[Closed] Graphic Novels/Manga/Comics

Dredd case files gather together virtually everything since prog 1, so if you're a completist it's a good way to go.

Alan Moore's Swamp Thing (6 volumes) is a great read - quite a different take on the character.

If you're less of a capes & cowls reader you might enjoy some of the quirkier books like Y: The Last Man, Locke & Key or Chew.

oops - forgot about Garth Ennis' "Preacher"

Chew, Y: The Last Man, The Sandman, Preacher, Fables.

For something newish try Saga by Brian K. Vaughan.

half way through the sandman novels.

very good. the first few arnt so great (bit comicy) but tuning into proper gaiman now.

might look into some of the recommendation in this thread.

And read Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art, by Scott McCloud.

Cool, few to get on with here, thanks!

Preacher is erratic but when it's good, it's really good. Just the sort of slightly unhinged concept that works best in comics.

Judge Dredd's incredibly up and down, especially with older ones... But it's a hard one to recommend, because the best stories are usually built on top of a heap of background. You could go straight into the democracy sequence which is awesome, but it'd be less effective without reading a load of less good stuff that preceeded it.

I love Transmetropolitan... Quite short and sweet, too. Hmm, I should reread Transmetropolitan

I've just started collecting again, and you're right, it's bewildering knowing where to start. To be honest, it's even worse knowing when to stop! I just limit myself to one publisher (Marvel) and buy only hardback compendiums. MrsMitch bought me the stand collection last year, 'tis awesomes, recently got the marvel zomnibus (big) and I'm planning on getting the walking dead compendium next. I know a tame comic dealer (he's the guitarist in my band) so am able to pick up bargains occasionally, but it can still be expensive, particularly if you're interested in the stuff from the 40s and 50s.

Saga is very good

I'm trying to get rid of my comic collection, got about 2000 comics, all sorts, anyone interested drop me a line, email in profile.

West Mids based.

Lucifer gets overlooked, well worth a read after Sandman
Transmetropolitan +1
Nikolai Dante - I read most of them in 2000AD over the years but available in collected works. It's good re-reading in one block as you see him progress from his start as a swashbuckling rapscallion*

*never thought i'd write swashbuckling rapscallion on STW

Hellboy and the bprd stiff is ace as is y the last man

Marvel zombies has had some excellent moments too, deadpool is the awesomez just finished head trip

Local libraries good place to dip your toes in they also sell off older ones cheap sometimes

Atomic Robo is a lot of fun. 🙂

Northwind is right to recommend Transmetropolitan I reckon. Global Frequency and Planetary, by the same writer, are both good too. I am not so ready to recommend Preacher myself though - I read it all but as it built up I started to to see the flawed bits more than the inspired ones.

Sandman is another classic to recommend. Fables started off very good too, but I've been less grabbed by the last few volumes.

I'm surprised that nobody's mentioned The Dark Knight Returns yet. I'd be more cautious with Frank Miller's more recent output though, it sounds like he may have gone a bit too mad, in a scary right wing nutjob sort of way - and it's not like there isn't a bit of that in The Dark Knight Returns. Batman: Year One is good too, though.

@ChrisL - I kind of fell out with Preacher as it went along, it redeemed itself every so often but i thought the ending didn't quite pull it back up to the level it started with. No idea how they'll every turn that into a TV series but they keep trying.

The Boys was an odd one that i enjoyed more than i should have. It's really quite good at times

Hellblazer as well, that was a cracker at times

Just realised how much I've read over the years

Preacher could really have done with a strong editor tbh, it went pretty aimless in places and just seemed to get obsessed with outweirding/outsquicking itself. But it starts strong and ends decent I think. (there's a ton of stuff that for me just doesn't fit into the feel of the main story, so I've just kind of edited it out)

Lifer - Member

overwhelmed by the choice

It's happening again! 🙁

🙂

The early Judge Dredd isn't bad if you grew up with it, otherwise it's a bit dated and very obviously aimed at children/teenagers. The more recent democracy stuff, Day of Chaos etc is a lot better written.

Other possibilities:

The Authority
Planetary

Akira, Appleseed, and Ghost In The Shell are worth checking out as the manga versions of the possibly better known Animé.
One thing with Manga, often the original Japanese versions are in black-and-white, which can get [i]very[/i] confusing when the action ramps up, with lots of 'speed-lines', and difficulties telling mecha apart without colour.
And they can go in the opposite direction, starting at the back of the book, which can also be confusing to anyone not familiar with Japanese books.

Attack on Titan is the full manga experience so no problems with that.

It's been years since i was into graphic novels but Pat Mills + Simon Bisley = Graphic novel heaven, so i'll suggest...

Slaine - The Horned God
ABC Warriors - The Black Hole

Artwork is worth the price alone, so you're getting the story for free 😀

I've been enjoying [url= http://www.onipress.com/title/letter-44-1 ]Letter 44[/url].

thank to a link recently posted in the pages of this very forum i have been dipping into rogue trooper. the most remarkable thing is the new ness of collectors copies.. when they say mint/as new what they mean is newer than when they were on the shelves of wh smith.. they are like brand new never seen daylight or air for that matter. very impressive for less than a pint of landlord delivered.

Ooooh! A thread I feel I can participate in at last!

Frank Miller is good for a start, with titles such as Hard Boiled, Martha Washington and the Sin City titles immediately leaping to mind. I'd maybe then head towards Alan Moore for a bit of Watchmen, possibly V For Vendetta (far better than the film) and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. He did some weird stuff too.

You might also wish to consider Mark Millar's work. Try reading the original versions of Kick Ass and Wanted and comparing them to the films. While you are there, check out "Secret Service" and "The Authority".

Finally for this, please look up the work of Garth Ennis. I read "The Boys" in pretty much one sitting. It's very good.

Fell by Warren Ellis & Ben Temlplesmith.

Somehow, it changed my life.

On the 2000AD front, Strontium Dog was a big favourite of mine