Recommended Comics/Graphic Novels

Post by **Joose** » January 20th, 2009, 21:37

This has been mentioned before, and I keep meaning to do it, and im bored. So here goes, rough and unedited stream of thoughtvomit:

Sandman

Comic series that is now available in glorious looking hueg hardback tomes, this series follows the Sandman, aka Morpheus, aka Dream, master of the dream world and other dramatic names. Its miles away from the comic book stereotype of fellas in spandex slapping each other stupid. Much more adult stories, including such lovely topics as rape, brutal murder, and eating peoples eyes. But also some well written and touching stories with well developed, believable and likeable characters. Not really surprising in this respect, as its written by Neil Gaimen. A great read, and definately one to try if you think you might like graphic novels if they were not so childish and silly.

Y: The Last Man

Another comic that steers clear of muscle-bound men in tights, this is the story of Yorrick, who is the last male alive on the planet (other than his monkey) after a weird incident simultaneous causes all the other men to fall over dead. Fascinating read, and a pretty unique take on the post-apocalyptic world, again with interesting characters. Frequently made me actually laugh, and im pretty sure that if he were real, Yorrick would fit in perfectly on 5punk.

Fables

Nothing to do with the computer games. This one is, *again*, a departure from men in spandex, instead based around the idea that characters from myth, fables and childrens stories are acually real and have been expelled from their homelands. They now have to live in the real world, in hiding from us "mundys". Quite a variety in the storys told; although im still reading it its so far had a political conspiracy story, a murder mystery and what can only be described as a "caper". Twists the source materials in strange ways: Goldilocks is a militant left wing activist who is sleeping with the littlest of the three bears, Prince Charming split up with Snow White and slept his way around Europe, when Azlan was killed by an army invading Narnia, none of the other fables gave much of a shit because they always thought he was a bit up himself anyway.

Watchmen

If you haven't heard the Watchmen fans on the forum blowing their loads over the trailers for the upcoming film of this, I'm amazed. If you are even slightly interested in comics but haven't read this yet, I'm appalled. It is almost certainly the best comic I have ever read, in my opinion. Well written, well drawn, well paced, with genuinely surprising moments and some brilliantly entertaining characters (Rorschach FTW), its managed the incredible feat of being revolutionary but not ageing badly. Read it, now. Seriously.

Top 10

Kinda silly, but a must-read for comic fans, as its stuffed to the gills with references to other comics. I've read it through a few times now, and every time I see something new in the background of a scene that I hadn't noticed before. Basic idea is its set in a world that had superheroes, similar to the marvel/dc worlds (although they are called Science Heros in this, for some reason), but the world got a bit pissed off with them messing things up for us normal people all the time. To remedy this, all super hero types in the world are concentrated in one city. Because everyone there has some kind of super power, they are no longer required to do superheroey type things, and have to get normal jobs. Queue the pizza boy with super speed, the superintelligent dog as a policeman, and a pest control man called The Exterminator, called in to rid a flat of Super Mice (although the super mice eventually ended up in a war with some Ultra Cats, which degenerated into a "Civil Crisis on infinate wars crossover thing". Eventually one of the cats removed the whole event from history to preserve the integrity of the universe. This pisses off The Exterminator no end, as it meant he didn't get paid.) Like I said, kinda silly, but amusing.

More to come, when I can be arsed.

Mr. Johnson · Post by **Mr. Johnson** » January 20th, 2009, 21:46

Excellent threadage there Mr. Joose.

I can't really add anything to this since most comics i own are Belgian comics, and apart from Tintin you wouldn't know/care about any of them.
Not to mention very little of them are translated.

Post by **Roman Totale** » January 20th, 2009, 21:52

Watchmen is indeed teh aces - Rorschach is one of the all time great anti-heroes.

I don't actually own many comic books/graphic novels due to the cost and (in my opinion) limited re-read value. The ones I do have are well worth a read though - Marvel Zombies vs Army of Darkness, and anything featuring Deadpool.

Recently got Wolverine Origins: Deadpool - his internal monologues/ramblings are highly amusing, particularly the frame where he imagines Wolverine has forks and spoons on his hands as opposed to claws.

Post by **Dog Pants** » January 20th, 2009, 22:06

Walking Dead

This series of (8 so far I think) graphic novels are set in a recent zombie apocalypse and follow a burgeoning group of survivors and their attempts to stay alive in a hostile world. The story is very dark and brutal, as is befitting a zombie series, and often moves quite slowly. It takes great pains to establish the characters, then occassionally demonstrates that none of them are indispensable. Zombies often seem to be the least of their troubles, as is also a staple of the genre, but they're always there.

Post by **Joose** » January 20th, 2009, 22:25

Roman Totale wrote:I don't actually own many comic books/graphic novels due to the cost and (in my opinion) limited re-read value.

My comic appetite massively outstrips my comic budget, so I get most of my reading done via floorsweepings. CDisplay is an excellent little program, and theres pretty much everything ever comic wise on the floor. Demonoid is the best place for it, ive found.

