Long time lurker; first time poster.
When I was young my grandparents owned a small grocery store that happened to sell comic books. If the comic books didn't sell they sent the covers back for credit (I think) and I got the insides. They sold the store when I was 14 and I stopped reading comic books.
Skip ahead 12 years to last year. With the movie hype in full force I decided to see what the hubbub about V for Vendetta was so I bought the graphic novel. Then I bought the Watchmen and Batman: Dark Knight Returns. Then Fables Vol. 1. Then all of Fables. Then all of Y: The Last Man.
Hello, my name is Joeker, and I'm an addict. It's been two hours since I last bought a graphic novel. A dealer named Buy.com is running a $20 off $50 sale so I purchased the first Preacher volume and the two Penny Arcade books. I am going back for more too.
I prefer graphic novels over comic books for some reason. I get one and then read it over the weekend. Since I don't follow comics I don't know what is good. I want both the complete story type books and some series to try out. Also, I want to try some manga.
What are your graphic novel recommendations?
Thanks in advance.
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Marvel's Ares is probably the best TPB to come out this year.
I also got Five Fists of Science yesterday, and read it once, but I kinda need to read it again before I can decide if I want to recommend it or not.
Also, Transmetropolitan, Early Authority, Ellis' run on Stormwatch, Planetary, the Apparat trade, basically anything by Warren Ellis is worth a look at.
Battle Royale series. Warning, there are ALOT, but they're good.
PARKER, YOU'RE FIRED! <-- My comic book podcast! Satan look here!
So, Sandman. You can start anywhere near the beginning, really.
Sandman.
It seems like you're into both the more grounded yet still supernatural/fantasy stuff (Y the Last Man, Fables), but also superhero stuff (Watchmen, Batman: DKR), so if you were to give us an idea of what you liked best, or characters you might be interested in; that may help us make good suggestions.
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Also, the first volume of Saga of the Swamp Thing by Alan Moore is good. I'll probably get more of those.
Edit: Someone already said Sandman, but...
Sandman.
None of these are graphic novels, they are trades
For the Buy.com deal, you should pick up Absolute New Frontier and Absolute Kingdom Come. Also both Invincible Ultimate Collections and the trades they don't cover.
Ok, which leads to a question- what distinguishes the two? The fact that they are released in monthly issues? Is a GN put out in one book, one release?
Because I'll hear people describe V as a graphic novel, because it has a beginning and an end. Whereas I usually consider trades to be collections of ongoing comics, which only end when they cancel the series. Like, Ultimate spiderman has trades, but Sin City books are graphic novels, even though they came out in issues. Same thing with V or watchmen.
Graphic novels are big comic books that were released as a big book (usually hardcover!) example: Fables - 1001 Nights of Snowfall
V for Vendetta is often called a graphic novel because it is "smart" and people think that calling something a "graphic novel" instead of a "comic book" makes them look cooler.
I guess Sin City could count as graphic novels
Dark Knight Returns
Black Orchid
V for Vendetta
Ultra
Top Ten & Top Ten: The 49ers
Sandman
Flight
Watchmen
Sin City
This is assuming you aren't a very clever Buy.com plant.
The harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the sun.
You could also just pick up one of the Marvel Ultimate things, either the Ultimates, Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Spider-Man...etc. They're all pretty good.
Also, for something not superhero, go get The Losers, or the Walking Dead.
GO GET PRIDE OF BAGHDAD.
You could also get Blankets, but I haven't read it I've only seen it be recommended elsewhere.
Also the Flight books are really good.
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Including all of Sin City except Family Values.
V for Vendetta, Watchmen and DKR could definitely qualify as graphic novels, just like how Charles Dickens's stuff qualifies as novels, even though they were published as serials in newspapers.
If you like Superman, when he's well done-
Superman:Secret Identity
Superman:Red Son
Watchmen. Read it again.
Sandman.
Batman: Dark Knight Returns
Sandman.
Sin City.
Sandman.
From Hell.
Sandman.
Discworld. It's not a graphic novel, read it anyways.
Penny Arcades.
Sandman.
300.
Sandman.
I may have mentioned Sandman, but I'll mention it again.
Sandman.
Hope you have a crisp benjamin on you, cause that's how much Absolute Sandman Vol. 1 is going to run you. If your the patient type, you can get it on amazon for 60-ish.
But yeah. I'm not even in to these graphic novels and I reccomend Sandman.
One hell of a story.
and Superman: Up, Up, and Away, which is the OYL issues.
[spoiler:5e04485463]"My mom made it for me."[/spoiler:5e04485463]
Good book, that. And I'm not usually a big fan of Jeph Loeb's writing.
Continuing the Superman theme, Superman: Secret Identity is a brilliant, completely self-contained wee book perfect for anyone who usually rolls their eyes at comics.
Come to think of it, it'd make a decent Christmas present.
Left me a bit cold, personally. But its reputation is almost impeccable, so I'm pretty much in the minority in my opinion.
That and the "Folks call me Superman."
I'm willing to try anything. I like Fables more than Y, Watchmen more than V for Vendetta, and I have always liked Batman. I have all of the Batman TAS DVDs. Oh Harley, how I love you and your voice.
A few thoughts:
Except for Jessica Alba dancing I didn't care much for the Sin City movie so I balked at buying the novel box set.
I am planning on reading American Gods this weekend to see if I like Neil Gaimen's writing.
Are Bone, Marvel Zombies, and American Born Chinese (Amazon recommends it) any good?
Go buy Neverwhere instead. Read it and see if you like it.
And even if you don't buy it, go buy Good Omens too (that's Gaiman with Terry Pratchett who writes the Discworld novels)
Oh and Stardust is another fucking excellent Gaiman book. But I'd still say that Neverwhere is the best intro to Gaiman as a writer.
it's pretty great if you are expecting entertainment and not Sandman
it is also short and the art is wonderful
e: and his novels aren't really good metersticks by which to judge his comics