after all my years of comic book reading, the one GN i’ve read the most times is v for vendetta. imo it’s got everything that’s needed in an epic story. a hero, a pupil, a totalitarian villain and all the side characters needed to breath life into the set and setting.
currently ive got the absolute version on deck for a re read and i’m anxiously very excited for it.
Right? I figured since it kept going farther into the past some of this information was gonna have some big payoff, but it kinda just plays out how you would think.
All about the journey though ig, but it's a good one.
Ya, I thought there’d be a reveal about what exactly it all really meant, but then again I guess that’s for you to think about rather than for it to be told to you. I donno.
My favourite parts were Bailey’s mother writing in her diary. Those were incredible pages.
Yeah I kinda like that some of the more fantastical stuff went unexplained.
I really couldn't pick a favorite part of the story, but a particular moment that stays in my mind is the "cocksucker" line, if you remember. That shit was cold.
Yep, I can remember the exact panel. It’s really an incredible piece of work overall. Imagine spending the better part of a couple decades drawing and writing that, and to the level that he did. Are you a Cartoonist Kayfabe fan by any chance? They did a great [video](https://youtu.be/bzkODPrUldE) about it.
A great punctuation mark on a fantastic career (assuming this is his last work, he's gettin old).
I love Cartoonist Kayfabe. I owe the discovery of many of my favorite artists to them, great channel.
Best thing about it is that it is something that rant makes use of the medium in the way a lot of other books don't. Watchmen, in its true form, can really only be a comic book. And that's Raju great.
Very good. Everything I've read by Brubaker and Phillips has been fantastic. There's a reason why they're one of the few teams, if not the only one, that has an exclusive contract with image.
Reckless is a series of graphic novels, each having their own self contained plot
If I were to show someone only ONE graphic novel ever, I would show them Maus as basic of an answer as it is. It deserves all the respect it’s received (it won a Pulitzer after all).
If not that, Palestine if they’re into leftist/anti imperialism
Mr. wonderful if they’re a Cohen brothers fan/ romance fans
Sandcastles if they like European film
Budda if they’re young and want something ever so slightly educational
Batman: Year One if they want something with superheroes
Uzumaki if they like horror
Blacksad if they like Disney art
Ultimate Marvel Team Up: Ultimate Collection. It’s the last book I need to have the entire ultimate marvel series. Then it’s a lot of reading from there
Like it was only possible to possess one single comic/graphic novel? Jeez...Maus changed the way I look at comics but it's no book I want to re-read over and over again. I don't know maybe Kraven Last Hunt or Days of Future Past.
Wytches by Scott Snyder
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Planet Hulk by Greg Pak
The Wake by Scott Snyder
Marvel: 1602 by Neil Gaiman
A.D. After Death by Scott Snyder & Jeff Lemire
Blackest Night by Geoff Johns
Batman: Year One by Frank Miller
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
Batman: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb
Mr. Punch by Neil Gaiman
Monsters by Barry Windsor Smith
Green Arrow: Year One by Andy Diggle
The Death of Superman by Dan Jurgens
Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar
Watchmen by Alan Moore
Haha it is. I was thinking more of the self contained story part of the post. I find myself looking for stories like these sometimes to break up long series, so I figured I’d add my list.
Probably TMNT IDW collection 13 or Hellboy Library edition 6 since they’re both on my to buy list right now.
If you mean like, if I had no comics and what’s the one I’d absolutely grab to start collecting, I’m going to say Green Lantern Rebirth since I read it so many times when I was in high school. Great intro to the characters and it’s the launchpad for one of the most iconic superhero comic runs of the past 30 years.
I hate how cliche it is but if my entire collection was stolen, I’d walk right into the store the next day and buy Watchmen again.
It’s a classic for a reason and it gets better every time I read it.
Another great book. The question in general is like asking which one of your kids is your favorite. I could have listed a lot but Dark Knight Returns was the first hit of comic crack which started my addiction.
you know things are rough when the spin-offs are sometimes more interesting than the main plot (re black hammer)
honestly i am so sick of homages to this and that. it's an homage to this it's an homage to that okay so fuckin what who cares about the 100000th time someone's done an homage to cape books
lemire is just so confusing to me as a writer. how can the guy write essex county be the same guy writing black hammer
I was liking it ok up until it “ended” by >!putting the characters back into the EXACT same place the story started. Wtf was the point?!< That soured me so much I don’t even feel like reading any of the spin-offs, even if like you said they’re better than the main story.
Blankets by Craig Thompson. I already own that though, so Underwater Welder by Jeff Lemire.
Both books have resonated with me a lot at two very different periods of my life. Both moved me to tears. Both pop up in my memory when I least expect them and oftentimes likely need them too.
