Collecting and reading comic books is one way to experience
a number of different storylines in a fast and furious manner. The cool part is
that several of the books can escalate in value, which gives collectors a
little something to bank on. Of course, since comics are a print medium,
reprinting classic and popular stories allow readers to experience some great
issues without the added cost of putting together those scarce runs.
Here is a look at my top five recommendations for trade
paperbacks for July of 2017. All are available at Amazon (some are selling
fast), and just about all of them will likely be available at your local comic
book shop. Here’s a look:
Of all the Batman stories that have been told over the
years, and there are A LOT of them, “The Killing Joke” remains extremely
popular among collectors and readers. The story was actually made into a grittyanimated film in 2016 for anyone trying to skip the reading assignment, but
experiencing the words of Alan Moore on a new level can help readers appreciate
the fine line between Batman and The Joker a little bit more (see what I did
there?). After Barbara is on the receiving end of some nasty business from Mr.
J, Batman embarks on a new level of brutality against a foe that just might be
capable of pushing him to his limits. Simply a great read from cover to cover.
Of all the questions I get about comic books, this six issue
limited series is among the most popular. “The Infinity Gauntlet” brings
readers closer to the madness of Thanos and his quest to kill off half the
population of the universe. With his trusty Infinity Gauntlet, he accomplishes
the task with a literal snap of his fingers. With some major players in the
Marvel Universe taking center stage, this story brings the Silver Surfer, Adam
Warlock, and more to the front of attention for readers of all ages. Of course,
with a major movie being released next year, this one is more homework
assignment than anything else. The original issues are increasing in value and
will likely retain those lofty levels.
Of all the superhero books around, there are so many
characters that can trace their roots to the Fantastic Four. This series
launched some of the heavyweights for sure, and the first twenty issues are
combined here for the enjoyment of readers of all ages and budgets. Since
putting together the actual first twenty issues will set you back like twenty
grand, picking up the trade paperback for under twenty dollars is a pretty safe
way to experience some of the golden age of comic book lore and set the tone
for decades of great things to come.
A lot different than the movie that received some praise and
some criticism, the original “Days of Future Past” story from Uncanny X-Men 141
& 142 involved a whole lot of Kitty Pryde. While going back in time to
prevent a terrifying future is one of the staple storylines of several
properties (the Terminator, Flashpoint, etc), the X-Men offer up their own take
on internment camps, sentinals, and the brink of extinction. The story is quite
legendary in the Marvel world, and is a must read for any X-Men fan.
I’m always amazed that Daredevil has achieved a level of
notoriety that equals a lot of other top tier Marvel characters. It’s not that
he’s a bad character, it’s that he toiled as a second or maybe even third tier
character for decades, and I’m not really sure why. He’s brought several great
characters along for the ride, including Bullseye and Elektra. Of course,
Elektra gets reintroduced to the Marvel Universe in this race against the clock
to stop the Hand from taking over the world (at least New York anyway) with a
super-virus. This story is a great time for any fan of the Netflix fan, because
it showcases the character in one of his greatest stories.
So there you have it folks, five great stories with some of
the most legendary characters around. All available on one of the largest
websites around and ready to be delivered to your door. Experiencing one or two
of these trade paperbacks is something that every fan should check out. Better
yet, they might inspire you to chase down the actual issues they were printed
in, and that my friends is a very very good thing indeed.
