I'm so glad this thread's been necroed, I went through a comic book phase in May-June. Here's a rundown of them, I've denoted each series "ongoing" or "complete" to inform of their publication status.
Saga:
Ongoing. A fast-paced and engaging space opera about two lovers, from opposing planets, on the run from authorities trying to kill them (narrated by their child from the future). Other interesting characters make an appearence and pursue or help them evade capture. The world building is expansive and the plot's immaculate. It's adventure, violence and sex and each issue ends in cliffhanger.
The artwork is beautiful, just beautiful, each panel is something to marvel at. My only qualm with it is Vaughan's inability to write complex black female characters. I'm getting tired of the stereotypical tough black female, it's becoming pedestrian and offensive. All in all, a must-read, you won't regret it.
Y: The Last Man:
Complete. Another Vaughan series I read however it's not as great as
Saga. Even the artwork left something to be desired. The concept's fascinating and the plot's intriguing (I read it whilst listening to GS!YBE's
East Hastings, they were in sync, it was quite an experience) but the characters are bland and it certainly felt like he could have done more with this concept. The worldbuilding wasn't extraordinary and it just a coming-of-age set in a dystopian earth. That wasn't terrible but it was a such waste to spend that concept on something so conventional. Essentially, cool concept, poor execution which is funny since I loved it upon finishing it but then, thinking over it, I started realising its hollowness. I don't think people will regret reading it but it certainly doesn't live up to the hype.
The Wicked and The Divine:
Ongoing. When I first learnt it was about young adults embodying popstars and deities, I thought it was total gimmick and my opinion didn't really change until issue #11 (which was pretty explosive). I found the the protagonist insufferable, too whiny and self-absorbed, but she is supposed to be the typical teen and her quest does redeem her annoying traits. I also found, at times, that the characters were one-dimensional but, considering how young the series is (and the plot twist in volume #11) it seems they'll be fleshed out as the story progresses. It references modern technology, even the characters' attire is modern, so it will seem dated in a few years but the mythology compensates for it.
The artwork is
spectacular, I read it on my laptop and I had to stop multiple times to take screenshots. The popstars are blend of recent and retro (there's a Bowie!). Gillon features a lot of minorities, too, and they're not stereotypes, which is very refreshing and not something I can praise Vaughan for. It feels like he's taking a longer time to release each issue, I'm going to have to wait a while for it. I would definitely recommend this series but I think you need to be patient and give it time to develop (at least until issue #11).
Scott Pilgrim:
Complete. Fun and hilarious but ultimately something you can pace yourself with. I never felt the urgent need to read the other volumes after completing one. It's definitely worth the read but, since it's a coming-of-age comedy, it's slower and not as engrossing.