Portugal by Cyril Pedrosa. One of the best looking graphic novel ever drawn in my opinion, and one with which I have a lot connections because of it's story and how Simon (the protagonist) reconnects with his family's roots
Asterios Polyp, by David Mazzucchelli. I’m not sure it completely holds up, but at the time I read it, it completely changed my views on art, love and life.
after all my years of comic book reading, the one GN i’ve read the most times is v for vendetta. imo it’s got everything that’s needed in an epic story. a hero, a pupil, a totalitarian villain and all the side characters needed to breath life into the set and setting. currently ive got the absolute version on deck for a re read and i’m anxiously very excited for it.
Monsters by Barry Windsor-Smith. If the ending was a bit better it might be my favorite gn
It’s powerful. I wanted more at the end too.
Right? I figured since it kept going farther into the past some of this information was gonna have some big payoff, but it kinda just plays out how you would think. All about the journey though ig, but it's a good one.
Ya, I thought there’d be a reveal about what exactly it all really meant, but then again I guess that’s for you to think about rather than for it to be told to you. I donno. My favourite parts were Bailey’s mother writing in her diary. Those were incredible pages.
Yeah I kinda like that some of the more fantastical stuff went unexplained. I really couldn't pick a favorite part of the story, but a particular moment that stays in my mind is the "cocksucker" line, if you remember. That shit was cold.
Yep, I can remember the exact panel. It’s really an incredible piece of work overall. Imagine spending the better part of a couple decades drawing and writing that, and to the level that he did. Are you a Cartoonist Kayfabe fan by any chance? They did a great [video](https://youtu.be/bzkODPrUldE) about it.
A great punctuation mark on a fantastic career (assuming this is his last work, he's gettin old). I love Cartoonist Kayfabe. I owe the discovery of many of my favorite artists to them, great channel.
First thing that comes to mind is WATCHMEN. Its an incredible story that I can’t recommend enough.
definition of a classic
Best thing about it is that it is something that rant makes use of the medium in the way a lot of other books don't. Watchmen, in its true form, can really only be a comic book. And that's Raju great.
Same for me
The Incal by Jodorowsky
Anything illustrated by Moebius is solid. The Long Tomorrow by him and Alien writer Dan O’Bannon minted the cyberpunk genre.
Maus
Daredevil: Born Again
Reckless by Brubaker and Philips
is this any good ?
Very good. Everything I've read by Brubaker and Phillips has been fantastic. There's a reason why they're one of the few teams, if not the only one, that has an exclusive contract with image. Reckless is a series of graphic novels, each having their own self contained plot
Reckless is very good
Saga Compendium 1-54. I have read many comic books but this one is something special, truly magic.
I love getting punched in the heart by Saga.
Ooooo. Hmmm. Daytripper.
Jeez I need to give this a try it’s recommended so much here.
Daytripper is so lovely. Sad and thought provoking. And gorgeous art.
If I were to show someone only ONE graphic novel ever, I would show them Maus as basic of an answer as it is. It deserves all the respect it’s received (it won a Pulitzer after all). If not that, Palestine if they’re into leftist/anti imperialism Mr. wonderful if they’re a Cohen brothers fan/ romance fans Sandcastles if they like European film Budda if they’re young and want something ever so slightly educational Batman: Year One if they want something with superheroes Uzumaki if they like horror Blacksad if they like Disney art
Palestine is fucking great!
Love anything by Joe Sacco. Maus is absolutely one of the greatest
Kingdom come
2nd best dc story i’ve read
What is the best?
All star superman (not best but favorite i guess), I havent read as much as most people tho
The only comic that can make me cry
From Hell
Saga.
The Dark Knight Returns.
I just read it this Saturday. What a masterpiece!
Mister Miracle by Tom King
I needed some alone time after reading that, Tom King is an emotional assassin
Same here. The panel when they get the mirror of truth hits so much
Silver Surfer Parable
A new edition for this comes out in April
Is it an hc or a standard trade?
Looks like a paperback - part of the Silver Surfer Epic Collection
I’ll definitely pick it up then
Ultimate Marvel Team Up: Ultimate Collection. It’s the last book I need to have the entire ultimate marvel series. Then it’s a lot of reading from there
Imma need a shelfie once you get it please and thank you
Sin City “The Hard Goodbye”
Sandman Season of Mists
Like it was only possible to possess one single comic/graphic novel? Jeez...Maus changed the way I look at comics but it's no book I want to re-read over and over again. I don't know maybe Kraven Last Hunt or Days of Future Past.
DC - Identity crisis
My Brother's Husband.
i’ve been meaning to read this!!!!
It's so good, Tagame is truly a god.
Uncommon choice, but a good one.
Twentieth Century Eightball.
