The Essential Trade and Graphic Novel Thread

[Justin Davis]

This was one of my favorite threads on the old boards because it was easy to go through it and find something I've never heard of before. The idea is simple. Put up one trade or graphic novel that you figure is essential reading. Something you have to own and you'd like others to read too. Don't just put the title up though. Give us a reason. Your opinion, a story synopsis from somewhere, something. The only real trick is you can't post another suggestion until three other people have given a suggestion. So it would be you, someone else, someone else, someone else, and then you again before repeating the cycle. This is a great way to increase your, and someone else's, library. Every so often, a list will be compiled of the suggestions so far. Probably once every page or so. I'll start us off.

Buzzboy: The World's Most Upbeat Superhero
This one was a total luck of the draw buy for me. I bought it and the second volume off of eBay because I recognized the name and it was a really good price. Here's a description of the first issue:

Buzzboy's debut! Lord Ultra, the world's most powerful super-being, has gone mad, and taken over New Paradise Metrogrove.

Who can stop him?

All of Earth's other heroes have vanished-- except for Ultra's former sidekick, Buzzboy.

Aided by ex-villain Doc Cyber, who gave up being evil for baking, and Becca Smith, a fifteen year-old girl with a mysterious secret, Buzzboy must battle Ultra for peace, the city's freedom, and all-you-can-eat at the Tastee Diner.

If you like your comics hip, happenin', and home-made like Doc Cyber's Cherry Tarts, Buzzboy is for you!

ALSO: A tale of the Teen Extreme, the swingingest super teens around!

For anyone who likes pop culture, you'll like this. When Kristina read it, she said, "It feels like The Tick," which is pretty true. Give it a shot. http://www.buzzboy.net/buzzstore.html

[howyadoin]

Put up one trade or graphic novel that you figure is essential reading. Something you have to own and you'd like others to read too. Don't just put the title up though. Give us a reason. Your opinion, a story synopsis from somewhere, something.Judd Winick's Pedro and Me - 'cause it's a great story about an important topic (A.I.D.S.), and because it's funny, tragic and educational at the same time.

[clayholio]

"The Cowboy Wally Show" by Kyle Baker.

I could tell you that it's funny, but who would believe me? Instead, I'll just say that even after having read it 10 or 15 times by now (I've lost count), I still laugh like a madman every time I read it again.

By royal decree of Ray Davies...

[Noir_Dark]

Palestine by Joe Sacco

This book is heart wrenching. I love all of Sacco’s stuff but this in my opinion his best.
This book deal with the aftermath of war from the ground level.

[Puma]

300.
Writer-artist Frank Miller and colorist Lynn Varley retell the battle of Thermopylae, its not especially accurate but the imagery of the battle with its inevitable end is stunning.

[Iangould]

The Cartoon History of the United States - well-researched, well-written and highlighting Larry Gonick''s characteristic humor.

His Cartoon History of the Universe is even better but after 3 volumes it tails off before Columbus' voyage to the Americas.

[Sheldon]

Top Ten Vol 1 and 2 By Alan Moore and Gene Ha. Published by America's Best Comics.

Follow the varied cast of the Top Ten Presinct of Neopolis. A city that is entirely made up of super powered beings or science beings. The detail and depth of character is staggering. Storylines intertwine and make for a wonderful read, as it builds up and actions have real consequences.

These two trades get better with each read. Plus there are some seriously funny bits too. The whole Cosmouse and Galactapus part is one of my all time favorties...

[Cyclops]

Bizarro Comics.

It's everything you love about the DC Universe -- the characters, the plot gimmicks, the color. And it's free of everything you hate about the DC Universe -- the elaborate continuity, the prim editorship, the expected. It has a few faults, but I don't notice them anymore; this book is too busy going places and doing what it sets out to do. I can't think of a more worthwhile DC effort in the past five years.

[ratzo]

Stuck Rubber Baby by Howard Cruse (www.howardcruse.com). Now more than ever, this book is needed to remind people of the similarities both gays and blacks have had and continue to have to gain equality. It's a poignant and often funny coming-of-age story with intricate art.

[Noir_Dark]

Cerebus – Book One

Its crude, its dialog heavy, it’s important. This book begins the longest story in comic books.

If you can make it past this amateurish beginning the rest of the series kicks ass.
(its also interesting to see how Dave Sim’s skills improves during the series)

[mattbib]

Put up one trade or graphic novel that you figure is essential reading. Something you have to own and you'd like others to read too. Don't just put the title up though. Give us a reason. Your opinion, a story synopsis from somewhere, something. The only real trick is you can't post another suggestion until three other people have given a suggestion.
http://www.dynamicforces.com/images/squadronsupremeTPB.jpgI always suggest Squadron Supreme. It was possibly Gru's finest work. The characters were taken from being Justice League rip-offs and turned into own animals, while at the same time offering a real, gritty look at how those DC characters could have (should have?) been written.

I've reread this at least a dozen time and I'm still left in wonder and sadness at the end.

[Justin Davis]

Great selections, everyone! What I like is that we're all over the place in our choices. Comedy to drama, talking animals to historical tales. I've already added a couple more to my growing wish list of books. Here's what we have so far. [edited to add Matt's suggestion]

1. Buzzboy: The World's Most Upbeat Superhero
2. Judd Winick's Pedro and Me
3. "The Cowboy Wally Show" by Kyle Baker
4. Palestine by Joe Sacco
5. 300 Writer-artist Frank Miller and colorist Lynn Varley
6. The Cartoon History of the United States by Larry Gonick
7. Top Ten Vol 1 and 2 By Alan Moore and Gene Ha
8. Bizarro Comics
9. Stuck Rubber Baby by Howard Cruse
10. Cerebus – Book One by Dave Sim
11. Squadron Supreme by Mark Gruenwald and various

I'll add one more.

Powers: Roleplay by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming
First off, they need to shorten their names. Even if you don't have the first trade, you'll get the basic concept pretty fast with this one. Basically, it's homicide cops in a world of capes. I just recently reread this and was just as impressed, if not more, the second time I read it. Sure, Bendis has top-notch writing here, but Oeming's art is just beautiful. This is a man who absolutely knows how to tell a story. And there's quite a story to tell. Hell, the story that's told or hinted at in the last few pages is an eye-opener.

[Punchy]

"Judge Dredd: The Complete America" by Wagner and Macneil

A very different Dredd story about a girl named America and her best friend Benny. The two grow up together and are then reunited as adults when America has joined a terrorist organization with their efforts directed at the Judges. Touching and sophisticated.

One of the best trades I've ever read.

[Tynne]

Goodbye, Chunky Rice

Craig Thompson's first graphic novel. The basic story synopsis is that a little turtle is moving away from his old home. His best friend (a little mouse) is left behind.

This is a story about how loss happens in life. We all lose things important to us. We all lose loved ones. Sometimes forever.

Hope is offered that healing can be found...but not for a moment does the story try to hide that loss hurts.

A bittersweet, beautifully drawn comic.

[Davideaux]

"Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" (Hayao Miyazaki)

The story is thrilling and full of wonder. It's epic and very personal too.

[The Fury]

Captain Britain - Alan Moore

In my view the best story ever writen by Moore, ever. And with great art by Alan Davis. Just Brilliant.

[Michael P]

Road to Perdition - Max Alan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner

In my opinion, even better than the movie it inspired. A hit man in Depression-era Illinios is betrayed by his employer, and his wife and youngest son murdered. His quest for revenge takes him and his surviving son across the American Midwest, from Capone-ruled Chicago to the small town of Perdition, Kansas. A story about fidelity, faith, and family in the classic noir style.

[Noir_Dark]

Ok ill be the first to say it…
Ghost World by Daniel Clowes.
If you’ve read it *high five* you know how great it is. For those who haven’t ITS GREAT!
In my opinion no characters in the history of literature are more identifiable than Enid and Rebecca. The dialog is spot on. If you read it and don’t like it, I give you permission to punch me in the face.

[Buzz Dixon]

BLANKETS would be my current recommendation, but I could just as easily say A CONTRACT WITH GOD or MAUS.

[Justin Davis]

Ok ill be the first to say it…
Ghost World by Daniel Clowes.
If you’ve read it *high five* you know how great it is. For those who haven’t ITS GREAT!
In my opinion no characters in the history of literature are more identifiable than Enid and Rebecca. The dialog is spot on. If you read it and don’t like it, I give you permission to punch me in the face.

*punches Noir in the face*

Ok, sorry, I wanted this to stay solely on topic, but I couldn't resist.

[Justin Davis]

BLANKETS would be my current recommendation, but I could just as easily say A CONTRACT WITH GOD or MAUS.

Pick one, explain why, then come back after three other people and go with another one.

By the way people, they don't all have to be cool indy stuff. Where are our Big Company superhero trades?

[Tynne]

By the way people, they don't all have to be cool indy stuff. Where are our Big Company superhero trades?

They're filled with shame after sharing store shelf space with The Draco and Zero Hour.

[Buzz Dixon]

Pick one, explain why, then come back after three other people and go with another one.

By the way people, they don't all have to be cool indy stuff. Where are our Big Company superhero trades?
Well,Craig Thompson's BLANKETS is a very well executed memoir about his first serious love interest and his personal crisis of faith. All the people in it come across as real, genuine people; there are no stereotypes or cliches. He writes about faith and love andfamily relationhips in a very moving and insightful way, and though the book is bittersweet it isn't a downer at the end.

Can't recommend it highly enough.

[Brad Curran]

Watchmen by Moore and Gibbons

Because someone had to say it. Because it's still a monument to Moore and Gibbons' skill as storytellers. Because it involves you in the characters lives. Because comics are still aping it, 18 years after it was first published, but it's never been equaled. But mainly because, if you haven't read it, those of us that are nuts about it are going to talk about it until you break down and get a copy, so you might as well pick it up now.

[Brad Curran]

*punches Noir in the face*

Ok, sorry, I wanted this to stay solely on topic, but I couldn't resist.

Heh. I was wondering when someone was going to mention that and annoy you.

[Cyclops]

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills.

In my mind, the ultimate X-book. While the Dark Phoenix saga and some others are more famous, this story cuts to the heart of what makes the X-Men matter. Prejudice, hysteria, and fear juxtaposed with the goals of acceptance, peace, and the freedom to be oneself. It's a story that, due to human nature, is never likely to lose its relevance.

[Justin Davis]

We've hit 20 on the list. Although, now, I'm confused about something grammatically. Would you use quotes or underline trades? Would you quote the ones that are part of an ongoing like Captain Britain and underline the ones that are by themselves like Pedro and Me? It's an unimportant question, but one I have anyway.

1. “Buzzboy: The World's Most Upbeat Superhero” by Joe Gallagher
2. “Pedro and Me” by Judd Winick
3. "The Cowboy Wally Show" by Kyle Baker
4. “Palestine” by Joe Sacco
5. “300” Writer-artist Frank Miller and colorist Lynn Varley
6. “The Cartoon History of the United States” by Larry Gonick
7. “Top Ten Vol. 1 and 2” By Alan Moore and Gene Ha
8. “Bizarro Comics” by Various
9. “Stuck Rubber Baby” by Howard Cruse
10. “Cerebus” – Book One by Dave Sim
11. “Squadron Supreme” – Mark Gruenwald and various
12. "Judge Dredd: The Complete America" by Wagner and Macneil
13. “Goodbye, Chunky Rice” by Craig Thompson's
14. "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" by Hayao Miyazaki
15. “Captain Britain” - Alan Moore and Alan Davis
16. “Road to Perdition” - Max Alan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner
17. “Ghost World” by Daniel Clowes
18. “BLANKETS” by Craig Thompson
19. “Watchmen” by Moore and Gibbons
20. “X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills” by Claremont and Brent Anderson

Next!

