Graphic Novels and Comic Books

[NVM]

Graphic Novels are pretty much a series of comic books compiled to make a novel. I have pretty crappy collection considering I only get them if I see the movies that are based off them.

My current collection is:

Watchmen by Alan Moore and David Gibbons
V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd
300 by Frank Miller and Lynn Varely
Sin City(1-6) by Frank Miller

So what are some of your favorite graphic novels or comic series? Or any that you'd recommend.

[BKS]

Sin City 1-7 (why do you only have 1-6?)
DeathNote (I've read a little of it. It's manga)
The Haunted World of El Superbeasto isn't too too bad, but it's not great either.



I hear that Neil Gaiman's Sandman graphic novels are near perfect, but I've only read one myself.

[Soul]

My god I just finished Watchmen a couple days ago and HOLY SHIT. It was beyond awesome im reading it again now since theres probably alot of stuff that I missed. Rorshach :frown:

[Ziggy St. Valentine]

I'm interested in picking up 1 or 2 of these to see what they're like. Mainly interested in the Sin City ones. What section would they be under in the bookstore?

[Antisaint]

As far as comics go, you can't go wrong with Calvin and Hobbes, or The Far Side.

Calvin and Hobbes has the amazing ability to throw in deeper thoughts amongst the hilarious comics.

[BKS]

I'm interested in picking up 1 or 2 of these to see what they're like. Mainly interested in the Sin City ones. What section would they be under in the bookstore?

The bookstore that I shop at (Barnes and Noble) has a graphic novel section of its own. I wouldn't know where it would be, except maybe located under fiction?

[Ziggy St. Valentine]

The bookstore that I shop at (Barnes and Noble) has a graphic novel section of its own. I wouldn't know where it would be, except maybe located under fiction?

I shop at Angus & Robertson, I'm not sure if they have a graphic novel section or not, I'll make a point to have a look next time I go there.

[Shmuh]

Graphic Novels (i have shitloads of manga):
Battle Royale
Deathnote
Hellsing
Beck
Full Metal Alchemist

Comic Books:
Anything by Jhonen Vasquez (Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, Squee, Fillerbunny, etc)
Roman Dirge (Lenore)

[CheesePlease]

I love comics.

As for what you're talking about, I only have a few trade paperbacks because they're pretty expensive and what I usually collect is in single form anyway.

I own the Johnny the Homicidal Maniac TP and the Squee one as well by Jhonen Vasquez. I own this collaboration one called Completely Doomed, it's a series of short-ish horror stories by a bunch of different artists/writers. It's really damn good. I also got a New Warriors TP a couple weeks ago, that was really good but now I'm waiting for my order of the old New Warriors TP, along with The Initiative and Civil War ones. With them I also ordered a Cable and Deadpool one, which should be awesome. Oh and I own the first TP of 30 Days of Night, soon the be the second as well.

Along with single comics I collect the following:
The Criminal Macabre series. It's really damn good, written by Steve Niles. He wrote a couple of actual novels with the same character in them before the comics. I'm trying to track them down because a friend has told me they're just as good.

Simon Dark, also written by Steve Niles. A friend got me the first one as a present for something or another and I've been hooked since. I own 1, 2 and 4 with 3, 5 and 6 on order.

The Hack/Slash series. I'm in love with it. The art is really good and the stories always pull me in. Plus Cassie Hack is hot. I wish I could get my hands on more of it.

Plague of the Living Dead. Yeah it's about Zombies. It's awesome. It's been hard getting the ones I need though.

Living with the Dead. Short 3 book series but really good. Also about zombies.

Marvel Zombies. I almost forgot about it. Basically the super heroes of the marvel universe turn into flesh eating zombies. :D I love it.

I also own a bunch of Nick Fury comics, these ones called The Hood, some Chronicles of Wormwood, the V for Vendetta TP, around 50 Punisher comics and a few other bits and pieces lying around. When I get some more money together I'm going to start collecting the Hellblazer trade paperbacks. There's around 20 of those with about 8 comics to each, so it'll be well worth it. I'll also try to obtain the Lenore TPs, but they're pretty far down my list. The Secret and Cut are another two I'd like.

Yeah literally all my money goes to this.

