New To Comics, Recommendations?
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Neil Gaiman's Sandman is an obvious recommendation. It's what got me into "grown-up comics."
Grant Morrison's The Invisibles, about a cell of occult terrorists, might just end up changing your life.
If you're into dark stuff, Warren Ellis's (sadly unfinished) series Fell and Desolation Jones are a very appealing brand of filthy neo-noir.
Or try Hellblazer. Jamie Delano's run is an underappreciated Vertigo gem, I honestly think the title got worse after he left.
If you're into supers, I'd go for Seven Soldiers of Victory by Grant Morrison. Crazy stuff. Or look into the author's All-Star Superman - a genuinely interesting Superman story.
Finally, I know you said no ongoing stuff, but Brian K. Vaughan's Saga is what everyone is (or should be) reading these days.
Grant Morrison's The Invisibles, about a cell of occult terrorists, might just end up changing your life.
If you're into dark stuff, Warren Ellis's (sadly unfinished) series Fell and Desolation Jones are a very appealing brand of filthy neo-noir.
Or try Hellblazer. Jamie Delano's run is an underappreciated Vertigo gem, I honestly think the title got worse after he left.
If you're into supers, I'd go for Seven Soldiers of Victory by Grant Morrison. Crazy stuff. Or look into the author's All-Star Superman - a genuinely interesting Superman story.
Finally, I know you said no ongoing stuff, but Brian K. Vaughan's Saga is what everyone is (or should be) reading these days.
100 Bullets is very, very good and must be checked out.
DMZ isn't quite as good, but still high-quality stuff.
DMZ isn't quite as good, but still high-quality stuff.
I actually first got into comics through getting some of the big comic collections of one of my favorite series, the X-Men. Yes, I was inspired by the cartoon of the 90s but I learned that a lot of those stories actually started with older generations of the characters though reading those collections. Plus, those stories gave a good introduction into how comic story lines are developed in a serial fashion.
For non-serial stuff, I'd recommend Watchmen and Batman Dark Knight Returns. There are a lot of other great stories out there and most of them have political/social messages behind them (V for Vendetta and 300 come to mind) but these are great stories and can legitimately be called literature.
As far as serial stuff, take a look at some of the recent stories that have been published and see how they have changed the worlds around them. An example of this is the chain of stories which starts with Avengers: Disassembled, then House of M, and then Civil War. That's just on Marvel's side, I've heard interesting things about the new 52 from DC comics so you can check that out too.
Finally, take a look at comic book versions of familiar characters and stories. A good example are the Star Wars comics from Dark Horse comics, they expand greatly on a world which you may or may not be familiar with. Same can go for Marvel, DC, Image comics, and so many others.
Enjoy, As MovieBob says: "comics are weird," but also very fun to follow!
For non-serial stuff, I'd recommend Watchmen and Batman Dark Knight Returns. There are a lot of other great stories out there and most of them have political/social messages behind them (V for Vendetta and 300 come to mind) but these are great stories and can legitimately be called literature.
As far as serial stuff, take a look at some of the recent stories that have been published and see how they have changed the worlds around them. An example of this is the chain of stories which starts with Avengers: Disassembled, then House of M, and then Civil War. That's just on Marvel's side, I've heard interesting things about the new 52 from DC comics so you can check that out too.
Finally, take a look at comic book versions of familiar characters and stories. A good example are the Star Wars comics from Dark Horse comics, they expand greatly on a world which you may or may not be familiar with. Same can go for Marvel, DC, Image comics, and so many others.
Enjoy, As MovieBob says: "comics are weird," but also very fun to follow!
Castle Waiting is a kind of medieval fairy tale comic for adults. Think Pixar and you'll kind of get the picture.
100 Bullets is about people who get a briefcase with a pistol and 100 untraceable bullets, to kill someone who wronged them and ruined their lives. Razor-sharp dialogue.
100 Bullets is about people who get a briefcase with a pistol and 100 untraceable bullets, to kill someone who wronged them and ruined their lives. Razor-sharp dialogue.
[Takes deep breath]
[Gary Oldman voice]: ALL OF THEEEEEMMMM!!!!
There are so many choices. Still, I'll give you the X-Men series that got me into comics: The X-Cutioner's Song.
It was a year long saga that involved all the X-Teams. I really liked it a lot. If you are new to the comics, however, it might be a little confusing, but it's completely self-contained.
Here are a few graphic novels:
JLA:Rock of Ages
Batman:Hush & No Man's Land (gives rise to my fave Batgirl!)
Superman
eath/Return
Hulklanet Hulk & World War Hulk...
There are more, of course, but I can't remember the names on the compilations...
Also, some random, mindless fun I liked...
Madame Mirage (done by Paul Dini of DC animated fame)
Adrenalynn & Silke (some of Tony Daniel's stuff that are oneshots).
[Gary Oldman voice]: ALL OF THEEEEEMMMM!!!!
There are so many choices. Still, I'll give you the X-Men series that got me into comics: The X-Cutioner's Song.
