Risible
Member
All great picks but be sure to check out reviews and stuff before you buy, as they are very niche and won't appeal to everyone. I enjoyed them all for the most part, but these are all pretty dense and slow-moving.
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Greatest Graphic Novels of all time?
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All great picks but be sure to check out reviews and stuff before you buy, as they are very niche and won't appeal to everyone. I enjoyed them all for the most part, but these are all pretty dense and slow-moving.
Some great recommendations here already, Western and manga. I'll add one from each:
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud is an analysis of the medium in a comic book format, panels, speech balloons and all. It'd be a great supplementary read after digging your teeth into some comics, there's some really great insights there.
Oyasumi Punpun by Inio Asano, official English translation came out last year I believe, is a coming of age type story that follows the nameless protagonist 'Punpun' through childhood to adulthood. It's kinda postmodern so if you're looking for something more traditional probably try other texts like Akira first. If you are in the mood for something a bit left-field, however, you should go for it. I should also mention it can get quite heavy at times, particular near the middle onwards to the end. All in all a fantastic read, and I've heard good things about his other works too like Solanin.
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud is an analysis of the medium in a comic book format, panels, speech balloons and all. It'd be a great supplementary read after digging your teeth into some comics, there's some really great insights there.
Oyasumi Punpun by Inio Asano, official English translation came out last year I believe, is a coming of age type story that follows the nameless protagonist 'Punpun' through childhood to adulthood. It's kinda postmodern so if you're looking for something more traditional probably try other texts like Akira first. If you are in the mood for something a bit left-field, however, you should go for it. I should also mention it can get quite heavy at times, particular near the middle onwards to the end. All in all a fantastic read, and I've heard good things about his other works too like Solanin.
I'd like to know this as well.
ClayKavalier
Banned
Glad to see some people suggesting Asterios Polyp, I read it recently and it's great.
Most of my other favorites have already been mentioned. Maus, Persepolis, Alan Moore stuff.
One series that doesn't get enough love is Astro City. It's kind of like Watchmen in that it's a more grounded take on what having superheroes would be like, but it doesn't always take itself seriously and instead of one story it's a bunch of short stories based around different characters. I think it can be hard to find these days but it's worth looking up.
Most of my other favorites have already been mentioned. Maus, Persepolis, Alan Moore stuff.
One series that doesn't get enough love is Astro City. It's kind of like Watchmen in that it's a more grounded take on what having superheroes would be like, but it doesn't always take itself seriously and instead of one story it's a bunch of short stories based around different characters. I think it can be hard to find these days but it's worth looking up.
Lazy vs Crazy
Member
All y'all talking about Seconds and Scott Pilgrim but Lost at Sea is the best Bryan Lee O'Malley book.
ThusZarathustra
Member
They're not doing in chronological order, but Fantagraphics has reprints of the Scrooge stuff they're calling the Don Rosa Library that's come out over the last few years in a similar manner to their Donald Duck and Peanuts reprints collections. I think volume five is the next one to come out. Here's an Amazon link to Volume One.
You the best man.
lol most of the stuff I listed are not only critically acclaimed but really short, and can be read in one sitting. actually a lot of the stuff listed are small books compared to the big stuff here like :Sandman, Sin city, Planetary, and ect..
the first second published books on my list are definitely for everyone. since they are recommended for schools
I just learned about this fairly recently while looking on Amazon at "The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye", and it looks great.
I think Understanding Comics is actually a great (re)introduction to comics; I don't think you need to read anything else to get a lot out of it.
And Necrovex will be pleased that someone mentioned Punpun. I've ordered the first volume and am awaiting its arrival, thanks to his persistence. Personally I don't really think of most manga (except for single-volume stuff) as "graphic novels", though it seems like we're not really distinguishing between different varieties of comic in this thread.
While I think The Incal is extremly influential and the art is phenomenal, the novel part of the graphic novel seems kind of hobbled together from scrapped story boards and has overly simple dialogue. I'm currently about 3/4 of the way through.