TLDR? Pretty much if you like the comic books of movies try the 30 Days of Night trade paperbacks if you can find them. There's a few different series but the first one is just called 30 Days of Night. If you like them you should like the Criminal Macabre: A Cal McDonald Story. There's a buttload of them along with the two novels. If you're interested PM me and I'll throw down the names of a few of the comics.

[Ayla]

I have some bondage fairies - love that. Really into Stephen Kings the dark tower series...that is very cool! few others...Monsetzu, megatokyo etc

[Relaps]

Howsabout the greatest Superhero Series in years? Invincible is probably one of the most engrossing comics I've read, well, ever. I've you've wanted superpowered beings doing shit without any real censor, nows the chance to check that out. The story is involving, the art is beautiful, and the characters are relatable. It's worth checking out at the very least.

[Mr Anorexia]

The Invisibles is probably my favorite series. King Mob is so gay but a badass.

[Hickabod]

I bum The Punisher, alot, but it's really hard to find the latest releases around here, usually I wait for each story arc to be released in a complete volume. Other than that I've just finished Deathnote.

[badumpbumpbump]

Hunter X Hunter, a manga by the same guy who did Yu Yu Hakusho. Read it if you're into manga.

[gizzalove]

I have a couple Marvel comics but thats it. I did quite enjoy them.

[Pachycephelosaurus]

Akira is epic in the original sense of the word. Six volumes, couple hundred pages each, psychic power battles, post-apocalyptic gangs vying for control of a destoryed Neo-Tokyo. Hell. Yes.

[drphillovsu]

i am quite the marvel guy.

Captain America
Iron Man
Nova
Black Panther
Thor
Spider Man (but the one more day series killed it for me)
X-men (Messiah Complex killed it for me as well)
New Avengers
Mighty Avengers
Captain Marvel



...Just to name a few


and


if any one read the spider man: one more day series or the x-men: messiah complex, what did you guys think o them.


I wasnt really a fan, because all it seemd like was a gimmick for you to buynew comics. They pull together all 4 Spidermans and then all of the X-men and come out with this hyped up series, and then the last issue doesnt really tell you anything. You have to buy all the seperate billion comics to see what happens. What happend to just one issue, and when that one was over, another.

I am a middle class, white, male who gets payed 7.25 an hour and goes to school part time. were am i going to get the money to pay for my addiction????

[Oofie]

From Hell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_Hell) by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell is awesome.

So much better than the movie.

[Dresden]

only stuff I've read really is the first 4 Death Note manga. Pretty good. when it comes to anime though, I prefer shows over mangas, and I havent heard about any good graphic novels yet.

[badumpbumpbump]

Death Note starts off good, but progressively gets more and more complicated and slightly more boring (in my opinion.) Also, the ending is kinda disappointing. The first volume is the best one.

[Homemaster]

Akira collections 1-6

cant beat that shit

[IAMFeAR]

Here's just a bunch of stuff I like, all available as graphic novels/trade paperbacks:
-Hellboy (or anything by Mike Mignola really, he's my favorite artist).
-Anything by Frank Miller (except AllStar Batman which is only worth buying for the Jim Lee art).
-Marshal Law, its a violent satire of superheroes, drawn by Kevin O'Neil who also did League of Extraordinary Gentleman.
-Nextwave from Marvel was a great, irreverent, fun read, too bad it got cancelled.
-Batman: Arkham Asylum
-Batman: Hush
-Wolverine: Enemy of the State
-The X-Force/X-Statix run by Peter Milligan and Mike Allred

[Rabbytt]

ooh, you have good taste, iamfear.

i'm going to have to add the Sandman series (neil gaiman) to the list of must-reads.
i've also recently become a huge fan of bill willingham's Fables.
i was a big fan of Elfquest back in the day, but i think they're kinda hard to find now...

USER WAS PUT IN TIMEOUT FOR THIS POST. (http://forums.explosm.net/bankamp/)
Reason: Capitalize.

[Cob450]

Gotta love Squee, Jhonen Vasquez has a sense of humor that I really relate to.

There are also two collections of four WWII stories based on true events, each illustrated by a different artist but all written by Garth Ennis, called War Stories, Vol. 1 and 2.