[SPAfreak]

I'm going lowbrow for a first pick.

Barry Ween, Boy Genius 2.0

The laugh out loud funny antics of a young, foul-mouthed genius and his best friend. Winnick tells dick jokes with the best of them and can also sneak in some surprisingly heartfelt moments.

[Dom]

V for Vendetta By Moore and Lloyd.

Alan Moore unleashed, setting a great mystery against the backdrop of a facist ruled London. Lloyd's art, though dated, is still harsh and meshes perfectly with the story. Superior to Watchmen, in my opinion.

[Jamboon]

The Barefoot Serpent by Scott Morse


This thing is part biography of Arika Kurosawa and part the story of a family vacationing in Hawaii, trying to cope with a big loss with the help of some local legends. Very beautiful, touching and with Morse's gorgeous pencils.

[Alex]

Noir is a silly bad guy, because im picking ANOTHER Cerebus collection
Book 2, High Society. One of the funniest comics i have ever read, actually laugh out loud funny at point. The art is much improved over the first trade, and it sets up the rest of the series much better than the first trade.

[kmeyers]

Someone had to say this too, so I will, since it's one of my favorite Batman stories ever. The Dark Knight Returns

It's got it all. Epic final battle with Superman, and all. It's Batman the way he should be, needs to be, to be a believable, real world character. He is scary as hell, and when dealing with scary criminals, you damn well better be intimidating.

Easily one of my favorite Batman stories, and one of my favorite stories of all time.

Great list so far. I can't wait to go and pick some of these up that I don't already have.

[mgs]

Gold Digger, The Gold Brick I, the flawed volume.

Best of Fred Perry's work on his self owned title that he both writes and draws. IT's some azaming stuff to witness. It's also black and white, and you ask any artist what is harder, they'll tell you, drawing comics in black and white are harder because the flaws are all out there for everyone to see, there's no covering up when using b&w.
His art is manga-esquey and is lighthearted fare. The Diggers family is one big happy one and it originally started out like Indiana Jones, and treasure hunting and all, but it has evolved well past that now. Big boobs and guns are common, but at least they are also the butt of the joke as well.

I'm tired, otherwise I'd say more, except, I suggest the flawed volume, cause for a mere inconvenience of like 4 or 5 pages to redo, the whole thing is MUCH, MUCH Cheaper!! You get like 500 pages of comicy goodness for about 12 bucks, american! not a bad deal, imo. oh, also the thing is regular size trade, so it's not like you miss out on the art, unlike some of the digests that are so popular nowadays.

[Chris CCL]

The Long Halloween. This may sound weird, but I read it every year after the kids go to bed on Halloween night. I find something new each time I read it.

Chris CCL

[Jamboon]

The Long Halloween. This may sound weird, but I read it every year after the kids go to bed on Halloween night. I find something new each time I read it.

Chris CCL
Nothing weird there. Loeb using basically the same formula for Dark Victory and then Hush gets tiresome but that first one is pretty good.

[DonC]

Sin City: Family Values by Frank Miller.

A nicely done story that truly captures the meaning of the phrase "Revenge is a bitch."

[Buzz Dixon]

I think SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR was the best of the series.

[Alex]

I think SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR was the best of the series.
It was good with the crazy drug bits.
I prefered Yellow Bastard myself.

[ragnarok_2012]

The Golden Age. Golden Age DC heroes (sans supes & batman) given dimension, flaws, in some cases greatness....but above all respect and the center stage.

[ratzo]

It's a Bird (www.vertigocomics.com) by Steven Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen. A deconstruction of the world's greatest superhero as seen through the eyes of a comic book writer, struggling to find meaning in the Man of Steel, while coming to terms with a hereditary disease that his family has hidden in shame for years. Bittersweet, very personal and yet universal at the same time, with artwork that constantly evolves yet remains fascinating and engaging to look at. You will never look at Superman quite the same way ever again.

[howyadoin]

Xenozoic Tales volumes I & II, by Mark Schultz (Dark Horse). High adventure, supercharged Cadillacs, frighteningly real dinosaurs, beautiful women and some of the best old-school comics illustration to come down the pike in years.

[Punchy]

"Animal Man" vol. 1 by Grant Morrisson

Truly a different take on a superhero book. Morrisson explores continuity, the relastionship of the creator to the book, hero origins, all within a great narrative story. Includes "The Coyote Gospel" which is one of my favorite single issues of all time.

[Tenacious N]

Superman: Red Son was the best Superman story I've read in a long time.

[Justin Davis]

More great suggestions. Some classics, a triple threat by Sin City, and some relatively unknown ones that piqued my interest. Remember, you should be able to look back in the thread to see why something is listed if you want to more about it. I know there are about four or five I've added to my personal list so far. Here's what we have now.

1. “Buzzboy: The World's Most Upbeat Superhero” by Joe Gallagher
2. “Pedro and Me” by Judd Winick
3. "The Cowboy Wally Show" by Kyle Baker
4. “Palestine” by Joe Sacco
5. “300” Writer-artist Frank Miller and colorist Lynn Varley
6. “The Cartoon History of the United States” by Larry Gonick
7. “Top Ten Vol. 1 and 2” By Alan Moore and Gene Ha
8. “Bizarro Comics” by Various
9. “Stuck Rubber Baby” by Howard Cruse
10. “Cerebus” – Book One by Dave Sim
11. “Squadron Supreme” – Mark Gruenwald and various
12. "Judge Dredd: The Complete America" by Wagner and Macneil
13. “Goodbye, Chunky Rice” by Craig Thompson's
14. "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" by Hayao Miyazaki
15. “Captain Britain” - Alan Moore and Alan Davis
16. “Road to Perdition” - Max Alan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner
17. “Ghost World” by Daniel Clowes
18. “BLANKETS” by Craig Thompson
19. “Watchmen” by Moore and Gibbons
20. “X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills” by Claremont and Brent Anderson
21. Barry Ween, Boy Genius 2.0 by Judd Winick
22. V for Vendetta By Moore and Lloyd
23. The Barefoot Serpent by Scott Morse
24. Cerebus Book 2, High Society by Dave Sim
25. The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
26. Gold Digger, The Gold Brick I, (the flawed volume costs less) by Fred Perry
27. The Long Halloween by Loeb and Sale
28. Sin City: Family Values by Frank Miller
29. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
30. Sin City: Yellow Bastard
31. The Golden Age by James Robinson and Paul Smith
32. It's a Bird by Steven Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen
33. Xenozoic Tales volumes I & II, by Mark Schultz (Dark Horse)
34. "Animal Man" vol. 1 by Grant Morrisson
35. Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar and Dave Johnson

Next!

[Brad Curran]

Blue Monday: the Kids are Alright by Chynna Clugston Major

Teen comedy with heart and brains. Manga-esque art that isn't all big eyes and speedlines. Lots of mod and new wave references that won't drown the uninitiated. And shriners. Can't forget the Shriners. Some of the funniest, sweetest stuff in comics, and very affordable in the digest format.

[Noir_Dark]

You can’t list essential comic reading without mentioning The Sandman.

And I guess all great stories have to have a beginning, “The Sandman Preludes and Nocturnes” By Neil Gaiman. This story is no less than great but is a literary dwarf when compared to its successors. You will most likely enjoy this book, and will most definitely weep at the greatness of the Sandman books that follow.

The Sandamna is my personal favourite story ever told in comics or any other medium. I give it my highest rating.
A++




*punches Noir in the face*

Ok, sorry, I wanted this to stay solely on topic, but I couldn't resist.
*bleeding*
What’s not to like about Ghost World?

[Lone Ranger]

Although not exactly a graphic novel - I would imagine that a lot of people would love The Complete Classic Zorro Adventures by Alex Toth.

It reprints Toth's story from the Dell series (as well as Four Color issues) in black and white and it probably the best example of Toth's brilliant visual storytelling I have ever seen.

225+ pages of classic Toth for $19. You cannot beat that.

[howyadoin]

How 'bout the new Sgt. Rock hardcover by Brian Azzarello and the incomparable Joe Kubert? Between Hell & a Hard Place (DC/Vertigo) is just plain brilliant. Amazing to see that somebody with Kubert's longevity is apparently still at the top of his game - the linework is as good as it gets, and the watercolours are well done, too.

And then there's the story...

[JLarson]

Heavy Liquid - by Paul Pope.

Heinously underappreciated. This book is Morrison, Millar, Ellis, and Miller all wrapped together for a trip so fantastic and realistic that you'll never forget it. It sums up why comic books are such a great medium - it's a story about visual sound, and it's a story that requires it.

[ragnarok_2012]

Astro City: Confessions. I still call it Brian's Story (the original title). Just wonderful. The best Astro City story arc. Batman and Robin reinvented & used to tell a great coming of age story.

[JLarson]

One more:

Enigma - by Peter Milligan and Duncan Fegredo

The ultimate story about real world super-heroes. It's like an x-files episode told perfectly. And lots of lizards and sex.

[Dan Apodaca]

David Boring by Daniel Clowes.

In a time where almost every comic is being made into a movie, it's interesting to see what it would look like if a movie was earnestly made into a comic. This book is masterfully crafted.

[Punchy]

"Whiteout: Melt" Rucka/Lieber

Rucka at his best with great characterization of the femal lead. And Lieber's work is just flat-out fantastic, the story is set in Antarctica and all of the art is in b/w. Great read.

[DonC]

Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures by J. Torres and J. Bone. Just the most fun adventure comic I've ever read. And the perfect book if you want know a young kid wanting to read comics.

[Core]

Astro City: Confessions. I still call it Brian's Story (the original title). Just wonderful. The best Astro City story arc. Batman and Robin reinvented & used to tell a great coming of age story.


I agree with this suggestion and would add to it Astro City: Life in the Big City. It's a great introduction to what Busiek, Anderson and Ross are doing with the Astro City line, and the works collected in this TPB are all great stand alone issues. Busiek loves the superhero as metaphor approach, and for that I love him.

[ratzo]

Torso by Brian Michael Bendis & Marc Andreyko (www.jinxworld.com). Based on the true story of the mystery serial killer of 1930's Cleveland, in which the legendary Eliot Ness, after taking down Al Capone in Chicago, must not only assemble a new cop squad to find the killer, but joust with City Hall and try to save his failing marriage. Suspenseful, dramatic, and laced with tension, this is one of the finest crime comics ever made.

[Pól Rua]

Heavy Liquid - by Paul Pope.

Heinously underappreciated. This book is Morrison, Millar, Ellis, and Miller all wrapped together for a trip so fantastic and realistic that you'll never forget it. It sums up why comic books are such a great medium - it's a story about visual sound, and it's a story that requires it.
Seconded that, magnificently told story, beautiful artwork and some really complex storytelling, with a payoff that doesn't feel forced or contrived.

My contribution is Jack Staff: Everything Used to be Black and White. A magnificently understated superhero tale featuring all the high adventure, derring do, ludicrous superpowers and silly fights, but told in such an utterly charming, refreshing way that the characters still feel like people.
Plus, each issue opens up a whole unexplored new world of vampire reporters, mysterious men (and women) in green, patriotic wartime supermen, teenage inventors and middle-aged archfiends.
Everything that made superhero comics shiny and wondrous made shiny and wondrous again.
Plus more British pop culture references than you can shake a stick at (if THAT's your idea of a good time).

Plus, at $US 19.95 for an almost 350 page book, this is big value. Check it out.



