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Recommend a graphic novel
- Thread starter Biff Hardbody
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The Take Out Bandit
Member
Yeah, read it about seven years ago when I was working a comic shop and Dark Horse first released it. It's not shitting your pants fucking awesome, but if you're not tired of Otomo's fascination with SPOOKY PSYCHIC POWERS then it's worth looking at. He's a bit like Shirow with his on the sleeve way of writing about the one thing that fascinates him, only he can write a comprehensible story, but can't draw oiled up robo-boobies worth a damn.
Plot in a nutshell, for the impatient:
Senile old fucker battles SPOOKY PSYCHIC POWERS with a little girl with SPOOKY PSYCHIC POWERS that lives in the same apartment complex. OMG!
No motorcycles, punk kid gangs, or dumb drug references for those of you who whack off to Akira.
Here's my borderline art-fag pompous suggestion of another screwball manga that presents itself in an odd fashion, but actually has quite an impact in the end.
Black & White
norinrad21
Banned
Well, sonnuvabitch. I was just thinking about tracking down a collected set (I read a few of the originals when they were being done monthly or whatever, years ago) and really wanted to read the whole thing. Is it just out of print temporarily or what..?
My suggestions, possibly not 'art' enough for the direction this thread has taken
Planetary
Tracking down the secret history of the world, one mystery at a time. Extra neato if you like re-interpretations of mythology and super hero stuff. World's best take on the Fantastic Four. Great writing, art, books are pretty short. That's the first of a three book set released thus far. You might want to wait, actually, as I think a collected edition of the first three volumes is due out soon- January?
Preacher
Too crazy to describe easily, but it has an ex-preacher texan cowboy inhabited by the spirit of genesis, a hitwoman girlfriend, an irish vampire, and a world-spanning religious conspiracy. Among other stuff.
I'll second a few of the previous recommendations. Planetary is great. Preacher is also great. Bone is great. There is much greatness.
It hasn't been said by enough people or loudly enough, but Neil Gaiman's series of Sandman graphic novels are outstanding.
It's the series that got me into graphic novels, and very few people have a bad word to say about it. Gaiman is a masterful storyteller, and you'll be coming back to these and discovering something new in years to come. I can't recommend them enough.
Transmetropolitan is also a great read. It really falls into two categories - the earlier books are one-off pieces looking at aspects of life in the future. The later form a more coherent tale of political intrigue, with a truly despicable cast of characters in which you might recognise some real-world political figures (though personally I think there's more of the UK line-up in there, despite the US setting). Both aspects of the series are pure genius. Warren Ellis at his undeniable best.
It hasn't been said by enough people or loudly enough, but Neil Gaiman's series of Sandman graphic novels are outstanding.
It's the series that got me into graphic novels, and very few people have a bad word to say about it. Gaiman is a masterful storyteller, and you'll be coming back to these and discovering something new in years to come. I can't recommend them enough.
Transmetropolitan is also a great read. It really falls into two categories - the earlier books are one-off pieces looking at aspects of life in the future. The later form a more coherent tale of political intrigue, with a truly despicable cast of characters in which you might recognise some real-world political figures (though personally I think there's more of the UK line-up in there, despite the US setting). Both aspects of the series are pure genius. Warren Ellis at his undeniable best.
Jimmy Carter
Member
Eh, Sandman is decent, but I don't see where its' fanbase comes from. The story is good, but the art, and you have to take the art into mind because it's a comic, is atrocious.
But I digress.
Graphic novels! The best I've read...
Domu (glad to see it mentioned)
Akira (also by Otomo.... best graphic novels EVER)
Bone (Right up there with Akira, honestly)
Jimmy Corrigan (GENIUS)
Creature Tech (by EWJ-creator Douglas TenNapel)
Edito: I forgot to add Buddha by Osamu Tezuka. FAN-TASTIC.
But I digress.
Graphic novels! The best I've read...
Domu (glad to see it mentioned)
Akira (also by Otomo.... best graphic novels EVER)
Bone (Right up there with Akira, honestly)
Jimmy Corrigan (GENIUS)
Creature Tech (by EWJ-creator Douglas TenNapel)
Edito: I forgot to add Buddha by Osamu Tezuka. FAN-TASTIC.
kitchenmotors
Banned
Ghost World
ThirstyFly
Member
I have, loved it.
Hey Bandit, if you liked Black & White, have you checked out No. 5?
evil solrac v3.0
Member
the hardbodied one didnt buy red son? for shame.....
The Shadow
Member
Jimmy Carter said:
The imagery accompanies the story as far as I'm concerned. I didn't read Sandman just to look at the pretty pictures after all.
Edit:
God damn it. I hate when people use the same terminology I use.
Forget all of these cornball books.