[Couch]

Anyone here read Maus? It's a graphic novel about WWII and the Holocaust by Art Spiegelman. Pretty depressing stuff, but still a really good graphic novel.

[Jallen]

Anyone here read Maus? It's a graphic novel about WWII and the Holocaust by Art Spiegelman. Pretty depressing stuff, but still a really good graphic novel.

I was about to post the exact same thing, then I looked up and someone already posted it. I have not read it myself, but my friend read it in like an hour and loved it.

[Jonesy1]

Check out some of Shaun Tan's graphic novels, amazing symbolism, great reads.

[timbot]

I haven't gotten into graphic novels or comic books since I was in middle school. But I would like to back up the people who mentioned Maus. Really interesting stuff. I think I'll have to check out Sandman as well. I've been hearing about it for years and just never looked at it.

[The Fetus]

In my room, there are over 4,000 comic books. I like Marvel, mainly Deadpool and Spiderman. :P

As for graphic novels, my two favorite authors are Daniel Clowes and Jhonen Vasquez. Both write totally different stuff, but both equally talented. Vasquezs' stuff is deep and scary, while Daniel Clowes' comics are more like literature in comics. Ghost World and Like A Velvet Glove Cast In Iron are completely amazing, both by Clowes. Both of which are break grounds in what is thought in a comic book. JTHM and Squee have been mentioned already, but other great Vasquez books are Jellyfist and Fillerbunny.

[INTUNEevolution]

I haven't really gotten into any of these. There are three that I am very interested in.
Crypt Keeper Series
The Dark Tower Series
Max Payne
That's all I've subsisted on, really.

[Android]

I'm about to start reading a graphic novel called Life Sucks. It's supposed to be a cross between Clerks and vampires.

Life sucks for Dave Marshall.The girl he's in love with doesn't know he exists, he hates his job, and ever since his boss turned him into a vampire, he can't go out in daylight without starting to charbroil.Undead life in its uncoolest incarnation yet is on display in this cinematic, supernatural drama told with gallons of humor and hemoglobin.In striking, colorful, B-movie sty;e artwork and light-hearted, intelligent writing by Jessica Abel, Gabe Soria, and Warren Pleece, Dave Marshall's story comes alive - in a vampiric kind of way.

http://www.amazon.com/Life-Sucks-Jessica-Abel/dp/1596431075

[Hickabod]

Now that I'm up-to-date with the most recent Punisher Max releases I've made a start on Ultimate Spider-man and Ultimate X-men. Everyone should also read Tozzer.

[BKS]

I've been meaning to pick up the Spawn collections for awhile now, but it appears that the first one if out of print, so it leaves me screwed until I can find it. Once I pick up some cash, I may jaunt on down to the Newbury Comics thats two towns over and just pick up a series that looks entertaining.

[eagle11bravo]

spider-man
x-men- days of future past
calvin and hobbes
peanuts
murphy's law- a military comic

[gordanthefree]

I highly recommend Ranma 1/2. That has got to be the funniest most action packed comic I have ever read. I actually downloaded a couple of the novels. Synopsis A guy goes on a trip with his dad and falls into a magical spring which makes him turn into a girl every time (hot/cold not sure) water is poured onto him, it gets pretty funny as guys fall in love with the chick he turns into and he has to beat them off as they are men.

[spazzy7]

You just can't go wrong with Calvin and Hobbes or The Far Side when it comes to comics.

I just read my first graphic novel, Pride of Baghdad. It's about lions and war, so it was pretty cool. I haven't read Maus, but I did read some of another Art Spiegelman work, In the Shadow of no Towers. It's about 9/11 and has some pretty interesting stuff in it.

[gordanthefree]

RADIOACTIVE MAN!!! - from the Simpsons.

extra point if you can read this

[Triple J]

I read a lot of CALVIN AND HOBBES. My favorite comics of theirs are when they are like red wagonnig(verb?) down a hill and they are talking about life. Those always are touching in a unique way.

So it's
Calvin and Hobbes
And then I read a lot of batman.

[drdilly911]

The only Graphic novels I have are
-I Luv Haloween 1 & 2
Thres only three in series but it is fairly new.
If you like Demented children that have twisted storys with lots of blood and zombies (zombies are only in the 2nd) then this is the perfect novel for you!

