To a degree that was the sales pitch of the imprint. Creator driven work that existed outside of the constant churn of traditional status quo driven comics. Stories that could be told in full. Sometimes success and editorial pushes kept the wheels spinning longer than needed though.
A little correction regarding American Vampire: Scott Snyder is the original creator. Stephen King was invited to write an issue by Snyder, but he ended up agreeing to write 5 half issues.
This is a great list! Of the titles I was unaware of, The Unwritten and American Vampire are intriguing and American Virgin sounds absolutely fascinating. As usual I'll re-visit this video as well, as necessary reminder of the specifics, and commenters usually have some pretty interesting things to say. Also, dammit! Just realized that after replacing a bank card I hadn't renewed my Patreon, so I appreciate that reminder. Thank you millions and billions and Godzillions. You've brightened a lot of drab days.
I would love to one day check out Fables. I have heard good things about it. Love Lucifer and The Unwritten though. Carey's writing style is just my kind of thing.
I've read more of this list than I expected to have. The only one I didn't at least try is LUCIFER and I may be correcting that oversight in the near future.
I never liked Lucifer or The Unwritten. But Scalped is a must-read all the way. Preacher may not have aged well in some aspects, but it is a solid story just as well.
I really loved American Vampire. In general, I think Scott Snyder is a great supernatural horror writer. But like with relatively long series, it kind of deflates at the end. It tries to go for the typical bombastic final battle final with all relevant characters of the series, but that ends being bogged down. In general, I think that this series was at it best when it explored the culture of the first half of 20th century USA. Once it enters on the space age section, it kind of misses its point. Instead of showing the shadows of history through the filter of literal monsters and personal stories, everything stars revolving around this big Satan like threat.
I put off reading American Vampire for so long. The modern, True Blood vampire vibe is off putting. But I gave it a shot, and did all 8 over a couple of weeks. Quite good.
I was at New York Comic Con when Vertigo's return was announced and I got so emotional! Wonderful video- I searched through the Vertigo catalog after I first learned about it from watching V for Vendetta and Constantine as a kid. Fables and Y: The Last Man are top favorites
The Unwritten is such a wonderful series, almost like a more academic version of The Sandman or Fables; shame it kinda fizzles out by the end. Over obscure Vertigo stuff, I am fond of horror anthology Flinch, magical realist fable Daytripper, The Filth for Morrison at their edgiest, and Joe the Barbarian for them at their most wholesome.
It certainly makes me have to think too. I know there is symbolism and vague meaning to everything resetting and Wilson descending down the stairs. It's tough to piece together.
Vertigo books almost always seemed to end perfectly. Right story length and satisfying resolutions.
I mean sometimes. I can think of quite of few that drag big time. Also quite a few that are amazing but kinda for no one.
To a degree that was the sales pitch of the imprint. Creator driven work that existed outside of the constant churn of traditional status quo driven comics. Stories that could be told in full. Sometimes success and editorial pushes kept the wheels spinning longer than needed though.
Except for Hellblazer, which Peter Milligan and Shelly Bond ran into the ground.
Y: the last man, the losers, and fables were actually the first few vertigo titles I was exposed to when i was younger. Glad to see you mention them.
I think Mercy was a sort of underrated classic. As is Sandman Mystery Theater.
Great time to get into Vertigo. Thanks for the recs.
A little correction regarding American Vampire: Scott Snyder is the original creator. Stephen King was invited to write an issue by Snyder, but he ended up agreeing to write 5 half issues.
So glad that Vertigo Comics came back from the dead.
It ain't back yet, and Karen Berger isn't attached to it.
I know you don’t take suggestions, but I’d love to see a “Recommended Image Comics” video
the comic "girl" by vertigo is also worth reading if you can find it, short and decent
DC released a tpb in 2020 I think. They should collect more work from Peter Milligan.
Scapled deserves some love
You got me in to Vertigo. Love it. Thank you.
I'd love to see one of these on Image comics, if you haven't done so already. Some absolute gems in there!
The unwritten was great, i aslo really enjoyed Sweat Tooth. Y the last man is a book I've been meaning to read, but never got round to.
Excellent list. Looking forward to the next video. Cheers
This is a great list! Of the titles I was unaware of, The Unwritten and American Vampire are intriguing and American Virgin sounds absolutely fascinating. As usual I'll re-visit this video as well, as necessary reminder of the specifics, and commenters usually have some pretty interesting things to say.
Also, dammit! Just realized that after replacing a bank card I hadn't renewed my Patreon, so I appreciate that reminder.
Thank you millions and billions and Godzillions. You've brightened a lot of drab days.
I would love to one day check out Fables. I have heard good things about it. Love Lucifer and The Unwritten though. Carey's writing style is just my kind of thing.
I've read more of this list than I expected to have. The only one I didn't at least try is LUCIFER and I may be correcting that oversight in the near future.
I knew most of these strangely enough but they all seemed up my alley
I never liked Lucifer or The Unwritten. But Scalped is a must-read all the way.
Preacher may not have aged well in some aspects, but it is a solid story just as well.
American Virgin sounds like utter tripe, but American Vampire interests me.
Nevada was a lot of fun, albeit short and unfinished.
Im amazed that i only knew or at least recognized about half of these. I hadnt thought about American Vampire in what feels like decades.
Fantastic video, SPB!
I really loved American Vampire. In general, I think Scott Snyder is a great supernatural horror writer. But like with relatively long series, it kind of deflates at the end. It tries to go for the typical bombastic final battle final with all relevant characters of the series, but that ends being bogged down.
In general, I think that this series was at it best when it explored the culture of the first half of 20th century USA. Once it enters on the space age section, it kind of misses its point. Instead of showing the shadows of history through the filter of literal monsters and personal stories, everything stars revolving around this big Satan like threat.
No war stories.
My Vertigo reading list:
- The Filth (Morrison / Weston / Erskine)
- Heavy Liquid (Pope)
- Clean Room (Simone / Davis-Hunt / Winter)
- DMZ (Wood / Burchielli)
- The Enigma (Milligan / Fegredo)
- Daytripper (Ba / Moon)
- Destiny: A Chronicle of Deaths Foretold (Kwitney / Williams / Zulli / Hampton / Guay)
I put off reading American Vampire for so long. The modern, True Blood vampire vibe is off putting.
But I gave it a shot, and did all 8 over a couple of weeks. Quite good.
Northlanders!!!
I was at New York Comic Con when Vertigo's return was announced and I got so emotional! Wonderful video- I searched through the Vertigo catalog after I first learned about it from watching V for Vendetta and Constantine as a kid. Fables and Y: The Last Man are top favorites
I really liked The Exterminators, but I never got around to finishing it.
Yezzir
Present
All hail Karen Berger.
The Unwritten is such a wonderful series, almost like a more academic version of The Sandman or Fables; shame it kinda fizzles out by the end.
Over obscure Vertigo stuff, I am fond of horror anthology Flinch, magical realist fable Daytripper, The Filth for Morrison at their edgiest, and Joe the Barbarian for them at their most wholesome.
I don't understand the Unwritten ending!
It certainly makes me have to think too. I know there is symbolism and vague meaning to everything resetting and Wilson descending down the stairs. It's tough to piece together.
The entire story is highly esoteric, but the fact that its end rejects narrative convention do feel appropriate considering its themes.