Quite often, the stuff I buy is just because I want to re-read something ive downloaded. Apart from the bug Sandman books, which have kept the mrs from having to think too hard about birthday gifts for a couple of years now

The ones I do have are well worth a read though - Marvel Zombies vs Army of Darkness, and anything featuring Deadpool.

^this. The Marvel Zombies stuff is brilliant, and Deadpool is one of my favourite characters.

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » January 20th, 2009, 22:35

Dog Pants wrote:Walking Dead

This series of (8 so far I think)

I read number 9 yesterday. It feels like a bit of a filler after the last few but it's worth a read for at least one bit, you'll know it. Also it lines up some interesting stuff for the next few books. I wish they were more often.

I've been reading <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMZ_(DC_Comics)">DMZ</a>, which I'll write up about when I've read the remaining books I have. And I'll have to tell you about We3 as well.

I was after some more to read so I'll check out those above when I've time.

The Shutting Downs · Post by **The Shutting Downs** » January 20th, 2009, 22:37

Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis.

Following the exploits of a Psychotic Journalist in a futuristic America. Can be quite political, and comments a lot on the speed of the world changing.

Also has a lot of violence.

And to Expand on what Joose has said, if you havn't read Sandman go and do it.

Now!

Post by **Roman Totale** » January 20th, 2009, 22:39

The Shutting Downs wrote:Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis.

Is that the Spider Jerusalem one? If so I've read a couple and they were rather good.

The Shutting Downs · Post by **The Shutting Downs** » January 20th, 2009, 22:39

Roman Totale wrote:and anything featuring Deadpool.

Go read the 'Cable and Deadpool' Series, if you like the loudmouthed Merc, you will love it.

'Oh! I see you spelt out 'Hi Weasle' with his intestines...

..Thats... nice Wade...'

And yus, it's the Spider Jerusalem one

Post by **Joose** » January 20th, 2009, 23:08

The Shutting Downs wrote:Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis

How on earth did I miss that one? Ive literally just finished reading it.
But yes, its good. Spider Jerusalem is epic win: he's like Hunter S Thompson with added violence.

The Shutting Downs · Post by **The Shutting Downs** » January 21st, 2009, 5:51

Ellis has also gotten together with Paul Duffield to do an online comic;

http://www.freakangels.com/

Imagine if the kids from 'Village of the Damned' had been able to grow up, and managed to bring about a huge disaster...

nunoncastors · Post by **nunoncastors** » January 22nd, 2009, 11:41

Atomic Robo
Daisy Kutter
Pretty much anything that shows up in Flight fills me with glee.
Persepolis.

Uh... can't think of any more at the moment. I've been enjoying Final Crisis though, and the current Green Lantern story is pretty decent.

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » January 22nd, 2009, 12:48

We3
It's the story of three weaponised domestic pets. It's a short story with a simple narrative, so I can't really say anything about it without spoilers. Think cyborg Homeward Bound without the Disney sentimentality.

The art is very nice so you should study each page as the book is thin. The animals have distinct and charming personalities. It could make a great action film if the CG was good enough. You should read it.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » January 22nd, 2009, 12:53

spoodie wrote:We3
It's the story of three weaponised domestic pets.

That'd be your standard domestic cat then?

Shada · Post by **Shada** » January 22nd, 2009, 13:02

spoodie wrote:We3
It's the story of three weaponised domestic pets. It's a short story with a simple narrative, so I can't really say anything about it without spoilers. Think cyborg Homeward Bound without the Disney sentimentality.

The art is very nice so you should study each page as the book is thin. The animals have distinct and charming personalities. It could make a great action film if the CG was good enough. You should read it.

Haha this looks amazing, I think I'll buy it for no reason other than it's pets in powered armour

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » January 22nd, 2009, 13:02

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:That'd be your standard domestic cat then?

If you have a look at Google image search you can see that the cat is significantly more weaponised, the results are quite gruesome.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » January 22nd, 2009, 13:03

spoodie wrote: If you have a look at Google image search you can see that the cat is significantly more weaponised, the results are quite gruesome.

Already did but my point stands

tehspork · Post by **tehspork** » January 27th, 2009, 4:17

My friends list for me:
Lone Wolf and Cub
Vagabond
Walking Dead
Astro City
Optic Nerve
8Ball
Blade of the Immortal
Hundred Bullets
Powers
Ex Machina
The Ultimates
Flaming Carrot
World's Toughest Milkman
New Defenders

Post by **Roman Totale** » February 12th, 2009, 19:32

I've been on a Deadpool orgy recently, currently trying to get all the Cable & Deadpool series (though bizarrely odd numbers of it seem to be out of print).

Also got Secret Invasion which is rather spiffing. The entire Marvel world turned against each other, not knowing who to trust.

Mr. Johnson · Post by **Mr. Johnson** » February 12th, 2009, 19:43

Question: When you chaps buy comics, do you it online or go to your nearest shop?
I'm asking this because it's pretty hard to buy international comics here (since the Belgian comics market is too big too allow many forrin comics)