|
Well, for better or worse I'm actually able to put my brain power back into ranting about comics again. For the past few months I've been surviving the last leg of my current run of education (don't ask what, it will only scare you). Looking back I've found that there are three titles that have helped me to survive with a smile on my face. This may be a surprise considering how much I like my "serious" titles (i.e. Ex Machina), but those who know me also know I have a much larger side dedicated to humor. So, what does someone like me read when they need a laugh? Let's take a look:
Cable & Deadpool
This title's 16th issue has just come out recently and all I can say is that it keeps getting better and better. It started out with a few good chuckles and a less that mediocre storyline, but I love that "merc with a mouth" so I decided to stick with it. As you can tell I'm very happy with my decision.
At first it seemed as though Fabian Nicieza was looking to try and create a balance of solid story and comedy, but luckily he seems to be concentrating on the comedy now and is allowing the story to be pulled along with it, and it works OH so well. The stories are light, but interesting, and definitely entertaining. Patrick Zircher's pencils help even more because he does an excellent job of bringing out the physical comedy aspects of Deadpool.
The comedy ranges from rude to sharp and even makes use of current events to some degree (yes folks . . . intelligent humor). Of course for me the best piece of humor comes in a quote to from Deadpool in issue #12, "Dude, anyone wearing a harness rig has a failsafe release to prevent it from catching on fire and forcing you to fly into Kree spaceships and blow up. I mean, duh, who doesn't know that?"
How can you not like a title whose writer actually has the testicular fortitude (as Stewie of Family Guy would say) to actually call Bendis on the lameness that was 'Avengers Disassembled'? If that's not enough for you then just know that "Deadpool" has been writing responses in the letters page since issue #13, and some of that stuff alone is worth the price of the title.
I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League
Alright, so this isn't really a title all its own, it's a story contained within a few issues of the title JLA: Classified. However, it's still exceptionally funny and the story picks up shortly after the events in Formerly Known as the Justice League. As before the story is written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis with Kevin Maguire and Joe Rubinstein taking care of the artwork.
It's actually VERY difficult to explain the story because of all the different things that are going on at the same time. The best bits I can give you are that Booster Gold and Blue Beetle are as funny a pair as ever, plus bringing back Guy Gardner and placing him into an environment with super-innocent Mary Marvel is a great formula for possible trouble. Hey, witnessing Mary hanging out with Fire socially is something that you must see for yourself.
I must say that it's really unfortunate that with all that has happened in the DC Universe recently that stories like this seem less likely to happen again, and it's guaranteed that they won't be happening with the same people. However, I will say that I'm happy to hear that nearly all of the creative team for this story is responsible for a Defenders series that is on the way from Marvel. So, perhaps what they did for the Justice League they can do for the Defenders. I can dream can't I?
A "runner-up" in all of this GLA: Misassembled. I am really enjoying it, but I can't recommend it to anyone who isn't a fan of the Great Lakes Avengers. In fact, chances are if you're saying, "Who are the Great Lakes Avengers?" then you wouldn't really be into the series very much. If you're up for something new, check it out. Just be ready to feel like you're out of the loop.
I considered going more in-depth for the things I had to say about these titles/stories but I really don't think I could do them justice without giving away too much of the humor. Plus, humor is a VERY subjective term and while I do believe these titles/stories have something to offer I can add that the more childish and twisted your humor, the more you're going to like reading them.
|