Comics/ Graphic Novels- Favorites?, Whatever you like Options

[Astarael]

I was luck enough to get Sandman books 3-5 for Christmas today and I've read 3 and 4. I liked them a lot, but I'm looking for suggestions on other good comics to read when those are all bought and read. Since you, my fellow forumites, tend to have good taste in books and movies, I'd like to know what your favorite comics and graphic novels are your favorites. This will be far more interesting than going through long lists of books on Amazon and trying to decide if the reviews are useful.

If you want to discuss anything Sandman-related, don't spoil anything past book 5 or I'll be cranky and have to scrub my brain with acid to remove the spoilers.

[CommieBastard]

Sandman is most excellent. I recommend:

Preacher by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon (hella adult content, not for the religiously sensitive)

The Invisibles by Grant Morrison (loads of fun and completely mad; features time-travelling witches and transsexual shamans)

Lucifer by Mike Carey (you know how Lucifer quits Hell in Season of Mists? Well, this is what he gets up to after)

The League of Extraordinary Gentleman by Alan Moore (the film was crap, I know, but these books are great)

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore (an extremely stylish and slightly unhinged terrorist with a score to settle attempts to bring down the fascist regime controlling 21st-century Britain)

And most of all:
Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis is very highly recommended. Spider Jerusalem, a mad journalist f***ed up on drugs and hate, crusades for the Truth in the bizarre dystopic America of the future.

[little_bear]

My all time favourite graphic novel is Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. Classic. Also, yes, Sandman is very good.

[Chronotub]

Judge Dread and Tank Girl are boath Great.
Their is also a battle royale manga out, I only have the first one but its pretty good

[Moosh]

Having only really ever read one graphic novel, I'm gonna have to go with Preacher. 'Cos it was very, very good.

[BlueOrange25]

Some good choices already highlighted above. Here are a few more:

Watchmen - A milestone in graphic novel storytelling. Excellent story, and interesting characters. Worth looking into if only for the fact that it had such an impact on the way the mainstream looked at comics.

Kingdom Come - A great look at an alternate DC future featuring stunning artwork from Alex Ross.

Earth X - Another good look at an alternate future, this time with the Marvel universe. Also gives an interesting look on the Marvel universe's past and continuity.

JLA - More specifically Grant Morrison's run on the series. Great adventures full of weird and wonderful ideas. Superheroism in a classic way.

The Ultimates - One of the best ongoing monthly (supposedly) series. A refreshing new look at Marvel's Avengers. Try to pick it up as a trade paperback to avoid the annoying irregularity of the series.

Wanted - A great look at what it's like to be a supervillain in a world where the good guys are no more.

[Mata]

From Hell by Alan Moore is a long, intense, and excellent read. The last few chapters completely blew me away.

Everything else that immediately comes to mind has been covered, Sandman, Watchmen, and The Dark Knight Returns.

[bryden42]

I loved the little endless book all about delirium trying to find her dog.

the death spinoffs from sandman (the time of your life and the high cost of living) are also good.

[Cath Sparrow]

There is also a Destiny spin off from the Sandman.

Whats the Delirium spin off called I can't remeber if I've read it?

[Mata]

I'm sure I've got those Destiny comics somewhere...

I've not seen the Delirium one. I'll keep an eye out for that. I've always had a fondness for her character; she reminds me of old friends.

[Cath Sparrow]

It's hard not to be fond of Delirium.

And yes Preacher (started reading it not long after it started but not read it for few years now need to do some catching up)
And yes the Invisibles (same as Preacher)
Bone's an interesting one really wasn't what I was expecting when I started reading it.
And there's another one I was reading not so long ago which I unfortunately cant remeber the name of. The main charater reminds me of the Saint of Killers from Preacher with a bit of Jesse Custar thrown in.

[bryden42]

it's called the little endless story book by jill thompson and it was bought out in 2001 I cant find the ISBN number.

