So, I've been recently getting into Graphical Novels, but now I've reached a point where I don't know where to go further. I've covered the Alan Moore's (Watchmen, V like Vendetta), did read the other odd book here and there and now just finished Bone by Jeff Smith. I really enjoyed Bone for a lot of reasons, and have been looking out for something that strikes a similiar tone, but so far I had no luck. What I liked about Bone was the format (one volume edition, ~1400 pages), the style of humor, storytelling (had me hooked throughout the book) and this certain donald pocket books charme is has towards it (though you'll hardly know them overseas).
So, what I'm asking you for is, start the name dropping and point me into a direction that you think will suit my taste, as my knowledge of this genre is still very limited.
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I'm not sure I'll be a fan of this - I'm certainly not of animes, and I think the only mangas I've ever read were two issues of Appleseed.
If I had to pick one, I'd say get Ronin. It's pretty unique and unfortunately not very well known, but is very good.
Akira also doesn't read like a lot of other manga, at least in my opinion, so you might want to take a look. A good way to miss a lot of great graphic novels/comics is to say "I don't think I'll like it" without at least taking a look.
Like you I prefer one-off graphic novels to comic series, but I highly recommend the Cable & Deadpool series for the humor and story. I'm not much into extended storylines in comics that make it hard to come in later in the series - the super-long and convoluted X-Men stories, etc - but C&D is only 50 issues long and relatively self contained. You might have to look up Cable's backstory on wikipedia or something, but it's well worth it.
Other than that, you'd be well served by going to a local comic book shop and asking them. They'll be able to go through some of the stuff they have there with you to find something agreeable.
trying to find something that mirrors the tone of Bone is nigh impossible, but I have a couple suggestions.
If you like humor, I suggest Five Fists of Science or The Annotated Mantooth by Matt Fraction. They are ludicrous and a lot of fun, and quick reads.
Frank Miller might not work for you since his art style is not for everyone. I love comics and I still have trouble reading Sin City or Ronin because of the art.
If you like done-in-one style trades, I have a couple for you:
The Filth by Grant Morrison
Arrowsmith: So Smart in their Fine Uniforms by Kurt Busiek
Agents of Atlas by Jeff Parker
New Warriors: Reality Check by Zeb Wells (you need to no absolutely nothing about the characters' histories to read this)
Doctor 13: Architecture and Morality by Brian Azzerello
these would be good choices, especially for someone who liked Bone
Y: The Last Man
Mouse Guard
I could go on. Anything that Grant Morrison writes is going to be good. I'm also a sucker for anything Hellboy/Mignola.
I would also suggest Preacher and Y:The Last Man as both incredibly good and sad character studies that have both extreme happy and extreme sad parts, and are not integrated to any other comic universe, both having plenty of action, humor and sex appeal.
PS2
FF X replay
PS3
God of War 1&2 HD
Rachet and Clank Future
MGS 4
Prince of Persia
360
Bayonetta
Fable 3
DS
FF: 4 heroes of light
Well... I'm not really a fan of appleseed at all either. When you're perusing a book store, grab the first volume of it and take a look. Art is amazing in any case.
A lot of his stuff seems to be weird for the sake of weird.
Also From Hell is mind-blowing but only if you can deal with the crude artwork
If you're looking for some kind of gentle humour, I'd wikipedia a guy who goes by Jason. He wrote and drew a little book called I Killed Adolf Hitler, which was a nifty little yarn about lost love, hitmen, and time travel.
Thank you, Rubacava!
Even if it doesn't seem like your kind of genre, I think it's an amazing story and an amazing use as the graphic novel as a media for storytelling.
This^
While I don't read manga either I thoroughly recommend anything written by Naoki Urusawa I can't stress enough how amazing his works are. However, I would start with Monster or Pluto before reading 20th Century Boys.
Transmetropolitan
Strange Embrace
Jimmy Corrigan (hated this personally, but it is very dense, very long, and has awesome style imo)
They may not fit your style, but you can give them a try as something different.
Also, agreeing with those who said Sandman. It's awesome.
The rest of the recommendations in this thread are good, if fanboyish, but honestly none of them share any similarities with Bone (especially From Hell... really, man). Then again, Bone is a pretty unique gem in the comic world, so it might be hard to find anything quite like it.
Sam & Max is one of the books I've already gotten for myself. It's awesome.
I heard a lot of Sandman, and it's apparently the Graphic Novel to read (and the author is friends with Pratchet, so that's a huge plus in my books), but I didn't dig his style from the few pictures I saw, and there's this thing with death beeing a goth girl. Is it really such a good read then, eh?
Transmetropolitan looks fun, I might give it a try.
I believe Berlin probably ain't what I'm looking for - something more light-hearted perhaps?
I'll have to look into Fables and Creature Tech, sounds like they're right up my alley.
Mouse Guard actually seems to be the closest to what I'm looking for, and it looks gorgeous. I think that's something I'll definitely pick up. WE3 looks interesting too.
I'm not really interested in superhero comics.
Still gotta read up on the rest.
Just on the side, what do you think of Maus? I've been meaning to pick that up for a while now.
Full disclosure, there's some Christian undertones in Creature Tech, and I only say this just because I know there are some rabid anti-religion folks here on the PA boards. If you're a normal person, atheist or not, it's really nothing, and absolutely does not force its way into the story. Other than that, it features (mild spoilers about stuff you're told at the beginning of the comic)
Yes, it IS that good. Just read it, seriously.
See how many books I've read so far in 2010
Most other stuff Gaiman has done is well worth a look.
As far as other series go, it's indeed hard to find anything else like Bone. The nearest I've run across is the little-known ongoing series Castle Waiting, but that's definitely not for everyone.
On general recommendations, take a look at Preacher if you're not put off by the graphic tone of the whole thing. I'd also second Transmetropolitan and Fables, and you might want to look for anything by Brian Talbot (though it's probably best not to start with Alice in Sunderland)
Strangehaven is also amazing (if obscure), but currently on hiatus, so I'd only recommend it if you're patient.
http://www.flightcomics.com/
For example that's where I found out about The Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi which is really awesome, though just a single book currently that left me wanting more.
http://www.boltcity.com/amulet/
Also look into MouseGuard, which has great art.
http://www.mouseguard.net/
Heh, yeah I know that, and I'm not planing to get a it anytime soon. I'll just save up for the time when my mood swings again.
edit: Hm, Pride of Baghdad does indeed look good, how is it?
I think it's fantastic. Brian K. Vaughn usually produces good stuff, and this was no exception.
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She doesn't need to go around shooting someone with a shotgun full of rings(from what I remember she's not particularly violent...but I mean if you're death you don't have to be)....but still pretty cool.
I also own Y the last man and Pride of Baghdad. They are both really awesome...even if they are depressing at times.
Anything else by Brian K. Vaughan:
Ex Machina
Runaways
I also suggest that if you have a few hundred spare dollars that you purchase Cerebus books from the beginning with the aptly titled 'Cerebus' and stop buying them directly after 'Guys' At the very least, Cerebus, High Society, and Church and State I and II are incredible in every way.
I was coming in here to suggest this as well.
That said, Maus is amazing.
PS2
FF X replay
PS3
God of War 1&2 HD
Rachet and Clank Future
MGS 4
Prince of Persia
360
Bayonetta
Fable 3
DS
FF: 4 heroes of light