Graphic Novels

[WolfThomas]

Still, I think it would be better adapt the comic as a film rather than turn it into a video game. Turning it into a video game would betray the message the comic is trying to present.

A film would be good, but I still think a good game could do a tremedous amount of justice, imagine tensly dodging snipers on a busy street and then heading into a rocking nightclub (with unique to game music to capture the diverse new culture of the DMZ). Something like Stalker where you can be made frightened/tense by an abscence of threat as well as a real one. Throw in a whole bunch of morality grey decisions and having no faction the "right" choice and multiple endings.

Also if you could solve problems non violently, not through skill checks in dialogue but properly researching the situation and it's different angles. But at the same some enemies you inevitably have to kill (like the psychos from the empire state building).

 

[SenseOfTumour]

I'll say it again, as I do in most comics threads...

Check your local library!

I'm in the UK, and tho my local library doesn't stock them, the next 5 nearest ones all do.

It's how I discovered Preacher, Transmetropiltan, The Walking Dead, Y - The Last Man, and so many other great series.

It's free and if they don't have what you want, over here you can order books from other libraries for £1, still far cheaper than buying.

I also recommend 'The Boys', the new work by the Preacher guys. The series is set in a contemporary world very much similar to the real one, with one notable exception: a number of people have some form of superpower. The series follows a superpowered CIA squad, known informally as "The Boys", whose job it is to keep watch on superheroes and, if necessary, intimidate or kill them.

What makes it interesting, is that it's got a very 'real' viewpoint on superheroes, that if you gave the average guy superpowers, he may use them for good, but he's probably still going to be a bit of a dick about it. 'The Boys' are there to boot them back into line if they start letting their excesses go too far.

bonus points for a Simon Pegg styled character in the main group too

 

[Phantom_IEC]

Preacher and Transmetropolitan are good shouts...

The league of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Watchmen and V for Vendetta are all good as well.

I've just started on Sandman...

SenseOfTumour is right, libraries have a great stock of graphic novels, although you often have to look in teenage fiction (seriously WTF). I found the entire House of M collection in my local library including the ultra rare Excalibur Prelude...

 

[No_Remainders]

I would go for...

"Ronin", "V For Vendetta" and "Watchmen".

Three of my favourites.

 

[Jackalb]

Try the Kamasutra.

 

[tigermilk]

Personally I would reccomend anything by Daniel Clowes, or anything in a similar style.

Some Robert Crumb is good, but he can be hit and miss.

 

[WolfThomas]

I also recommend 'The Boys', the new work by the Preacher guys.

More like Preacher guy singular, Garth Ennis writes it but a different artist takes Steve Dillion's place.

Ennis' success boggles the mind, how someone could turn swearing, over the top gore and frequent genital mutilation (seriously most of his work) into a brilliant artform. Don't get me wrong, I can't get enough of it, but at least someone like Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan) can tone it down ocaisonally.

 

[BelfastSpartan]

The walking dead!
Pretty epic about a zombie apocalypse.
Yes some feel it's been done to death but I really like the idea.
It also won awards and is coming to tv as a series very very soon!

 

[fullbleed]

league of extraordinary gentlemen

And my personal favourite in recent years, Phonogram

Writen by PC gamer, ex Rock Paper Shotgun member and occsional Escapist contributer Kieron Gillen. It's about teens who can use music to make magic, but the magic is really secondary to what it's really all about which is teenage drama and most importantly music. You should check it out, the artwork is great and it's brilliantly written. Plus it will turn you onto some great music, I'm not kidding. If it wasn't for this I wouldn't have heard The Knife, Robyn, CSS, Crystal Castles, TV on the Radio, Los Campesinos, and so much more.

 

[octafish]

Maus: A Survivor's Tale, by Art Spiegelman. /thread

 

[jayz146]

There's an independent one called "Blokhedz" if your interested in a graphic novel with a hip/hop theme.

 

[SturmDolch]

I'll say it again, as I do in most comics threads...

Check your local library!

I'm in the UK, and tho my local library doesn't stock them, the next 5 nearest ones all do.

It's how I discovered Preacher, Transmetropiltan, The Walking Dead, Y - The Last Man, and so many other great series.

It's free and if they don't have what you want, over here you can order books from other libraries for £1, still far cheaper than buying.

That's exactly what I'm doing with all these suggestions There's a small public library at my university where you can get books sent to. They're about to receive an avalanche thanks to all the suggestions.

 

[the Dept of Science]

I was in a similar situation to you a while ago. I had read Watchmen and was curious about non-superhero comics, so I went into my local Comic Shop and just asked them what they recommended.

My personal favourite is Jimmy Corrigan: Smartest Kid on Earth. Its one of the most devastating things that I have ever read, and recommend it as highly as my favourite movies, music and books. Its basically about a grown man who meets his father for the first time. Its beautiful and hopeful and haunting, deeply personal. Every notion that I had about comics that wasn't overturned by Watchmen was overturned by this.

 

[CrashBang]

If you want some real classics that have been critically acclaimed then get anything by Alan Moore and Frank Miller, so that's:
Batman: Year One, Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, The Killing Joke (very short but brilliant) and the Sin City books
I also recommend Kick-Ass. I loved the film and thought that the novel was even better. And if you love Marvel then get Mark Millar's (creator of Kick-Ass) Civil War, it combines one of the ideas from Watchmen with key characters from the Marvel universe, it's superb

 

[FakingVanity]

If you're into the paranormal side of things you should definitely give Hellboy by Mike Mignola a looksee and maybe The Sandman by Neil Gaiman. Sandman being the 'heavier' of the two.
There's also a spinoff from Hellboy called B.P.R.D which is also very good. If you can get hold of a copy, The Crow is very, very good too.

Out of that particular genre, The Umbrella Academy is dowright fantastic and Tank Girl is alot of balls to the wall fun and manic-ness.

I find local libraries are stocking Graphic Novels more and more, so if you can find them there, there's no need to worry about not being as interested as you thought you would be when you shelled out for them.

 

[WolfEdge]

I've said it before and I'll say it again:

DreamKeepers

The story and setting are original and top notch, and the scenery porn... will kick your god damn ass. I guarantee it.

 

[BreakfastMan]

I have two words:
Hellboy.
Fables.
And that is all.