aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. October 6, 2011 - 3:40pm

Let's try to say something other than Watchmen even though I love it too.

I like The Killing Joke, the Walking Dead comics and Whedon's run on Xmen.

Achillez's picture
Achillez from Long Island, New York is reading The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway October 6, 2011 - 3:50pm

Kingdom Come, maybe? Idk, I don't read comics all that much. I love Spawn though.

Laramore Black's picture
Laramore Black from Joplin, Missouri is reading Mario Kart 8 October 6, 2011 - 4:02pm

@Achillez
I've collected Spawn comics since I was 13. Other comics and graphic novels just don't seem to stand up to it.

Meachman's picture
Meachman from Indianapolis is reading Amusing Ourselves to Death October 6, 2011 - 5:08pm

Just about anything by Mark Millar--Kick Ass, Nemesis, Ultimates, Wanted
Jonathan Hickman's Nightly News and Pax Romana
 

postpomo's picture
postpomo from Canada is reading words words words October 6, 2011 - 5:15pm

favourite is a tall order.

I just recently discovered the genius of Will Eisner - the Contract With God Trilogy

Alan Moore's my favourite writer, but I think Neil Gaiman's Sandman is my favourite series

Honourable mention for Grant Morrison's Invisibles

in Japanese comics Vagabond is awesome - historical fiction on the life of Musashi Miyamoto - a swordsman's swordsman. Also Akira. Classic good stuff on a grand scale.

Kirk's picture
Admin
Kirk from Pingree Grove, IL is reading The Book Of The New Sun October 6, 2011 - 5:19pm

Because I refuse to call comics "graphic novels" I won't mention any comics. However, I do like a lot of, what I consider to be, graphic novels.

Shaun Tan does some great books that are truly 'graphic'. They have no words, yet manage to tell great stories.

.'s picture
. October 6, 2011 - 5:32pm

Anything by Alan Moore. I still want to read a couple Batman ones and I wonder how the Walking Dead graphic novels are-- hopefully not exactly like the show.

heder.schmit's picture
heder.schmit from Canada is reading The Girl Who Played With Fire October 6, 2011 - 6:03pm

Watchmen hands down!  I lovee that book!!!!  ^ and hell yeah Alan Moore kicks ass I adore everything he does but I do also really like the Walking Dead series.  No Brainer! 

kimar2z's picture
kimar2z from The Middle of Nowhere, Texas is reading The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett October 6, 2011 - 6:47pm

Anything Doctor Who related... and several manga series, if those count as graphic novels. *chuckles* There's one in the Who-universe called The Only Good Dalek that was pretty amazing.

postpomo's picture
postpomo from Canada is reading words words words October 6, 2011 - 6:49pm

I read the first Walking Dead and found it meh - I think I'm about as glutted with zombies as I am with hipster vampires.

 

postpomo's picture
postpomo from Canada is reading words words words October 6, 2011 - 6:50pm

Cerebus the Aardvark by Dave Sim was an interesting read - uneven. Some parts were very text-heavy, some parts overt spoof, some parts very clever, and some parts, well, um... still not sure what to make of them entirely, but at least they were thought provoking.

Danny grant's picture
Danny grant October 6, 2011 - 6:53pm

The graphic novelization of Philip K. Dick's short story, "Electric Ant". Adapted by David Mack and artwork by Pascal Alixe. I also plan on starting, "Y: The Last Man" by Brian K. Vaughan.

fummeltunte's picture
fummeltunte from Seattle is reading The Left Hand of Darkness October 6, 2011 - 6:56pm

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel and The Sandman collection by Neil Gaiman. 

Shocktrooper's picture
Shocktrooper from Texas is reading Started Early, Took My Dog October 6, 2011 - 7:02pm

The Dark Knight Returns-Frank Miller.  It blew my mind when I first read it.

postpomo's picture
postpomo from Canada is reading words words words October 6, 2011 - 7:11pm

@Dhanny - David Mack's Kabuki series is an incredible bit of graphic design - it's one of my favourites.