_______________________________________________
Pól.

[Graham Vingoe]

I'll pick Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli's Born Again. This is still probably my favourite single Daredevil story despite BMB. The stripping away of years of continuity and pap to take Daredevil/Matt Murdock back to basics., with my favorite depiction of Captain America until the Ney Reiber version.
The world could do with more work from Mazzuchelli, where is he?

[SoulOnIce]

I'll go with Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross. The best thing Mark has ever written and one of the greatest superhero stories ever told IMHO. It is filled with iconic images and the ending when Superman talks about how lifeis the only choice that matters I always get choked me up. But there are a number of parts in this book that choke me up. Just an amazing book.

[ragnarok_2012]

From Hell, by Alan Moore. Impeccably researched (yeah, I read through the anno-frickin'-tations). It's the story of the Whitechapel murders (Jack the Ripper), and lead the reader into the occult and a Masonic conspiracy.

[Tynne]

Castle Waiting: The Curse of Brambly Hedge by Linda Medley.

A prelude to Linda Medley's wonderful (and sadly M.I.A.) Castle Waiting ongoing series, this is a reworking of the Briar Rose/Sleeping Beauty fairy tale.

Gorgeous, elegant, and expressive art.

A funny, poigant, and involving story that manages to be true to the old tales while being a brand new story in its own right.

[Justin Davis]

Wow! That's one great list so far! Fiftty-two books! Nicely done. A lot of really good books on there. Let's all try to stick to the original format of you taking a turn, then at least three other people, and then you again though. Everyone gets a chance that way. Seriously, these are some impressive choices. Here's the list so far.

1. “Buzzboy: The World's Most Upbeat Superhero” by Joe Gallagher
2. “Pedro and Me” by Judd Winick
3. "The Cowboy Wally Show" by Kyle Baker
4. “Palestine” by Joe Sacco
5. “300” Writer-artist Frank Miller and colorist Lynn Varley
6. “The Cartoon History of the United States” by Larry Gonick
7. “Top Ten Vol. 1 and 2” By Alan Moore and Gene Ha
8. “Bizarro Comics” by Various
9. “Stuck Rubber Baby” by Howard Cruse
10. “Cerebus” – Book One by Dave Sim
11. “Squadron Supreme” – Mark Gruenwald and various
12. "Judge Dredd: The Complete America" by Wagner and Macneil
13. “Goodbye, Chunky Rice” by Craig Thompson's
14. "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" by Hayao Miyazaki
15. “Captain Britain” - Alan Moore and Alan Davis
16. “Road to Perdition” - Max Alan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner
17. “Ghost World” by Daniel Clowes
18. “BLANKETS” by Craig Thompson
19. “Watchmen” by Moore and Gibbons
20. “X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills” by Claremont and Brent Anderson
21. Barry Ween, Boy Genius 2.0 by Judd Winick
22. V for Vendetta By Moore and Lloyd
23. The Barefoot Serpent by Scott Morse
24. Cerebus Book 2, High Society by Dave Sim
25. The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
26. Gold Digger, The Gold Brick I, (the flawed volume costs less) by Fred Perry
27. The Long Halloween by Loeb and Sale
28. Sin City: Family Values by Frank Miller
29. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
30. Sin City: Yellow Bastard
31. The Golden Age by James Robinson and Paul Smith
32. It's a Bird by Steven Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen
33. Xenozoic Tales volumes I & II, by Mark Schultz (Dark Horse)
34. "Animal Man" vol. 1 by Grant Morrisson
35. Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar and Dave Johnson
36. Blue Monday: the Kids are Alright by Chynna Clugston Major
37. “The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes” By Neil Gaiman and various
38. The Complete Classic Zorro Adventures by Alex Toth
39. Sgt. Rock: Between Hell & a Hard Place by Brian Azzarello and Joe Kubert
40. Heavy Liquid - by Paul Pope
41. Astro City: Confessions by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson
42. Enigma - by Peter Milligan and Duncan Fegredo
43. David Boring by Daniel Clowes
44. "Whiteout: Melt" by Rucka/Lieber
45. Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures by J. Torres and J. Bone
46. Astro City: Life in the Big City by Busiek and Anderson
47. Torso by Brian Michael Bendis & Marc Andreyko
48. Jack Staff: Everything Used to be Black and White by Paul Grist
49. Daredevil: Born Again by Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli
50. Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross
51. From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
52. Castle Waiting: The Curse of Brambly Hedge by Linda Medley

Next!

[Brad Curran]

Essential Fantastic Four volume 3 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Within the 20+ issues reprinted here, the Inhumans, Galactus, the Silver Surfer, and the Black Panther are introduced, Reed and Sue get married (with the entire Marvel Universe as wedding guests), and Johnny goes to college. A great piece of comics history, and great fun to boot.

[Hoss]

Essential Conan - See the book evolve from Thomas and Smith trying to channel Lee and Kirby to the best darned fantasy adventure book Marvel ever printed.

[Brad Curran]

Essential Conan - See the book evolve from Thomas and Smith trying to channel Lee and Kirby to the best darned fantasy adventure book Marvel ever printed.

It being out of print could be a problem. Dark Horse's reprints of that run are a good solution, though.

[ratzo]

Persepolis (www.pantheonbooks.com) by Marjane Satrapi. A memoir of growing up in Iran during the 70's, a time of great political upheaval and change. Surprisingly funny, often profound and very insightful, this graphic novel provides an intimate account of a part of the world Westerners rarely get to see up close.

[JLarson]

The Invisibles vol. 7: The Invisible Kingdom - by Grant Morrison, Philip Bond, Frank Quitely, et al.

The end of the world. Possibly the most brilliant comic series of all time - definitely the most complicated. The final 10 pages of this trade are worth the price alone.

[Tynne]

Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter by Stan Sakai.

This won the 1999 Eisner for best limited series back in 1999. Reading the trade it's easy to see why.

Kusanagi...the lost sword of the Gods.

There's a conspiracy afoot in 17th century Japan to overthrow the Shogunate and reinstate the Emperor. The divine sword would be just the thing to tip the scales of power their way.

Miyamoto Usagi, a ronin (masterless samurai) happens to find the blade through a random twist of fate.

Suddenly he's the focus of every bit of mortal stratagem (and supernatural danger) for miles around.

A near seamless blend of historical fact, authentic legend, masterful anthropomorphic art, vivid characterization, and breathless action.

[Punchy]

"The Adventures of Sock Monkey" Tony Millionaire

Unique, creative, bizarre, but most of all funny. With terrific art work to boot. Millionaire has some of the best ink work in the business.

[Brad Curran]

The Losers: Ante Up by Andy Diggle and Jock

The first collection of the Eisner nominated new series (it's $9.99). Six issues of great action, interesting characters, plot twists, and conspiracy theories (and it's $9.99!). Something for people that like big explosions but want to try something outside the capes and tights crowd. ($9.99! $9.99! $9.99)

[Lone Ranger]

I have to add another.

Blackmark - by Gil Kane

This story - written and drawn by Gil Kane (fleshed out by Archie Goodwin) is a great one, but it is also a must have because it is a very innovative work and stands as a testament to what can happen when a creator has complete control.

[Tynne]

Breakfast Afternoon by Andi Watson.

Rob and Louise are deeply in love. Engaged to be married.

Then they both lose their jobs.

The different directions they take afterwards threatens to tear not only their wedding plans but their love and respect for each other to shreds. But neither one of them wants to give up hope.

Proof that it is possible to write realistic dialogue that isn't boring.

No reliance on being shocking or hip here...just good storytelling.

[JLarson]

Animal Man vol. 3: Deus Ex Machina - by Grant Morrison & Chas Truong

There has never been a comic run so perfectly executed as Animal Man by Grant Morrison. In this volume, he reaches the very height of climaxes as he fiction-suits his way into a finale. Perfect art, perfect and wholly unique ending to one of the best runs in comic history.

[Brad Curran]

Hellboy: the Right Hand of Doom by Mike Mignola

While this isn't the first of Mignola's Hellboy stories (that would be Seed of Destruction), it is where he really comes in to his own as a writer (at least in my opinion). This collection isn't one long story, but a series of short stories and mini-series, including the much loved two pager Pancakes and my favorite Hellboy story ever, Box Full of Evil. The short story format shows off one of Mignola's best trait; his ability to tell a satisfying story in just a few pages.

[Dan Apodaca]

Stray Bullets Volume One - David Lapham.

Crime noir at it's finest. This book tells a self-contained story in each issue, but if you're a regular reader, you can put them together to form one larger whole. But, most importantly, this volume has the story "Victimology", which is widely regarded as the best story of the series, and (unless you're dead on the inside) will make you cry.

[Alex]

Animal Man vol. 3: Deus Ex Machina - by Grant Morrison & Chas Truong

There has never been a comic run so perfectly executed as Animal Man by Grant Morrison. In this volume, he reaches the very height of climaxes as he fiction-suits his way into a finale. Perfect art, perfect and wholly unique ending to one of the best runs in comic history.
The thing about that story is...
Ok, now bear with me, and understand first, i STILL love Morrisons entire Animal Man run, i think it's simply incredible, especialy if you consider it was done in a book about a superhero.
...
But, that Climax was done better in Cerebus. And it was the same thing, basicly.

[Tynne]

Shirahime-Syo by Studio CLAMP.

A graphic novel that retells several ancient Japanese folktales, linked by the mysterious "Snow Princess" who according to legend causes the snowfall when she cries.

Done in a very soft, gentle style quite different from CLAMP's other projects.

Tragic stories all...the most involving one being the story of a girl who goes out to slay the wolf that killed her father...only to be rescued from peril by a wolf that seems to match the description of that creature perfectly.

[ratzo]

Yossel: April 19, 1943 (www.ibooks.com) by Joe Kubert. Set during the period leading up to the Warsaw ghetto uprising during World War 2, this story is about a teenage artist who draws for the Nazis' entertainment, all the while secretly spying on them for the growing resistance movement. Comics grandmaster Joe Kubert takes a non-traditional approach here, drawing the book in pencil sketches only without panel borders, so the whole thing looks like Yossel's sketchbook. Emotional, dramatic and inspirational, this is one for the ages.

[Justin Davis]

I'm posting updates to the list with every 10 - 15 suggestions, especially if it's not on the front page. Again, some great suggestions and nice synopses of the books and reasons why you chose them too. I don't know about anybody else, but you're helping me add to my list of wanted books. Here's what we have so far.

