Best Graphic Novels

[Harkius]

LOL.

Sorry 'bout that. Soylent Green isn't a whole issue or a series in and of itself. Rather, it is a four-page interlude in the first issue of Lenore. It should be here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0943151031/qid=1136435893/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-3154213-6239201?n=507846&s=books&v=glance

Lenore is actually the series, but, as I meant to point out, there are short stories about her (in the first eight issues or so, I haven't read after those, so I do not vouch for them!) in there, with interludes about Weebles, Soylent Green, etc. The story itself is still pretty entertaining. I mean, who wouldn't want to read a comic book about a little dead girl who came back from Hell because it "[W]as itchy and smelled like Fritos." In addition, she is persued by a guy named Mr. Gosh. How cute is that? Even cuter when she gets...impatient with his love for her. 

In short, the series is basically written for someone with ADD. But, it is fabulously entertaining, and the first eight issues are definitely worth owning. I would have just PM'd you about it, but I wanted to clear this up for everyone else interested in Soylent Green as well. He is a non-returning guest star in one issue, but it is one of the funniest things that I have ever seen. And still gives you that, "Aww..." moment, like the first time you read the flavor text on Mirage Pacifism.

Enjoy!
Harkius

[Hi-Val]

I wasn't that impressed by From Hell that much. It was just typical Alan Moore stuff, and the illustration was very poor.

I hear Patchouli is quite good. Again, if you're into postmodern graphic novels...

[LotusHead]

For something really cool and different, try David Mack's Kabuki: Skin Deep and Metamorphoses (3 issues and 9 issues). 

They really are something special and unique.  Walk into a comic shop and open to a random page.  You will be impressed. And the story has layers and layers and layers to it.  Really really good.

Kabuki is to Comic Books as say, Pink Floyd is to Rock N Roll.

[Smmenen]

I wasn't that impressed by From Hell that much. It was just typical Alan Moore stuff, and the illustration was very poor.

I hear Patchouli is quite good. Again, if you're into postmodern graphic novels...

I actually adore Eddie Campbell - the artist in From Hell.  But I like Jack Kirby, so what do I know.

[cosineme]

Didn't like: Transmetropolitan, Top Ten, Powers, Promethea, Astro City, Mystic, Authority, Stormwatch

Anyone else reading some stuff, or have read that they think is a must read??????

Thank you in advance,

JB

wow...everybody is entitled to their opinion, but if you are looking for the best graphics, and you don't like top ten, or powers...then...you're really missing out.

powes is still one of the best books put to print. many of image's books are also great.

luna brother's
girls
ultra

y the last man

[jcb193]

wow...everybody is entitled to their opinion, but if you are looking for the best graphics, and you don't like top ten, or powers...then...you're really missing out.

Yeah, you might be right.  However, as a person who doesnt like tv that much, both of those series reminded me too much of episodes of LAPD or Law and Order.  I can't really explain it, but i want a comic to be something that i can't get anywhere else.  Not something that can be compared to West Wing or CSI.  That's what i felt like when i read those.  Sorry

[jcb193]

Just read Batman: Under the Hood, and while i don't think the writing was anything stellar, i can honestly say that the ending was the biggest surprise of my 20 years of comic book reading. Maybe you have to be 20yrs + to appreciate it, but wow.  I have never been so surpised.  I muttered "holy shit," and my wife ran in thinking something was wrong.  Boy was she pissed when she saw me sitting there reading a graphic novel.  No spoilers......

[Sunastian Falconer]

For those curious, he started writing Swamp Thing in the 1980s and he was kicked off the book because he was going to have Swamp Thing meet Jesus.

Just to clarify, that particular storyline was conceived by Rick Veitch, who was Moore's successor on Swamp Thing. Veitch resigned when DC management decided not to run the story. This was around the time of The Last Temptation of Christ, and DC didn't want to attract the ire of fundamentalists.


For deity-invoking cosmological madness from Moore, himself, give Promethea a whirl. Anyone with any interest in occult philosophy (Kabbalah, Hermeticism, Zen, etc.) should love it. For anyone else, the art (by J.H. Williams III & Mick Gray) may be the primary draw, the 32 issues together comprising a visual tour de force. Highly recommended.

[Anusien]

Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men Run was very good.

[jcb193]

Well, after a furious bout of reading the last few weeks, I have the following conlclusions...Still looking for more suggestions.

