Best Graphic Novels

[jcb193]

As a person who used to work in a comic book store (mid-90's UGG!), I still drift in and out of the comic world.  I personally only read the Graphic Novel format, as they are easier to read, single issues will never hold collectible value, and they are easy to stack on a shelf.  That said, i love picking up a new series and getting into it, though i don't have the time (or employee discount) to read everything.  I am asking for recommendations of cool trade paperbacks to add to my collection.

(Doesn't have to be current, anything from 80s-now would be cool)

Some rules:
1.) If it is a book that i won't re-read dozens of times, i'm not interested (ie Death of Superman might be a must have, but i won't re-read it).  Maus might be an Eisner winner, but i'm not gonna pick it up 3 times a year.
2.)  I don't like super-hero stuff that much (I think JLA, Superman, Spider-Man stuff is horrendously over-rated).
3.) Don't write something to look cool or cultured (everyone might suggest Jimmy Corrigan, but i personally feel it is among the most over-rated comics ever).  Write what you truly like, not what makes you seem smart.
4.) Most of us already know that Watchmen, Sandman, Batman: Year One, From Hell, and Deathstroke the Terminator are must-reads, so skip the obvious.
5.) No manga or anime....I think that's a totally different medium. 

Let's try to make a comprehensive list of "Must Reads."

Stuff I've enjoyed the last few years.

Superheroes:
Planetary (can't say enough about this)
Rising Stars

Horror:
The Walking Dead (i don't like horror, but this has gotten my attention)

Sitcom:
Box Office Poison (hated it the first time i read it, but find myself re-reading random chapters all the time)
Strangers in Paradise: Kind of Chicky, but i liked it when it came out.

Gritty:
Sleeper
Midnight Nation

Wacked:
I have fallen in love with Daniel Clowes (except for Ice Haven and ...Velvet Glove"

Mythical:
Fables (is fun, though i don't feel like i get my bang for the buck)
League of Extraordinary Gentleman (decent)
300

Also finding myself reading a lot of old Valiant stuff (Harbinger, Solar, Magnus).

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

[Joblin Velder]

Scud the Disposable Assassin (unfortunately, I don't think a paperback exists)
Milk and Cheese (same here)
Sin City
Hellboy
Preacher
Azrael: Agent of the Bat (no book, either)
Earth X
Kingdom Come
Dark Empire

[nataz]

I read some hellboy online stuff and thought it was pretty good, way better then the movie at least.

I also enjoyed the original TMNT stuff, and Johnny the Homicidal Maniac.

[Vegeta2711]

Sin City
Preacher
V for Vendetta
Watchmen

Um... stuff...

[ChemEng]

I second Preacher. That set of books is leaps and bonds ahead of most graphic novels. It has the right mix of drama, humor, and satire to allow for many re-reads...

[jcb193]

I read the whoel Preacher series, but never got into it.  The first book was awesome and promised all this heaven intriuge, disciples of God, etc.  And the the writer got off on bar room fights, gross out scenes, and crazy sex with Tulip.  I thought for a ten book series, the ended was far from worth the ride.  That said, it is defintiely a decent long running series.

[Hi-Val]

I just finished V for Vendetta and it was quite good. From Hell wasn't as good as I'd expected. Anyone reading GNs has to read Watchmen too, since it basically launched the genre and is still the best.

Oh, and Transmetropolitan kicks ass.

[AngusMcTavish]

Garth Ennis's run on Punisher is some of the best writing in recent comics.
My absolute favourite book is Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. 

If you don't mind batman too much, The Long Halloween, a Geoff Loeb and Tim Sale collaboration is pretty great as well.

I also really liked Jeff Smith's Bone, which is nowhere near as dirty as it sounds.  It's a long fantasy-ish story with fantastic art.

Hope this helped a bit.

[jcb193]

thanks guys, so far i've gotten the following, from here and other sites)

Scud the disposable assassin (supposedly awesome, though $$$$$)
Milk & Cheese (i've always liked this)
Preacher (i was disappointed with this one throughout the years)
Hellboy- i understand the appeal, never for me though
Azrael- always loved
V for Vendetta seems popular here.  I havent read it since the 90s, but maybe it deserves another shot
Sin City- didnt like it when it first came out
Watchmen- obviously awesome
Dark Knight Returns- ditto
From Hell- i enjoyed it, but doesnt warrant too many re-reads for me
Bone- whismsical fun, i remember it fondly

I have not tried:
Long Halloween (though i just recently ordered HUSH)
Punisher- Ennis, might have to give this a try, though these kinds of characters are not my usual fare

Sorry to sound so critical, but i usually want to make sure i will re-read something dozens of times before i shell out my $100+.

Thanks for the help guys, keep em coming!  I'm surprised this site doesn't have more comic (cough cough,...graphic novel) readers.

