On Reading Graphic Novels discussion

what comic/manga/graphic novel are you reading now or have you read in the past that you enjoyed the most?

I suppose you're fishing for recommendations... ain't we all? ;)

Berlin City of Stones and Berlin City of Smoke are top-class. Also Persepolis was really good. Recently I started reading some good stuff by Guy Delisle, but as funny as he is, I think his material will get old very fast.

I got some classic stuff from Italy still missing on Goodreads, which I'll add soon: some old stories with Corto Maltese, a new edition of Max Fridman by Vittorio Giardino, and a Jacovitti classic collection. They were all superb.
I guess I also need to re-read Lost Girls by Alan Moore, as I didn't really "get it" the first time around.

The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes and the rest of the series by Neil Gaiman.

i have read several ya novels by Neil Gaiman, he usually has pretty good stories. Though most of the comic stuff i read is Manga i'll have to try some regular graphic novels.

The thrice-monthly relaunch of Amazing Spider-Man is one of my favorite to pick up in floppies, as are Invincible and Powers. I just finished the trade of Phonogram, which was a ton of fun. I really enjoyed the Scott Pilgrim books and the series Strangers in Paradise as well.

well i have said before that i finished reading Inuyasha by Takahasi Rumiko a while back and I'm about a fourth of the way through Yu Yu Hakusho right now though i can't seem to remember who it's by.

Currently, I am reading volume one of The Devil's Panties. This volume collects comics 1-6 of the autobiographical web comic written and drawn by Jennie Breeden.

I'm up to volume 7 of Y the Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra. I'm starting that volume tonight.

I'm still catching up on Fables (currently on book 9) and I have to say it just keeps getting better. The first two were okay but not great but it just keeps building momentum and interest as the characters flesh out.

Graphic Novel wise I've been working my way through:
Y The Last Man
Ex Machina
Freakangels

But as for monthly issues I've been loving the first two issues of Four Eyes, Ignition City and have been a big fan of the new volume of Locke & Key as well as Umbrella Academy.


Irredeemable is only one issue in but is a MUST read for any fan of Mark Waid or simply the anti-hero theme. There are some scenes that really get under my skin. Check it out if you haven't!

I am currently reading the Bone series by Jeff Smith. It is very epic although a bit juvenile. It is absolutly hilarious. There are nine books in total. A very good lite-hearted read.

Currently re-reading: Unknown Soldier.
Black ops, lies, and wet work.

My favourites are Swamp Thing and Scott Pilgrim.

Swamp thing is often forgotten when compared with Alan Moore's other work, and Scott Pilgrim has been so much fun.

Saying that, I was turned on to reading comics by Daniel Clowes Ghost World, which needs to be read by even more people.

Just re-read The Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius 1. Laugh out loud funny. 4 collections as far as I'm aware, all great stuff.

I recently read through issue 27 of Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue and I can not put into words how much I've loved every issue. Absolutely amazing.

Y: The Last Man is one of the best graphic novels that I've read... solid characters and great concept.

100 Bullets is an intense, gritty read with great art and a fascinating arc... I've read all but one of the collected issues.

Just starting the DMZ series, by the author of 100 Bullets.

I second 100 Bullets for an intense read if you don't like the superhero based comics. Fell is also pretty good although a little short and Nightly News by Jonathan Hickman is a visual masterpiece of storytelling.

For the more superhero type stuff, check out Brubakers Captain America, Marvel's Annihilation and The Immortal Ironfist. For DC, Justice and Kingdom Come are great reads.

Asianavatar wrote: "I second 100 Bullets for an intense read if you don't like the superhero based comics. Fell is also pretty good although a little short and Nightly News by Jonathan Hickman is a visual masterpiece ..."

Justice and Kingdom Come are awesome. I especially enjoyed Justice. The way the villains did away with the heroes was phenomenal. The one image that stuck in my mind was Wonder Woman cracking apart when the world ended.

