Impactful creator runs

[Perry]

So John Byrne gets four different responses. Ha, awesome.

And Jeff, this is all about the close personal feeling, my man, so I am assuming, given that, you are picking X-Factor and not Incredible?

[Jimmy T]

Peter David....

Incredible Hulk was a nothing book that no one wanted at the time. John Bryne was on the title before him, like a fart in the wind, for about half a year. It's overall sales were in the tank for years, and it was almost a death knell to have the title.

So, PAD took the book. And didn't leave for 13 years until he utterly disagreed with the new management to basically erase all his progress for dumb hulk smash. Saddest issue I read, his last.

Everything he did on Hulk has now been aped and used by every writer since. Great run.

But...

Not my favorite.

It's his Captain Marvel.

Genis Vell became such a strong favorite of mine. George Berryman here was so vocal about buying and reading this book, I picked it up at #21 and 22.

Loved it. Immediately went back to get all the back issues, Avengers Forever tpb by PAD that showed Genis as the first cameo as Captain Marvel, not Legacy (which I picked up that mini series, and I think I still need a couple of Silver Surfer issues where he appeared first!!)

But, to David's writing -the legacy of the character was so paramount to the book, the themes of trying to fulfill a father's place, not understanding what that means, the humor, good lord, this book was HILARIOUS. I am on the exact same frequency as PAD as far as subtle and comical roll. The use of history, of the 'brush with death' gag that came from the Incredible Hulk title with Marlo -and yes, the same roll of Rick Jones as perennial side kick, but being the 'stronger' of the two.

I loved ChrisCross art.

I loved the new numbering challenge that resulted to get new readers in. I loved Genis going crazy. I loved exploring 'cosmic awareness' as having god knowledge in a human frame. I loved the wonderful, horrible last arc of Genis exploring what it truly means to 'kill Hitler in his crib.'

Everything about this book vibed with me. 100%. Getting Jim Starlin to draw Captain Marvel, and another Captain Marvel again, along with Thanos and Surfer again was a treat for this cosmic fan.

Through a lot of shitty bumps, Genis is back again. Unfortunately, that bonding to Rick was immediately forgotten in the latest Carol Danvers Captain Marvel title, but at least Genis is around, just waiting for the next opportunity.

It's been 2-3 years. Time for a reread of this again!!!

[Perry]

Good stuff, guys!!

I honestly want to write down my most impactful thing Peter David has ever done, but for me that would be his Star Trek: New Frontier series of novels that were so damn good back in the day. Infact, I loved it so much that after I had read one of the last books from that series (and not seeing another, new offering), I asked him if more books were on the horizon and he told me, sadly, I would have to ask [whomever the publisher was at the time] as they had not requested anymore. 
That sucked for me, but that series wouldn't qualify for this poll anyway as we are keeping this to comics


Comic wise, with all the great PAD comic runs out there, including but not limited to: Hulk, Supergirl, Captain Marvel, Aquaman, and even some smaller title runs that I enjoyed like Fallen Angel and Spy Boy, I am, somewhat surprisingly I think, also going to go with David's X-Factor.

Jimmy was dead on, David's Hulk was amazing, top notch stuff, stuff that I eventually want to go back and read all of (as I know I missed a lot), but I can't think of a comic that I looked forward to more, when I was in the mood for a "giggle", than David's X-Factor. It always made me smile and it featured, like Jeff mentioned, a bunch of nobodys, relatively speaking, and made me love them like stars!! It had his "Sir Apropos of Nothing" style to it that always made my week... back when it was in my DCBS box (oh, the good ole days!!) and in need of a smile.

Shame to think the creator of such grand stories is now hurting.


But... we are not here for that, so... unless Rodney jumps back in with something, I have it as thus -

***************************************************

- Ed Brubaker - Captain America, Captain America, Captain America
- John Byrne - Alpha Flight, Fantastic Four, Superman (title relaunch), X-men
- Peter David - Captain Marvel, X-Factor, X-Factor


Next creator up for discussion - Warren Ellis

[Perry]

I think it's my time to go first, even though we haven't discussed any order... or that we have to maintain one... but hell, I'm here


This is probably the easiest one for me, compared to all the others. I am a huge fan of the Pulp era. You guys know I love me some Conan, but I also enjoy stuff like The Shadow, The Spider, Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers and even Tarzan, but above them all (except for Conan... and maybe even him) there has always been my love for Doc Savage. Well Warren Ellis also has a love for the Pulp era and he proved it with his incredible series Planetary.

I can appreciate all of what Warren Ellis has put to paper, he is one of my top three comic writers, I have enjoyed many an issue from him, but nothing hits me like Planetary hits me. It was almost made for me. Yes, his (introspective   ) Transmet was amazing, and I loved it, but Planetary IS me. I love it!!! 

[Jimmy T]

I can't not pick Planetary.