80s Bad Guy
Banned
My votes would go to Prophet, Watchmen and The Long Halloween, but there's a ton I haven't read here, like End of Days, I'm dying to check out.
Very beautiful and unique. They just released a complete volume edition after being out of print for years.
ThusZarathustra
Member
I was really disappointed when I read The Incal the first time. It's not really novel as such at all. It was made with Jodorowsky acting out the story in front of Moebius who storyboarded/thumbnailed it on the spot. It's a loose working out of the archtypes of the Tarot via Jodrowsky's own version of psychological analysis. It's not really much of a good story at all in the literary sense, it's all loose symbolism and good drawing. For something a little more novelistic (but still pretty loose and problematic) I'd recommend Jodorowsky's Metabarons series, where he looks at family, role, and dynasty. It's far from perfect, but is much more traditional a narrative than The Incal.
This (though I own it with the other cover). A lot of comics have been entertaining, or exploring complex issues, but none of them also had the emotional kick of I Kill Giants for me.
I see some usual suspects in this thread, but I also see some stuff I wasn't aware of, thanks!
Has anyone mentioned Berlin? Okay, let me mention Berlin.
Berlin, Vol. 1: City of Stones by Jason Lutes
It's a gorgeous black-and-white comic written and drawn by Jason Lutes. It deals with the last happy years of the Weimar Republic and the assorted artists, writers, musicians living in the very cosmopolitan city of Berlin during that time. It's historical fiction of a very artful, political, emotional kind.
Right now it's two volumes with a third set to come whenever Lutes finishes it. Makes a great companion piece to Maus.
Berlin, Vol. 1: City of Stones by Jason Lutes
It's a gorgeous black-and-white comic written and drawn by Jason Lutes. It deals with the last happy years of the Weimar Republic and the assorted artists, writers, musicians living in the very cosmopolitan city of Berlin during that time. It's historical fiction of a very artful, political, emotional kind.
Right now it's two volumes with a third set to come whenever Lutes finishes it. Makes a great companion piece to Maus.
good shit man. good shit.
ProfessorLobo
Banned
I'd say the Sandman series and nothing much comes close.
Solanin by Inio Asano
A slice-of-life manga from one of the more recent masters of the medium. A down-to-Earth story about some of the difficulties of growing into independent adulthood in a big city & finding your way in life (especially as a more creative type who feels the pressure to go with the flow of getting a steady, boring office job) with some relationship drama thrown into the mix as well (the more realistic, grounded kind, not melodramatic, soap opera-y crap).
Only one book, so this doesn't require one to track down seventy volumes of reading that fill 90% of your bookshelves.
A slice-of-life manga from one of the more recent masters of the medium. A down-to-Earth story about some of the difficulties of growing into independent adulthood in a big city & finding your way in life (especially as a more creative type who feels the pressure to go with the flow of getting a steady, boring office job) with some relationship drama thrown into the mix as well (the more realistic, grounded kind, not melodramatic, soap opera-y crap).
Only one book, so this doesn't require one to track down seventy volumes of reading that fill 90% of your bookshelves.
Sir_Crocodile
Member
Sandman by Neil Gaiman
Lucifer by Mike Carey (read after sandman)
Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis
Preacher by Garth Ennis
Hitman by Garth Ennis
Starman by James Robinson
My favourite mainstream one is probably Grant Morrisions run on JLA in the nineties (JLA #34–41, these days collected in four hardbacks), which he did side by side with the great DC 1 Million.
Lucifer by Mike Carey (read after sandman)
Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis
Preacher by Garth Ennis
Hitman by Garth Ennis
Starman by James Robinson
My favourite mainstream one is probably Grant Morrisions run on JLA in the nineties (JLA #34–41, these days collected in four hardbacks), which he did side by side with the great DC 1 Million.
