Do you buy comic books?

That’s my question for you today. Do you buy comic books? If so, why? What keeps you coming back each month to each book you buy?

I’ve stated on many occasions that I’m an avid X-Men fan and each month I come back to my X-books knowing that the story is going to go forward to something great–and also, small hopes that Gambit will make an appearance. Marvel has (pretty much) had solid writing on the part of X-Men for the last 10 years or so and since I started picking up single issues instead of trades (which started roughly a year and a half ago) I’ve been buying at least one X-book a month because they’re that good. Of course, as of right now I’m buying almost all the X-books (Uncanny X-Men, X-Force, X-Factor, X-Men: Legacy, Cable)… because I’m a super nerd.

But I also pick up a lot of non-X-books.

Invincible Iron Man, for instance, is a book I’ve been buying since I read the first issue of “World’s Most Wanted.” Combining the art of Salvador Larroca and the writing of Matt Fraction, the 12 issue story arc has kept me wanting more and more each month. Both the plot and the art are above and beyond what I ever thought possible for a story focused on Iron Man. This is one of the books I’m going to classify as “I’m glad I started reading/buying when I did.”

Incredible Hercules. I have been reading Incredible Hercules since it’s first issue after World War Hulk, but I didn’t start buying it until issue #125 or so. Since then, I have bought the back issues of the comic (back to #112). This is a comic that when I read it, I don’t want it to end. The story and the writing in general is simply fantastic. It drives the comic beyond what I would ever expect from a Marvel comic. It’s strange to say, but this comic is so good, I’m surprised it hasn’t been canceled yet. Do you know what I mean?

Marvel aside, I do grab some DC/Vertigo comics as well as some independents.

Detective Comics. This is the one comic book I never thought I’d see myself reading a year ago. To me Detective Comics and Action Comics are the definitive DC comics and a year ago I wanted nothing to do with DC. I was a fool. On a whim I picked up Detective Comics #854 after a buddy of mine recommended it to me. This is another one of those “I’m glad I started reading/buying when I did” comics as I can not stop loving every piece of this comic. The art alone keeps me coming back each month.

The Vertigo comic I read right now that keeps me wanting more each month is DMZ. A comic I started buying back around issue #35, I wish I owned #1-34 because Brian Wood’s story is just fan-flipping-tastic. This is probably the best non-super-hero comic I have ever read in my life. Period.

Outside of Robert Kirkman’s plethora of sexy-time comic books, I read some random independent comics because I always like to try out the indie publishers here and there to see if there is greatness out there. Warren Ellis‘ torrent of comics that he releases tend to keep me buying every month (most recently Supergod and Ignition City), Garth Ennis‘ Crossed, and Mark Waid’s Irredeemable keep me wanting more every month. With these indie comics, it’s a sick hunger I get for more story each month. Wendigo style.

There are a few others in there I buy but the comics above are the ones I always look forward to the most. But again, I have to know, why do you buy comics? What keeps you coming back to your favorite titles? Let me know in the comments.

More info about the comics reviewed after the break.

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War Machine #2 Cover

Alright, so I’m a little late on this one. Various factors have lead to me being a little behind on comics these last few weeks. Given that, I didn’t really intend to review War Machine #2. Then I read it and decided I needed to vent.

Why the frustration? Well, when I heard that War Machine (aka James Rhodes) was getting his own title, I was pretty excited. I can’t say that I really knew much about War Machine, but I like to see a secondary character given the chance to shine in his/her own title. Then we got a little preview of what an all War Machine title would be like when Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D was turned over to War Machine for a couple issues during Secret Invasion. And frankly, it wasn’t good. But still, I held out hope. Christos Gage wrote the Secret Invasion arc and Greg Pak would be penning the on-going, so I thought maybe Pak would speak through the character better. Just take a look and what he and Fred Van Lente have managed to do with Incredible Hercules. Unfortunately, through 2 issues, I can’t say that Pak has managed to find his voice.

