There are a number of short series I'd like to read or re-read, for my own benefit as much as for the blog's, but I'd like some help compiling the list. It's impossible to read everything and in my particular case, I was out of comics from the mid-to-late 90s to the mid-00s. So I'm looking for "little series that could" that I might read (and report on) at a rate of about one a month. They should be no longer than about 25 issues (though I'm flexible), and represent mostly underrated, less well known, perhaps cult, quality work. Little treasures. Not mini-series, though longer minis might count. What the hell, let's make it a New 52 project, or rather an Old 52. Imagine we're compiling a list of 52 series that most people haven't read (from across all comic book companies). So even if DC's New 52 isn't to your tastes, you might be able to dip into older material you haven't read yet. Like the title says, if you haven't read them, they're new to you!
Here's what I've got to date. I'll keep this a "living post" which will be influenced by your suggestions and updated through the coming days. (R) = Books I've already read, but would happily re-read.
Alias (R)/The Pulse
Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld
Anarky
Kurt Busiek's Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis
Army@Love (both volumes)
Atari Force
Authority vol.1
Blue Beetle vol.2
Cadillacs & Dinosaurs
Chain Gang War (R)
Chase (R)
Chew
Chronos
Criminal
Crossovers
John Arcudi's Doom Patrol (vol.3)
Dynamo 5
Godland
El Diablo (the one with Mike Parobeck art)
Empowered
Exterminators
Global Frequency
H.E.R.O.
Dwayne McDuffie's Hardware (R)
Hourman
Human Target (Vertigo)
Irredeemable Ant-Man
Jack Kirby's 2001: A Space Odyssey
Local
Locke & Key
Major Bummer (R)
'mazing Man
Mouse Guard
Orion
Phantom (DC)
Kyle Baker's Plastic Man
Power Company
Question
Ruse vol.1
S.T.A.R.S. and Stripes
Dan Slott's She-Hulk
Strikeforce: Morituri
Tales of the Beanworld
Thriller
Thunderbolts
Untold Tales of Spider-Man
Unwritten
Vext
Xer0
Young Heroes in Love (R)
Young Liars
Zatanna vol.2
That makes 52 (but don't be shy about suggesting more, prospective readers can use your recommendations in the comments!). As much as I'd like to put 100 Bullets or Y the Last Man or Gotham Central - all books I'm ashamed to say I haven't read - they're too long by a stretch. Don't hesitate to suggest books to add on here that fit my criteria, or even to convince me to REMOVE some you feel DON'T. I promise to get on ONE of these soon.
Alternates! I can't read them again because I've JUST read them to bits very recently, but if you haven't, please feel free to switch a series above you HAVE for one of these fine suggestions from readers like YOU!
Gail Simone's All-New Atom
Astro City
Aztek
Batgirl vol.3
Black Hood (Impact Comics)
Heckler
Immortal Iron Fist
Incredible Hercules
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Nextwave
Phonogram
Top 10
Comments
I would add the recently ended Batgirl.
What was that Vertigo comic with the paranormal detectives in London with a vinyl (record) fetish? I'm pretty sure it was meant to be an ongoing, not a mini. It wasn't bad.
Planet Hulk (the storyline is reasonably self-contained)
Power Company
Damage Control (all 3 minis + the World War Hulk tie-in)
Green Lantern Quarterly
Justice League Quarterly
Justice League Task Force
Astro City
Legionnaires
And... volume 1 of both Blue Beetle and Booster Gold. They were about 25 issues each.
You could try:
-Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew
-Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld (the original series was 12 issues, plus a preview, plus an issue of DCCP you could throw in there... then there was the regular series, which didn't last that long, plus a miniseries after that... Overall it wouldn't come to too much more than 20 issues. Or you could just stick with the original maxiseries)
-the recent Guardians of the Galaxy stuff by DnA
-The All-New Atom (but you can stop where Gail Simone stops)
-Jonni Thunder aka Thunderbolt
I can't help but think that there's something I forgot.
Caveat: I haven't read it in years, so I don't know how it's aged. At the time, it was neck and neck with the Ostrander/Mandrake Spectre as my favorite comic.
I'll also add in:
Stormwatch (Warren Ellis issues only)
Supreme (Alan Moore issues only)
Planetary
Another run to add to the pile is ALIAS + THE PULSE. They may be pushing the length limit (A=28 issues, TP=16) when combined, but once you get through ALIAS, you won't want to stop.
Also consider:
Slingers (a short lived series surrounding characters who took up Spider-Man's various identities from his "Identity Crisis" story - it's much better than it sounds).
Image's Dynamo 5
The Order
Aztek
Iron Fist (either the original 70s series and/or the most recent one).
X-Men: The Hidden Years (not because it's terribly good, but I'd be curious to read your take on it).
Marvel's Lost Generation (the "backwards" numbered one; again, not great, but worth reading).
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Top 10
Those last three might stress the definition of longer miniseries, but Top 10, at least, was intended to be an ongoing series, I believe.
Why are you not reading Vext?
Have you read Vext yet?
You should totally read Vext.
I have an idea - Vext.
Vext.
How about The Ray? Ran 28 issues+1 annual, should be close enough.
Untold Tales of Spider-man, also.
How could I forget that...