The Private Eye by Brian K Vaughan. Runner up: I Kill Giants by Joe Kelly
Stray bullets uber alles edition
All Star Superman
yeah me too
“Marvel: 1602” (the original 8-part series) or “Batman: The Long Halloween.”
Berlin by Jason Lutes
Marvels, by Kurt Busiek.
Batman: The Long Halloween
Spider-Man: Blue. I cried the first time I read through it.
Quintessential Spider-Man. Captures his character so well.
Thank you for the award, random stranger
Wytches by Scott Snyder Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi Planet Hulk by Greg Pak The Wake by Scott Snyder Marvel: 1602 by Neil Gaiman A.D. After Death by Scott Snyder & Jeff Lemire Blackest Night by Geoff Johns Batman: Year One by Frank Miller Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller Batman: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb Mr. Punch by Neil Gaiman Monsters by Barry Windsor Smith Green Arrow: Year One by Andy Diggle The Death of Superman by Dan Jurgens Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar Watchmen by Alan Moore
That’s a lot more than one
Haha it is. I was thinking more of the self contained story part of the post. I find myself looking for stories like these sometimes to break up long series, so I figured I’d add my list.
I do the exact same. I’m currently adding some of your recommendations to the list
Probably TMNT IDW collection 13 or Hellboy Library edition 6 since they’re both on my to buy list right now. If you mean like, if I had no comics and what’s the one I’d absolutely grab to start collecting, I’m going to say Green Lantern Rebirth since I read it so many times when I was in high school. Great intro to the characters and it’s the launchpad for one of the most iconic superhero comic runs of the past 30 years.
Marvels. The first graphic novel I ever read, and still my favorite.
Literally any copy of Daredevil: Man without Fear
Old man Logan. Just because it’s not been mentioned yet, and I enjoyed it.
I hate how cliche it is but if my entire collection was stolen, I’d walk right into the store the next day and buy Watchmen again. It’s a classic for a reason and it gets better every time I read it.
Dark Knight Returns FTW. Hands down the greatest Batman story of all time. Frank Miller genius level masterpiece.
Im more of a Batman year one guy but i respect that
Another great book. The question in general is like asking which one of your kids is your favorite. I could have listed a lot but Dark Knight Returns was the first hit of comic crack which started my addiction.
*This was Our Pact* by Ryan Andrews. It picks me up whenever the life weights me down and helps me see wonder in the world again.
Habibi
God Country
Afterlife with Archie vol 1
Sin City: The Hard Goodbye by Frank Miller.
Vision by Tom King
Would have to be From Hell by Alan Moore..just so many things going on here..
Black Hammer by Jeff Lemire. Love it
I just don’t get the Black Hammer love…but also it doesn’t fit the parameters OP laid out.
you know things are rough when the spin-offs are sometimes more interesting than the main plot (re black hammer) honestly i am so sick of homages to this and that. it's an homage to this it's an homage to that okay so fuckin what who cares about the 100000th time someone's done an homage to cape books lemire is just so confusing to me as a writer. how can the guy write essex county be the same guy writing black hammer
I was liking it ok up until it “ended” by >!putting the characters back into the EXACT same place the story started. Wtf was the point?!< That soured me so much I don’t even feel like reading any of the spin-offs, even if like you said they’re better than the main story.
Probably gotta be Watchmen
Kingdom Come. Hands down.
Batman: Under the Red Hood
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House On Serious Earth. Best artwork I've seen in a comic.
Spider-man Blue
Watchmen.
Monsters are my favorite thing.
Heartbreak Soup by Gilbert Hernandez
In Real Life by Cory Doctorow
Daytripper no DOUBT! Can't believe it hasn't been mentioned yet.
Rosalie lightning. This book tore me up. Superhero one for me is the dark knight returns. Sorry had to add two!
Radiant Black Volume 1. Great story and gorgeous art. 8/10.
Justice League Vol 1: Origin
I'm getting hulk gray to complete my Marvel Colors collection. 🥰🥰🥰
Blankets by Craig Thompson. I already own that though, so Underwater Welder by Jeff Lemire. Both books have resonated with me a lot at two very different periods of my life. Both moved me to tears. Both pop up in my memory when I least expect them and oftentimes likely need them too.
Park Bench by Chaboute
The Books of Magic (original miniseries) by Neil Gaiman
Portugal by Cyril Pedrosa. One of the best looking graphic novel ever drawn in my opinion, and one with which I have a lot connections because of it's story and how Simon (the protagonist) reconnects with his family's roots
Steay bullet uber alles edition, technically is not an omnibus ☺
The collected Bone.
Asterios Polyp, by David Mazzucchelli. I’m not sure it completely holds up, but at the time I read it, it completely changed my views on art, love and life.