Comics & Crap #2 - Favorite Writers

Welcome back again to the website for the grown-up geek (maybe...hey 5iN...SAY SOMETHING!!! AHGHGHGHG!), I am here with the second edition of this column in hopes to maybe get other people to write geeky stuff too.

I recently just got into comic books. I think the one thing that has captivated me is that I am able to read fiction again. See, I am dyslexic, and never once really got the chance to enjoy fiction. As silly as it sounds, the comics are giving something I was never able to enjoy...even if it is just pictures. (Damn good pictures too).

So, I look for a good story. Granted, I love good art too. However, its the story that is most important to me since this is my opportunity to finally read again. I have come to enjoy some great writers too of our age. This is where I discuss some of them.

GRANT MORRISON - Grant Morrison is very well known for being a "revamper" in comics. In his comic books, shit happens. Not just small shit, but major shit. I have posted a paragraph at the bottom Morrison did with one X-Men book in a matter of three years. The great thing is that if you line up some Grant Morrison trades for me to read, my evening is set. He has great wit and makes you care about the characters.  

JOSS WHEDON - He was the writer for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly TV Series. He also has written the movie, Serenity. Although the list of comics that he has written probably fills only one side of a page, all of those books are excellent. The work of his that I love has been his run on Astonishing X-Men Volume 3. As far as I am concerned, the psychic battle between Danger & Professor X is the stuff of legends.

J. MICHAEL STRACYNSKI - Confusing ass name, great writer. This is a man who has practically came out on top in almost every avenue of writing there is. In the world of television, he is the creator of Babylon 5 and Crusade. In the world of novels, has has authored three best selling novels Demon Night, Othersyde, and Tribulations. In comic books, he has turn the world upside down of Spiderman, along with many other of your favorite Marvel characters. His comics are very involved. He gets right in to the psyche' of the character (what one better than Peter Parker?). He also recently took over Fantastic Four.

PETER DAVID - Peter David is probably one of the most traditional comic book writer of the ones I have listed here. The truth of the matter is, his books are compelling. There is no ands, ifs, or buts about it. His work has been excellent on Spiderman, Aquaman, The Hulk, and especially Supergirl (yeah, he actually made the world care about Supergirl!). The great thing is that he has returned to Spiderman in his own series, Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman.

BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS - Bendis is another "Makes shit happen" writer, and he is also a very prolific writer. In the past few years for Marvel, he's been responsible for Avengers Disassembled & The House of M crossover events that really did reshape a lot of the books. His current monthly titles are: New Avengers, Daredevil, Ultimate Spiderman, and Ultimate X-Men. This is not to mention the mini-series, and the fact that he is also developing the upcoming Civil War crossover. I know that I can expect excellent quality coming out of a Bendis book.

In short, those are my favorite writers. There are a few out there that I think are highly overrated...but that is another topic for another day.

MINI-REVIEWS (Warning: Potential spoilers amuck, proceed with caution):

Amazing Spider-Man #528: The exciting conclusion to "The Other." WOW! That's all me's gots ta say. 5/5

X-Men #181: What Lorna Saw, Part 2 - HE'S BAAAAAAACK. Ladies and gentlemen, arguably the X-Men's most dangerous foe, Apocalypse, is BACK! Oh yeah, and a freaky story that definitely passes up the one it sequels (AGH! Golgotha!) 4/5

New Avengers #15: Secrets & Lies, Part 2 - The Avengers now unveil themselves to the world. How did it receive? Well, let us see....you have Spiderman now on The Avengers & J. Jonah Jameson putting together the article...put two & two together. 4/5

Infinite Crisis #4: Has Earth-Two arrived? What is the deal with that evil Superboy? Can I write this entire in questions? Will be able to find out? 5/5

TRADE PAPERBACK: X-Treme X-Men, Vol 7: The Arena: Yeah, I know, an old one, but I am going through trying to read through X-Treme X-Men. AAHHHH!!! This book was pretty much torture to read through like the majority of the X-Treme trades have been. It involves Storm finding an undeground community called "The Arena." The Arena is where mutants compete against each other. The winner of the fight owns the loser and The Arena. I think the creative team watched too many Best of the Best movies. Its only redeeming quality is Storm, and that is pretty much it. 2/5

That is it for today, guys! Hope you enjoy this column. Let us know 5iN, what's the scoop on E/N Elite?

Proof that shits happens with Grant Morrison Books:

During his three year run on New X-Men, the following had happened (SPOILER WARNING): The X-Men discovered the long twin sister of Professor X whom Xavier had killed in womb. In turn, she took over the body of Professor Xavier, and outed the X-Men to the public. After rescuing Professor Xavier, the new X-Men they had discovered in China, Xorn, healed Professor X's severed spinal column...thus allowing him to WALK AGAIN. Meanwhile, Cyclops was having marital difficulties with Jean Grey, and was very tempted by Ms. Emma Frost. Moving on, it was eventually revealed that Wolverine is not Weapon X, but rather Weapon Ten. In total, there had been 14 Weapons designed by the Weapon Plus project. Wolverine discovered his Weapon Ten files, and learned his actual name, along with some other fascinating information. Then, it was revealed that somebody on the inside of the Xavier Institute may be driving everyone apart. Who was that? That was none other than XORN...who was...in reality, Magneto. Magneto revealed that his nano-sentinels has been holding Xavier's spine together. He took Xavier's legs out from under him. Then, snorted the mutant drug, Kick (another paragraph entirely). After that, he kidnapped Xavier, because he already had created diversions for the rest of the X-Men. Then, he destroyed New York City, and was plotting the death of Professor Xavier. The X-Men finally had arrived, but then Jean Grey was killed by Magneto, which enraged Wolverine into decapitating Magneto.