Amazing list, gonna add Punisher Max Garth Ennis run to that.
Spuck-uk
Banned
If you're only into superhero-esque stuff, Sandman and The Invisibles
If not, Maus, Transmetropolitan and Preacher
Triggerhappytel
Member
I don't have a great deal of experience with graphic novels, but from those I have read I absolutely adore the Sandman series. There are about 10 books I think, and they're about a group of gods called The Endless - Desire, Destiny, Death, Destruction, Despair, Delirium and the protagonist, Dream. It's about their relationships with other gods, demi-gods and immortals like Gabriel, Lucifer, Odin, Bast, etc.
Triggerhappytel
Member
I had no idea Neverwhere was a graphic novel - I thought it was a book! I enjoyed the TV show (even though it looked very low-budget) so maybe I should check this out too.
I hadn't thought of it that way but upon considering one of it's greatest strengths is that it is a great comic book in itself on top of its content matter, yeah it could very well work as a hook. The reason I recommended it to be read after is that I found it much more compelling after revisiting it with more examples and other texts to draw from.
Exciting! Hope you find it worth reading n. n Manga doesn't come to my mind either when I think of graphic novels but I wanted to give it a mention anyway since it's a finished work and I suspected we wouldn't be sticking to a strict definition, if there even is one.
Endorphineforeverybody
Member
Yeah, thx for that, was looking at them for a long time. Bought it now, prices are already rising.
Somebody said the goon, yes I'm also enjoying this now as the library editions come out.
Would like to add, Pogo, Calvin and Hobbes, Chew, Blacksad and King City. And of course my all time favorite Bone, love this universe so much.
I would like to thank all of Comic GAF to bring me back to this medium and for all this wonderful recommendations over the years, without you I would never had the pleasure to discover them. But I would saved a lot of money ^_~
DeadRockstar
Member
Western recs only or I'd be here all day and I'm too lazy to check which manga have translations available:
I love Alan Moore's stuff but you've got him so..
Enigma and Shade the Changing Man by Peter Milligan
Transmetropolitan and FreakAngels by Warren Ellis
Hellboy and B.P.R.D.by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Blueberry and whatever his story compilations are called by Moebius
Strangers in Paradise and Rachel Rising by Terry Moore
Marshal Law, Dredd, Slain and other 2000AD stuff by Pat Mills et al.
Lucifer by Mike Carey
Prophet by Brandon Graham and Simon Roy
Astro City, Marvels, Conan and Superman: Secret Identity by Kurt Busiek
I.D. by Emma Rios
Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay
The Duck stuff by Carl Barks and Don Rosa
The Runaways by Brian K. Vaughn
Batman Year 100 by Paul Pope
Thor: The Mighty Avenger by Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee
Invincible by Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley
The last couple aren't S rank works, but they're some of my favourite cape books so they're added for variety. Obviously if you like any of these, check out other works by the creators that I didn't list due to space; I tried to list their best as I see it.
I'll edit in any more that I remember later since this is off the top of the dome.
I love Alan Moore's stuff but you've got him so..
Enigma and Shade the Changing Man by Peter Milligan
Transmetropolitan and FreakAngels by Warren Ellis
Hellboy and B.P.R.D.by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Blueberry and whatever his story compilations are called by Moebius
Strangers in Paradise and Rachel Rising by Terry Moore
Marshal Law, Dredd, Slain and other 2000AD stuff by Pat Mills et al.
Lucifer by Mike Carey
Prophet by Brandon Graham and Simon Roy
Astro City, Marvels, Conan and Superman: Secret Identity by Kurt Busiek
I.D. by Emma Rios
Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay
The Duck stuff by Carl Barks and Don Rosa
The Runaways by Brian K. Vaughn
Batman Year 100 by Paul Pope
Thor: The Mighty Avenger by Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee
Invincible by Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley
The last couple aren't S rank works, but they're some of my favourite cape books so they're added for variety. Obviously if you like any of these, check out other works by the creators that I didn't list due to space; I tried to list their best as I see it.