For comics
-I know its not a comic but MAD magazene
-Spawn
-Punisher
-Conan the Barbarian

[Lissa]

I've got a shitload of geek.


DC
Justice League: Identity Crisis. FUCKING EPIC :bangkill:
JLA Terror Incognita
JLA Trial by Fire
Teen Titans vol. 1-7 (very good series, in my opinion)
JLA/TT Outsiders

Batman:
Wargames, Arkham Asylum Living Hell, Hush (favorite), Contagion, Dark Knight, Terror, Snow, The Long Halloween, The Killing Joke, Family and others I CBA to check.

Marvel
- Ultimate X-Men volumes 1-16. This series is amazing. :nerd:
- All the X-23 graphic novels. You either love it or you hate it.
- Ultimate Fantastic Four volume 1. Quite good.

There are a ton I missed but none obviously significant enough. Also I don't want to look any more nerd than I already do (okay yeah I was reading these since I was 9). But yeah, do check out JLA Identity Crisis, Batman Hush, Teen Titans and Ultimate X-Men. It might work for normal people too.

[Sasori]

Got a couple manga series you'd love!
-Hellsing
-DeathNote
-Bloodsucker (VERY graphic scenes, lots of blood and gore, usuallly plastic-wrapped)
-Naruto (it may be a kids' show, but the manga version is WAY better)
-Bleach

[bannanaphone]

No one has mentioned Hellblazer.

It's the only comic I've ever PROPERLY read, I ended up torrenting over 200 issues.

It's awesome.

Why haven't I found anyone else who's read it yet?

[Graft]

This seems to be more about comics, but Maus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maus) is a great graphic novel.

[Tastychainsaws]

The only graphic novels I have are the comic versions of R.A. Salvatore's Legend Of Drizzt series.

[Charlene2]

I feel that you covered most of the good comics so I just wanted to add this (http://www.superheroesspace.com/doing-good-independent-comics-here-s-how-75.html)independent comics, Madame Mirage in case you don't know it already

[GSOM]

I just read Batman: Year One last night. I highly recommend it. I'm working on The Watchmen and want to read The Dark Knight. I'd have to say The Sandman novels look really great and pretty much anything Mike Mignola does seems cool.

[Mycroft]

Deathnote has been named a numerous amount of times, but I'd like to point it out again.
Anything by Alex Ross is great.
Especially the X-saga. 6 immense volumes of Marvel goodness, 20-30 years into the future.
The Darkness: Levels, based on the game, is pretty good.
1608 (marvel comic) is wonderful. It's the marvel universe, in 1608, with the colonization of America at it's height.
Frank Miller's Dark Knight and Dark Knight returns are fantastic. It's what made Batman my ultimate hero.

[WiseOldTabbyCat]

I used to read plenty of manga a while ago...Mostly Ecchi or Shoujo.
But then I got sick of itall. So now, I'm really into American and Western comics, and look forward to recieving my copies of The Crow, The Watchmen and V for Vendetta through the mail.
Graphic Novels work out a whole lot cheaper and less frustrating than singular issues.

[Camoflage_Camoflage]

I'd definetly recommend The Ultimates any day! I've got em all so far and I'm waiting for the 5th to come out and Its killing me! They've got such great graphics and story lines that you can't help but love em!

I'd also recommend Ultimate Spiderman, It actually starts off with him as a 15 yr old kid and track it in months rather than in the movie where he starts off young and next thing you know he's years older.

[rxqueen]

Lately I've been picking up random comics I just bought "life sucks" "bone" and "Scott Pilgrim's Precious little life"

comics:
Lenore
Johnny the homicidal maniac
I feel sick
and Archie

next on my list is 30 Days of Night

[Mycroft]

I've got a few Ultimate Spiderman comics,
but I still prefer the Origin stories.

[badumpbumpbump]

I got into some American comics recently. RONIN, by Frank Miller (the man behind Sin City), is really good.

