Omnibus/OHC Graphic Novel Collectors discussion

So I didn’t see a thread for people to post about their current reads. Please feel free to share what your reading, thoughts on it, recommend or not. And all that jazz~

Ok I didn’t want my first current read to be the intro post. Currently reading west coast avengers omnibus 1. Enjoyable but going slow, very wordy at times ._. More art less words lol. Jk. Gonna be reading volume 2 next and then into John Bryan’s omnibus. Throwing in Atlanta’s attacks omni and evolutionary war omni bet each avengers omni.

This is a good idea! I’ve never read any West Coast Avengers. The title intrigues me but I don’t need to add any additional titles to my line of interest, at least physical copies of things. Maybe I’ll check it out if I ever get Marvel Unlimited.

I’ve been struggling to finish the War of Kings Aftermath: Realm of Kings omni. I enjoyed Abnett & Lanning’s cosmic Marvel run, but the Cancerverse just didn’t draw me in like I suppose it did for other fans.

I've been reading almost predominantly DC since I got back from Afghanistan in November 2019. I'm a chronological completionist, and when I got back, I was halfway between Inifinite Crisis and Final Crisis.

Today, I'm finishing up Power Girl Old Friends before reading Wonder Woman Odyssey Volume 2, and finishing the Brightest Day Omnibus. I'm 11 volumes away from Flashpoint.

I have the boxed set, but am considering selling it and just waiting for the Omni that I preordered to come in, especially if the Omni is in proper reading order.

I’m working on the Moon Knight Omnibus. First time read for me and so far I’m liking it. Haven’t gotten to the solo series yet.

I’m supposed to be reading my silver age JLA but it’s been such a slog to get through I had to put it aside for awhile.

I’ve read like a little under 1/3 of my collection. Someday all ... but sometimes some new omni comes (like moon knight) and I get excited until I see where in line it is to be read lol ... gets excited over new omni - reads 2 years later. Lol

I try to read whatever excites me. If I force myself to read it, I don’t read it thoroughly and find myself skimming over it to finish it and just say I’m done. That’s why I don’t do the yearly “read this many books goal”. But that’s just me and how my brain works. I also try to mix up what I read between Marvel, DC and indie stuff.

I let pop culture kinda dictate what I read next. I love to read it before a show or movie comes out so I can be informed and see what they used and didn’t use from the original content . I also try as much as I can to read all of a subject at once . I usually start in Bronze Age , for avengers it was Kree skrull war. And I’m gonna read all ohc from there to current day (minus hickmans omnis for now ... ) and nicely sliding in the new avengers the gathering omni right before the crossing. And like after all my avengers I’m gonna read mz marvel probably and Hawkeye - since those shows are coming up .

I’m similar Blind. If I start, I have to finish; sex criminals and wicked and Devine are the only books I recollect quitting. I still finished the HC I was reading at the time (I believe through vol 2 for both) but then sold them with the later volumes I didn’t bother wasting my time with.

That being said, I I don’t love it, I usually will finish it, but very fast reading without appreciating it all.

Currently finishing up a few series

Birthright TPB 6
Black Science DLX vol 3
Blade of the Immortal Omni 6

I ended up reading like 5 different remender series back to pack. And it really gave me a good understanding of him as a written and how he has progressed. So I also try to read as much of a given writer at once. A little harder sometimes but like ... when I get around to Harrow County, I’ll also read dark arc, the sixth gun, and witch hammer at same time. To get like the full Cullen bunn experience lol.

Erik wrote: "I’m similar Blind. If I start, I have to finish; sex criminals and wicked and Devine are the only books I recollect quitting. I still finished the HC I was reading at the time (I believe through vo..."

I usually finish something too, even if I don't like it. I think there's only been maybe two that I refused to waste my time on. One was Neal Adams' Batman Odyssey. I think I only made it to issue 2.

Richard wrote: "I ended up reading like 5 different remender series back to pack. And it really gave me a good understanding of him as a written and how he has progressed. So I also try to read as much of a given ..."

I sort of do that sometimes. I've been liking Tom Taylor's stuff for example, so I'll go back and try and find older stuff written by them.

I'm about 25% of the way into the second Savage Sword of Conan omnibus and 80% of the way through the Firefly Legacy DLX.

The stories in Conan are pretty stand alone so I'm reading them in the evening before bed unless I pick something else up. So it's going slowly but comfortably. Finished a WWI memoir of a Canadian fighter pilot last night (instead of reading Conan) which also slows reading something this way for me.

I have like six books by my bed that are supposed to be next in line to read. Bramble (Humanoids) and the new Zdarsky Invaders book are the two on the top.