1. “Buzzboy: The World's Most Upbeat Superhero” by Joe Gallagher
2. “Pedro and Me” by Judd Winick
3. "The Cowboy Wally Show" by Kyle Baker
4. “Palestine” by Joe Sacco
5. “300” Writer-artist Frank Miller and colorist Lynn Varley
6. “The Cartoon History of the United States” by Larry Gonick
7. “Top Ten Vol. 1 and 2” By Alan Moore and Gene Ha
8. “Bizarro Comics” by Various
9. “Stuck Rubber Baby” by Howard Cruse
10. “Cerebus” – Book One by Dave Sim
11. “Squadron Supreme” – Mark Gruenwald and various
12. "Judge Dredd: The Complete America" by Wagner and Macneil
13. “Goodbye, Chunky Rice” by Craig Thompson's
14. "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" by Hayao Miyazaki
15. “Captain Britain” - Alan Moore and Alan Davis
16. “Road to Perdition” - Max Alan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner
17. “Ghost World” by Daniel Clowes
18. “BLANKETS” by Craig Thompson
19. “Watchmen” by Moore and Gibbons
20. “X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills” by Claremont and Brent Anderson
21. Barry Ween, Boy Genius 2.0 by Judd Winick
22. V for Vendetta By Moore and Lloyd
23. The Barefoot Serpent by Scott Morse
24. Cerebus Book 2, High Society by Dave Sim
25. The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
26. Gold Digger, The Gold Brick I, (the flawed volume costs less) by Fred Perry
27. The Long Halloween by Loeb and Sale
28. Sin City: Family Values by Frank Miller
29. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
30. Sin City: Yellow Bastard
31. The Golden Age by James Robinson and Paul Smith
32. It's a Bird by Steven Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen
33. Xenozoic Tales volumes I & II, by Mark Schultz (Dark Horse)
34. "Animal Man" vol. 1 by Grant Morrisson
35. Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar and Dave Johnson
36. Blue Monday: the Kids are Alright by Chynna Clugston Major
37. “The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes” By Neil Gaiman and various
38. The Complete Classic Zorro Adventures by Alex Toth
39. Sgt. Rock: Between Hell & a Hard Place by Brian Azzarello and Joe Kubert
40. Heavy Liquid - by Paul Pope
41. Astro City: Confessions by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson
42. Enigma - by Peter Milligan and Duncan Fegredo
43. David Boring by Daniel Clowes
44. “Whiteout: Melt" by Rucka/Lieber
45. Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures by J. Torres and J. Bone
46. Astro City: Life in the Big City by Busiek and Anderson
47. Torso by Brian Michael Bendis & Marc Andreyko
48. Jack Staff: Everything Used to be Black and White by Paul Grist
49. Daredevil: Born Again by Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli
50. Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross
51. From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
52. Castle Waiting: The Curse of Brambly Hedge by Linda Medley
53. Essential Fantastic Four Volume 3 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
54. Essential Conan - Thomas and Smith
55. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
56. The Invisibles vol. 7: The Invisible Kingdom - by Grant Morrison, Philip Bond, Frank Quitely, et al.
57. Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter by Stan Sakai
58. "The Adventures of Sock Monkey" Tony Millionaire
59. The Losers: Ante Up by Andy Diggle and Jock
60. Blackmark - by Gil Kane
61. Breakfast Afternoon by Andi Watson
62. Animal Man vol. 3: Deus Ex Machina - by Grant Morrison & Chas Truong
63. Hellboy: the Right Hand of Doom by Mike Mignola
64. Stray Bullets Volume One - David Lapham
65. Shirahime-Syo by Studio CLAMP
66. Yossel: April 19, 1943 by Joe Kubert

Next!

[Justin Davis]

Johnny the Homicidal Maniac: Director’s Cut by Jhonen Vasquez

Straight from Amazon.com: "Mayhem and violence rule in this collection of issues one through seven of Jhonen Vasquez's Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, as well as material seen before only in Carpe Noctem magazine. Dark and disturbingly funny, JTHM follows the adventures of Johnny (you can call him Nny), who lives with a pair of styrofoam doughboys that encourage his madness, a wall that constantly needs a fresh coat of blood, and--oh, yeah--his victims in various states of torture. Join Nny as he frightens the little boy next door (Todd, known to fans of Vasquez's work as Squee), thirsts for Cherry Brain Freezies, attempts suicide, draws Happy Noodle Boy, and tries to uncover the meaning of his homicidal existence."

More than that though, it’s simply incredibly funny, over-the-top violent, and at times, quite philosophical. The really tricky thing is that there’s a story here that you don’t quite notice when the book first starts. There’s more to this than what the beginning lets on. Is it Johnny’s fault he’s a raving psychotic or is it something else?

[Dom]

Jinx By Brian Michael Bendis

This is quite possibly Bendis' finest work. Just a marvel of great dialouge and pure storytelling art.

Note; I read Pedro and Me on the recc of the list, I cried three times, gave it to my girlfriend, who fell in love with it. Read it, just read it.

[davidbovey]

I thought I had already replied to this, but I guess I didn't! My choice would be...

Inhumans by Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee

Jae Lee's art really fit well with the dark and somewhat creepy feel of the Inhumans and their world, and the story was great.

[Brad Curran]

Maus: My Father Bleeds History and Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegleman

The Pulitzer Prize winning collection of Art Spiegelman's biographical account of his father's holocaust experiences, their strained relationship, and more. It's considered by many to be the greatest graphic novel ever published, and is the one example you'll always hear about when comics as literature is being discussed. It's also a moving, heartbreaking, and even occasionally funny story. Buzz mentioned it, but it wasn't on the official list yet.

[Tynne]

Mutant, Texas: Tales of Sheriff Ida Red by Paul Dini and J. Bone.

Mutant, Texas is a town where years ago a nuclear disaster combined with the strange mystic energies of the desert to transform the population into strange creatures.

Ida Red is the sole "normal human" living in the town...aside from the bitter and distant Sheriff Brunt.

Until the day her special powers quite literally explode.

A truly unique hybrid super-hero/western/funny animal romp.

Proof that Paul Dini is one of the great super-hero writers of our day.

And J. Bone's art is like the storyboard for the coolest Saturday Morning cartoon ever. :)

[SkiSwope]

Bone Volume 2: The Great Cow Race (http://www.boneville.com/library/excerpts/bone2.shtml) - by Jeff Smith / Cartoon Books / 1992.

http://www.hillcity-comics.com/graphic_novels/indy/bone_great_cow_race.jpg

How many comics can you honestly say made you laugh out loud? This one did it for me on multiple occasions. It collects issues #7-12 of an absolutely hilarious all-ages series. Typically, when you see the term "all-ages" you can interpret that as "watered down". Not so here. Bone (at least the first 4 volumes) is just pure fun to be enjoyed on multiple levels by readers of all ages.

If you don't know about Bone, where have you been? In short, it follows the misadventures of three cousins who are exiled from their home town and find their way to a simple village in a beautiful valley in the midst of a wood filled with all kinds of interesting characters.

I recommend the first three or four volumes of Bone, but keeping with the guidelines of this thread, The Great Cow Race (http://www.boneville.com/library/excerpts/bone2.shtml), the second in the series, is my top recommendation. You don't need to read the first volume to appreciate the second, but that one is also hilarious. :D

[Brad Curran]

Red Rocket 7 by Mike and Laura Allred

A hybrid of sci-fi, rock and roll history, and religious mythology, Mike Allred's Red Rocket 7 belongs on every rock snob and X-Statix fan at CBR's bookshelf. Allred's beautiful art shines, especially on the likeness of rock legends from Little Richard to Nirvana, and everyone in between, and how an alien clone influenced them. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, and Elivs Presley also make substantial appearences. Besides that though, it's a fun and even touching story that has Allred's trademark style in abundance, and hey, how many other comics are you going to read where the Dandy Warhols are guest stars?

[JLarson]

X-Force: Famous, Mutant, and Mortal (Supersize HC) - by Peter Milligan, Mike Allred, Darwyn Cooke, and Duncan Fegredo.

Contains the entire revamped X-Force run. The greatest silver-age art combined with an obvious appreciation for the fun of comic book adventures. Add in a dash of sarcasm and outrageous comedy, and you've got X-Force - the celebrity mutant reality show.

[Justin Davis]

Zot! (http://scottmccloud.com/store/books/zot.html) by Scott McCloud

No, I'm not yelling. That's the name of the book.

This is one of my favorite stories collected. The following trades are even better and I hope that the fourth volume gets collected some day. A story about a young man from an alternate universe's seemingly utopian world, the regular folks from "our universe", and what heppens when you mix the two. Incredibly fun with fantastic elements yet with relatable characters and real developments. Some absolutely great storytelling too. Pick this one up if you can.

[SkiSwope]

Strangers in Paradise (http://www.strangersinparadise.com/sipindex.html) - by Terry Moore / Abstract Studios / 1993.

SiP is often referred to as a "romance" title, but I think that runs the risk of turning off many traditional comic buyers. It contains equal parts action, romance, and humor but more than anything it is about genuine love between friends. It follows three young 20-somethings from completely different backgrounds as they sort out their feelings for one other and their place in the modern world. The varied characters have normal human foibles, strengths, insecurities, and emotions. They also have dark pasts which refuse to remain in the past.

The series examines the ins and outs of relationships from blissful romantic highs and the strength of true friendship to the lows of rejection and pain of betrayal. Although comical at times, it also delves into the destructive danger of obsession, control, & domination.

Since you have to start somewhere, you might as well start at the beginning with The Collected Strangers in Paradise which collects the original 3-issue mini-series originally published by Antarctic Press in 1993. Moore is good from the beginning, but his story-telling skills grow by leaps and bounds as the series progresses. After you get the first, don't stop until you've read them all. Then start over.

SiP is one of my all-time favorite comic series. At different times, it's made me laugh out loud, made me angry, tugged at my heart, inspired me, had me holding my breath, and made me cry. It's definitely worth the price of admission.

[Dan Apodaca]

Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth.

You will love this book, even if you're illiterate. It is a fantastic dive into the effects of composition on a comic story, and tells a compelling story about uncompelling people in a story that spans generations.

[Punchy]

"30 Days of Night" by Niles/Templesmith

A wonderfully creative vampire tell. Truly the scariest comic I've ever read. Great storytelling and fantastic art.

[ratzo]

The Interman by Jeff Parker (www.theinterman.com). It's James Bond meets The Six Million Dollar Man in this action-packed, globe-spanning adventure about the search for a genetically enhanced superman who has escaped his creators in order to discover his true origins. Exciting and fast-paced, with very good color art.

[Justin Davis]

Another 13 really good choices for the most part which brings us to a current total of 79. Every once in a while, this thread falls back to the second or even third page, but it's still here. I went through it last night and added about 10 books to my own wish list. Have you added any to your own? Want to add some more to this one? Here's what we have so far.

