There's a dozen different threads with recommendations for you. And there are plenty of US comics--some of the best of US comics, in fact--that create their own universes and tell stories with a clear beginning, middle, and end. DC and Marvel superheroes may be the majority of Western comics, but they're not the entirety.
Watchmen
Maus
Neil Gaiman's Sandman (technically uses DC characters, but doesn't require any knowledge about the DC universe)
Y: The Last Man
Preacher
Transmetropolitan
Start out with these. They can be pretty long, but they're all finished stories about their own universes. That should be what you're looking for, if you're trying to steer clear of the DC/Marvel superhero work.
Watchmen
Maus
Neil Gaiman's Sandman (technically uses DC characters, but doesn't require any knowledge about the DC universe)
Y: The Last Man
Preacher
Transmetropolitan
Start out with these. They can be pretty long, but they're all finished stories about their own universes. That should be what you're looking for, if you're trying to steer clear of the DC/Marvel superhero work.
I should be able to check out some of these at Borders (or one of the down-town comic stores . . . could only fine that comic store once out of all the times I searched :/ ) or my school's library (I know they have Watchmen and Sin City at the very least).