Absolute Batman: Hush by Jeph Loeb  Okay, but a little too grand
    Absolute Planetary by Warren Ellis awesome, awesome
    Aquaman: Time and Tide by Peter David 
    Archie Americana Series Best Of The Forties Book 2 by Scott Fulop 
    Batman: Birth of the Demon by Dennis O'Neil
    Batman: Blind Justice by Sam Hamm 
    Batman: Son of the Demon by Jerry Bingham
    Batman: Strange Apparitions by Steve Englehart 
    Batman: Tales of the Demon by Dennis O'Neil 
    Batman: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb  okay, i didn't think it was stellar
    Blankets by Craig Thompson  amazing!  But maybe that's cause i can relate
    Captain America: War and Rememberance by Roger Stern
    Deathstroke, the terminator: Full cycle by Marv Wolfman
    Ex Machina Vol. 1: The First Hundred Days diggin this, though Vol2 letdown
    Fables Vol. 6: Homelands by Bill Willingham  loving this series as well
    Finder: Sin-Eater, vol. 1 (Finder) (Finder) by Carla Speed McNeil 
    Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters by Mike Grell 
    Identity Crisis by Brad Meltzer 
    Invincible Vol. 1: Family Matters by Robert Kirkman  over-hyped?
    Knights of the Old Republic (Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi, Volume One) by Tom Veitch
    Lucifer: Devil in the Gateway, Book 1 by Mike Carey  a little too complex for me, requires rereading
    Manhunter: The Special Edition by Archie Goodwin  nostalgic, but not stellar
    Manly World of Lloyd Llewellyn by Daniel Clowes a letdown, and I LOVE HIS STUFF
    Miracleman Book Four: The Golden Age by Neil Gaiman 
    Miracleman Book One: A Dream of Flying by Alan Moore
    Miracleman: Book Two by Alan Moore
    Miracleman: The Golden Age by Neil Gaiman
    Miracleman: The Red King Syndrome, Book Two by Alan Moore 
    New Teen Titans, The: The Judas Contract by Marv Wolfman  not as good as i remembered
    One Hundred Demons (Alex Awards (Awards)) by Lynda Barry  yawn
    Orgy Bound by Daniel Clowes
    Palestine by Joe Sacco  same story as sarajevo, didnt like
    Paradigm Volume 1: Segue To An Interlude by Matt Cashell 
    Pussey! by Daniel Clowes 
    Queen & Country, Vol.1: Operation Broken Ground by Greg Rucka  might revisit this series. fun
    Rising Stars Volume 3: Fire And Ash  by J. Michael Straczynski  great series
    Scud, the disposable assassin: Heavy 3PO (Coleman chronicles of Scud) by Rob Schrab cant find
    Squadron Supreme: Death Of A Universe TPB by Mark Gruenwald 
    Summer Blonde by Adrian Tomine  okay, unmemorable
    Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? by Alan Moore 
    Supreme Power, Vol. 1 by J. Michael Straczynski  not sure if i like it yet
    The Frank Book by Jim Woodring 
    The Inhumans by Paul Jenkins 
    The Official Lloyd Llewellyn Collection by Daniel Clowes
    The One: The Last Word In Superheroics by Rick Veitch  hated it
    The Power of Iron Man by David Michelinie
    The Trial of Galactus (Fantastic Four) by John Byrne
    The Walking Dead Vol. 2: Miles Behind Us by Robert Kirkman  this series has a stalled a bit, but awesome
    Torso by Brian Michael Bendis 
    True Porn Volume 2 (True Porn) by Robin Bougie  fun read
    Watchmen (Absolute Editions) by Alan Moore need mentioning???

Lenore was one that was mentioned on this thread, and while i found it highly entertaining and definitely unique, not necessarily for me (though i would recommend it to others).

Also read about 40 other graphic novels, though the only ones i havent returned are:

Lucifer 1 (still deciding whether to pursue this series or not. It's complicated, uneven, and unsatisfying. But the source material is great)
New Frontier (liked the first one)
Trouble With Girls (old cult classic)
Ex-machina vol II (afraid this series might stall)
Sleeper 1-4...enjoyed this a lot
Baman: Under the Hood...great ending
It's a bird- very, very moving.....if you enjoy the reality based comics.

Most of the stuff i've read (walking dead, supreme power, invincibles, Punisher, etc) are all good, well written, and even funny, but not the kinds of novels i'l be plucking from the shelf to reread every year.