Graphic Novels/Comics

losthorizon · 11-01-2014 07:27PM #1

I've always been a snob when it comes to my reading but recently I was drawn to a book in Waterstones called "1001 comics you must read before you die". Now I'm I'm not into Superhero stuff but Ive found that some great stuff exists in the Graphic novels world that deals with social subjects, the holocaust, crime in fact everything in an adult way. How did I not spot this before. Are there any other fans of this genre?

Professey Chin · 11-01-2014 07:29PM

Watchmen

Sandman

Y The Last Man

Read now yes?

losthorizon · 11-01-2014 07:31PM

Professey Chin wrote: »

Watchmen

Sandman

Y The Last Man

Read now yes?

These are recommendations?

Professey Chin · 11-01-2014 07:32PM

Yep. Great series to read

pablomakaveli · 11-01-2014 07:34PM

The Walking Dead novels are worth reading. I've read about 7 or 8 of them and enjoy them a lot more than the tv show.

Sir Arthur Daley · 11-01-2014 07:34PM

What about some old 90"s Playboys?

clairefontaine · 11-01-2014 07:35PM

Maus by Art Speigelman

losthorizon · 11-01-2014 07:38PM

clairefontaine wrote: »

Maus by Art Speigelman

Just read that (actually just read part 1) THe Artwork was very basic but a very very powerful story.

Duckworth_Luas · 11-01-2014 07:43PM

The Beano

The torture inflicted on Walter the Softy was always very graphic

anncoates · 11-01-2014 07:47PM

The old Freak Brothers / Fat Freddys Cat comics are good for a laugh although I've not read them for years.

Links234 · 11-01-2014 07:47PM

losthorizon wrote: »

Are there any other fans of this genre?

Yup! Huge comic book nerd here

I'd highly recommend Alan Moore's From Hell, incredible read

Also check out Transmetropolitan, takes a little to get into but overall an absolutely fantastic story.

Pat Mustard · 11-01-2014 07:48PM

Hellboy. Savage stuff.

'Graphic novels' is a term invented by marketers. They've always been comics.

Ruu · 11-01-2014 07:49PM

Does Roy of the Rovers count?

anncoates · 11-01-2014 07:50PM

Ruubot2 wrote: »

Does Roy of the Rovers count?

Only if from the Hot Shot McHamish and Mighty Mouse era

Links234 · 11-01-2014 07:51PM

The Mustard wrote: »

Hellboy. Savage stuff.

'Graphic novels' is a term invented by marketers. They've always been comics.

Love all the Hellboy stuff, but I'd nearly say that the spin off BPRD beats it. The 1946 story was in particular one of the best reads of any of the series.

And yeah, even Alan Moore refers to his works as comic books, and has spoken a bit about the whole 'graphic novel' slant in the past.

Another recommendation: Bone by Jeff Smith

Ninjini · 11-01-2014 07:51PM

100 bullets is well worth a read

Waitsian · 11-01-2014 07:57PM

Preacher, and Charley's War are two that spring to mind, although very different.

Check the Goodreads lists recommendations for more top class ones.

jam_mac_jam · 11-01-2014 08:00PM

From Hell is my favorite and Maus as was mentioned already.

Pat Mustard · 11-01-2014 08:04PM

Links234 wrote: »

And yeah, even Alan Moore refers to his works as comic books, and has spoken a bit about the whole 'graphic novel' slant in the past.

Another recommendation: Bone by Jeff Smith

Alan Moore may be a creative genius, but he also has his head up his own ass if he wouldn't even watch the Watchmen film to be proved wrong about it. I guess that he got burned with From Hell, but still.

BPRD already downloaded onto tablet. Bone noted!

Fully agree with the poster about The Walking Dead. The series is quite good, but the comic is something else.

Skerries · 11-01-2014 08:04PM

Ruubot2 wrote: »

Does Roy of the Rovers count?

of course he does and that's just stereotyping footballers as so thick that they can't do maths

Earthhorse · 11-01-2014 08:07PM

Like any medium there is good and bad stuff and not everything highly recommended will be to your taste.