[Joblin Velder]

I'm really mad at myself for forgetting Hush. That series is really kick ass.

I can't recommend Scud enough. Definitely worth the money. I've had the series for years and still re-read it every few months.

[knickers]

I really like Playboy ...  :shock:

[BigMac]

As a Dutch i am less at home with the American comic classics. However in Holland we have a novel comic called Ollie B. Bommel. The stories in this comic were originally printed below the drawings and are so timeless you can read them time and again and never get bored. The quality is so high you can actually read it for a book report as it has been named literature. As its creator died not to long ago it has had a new impulse. A studio now writes and illustrates the new stories and they have oversee the general level. As the first story was first printed before WWII it has a vast history. There even has been made a film of this character which was very beautiful and as sophisticated as the original thing.

So for me this is an all time favorite. Other comic titels i really love are very European and will probably not mean anything to most so i will not tire you with them.

[Jacob Orlove]

Other comic titels i really love are very European and will probably not mean anything to most so i will not tire you with them.

You mean stuff like Tintin? I'd say that if it's been translated into English, go ahead and recommend it--Tintin, for example, now has compilation valumes available.

And I know we're not supposed to recommend manga, but I have to mention Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind anyway, because it is so good.

Other than that, I have to echo the recommendations for V for Vendetta, Transmetropolitan, and Sandman, just in case anyone hasn't read those yet.

[Hi-Val]

How big of a fan of postmodern stuff are you? If you are, I suggest Ghost World and Summer Blonde. American Splendor is INCREDIBLE also.

Safe Area: Gorazde is very, very interesting. Well-drawn, and fascinating subject matter about the Bosnian conflict. This may fall under your rule about Maus though : \

[Cross]

I have only read snippets, but for it's worth V for Vendetta is coming out as a movie sometime this year. It looks interesting.

I enjoyed what I read, but it seemed like standard post-apocalyptic totalitarian state bantar.

[Summit]

My list includes my personal favorite and then others I really liked

Favorite:  Lone Wolf and Cub - I believe this is a must read.  It may be considered Manga but is really just an early graphic novel in my opinion.

Sandman by Neil Gaiman - obviously
Sin City - obviously
40 days of darkness
The Walking Dead

And, it might not count but:

100 Bullets rocks too.

[Hi-Val]

I have only read snippets, but for it's worth V for Vendetta is coming out as a movie sometime this year. It looks interesting.

I enjoyed what I read, but it seemed like standard post-apocalyptic totalitarian state bantar.

The great thing about Alan Moore's writing is all the literary references though that really make a liberal arts education pay off. References to Thomas Pynchon, the Rolling Stones, Rime of the Ancient Mariner, etc. are common fare in his work and reward the close-reader.

[BigMac]

You mean stuff like Tintin? I'd say that if it's been translated into English, go ahead and recommend it--Tintin, for example, now has compilation valumes available.

And I know we're not supposed to recommend manga, but I have to mention Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind anyway, because it is so good.

Other than that, I have to echo the recommendations for V for Vendetta, Transmetropolitan, and Sandman, just in case anyone hasn't read those yet.

Yeah i do mean stuff like that. Some of it now has been mad einto TV-series and films like Largo Winch. (btw really good comic series) I need to stress as well that comics in Europe are something completely different from comics in the States. But i will say some of my favorites.

Storm
XIII
Thorgal
Sneeuw
De legend of the Metabarons
Largo Winch
Jeremiah

Most of these are so obscure that most people that know me will not even have heard of them.

[Smmenen]

From Hell and a Contract from God are the two best Graphic Novels ever.  One is Alan Moore and the other is the legendary Will Eisner.

After that you get:

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
V for Vendetta
Transmetropolitan: Lust for Life
Cosmic Odyssey (Personal favorite)
Mystery Play
Arkham Asylum
The Second Sandman Volume
The 5th Preacher Volume (War in ??)
Hellboy: The Right Hand of Doom
Swamp Thing (The first Alan Moore trade)
Bacchas: Doing the Isles

I highly recommend the Invisibles series for those of you into Grant Morrison.  It's absolutely amazing.

It may be me, but I think that both the Dark Knight Returns and Watchman are overrated.  Not highly over-rated, just over-rated.  I prefer Ronin and most of the Sin City stuff to DKR and V for Vendetta, From Hell, or any of the other major Alan Moore works over Watchman. 

[jpmeyer]

Watchmen has lots of originality in terms of its style as well.  I like how you the reader see the Dr. Manhattan stories in the same way that he does.