It was a year long saga that involved all the X-Teams. I really liked it a lot. If you are new to the comics, however, it might be a little confusing, but it's completely self-contained.
Here are a few graphic novels:
JLA:Rock of Ages
Batman:Hush & No Man's Land (gives rise to my fave Batgirl!)
Superman
eath/ReturnHulk
lanet Hulk & World War Hulk...There are more, of course, but I can't remember the names on the compilations...
Also, some random, mindless fun I liked...
Madame Mirage (done by Paul Dini of DC animated fame)
Adrenalynn & Silke (some of Tony Daniel's stuff that are oneshots).
drummond13 said:
I love lions of baghdad! also haven't seen anyone mention Demo. A nd while a lot of Alan Moore is great i'd avoid lost girls, personally i couldn't make it throughabout half of that book. Bookdepository is a kick ass site.
Also, and we should all be ashamed of ourselves for the omission, We3.
Hmmmmmm, do you have the same viewpoint of prose novels? poetry? film? Because there is a lot of variety in the types of comics being produced. Maybe you are assuming that all comics are about muscle bound lunkheads punching their problems away? If you look at the majority of suggestions on this thread the majority of them do not have a scrap of spandex in sight. Treat yourself and read something non super hero based, say Wolves of Montpellier by Jason, and see if you still hold the same viewpoint after.ticklefist said:
Welp, let me ask you, are you a fan of My Little Pony? Either casually or hardcore? Then I'd recommend IDW's recent My Little Pony comic books. With the exception of MAYBE one or two of them, they're all really fun reads. Plus, they're not shy about poking fun at the fanbase:
Not pictured, the cave troll putting Fluttershy on his shelf with his Optimus Prime (yes, really)
Oh, and for all you hardcore comic book fans, how many of you get THIS?
Oh, and I'll throw another recommendation at Scott Pilgrim.
Not pictured, the cave troll putting Fluttershy on his shelf with his Optimus Prime (yes, really)
Oh, and for all you hardcore comic book fans, how many of you get THIS?
Oh, and I'll throw another recommendation at Scott Pilgrim.
hehehe, that's one of the few franchises i would never have guessed doing that cover.Leemaster777 said:Welp, let me ask you, are you a fan of My Little Pony? Either casually or hardcore? Then I'd recommend IDW's recent My Little Pony comic books. With the exception of MAYBE one or two of them, they're all really fun reads. Plus, they're not shy about poking fun at the fanbase:
Not pictured, the cave troll putting Fluttershy on his shelf with his Optimus Prime (yes, really)
Oh, and for all you hardcore comic book fans, how many of you get THIS?
Oh, and I'll throw another recommendation at Scott Pilgrim.
Vertigo is indeed owned by DC, but it is for all intents and purpouses a different entity.Bla914ck said:
Or they would have called it DC+ or DC Adult or something.
It is the one that brings balance
I wouldn't call anything published by Fantagraphics a treat. But yeah, my initial post was in reference to big 2 and main stream indie comics. Where the Transmets and Sagas are few and far between.Linksmash said:
Oh, my friend! Jason is great. If you are feeling jaded give I Kill Giants a go as well, you will probably enjoy them a lot! Fair enough re:dissatisfaction with the big 2, DC i read almost naught of and my marvel reading dried up with the iniative and Nova. Really though, there are a lot of great comics out there atm!ticklefist said:
Also, i'm cuirious to what youmean by the big stream indies? Image, Darkhorse etc?
What defines mainstream indie?ticklefist said:
I think there's a lot of good smaller press (and creator published) stuff - drawn & quarterly has put out some really brilliant books (and some less-than-brilliant but still lovely ones), for example. But I wonder if what you mean is just the creator-owned Image/Dark Horse/Vertigo stuff, which is more mainstream (although not anything I'd call independant in the traditional sense). Or does it refer specifically to something like Carla Speed McNeil's Finder which she originally published through her own LightSpeed Press and that's now being reprinted through Dark Horse?
Yeah by mainstream indie I meant Image, Dark Horse, Vertigo and the like. No negative connotation intended.
As for the question and example, I'm really not familiar with Carla Speed or her book but with the info given, yeah, I'd say she blew up and went mainstream. Again, that's not a negative.
My initial comment was about parity in mainstream comics, which I think we can all agree exists to a large degree. With that parity in mind I suggested the OP simply read what he personally finds interesting.
As for the question and example, I'm really not familiar with Carla Speed or her book but with the info given, yeah, I'd say she blew up and went mainstream. Again, that's not a negative.
My initial comment was about parity in mainstream comics, which I think we can all agree exists to a large degree. With that parity in mind I suggested the OP simply read what he personally finds interesting.
Oh, I didn't think it was necessarily a negative, I just wasn't sure what you meant since I always associate "indie" with the small press scene.
If you're at all interested in an anthropological take on Science Fiction I'd totally recommend it. Fantastic book - totally deserves to go mainstream.ticklefist said:
The new Hawkeye is pretty awesome. The art and the story. I'd also recommend The Fabulous Killjoys by Gerard Way, if you are into comics based off of bands and albums.