[pixie]

The Sandman
The Dreaming
Swamp Thing
Hellblazer
Transmetropolitan
The Invisibles
Top Ten
Miracleman
V For Vendetta
Preacher
Neverwhere
Lucifer
Petrefax
The Furies
The Corinthian
Death: The Time of Your Life
Death: The High Cost of Living
Sandman Mystery Theatre
DMZ
Loveless
The Crow
Lenore
Bear
Invader Zim
Johnny The Homicidal Maniac
Oh My Goddess

pretty much anything else with the following names on the front...

Alan Moore
Warren Ellis
Garth Ennis
Neil Gaiman
Mike Carey
Grant Morrison
Caitlin R Kiernan (Her novels are better than her comics though)
Jamie Delano
Brian Azarello (except his Hellblazer run which was dire)

[Mata]

*waves at Pixie - the second member of the forums!*

[Astarael]

*gives a low and incredulous whistle* Wow. What made you decide to come back, pixie?
Anyway, I shall be sure to investigate at least some of these, particularly if Neil Gaiman was involved somehow. His stuff is cool on so many levels that I read it over... and over... and over... looking for his clever foreshadowing and subtle back references. I do believe I've become sort of fangirl, if that's possible when you're talking about books.

[Novander]

I do believe I've become sort of fangirl, if that's possible when you're talking about books.

It has to be, 'cause I'm a total fanboy.

I think the only things I've got that haven't been mentioned so far are:

Criminal Macabre and 30 Days of Night by Steve Niles. Very cool. the style of the art works very well with the storylines. "30 days..." doesn't quite reach its full potential, I felt. Still works, though.

100 Bullets. I haven't read all of these, but those I have read are fantastic. The storyline builds up in a way just as good as Sandman's.

Inferno. The first graphic novel I bought, I think. Its a black-and-white comic about a man who is killed, goes to hell and finds out he used to be one of the most powerful people there. Its good if you're not a fan of colour and quite like big cityscapes.

[pixie]

Well, Mr. Mata mentioned his forum elsewhere yesterday and I thought "Hey, I joined that years ago I think...." and went to play around here. So here I am. Thank god for a notebook with old passwords in...

No idea why I was the second person though.... If there was a reason it is now lost.

[PsychWardMike]

I must say that I heartily reccomend the Johnny The Homicidal Maniac, Squee, I Feel Sick, Filler Bunny, and Bad Art Collection. /me loves Jhonen Vasquez.

Lenore is usually good for a giggle, too.

[PsychWardMike]

And I actually enjoyed the Devil May Cry manga, even though it was a little hard to follow in a few parts.

[pixie]

For the Gaiman fans looking to expand Lucifer is good, it is by Mike Carey, who is also the writer of the Neverwhere comic mini-series, and features Lucifer from The Sandman, and it is bloody fantastic.

Plus every single person should be forced at knifepoint read Transmetropolitan. By the end of issue one youll probably get the knife wrestled out of your hand and be held at knifepoint by THEM until you give hand over rest of the series. It is just fantastic.

[You deny me fres...]

OH DEAR GOD!!!!

Sorry but I have to say that there are some amazing omissions here!
Neil Gaimen fans should read 1603 & 1604 for a genius retroing of modern Marvel characters.
The Hellrazer collections are great for fans of horror comics, without the usual moral baggage, plus they are genuinely creepy! (Clive Barkers stuff not the John Constantine - Hellblazer series... which is also amazing)
Bear is undoubted the best all out comedy comic SLG have produced in years but Nightmares & Fairytales should also be consulted, along with A Bag Full Of Anteaters as well as the first and second Army of Darkness trade collections for all out Ash style FUN!!
Invader Zim is near impossible to get as a comic but should definitely be watched on DVD.

Lastly, and I KNOW I shouldn't admit this in public but... Ultimate Spiderman (hides head in shame).
Personally I love it! It’s got the perfect balance of humour, action and storyline. Plus its currently running through all of the old storylines so it’s a long stroll down memory lane…

Freshmaker

OOOOH and read - “HAPPY NOODLE BOY”

[PsychWardMike]

Erm, forgive me if I'm wrong, but I believe that Happy Noodle Boy was only a strip in the JTHM series. While it was a comic book in that universe, I believe in ours that it is not.