The Bloggers With The Most To Say
Favorite Graphic Novels?
Despite my insistence that I didn't need another geeky addiction, friends of mine turned me onto graphic novels. I've read Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, and love that some of my favorite cancelled series, like Buffy and Farscape, are continuing in comic form. I adore Fables, though I'm finding the last one a little hard to follow since it crosses over with series I don't read.
I'm really looking forward to delving further into this world at this year's Comic-Con. Anyone else have some great graphic novels on their shelves?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Melissa on -
You NEED to read Watchmen. It's like, the quintessential graphic novel. I also recommend Y: the Last Man, Maus, and, if you're into Batman, The Killing Joke and The Dark Knight Returns.
Some autobiographical, more real-lifey graphic novels I love are Fun Home by Allison Bedchel, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, and Ghost World by Daniel Clowes.
-
Permalink Reply by Megan on -
One of my friends is a big Y: The Last Man fan, and I was actually assigned Persepolis for a class, and really enjoyed it.
-
Permalink Reply by Ella Unread on -
I've only read one but I loved it!!!
It's Coraline! :)
-
Permalink Reply by Erini CS on -
Blankets by Craig Thompson was the first I ever read... and even though it's a large book, I finished it all in one day. I love it. His travel journal, Carnet du Voyage is AMAZING. It's exactly how I wish I could journal.
Maus by Art Spiegelman is great -- and Spiegelman himself is interesting. I had the pleasure of hearing him speak at last year's AWP (Association of Writers & Writing Programs) here in Chicago. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is also good, but you should continue on to read Embroideries and Chicken with Plums (my favorite). Fun Home is also good... Ghost World by Daniel Clowes is one of those cult-classic favs, especially now that it's a movie. I also like Adrian Tomine's work.
Cinema Panopticum is absolutely amazing. There's no words, no dialogue. It's just simply great.
I also really like Joe Sacco's work -- I finished Palestine and will be reading War's End soon.
I'm currently reading Jason Lutes' Berlin: City of Stones (book 1), and one and off reading Over Coffee.
... I pretty much stick to historical narrative/memories. I tend to like those the best because you truly get into their lives. But I do appreciate the more fantasy ones too... Sandman is great, and I'm wanting to read Fables and Watchmen someday... I've also read all of the Cthulhu Tales and Fall of Cthulhu series -- not all that amazing, but it sparked an interest in graphic short stories, something I want to focus on in my MFA and further into my writing/publishing career. (Which for almost graphic novellas, you should check out Drawn & Quarterly's Big Questions series. I got a couple at last year's Printer's Row Lit Fest.)
-
Permalink Reply by Mike DiGrande on -
OMG, THIS THREAD IS FULL OF WIN.
I too am a big supporter of Gaiman's "The Sandman." It's perhaps the best example of story telling in the entire medium. However, here are some others I really took to as well:
"Batman: Year One" by Frank Miller
"Blankets" by Craig Thompson
"Bone" by Jeff Smith
"The Long Halloween" by Jeph Loeb
"Ultimate Spider-Man" by Brian Michael Bendis
"Pride Of Baghdad" by Brian K. Vaughn
"Red Son" by Mark Millar
"Transmetropolitan" by Warren Ellis
"The Umbrella Academy: The Apocalypse Suite" by Gerard Way
"Watchmen" by Alan Moore
"Whatever Happened To The Caped Crusader?" by Neil Gaiman
I've also been meaning to check out "Queen & Country" by Greg Rucka.
-
Permalink Reply by Megan on
-
I'm looking forward to reading The Umbrella Academy, I know one of my friends has it, so I have to get him to loan it to me. I expect to come home with plenty to read come Comic-Con.
I also have 1602 by Neil Gaiman - I figured that as I'm unfamiliar with the details of the Marvel universe, trying an alternate reality written by Gaiman might not be a bad place to start. Haven't had a chance to read it yet though, maybe I'll bump it up the list.
-
Permalink Reply by Mike DiGrande on
-
I've only thumbed through 1602. I know people that swear by it but I wasn't a fan of the artwork, so I think it'll be a while before I pick it up. Let me know what you think!
-
Permalink Reply by Amber on -
-Black Hole by Charles Burns is so amazing.
-The Tick...not really a "graphic novel," more of a comic, but you can buy the collected works now. Very funny and meta-superhero which I personally find more entertaining than actual superhero comics.
-Joss Whedon has two Serenity comics out and he also wrote a few issues of The Astonishing X-Men that you can find at any bookstore.
-Geek Girl du jour, Felicia Day, is writing "The Guild" comic for Dark Horse based on her web series. Right now it's only on issue two and I'm loving it.
-Ghost World by Daniel Clowes is great and, in my opinion, better than the movie.
The superhero comic of the moment is "Blackest Night" and when you go to Comic-Con this year, you'll notice that half of the people there are wearing Green Lantern t-shirts--at least that's the way it was at Wondercon. I'd recommend reading the series before you head down to San Diego just to know what all the hullabaloo is about.
-
Permalink Reply by Lisa on -
Been meaning to get a copy of Blankets but never got around to it. Off the top of my head, these are my favorites:
The Sandman, of course.
The Death graphic novels - High Cost of Living, The Time of Your Life
Books of Magic
The Killing Joke
The Phoenix Saga
God Loves, Man Kills
-
Permalink Reply by Amber on
-
Aaah! How could I forget Scott Pilgrim? You have to read the Scott Pilgrim books. Not only are they super funny but they're jam packed with all kinds of pop culture and video game references. Once again, not a graphic novel per se--I guess the series has more in common with manga--but very, very good and essential reading for a Comic-Con attendee.
-
Permalink Reply by RAY J on -
Wanted was pretty good - I wish the movie adaption was more like the comic though...
The Boys was an interesting one, although I didn't get a chance to finish it (one of my co-managers at the theater was huge into comics, so he'd bring em into work every so often).
I read the first 2 Scott Pilgrim novels, they were pretty good... the movie adaption should be interesting, to say the least (I'm not thrilled about Michael Cera as the title character though).
I have the first 3 volumes of Justice on my shelves... the story's okay, but I bought em for the art, as I LOVE Alex Ross's work and technique.
I also have to plug The Dogs, as I know the author =)
© 2012 Created by Lisa.
