Reader Mail
As we've mentioned before, there's way too much mail for us to answer in the shows, so we'll be answering some of it right here on the blog. As always, thanks for sending in your questions, and please keep shooting them over to tips@pulpsecret.com, call them in to 888-841-7549, or post a video response on YouTube!
Brent and Beth team up:
My question for you guys is: I'm often torn on buying comics based either on who is making them (writer/artist) and what the subject matter is (mutants/noir/smaller publishers). Which, if either, do you recommend for picking out a new book?Question Twin powers activate! In certainly do both as well... I think, in general, writer/artist is a better sense of quality than genre. There are plenty of terrible zombie books out there, but Robert Kirkman is a good writer, so Walking Dead is good. Personally, I usually will forgive okay art if the writer is good. If I haven't heard of an author before, I may rely on the artist (I'm a sucker for anything by John Romita, Jr.) And if I've never heard of the author or artist, I'll usually default to reviews, buzz, and recommendations. THAT being said, there are things I've picked up based solely on plot. Hack/Slash is a great example of something that I picked up based on the concept, and completely fell in love with; it's probably my favorite book being published right now. Conversely, I picked up Sea of Red based on the idea of "Vampire Pirates" and hated it. That put me off of author Rick Remender, which, if I hadn't heard great buzz on Fear Agent I never would never picked up, because that's also by Remender. Fear Agent is fantastic, which led me to reading Strange Girl, also by Remender, which is similarly excellent. So while I might not be saying anything crazy new here, it really should be a combo of: writer, artist, concept, and buzz.
Edward ponders:
In the last episode you answered a question from a viewer who asked what a good comic title would be to pick up or jumping into for someone who does not read comics. Another recommendation to the viewer that was not made would be to pick up a trade paperback of something that looks interesting or volume 1 of a current storyline. I've been collecting comics for over 15 years and that is one of the things I do myself for a title I am not sure about. Recent examples are Fables and The Walking Dead. I was not sure about the story of either and I was afraid of just jumping into the series so I picked up volume 1 of both series and absolutely loved them. Now I'm hooked. Great show, guys. I recommend you to all my comic book collecting pals.Great recommendation, Edward. That's certainly how I've gotten into a bunch of books. Y The Last Man, Noble Causes, Birds of Prey... I started reading all of them in trades, and got hooked. On the other side of things, I also read the first trade of Hawkman, and realized that it probably wasn't my cup of tea, so I didn't need to pick up the series. This is the first time the words "cup of tea" and "Hawkman" have existed in the same sentence.
Joe queries:
I just found your show after scanning youtube looking for something interesting to watch, outside the latest Mythbusters episode. I really enjoyed your current show. Funny squirrel man made me laugh! A lot! Anyway, I have just recently revised my comic prowess and was curious as which arena I should focus on. I've been out of the loop for about two years. I've been keeping up with articles and such but I haven't actually purchased anything until Saturday when I bought Amazing Spider Man 544, I agree with everything you said. I anticipate where this will lead. They should kill off MJ and May, then Peter could start wearing a mustache down at the docks as well.Congrats on re-embracing the Pamphlet Angel! I'd actually refer you to the previous two letters above, they're both great ways of getting back into comics. I'd also recommend watching, you know, The Stack. It's this really great show where three funny guys review comic books. Cough.