1. “Buzzboy: The World's Most Upbeat Superhero” by Joe Gallagher
2. “Pedro and Me” by Judd Winick
3. "The Cowboy Wally Show" by Kyle Baker
4. “Palestine” by Joe Sacco
5. “300” Writer-artist Frank Miller and colorist Lynn Varley
6. “The Cartoon History of the United States” by Larry Gonick
7. “Top Ten Vol. 1 and 2” By Alan Moore and Gene Ha
8. “Bizarro Comics” by Various
9. “Stuck Rubber Baby” by Howard Cruse
10. “Cerebus” – Book One by Dave Sim
11. “Squadron Supreme” – Mark Gruenwald and various
12. "Judge Dredd: The Complete America" by Wagner and Macneil
13. “Goodbye, Chunky Rice” by Craig Thompson's
14. "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" by Hayao Miyazaki
15. “Captain Britain” - Alan Moore and Alan Davis
16. “Road to Perdition” - Max Alan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner
17. “Ghost World” by Daniel Clowes
18. “BLANKETS” by Craig Thompson
19. “Watchmen” by Moore and Gibbons
20. “X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills” by Claremont and Brent Anderson
21. Barry Ween, Boy Genius 2.0 by Judd Winick
22. V for Vendetta By Moore and Lloyd
23. The Barefoot Serpent by Scott Morse
24. Cerebus Book 2, High Society by Dave Sim
25. The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
26. Gold Digger, The Gold Brick I, (the flawed volume costs less) by Fred Perry
27. The Long Halloween by Loeb and Sale
28. Sin City: Family Values by Frank Miller
29. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
30. Sin City: Yellow Bastard
31. The Golden Age by James Robinson and Paul Smith
32. It's a Bird by Steven Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen
33. Xenozoic Tales volumes I & II, by Mark Schultz (Dark Horse)
34. "Animal Man" vol. 1 by Grant Morrisson
35. Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar and Dave Johnson
36. Blue Monday: the Kids are Alright by Chynna Clugston Major
37. “The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes” By Neil Gaiman and various
38. The Complete Classic Zorro Adventures by Alex Toth
39. Sgt. Rock: Between Hell & a Hard Place by Brian Azzarello and Joe Kubert
40. Heavy Liquid - by Paul Pope
41. Astro City: Confessions by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson
42. Enigma - by Peter Milligan and Duncan Fegredo
43. David Boring by Daniel Clowes
44. “Whiteout: Melt" by Rucka/Lieber
45. Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures by J. Torres and J. Bone
46. Astro City: Life in the Big City by Busiek and Anderson
47. Torso by Brian Michael Bendis & Marc Andreyko
48. Jack Staff: Everything Used to be Black and White by Paul Grist
49. Daredevil: Born Again by Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli
50. Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross
51. From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
52. Castle Waiting: The Curse of Brambly Hedge by Linda Medley
53. Essential Fantastic Four Volume 3 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
54. Essential Conan - Thomas and Smith
55. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
56. The Invisibles vol. 7: The Invisible Kingdom - by Grant Morrison, Philip Bond, Frank Quitely, et al.
57. Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter by Stan Sakai
58. "The Adventures of Sock Monkey" - Tony Millionaire
59. The Losers: Ante Up by Andy Diggle and Jock
60. Blackmark - by Gil Kane
61. Breakfast Afternoon by Andi Watson
62. Animal Man vol. 3: Deus Ex Machina - by Grant Morrison & Chas Truong
63. Hellboy: the Right Hand of Doom by Mike Mignola
64. Stray Bullets Volume One - David Lapham
65. Shirahime-Syo by Studio CLAMP
66. Yossel: April 19, 1943 by Joe Kubert
67. Johnny the Homicidal Maniac by Johnen Vasquez
68. Jinx By Brian Michael Bendis
69. Inhumans by Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee
70. Maus: My Father Bleeds History and Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegleman
71. Mutant, Texas: Tales of Sheriff Ida Red by Paul Dini and J. Bone
72. Bone Volume 2: The Great Cow Race - by Jeff Smith / Cartoon Books / 1992
Preview here
73. Red Rocket 7 by Mike and Laura Allred
74. X-Force: Famous, Mutant, and Mortal (Supersize HC) - by Peter Milligan, Mike Allred, Darwyn Cooke, and Duncan Fegredo.
75. Zot! by Scott McCloud
76. Strangers in Paradise - by Terry Moore / Abstract Studios / 1993.
77. Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware
78. "30 Days of Night" by Niles/Templesmith
79. The Interman by Jeff Parker

Next!

[Tynne]

The Soap Lady by Renee French.

A beautifully illustrated fable. One of those "all-ages" projects that actually can be read by all ages.

One day a woman made out of soap walks out of the water and encounters a young boy named Rollo.

Rollo just can't keep clean no matter how hard he tries.

The Soap Lady changes his life around...becomes his new best friend.

But the fear and jealousy of another boy in town soon manages to threaten them both.

[Brad Curran]

Preacher: Gone to Texas by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon

The first volume of Ennis and Dillon's twisted morality tale introduces the Reverend Jessie Custer and his travelling companions (his assassain ex-girlfriend Tulip O'Hare and the Irish Vampire Cassidy) and sets them on their quest to find a God who has abandoned heaven. It also sets the tone of blasphemy, bizarre supporting characters, ultra violence, crude humor, and long exchanges of dialogue that carries on throughout the series and will either hook or repell you. Beyond that, though, there's real heart and emotional depth to the characters and their relationships, whether it be Tulip and Jessie's bickering or Cassidy and Jessie's male bonding. It's also got John Wayne, and you really can't beat that.

[mgs]

"Judge Dredd: The Complete America" by Wagner and Macneil

A very different Dredd story about a girl named America and her best friend Benny. The two grow up together and are then reunited as adults when America has joined a terrorist organization with their efforts directed at the Judges. Touching and sophisticated.

One of the best trades I've ever read.
I find this one really interesting now that Punch has told me of it's existence! :) Dredd really interests me more and more.....

For my second book, may I reccomend the wonderful, Catwoman: Selina's Big Score, by DC.

It's a wonderful rewrite of the character by the tremendously talented Darwyn Cooke. It acts amazingly well as the precursor to the revamped series that was started by Ed Brubaker and Darwyn a few years back. While Darwyn has exhibited his grasp of the Batman world before, creating the title sequence for Batman: The Animated Series for TV a while back, this is one fine, ADULT tale for more mature minds. ;)

Getting a backstory on Selina like this is just wonderful and of course, the art does not hurt as Darwyn handles both art and writing chores, like his New Frontier series out now. I have the hardcover, but I think the physical SIZE of the book makes a difference, as the characters come to life more, at least for me, in the large size of the book's art.

One thing's for sure, when they announced, the new Catwoman movie was coming out, I really, really wished they followed the general premise and stylings of this book.

[SkiSwope]

The Complete Concrete (http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=44-193) - by Paul Chadwick / Dark Horse / 1994.

http://www.hillcity-comics.com/graphic_novels/dh/concrete_complete.jpg

Collects the 10-issue, 320-page regular Concrete series originally published in 1987-88. It's the story of a simple man who is abducted by aliens and has his brain transplanted into a massive stone exo-skeleton so they can experiment on him. He escapes and the aliens flee, leaving him trapped in his concrete body.

It's the story of how he deals with his new “powers”, tries to re-integrate into some semblance of a normal life, and deals with the inevitable changes of being trapped in a virtually indestructible stone body. For instance, he is still attracted to women but can no longer physically express his affection. We all have our convictions, however he wrestles with the fact that he has the physical power and notoriety to affect real change in the world. Most people think, "oh, I couldn't make a difference", but Concrete CAN make a difference. That can be more complicated than most of us realize.

The character is extremely relatable, as the author lets you peer right into his thoughts. He worries, he wonders, and he tries to make the best decisions he can. But, in the end, he's just an ordinary guy with strong convictions in an extraordinary situation.

If the cover price on The Complete Concrete (http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=44-193) is a bit too steep, then consider starting with Concrete: Strange Armor (http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=47-795) instead. It is a 5-issue retelling of Concrete's origin. If you enjoy these, there are several other Concrete mini-series, short story collections, specials, and other material available. More than any other comic book, I would love to see new Concrete material published. The last mini-series was completed in 1998.

[Punchy]

I find this one really interesting now that Punch has told me of it's existence! :) Dredd really interests me more and more.....


You won't be disappointed. And Dredd is hardley in it.

[Tynne]

Creature Tech by Doug TenNapel.

How to describe this book?

The Shroud of Turin turns out to be the real deal! Unfortunately it's used to restore the insane Dr. Jameson to life...who intends to use the Shroud to restore a Giant Space Eel to life and destroy the world!

Ain't that always the way?

Standing in his way is Dr. Ong, one of the head scientists of a government research facility nicknamed "Creature Tech".

Along with the weird thrills we get a fairly serious exploration on if it's possible for a person to be a scientist and to have faith in God.

Doug TenNapel is perhaps best known for creating Earthworm Jim. This is a more personal, but no less quirky and exciting work. :)

[Brad Curran]

The Red Star Collected addition by Team Red Star

The first volume of this ground breaking series is collected in one trade for the first time. Combining traditional pencils with computer generated art, it's one of the most beautiful comics I've ever seen, and unlike anything else out there. The story holds up its end of the bargain, providing an epic saga of a once powerful Soviet Union and the soldiers that fight for it, mixing sci-fi and fantasy elements with big action scenes and even a love story.

[clayholio]

"Box Office Poison" by Alex Robinson

I just finished reading this (yes, all in one night), and I am stunned at how well Robinson pegged all of the characters. The book focuses on a LOT of characters, and none of them felt anything but entirely real and honest. As a result, everything that happens in this book packs an emotional punch. That's quite a feat. I can't recommend this one enough.

[Marcus Nyahoe]

I was just debating whether to say Box Office Poison, but looks like I've just been beaten to it.

In that case I'd have to say "A Small Killing" by Alan Moore and Oscar Zaratte. Possibly one of the most literary of all the graphic novels I've read. The story of a man's journey to rediscover the younthful ideals he sold out for a piece of the Reagan/Thatcher pie, pursued by a phantasmal little boy along the way, could have appeared in a Booker listed novel. The execution though, could only have been carried out in comic form (and Moore's masterful manipulation of time within the book is nothing short of wonderful). It's been (or is due to be) re-released by Top Shelf. Well worth investing in.

[ratzo]

Three Fingers (www.topshelfcomix.com) by Rich Koslowski. What if cartoon characters were an actual species? This dark, bizarre, and utterly fascinating graphic novel explores the idea. Presented like a documentary film, it's about toons as Hollywood actors, and the dark secret they share - and the one superstar who had to bear its heavy burden. You'll never look at toons the same way ever again.

[hangmanjury]

The Sandman series has been mentioned already, so I'm going to name Sandman Book Four: Seasons of Mists... In my mind the zenith and high point of the whole Sandman series, and all of Gaiman's work in general.

Dream goes to hell to free a long lost love, only to find that the lord of hell has surprises for him, leading into repercussions involving gods and deities of various pantheons.

[SkiSwope]

Sanctuary Volume One (http://store.viz.com/product/GNVTE0001/b.SANCTUARY/s.SHsycGsk) - by Fumimura & Ikegami / Viz Comics / 1993.

Do yourself a favor and don't discount this title simply because it is a Japanese manga title. Many comic readers don't like manga, but this is possibly one of the most compelling political/crime titles of all time from any continent.

First off, be warned - Sanctuary (http://store.viz.com/product/GNVTE0001/b.SANCTUARY/s.SHsycGsk) contains mature content and is not appropriate for children. This is nothing like the currently popular (and childish) Japanese manga that most Americans have come to expect. This contains sex, violence, criminal activity, harsh language, and the like. Volume one collects the first 13-issue, 344-page "chapter" in a 9-volume coherent story. Each chapter tells a fulfilling story, but all 9-volumes together tell the epic.

Sanctuary (http://store.viz.com/product/GNVTE0001/b.SANCTUARY/s.SHsycGsk) tells the story of two Japanese men who struggle to change the face of their nation. As boyhood friends, they survived the brutality of the Cambodian killing fields. They made a vow to each other that, if they survived, they would create for themselves and future generations a “sanctuary” so no child would ever again endure the horrors of poverty, hunger, fear, and trauma they faced. Together, they work through the ranks of political and underworld power to achieve their ends. One character enters politics and gains influence in the Japanese Diet - the equivalent of Congress. The other joins the Yakuza to exploit the criminal power structure.

The artwork is absolutely stunning. The characters are compelling. And the plots are sophisticated & intriguing. The treatment of women is pretty chauvinistic, but true to the super-masculine nature of the criminal characters.

If you didn't think manga was for you, give this one a try. Or if you're looking for mature manga and don't know where to start, this is a great place. Finally, it you enjoy comics of political intrigue and criminal power struggles, it doesn't get much better than Sanctuary (http://store.viz.com/product/GNVTE0001/b.SANCTUARY/s.SHsycGsk).

[Brad Curran]

Skreemer by Peter Milligan, Bret Ewins, and Steve Dillon

A post apocalyptic gangster tale with more than a bit of James Joyce in it, this story uses the medium to shift seemlessly between the past and the present in telling the story of Veto Skreemer and the people whose life he effects in his rise and fall.