[Ureshii]

Got a couple manga series you'd love!
-Hellsing
-DeathNote
-Bloodsucker (VERY graphic scenes, lots of blood and gore, usuallly plastic-wrapped)
-Naruto (it may be a kids' show, but the manga version is WAY better)
-Bleach

Bleach is an awesome manga and anime series. I recomend it to everyone. Last time I was in Japan I brought about $100(NZD) of it and had to buy a new bag to fit it all in:smile:

[Chaplin]

There's a great series named "Identity Crisis" about the JLA's secret identities and how they deal with people attacking their families. Great graphic novel. Highly reccomended.

[Kupo]

Easily one of the best comic series i've read is the Planet Hulk/World War Hulk stories, pure moving stuff at points, especially at the end of Planet Hulk as anyone who's read it will know. Recommend it to anyone definately.

[JCamps]

I have all the Sin Cities, 300, by Frank Miller; and Wanted, by Mark Millar. There's a Wanted movie coming out, but from what I can tell, it's absolutely nothing like the comic books. I really want to read another Mark Millar series that just came out, Kick-Ass. But besides those, I've read most of the old Punisher comics.

[rexmundi]

I am a huge comic nut, I spend way too much money on them.
Here are some of my favorites that I would HIGHLY recommend to anyone and everyone:

Preacher by Garth Ennis
Anything Written by Alan Moore is guaranteed to be amazing (Watchmen, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Top Ten, From Hell)
Invisibles by Grant Morrison will fuck your mind up.
Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughn
The Sandman by Neil Gaiman
Lone Wolf and Cub by Kazuo Koike
Rex Mundi by Arvid Nelson


These are just a few, but they are all amazing. Check them out!

[CreamScreamer]

Civil War
House of M
Ultimate Six
Hellsing
Old Boy

Those are the ones that I have read many times. I'll also read anything Frank Miller puts out. He can touch anything and make it amazing. :hmm:

[Lintlicker]

Zombie comics are great/ As far as those go, they don't get any better than Robert Kirkman's, The Walking Dead. The man knows how to write a great post-apocalyptic zombie tale. It even reached it's 50th issue this month (which is crazy for this kind of comic).

I'm also in love with Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children. They're so odd and just all around wonderful.

Some other comics I like are Barry Ween, Maintenance, American Virgin, Batman, The Watchmen, Wasteland, Tank Girl, and several others. I just really dig a good/funny story coupled with great art.

[Dunamos]

Well, I'm not much of a comic fan, but I do read Sgt. Rock and the Godzilla comics.

[Akvod]

I don't know if you'll consider a Graphic Novel, but I read the manga, "Vagabond" (Only in Japanese though =/ So I don't know if the English version sucks or not).

It's really, really, great. The creator just does an amazing job sucking you into the character of Musashi.

The illustrations are great, and the occasional symbolism is beautiful.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cf/Vagabond21.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagabond_(manga))

[Spring300]

The Invisibles is probably my favorite series. King Mob is so gay but a badass.

Indeed the Invisibles is one of the best series I've read... That along with the Watchmen. Most Morrison and Moores stuff goes - the same goes for Miller

Another one of my favorites is Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis - Really worth taking a look at.

[CheesePlease]

Zombie comics are great/ As far as those go, they don't get any better than Robert Kirkman's, The Walking Dead. The man knows how to write a great post-apocalyptic zombie tale. It even reached it's 50th issue this month (which is crazy for this kind of comic).

I just finished reading issue 50. This comic is really, really good but it's gotten so fucking sad. Just when you think everything is going to be fine and we might actually get a happy ending, BAM, almost everyone dies and Rick gets really sick. I feel so bad for Carl.

I can't wait for the next issue.

[Lintlicker]

I just finished reading issue 50. This comic is really, really good but it's gotten so fucking sad. Just when you think everything is going to be fine and we might actually get a happy ending, BAM, almost everyone dies and Rick gets really sick. I feel so bad for Carl.

I can't wait for the next issue.I know what you mean exactly. You get to know these characters so well, and before you know it.... Kirkman just does a great job of getting you wrapped up into it all. He's shocked me so many times. Like when Tyreese dies! I had to stop reading and take it in for a minute before I could continue. I've never had that happen with a comic before.

I'm really interested to see what'll happen now that Carl is basically alone. These next issues should be really good.