There is only one you MUST read!!!
JTHM Directors cut.
My alltime favorite comic book Johnny The Homicidal Maniac!!!!
---
Traditionally you may be looking for superhero's most would consider johnny a anti-hero.
But in my heart I feel he protects justice, watch in awe as he saves a boy from a molester to prove my point.
There is only one you MUST read!!!
JTHM Directors cut.
My alltime favorite comic book Johnny The Homicidal Maniac!!!!
---
Traditionally you may be looking for superhero's most would consider johnny a anti-hero.
But in my heart I feel he protects justice, watch in awe as he saves a boy from a molester to prove my point.
Biff Hardbody
Member
evil solrac v3.0 said:
You know, I just read the description of it and I really like the idea of a Russian Superman. I am buying this tomorrow.
Thank you.
And Matlock, thanks for going indepth on Maus. I think I will pick that up as well.
I enjoy Johnny the Homocidial Maniac, but uh, it's definitely not in the same league as some of the other recommended titles. The only way it's considered a graphic novel is by sheer technicality, as it's printed in bound form. It's not like Sandman or Blankets or Red Son in that doesn't tell that epic of a tale, and the story it does tell is rather paper-thin and full of social commentary, mostly against the goth scene of the early 90's and our consumeristic society.
It's not one I normally recommend to people, but it's one that I find myself going back to from time to time.
Oh, and Red Son is awesome beyond belief.
It's not one I normally recommend to people, but it's one that I find myself going back to from time to time.
Oh, and Red Son is awesome beyond belief.
Only 1 recommendation each for Hellboy and Bone?!?! Pathetic.
Hellboy
Bone
Also, you seem to limit yourself to superhero books. There are so many other, non-superhero stuff that you should look into. An example:
Adventures of Sock Monkey by Tony Millionaire - published by Dark Horse comics, this series follows the exploits of Uncle Gabby, the sock monkey, and Drinky Crow, his sidekick.
Hellboy
Bone
Also, you seem to limit yourself to superhero books. There are so many other, non-superhero stuff that you should look into. An example:
Adventures of Sock Monkey by Tony Millionaire - published by Dark Horse comics, this series follows the exploits of Uncle Gabby, the sock monkey, and Drinky Crow, his sidekick.
Jimmy Carter
Member
The Shadow said:
If you're not looking for pictures, then why don't you read a novel?
I thought some of the art in the Sandman books was good stuff. It's called subjective taste.
I only suggested two sets of books as, well, I'm lazy. But it needs to be said that Hellboy is glory in printed form, as is Transmetropolitan.
I'm enjoying the 'Powers' books lately, too.
I only suggested two sets of books as, well, I'm lazy. But it needs to be said that Hellboy is glory in printed form, as is Transmetropolitan.
I'm enjoying the 'Powers' books lately, too.
JTHM is definately in a league of its own.Buddychrist83 said:
Biff Hardbody
Member
The Hound said:
Epic. Being made into a movie.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...104-0310781-0328719?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
Got my first shipment of books today, and although I will wait to Christmas to read them I started with this. I'm about half way through, but I had to shut off "Collateral" and just give this the attention it deserves. I didn't realize it when I ordered it, but this is a very large hardcover book. While it isn't that thick, the book itself is quite big. Everything about it is great so far. I'm a big fan of Frank Miller, and after reading what I have of "300" is making me an even bigger one. The Spartans are a very interesting subject to me, and 300 is an awesome introduction, even if it is just a "graphic novel".
Thanks again for recommending this one, its an epic. I'm going to go kick the shit out of The Persians in Rome:Total War now.
cubicle47b
Member
Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth - It is one of the most depressing things I've read (certainly not as bad as The Jungle but it's pretty bad) but also one of the best.
Asbel said:Where is Fnordchan? He's usually writes up really good recommendations. Don't think I've heard his final thoughts on Nausicaa either.
I've just been too damn busy lately and forgot to jump in earlier. Glad to know someone's thinking about me!
First off, Nausicaa was freakin' awesome. I mean, it's Miyazaki writing manga - what more is there to say? A lot more coherant than the movie (which I was already quite fond of) and damn fine comics all around. And, best of all, I didn't have to wait years and years for the ending to finally arrive, unlike the poor bastards who were following Nausicaa as it was being originally published.
I just finished writing up a whole slew of comics recommendations for swoon, so I'll just recycle those. Y'all will recognize these as standard recommendations (either in general or from yours truly), but what the hell. I'll make up for this by digging up pics and whatnot.
