Recommend A Graphic Novel to me

POSTED BY: Arcadia
UPDATED: Thursday, April 13, 2006 08:07
VIEWED: 9732
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ARCADIA

Monday, April 10, 2006 6:34 AM

So, this weekend I ended up buying my first graphic novel, the first issue of Ex Machina. I really liked it, and I really liked the Serenity comics. I'm interested in looking for more. I've heard that The Preacher and The Sandman are really good. Are there others I should check out (assuming I can find them)?

Thanks, browncoats!

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"Objects in Space"
River: It's just an object. It doesn't mean what you think...

LEGOLAD

Monday, April 10, 2006 7:23 AM

Planetes. Actually, I'd recommend this to anyone who likes Firefly. It's about garbagemen in space, and has the same realistic, unglamourous, yet breathtaking look at life in space that Firefly has.

Give it a shot; the style is quite detailed, and not nearly as cartoony as most manga, and the characters grow on you pretty fast. Unfortunately it's too short; only four volumes. Like Firefly, it's over before it even began!

And no, the title's not a spelling error -- it's not Planets, it's Planetes, the Greek word for 'wanderer,' which of course is the origin of the word 'planet': a wanderer through the sky. Personally, I think it's a perfect title.

Also, I highly enjoyed The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, by Alan Moore. It basically takes the concept, what if the entirety of Victorian fiction existed in one universe? And thus the main characters are all reimaginings of characters from classic literature: Captain Nemo, Dr. Jekyll, the Invisible Man, etc. Very entertaining, and a fun game of "spot the reference" if you like popular fiction from that era. A slight warning: it can occasionally be quite violent, particularly the parts involving Jekyll's infamous alterego.

"We need a hood ornament."

SAMEERTIA

Monday, April 10, 2006 7:29 AM

Planetes is fun.
I loved Preacher, even if it's a little tweaky. Well, not as tweaky as Sandman.

SIXSHOOTER

Monday, April 10, 2006 11:53 AM

For a comic series to get into check out the just new Jonah Hex series, they capture the feeling of a spaghetti western perfectly.
Also check out El Arsenal a sci-fi comic with a very Mexican western feel.

Yeah, I’m a geek…
... but then if you're reading this, posted on a dead sci-fi telly shows message board, chances are you are too.

DRE

Monday, April 10, 2006 12:18 PM

I liked Ex Machina. Bought the first collected issue; have yet to buy the next though. Here are my picks:

PREACHER (Garth Ennis): a mix of western heroism and modern day consipracy, add in a bunch of shooting guns, a vampire, and a really good human drama.

STRANGERS IN PARADISE (Terry Moore): by the far the coolest and best directed graphic novel I've read in ages (in terms of using poetry and song lyrics etc mixed in with the art and story). Basic story's about the relationship between two girls and this one poor guy, mixed in with some intrigue and action.

THE WATCHMEN (Alan Moore): A story based on the principle, "What if Batman (or other crime-fighting vigilantes) were real?" Takes place in the 80's and deals with an old group of crime-fighters after one mysteriously gets murdered. Good human condition thing (Moore is the quitessential deconstructionist).

JAR OF FOOLS (>< Can't remember the author
offhand): Story of a street magician and his (senile) mentor as they look for a meaning in their lives.

BONE (Jeff Smith): This is on par with the old Uncle Scrooge comics, etc, in terms of difficuly. But the story is great and the characters are hilarious. Fun to read.

Comics I'm currently reading:
Runaways (Brian K. Vaughan): Story of some teenages whose parents were super villians, and how they fight them and take on crime.

Y the Last Man (B.K.V.): Yorrick is the last man on Earth after a mysterious plague instantly wipes out all mammals with a Y chromosome. Vaughan can write T_T

The Wintermen: Russian super-soldiers after the collapse of the Cold War and dealing with more conspiracies. I love it, but I can see where a lot of people might be turned off, cause the dialogue can be rough to get through and the characters are always talking about things they know but we have yet to know wholly. I usually have to reread a few issues before the next one to relearn things ><

That's my two cents.

Some of em are a bit more adult (Preacher, Y, SiP) while others are pretty tame (Runaways and Bone). I got some others but I didn't wanna bore ya :P

IKIYO.
DRE

PIRATA

Monday, April 10, 2006 6:37 PM

No doubt whatsoever:
Miyazaki's Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
(the graphic novel indeed, not the movie)

Try here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1569313482/102-7335592-1276938?v=glan
ce&n=283155

If the advice of a fellow browncoat isn't enough, just read some of the reviews ;)

NUCLEARDAY

Tuesday, April 11, 2006 12:22 AM

Preacher is one of my favorites. I saw someone recommend Sandman, and the Watchmen and I definately have to agree.

If you want the best, check out anything by Will Eisner. He's the Grand Master of the format, and the one who coined the term "sequential art." Literally anything at all from him. If his name's on it, it's a classic ;p

Maus is also a good one, by Art Spiegelman.

I'm not terribly well-versed with the superhero side of things, but one definate essential is Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller. Really good take on the Batman mythology. DC always puts out some really good stuff that deals with their heroes in interesting ways.

Tank Girl is also a good one if you can find it in TPB form, too.

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You can take my hope when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

KILGORETROUT

Tuesday, April 11, 2006 12:33 AM

Ok i know its technically collections but THE SANDMAN is without a doubt the best thing ever written in the genre it just cant be beat and is more epic than the shot in serentiy with the alliance and rieaver ships coming to meet each other. And if you like classics (mythology ect) its truly incredible has won more awards than pretty much anything else and was the first (and last) comic to win some bighish literay award so check it out cant recomment it enough. Also Preacher is dam good in a more gun ho kind of way. But SANDMAN SANDMAN SANDMAN.

"this is a good death" the operative

SLAYER730

Tuesday, April 11, 2006 1:06 AM

1. I'd have to go with the entire SIN CITY series...sorta blows the movie right out of the water.

2. For fun and profit? POISON ELVES. It's hilarious and the stories are great. (Loves me some Luse!)

3. Anything by JHONEN VASQUEZ (creator of Invader Zim): I Feel Sick, Squee, Johnny the Homicidal Maniac...

4. 30 DAYS OF NIGHT - A great twist on vampire lore...Crazy nightmare-worhty art. Read it before they make the horrid movie adaption!

5. SANDMAN SANDMAN SANDMAN SANDMAN SANDMAN

***Never judge a book by its movie***

MILFORD

Tuesday, April 11, 2006 1:12 AM

My graphic novel experience is limited, but one fo the most fascinating stories I've ever read is Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. It's awesome, quite compelling even if you're not a hardcore comic fan.

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That's why I don't kiss'em on the mouth- Jayne Cobb

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