Eric Drooker has a couple of wordless GN's out Blood Dance and Flood which I really like - kinda like wood-block artwork. He also illustrated Ginsberg's Howl and put that out.

Alex Kane's picture
Alex Kane from west-central Illinois is reading Dark Orbit October 6, 2011 - 7:22pm

The Killing JokeThe Long Halloween, and The Widening Gyre. Batman rocks.

Nathan's picture
Nathan from Louisiana (South of New Orleans) is reading Re-reading The Rust Maidens by Gwendolyn Kiste, The Bone Weaver's Orchard by Sarah Read October 6, 2011 - 9:26pm

@Shocktrooper -Exactly. Always was, always will be The Dark Knight Returns as far as my favorite for that very reason. I don't hate his other stuff, either, like a lot of people do. In fact I quite enjoy it. Year One's a classic. 

Like The Killing Joke by Moore, too, and a recent favorite of mine is All Star Superman by Grant Morrison. 

Anyone reading Action Comics right now? Grant Morrison's doing great with that. Kind of like how Frank Miller brought on the Alpha and Omega for Batman in the 80's, Morrison's doing that for Superman right now. 

lyndonriggall's picture
lyndonriggall from Tasmania is reading Going Bovine by Libba Bray October 6, 2011 - 9:39pm

Props Kirk - Shaun Tan is an Aussie, and quite frankly one of the most talented.  His work is truly beautiful.

Right now for me, a favourite is Joe Hill's Locke and Key. Great, suspenseful writing that really uses the comic to great effect.  I'm loving it.

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. October 6, 2011 - 10:00pm

How could I forget?   Yeah, Locke and Key is awesome.  Y:  the last Man is one of my favorites and the entire Sandman run.  DC's original Vertigo run was amazing.  I still like that DC takes more risks than Marvel which just feels like they recycle the same crap over and over again to appeal to a new generation of sycophants.  I understand the need for the comic medium to want to get new readers because the kiddies love superheroes but sometimes when they reboot an entire character and their origin to dumb it down for the new generation, it's an insult to longtime readers who actually read the freaking comic for 20 years.  I'm looking at you, Spider-man and  your imaginary marriage and Aunt that never dies. 

Zeka's picture
Zeka from New South Wales, Australia is reading Hack/Slash Omnibus Vol 2 October 7, 2011 - 1:43am

Anthing by Sam Keith, absolute favourite being The Maxx. 

Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar is a close second

Reading Hack/Slash at the moment. It has some meh moments but it's definitely working its way into my favourites pile.

Raelyn's picture
Raelyn from California is reading The Liars' Club October 7, 2011 - 1:59am

Does manga count?  If so, then One Piece is the ultimate kick-ass graphic series. 

Pete's picture
Pete from Detroit is reading Red Dragon October 7, 2011 - 5:39am

Pretty much anything by BrianMichael Bendis and Ed Brubaker.  Thsoe guys are my favorite.

All of Brian Michael Bendis's independant stuff is worth picking up.  If you're a writer, you should also study how his dialogue flows.  He's really got an ear for how real people talk.

For Ed Brubaker, you really need to check out his Criminal series and the two Incognito books.  Also the Sleeper series is great.

All you Alan Moore fans and nobody has mentioned V for Vendetta or From Hell?  As good as Watchmen is, those are also pretty great.

Geez, I'm drawing a blank.  I'm sure I'll come back to this thread with some more.

Jim Mayniam's picture
Jim Mayniam from Phenix City, Alabama is reading A Dance With Dragons and The Name of the Wind October 7, 2011 - 5:48am

anything by warren ellis with an emphasis on transmetropolitan.  the man tells a brilliant story.  nice mention of hickman's stuff upthread.  as physical objects his works are beautiful.  i don't read as much as i used to but i'd also mention azzarellos 100 bullets.  it was nicely done.

Pete's picture
Pete from Detroit is reading Red Dragon October 7, 2011 - 6:05am

Oh, 100 Bullets is amazing!  Brandon got me to give it a shot.  And I absolutely loved it.  I can't believe I forgot that one.

