyder Batman run, and the IDW sale to pick up the first collection of Angel: After the Fall.
With Batman, I debated getting the New 52 stuff or more of the old comics, I ended up deciding on the N52. I've been wanting to get into more of the New52 stuff, and a lot of people seem to like Batman.
I was looking through the DC's Essential Graphic Novels book, and I noticed that their stuff for Green Arrow jumps from the old stuff to Vol. 4 of the New 52 series, so does I can just start there and not with the Vol. 1? I know most of the reactions to the early part of the New 52 GA stuff wasn't very good, so I'm happy to skip to Vol. 4 if that is where it improves.
With Batman, I debated getting the New 52 stuff or more of the old comics, I ended up deciding on the N52. I've been wanting to get into more of the New52 stuff, and a lot of people seem to like Batman.
I was looking through the DC's Essential Graphic Novels book, and I noticed that their stuff for Green Arrow jumps from the old stuff to Vol. 4 of the New 52 series, so does I can just start there and not with the Vol. 1? I know most of the reactions to the early part of the New 52 GA stuff wasn't very good, so I'm happy to skip to Vol. 4 if that is where it improves.
The Classic 90s VALIANT and Acclaim/VAliant years are separate. They are the foundation but it's not at all necessary to read anything from that '92-'04 for the re-launched VALIANT that applies to the FCBD Universe Handbook.
Where to start for relaunch VALIANT, I'd say any of the 4 titles that made it up: XO, Harbinger, Archer & Armstrong or Bloodshot. All have strengths, all have various slow spots but as 25 issue reads tell solid stories. Only XO has remained as an ongoing and is up to issue #40. Archer & Armstrong works as largely self-contained and has a balanced feel of action & humor. Harbinger is one I felt started slow. I really wasn't digging the book till about issue #8/9, but after that it's plot elements all jived and it was a must read till it ended.
The follow-up title to Harbinger is Imperium and while good it's helpful to have some background on that so I wouldn't call it a solid starting point but the Handbook can help with that.
If you're interested in Bloodshot, you could skip the initial 25 issues and start with The Valiant mini-series as that leads into the Bloodshot Reborn series, currently on issue #6.
RAI is a very solid stand-a-alone, great Clayton Crain interiors. Yes, there are Easter Eggs in there for the long term but it can read as a self-contained and is on issue #10.
Ivar, Timewalker is also a good self-contained, it's on issue #9 of #12 though.
Death Defying Doctor Mirage 5 issue mini was excellent and her follow-up 4 issue mini starts in Oct or Nov.
UNITY is a good book up through about issue #14. It's held up by crossovers with XO. An editorial move, I feel, jeopardized the title by pulling the Divinity arc out and making it a mini-series. Thus causing them to scramble a bit.
Ninjak: YES, buy this book. It's Daredevil and Batman's love child with James Bond as his Godfather.
Characters I'd save for much later to read:
Shadowman (after 1.5yrs away, VEI is ready to 'fix' him)
Eternal Warrior (getting a new ongoing in Nov--also fixed?)
Quantum & Woody
Dr. Mirage, Rai and Ninjak are all very good. Each shows a separate and unique corner of the overall Valiant Universe such as magic, futuristic science fiction or espionage.
I didn't realize Ivar, Timewalker was only going to be 12 issues.
I'd also give my endorsement to Bloodshot and and Ninjak. I've been enjoying both of them very much. Reading The Valiant mini is what prompted me to pick up Bloodshot Reborn and it is indeed a good jumping on point.
I'd also give my endorsement to Bloodshot and and Ninjak. I've been enjoying both of them very much. Reading The Valiant mini is what prompted me to pick up Bloodshot Reborn and it is indeed a good jumping on point.
This thread seems to have really died down. Is there a new one I don't know about?
At any rate, has anyone given Paper Girls from Brian K. Vaughn and Cliff Chiang a try? I wasn't going to but decided to check it out since it's a double sized first issue and is only $2.99 and I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I will be back for more.
At any rate, has anyone given Paper Girls from Brian K. Vaughn and Cliff Chiang a try? I wasn't going to but decided to check it out since it's a double sized first issue and is only $2.99 and I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I will be back for more.
I picked it up (I pretty much get anything by Vaughn) without knowing much about it and really liked it.
It had a nice Goonies vibe to it that I thought worked well. I'm definitely in it for the long haul.
It had a nice Goonies vibe to it that I thought worked well. I'm definitely in it for the long haul.
