Snikt-Thwip

Yes, that's right: comics. Those things that kids read. Well if you didn't already know, adults read them as well; and there are comics that aren't suitable for children due to their content as well. So I am justified in having a comics page. Just so long as it's filled with examples of mature publications... So without further ado, let's explore the world of the comic. (That's as in the periodical as opposed to the humorous person.)

Marvel

Traditionally, Marvel have had lots of those spandex zoomy colourful characters running around and doing heroic 'stuff'. Well, that's not really my scene, so instead of expounding on the particular virtues of Excalibur, or my favourite X-Men, I'll instead drop talking about Marvel at all, save for discussing any Marvel comics that I own.

The Sleeze Brothers: Comedic, irreverant, and satirical. I enjoyed the light humour of this skit on the traditional style of private investigators. It's muchly good, and oddly enough published under Marvel's main banner - simply because they couldn't put it elsewhere.
Typhoid: Now this is the tale of a schizophrenic manic female, who goes around a dark future type city avenging the women-folk. I got it becaue of the nice art style, and the references to so much madness. Groovy stuff. Published under Marvel's Vertigo label, which I believe has now gone independent?
Elektra: I'll admit that Elektra is indeed a spandex style Marvel superheroine, who goes around with martial arts weaponry. However, I think I'm justified in getting this comic because Elektra's Greek, cool, has martial arts weaponry, and keeps going mad. Which makes an altogether good comic, I reckon. But then again, I would say that, wouldn't I?

DC

DC also has it's fair share of traditional heroes. After all, they've got people like Batman, Superman, the Flash, and so on. That's why I don't buy mainstream DC. I get Vertigo and Helix comics. Vertigo is getting quite old now, and covers a large range of curious stuff, usually fantasy or avant-garde themes. Helix is much newer, and is more sci-fi related. At least, that's how it's meant to work. The thing is, though, is that this non-mainstream material is now quite popular, and has now thus joined the mainstream somewhere along the way. That doesn't mean that I'm going to be perverse and not buy it - I get these things because I like them, not because other people do or don't. But enough of the lecturing, on with the comics:

The Sandman: So old that it's now well into its second reprint, this was the first Vertigo comic to appear. It concerns the adventures of Dream, one of the eternal beings who embody our abstract notions. It's great stuff, and if you're into comics, you'll probably know all about the Sandman.
Swamp Thing: The other founding member of the Vertigo line, Swamp Thing regales us with the life and times of an animated lump of vegetable matter. Although that may sound marginally less thrilling than stabbing yourself, the content is in fact extremely good. This is a more literary comic, I feel, and deserves any praise given to it.
Hellblazer: The mishaps of the mage, John Constantine, presented for all to see. He began as a character in Swamp Thing, but got his own comic due to increasing popularity. Basically speaking, he's a modern day magician, who deals with demons and angels regularly, and generally screws up everything he ever does.
Preacher: A hugely popular series starring Jesse Custer (JC?), an unwilling host to the child of a demon and angel, who now has the power of the voice of God. Very interesting stuff, exploring many of our modern taboos - generally religious and sexual stuff.
The Dreaming: You could refer to this as 'the World of the Sandman'. These are a miscellany of tales of happennings in the Dreaming. Groovy stuff, I'm sure. Generally, we're talking a non-linked procession of miniseries.

AAAAAAAAARGH!

I CAN'T TAKE ANY MORE OF THIS SHIT!

(=huff=) (=huff=)

BAAAASTAAARDS!

Look - I couldn't give a flying fuck about these bastard mainstream cocksuckers. It's not my bag, baby. Ignore whatever I said above - I need more drugs, that's my problem. What did I think I was saying? Not mainstream? My ass! Anything that spews out of the ring of those two giant comics moguls is "mainstream". And I sounded like a fucking fan boy. Christ almighty - somebody pass me an axe that I may finish myself off!

Now this stuff, this stuff's the real shit. We're looking here at the good comics that are written for love, not money. Being that I'm not willing to fork over haystacks of cash to seedy distributors, I'm not that well up on the true underground comic arts, but these guys here are the few that I know and love. The artwork is consistently beautiful, the stories themselves perfect literature. Enjoy, or at least I hope that you will.

Bone, Cerebus, the Crow, Dork, Lenore, Sleaze Castle.

(Apologies if you're reading this. I meant to write more, but I couldn't be arsed and it would appear that I haven't as yet got around to writing any more. My recommendation to you is that comics are way too expensive. If you're going to buy them, buy graphic novels - they're cheaper. All I buy now is Sleaze Castle comics, Bone graphic novels, and Cerebus graphic novels. And I buy Sleaze Castle in comic form because I know the guys who write and draw it.)