TomorrowHill's picture
TomorrowHill from Newfoundland, Canada is reading your mind. You like Castlevania, don't you? October 7, 2011 - 6:58am

For me it's a toss-up between Locke & Key and The Walking Dead. Aside from those, I'd recommend Morning Glories, Atomic Robo, and Preacher.

Dr. Gonzo's picture
Dr. Gonzo from Manchester, UK is reading Blood Meridian October 7, 2011 - 7:00am

From Hell, probably.  Maybe Watchmen.

XyZy's picture
XyZy from New York City is reading Seveneves and Animal Money October 7, 2011 - 8:16am

Oh, everybody's already mentioned most of my favorites... which saves me from having to mention them. My favorite graphic novels not already mentioned:

In the Batman category: Arkham Asylum by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean. That's right, McKean has illustrated a batman comic.

In the Superman category: JLA: Tower of Babel, okay not really about Superman, but just another excuse to have Batman.

In the independent comic category: Scud: The Disposable Assassin. Probably the weirdest thing I've ever read, and I had a subscription to Bust Down the Door and Eat All the Chickens. Weird and awesome.

In the just drop dead gorgeous category: Is a tie. Mateki: The Magic Flute byYoshitaka Amano and The Second Earth: Pentateuch Re-Told by Patrick Woodroffe. These aren't comics, as much as beautifully illustrated stories. Mateki is Amano's re-invisioning of the opera... you know, the one by Mozart... and I've always loved Amano's work. Second Earth is a cautionary, sci-fi, creation-story. If you hold really strong opinions about such things, may not be for you, but his pictures are intricately detailed and stunning.

In the Neil Gaiman category: The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, and not just another excuse to have Dave McKean, though his work on this is particularly clever. It's also probably my favorite of Gaiman's "children" stories.

In the spin-off category: Filler Bunny. By Jhonen Vasquez. As its name implies, Filler Bunny was short filler in JTHM, but eventually got a book or two of his own.

jdudley's picture
jdudley from Chicago is reading Call of the Wild October 7, 2011 - 10:01am

Three stories each written in the last few years: Daytripper, Scarlet and Criminal: Last of the Innocent are among my favorite comic mini-series (now collected as graphic novels) of all time.

Daytripper (ten points of one man's life from childhood to old age, his life might end at any one of them. A fantastic study in how we hold onto our lives and the decisions we make. Absolutely gorgeous illustrations to boot.)

http://www.amazon.com/Daytripper-Gabriel-Ba/dp/1401229697

Criminal: Last of the Innocent (picks apart Archie comics 15 years later, when 'Archie" realized he married the wrong girl... so he decides to marry her so that he can be with "Veronica." Meanwhile, Jughead has become a huge junkie. Sounds crazy, and it is, but it's actually brilliant. It says Vol. 6 but each Criminal story is an entirely self-contained work

http://www.amazon.com/Criminal-Vol-6-Last-Innocent/dp/0785158294

Scarlet (The Occupy Portland movement is taking place in exactly the same place a similar movement happens in this book, which just came out a few months ago. I think this work is extremely relevant not just in the states, but particularly to recent revolutions in the Middle East, particularly Egypt.

http://www.amazon.com/Scarlet-Book-Brian-Michael-Bendis/dp/0785152512

Allison Urban's picture
Allison Urban from the bodies of people she's never met is reading Frankenstein October 7, 2011 - 10:13am

Y The Last Man is fantastic. Also, apparently so is Buffy Season 8.

Scott Williams's picture
Scott Williams from Brooklyn, NY is reading 11/23/63 October 7, 2011 - 10:17am

Promethea changed my life.  No joke.  This is a graphic novel about magick, tarot, the kabbalah, and the power of imagination. It also manages to equate the fictional world of a graphic novel to the esoteric theory currently en vogue in physics that we may all be living on the surface of a holographic universe.  

