Last year, I was in my comic store in Leuven looking for new discoveries for my comic collection (as if I didn't have enough series to follow already). There is something very exciting about digging around in the great mass of available titles and finding undisclosed treasures that have been waiting for years before they share their secrets with you. (If you agree, then I recommend you read Hicksville, that story is all about that sort of kicks).
I was already following some Marvel titles at the time, so I was surprised to find a title such as the first "Northlanders" trade, standing out in the display of the store. I didn't know the US market had this type of material, and while at first site I expected an action-boosted version of "Thorgal", I was pleasantly surprised when turning the pages to find an art that is simply delicious, and a storyline that was about more then vikings kicking each other in the skull.
From there on, things went fast: the Northlanders title introduced me to the Vertigo imprint, of which in fact I already had some titles, not knowing the fact that it is to be considered as quality label. Not long after that I filled my shelves with titles as 100 bullets, Scalped, Vertigo Crime, Pride of Baghdad, Human Target, Greek Street.. and the list goes on and on.
But more importantly, it introduced me with the work of Brian Wood. After some research, I quickly came to the conclusion that most of what this guy has written is the work of a genius. I can't explain what exactly it is in his writing that is so great, but the least you can say is that it is versatile.
So, what am I reading these days? Brian Wood. And I'm planning to do so for a long time.
If you're curious in where to start, I'd recommend you DMZ and Northlanders, and if you're more into the creator-owned style of comics, Local is what you need.
Brian Wood is perhaps one of the best secrets European comicpublishers haven't discovered yet.