[Harkius]

Although Watchmen has been said, and I don't want to repeat, I was wondering if you had checked J. Michael Straczynski's Supreme Power? Although it is inferior in nearly every way, there was one moment in one of the issues that I truly connected with one of the characters. If you are curious what it is about, here is a link: http://worldsofjms.com/supreme/index.htm. The thing is that this series isn't in GN format just yet. Remember it for later, though, because I am sure it will come out in that format relatively soon, probably the first 12 issues or so. This is coming from Marvel, and is fairly under the radar, so far, so it still has some credibility in the Indie crowd. While it does come from a main house, and it is inferior in nearly every way to Watchmen very little is not inferior, and this is vastly better than much of the crap that comes out.

It goes into what the series is about. It's a little bit over-the-top, but it is fairly accurate. The author is also correct that Mark Gruenwald's Squadron Supreme was pretty good, although you mentioned that you weren't too big a fan of the superhero genre. This series, along with with The Watchmen formed the basis of the "Superheroes are people, too" genre that became so popular. As usual, the originals were frequently better than what followed (although the later had some useful moments).

One final suggestion, check out Lenore. It is a little offbeat (but, so are a lot of the things you mentioned), penned by Roman Dirge, it is really amusing for at least the first eight issues, which are collected in two GN of four issues each: Noogies is one of them and Wedgies is the other. Basically, it is promoted as "The adventures of a cute little dead girl." The first few issues are a lot like the earliest episodes of Family Guy: There are frequent interludes which make little or no sense in context, but are ridiculously funny in and of themselves. Some, on the other hand, are quite disturbing. Not a comic for people who are easily frightened, but it is terrifically funny.

The first volume will contain a few classics that, alone, are worth picking up a 15$ GN, including Soylent Green: The Armless, Legless Cannibal, which is, indisputably, the best teenage-angsty (and ridiculously amusing) thing that I have ever read in a comic book. If you don't like it, PM me, and I would happily refund your money if you send me the book. And, I already own the comics (Note: This is an offer only to the person who started the thread...I don't need 37 copies of this GN! Not that I think that everyone who picks it up wouldn't enjoy it, just saying...) It also includes an entertaining interlude about Weebles, which, if you are old enough, will make you sleep much, much better at night.

As far as these go, those are the best GN's that I can think of that meet your criteria. Avoiding restating anything else, I'd recommend picking up Lenore immediately, and Supreme Power when it becomes available. Both are worthwhile.

Harkius

[Smmenen]

yes, but Alan Moore is always pushing the boundaries with style.

Check out the "Birth Caul" or "Snakes and ladders":
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0957789653/qid=1136426763/sr=1-152/ref=sr_1_152/002-7888233-2266406?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

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

The thing he did with swamp thing was really cool and deconstructionist. 

The story of Swamp Thing before Moore came to the book (Swamp Thing was the book that made him famous, btw), was that Swamp Thing was Dr. Holland who fell into a swamp after a lap experiment and awoke as a monster.

Moore changed the story in a subtle way.  Instead, Alec Holland died in that fire (indeed his corpse was found in the swamp).  What happened instead was that some plant materials in the swamp absorbed some of Holland's remains and somehow acquired his consciousness.

The difference is profound.  When John Byrne took over Superman in 1986 he made Superman the alter ego, not Clark Kent.  That's why if you watch the old Superman movies from the early 80s, it's quite clear that Clark Kent is a bumbling idiot alter ego, but if you watch Lois and Clark or modern Superman stuff, you see that Superman is the constume.

It's the same thing - instead of being a man turned into a plant, Swamp Thing was now a plant who had begun to think of itself as a man.  This had quite interesting story possibilities.  Upon this realization, Swamp Thing began to erase any trace of humanity from itself and started to become part of the swamp again. 

[Smmenen]

Also, although I know that someone said they didn't want anyone to recommend Manga, there is a very unique series called "The Eagle" you can probably find on Ebay or Amazon.

The story is a manga story of an Asian American becoming President.

If you like the West Wing or read Hunter Thompson books, you'll probabably like it.  It follows this guy through each major primary, debates, and of course the general election.  It's a five part story. 

Of course, Lone Wolf and Cub is amazing as well.  It heavily influenced Frank Miller's work. 

[Lou]

Neil Gaiman is truly the master, and I really enjoy the Sandman.  I've always been a big fan of Vertigo, and I also really like Y: The Last Man, as well as a spinoff from Sandman, Lucifer.  Lucifer is probably my favorite regular book currently, but Y is close.

[jpmeyer]

Neil Gaiman is truly the master, and I really enjoy the Sandman.  I've always been a big fan of Vertigo, and I also really like Y: The Last Man, as well as a spinoff from Sandman, Lucifer.  Lucifer is probably my favorite regular book currently, but Y is close.

While they're comics rather than graphic novels, I'm a big fan of Brian Vaughn too.