[meethraa]

Madman vol.4: Heaven & Hell

Superman/Madman Hullabaloo

Both beautiful drawn and criminally insane.


JSA: The Liberty Files

Possibly my favorite DC Trade ever.
Okay, maybe not EVER, but it's definitely on my top 5. It's just good, period!

[Justin Davis]

Madman vol.4: Heaven & Hell

Superman/Madman Hullabaloo

Both beautiful drawn and criminally insane.


JSA: The Liberty Files

Possibly my favorite DC Trade ever.
Okay, maybe not EVER, but it's definitely on my top 5. It's just good, period!

One at a time!

Hey, we're almost to 100.

[meethraa]

Gah, sorry, didn't pay enough attention.


Okay, I'll go with JSA: The Liberty Files first.


http://www.hillcity-comics.com/graphic_novels/new_graphic_novel2831.jpg


It's a Elseworld tale set during and after WW2 where JSA members work as government agents. The art it's simply incredible and the story won't disappoint.

Seriously, BUY IT NOW!

[Tynne]

Phoenix: A Tale of the Future by Osamu Tezuka.

Tezuka is one of those creative prodigies who seemed able to do any sort of story he set his mind on.

The Phoenix series is a narrative about the history of mankind. Each volume takes place in a different time period...from the dawn of humanity to the end of life on Earth and beyond.

People love, hate, fight, build, die...and all of this is watched by the mysterious Phoenix, who claims the be the living force of the cosmos.

One doesn't have to read these volumes in order...or even all of them to enjoy the story. Each can be enjoyed on their own terms.

The only real tragedy is that Tezuka passed away before he could complete this epic. Translations of a few of the volumes are available in English by Viz Comics.

[SkiSwope]

Optic Nerve: Sleepwalk and Other Stories (http://www.drawnandquarterly.com/shopCatalogLong.php?st=art&art=a3dff7dd5641ba) - by Adrian Tomine / Drawn & Quarterly / 1998.

Real life is interesting and Optic Nerve tells stories of real people in the real world. Some are mundane, some are startling, all have a sense of realism & relatability not often found in comics. Everyone at some point in their life can identify with these characters. In a series of short stories, Tomine examines how different people relate to one another and their world.

The creator began work on this series while still in high school and self-published 8 issues of his mini-comic by the time he entered college. What a feat! He is a gifted story-teller with an economy that packs an awful lot of punch into just a few pages. This intermittant and irregular series is well deserving of the wide-spread praise it has received, including multiple Eisner & Harvey awards and notoriety even outside the comic industry.

Optic Nerve is one of the best slice-of-life comics available. It should particularly appeal to mature teenagers, college students, and other young adults. Sleepwalk collects issues #1-4 of the regular Optic Nerve series. Issue #9 was just released in May. It is certified cool! :cool:

[Brad Curran]

The Authority: Under New Management by Warren Ellis, Mark Millar, Brian Hitch, and Frank Quitely

Eschewing the start of a series once again, I heartily reccomend the second collected edition of the comic that started the widescreen craze and Mark Millar a big name. In the first half of the trade, Ellis, Hitch, inker Paul Neary and colorist Laura Depuy cap their year long run on the title by escalating the threat level as far as it can go; God returns to Earth and decides he doesn't want those bothersome humans ruining his retirement. Explosions, one liners, and even a sense of wonder ensue.

In the second half, Millar and Quitely take over and take the series in a completely different direction, having the team forcefully inserts itself in to world politics and become media darlings in the process. This doesn't sit well with everyone, but the consequences aren't covered that throughly in this volume. What we do get is the kind of big fight scenes and plot twists that Millar carried over to his popular Marvel work. And a bunch of jerk Avengers that you can really feel good about hating, since they're among the villains.

[Scottsdale_Saint]

what a great thread! i've seen it several times on the front page and just never taken the time to read or post. well, after reading the entirety of the posts, i've several suggestions, but i'm going to take one that isn't always on everyone else's list. my suggestion is midnight nation by JMS. one of the most beautifully illustrated books done by gary frank, the artist extraordinaire on supreme power. it's about a cop who is tracking a serial murderer and winds up stuck in the world between the living and the dead. it has some great themes about life and is one of the few recent stories where i felt the ending was the payoff the story deserved. miss it at your own risk... ;)

[meethraa]

My second suggestion is

http://www.hillcity-comics.com/graphic_novels/new_graphic_novel585.jpg
MADMAN vol.4: HEAVEN & HELL


I have to say upfront that I haven't read every other Madman volume. In fact, I've read just a couple other Madman books, so I'm not qualified enough to tell you if this is the best one or not.

Still, this IS an essential trade. No doubt about it.
The art is quintessential Allred, which is most definitely a good thing, and the plot is weird and twisted and there's always something happening everywhere (you know, like in real life) so even if you're not particularly compelled by the main plot (which I doubt will happen) there's still a lot of story to enjoy.

Buy it or steal it from a friend with good taste!

[ratzo]

Superman: Peace On Earth (www.dccomics.com) by Paul Dini and Alex Ross. A giant-sized, fully painted graphic novel in which the Man of Steel attempts to feed the world in a single day as a means to try to get people working towards peace. No Lex Luthor, no Lois Lane, no Ma and Pa Kent except in flashback sequences - it's just Superman telling his story, and by taking such a basic approach, we understand better than ever who he is and more importantly, why he is. And the art's not too shabby either...

[SkiSwope]

Superman: Peace On Earth (www.dccomics.com) by Paul Dini and Alex Ross. ... :confused: How does this compare to the other Dini/Ross collaborations? I've only read JLA: Liberty & Justice. Of course, the artwork was outstanding, and the story itself was above average.

[SkiSwope]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned this yet!
http://www.hillcity-comics.com/graphic_novels/marvel/marvels.jpg
Marvels (http://www.marvel.com/comics/trades/detail.htm?id=325) - by Kurt Busiek & Alex Ross / Marvel / 1994.

This is my first main-stream entry to the list and, in my opinion, arguably the best collection released by Marvel in the last 10 years, possibly in their entire history. What if heroes were real and they walked among us? This is that story.

Marvels (http://www.marvel.com/comics/trades/detail.htm?id=325) collects the 5-issue mini-series (#0-4) originally published in 1994. It re-examines key events in the history of the Marvel universe through the eyes of a common photo-journalist. It re-tells Marvel’s most compelling stories from the earliest introduction of super-powered beings in New York City, through the mutant discrimination of the 60s & 70s, to the heart-wrenching death of Gwen Stacy. But most significantly, it tells how those events affected normal citizens. So many comics are hero-centric, but this portrays events from the point of view of an everyman as he observes the heroes in action. Even readers who don’t usually like superheroes will enjoy this amazing mini-series.

The painted artwork by Alex Ross is incredible and worth the price in its own right. His superheroes are the most iconic in the industry - second to none. Busiek's scripts are believable and moving. Marvels (http://www.marvel.com/comics/trades/detail.htm?id=325) should be on the top of every superhero recommendation list.

The softcover collection (http://www.hillcity-comics.com/graphic_novels/marvel/marvels.htm) was priced much more affordably than the new 10th anniversary hardcover (http://www.marvel.com/comics/trades/detail.htm?id=325) in case price is a consideration.

[Brad Curran]

The updated list again, because I feel like stepping on Justin's territory

1. “Buzzboy: The World's Most Upbeat Superhero” by Joe Gallagher
2. “Pedro and Me” by Judd Winick
3. "The Cowboy Wally Show" by Kyle Baker
4. “Palestine” by Joe Sacco
5. “300” Writer-artist Frank Miller and colorist Lynn Varley
6. “The Cartoon History of the United States” by Larry Gonick
7. “Top Ten Vol. 1 and 2” By Alan Moore and Gene Ha
8. “Bizarro Comics” by Various
9. “Stuck Rubber Baby” by Howard Cruse
10. “Cerebus” – Book One by Dave Sim
11. “Squadron Supreme” – Mark Gruenwald and various
12. "Judge Dredd: The Complete America" by Wagner and Macneil
13. “Goodbye, Chunky Rice” by Craig Thompson's
14. "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" by Hayao Miyazaki
15. “Captain Britain” - Alan Moore and Alan Davis
16. “Road to Perdition” - Max Alan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner
17. “Ghost World” by Daniel Clowes
18. “BLANKETS” by Craig Thompson
19. “Watchmen” by Moore and Gibbons
20. “X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills” by Claremont and Brent Anderson
21. Barry Ween, Boy Genius 2.0 by Judd Winick
22. V for Vendetta By Moore and Lloyd
23. The Barefoot Serpent by Scott Morse
24. Cerebus Book 2, High Society by Dave Sim
25. The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
26. Gold Digger, The Gold Brick I, (the flawed volume costs less) by Fred Perry
27. The Long Halloween by Loeb and Sale
28. Sin City: Family Values by Frank Miller
29. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
30. Sin City: Yellow Bastard
31. The Golden Age by James Robinson and Paul Smith
32. It's a Bird by Steven Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen
33. Xenozoic Tales volumes I & II, by Mark Schultz (Dark Horse)
34. "Animal Man" vol. 1 by Grant Morrisson
35. Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar and Dave Johnson
36. Blue Monday: the Kids are Alright by Chynna Clugston Major
37. “The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes” By Neil Gaiman and various
38. The Complete Classic Zorro Adventures by Alex Toth
39. Sgt. Rock: Between Hell & a Hard Place by Brian Azzarello and Joe Kubert
40. Heavy Liquid - by Paul Pope
41. Astro City: Confessions by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson
42. Enigma - by Peter Milligan and Duncan Fegredo
43. David Boring by Daniel Clowes
44. “Whiteout: Melt" by Rucka/Lieber
45. Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures by J. Torres and J. Bone
46. Astro City: Life in the Big City by Busiek and Anderson
47. Torso by Brian Michael Bendis & Marc Andreyko
48. Jack Staff: Everything Used to be Black and White by Paul Grist
49. Daredevil: Born Again by Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli
50. Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross
51. From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
52. Castle Waiting: The Curse of Brambly Hedge by Linda Medley
53. Essential Fantastic Four Volume 3 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
54. Essential Conan - Thomas and Smith
55. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
56. The Invisibles vol. 7: The Invisible Kingdom - by Grant Morrison, Philip Bond, Frank Quitely, et al.
57. Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter by Stan Sakai
58. "The Adventures of Sock Monkey" Tony Millionaire
59. The Losers: Ante Up by Andy Diggle and Jock
60. Blackmark - by Gil Kane
61. Breakfast Afternoon by Andi Watson
62. Animal Man vol. 3: Deus Ex Machina - by Grant Morrison & Chas Truong
63. Hellboy: the Right Hand of Doom by Mike Mignola
64. Stray Bullets Volume One - David Lapham
65. Shirahime-Syo by Studio CLAMP
66. Yossel: April 19, 1943 by Joe Kubert
67. Johnny the Homicidal Maniac by Johnen Vasquez
68. Jinx By Brian Michael Bendis
69. Inhumans by Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee
70. Maus: My Father Bleeds History and Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegleman
71. Mutant, Texas: Tales of Sheriff Ida Red by Paul Dini and J. Bone
72. Bone Volume 2: The Great Cow Race - by Jeff Smith / Cartoon Books / 1992
73. Red Rocket 7 by Mike and Laura Allred
74. X-Force: Famous, Mutant, and Mortal (Supersize HC) - by Peter Milligan, Mike Allred, Darwyn Cooke, and Duncan Fegredo.
75. Zot! by Scott McCloud
76. Strangers in Paradise - by Terry Moore / Abstract Studios / 1993.
77. Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware
78. "30 Days of Night" by Niles/Templesmith
79. The Interman by Jeff Parker
80. The Soap Lady by Renee French
81. Preacher: Gone to Texas by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon
82. The Complete Concrete - by Paul Chadwick / Dark Horse / 1994
83. Creature Tech by Doug TenNapel
84. The Red Star Collected Edition (not addition, no sir) by Team Red Star
85. "Box Office Poison" by Alex Robinson
86. "A Small Killing" by Alan Moore and Oscar Zaratte
87. Three Fingers by Rich Koslowski
88. The Sandman: Seasons of Mist
89. Sanctuary Volume 1 by Fumiara and Ikegami / Viz Comics / 1993
90. Skreemer by Peter Milligan, Bret Ewins, and Steve Dillon
91. JSA: The Liberty Files
92. Phoenix: A Tale of the Future by Osamu Tezuka.
93. Optic Nerve: Sleepwalk and Other Stories - by Adrian Tomine / Drawn & Quarterly / 1998.
94. The Authority: Under New Management by Warren Ellis, Mark Millar, Brian Hitch, and Frank Quitely
95. midnight nation by JMS and Gary Frank
96. MADMAN vol.4: HEAVEN & HELL by Mike and Laura Allred
97. Superman: Peace On Earth by Dini and Ross
98. Marvels by Busiek and Ross

[Brad Curran]

From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell

Moore's second magnum opus, From Hell isn't just a tale about Jack the Ripper. It's an exhaustive piece of historical fiction that weaves truth and history into the killings, and how they gave birth to the twentieth century. It's also a huge story that definitely serves as an alternative for people who don't find standard sized comics to be meaty enough reading.