From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell - I haven't seen the movie myself, but from what I understand it a) sucks and b) has very little to do with the graphic novel. So, if you've seen From Hell, don't let that stop you from adding this to the top of your to-read list. From Hell is about Jack the Ripper, based loosely on the Masonic conspiracy theory. The theory is a historical long-shot, but when used as a vehicle for drama the results are phenomenal. Moore's already excellent writing is backed up by exhaustive research (including extensive notes and annotations) and Campbell's brooding black and white art is a perfect fit. From Hell is very dense, very literary, and very, very good, and gets my highest possible recommendation. Alan Moore also wrote the final word on superheroes, Watchmen, which is just as dense and just as crucial.
Whiteout by Greg Rucka and Steve Leiber - I dunno if it qualifies as noir, but Whiteout certainly makes for one helluva murder mystery - especially as it's set in Antarctica. US Marshall Carrie Stetko is a terrific character, the factual detail is terrific, and the mystery is rather good. It's self contained in a single volume; there's also a sequel, Whiteout: Melt that isn't as good but ain't bad. Rucka has also been remaking the late-70s British television series The Sandbaggers as the comic Queen and Country. If you find yourself wanting some espionage comics, these are first rate.
Sin City by Frank Miller - Exceedingly stylish (and stylized) noir that is about as hard boiled as you can possibly get. This is a fast read, and the plot isn't what you would call overly sophisticated, but the art is simply phenomenal. It's pulp, but when the pulp looks this good you really can't go wrong. There's a whole lot of Sin City volumes, but they're each self-contained and are all pretty damn good. Miller has also done some superior superhero material; in particular, The Dark Knight Returns is the best take on Batman ever, period, and second only to Watchmen for influential comics of the 80s.
Road to Perdition by Max Allen Collins - Haven't seen the movie (which, unlike From Hell, I understand is pretty decent) but the original graphic novel was terrific. It's a prohabition gangster story with beautiful art, based on the manga classic Lone Wolf and Cub. I've read both, and LW&C is definately the better of the two - but Road to Perdition has the benefit of being self-contained in one volume. That said, if you dig RtP, check out LW&C; it's lengthy at 28 volumes, but for historical samurai drama you can't go wrong, and the art (particularly the pacing and layout) is impressive as all hell.
Jinx by Brian Michael Bendis - I haven't read this, but I'm told this is excellent bit of contemporary crime fiction. I've read a lot of Bendis' superhero stuff (his superhero police proceedural Powers is pretty fantastic) but not his straight crime books. They've been plugged to me often enough that I'm confident in passing on the recommendation. Ditto for Stray Bullets by David Lapham. Sample quote: "'The Collected Stray Bullets' is among the finest noir I've ever seen or read, and I've seen and read quite a lot." Hell, I'm glad you asked me for comics recommendations; I've been meaning to read both of these for ages, and I'm glad for the reminder.
Street Angel by Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca - Probably the most interesting comic on the stands right now, this is the absurdist saga of a homeless teenager who uses her amazing skateboarding abilities for justice. To give you an idea of the tone, the first issue features her thwarting Dr. Pangaea's nefarious plan to re-unite the continents. Plenty of preview art awaits you at the official website. Issue 4 came out last week and issues are published sporadically, so you wouldn't have much catching up to do; issues are three bucks a pop.
Buddha by Osamu Tezuka - Manga master Osamu "God of Motherfuckin' Comics" Tezuka adapts the life of Siddhartha. Tezuka's style takes a bit of getting used to, as it's a mix of very cartoon (including occsional moments of non-sequiter humor) and very serious, but the overall effect works very well, and the man's storytelling abilities are second to none. Buddha is being released by newcomer Vertical, Inc. (which mostly publishes contemporary Japanese fiction) as eight beautiful, hardcover volumes clocking in at about 400 pages a pop. They're pricey at $25 each but are worth the effort of tracking down and reading, even if you don't shell out for your own copies. If you're looking for a more readily available introduction to Tezuka, try the fourth volume of his epic Phoenix, "Karma", which combines Japanese historical detail with mysticism and reincarnation. It's relatively self-contained and is a $17 paperback.
Some non-fiction recommendations
God's Bosom and Other Stories by Jack Jackson - It's not quite Southern lit, but Jack Jackson (one of the original underground comics artists to come out of San Francisco in the '60s) specializes in historical comics about his home state of Texas. If you're in the mood for the Wild West, this is a pretty fantastic place to look. This volume's got some history and some historical fiction all mixed in and is as good an introduction to his work as anything else.
Maus: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman - If it won a Pulitzer, it probably doesn't suck. Spiegelman writes about his father's experiences during the Holocaust, as well as his own relationship with his father. Brilliant stuff.
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi - A recent favorite, wherein Satrapi recounts what it was like to be a teenager during the Iranian revolution. It's a fascinating perspective, and is at times absolutely hysterical. There's a sequel out that I haven't read yet, but I can recommend the first volume very highly. Here's some sample art and more details; the paperback is around $12.
