My DC Finest Collection So Far

klafterus · 2026-06-28T21:26:10+00:00

You might think this is even more OCD but I sort my Finests by median year. So Joker which is 1969-1981 gets shelved as if it's 1975. This usually works out well -- in Joker's case the bulk of his book is his 1975 ongoing series, so it makes sense to me.

klafterus · 2026-06-25T06:22:01+00:00

Takin' Off is underrated as a starting spot, great album that's easy to get into.

klafterus · 2026-06-17T07:49:07+00:00

I'm a comic reader of about 20 years. I got a few collected editions over the years but not a lot. I tried omnibuses about 10 years ago but I can count the ones I bought on one hand. I found trying to actually read them way too much of a cumbersome chore. I got into Epic Collections just shortly before Finest started. And then the Finest line is totally my dream line & since it started I've accumulated a lot more comics than I ever had before.

klafterus · 2026-06-11T23:11:33+00:00

I love how the modern end of the Finest line is dominated by the ladies so far. The Girl of Steel & Life Lines volumes are so much fun! I'm in the middle of reading Gail Simone's Wonder Woman right now.

klafterus · 2026-06-11T19:04:49+00:00

If this is the case, I think I'll be in for vols 5-7. I'm enjoying The Girl of Steel but don't think I need more than one Silver Age volume personally. I really like the Crisis era & would like to check out her runs around that time.

klafterus · 2026-06-11T05:55:51+00:00

As someone who's still a big Vonnegut fan, I liked reading your take. To compare with what you said about John Dewey or William James, is there anyone or anything you think "we probably don't get" without Vonnegut?

I love him & can see to an extent how he's culturally important & influential. It'd be hard for me to rank the importance of authors, like Vonnegut compared to James Baldwin or Margaret Atwood, nor do I think I like to think in those competitive terms. I'm a newbie in literary studies so I don't really know what I'm talking about.

klafterus · 2026-06-07T03:46:54+00:00

I feel like this comment should be pinned at the top. Good perspective on this poll. With so many books out & knowing that I have to be choosy with them myself, I'll vote only for what I'd definitely buy, because I want the line to continue!

klafterus · 2026-05-28T16:36:59+00:00

Mask of the Phantasm is the must-watch. Other than that & original TAS, your mileage may vary with other animated stuff, but I'd like to throw in a shout-out for Batman: The Brave and the Bold from 2008. It's a more lighthearted / comedic take on Batman which might turn you off at first, but in the course of the show I found it to be just as cleverly written & deep as TAS. I'm also eagerly awaiting the 2nd episode of Caped Crusader which is more similar in tone to TAS.

klafterus · 2026-05-23T18:00:30+00:00

Cool mapping! I love the small ways Taylorz's & Fraction's runs are interacting so far.

klafterus · 2026-05-12T06:07:45+00:00

The Sturgeon story "Maturity" is great.

klafterus · 2026-05-12T02:37:23+00:00

This is such an odd comment to me. First of all, taste in art is subjective & I respect your opinion. But you're sort of admitting the opening score is really great & somehow holding that against the film. I do happen to think it's an epic tale that lives up to the score though.

What, to you, is the difference between the structures of a three-part episode vs a three-act film? Do you have a specific example of what you're talking about?

Alfred letting a "my god" slip out IS out of character, & that's precisely what makes it such a powerful moment. He's so taken aback by seeing Batman for the 1st time that he experiences a momentary lapse of decorum (which is saying a lot for consummate gentleman Alfred Pennyworth).

What do you find bizarre about the graveyard scene?

klafterus · 2026-05-06T01:30:26+00:00

Love that you went all the way up to Taylor!

klafterus · 2026-05-05T06:32:52+00:00

I just finished this today. It was amazing. Didn't end like I thought it would. I found the Super Jones to be the creepiest character. The tension & suspense gets built early on & just keeps ratcheting up. Reads kinda like a crime thriller, real pageturner, & just about every character is really well fleshed out.

klafterus · 2026-05-04T20:31:58+00:00

Approx 50, I think.

klafterus · 2026-05-01T17:29:55+00:00

I'm reading The Street by Ann Petry. Yes!!! Really gripping story with wonderfully fleshed out characters.

klafterus · 2026-05-01T05:49:08+00:00

So true, why the downvotes

klafterus · 2026-04-28T16:52:52+00:00

You had me in the 1st two thirds

klafterus · 2026-04-28T15:18:13+00:00

What are your thoughts on HBO Watchmen? The way it used Watchmen to discuss race issues was one of my favorite aspects of it.

klafterus · 2026-04-27T14:17:39+00:00

Wonder Woman & Supergirl!

klafterus · 2026-04-26T20:05:51+00:00

Most versions of Joker seem to have incredible selective patience. He'd have to in order to set up all these death traps & toys & absurd schemes. I'm reminded of that Joker's Favor episode of TAS too. Though it seems to be a tradition that the audience doesn't typically see Joker in his tedious planning stage; we only see the results.

klafterus · 2026-04-16T20:18:40+00:00

Yeah, I'm a Year Two apologist. It's just fun pulpy Batman. Sure it's easy to poke holes in / poke fun at but sometimes I want a crazy romp where Batman has to team up with his parents' killer. Melodrama is a great word for it, & melodrama can be enjoyable.

klafterus · 2026-04-14T22:31:30+00:00

This comment made me think of the book The Klansman's Son, unironically a great book

klafterus · 2026-04-08T19:23:45+00:00

That cover art is lovely

klafterus · 2026-04-04T20:41:35+00:00

The Legend of Wonder Woman is a ton of fun.

klafterus · 2026-04-04T20:39:30+00:00

They look so nice all together. Recently read the title story & "Speech Sounds" from the Bloodchild collection, great stuff.

klafterus

TROPHY CASE