If you didn't read IDW's TMNT#50 and you've read, are reading any of it all in some form then you should mostly like how the issue goes.
So did anyone catch the news at NYCC this year that Todd McFarlane and Erik Larsen will be co-writing and drawing Spawn starting with issue #258?
Larsen will pencil and do very bare bones inks which Todd will then further embellish. Larsen had the first 10 pages of his finished art from 258 with him at NYCC and I got a chance to flip through all of them. I think it's going to look very cool. Larsen draws great demons and Todd's inks over Erik's work look really good.
Larsen will pencil and do very bare bones inks which Todd will then further embellish. Larsen had the first 10 pages of his finished art from 258 with him at NYCC and I got a chance to flip through all of them. I think it's going to look very cool. Larsen draws great demons and Todd's inks over Erik's work look really good.
I just read Klaus #1 from Boom! Studios. It's by Grant Morrison and Dan Mora and is basically a Year 1 for Santa Claus. I'm not the biggest Grant Morrison fan but I just had to check it out because of the premise. It was a surprisingly straightforward read for a Morrison book and the art was fantastic. The colouring was also stellar and really sold it for me. It's a 6 issue limited series and I think I will be getting the whole thing.
Seeing this reminds me I've been meaning to post on here. I finished reading Green Arrow: Year One last week. I enjoyed it a lot. It was very different from Arrow, but I could kind of see where there was still a bit of influence. I do find it kind of ironic that the book dealt with drug dealers, and I read it just as Arrow was starting a storyline dealing with drug dealers on Lian Yu. I really liked it a lot. The story and action were good, and I liked the art a lot.
After I finished GA, I started reading the first collection of Lumberjanes. I was in the mood for something different and I've heard lots of good things about Lumberjanes.
I really enjoyed it. I loved the art and the writing was great. I'd heard that one of the movie studios, I think it was Fox, is working on a live action movie. I actually find that rather disappointing, I would actually rather see it as an animated production that could retain it's already cartoony art. It seems to me like something that would be a perfect fit for Cartoon Network.
After I finished GA, I started reading the first collection of Lumberjanes. I was in the mood for something different and I've heard lots of good things about Lumberjanes.
I really enjoyed it. I loved the art and the writing was great. I'd heard that one of the movie studios, I think it was Fox, is working on a live action movie. I actually find that rather disappointing, I would actually rather see it as an animated production that could retain it's already cartoony art. It seems to me like something that would be a perfect fit for Cartoon Network.
I did get "Klaus" have been looking forward to it since the announcement, I think it's Grant first Boom Studios work as part of his contract for them.
I finished "Book of the Dead" and thought it was pretty good. Has fully got me into the Valiant Universe along with "Imperium" so if that was it's intent it has managed to accomplish it's goal. I will be checking out the Eternal Warrior series. I love Gilaad, I think it's a great concept.
Also I'm digging "Paper Girls" as well.
I finished "Book of the Dead" and thought it was pretty good. Has fully got me into the Valiant Universe along with "Imperium" so if that was it's intent it has managed to accomplish it's goal. I will be checking out the Eternal Warrior series. I love Gilaad, I think it's a great concept.
Also I'm digging "Paper Girls" as well.
I haven't read the final issue of Book of the Dead yet, but based on what I've read so far I think I'll be picking up the new Eternal Warrior comic too.
I have't read the second issue of Paper Girls yet either but I really liked the first issue so I'm looking forward to reading it on my lunch break today.
Another Image book I gave a try this morning over coffee was Monstress.I'm generally not into this kind of comic book but the art looked so fantastic I just had to give it a try. As I said, the art was just gorgeous and the story was actually pretty interesting too. I'll probably give the second issue a shot.
I have't read the second issue of Paper Girls yet either but I really liked the first issue so I'm looking forward to reading it on my lunch break today.
Another Image book I gave a try this morning over coffee was Monstress.I'm generally not into this kind of comic book but the art looked so fantastic I just had to give it a try. As I said, the art was just gorgeous and the story was actually pretty interesting too. I'll probably give the second issue a shot.
Just as an FYI, the CBZ format was initially used by the program CDISPLAY but now is supported by many comic readers. In reality, it's just a zip file containing image files, usually JPEGs. If you rename a .cbz file to end with .zip you should be able to open it as a zip and see inside.
CBR is the same thing but uses RAR for compression instead of ZIP.
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