[SkiSwope]

From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell. . .Ragnarok2012 beat you to it, Brad. He listed From Hell back at #52. But I liked your synopsis. ;)

[Punchy]

The Coffin Hester/Huddleston

Another great horror comic about death and coming back in a robotic "coffin." The first two pages are among the scariest in comics I've ever read.

[Apathy Boy]

100 Bullets: Hang Up on the High Low: This trade gives you all the hard-edged noir plotting, edgy dialogue and gratuitous sex and violence that you've come to expect from Azzarello and Risso. It also gives you something you don't expect from 100 Bullets: genuine, heartfelt emotion. Curtis' words for his son in the last issue are enough to make you weep.

[Jonathan Bogart]

It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken by Seth.

When I first read this book -- almost, geeze, four years ago now -- my entire conception of what comics were and could be was exploded into a million shiny pieces. I was a pretty standard superhero fan before that (and I still am: just bought and enjoyed the heck out of the "Avengers/Defenders War" and "Formerly Known as the Justice League" trades), but Seth enabled me to see the connections between the entire history of commercial art and end-of-the-millenium comics, giving me a greater and wider appreciation for the art form and inspiring me to be a cartoonist myself. In fact, just today I almost bought a newer edition of the book, even though my old edition is holding up fine: it's the kind of book I want to have more than one copy of, just in case.

It's apparently autobiographical, starring a cartoonist named Seth as he muses through his relationship with the past, takes somber, elegaic walks, and hunts for information about an obscure cartoonist named Kalo. His brush line and slow pacing evoke a bygone era and build a highly evocative, personal world at the same time. Fellow Canadian cartoonist Chester Brown ("Yummy Fur," "The Playboy," "Louis Riel") makes several cameos. It's not for everyone; more like a highbrow indie film than the popcorn fantasy that most comics aim for. (That's not a bad thing.)

I say apparently autobiographical because Seth has made it known since publishing the story that Kalo never existed, so much of the story is invented. Which only makes me like it better.


JB

[Donald M.]

I must add to this growing list The New Adventures of Abraham Lincoln by Scott McCloud, the unbelievably hilarious tale of a time-travelling, jingo-spouting Lincoln imposter in the employ of alien invaders and the wiseass teens who must thwart his devious plans with the help of the real Abraham Lincoln, who sadly just isn't as impressive as his flag-waving, motto-shouting clone.

A book that pokes fun at Americans' general ignorance of our own history and our unfortunate habit of putting more stock in the symbols of our nation than in the ideals behind them, it's high hilarity with a good message. I couldn't reccomend it more highly.

[Brad Curran]

Ragnarok2012 beat you to it, Brad. He listed From Hell back at #52. But I liked your synopsis. ;)

And I looked over the list three times for it. I must have an aversion to the number 52. Thanks anyway.

[SkiSwope]

And I looked over the list three times for it. I must have an aversion to the number 52. Thanks anyway.I know what you're saying. I reviewed the list back and forth multiple times before adding Marvels and I was STILL worried someone was going to tell me it had already been mentioned. So many of my top recommendations have already been listed, so it takes a careful eye to avoid duplication. :)

[Brad Curran]

Saga of the Swamp Thing by Alan Moore, John Totleben, and Steve Bisette

This first collection of Moore's landmark run on Swamp Thing begins with Swamp Thing's origin being turned on its head in "the Anatomy Lesson" and doesn't look back from there. As the stories progress, Swamp Thing struggles to come to grips with his identity, battles revitalized JLA villain the Floronic Man, and encounters everyone's favorite rhyming demon Etrigan.

[mgs]

You won't be disappointed. And Dredd is hardley in it.
really? I don't think I will, but, why no dredd? and looking through recent previews I did not find this. :(

btw, Another entry of mine:
Elektra Lives Again by Lynn Varley and Frank Miller.
-I just love this graphic novel. It's got all of the Marvel characters set up and portrayed the way Miller wants em, hard core and in their own world. The adult themes in this book, sex and violence, fit in perfectly with the Daredevil world, and yet, this book is also hauntingly eerie.

You may or may not like Miller's style in this book, but if you do, I really suggest picking this one up as I think it is as good as his Dark Knight book.

[ratzo]

:confused: How does this compare to the other Dini/Ross collaborations? I've only read JLA: Liberty & Justice. Of course, the artwork was outstanding, and the story itself was above average.

PoE was the first in the series of Dini/Ross graphic novels, so it set the standard for the others that followed (Batman, Shazam, Wonder Woman, and the two JLA ones). It's set around Christmas time, so it's got a holiday vibe to it that the others don't have. And of course, the supporting cast is almost non-existent (except for Pa Kent, who appears in flashback). One thing I sort of disliked about the Wonder Woman one is that Superman appears in it, so it's the only one that could be considered a "crossover."

Back to the list...

Beg the Question (www.fantagraphics.com) by Bob Fingerman. Sex, comics, sex, relationships, sex, the everyday horrors of life in New York City, sex, Italians, Jews, gays, Martin Amis, Lydia Lunch, Evan Dorkin, MST3K, club kids, art directors, geeks, freaks, and oh yeah - sex.

[SkiSwope]

Y: The Last Man - Volume 1: Unmanned (http://www.dccomics.com/features/ylastman/index.html) - by Brian Vaughan & Pia Guerra / DC Vertigo / 2002.

http://www.hillcity-comics.com/graphic_novels/new_graphic_novel1522.jpg

Collects issues #1-5 originally published in 2002. What if you were the last man on Earth? Every 15-year old boy’s dream, right? Wrong. This is a post-apocalyptic nightmare. In the year 2002, every man on Earth - 48% of the world's population, 29 billion people - are suddenly wiped out by a mysterious plague. In fact, ever male mammal possessing a Y chromosome from sperm to full-grown adults are dead. For some unknown reason, one American man and his pet monkey are apparently the only males to survive this holocaust.

Just the idea of this is incredible. Vaughan explores how women would pick up the pieces of a world without men. A world where most of the soldiers, CEOs, airline pilots, world leaders, tractor trailer drivers, fire fighters, and ship captains suddenly die where they stood. How do they deal with the bodies? How do they re-establish some sense of order? How do they ship goods from place to place? What will they do without male livestock to replenish their meat supply? This is that story and it is mind-blowing.

Y: The Last Man (http://www.dccomics.com/features/ylastman/index.html) has won multiple Eisner awards and wide-spread acclaim. It has one of the most memorable initial story arcs of any comic series in memory. This outta be a hollywood blockbuster film. Wait, it will be! Y is currently under developement. I can't wait! It'll be awesome!

[Justin Davis]

Brad, you bastard! How dare you step in on my territory? Ok, we through with that? Good. I'm surprised no one mentioned Swamp Thing until now, I love the fact that Adventures of Abe Lincoln is mentioned, and think it's cool that Swope is putting images of covers in the post. We've shot past 100. Great choices in all and I'm impressed more and more with the amount of good stuff out there, especially when I don't know about it already.