I'd disagree with Guardians of the Galaxy, though. Not because it's not good, it's awesome, but because it's one part in a massive ongoing epic starting with Drax the Destroyer back in 2004.
Chase: I thought about it, ok might as well put it on the list, but I do want to limit the strict re-reads.
Global Frequency: Sounds interesting!
Planet Hulk: Well... I'm not gonna do events in this thing.
Power Company? Made me look, and it's Busiek. That's usually good value.
Damage Control: Minis, so I'm gonna leave them out, though they are awesome. Perhaps as part of some other project.
GL/JL Quarterlies: Really? I have them all and consider them a mix bag.
Astro City: Will place in alternates since I re-read the original series recently.
Legionnaires: Length well beyond the parameters of this project.
Blue Beetle vol.1: While perfectly pleasant, it doesn't bear re-reading.
Booster Gold vol.1: Falls apart after issue 18, and I know this because I look at the series relatively often already.
Captain Carrot: Fun one-offs when read from time to time, but not worth reading all in one go.
Amethyst: Thought about it, and I'm gonna take your recommendation.
Guardians of the Galaxy: I was also thinking about Nova, but the whole Annihilation thing seems of a piece, so that's gonna be for later.
All-New Atom: Too recently read. Alternate?
Jonni Thunder: Just a 4-issue mini, which isn't in line with this project.
Black Lightning vol.2: Hmmm... I remember liking it fine, but Isabella left pretty early (yes, #8).
Stormwatch/Planetary: Don't know much about "Earth-50", and The Authority in my list would be my first taste. I'd then see if I want to look at more (the new Paul Cornell series may well prove an incentive as well).
Supreme: I'm reading the Alan Moore issue very soon for a Reign feature, so that's covered.
Incredible Hercules: My yes! Adding it now!
Alias/The Pulse: Loved the former, don't know anything about the latter. So I'm game for a re-read/new read experience.
Slingers: Never heard of it. I'll need to check it out before saying yes.
Dynamo 5: I'll try it, looks interesting.
Aztek: That would be a re-read for me, so I'll slide it into the alternates.
The Order: You'll have to sell me on it a little more.
Immortal Iron Fist: Very clear in my mind, so a worthy alternate.
X-Men/Lost Gen: The list is getting tight, so you'll forgive me for not adding titles you call "not terribly good".
LXG/Top 10: Read all of these relatively recently. Alternates.
Vext: I thought about it, but it was really short, as was Heckler already in the list. I thought "If it's good someone will sell me on it." Someone has.
The Ray: Was ok, but not something I find myself eager to reread.
Untold Tales: Oh yes, let's add that.
Baker Street: I have the trades! Hm... let me think on it. Might be good for an entirely different project. At least an alternate at this point.
The Incal: I'm a fan of Jodorowski and Moebius, but I consider these a series of graphic novels more than a comic book series. Good recommendation though!
As for Blackhawk, you mean the last run of the first DC series (251-273)? Is it really that good?
Both Mage series (The Hero Discovered and The Hero Defined) [Are they underrated enough, though?].
Wasteland (the Close/Ostrander anthology series, that is)
Puma Blues
The American
--
Oh, and for potential cuts. Authority and Incredible Hercules. Not because they aren't excellent comics, mind you, but because they're not in any way underrated.
I won't sell you too hard on it, as you've clearly got plenty of ideas already, but The Order was a short lived series that sprang up as part of "The Initiative" (the Order is California's state team, originally to be called the Champions before legal nixed it).
It basically examined the relationship between superheroes and celebrities, and did a good job of establishing some memorable and interesting characters in a short amount of time. Plus, it featured some great Barry Kitson art.
Heck, now that I think about it, you could include the original Champions from the 70s. It ran 17 issues and, amongst other things, featured a Nazi made of killer bees.
Milestone: Yeah, I should give the last slot to a Milestone book, hm...
Teebore: Swarm, right? I've loved him ever since Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends! (Still thinking about it for the list placement.)
Ticknart: I loved Impact's Black Hood, the only Impact series I was really sorry to see end. Re-read it very recently, so I'll stick it in alternates.
If you would re-read Hero Hotline, you'll probably love 'mazing Man (despite the fact it's not really about superheroes, but another contender for a four-color Seinfeld)
Seconding Tales of the Beanworld, Untold Tales of Spider-Man and Power Company
About Kyle Baker's Plastic Man... Baker is a great cartoonist, and I wanted to like the series much more than I did. My feeling is, he doesn't seem to like Plastic Man (the character as opposed to the series) very much.
To me, Plas always works best when he's the sane one in the room, pretty much as Cole had him. The Steve Skeates years were particularly embarrassing.
I've decided to fill the last gap with a Milestone book, and that book is... McDuffie's Hardware (to issue #19, and including crossovers with other books around that time).
BREACH by Bob Harras and Marcos Martin
HAYWIRE by Fleisher and Giarrano
Pretty good stories, but the art's the main draw. Also, you're not doing minis, right? If you change your mind, there's always CINDER & ASHE!
Good to see THRILLER on the list (as I'm more than a little partial towards it)!
As for Breach and Haywire, I'll check 'em out. Don't tell anyone, but I sometimes take something out of the list and replace it with something else I'd rather read at the moment. Shhhh.
You have a good variety going, tons of reading ahead of you. I look forward to the ensuing posts!
So maybe I'll hook you up sooner than later.