I'll edit in any more that I remember later since this is off the top of the dome.
ginger ninja
Banned
Without a doubt. Like one poster said, it changes your worldview forever.
Schweinehund
Member
Alan Moore's Swamp Thing, Kingdom Come, 52, Sandman, Grant Morrison's Animal Man, Neil Gaiman's Books of Magic.
Watchmen is toward the higher ends of work, I didn't care for the DKR but I think all the books I listed are a degree better.
Herbspiceguy
Member
This is the greatest graphic novel for me: Winshluss' Pinocchio:
A dark, dirty, violent & filthy take on Pinocchio.
A lost, innocent robot boy walking through such a depraved & perverted world makes the classic story a lot more striking & compelling.
The art is amazing; the author uses different art styles throughout the book, yet they complement eachother perfectly.
I have the original French version, but there's a English version as well.
A dark, dirty, violent & filthy take on Pinocchio.
A lost, innocent robot boy walking through such a depraved & perverted world makes the classic story a lot more striking & compelling.
The art is amazing; the author uses different art styles throughout the book, yet they complement eachother perfectly.
I have the original French version, but there's a English version as well.
mere_immortal
Member
The Wicked and the Divine is amazing.
The first hardcover is out soon, great place to start.
The first hardcover is out soon, great place to start.
Dr. Benton Quest
Banned
I haven't seen Southern Bastards yet. For shame.
NoblesseOblige
Banned
I'm not well read into graphic novels but Transmetropolitan is by far my favorite among those dozen or so I have read.
inked_illusion
Member
Solanin by Inio Asano
My man, a more conistsent manga by Asano (moreso than Punpun) and feels more realistic.
Highly recommend Onani Master Kurosawa and Molester Man as they are completed and genuinely good mangas that show you don't need amazing art to tell a really good story.
I also recommend the first half of Usagi Drop (for the love of god stop reading before the timeskip) since it's just a good slice of life manga about fatherhood.
Dot Matrix
Member
BPRD Plague of Frogs series
Baltimore
100 Bullets
Persepolis
Gon
Batman: No Mans Land
Not a graphic novel but a 4 part comic series called Snow from the Batman Legends of the Dark Knight series. Mr Freeze origin story and the art style is awesome.
Baltimore
100 Bullets
Persepolis
Gon
Batman: No Mans Land
Not a graphic novel but a 4 part comic series called Snow from the Batman Legends of the Dark Knight series. Mr Freeze origin story and the art style is awesome.
DerangedHermit
Member
Not a single mention of Ed Brubaker stuff? (Besides Immortal Iron Fist which he started before handing it over to Fraction)
GAF, i am disappointed
Sleeper,
Criminal,
Incognito,
Fatale,
The Fade Out,
Velvet.
His Daredevil run was also nice, same in Captain America.
Besides his work: Locke & Key by Joe Hill, Fables by Bill Willingham & Chew by John Layman
GAF, i am disappointed
Sleeper,
Criminal,
Incognito,
Fatale,
The Fade Out,
Velvet.
His Daredevil run was also nice, same in Captain America.
Besides his work: Locke & Key by Joe Hill, Fables by Bill Willingham & Chew by John Layman
Charles Brandon
Member
From what I've read, From Hell is by far the best. It's a work of absolute genius in my humble opinion. The best work from a writer with a very strong bibliography.
I also like the Sandman compendiums.
Can't go wrong with anything related to Judge Dredd or 2000 AD either
I also like the Sandman compendiums.
Can't go wrong with anything related to Judge Dredd or 2000 AD either
Corpsepyre
Banned
https://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=199808820
OP, check here. Made this thread some days ago where I talk about some of my new favourite comics and some graphic novels too.
OP, check here. Made this thread some days ago where I talk about some of my new favourite comics and some graphic novels too.
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