What comics did you read as a kid? And what do you read now?

[Lusitanic]

I used to devour Disney and "A turma da Mônica" (Monica's Gang)'s comics. Now I read "The Walking Dead" and ocasionally Manga.

I like comics, but I'm not an avid reader.

Now that I think about it, I think these comics influenced my views on money (scrooge mcduck) and sexism ("monica's gang" leader monica). And perhaps on other things too that I am not yet aware.

[ATDrake]

Initially, Tintin & Asterix in school (with occasional doses of Lucky Luke and Papyrus). Also Archie Comics.

Later, Batman and the rest of the DC Universe (as a direct result of the influence of the Dini/Timmverse cartoons, which had occasionally-printed tie-in comics at the kids' level, which were generally excellently done and highly recommended, by the way) and thus thence to Vertigo and their other acquired/spinoff imprints by extension, and some Marvel Comics as a result of the various X-Men cartoons, though to this day, I'm still fonder of DC as superhero universes go.

Nowadays, quite a lot of stuff, probably not as varied as I think it is, but I'm willing to try anything ranging from superheroes to manga to bandes déssinées to slice-of-life thinly-veiled autobiographical comics and litfic-styled graphic novels. I especially like non-fiction-ish works such as Jim Ottaviani's GT Labs comics on science and scientists, the various Cartoon Guides done by Larry Gonick and Manga Guides done by No Starch Press and Hill & Wang's recent offerings of history and biographies, and I like Classics Illustrated types of adaptations as well.

In terms of lasting influence, I'd say that the original Batman: The Animated Series and its spinoffs through to Justice League Unlimited had a major impact on how I view these things and probably some of my social and personal attitudes regarding certain forms of human interaction.

Asterix was definitely responsible for my love of Ancient Rome, Greece, and Egypt and subsequently reading as much as I could from the school library about their histories and mythologies, and probably then also moving onto other cultures' histories (not so much mythologies, which I kind of lost interest in). I have a certain fondness for Neil Gaiman & Mike Carey's depiction of Lucifer Morningstar, which is pretty much how I picture any mention of him now. And between them, I think that Alan Moore's various comics and Kurt Busiek's Astro City are my definitive view of how superheroes ought to logically work.

[pidgeon92]

All the silly ones... Archie & Veronica, Richie Rich, Casper, Little Lulu. Here and there I'd do Spiderman and the other superheroes....

[fjtorres]

Legion of Super-Heroes. (Everyone fears the Legion!)
Justice League
Avengers
Flash
Green Lantern
Mystery in Space
Blackhawk

And, for a change of pace; Chanoc.

Now?

Astro City.
Anything by Geoff Johns, Peter David, or Bendis.

[Pulpmeister]

I enjoyed the Scrooge McDuck adventure stories, written and superbly illustrated by Carl Barcks. Scrooge, Donald, and Huey Dewey and Louie and their Junior Woodchucks Manual, all over the world. eg, The search in the Andes for the hens that lay square eggs; I remember that one very well (saves packaging, thinks Scrooge). Wish I'd kept them all.

[meeera]

Yup - Asterix, Tintin, Archie, Donald Duck, Richie Rich. Now: Saga, Walking Dead, Buffy, various novel adaptations (eg Gail Carriger books, The Graveyard Book); and non-comic graphic novels like Fun Home, Blankets, Persepolis, Maus, Boxers/Saints, Blue Angel.

[Catlady]

All the Superman comics--Superman, Action, Adventure, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Supergirl.

Katy Keene, Millie the Model, Patsy and Hedy, Betty and Veronica, Archie, Dennis the Menace, Sugar and Spike, Classics Illustrated, assorted romance comics--too many to list.

[GeoffR]

Asterix and Tintin, (Asterix was in the school library), then a period of Battle and Commando, then later 2000AD (Judge Dredd, etc.) and Footrot Flats. I don't read any now.

[rkomar]

I read anything I could get my hands on, over and over again if they were mine. I enjoyed everything available back then in the late 60's and early 70's, even those Gold Key myths and fables. Today, I still read a lot of graphic novels, but I stay away from the superhero stuff.

In a fit of nostalgia, I bought a few volumes of "Little Lulu" recently, and was surprised by how much I still enjoyed them.

[DrNefario]

For most of my youth there was only really 2000ad, in Britain. Luckily it was brilliant.

These days I'm still no great fan of superheroes, with their enormously convoluted shared worlds, and tend to read more self-contained series from the likes of Vertigo and Image. I'm currently enjoying Lazarus, Saga, Fables and Northlanders, for instance. I only read collections/graphic novels - no monthly comics. Occasional manga, although it's hard to find the ones I like.

[mgbino]

When I was a kid I mostly read Conan, Spider-Man, X-Men, and TMNT.

These days I mostly read Invincible, Berserk, Saga, and Amala's Blade (over and over again).

and TMNT... some things just never change.

[crich70]

I was all over the place as a kid. Superman, Batman, Disney, Richie Rich, Casper, House of Mystery, science fiction (like The Black Hole), even some western comics. Haven't read much in yrs though. They went up in price and down in number of pages (or so it seems).

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by crich70

I was all over the place as a kid. Superman, Batman, Disney, Richie Rich, Casper, House of Mystery, science fiction (like The Black Hole), even some western comics. Haven't read much in yrs though. They went up in price and down in number of pages (or so it seems).

Plus Classic Comics - I still have my copies of Moby Dick and A Midsummer Night's Dream! They used dialogue directly from the texts.

Now? Not much - Sandman, Get Fuzzy, compilations of Bloom County & Doonesbury & Dilbert ...

[FizzyWater]

My middle brother was in the hospital when he was fairly young and he came home with a comic book named "Kimandi, Last Boy on Earth" (or something similar - I didn't look it up).

I know my brothers and I read that one for awhile. It's the only one I remember.

I'm not a huge fan of graphic novels as an adult, although I will skim them if they come across my hands. I know I have one of the Dresden file collections - something about the Jungle?

I've borrowed a few of the Harlequin inspired graphic novels from the digital library - I just had to see how they could possible turn a cheesy romance novel (these are all taken from their cheesiest line - not all HQN books are cheesy) into a comic book.

I remember one was kind of fun and made me want to find the actual novel it was derived from - but in a campy definition of fun. I couldn't imagine collecting them.

[crich70]

I have got the "Watchman" graphic novel and when they did the reproductions of 1st issues I did pick up the reproduction of the 1st issue of Superman. He's changed quite a bit over the yrs.