For a series we never thought would end, there was almost 4 years between issues at one point? But then the last 7 came out like nothing flat, and we got it all.

What a wonderful, loving touch to all things pulp and early sci fi imagination as that series did. The last page, and last panels, was so uplifting, wonderful, and joyous.

BUT

I should also mention NextWave.

How could I not? IT WAS AMAZING START TO FINISH!!!

[Jeff]

So John Byrne gets four different responses. Ha, awesome.

And Jeff, this is all about the close personal feeling, my man, so I am assuming, given that, you are picking X-Factor and not Incredible?

Oh yeah.  If it's close personal feeling then definitely X-Factor. One of my all time favorite books.

[Jeff]

Warren Ellis.

My favorite comic series by him sadly is the one he never finished, Fell.  If he had been able to complete it then it would probably get my vote.

But there are two that impacted me more since he did't get to finish it.  Those would be Transmetropolitan and the Authority.  It's hard to pick between them because they wowed me for different reasons.

I'm going to have ultimately say the Authority impacted me more.  His Stormwatch issues that led up to the birth of the Authority were some of the first non-big two comics I read and got hooked on.  I found the Authority so different and ground breaking that I couldn't stay away.  Incidentally, it was former Hero Realmer Jon Tait who loaned me his copy of the Stormwatch trade collecting Ellis' work that got me interested.  Yep. Authority blew me away and I have the two Absolute Authority Omnibus' sitting on my bookshelf that I need to reread!

[Gay Titan]

I realize Wiki is as reliable as Fox News, but I looked up his list of work. VERY impressive!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Ellis

[Perry]

Okay, next writer on the list and back to back 'tough ones' for me (being forced to choose, ha) -

Garth Ennis

[Gay Titan]

I'm primarily a DC guy. Didn't know of his work til the Demon in the 90's.

[Perry]

I'm primarily a DC guy. Didn't know of his work til the Demon in the 90's.

Right on, that was still pretty early in his career and one of the few titles I have not, or don't remember, reading. I have even gone back and read a couple issues of some of his early stuff from 2000AD, the place where most all British (or in this case islands close to Britain ) writers cut there teeth, but I have not tried any of his Demon. 

[Perry]

Okay, guess I'll go first again 

Garth Ennis has a ton of books that I love and yes, maybe what I enjoy most is his brutal story telling style, but it isn't JUST the brutality from Ennis that I lean towards. My pick here may say otherwise, haha, on the surface, but it's not JUST about the savagery. So with that in mind, I still have to choose his Punisher Max as the one that hits for me the most. Sad that this choice comes off a less than stellar showing of Get Fury MAX, which was fine, but not anything special or worth recalling, but I damn sure still remember that Punisher MAX dentist chair issue. So damn good. An issue from the POV of a gangster's throat? Putting you in the chair and having Frank do what he did? Yep, that still sits heavy in the ole noggin' but damn, that's not the only reason I chose the title, the entire Ennis Punisher Max stuff is a true gem for me. Frank done right, Frank done at his most determined, Frank to the MAX

[Jimmy T]

Garth Ennis has written everything, everywhere, with an acerbic tongue, deep questioning and longing, and righteous fury and energy.

Could I put Preacher above Punisher Max?

The argument certainly could -and should- be made for that.

(The Boys is too cruel of a 'picking on an easy' mark in it's manner)

I've actually read A LOT of his Avatar press stuff. Any kind of real world war/war stories he's written (like 303) is so good.

And you should not forget Hellblazer!!! But it always felt that every UK writer on Hellblazer brought their absolute best.

So...I'm...personally going to also vote for Punisher Max.

[Jeff]

Garth Ennis.

Honestly, I haven't really read much of his stuff except for the Boys, which I loved.

I've gotta go with that "easy" one  as it wowed me the most.

[Perry]

Like Jimmy mentioned, I had serious conversation with myself on that pick, if I was picking Preacher or Punisher... Jesse or Frank? It wasn't easy.


And while it came down to those two titles above, I will say that the first titles that seem to always pop into my head my head when I think of Ennis' are The Boys and HIS Authority. Not that I like Ennis' Authority better than Ellis' Authority, both are amazing as are both of those titles.


Okay, next writer up for your personal pick is...

Jonathan Hickman

And so far we have (And Rodney, please jump in whenever you want if any more of these writers hit for you. I don't want to leave you out, but don't want to wait for no reason either, if ya get me. But yeah, please know that you're not only more than welcome, but we welcome your picks ...

- Ed Brubaker - Captain America, Captain America, Captain America
- John Byrne - Alpha Flight, Fantastic Four, Superman (title relaunch), X-men
- Peter David - Captain Marvel, X-Factor, X-Factor
- Warren Ellis - Authority, Planetary, Planetary
- Garth Ennis - The Boys, Punisher Max, Punisher Max
-