Need a new graphic novel - suggestions?

Jed Shields

Jed Shields

Jed Shields

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23 Apr 2007
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Cardiff-ish, Wales
Hi guys,

all this talk of the new Dark Knight film has reminded me that I need to start looking for my next graphic novel. I've been getting one for my Birthday and for Xmas for the past few years and need to keep up the tradition. I look at them as a personal collection and so have been mainly buying the Absolute range, which are hardbacked, slipcased, special editions that have been remastered.

I have the following:

The Dark Knight Returns & The Dark Knight Strikes Back (Absolute edition)
Watchmen (Absolute edition)
Ronan (Absolute edition)
Batman: Hush (Absolute edition)
Batman (The Long Halloween (Absolute edition)
Kingdom Come (Absolute edition)
Sin City 2x box sets (Hardbacks)
300 (Hardback)
V For Vendetta (Hardback, Absolute edition came out after I bought this :/)
Batman Year One (Hardback)
Batman Arkham Asylum
From Hell (Hardback)
30 Days Of Night (Hardback)

So ... also on my list to buy are the Absolute League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen and the Abolute Sandman series. Both look interesting.

Any comic book fans out there that can recommend anything else? As you can probably tell from the list, I prefer the grittier, darker style of comic book than the really colourful superheroes style ...
 
You should read Batman:Gotham Knights, mostly a bunch of singular stories but i like it for all things batman. Also Batman:The Cult is worth a shot although the artwork takes some getting used to.

Stuff im reading at the moment, The Walking Dead, cant recommend this enough, and Morning Glories, it's pretty new but im liking where it's going.
 
The first LXG is better than the second, but both are very good.

And Calvin and Hobbes, though obviously not a gritty graphic novel, is one of the best cartoons ever made. It's really well observed and manages to be satirical and sweet in equal measure.
 
The Walking Dead for sure!

Also The Authority Vol. 1 and 2 if you are into that kind of thing (think DC Universe with blood/guts/controversy).

Fables, The Unwritten and Hellblazer if you like Vertigo.

(EDIT: Poster above said 'Y: The Last Man' - another cracking read).

Preacher as well <= best series of the 90s imo.

I have heard many good things about a Brian M Bendis series called Powers, but never read it.
 
I'd recommend some of the more quality Manga including, and in order of recommendation:

1.Domu: Dreams of Children (by Katsuhiro Otomo, the guy who wrote Akira, compelling and brilliant story)
2.Nausicaa (by Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away director, there's an anime of the same name, but like Akira, the manga goes on to be about 4-5 times the length of the film. It's really very good and the translation works well)
3.Akira (by Katsuhiro Otomo, as with Nausicaa, goes long past the ending of the film, and imho is far better and much easier to understand)
 
I can't believe no-one has mentioned 100 Bullets. Shame on all of you :D. Seriously, it's brilliant.

If you like Batman you really should read Killing Joke and Death in the Family (a section of Hush will make so much more sense after this).

Some other good mainstream choices:
Green Lantern by Geoff Johns
Captain America by Ed Brubaker (there's some really nice hardback collections for this)
Daredevil by Brubaker (currently being collected into large cheapish paperback editions)
Ultimates vol 1 & 2 by Mark Millar (also available in a very nice hardback)
Identity Crisis
Justice by ALex Ross (another very nice Absolute)
Earth X

If you want a bit darker/weirder:
Y the Last Man and Fables (both being collected into nice deluxe editions)
Hellboy (again being collected into very nice hardbacks, called library editions)
Planetary
The Boys
Marshal Law - this is tough to find, there's meant to be a collected edition coming out this Christmas...but they said that last year too.

You really need Absolute Sandman as well, 4 stunning books, and one of the best series ever collected. There's also an Absolute Death which is a touch expensive, but a nice companion.

I'll add more when I get home and can check through my collection.
 
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