And a few personal favorites that may do absolutely nothing for you whatsoever, but I'm compelled to list anyway:
(I can't find a decent pic of the cover, so you'll all have to settle for damn fine art instead.)
Mystery Date by Carla Speed McNeil - My absolute favorite comic currently being published on anything resembling a regular basis is McNeils' Finder, a sort of anthropological science fiction tale of a wandering, trickster outcast wandering through people's lives. It's impressive stuff and her art style (which has a touch of Edward Gorey hiding in it) is just plain wonderful. A fun, accessable introduction to her world is Mystery Date, about a young woman in prostitute training, xenobiology (no, not like that), very severe culture clash, mythology, and more. It's a single, self-contained volume (combining a two part story with a one-shot and several bits and pieces) and is one of my absolute favorite comics. You can read several complete issues of Finder at McNeil's website. Meanwhile, the collected Mystery Date will set you back $17 or so.
The Desert Peach by Donna Barr - Historical fiction about Erwin Romel's gay younger brother, and his misfit Afrika Corps support battalion. Barr combines an obsession for German military history with a good chunk of insight into human interaction and a terrific sense of humor. Her comics are deeply quirky, humanistic, and very funny. To give you an idea, issue five of The Desert Peach poses a problem: the Peach's batalion needs to find someone to present to a visiting group of high-ranking SS looking to rake them over the coals...and they can't find anyone who's actually a member of the Nazi party. Early issues have been collected as "Seven Peaches: The First Seven Desert Peach Episodes" for about twenty bucks.
Girl Genius by Phil Foglio - Rolicking steampunk adventure with tons of humor, set in an alternate Europe ruled by mad scientists. Foglio's art is fun incarnate, with storytelling to match and plenty of humor. Poke around Foglio's website and see if his style appeals to you. It's hardly noir, but it is a good time; the first three issues of Girl Genius have been collected as Agatha Heterodyne and the Beetleburg Clank in a cheap, slim volume - ten bucks gets you three issues, plus extras.
And there ya go.
FnordChan
Preacher!
Sandman!!
JTHM is.. interesting. I liked it, but I also swear by Zim.
Kindom Come and Transmetropolitian are good too.
Finally, Maus. Man, if you don't mind a heavy trip this is a great book. There's a second one too, I remember reading them way back in the day....
Animal archetypes for World War Two scenarios, ala Animal Farm, but like 800 times more intense. Highly reccomended, but again, not for the faint of heart.
Also, there's one that my friend lent me, I always forget the name... I wanna say Last Man Standing, but I think its something a lot simpler like "Y". Its about this escape artist guy who survives a virus that kills all the other men in the world and basically the women build societies of their own and he's gotta figure our why he (and his pet monkey) survived. He's on a journey to find his girlfriend, and he runs into his sister on the way...
Anyone have any ideas?
Sandman!!
JTHM is.. interesting. I liked it, but I also swear by Zim.
Kindom Come and Transmetropolitian are good too.
Finally, Maus. Man, if you don't mind a heavy trip this is a great book. There's a second one too, I remember reading them way back in the day....
Animal archetypes for World War Two scenarios, ala Animal Farm, but like 800 times more intense. Highly reccomended, but again, not for the faint of heart.
Also, there's one that my friend lent me, I always forget the name... I wanna say Last Man Standing, but I think its something a lot simpler like "Y". Its about this escape artist guy who survives a virus that kills all the other men in the world and basically the women build societies of their own and he's gotta figure our why he (and his pet monkey) survived. He's on a journey to find his girlfriend, and he runs into his sister on the way...
Anyone have any ideas?
Meatpuppet
Member
Hmm, since it seems a little more than a one line recommendation is required, might as well expand on my earlier suggestion.
Hellboy is basically the story of the Prince of Hell, who for various reasons combats the less benign forces of the occult. It draws on a wide range of mythological figures, particularly those of celtic and scandinavian origin. Hellboy is characterised by snappy, humorous dialogue, some great set pieces, and consistently awesome artwork (Mike Mignola's take on light & shadow rocks).
It isn't a Watchmen, or a Maus, but then again, that isn't what it sets out to be. As a beautifully rendered action-adventure, it succeeds like few others.
Hellboy is basically the story of the Prince of Hell, who for various reasons combats the less benign forces of the occult. It draws on a wide range of mythological figures, particularly those of celtic and scandinavian origin. Hellboy is characterised by snappy, humorous dialogue, some great set pieces, and consistently awesome artwork (Mike Mignola's take on light & shadow rocks).
It isn't a Watchmen, or a Maus, but then again, that isn't what it sets out to be. As a beautifully rendered action-adventure, it succeeds like few others.
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