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I told Mike I was going to see and review “The Spirit” a week ago, but I’ve yet to muster up the courage to go. I review films for my school newspaper, and the three week break I go from seeing pure crap has been my favorite Xmas gift. I’ll see it soon, but in the meantime let’s talk about another 2008 superhero film, one without the buzz (and frankly, the quality) of “Hellboy II,” “Iron Man,” or “The Dark Knight.” I’m talking about a little film with a big green hero, “The Incredible Hulk.”

The last Hulk movie was a total disaster. There are those who try to convince me that Ang Lee (maybe the most overrated director working today) created a complex Hulk, one that focused more on Bruce Banner’s psyche than on mindless action. I know what Lee was trying to do but, from the bottom of my heart, I don’t care. I don’t give a good goddamn if the complete lack of lighting symbolized the darkness of Bruce’s repressed memories, or if the poodles represented- well, horrible writing. It was dull, pretentious, and didn’t even tackle the psychological aspects of Hulk properly. I know Hulk is a deeper character than anyone gives him credit for, but couldn’t he just hit something every now and then? After a few years, Ed Norton and Louis Leterrier came in to try to clean up the mess with a reboot. Did it work?

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Happy new year, dear readers. Sure, tomorrow is Friday and many of us have to go back to work just one day before the weekend, but hey, comics come out tomorrow, so that’s good news, right? Apparently, releasing comics on Christmas Eve is not a problem, but New Years Eve is a different story. But I digress. Just in time to help you get over your hangover or the shock that it is suddenly 2009, here’s what you can look forward to when you make your trip to the comic shop this week.

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In Case You’re Just Joining Us: Tony Stark just got served.

I know I can’t shut up about Matt Fraction and Salvador LaRocca’s run on “Invincible Iron Man”, but as long as this creative team keeps knocking it out of the park, I’m gonna let you all know about it.

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The holidays are, for the miserable, a time for reflection. Usually, this time is spent looking back on the circumstances of their misery. My own booze-soaked reverie finally rolled from past loves to comics, and boy was my time well spent.

Spider-Man’s red-haired, green-eyed wife became Mephisto’s bride. Cap’s dead, Bruce Wayne is probably dead, Superman is no longer unique and special. Green Arrow has the most masturbatory book in existence; a Moon Knight book still exists. Wonder Woman is dating a frat boy. Emma Frost is evil, not evil, and confused about whether or not she is evil, and there have been enough Wolverine one-shots to effectively make a new series…

But hey, at least the Wasp is dead.

Directing one’s attention to past issues and plot threads can make one wistful for what might have been. Fortunately, Marvel has a tradition of offering that very thing, if only as an equally wistful possibility that never was.

Unfortunately, it has most recently taken the form of What If? Fallen Son.

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So, this new idea came to mind just a few days ago that we here at DestroyTheCyb.org should get together and let you guys all know what our favorite comics were for the month of November. We all have our favorites and even with the short amount of time we all managed to come up with our favorites, so without further ado, DestroyTheCyb.org’s Favorite Comics of November.

**possible spoilers after the break**

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Ultimatum #1 Cover

Here’s what you can look forward to tomorrow at the comic shop. And for you US readers, get out to the polls and make your voice heard in this very important election.

Ultimatum #1

The beginning of the end (or beginning) for the Ultimate Universe is finally here! How much is Jeph Loeb going to screw up or save the Ultimate Universe? You’ll only find out if you pick up this series and find out what’s coming.

Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel #1

New superheroes are always intriguing when they are brought to life. And Blue Marvel is set to be the newest superhero in the Marvel universe. Though I am not a huge fan of Kevin Grevioux, I am interested to see what this series is going to bring. If you’re looking for something new out of the House of Ideas, this is your chance to get in on the bottom floor.

Iron Man: The End #1

I have only read one “The End” story, and that was X-Men: The End, but I was really impressed with how interesting and imaginative it was. Hopefully, this week’s Iron Man: The End will start things off right for this story of an alternate future for old Shellhead.

That’s it for this week, folks. There’s a lot of other really great books coming out this week, but this is all I had time to write about. So make sure you make it down to that local comic shop and check out this week’s releases. And, of course, Happy Reading!