So I’m reading the Kurt busiek avengers first volume. And like … Omar on near mint talks this up SOOOOO much. And I’m reading it really slow. :/ partly because I’m letting myself get distracted …. But it’s also because this omnibus is SOOO wordy … I hate the writes that fit a freaking a paragraph into every Txt bubble … there’s a beautiful drawing that accompanies every Page of a comic … let it be seen, and give it room to breath and do some is the talking for you

End rant . Others thoughts on this? Am I like the super minority ? Lol

Richard wrote: "So I’m reading the Kurt busiek avengers first volume. And like … Omar on near mint talks this up SOOOOO much. And I’m reading it really slow. :/ partly because I’m letting myself get distracted …. ..."

I think this was a lot more common then - I remember it being some of Perez's better work (IMHO) along with his Wonder Woman for DC. A fair bit of the comic run feels average but the Avengers Forever mini-series (written by Busiek and Stern) is one of my favorite Avengers stories of all time. =)

I didn't buy the two omnibus volumes for this run since I have the OHCs.

As far as what I am reading right now, I started the Morrison Green Lantern books and in prose I'm reading a biography of Thomas Becket. My to-read pile is getting backed up a bit.

Ok, finished kurts run on avengers, I started liking it a little more but still kinda wordy and overly detailed for me. Though I LOVED the 2000 … or 2001 avengers annual the did. Was about hank fighting with multiple sides to himself and finding self acceptance. Really before it’s time IMO … though the good message is slightly tarnished with the fact he hit his wife and that’s what he’s trying to accept … lol

Next I think ima fit the scurry trilogy in, the newest black hammer library, and middlewest before heading back to avengers story’s with the earth x trilogy. I’m almost to the bendis era! Lll

Richard wrote: "Ok, finished kurts run on avengers, I started liking it a little more but still kinda wordy and overly detailed for me. Though I LOVED the 2000 … or 2001 avengers annual the did. Was about hank fig..."

Even though I like Kurt overall as a writer, I picked up his Avengers run when it first came out and it never really kept my interest. I stopped early on and never looked back.

Personally I loved Earth X. Universe X lost me in the middle somewhere and I never bothered with Paradise X. If you end up liking it maybe it'll convince me to go back and give it another try.

Lastly, I'm in the minority but I didn't care for Bendis' run. Like most of his writing, there are a lot of flashing lights and waving of hands, but nothing really happens. Lots of promises and hints that are never fulfilled. Lots of dialogue that are funny in the moment but don't really add to the story and feel more like either a distraction or page filler.

Bendis isn’t the best but I find him easy to read . And I’m glad I’m not alone in my new t total fan love of kurts avengers run. I wouldn’t feel so much like I was missing something somehow if it wasn’t just fit Omar’s likePURE love of this run lol. I think Alf … new warriors … and Kurt avengers run have to be the 3 most mentioned things after X-men on his show lol. I just quickly read joe Casey’s little stint . I enjoy his writing quiet a bit . I have a few series from him I have that I need to read.

Bendis, Hickman, and remender are like 3 writers my brain just processes fast. They also probably all use less words i would guess lol.

I have 9 issues to go on the Swamp Thing Bronze Age omnibus. I really liked the early stuff with Len Wein and especially the Wrightson art but the later material has become a slog for me. I love the Alan Moore run but the Pasko stuff that immediately precedes it is rough for me.

I read the last few books in the Promised Neverland manga series this week. The final volumes was recently released (volume 20). I heard some chatter that some folks thought the ending wasn't very strong. Not sure what their reasons were as I thought it wrapped up fairly well. Pretty happy with the series overall. =)

I have several books on the bedside table, currentlz reading Grendel in the omnibus variant. Finished Eternals by Gaiman yesterday, next up is the Deadman omnibus.

I love hearing about what people are reading and their thoughts on it. It means more to come from a live active forum than To read some review on amazon or something.

Just finished middlewest. I found it to be very typical skottie young. And by that I mean BEAUTIFUL art work, been following him since oz, but his writing leaves me always wanting more. Like it’s not bad , it’s god, but it could Be AMAZING. But he’s an artist first and a writer second, good thing he’s so good at being the artist lol.

Next up is the earth x trilogy , then probably pause to read the second low book that comes out next week. Most likely add on death and glory and deadly class and finish off what I own of remender .

I recently acquired a bunch of single issues from someone (mostly late 90's and early 2000s books). Included were a lot of DC books which I've never read and a lot of X-Men books from the era where I stopped reading the title.

I just finished Claremont's "Revolution" run and just started Joe Casey's run.