1. “Buzzboy: The World's Most Upbeat Superhero” by Joe Gallagher
2. “Pedro and Me” by Judd Winick
3. "The Cowboy Wally Show" by Kyle Baker
4. “Palestine” by Joe Sacco
5. “300” Writer-artist Frank Miller and colorist Lynn Varley
6. “The Cartoon History of the United States” by Larry Gonick
7. “Top Ten Vol. 1 and 2” By Alan Moore and Gene Ha
8. “Bizarro Comics” by Various
9. “Stuck Rubber Baby” by Howard Cruse
10. “Cerebus” – Book One by Dave Sim
11. “Squadron Supreme” – Mark Gruenwald and various
12. "Judge Dredd: The Complete America" by Wagner and Macneil
13. “Goodbye, Chunky Rice” by Craig Thompson's
14. "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" by Hayao Miyazaki
15. “Captain Britain” - Alan Moore and Alan Davis
16. “Road to Perdition” - Max Alan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner
17. “Ghost World” by Daniel Clowes
18. “BLANKETS” by Craig Thompson
19. “Watchmen” by Moore and Gibbons
20. “X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills” by Claremont and Brent Anderson
21. Barry Ween, Boy Genius 2.0 by Judd Winick
22. V for Vendetta By Moore and Lloyd
23. The Barefoot Serpent by Scott Morse
24. Cerebus Book 2, High Society by Dave Sim
25. The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
26. Gold Digger, The Gold Brick I, (the flawed volume costs less) by Fred Perry
27. The Long Halloween by Loeb and Sale
28. Sin City: Family Values by Frank Miller
29. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
30. Sin City: Yellow Bastard
31. The Golden Age by James Robinson and Paul Smith
32. It's a Bird by Steven Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen
33. Xenozoic Tales volumes I & II, by Mark Schultz (Dark Horse)
34. "Animal Man" vol. 1 by Grant Morrisson
35. Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar and Dave Johnson
36. Blue Monday: the Kids are Alright by Chynna Clugston Major
37. “The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes” By Neil Gaiman and various
38. The Complete Classic Zorro Adventures by Alex Toth
39. Sgt. Rock: Between Hell & a Hard Place by Brian Azzarello and Joe Kubert
40. Heavy Liquid - by Paul Pope
41. Astro City: Confessions by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson
42. Enigma - by Peter Milligan and Duncan Fegredo
43. David Boring by Daniel Clowes
44. “Whiteout: Melt" by Rucka/Lieber
45. Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures by J. Torres and J. Bone
46. Astro City: Life in the Big City by Busiek and Anderson
47. Torso by Brian Michael Bendis & Marc Andreyko
48. Jack Staff: Everything Used to be Black and White by Paul Grist
49. Daredevil: Born Again by Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli
50. Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross
51. From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
52. Castle Waiting: The Curse of Brambly Hedge by Linda Medley
53. Essential Fantastic Four Volume 3 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
54. Essential Conan - Thomas and Smith
55. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
56. The Invisibles vol. 7: The Invisible Kingdom - by Grant Morrison, Philip Bond, Frank Quitely, et al.
57. Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter by Stan Sakai
58. "The Adventures of Sock Monkey" - Tony Millionaire
59. The Losers: Ante Up by Andy Diggle and Jock
60. Blackmark - by Gil Kane
61. Breakfast Afternoon by Andi Watson
62. Animal Man vol. 3: Deus Ex Machina - by Grant Morrison & Chas Truong
63. Hellboy: the Right Hand of Doom by Mike Mignola
64. Stray Bullets Volume One - David Lapham
65. Shirahime-Syo by Studio CLAMP
66. Yossel: April 19, 1943 by Joe Kubert
67. Johnny the Homicidal Maniac by Johnen Vasquez
68. Jinx By Brian Michael Bendis
69. Inhumans by Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee
70. Maus: My Father Bleeds History and Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegleman
71. Mutant, Texas: Tales of Sheriff Ida Red by Paul Dini and J. Bone
72. Bone Volume 2: The Great Cow Race - by Jeff Smith / Cartoon Books / 1992
Preview here
73. Red Rocket 7 by Mike and Laura Allred
74. X-Force: Famous, Mutant, and Mortal (Supersize HC) - by Peter Milligan, Mike Allred, Darwyn Cooke, and Duncan Fegredo.
75. Zot! by Scott McCloud
76. Strangers in Paradise - by Terry Moore / Abstract Studios / 1993.
77. Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware
78. "30 Days of Night" by Niles/Templesmith
79. The Interman by Jeff Parker
80. The Soap Lady by Renee French
81. Preacher: Gone to Texas by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon
82. The Complete Concrete - by Paul Chadwick / Dark Horse / 1994
83. Creature Tech by Doug TenNapel
84. The Red Star Collected Edition (not addition, no sir) by Team Red Star
85. "Box Office Poison" by Alex Robinson
86. "A Small Killing" by Alan Moore and Oscar Zaratte
87. Three Fingers by Rich Koslowski
88. The Sandman: Seasons of Mist by Gaiman and various
89. Sanctuary Volume 1 by Fumiara and Ikegami / Viz Comics / 1993
90. Skreemer by Peter Milligan, Bret Ewins, and Steve Dillon
91. JSA: The Liberty Files by Dan Jolley and Tony Harris
92. Phoenix: A Tale of the Future by Osamu Tezuka.
93. Optic Nerve: Sleepwalk and Other Stories - by Adrian Tomine / Drawn & Quarterly / 1998.
94. The Authority: Under New Management by Warren Ellis, Mark Millar, Brian Hitch, and Frank Quitely
95. Midnight Nation by JMS and Gary Frank
96. Madman Vol.4: Heaven & Hell by Mike and Laura Allred
97. Superman: Peace On Earth by Dini and Ross
98. Marvels by Busiek and Ross
99. The Coffin by Hester/Huddleston
100. 100 Bullets: Hang Up on the High Low by Azarello and Risso
101. It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken by Seth
102. The New Adventures of Abraham Lincoln by Scott McCloud
103. Saga of the Swamp Thing by Alan Moore, John Totleben, and Steve Bisette
104. Elektra Lives Again by Lynn Varley and Frank Miller
105. Beg the Question by Bob Fingerman
106. Y: The Last Man - Volume 1: Unmanned - by Brian Vaughan & Pia Guerra / Vertigo

Next!

[Ayo]

The Frank Book, by Jim Woodring.

Frank is a little mute cartoon critter living in a wordless cartoon world. Frank's adventures are wordless, but they speak volumes. Some of the stories are staightfoward pantomime fun. Some are bizarre brainattacks that will leave you amazed and afraid. Explaining Frank in words doesn't do it justice. All I can say is that when you get through reading your first Frank story, you'll feel as though somebody much smarter than you is pulling an incredibly cruel joke on you.

Woodring's Frank stories are probably the most unique comics known to man. Nothing's like them.

[DonC]

Rex Mundi: Guardian of the Temple by Arvid Nelson and Eric J. Set in an alternate history of 1930s France, this is a muder mystery in the same vein as The Da Vinci Code, only it predates that novel by about a year. It has murder, sorcery, secret societies, puzzles, hidden clues. All that stuff. It is, in my opinion, the best comic on the stands today.

[Scottsdale_Saint]

btw, Another entry of mine:
Elektra Lives Again by Lynn Varley and Frank Miller.
-I just love this graphic novel. It's got all of the Marvel characters set up and portrayed the way Miller wants em, hard core and in their own world. The adult themes in this book, sex and violence, fit in perfectly with the Daredevil world, and yet, this book is also hauntingly eerie.

You may or may not like Miller's style in this book, but if you do, I really suggest picking this one up as I think it is as good as his Dark Knight book.i'd be the second to recommend this one as i think it's every bit as good, artwise as the dark knight and really is the last thing that miller drew in a more detailed style. i'm not saying sin city isn't good, it's just in a more minamilist style. some call it different, i call it lazy. :D but back to elektra lives again, it really should have been the final word and appearance of elektra, it's just that good.

[Punchy]

really? I don't think I will, but, why no dredd? and looking through recent previews I did not find this. :(


He's in it, he just doesn't have a very big role. It's more about the times they live in and how the Judges affect the citizens. It's great, fo' real.

[mgs]

i'd be the second to recommend this one as i think it's every bit as good, artwise as the dark knight and really is the last thing that miller drew in a more detailed style. i'm not saying sin city isn't good, it's just in a more minamilist style. some call it different, i call it lazy. :D but back to elektra lives again, it really should have been the final word and appearance of elektra, it's just that good.
hear, hear!! :)
He's in it, he just doesn't have a very big role. It's more about the times they live in and how the Judges affect the citizens. It's great, fo' real.
oh! SOunds like fun! :) *will start to look now*

Entry:
Artbabe / Soundtrack: Short Stories 1989-1996 by Jessica Abel
-Great indie stuff by, at the time, newcomer, Abel. Her gritty b/w art captures the moments perfectly in life and her dialogue is second to none. This is the pre-book to her current fame and it is a collection of past Artbabe works, but still very worth it if you like love and rockets, type non-superhero comics.
This may be outdated now, but recommended for anyone who likes comics about 'the scene'.

[Brad Curran]

Essential Howard the Duck by Steve Gerber, Gene Colan, and friends

Gerber brings political satire, social commentary, and humor to the Marvel Comics of the '70's via a cigar chomping duck trapped in a world he never made. Some references may be dated, but the humor and skill of Gerber's writing and his artists isn't, and Howard's still as unique a protagonist as you're going to find in comics.

[Tynne]

The Land of Nod Rockabye Book by Jay Stephens.

It's hard to put Jay's work into a category. Basically he creates these crazy cartoons that can shift from wacky slapstick comedy to darker emotional content all in the space of one page.

Jetcat, the Bug Patrol, Nod, Space Ape Number 8, Tutenstein...he has a seemingly endless supply of characters.

His art style is bold and very striking...no line is wasted.

[Brad Curran]

Bump (with the new and improved updated list):

1. “Buzzboy: The World's Most Upbeat Superhero” by Joe Gallagher
2. “Pedro and Me” by Judd Winick
3. "The Cowboy Wally Show" by Kyle Baker
4. “Palestine” by Joe Sacco
5. “300” Writer-artist Frank Miller and colorist Lynn Varley
6. “The Cartoon History of the United States” by Larry Gonick
7. “Top Ten Vol. 1 and 2” By Alan Moore and Gene Ha
8. “Bizarro Comics” by Various
9. “Stuck Rubber Baby” by Howard Cruse
10. “Cerebus” – Book One by Dave Sim
11. “Squadron Supreme” – Mark Gruenwald and various
12. "Judge Dredd: The Complete America" by Wagner and Macneil
13. “Goodbye, Chunky Rice” by Craig Thompson's
14. "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" by Hayao Miyazaki
15. “Captain Britain” - Alan Moore and Alan Davis
16. “Road to Perdition” - Max Alan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner
17. “Ghost World” by Daniel Clowes
18. “BLANKETS” by Craig Thompson
19. “Watchmen” by Moore and Gibbons
20. “X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills” by Claremont and Brent Anderson
21. Barry Ween, Boy Genius 2.0 by Judd Winick
22. V for Vendetta By Moore and Lloyd
23. The Barefoot Serpent by Scott Morse
24. Cerebus Book 2, High Society by Dave Sim
25. The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
26. Gold Digger, The Gold Brick I, (the flawed volume costs less) by Fred Perry
27. The Long Halloween by Loeb and Sale
28. Sin City: Family Values by Frank Miller
29. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
30. Sin City: Yellow Bastard
31. The Golden Age by James Robinson and Paul Smith
32. It's a Bird by Steven Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen
33. Xenozoic Tales volumes I & II, by Mark Schultz (Dark Horse)
34. "Animal Man" vol. 1 by Grant Morrisson
35. Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar and Dave Johnson
36. Blue Monday: the Kids are Alright by Chynna Clugston Major
37. “The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes” By Neil Gaiman and various
38. The Complete Classic Zorro Adventures by Alex Toth
39. Sgt. Rock: Between Hell & a Hard Place by Brian Azzarello and Joe Kubert
40. Heavy Liquid - by Paul Pope
41. Astro City: Confessions by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson
42. Enigma - by Peter Milligan and Duncan Fegredo
43. David Boring by Daniel Clowes
44. “Whiteout: Melt" by Rucka/Lieber
45. Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures by J. Torres and J. Bone
46. Astro City: Life in the Big City by Busiek and Anderson
47. Torso by Brian Michael Bendis & Marc Andreyko
48. Jack Staff: Everything Used to be Black and White by Paul Grist
49. Daredevil: Born Again by Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli
50. Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross
51. From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
52. Castle Waiting: The Curse of Brambly Hedge by Linda Medley
53. Essential Fantastic Four Volume 3 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
54. Essential Conan - Thomas and Smith
55. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
56. The Invisibles vol. 7: The Invisible Kingdom - by Grant Morrison, Philip Bond, Frank Quitely, et al.
57. Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter by Stan Sakai
58. "The Adventures of Sock Monkey" - Tony Millionaire
59. The Losers: Ante Up by Andy Diggle and Jock
60. Blackmark - by Gil Kane
61. Breakfast Afternoon by Andi Watson
62. Animal Man vol. 3: Deus Ex Machina - by Grant Morrison & Chas Truong
63. Hellboy: the Right Hand of Doom by Mike Mignola
64. Stray Bullets Volume One - David Lapham
65. Shirahime-Syo by Studio CLAMP
66. Yossel: April 19, 1943 by Joe Kubert
67. Johnny the Homicidal Maniac by Johnen Vasquez
68. Jinx By Brian Michael Bendis
69. Inhumans by Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee
70. Maus: My Father Bleeds History and Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegleman
71. Mutant, Texas: Tales of Sheriff Ida Red by Paul Dini and J. Bone
72. Bone Volume 2: The Great Cow Race - by Jeff Smith / Cartoon Books / 1992
73. Red Rocket 7 by Mike and Laura Allred
74. X-Force: Famous, Mutant, and Mortal (Supersize HC) - by Peter Milligan, Mike Allred, Darwyn Cooke, and Duncan Fegredo.
75. Zot! by Scott McCloud
76. Strangers in Paradise - by Terry Moore / Abstract Studios / 1993.
77. Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware
78. "30 Days of Night" by Niles/Templesmith
79. The Interman by Jeff Parker
80. The Soap Lady by Renee French
81. Preacher: Gone to Texas by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon
82. The Complete Concrete - by Paul Chad