Preacher, Volume 1 discussion

Which comic book series or graphic novel do you give to read to someone who has never had any interest in comic books before, and why?

I've got several friends who have never read comics before and have always been surprised when they found out i do. If they show any interest the first graphic novel i'll give them to read is Preacher: Gone to Texas.

Mostly because it doesn't have any superhero stuff in it that is likely to put new readers off. Also because it is an excellent read, with humour, style and a solid, interesting storyline. It's the perfect introduction for an 'outsider', followed closely by Watchmen or Sandman.

i agree (are u listening Rockman?) a great series that i highly recommend. the only other series that i currently keep up with is The Walking Dead. a great series that is in many ways different from the show.

Watchman was a great standalone story, but i have to admit i never got into Sandman. i read some of the stories but i guess i never got interested enough to read the whole series. i liked the Death character tho and got her series.

I would be recommending Garth Ennis' run on the Punisher, The Boys, 300 or Sandman by Neil Gaiman. First one is written is just great, The Boys takes the piss out of super heroes, 300 was very well written, and has a movie link that may help them get into it, and Neil Gaiman is a champion writer!!

First is easy: Transmetropolitan, Vol. 1: Back on the Street. No superhero element and full of wiseass humor and gonzo journalism. It's like reading Hunter Thompson without inhibitions.

After that, I like to give people Preacher, The Sandman, Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes, or 100 Bullets, Vol. 1: First Shot, Last Call.

Transmetropolitan and Garth Ennis' Punisher are both great suggestions. The other series i forgot to mention was David Lapham's Stray Bullets, which is a phenomenal read. Every issue works as a brilliant stand alone work of art, and the over the series it slowly pieces together into a complex and strange masterpiece.

Mark wrote: "I would be recommending Garth Ennis' run on the Punisher, The Boys, 300 or Sandman by Neil Gaiman. First one is written is just great, The Boys takes the piss out of super heroes, 300 was very well..."

Yeah I'm a huge Ennis fan the 2004 punisher run was the first comics I read in my adulthood. I'll read anything Ennis.

Benji wrote: "Mark wrote: "I would be recommending Garth Ennis' run on the Punisher, The Boys, 300 or Sandman by Neil Gaiman. First one is written is just great, The Boys takes the piss out of super heroes, 300 ..."

You should check out The Boys then. A different take on superheroes.

How about anything by Los Bros Hernandez?

Mark wrote: "Benji wrote: "Mark wrote: "I would be recommending Garth Ennis' run on the Punisher, The Boys, 300 or Sandman by Neil Gaiman. First one is written is just great, The Boys takes the piss out of supe..."

I definately enjoyed the boys as well It doesn't hurt that Darrick Robertson does the art. It's nice to see them take out superheroes by other means. However as far as a first graphic novel read you might say it's a little too raunchy, yet comical none the less

100 Bullets, Preacher, Y The Last Man and Lucifer were all top notch. The Boys started out great but I found myself losing interest near the end of the run. Garth's run on Hellblazer was great as well.

I'm a huge Preacher fan, but I lost interest in The Boys as well. Preacher, though, was mesmerizing. Garth on Hellblazer was amazing.

Clearly, we've similar tastes.

And I agree with the suggestion of Transmetropolitan. That's one of my favorite titles.

Really, though, it would depend on the person. You can't suggest something like Preacher to just anyone, regardless of who they are. That's a pretty harsh comic. Someone easily offended by language should avoid Transmet as well, even though it's a brilliant book.

Across the board, if I had to suggest a title for someone I knew nothing about and who never read comics...hmmm...

Mage by Matt Wagner. On my short list for favorite titles of all time.
Sandman
anything by Will Eisner
Hitman

Brett wrote: "100 Bullets, Preacher, Y The Last Man and Lucifer were all top notch. The Boys started out great but I found myself losing interest near the end of the run. Garth's run on Hellblazer was great as..."

Y the last Man that reminds me Brian K Vaughn's Ex machina was superb.

Hey everybody that's into this thread. I'm reading Sandman Slim currently and I gotta say it reads like many of the great graphic novels mentioned in this thread, Mainly Garth Ennis It'd be worth checking out.

Cheers for the heads up Benji, i'll add it to my to read list.

Picked up Sandman Slim a couple of months ago in a bargain books table. May need to move it up on the TBR list.

Also, for people who are big fans of things like Twin Peaks and Lost, I'll often recommend Morning Glories, Vol. 1: For a Better Future.

Well that's a conundrum. Love Twin Peaks, but absolutely cannot stand Lost.

If your going to read Garth Ennis you should try reading his preacher series above any of the rest of his.

Preacher or Punisher. Both good stories.

I think it's probably a good idea to start with a stand-alone volume.
V for Vendetta comes to mind. Strong story and the design has a great recognition value (thanks to wikileaks)
A great starting point is also Billy Budd, KGB by Charyn and Boucq or any of the brilliant Criminal-Volumes by Brubaker and Phillips.
Of course it's also a pretty safe bet to start with Preacher, but make sure the person is not one who is easily offended. It is generally important to know a little bit about the persons interests to make a good recommendation. If it's somone who is more on the intellectual side, for example, I wouldn't hesitate to throw Spigelman's Maus at him for a first read.

Brett wrote: Really, though, it would depend on the person. You can't suggest something like Preacher to just anyone, regardless of who they are. That's a pretty harsh comic. Someone easily offended by language should avoid Transmet as well, even though it's a brilliant book."

I'll second that! If I knew absolutely nothing about the person I'd propably pick Bone by Jeff Smith.

or any of the brilliant Criminal-Volumes by Brubaker and Phillips.


I concur Brubaker, and Phillips are an amazing duo, the criminal volumes rock, however I think sleeper takes the cake.Sleeper, Vol. 1: Out in the Cold

Benji wrote: "I concur Brubaker, and Phillips are an amazing duo, the criminal volumes rock, however I think sleeper takes the cake."

I love that one as well, but if you chose to recommend sleeper as a first read, one must make sure that the person in question is not put off by superhero-themes.
(btw. they keep putting out amazing stuff, loved the third volume of Fatale.)

I read Bone. Not my favorite title, but I did enjoy it. :-)

Will wrote: "Well that's a conundrum. Love Twin Peaks, but absolutely cannot stand Lost."

Then I guess you could go either way. The first one is a pretty quick read and you may just like it. Or hate it. Probably worth the risk for all the time it takes to read.