A couple of Taylor's DCeased series just arrived in the library along with a couple Future State books and Marvel Snapshots. All that will be next.

Blindzider wrote: "I recently acquired a bunch of single issues from someone (mostly late 90's and early 2000s books). Included were a lot of DC books which I've never read and a lot of X-Men books from the era where..."

Had you read Claremont’s Revolution run before? What did you think of it?

I didn’t mind Claremont’s revolutions, it was a little confusing at first lol. I had to google wtf was going on. But once I knew the rules to the ride it was a decent run.

I put a review in here somewhere but I'm mixed on it. It feels very, very much like his original run, with all the good and bad that comes with it: lots of text to read, repeating phrases and descriptions of powers, new villains that disappear never to be seen again, but the sense of family and history was there plus the reminder of the hatred towards mutants.

It just didn't have anything new. As much as I love his original run, retreading the same old plots wasn't that enjoyable. Sure a little bit of nostalgia, but that's about it.

I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't recall reading it before (which is why I read it) but then I looked in my single issue boxes and sure enough I had all the issues already (meaning I had read it before.) But it did mark the point where I stopped buying Uncanny X-Men up until Brubaker's run, which is why I then moved to Casey's stuff. Not sure if I'm even going to try and read Austen's, but it will be nice to have read all of Volume 1 of the series.

Casey's run was similar to Claremont's in that it retread the same plots used in Claremont's original run, just different faces.

Richard wrote: "Ok, finished kurts run on avengers, I started liking it a little more but still kinda wordy and overly detailed for me. Though I LOVED the 2000 … or 2001 avengers annual the did. Was about hank fig..."

That's what comics were pre 1997... I personally rarely read anything prior to that except for a few of the more amazing stuff by Alan Moore or some Euro like Asterix.

Finished earth x trilogy. I found it enjoyable … my only real … and dominant complaint would be the whole thought manifestation concept. I think that gets a little convoluted and overly complicated. Aspects that involved the x-men and storm I enjoyed the most but that’s because those are my girls 😻lol.

Finishing Low with the second oversized that just came out. I wish the story was as captivating as the art … but the art … is probably the most beautiful comic to me … maybe it’s the colorist and not the artist , but this is just so pretty .

I’m about halfway through The Last God. The world building is incredible. I’m actually taking my time with it so i can absorb it all.

Richard wrote: "Finishing Low with the second oversized that just came out. I wish the story was as captivating as the art … but the art … is probably the most beautiful comic to me … maybe it’s the colorist and n..."

Yeah I couldnt get into the story either and dropped it after the first arc...

I just finished death and glory - it was a lot of ideas all mixed in to one … all his stuff I love but if I was critical he needed some editing of some ideas.

Now half way through death class and LOVING it. I think I’m on like 26 or 27 and enjoyed every moment of that read .

Sampled a couple manga series -

My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero’s volumes 1 through 3. Decent set up to the story where a group of people get sent to another world and told the process of transfer grants them abilities and they are there to defeat the kingdom's enemies to save the kingdom. The obvious leader's abilities aren't as strong as the main character's and they decide to lie low about it and discover all is not as it seems.

Not bad but not sure it rises above average. Volume 4 doesn't get released until April which seems like a long time.

Read volume 10 of Hell's Paradise and enjoyed it.

Just finished Al Ewing's Ultimates CC. Some parts were a little cringe but that ending was really strong!

Read Mage (all three arcs) the other day and was impressed. Great books. Now reading Moriarty, an older obscure hardcover from Image / 2012. So far, solid and entertaining albeit somewhat overcomplicated.

Karsten wrote: "Read Mage (all three arcs) the other day and was impressed. Great books. Now reading Moriarty, an older obscure hardcover from Image / 2012. So far, solid and entertaining albeit somewhat overcompl..."

I've always wanted to read Mage. I love Wagner's art, but so far his writing hasn't blown me away. From my understanding the third arc was only recently written/published. Could you tell there was a gap in the story/change in writing?


I'm getting toward the end of Spencer's run on Amazing Spider-Man. Ready for it to be over with but not looking forward to the next creative team who I think are abandoning Peter Parker (we've already been through this once before.) Guess I'll be without any new Spidey for awhile.

Blindzider wrote: "I'm getting toward the end of Spencer's run on Amazing Spider-Man. Ready for it to be over with but not looking forward to the next creative team who I think are abandoning Peter Parker (we've already been through this once before.) Guess I'll be without any new Spidey for awhile."