[jcb193]

Supreme Power is on my "to read list"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/078511369X/qid=1136432390/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-3097152-2983243?n=507846&s=books&v=glance

That said, i don't think watchmen is over-rated.  I think one has to take these comics in context.  Just like some old Woody Allen movies or Hitchcock.  If you watch them now you might be like "why is this so good," but back then, in context, they were incredible.  It's a testament to them that people today still think they are genius upon first viewing. 

I think Watchmen is much like Manhunter, though way more profound.  In context, it is genius.  If i were 14 and picked it up today, it would be harder to appreciate.  Same with Contract with God.  Interesting read.  I doubt i'll re-read it.  I also found it way too biased for my taste. 

I am hesitant to get back into Sin City and Hellboy as i didn't like them when they first came out (mid-90's) and i am afraid that their popularity is movie-based.  Is this true, as i started Sin City from the beginning and wasnt impressed, and mike mignola art on hellboy always annoyed me. 

That said, my new list of reading:
    Absolute Batman: Hush by Jeph Loeb 
    Absolute Planetary by Warren Ellis
    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: Hush, Vol. 1 by Jeph Loeb 
    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 
    Blankets by Craig Thompson 
    Captain America: War and Rememberance by Roger Stern
    Deathstroke, the terminator: Full cycle by Marv Wolfman
    Ex Machina Vol. 1: The First Hundred Days (Ex Machina (Collections)) by Brian K. Vaughan 
    Fables Vol. 6: Homelands by Bill Willingham 
    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 
    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 
    Lucifer: Inferno (Lucifer (Graphic Novels)) by Dean Ormston 
    Manhunter: The Special Edition by Archie Goodwin 
    Manly World of Lloyd Llewellyn by Daniel Clowes
    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 
    One Hundred Demons (Alex Awards (Awards)) by Lynda Barry 
    Orgy Bound by Daniel Clowes
    Palestine by Joe Sacco 
    Paradigm Volume 1: Segue To An Interlude by Matt Cashell 
    Pussey! by Daniel Clowes 
    Queen & Country, Vol.1: Operation Broken Ground by Greg Rucka 
    Rising Stars Volume 3: Fire And Ash (Rising Stars (Image Comics)) by J. Michael Straczynski 
    Scud, the disposable assassin: Heavy 3PO (Coleman chronicles of Scud) by Rob Schrab
    Squadron Supreme: Death Of A Universe TPB by Mark Gruenwald 
    Summer Blonde by Adrian Tomine 
    Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? by Alan Moore 
    Supreme Power, Vol. 1 by J. Michael Straczynski 
    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 
    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 
    Torso by Brian Michael Bendis 
    True Porn Volume 2 (True Porn) by Robin Bougie 
    Watchmen (Absolute Editions) by Alan Moore

and of course i'll give: Soylent Green: The Armless, Legless Cannibal, a try. 

[Harkius]

Hrmm....

I honestly didn't realize that it was already coming out. I would caution anyone willing to give it a try though...
Both the site I listed and Amazon are overhyping it a little. Hyperion is an interesting character, but he is sullen and petulant more than anything else. He doesn't act any more maturely than Superman, just different. The "good" characters in this book are not the "heroes" themselves, but the people who are around them. Much as ever, it is the bit characters who are, perhaps unintentionally, more three-dimensional than those who are the targets of much of the work.

But, Lenore is good. Really good.

Have fun.
Harkius

[Smmenen]

Batman: The Killing Joke is also quite good, since everyone else has forgotten it.

OMG, I forgot how good Paul Jenkins The Inhumans was. 

JCB, i've probably read over half that list.  I used to recommend John Byrne's Next Men, but good luck getting your hands on that.

And I'm honestly a little surprised you don't like Mignola.  He is one of the most alluring artists in the business, I think. 

Oh, and Batman Death in the Family is awesome if only to see the Joker kill Jason Todd and have diplomatic immunity while doing it. 

Oh, and no one else has mentioned:

Johnny the Homicidal Maniac.  Lots of people like that stuff. I think its ok.

[jcb193]

First of all, please don't limit this list to Graphic Novels.  I am also including Trade Paperbacks.  I just find these versions easier to read and manage than single issues.

I've read Next Men.  It was cool, though i think this is one of the diverging areas for me and some of you guys.  I really, really didnt like most Dark Horse stuff in the mid-90s (Hellboy, Sin City, Aliens, etc etc)

Death in the family is cool, especialy trying to visualize Batman running around the desert in his batsuit.  80's Batman is hard to place on the believabiliity scale   But no comic has consistenty been better. 

I think artists are non-arguable.  You like Mignola, i find him annoying.  Kind of like Sandman.  I almost stopped reading the series ( i had been reading it monthly from issue 12) when Marc Hempel took over.  I don't personally care much about the artist, UNTIL it starts dstracting me from the story.  Hempel did that. 

[jcb193]

Couldn't find the link to soylent on amazon?  Know where it is available?