Favorite and Most Recommended Comics/Graphic Novels?

[silverbaal]

I want to start reading some more graphic novels but i'm overwhelmed at the large selection. So, i'm creating this thread to see what's popular with you all.

Specify if what you've listed is a comic or graphic novel.

I'm looking for anything from drama to horror to sci fi to history

My favorite:
The 300
Sin City
Transmetropolitan
Constantine
Maus

I haven't read a lot at all, though.

[Nevan]

Asterix & Obelix = best comic book series ever IMO. That could count as history, albeit twisted...

If you want to look at something older how about the 'Illustrated classics' series or '2000AD' - And I think there's a V for Vendetta comic book series as well, although I haven't seen it for myself.

[spoon!]

DRAMA:
Watchmen
From Hell
Kingdom Come (really good novel featuring the Justice League as out of touch superheroes in the uber-violent world of the future)
V For Vendetta
The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes (just got my hands on it this morning and it's awesome)
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (also by Frank Miller, if you loved Sin City you'll love this one)
Lost Girls
Powers

Sci-Fi:
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
1963
Promethea
Gen13: Who They Are and How They Came to Be
Tom Strong
Top 10

Horror:
Hellboy--
Wake the Devil
Seed of Destruction
The Right Hand of Doom
Conquerer Worm
Strange Places

Tomb of Dracula Vol. 1-4
Werewolf By Night
Tales of the Zombie
The Monster of Frankenstien
Tales From the Crypt
The Vault of Horror
The Haunt of Fear

Swamp Thing (particularly Alan Moore's run, though Steve Engleheart's is of special note as well)

Speaking of 2000AD, there's trades out there of their most famous star Judge Dredd.

Hope the list helps any.

[silverbaal]

Hahaha...

Actually, it does.

[silverbaal]

Cool....

I just finished my first graphic novel a couple of days ago. I wrote it and my friend's the artist. We're going to try to get this published and collab some more in the near future. So I espcially need to learn more about how to structure graphic novels, different ways of telling story, etc.

[gothicusmaximus]

Spoon makes a lot of good suggestions. I endorse Watchmen in especial- it's the be all, end all of superhero comics. Everyone who appreciates that subgebre, to any extent, should read the book.

Y: The Last Man is also great.

[spoon!]

Originally Posted by silverbaal

Cool....

I just finished my first graphic novel a couple of days ago. I wrote it and my friend's the artist. We're going to try to get this published and collab some more in the near future. So I espcially need to learn more about how to structure graphic novels, different ways of telling story, etc.

Well, you've got the main source, Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud. Probably the end all-be all of wanting to know all about timing, panel structure, narratives, and plot devices.

There's also one other book on graphic novels in my college library, but I forget the name, but had some of the same info as Understanding Comics, just much more detailed. I'll look it up later today.

[silverbaal]

Ok. Thanks. I've started The Dark Knight Returns and The Watchment. In addition, i've been looking at a lot of online comic books. The classic ones. Most of them are cheesy cause most of them are politically-aimed, but some of them are good. (Daredevil, especially. Gives you a lot to think about.)

I also never knew so many independent artist had their graphic novels onlines. It's cool.

[spoon!]

Found it:

It's Create Youir Own Graphic Novel (Using Digital Techniques) by Mike Chinn and Chris McLoughlin. Like McCloud's work, it gives details and a step by step process on how to create the work not just for print but also for the internet.

[Christina_Death1334]

Originally Posted by silverbaal

My favorite:
The 300
Sin City
Transmetropolitan
Constantine
Maus

Sin City and Maus were very good, as was 300 (though I hate the movie...).

[silverbaal]

Originally Posted by spoon!

Found it:

It's Create Youir Own Graphic Novel (Using Digital Techniques) by Mike Chinn and Chris McLoughlin. Like McCloud's work, it gives details and a step by step process on how to create the work not just for print but also for the internet.

Thanks. I'll check it out.

[viscus]

The Sandman!

[Green.Lady]

Sandman, Fables, Maus, Watchmen, American Gods, anything else by Neil Gaiman... yep

[viscus]

Originally Posted by Green.Lady

Sandman, Fables, Maus, Watchmen, American Gods, anything else by Neil Gaiman... yep

They made American Gods into a graphic novel? Crazy. I saw Neverwhere as a graphic novel but didn't think it looked very cool.

[Green.Lady]

Shit I meant Neverwhere... sorry I wasn't thinking... read Stardust and American Gods, the novels Gaiman has written... haha

I agree Neverwhere ain't as good as Sandman but I'm a rabid Neil fan and I like to make others read everything he's ever written.

[La_Mort_Heureuse]

Maus by Art Spiegelman
Stories of a holocaust survivor told by his son.

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
An autobiographical tale involving suicide, homosexuality, and other light topics.

Sandman by Neil Gaiman (series)
I shouldn't have to explain this one.

Fables by Bill Willingham (series)
Fairy tale characters living in the modern day. Gets very dark.

The Maxx by Sam Keith (series)
A very bizarre superhero story. Twisted, strange, amazing.

Zero Girl by Sam Keith (two-part series)
The story of an outcasted girl and the bizarre supernatural things that she finds herself able to do. Weird x10.

Ojo by Sam Keith
A young girl finds a... thing... and takes it home to be her pet!

Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore (series)
Mafia, lesbians, complicated relationships, lesbians, beautiful art, lesbians, heart-wrenching plots, lesbians, gay women...

Torso by Brian Michael Bendis
Based on actual events, Torso is the story of Eliot Ness, the detective who worked on the serial "Torso Murders" in Cleveland, Ohio in the 1930s. A must for any lover of the noir.

Promethea by Alan Moore (series)
Superhero comics meet fairy tales, tarot cards, and other strange mythos.

Those are the ones that come off of the top of my head. I probably have more in my closet, but I'm too lazy to get up and look.

[silverbaal]

Originally Posted by Christina_Death1334

Sin City and Maus were very good, as was 300 (though I hate the movie...).

I agree. Especially about the movie. Although I did like the movie visually.

[Stormtrooper of Death]

Hellsing. Excellent series.

[Green.Lady]

Originally Posted by Stormtrooper of Death

Hellsing. Excellent series.

Isn't that manga? Not that there's anything wrong with manga...

[spoon!]

Originally Posted by Green.Lady

Isn't that manga? Not that there's anything wrong with manga...

Yes it 'tis, GL. Probably one of the best out there in my opinion.

Both are pretty awesome, but the original anime from GONZO only follows the first 4 or 5 chapters of the manga, then pretty much diverges into it's own storyline, while the manga's been pretty kickass with undead nazis and werewolves and of course vampires running amok.

The new anime though follows the current chapters of the manga pretty closely.

I highly recommend watching either one or reading the manga.

[thekorupt]

This was an extremely good thread.

I was looking for the same info and suggestions...

I would like to know any suggestions for manga too..

I am in the middle of reading the whole sandman series... is GREAT..

[MollyMac]

The Maxx, The WItching Hour, Aria, Origin

[Jillian May Scortfil]

well, I'm reading "Princess Ai" which is manga... it's divided inot three books (parts), but I haven't read the third part, simply because I haven't bought it yet!

[TheBloodEternity]

Hellsing, even though it is a manga (I also highly recommend watching the OVAs, or " the new anime" as spoon said)


And I heard the Watchmen was amazing, though I have yet to read it.

300

[Jillian May Scortfil]

"The Watchmen" is amazing, I haven't read it either, but I've seen bits and pieces of pictures from within, and I think it must be really awesome!