From what I can interpretative from the solicitations it seems like they are not completely abandoning Peter. More like the end of Nick Spencer's run will leave him so injured so he can't be active as Spider-Man anymore, and a subplot through the run will have M.J. and Peter dealing with that and trying to cure him.
We all know Peter will be back as Spider-Man in due time though, because we are at a state of comics where the highest tier super hero characters are so established so they will always fill that role. Bruce Wayne will always be Batman, Clark Kent will always be Superman, Peter Parker will always be Spider-Man and so on. Sure there might be temporary replacement but the established status quo will conquer in the end.

I've been focused on finishing runs lately. I started by finishing up the last few volumes of Astro City, followed by Fables and Jack of Fables. I read volumes 8-13 of Hellblazer, and right now I'm working through the Lucifer Omnibus vol 1. It's been a few months since I finally finished my crisis to new 52 tour of DC, so it's been great getting back into some vertigo stuff. Hellblazer was especially fun for me as I finished up Ennis, Jenkins, and Ellis' runs.

@Johnny - yeah, I've been through enough of these to know Peter will always be the one true Spider-Man, I just personally have no interest in reading any other person acting as Spidey. Miles is an excellent character, he just isn't my Spidey. I skipped out on the original clone stuff for the same reason.

@Jeff - I've read Ennis' Hellblazer but would really like to read some of the other runs for the character. Got through Lucifer Omnibus V1 but decided not to continue with V2 (just not really my thing.). Hoping we get an announcement soon about the next Astro City - been too long.

@Blind: There is definitely a gap between the arcs of Mage, but I'd wager that this is intentional as the main character is an image of Matt Wagner himself. Basically the arcs (young Pendragon, mature Pendragon, aged Pendragon) are written by Wagner when he had that age that is reflected in the books. It works somehow.

Now reading Death of Cap, next up is Madman.

I reading Montress vol 1 and Battle angel alita Deluxe 1. I decide to read Cyber force rebirth vol 1 despite the unfurtunate sitiuation with it.

RENE wrote: "I reading Montress vol 1 and Battle angel alita Deluxe 1. I decide to read Cyber force rebirth vol 1 despite the unfurtunate sitiuation with it."

I read the first Monstress HC. Thought it was interesting with good art, but not sure I'll jump back in.

What happened with Cyber Force Rebirth? Was that the Kickstarter one?

Blindzider My understanding is that they left it incomplet for Cyber Force Awakening the sequel. There is only 11 issues out 12 planed. Although I did see Top cow mention something about it on their Twitter. They posted fanart of Cyber Force with the following quote. Do you hear something upstairs?” Well, just a rumor… Hope you are signed up for our Top Cow Moo Letter near the bottom of our landing.

Blindzider I not sure what to say about Montress. I only just started reading it. I tend to enjoy mostly anything I read. You find the characters annoying? I am on page 110.

RENE wrote: "Blindzider I not sure what to say about Montress. I only just started reading it. I tend to enjoy mostly anything I read. You find the characters annoying? I am on page 110."

Think it is more to do with the convoluted plot and heavy text. It is not gonna be most traditional comic readers' jam. Same went for Coates' Black Panther run. I've loved what I've read so far but I like heavy novel reading too. Many do not like that.

RENE wrote: "Blindzider I not sure what to say about Montress. I only just started reading it. I tend to enjoy mostly anything I read. You find the characters annoying? I am on page 110."

Monstress' first volume (~6 issues) felt a little strange, impenetrable, and detached (no hand-holding/straight-forward narrative). It's mostly world-building (e.g. wordy professor Tam Tam tales) and angsty/unlikable characters + gorgeous art. I think volume 2 (sea/shark/pirate stuff) was where the story's scope expands, you meet new characters, go to new places, and I finally saw the potential and was excited to see where it went. Being a cat person probably helps too, lol (<3 Master Ren).

Oh, I see what you guys are saying. I am bit immune to stuff like that. I used to read long novels. Like sword of Shannara. I now mostly read manga or light novels. This is My first time buying western comics. When I was a kid all I ever bought was a comedy trip comic. Maybe that why I fail to be bother by it.

RENE wrote: "Oh, I see what you guys are saying. I am bit immune to stuff like that. I used to read long novels. Like sword of Shannara. I now mostly read manga or light novels. This is My first time buying wes..."

I think Tigertemprr hit the nail on the head for me.

With Western comics you will find a varying degree of "wordiness" depending on the writer and era, whether it is in captions or dialogue, etc. I'm a little used to it, but don't care for it anymore. I'm reading the original Silver Age Justice League and it's a slog to get through (it's not just wordiness, it's explaining everything that's happening too.)

That's good it doesn't bother you though. Enjoy!