Interestingly enough, Alan Moore, as much as I love him (and I do love him) as an author of graphic novels, is not my favorite writer qua writer.  His prose is, frankly, impenetrable.  

jdudley's picture
jdudley from Chicago is reading Call of the Wild October 7, 2011 - 10:21am

You really can't go wrong with Y: The Last Man--or anything written by Brian K. Vaughn for that matter (besides, of course Lost, which could literally waste weeks of your time, but that was a collaborative effort of writters of which he was only a small part so he gets a pass)

If any of you guys and gals have an iPad (or are getting a Kindle Fire) a lot of the aforementioned books can be downloaded and read exceptionally well via the Comixology Ap, it's incredible. You can also download a FEW of the aforementioned titles via iBook (IDW is the only comics publisher on iBook thus far: Parker: The Hunter and Locke and Key are both INCREDIBLE graphic novels that can be downloaded on iBook)

D Michael Hardy's picture
D Michael Hardy from Tampa, FL October 7, 2011 - 10:24am

The Crow, hands down. It's simply beautiful.

CJ Roberts's picture
CJ Roberts from Salem, MA is reading goodreads.com/cjroberts_dmm October 7, 2011 - 10:43am

Transmetropolitan

The Hellblazer wherein he flips off the devil and the one where he's in jail.

Watchmen.

Batman - Wasteland.

Books of Magic vol 1.

postpomo's picture
postpomo from Canada is reading words words words October 7, 2011 - 10:52am

@Scott Williams - I agree about Promethea and about Moore's writing - I love his story ideas, but his prose is dense enough to stop nutrinos.

 

Izzy Parker's picture
Izzy Parker from Georgia is reading Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World October 7, 2011 - 11:33am

I haven't read many graphic novels, but I do agree that The Crow is beautiful. I'd have to mention Sandman, too. I really want to read Transmetropolitan, but the staggering height of Mt. ToBeRead has so far precluded it.

Scott Williams's picture
Scott Williams from Brooklyn, NY is reading 11/23/63 October 7, 2011 - 12:53pm

@postpomo - Right? And I like dense.

I mean, there's dense, and then there's "stop it."

Meachman's picture
Meachman from Indianapolis is reading Amusing Ourselves to Death October 7, 2011 - 1:55pm

In addition to Millar and Hickman's self-contained works I mentioned before, if you're wanting some good on-going work:

Dan Slott is doing a great job on Amazing Spider-Man
Jeff Parker on Thunderbolts is humorous, tragic, and fun
Mark Waid's Irredeemable and Incorruptable are neat takes on the superhero comic
and anything Brian Michael Bendis turns out is usually worth looking into
 

Jack's picture
Jack from England is reading texts of rejection from pretty ladies October 7, 2011 - 3:30pm

Jimmy Corrigan, The Smartest Kid On Earth by Chris Ware is probably one of my favourite books now. Just utterly sad, moving, funny... big recommend on that one.

postpomo's picture
postpomo from Canada is reading words words words October 7, 2011 - 8:33pm

@Jack - I agree with Jimmy Corrigan - someone recommended it to me with the warning that "you shouldn't read this if you're in an emotionally vulnerable state" - it's something poignant and heart-wrenching.

I like Charles Burns work - Black Hole, and recently X'ed Out - very weird. the latter is Tintin-esque, if Tintin were written by Salvador Dali.

Jeff Lemire has written some great pieces as well. Essex County is his breakthrough work about said county in southern Ontario - he manages to evoke loneliness, isolation, and innocence in a way I haven't seen elsewhere (and comic writers often discuss loneliness - nobody wants to hang out with you when you're drawing all day).

Nathan's picture
Nathan from Louisiana (South of New Orleans) is reading Re-reading The Rust Maidens by Gwendolyn Kiste, The Bone Weaver's Orchard by Sarah Read October 7, 2011 - 8:46pm

You guys ever read Druuna, by Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri?

Pete's picture
Pete from Detroit is reading Red Dragon October 7, 2011 - 9:47pm

Oh, I can't believe I forgot this:

Young Liars by David Lapham.  This one is great.  It's like nothing else.  I don't know how to describe it really.

The Maxx.  Really Brandon or Kirk deserve to mention this one, though Kirk said he was restricting himself strictly to "graphic novels" because of the thread title.  But they are the ones that introduced me to The Maxx.  Reading the series from start to finish is one weird ride, that is so worth it.