My personal favourites would be:

Ghost World
V For Vendatta
Batman: The Long Halloween

If you start reading them you'll surely find what is and isn't to your taste. "Graphic novel" may have started life as a marketing term but I find it a handy way of distinguishing between a self contained work and an ongoing weekly series.

ElvisChrist6 · 11-01-2014 08:08PM

Sláine - The Horned God... fantasy version of the first high king of Ireland, with a lot of actual Irish mythology in there, like Queen Medb and stuff. Fantastic artwork as well.

Batman - Arkham Asylum. I know you said you're not into superheroes, but this is probably one of the best graphic novels I've ever read, leads you through the psychology of each of the villians, great painted artwork in it.

Vayda · 11-01-2014 08:12PM

Personal faves, and ones I would recommend highly: Invincible and Preacher.

karma_ · 11-01-2014 08:17PM

mod9maple wrote: »

Preacher, and Charley's War are two that spring to mind, although very different.

Check the Goodreads lists recommendations for more top class ones.

Preacher is just amazing, and created by an Irishman too. I think I read Seth Rogan is making a pilot for this too, been rumoured to be made into an epic TV series for ages now.

My recommendation is 'The Invisibles'.

Links234 · 11-01-2014 08:38PM

The Mustard wrote: »

Alan Moore may be a creative genius, but he also has his head up his own ass if he wouldn't even watch the Watchmen film to be proved wrong about it. I guess that he got burned with From Hell, but still.

I actually couldn't stand Watchmen, so I don't think there's any way Alan Moore would be 'proved wrong' about it. He also got burned with the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. In fact, I think V for Vendetta was the only decent adaptation of his stuff at all.

Lyaiera · 11-01-2014 09:11PM

I've read the first third of DMZ, about Manhattan being declared a neutral zone in a modern American civil war. I'm planning on finishing it off soon, but I'd really recommend it based on what I have read.

Comics can be as cheesy as you want, and there's also astounding works of literature within them. I think what's interesting is the amount of social commentary embedded in them. With a small but dedicated market it can leave the authors with a lot more freedom to put messages in them, be they political, social about violence, rights or whatever. So on the one hand you have the DC stuff with people going nuts that women are featured, then you have people commenting on modern police states or the environment, etc. on the other side of things.

jr22 · 11-01-2014 09:21PM

Joe Sacco is amazing. Graphic novel/ journalistic accounts of Bosnian War and the Middle East.

Safe Area Goražde, The Fixer, Palestine. 10/10.

Here's a piece he did on Iraq as a taster. Great stuff. http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2005/02/25/sacco1.pdf

Ineedaname · 11-01-2014 09:25PM

DMZ
Y The Last Man
Preacher
100 Bullets
Punk Rock Jesus (Read this recently. Can't recommend it enough)
Sweet Tooth
American Vampire

All well worth a read

Shenshen · 11-01-2014 09:29PM

I've been really into comic books all my life, though I've never been a fan of the superhero type.

Favourites atm :

Bone by Jeff Smith
Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai
Sandman
Castle Waiting by Linda Medley (bit childish, but beautiful)
Elfquest (bit kitsch, but I adore it)

I'm also a huge fan of French and Belgium comics, everything from Gaston Lagaffe to Asterix to Les Tuniques Bleus to Lanfeust and Troll de Troy.
There are some fantastic fantasy-type comics coming from that tradition these days, well worth checking out. I'd particularly recommend Troll de Troy and, if you can find it, Orull.

Sulla Felix · 11-01-2014 09:29PM

Lucifer, for anyone who liked Sandman

Links234 · 11-01-2014 09:32PM

Sulla Felix wrote: »

Lucifer, for anyone who liked Sandman

I'll probably be accussed of blasphemy here, but Lucifer surpasses Sandman in my books

Graphic Novels/Comics

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