Tristan Clausell's picture
Tristan Clausell from New Jersey is reading A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin October 7, 2011 - 10:32pm

As a Comic book addict I felt that I HAD to respond to this post.

Y: The Last Man
Daytripper (Beautiful story! Must read)
Locke & Key
Joker by Brian Azarello
Sin City

AND my all time FAVORITE: Blankets by Craig Thompson ( Almost made me cry how beautiful it was)

jay wolf's picture
jay wolf from nyc metro is reading Transmetropolitan October 8, 2011 - 12:04am

Transmetropolitan is hands-down my favorite comic of all time.  I first read it right during the 2008 election season so it seemed weirdly timely despite having been written a decade before that.  

A few years back I was pleasantly surprised by Joss Whedon's run on Astonishing X-Men too.  Very interpersonal drama focused, but he made it work.  (it helps that the X-cast works well with the high drama, I guess.)

 

Someone else mentioned Chris Ware-- I really loved his Quimby the Mouse omnibus book, but yeah, it's not for those moments when you might be susceptible to deep bouts of existential depression.  

Tucson's picture
Tucson from Belgium is reading Late Essays - J.M. Coetzee October 8, 2011 - 2:48am

Obviously EVERYTHING by Chris Ware.
(almost) everything by Alan Moore
But not to forget (since everybody seemed to) Arham Asylum by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean
Another GN that changed my life was Cages by Dave McKean. 

 

 

 
Pete's picture
Pete from Detroit is reading Red Dragon October 8, 2011 - 8:01am

But not to forget (since everybody seemed to) Arham Asylum by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean

Oh I didn't forget it - I really didn't like it at all.  I feel like I'm the only person that is not falling for the Emperor's New Clothes whom we call Grant Morrison.

postpomo's picture
postpomo from Canada is reading words words words October 8, 2011 - 10:16am

@Pete: Grant Morrison has his moments, and too often for my taste, he's off in Morrison land and has left us without a roadmap. What is it you don't like about him? I've been avoiding superhero stories for the mostpart, but I've read his X-Men run and a couple JLA.

Pete's picture
Pete from Detroit is reading Red Dragon October 8, 2011 - 10:44am

I bought most of his Batman run.  It was all over the place and I felt so lost.  I mean, I can outline it and sort of udnerstand it.  But I felt like we (as the reader) weren't inolved in the story like comics and graphic novels usually make me feel.  I was a total outsider watching a filtered version of what was happening.  The twist didn't feel like twist and felt more like cheap tricks.

BTW - those books are the only comics/graphic novels I've considered selling.

postpomo's picture
postpomo from Canada is reading words words words October 8, 2011 - 12:39pm

That's his style, pretty much. It's how I felt about the Filth but now that I have a vague idea of what it's about, I'm going to give it a second go-around and see what more I can get out of it. Maybe something. Maybe nothing.

WE3 was alright.

JordanJGriffin's picture
JordanJGriffin from Fresno, CA is reading William T. Vollmann - You Bright and Risen Angels October 8, 2011 - 10:00pm

Y: The Last Man

The Sandman of course and Fables is pretty interesting

 

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. October 9, 2011 - 2:15am

Transmetropolitan is pretty amazing.  It's probably one of the best sci-fi comics out there in terms of a plausible future.  Just the complete chaos of it.  I liked Grant Morrison's run on X-men, he added some life to it.  When he is working with Frank Quietly, it is like Salvador Dali drawing and writing comics.  Then he does stuff like the Death of Batman thing which for me was an epic fail.  Some of his stuff is almost too bizarre for it's own good.  I think Allan Moore is a great writer but his ego often gets in his way.  He just needs to never do interviews because he basically says, "I'm the only good comic writer and no one is as good as me." which makes him sound like a pompous ass.

Aidan's picture
Aidan from Tucson, AZ is reading Lost in America October 9, 2011 - 12:53pm

Kingdom Come was pretty amazing.  Waid's story had real weight and Alex Ross's art was totally unbelievable. I'd kill to get my hands on a piece of KC original art, but a page goes for something like $25,000 if you can track it down.