Last trade I got was Grant Morrison's All-Star Superman vol. 1--awesome stuff.

When Old Man Logan is combined in a leather bound volume, will it count as an answer?

I've been having good flashbacks to last book of Y: The Last Man.
Asterios Polyp is also something I keep thinking about as well.

I just read Wolverine:Origin. It's defintely worth picking up if you're a wolverine fan.

My favorite superhero comic I'm reading is Invincible by Robert Kirkman. This groundbreaking story shows what's possible when the creator truly owns the character and writes what he wants. His Walking Dead is how a zombie story should be told, true horror focused on the humans trying to survive. The best superhero team book I'm reading is Dynamo 5 by Jay Faerber. It feels like classic X-Men from the 80s with a modern twist. The most creative team book right now is Gerard Way's quirky Umbrella Academy. There's nothing out there like it. If you like crime fiction, Scalped by Jason Aaron is the best thing on shelves right now. It's a gritty organized crime story told on a Native American reservation. Ed Brubaker's Criminal is a pulpy crime noir comic that I can't recommend more highly. Honorable mentions: Chew by Jay Layman and Guerillas by Brahm Revel.

I just recently returned to reading comics. I've been gone a while -- over 10 years -- but my son is 3 1/2-years-old and really getting into superheroes, which was excuse enough for me to start picking up some graphic novels at the local library. I just finished volumes 7, 8, and 9 of the Catwoman series by Will Pfeifer and David & Alvaro Lopez (covers by Adam Hughes), and I have to say they were really fun. I prefer volumes 7 & 9, because they deal more with Catwoman in her element (that being the seedy underbelly of the criminal world in Gotham). Volume 8 sort of goes off on a weird tangent and takes Catwoman off-world to a Prison Planet. I didn't dig that so much, but it didn't detract too much from my overall enjoyment of the three GNs. I think I'll go back and read the earlier volumes.

I wrote a review of Catwoman Vol. 7: Catwoman Dies on my blog, if anyone is interested:

http://corpseofmilk.blogspot.com/2009...

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I just finished Sebastian O and I ADORE it.

Been a while since i was on here. Just read the Sleeper vol 2 and thought it was fun but not brilliant.

The last episode of 100 bullets was an interesting climax, the art on that series is fantastic, i'd love to get a poster of some of the pages.

Scalped is turning out to be pretty badass i'm really getting into it.

I'm almost through Absolute Sandman Vol. 3. It's every bit as fantastic as the first 2.

My favorite is V for Vendetta. I usually pull it out and reread it at least once a year.

Haven't read the Absolutes yet... one day I'll just break down and buy them all at once. Used, probably, so I don't have to read them while living in a box. =)

V For Vendetta is one of my all-time favorites, too. Every year, religious-like.

Dunno if I already mentioned, but another GN set I've really enjoyed is Strangers In Paradise by Terry Moore.

I've been reading the two Berlin books and recommend nboth highly.

I have been enjoying the new Batwoman Detective issues. I think there are only 2-3 issues out so far but I was really blown away by the first ones I read. The added short comics at the end are just as great!

Looking forward to the release of the first volume collection!

I love Berlin also. I am an actress and played the part of Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret. Berlin is like Cabaret in many ways.
My favorite manga is Barefoot Gen and I really like reality/slice of life work like 365 Days, Carnet de Voyage, American Splendor, Persepolis, to name a few. The Artwork in What it is by Lynda Barry is magnificent.

Christina wrote: "I have been enjoying the new Batwoman Detective issues. I think there are only 2-3 issues out so far but I was really blown away by the first ones I read. The added short comics at the end are ju..."

Those look amazing. The art is awesome to behold, and I hear the story is really good, too.

I'm guilty of waiting for the trade rather than buy the individual issues. I missed an issue at my store and I think they're tough ones to get on re-order.

I agree on buying the individual issues - I was fortunate enough to have a friend who bought them and lent them to me. I am hooked! Can't wait to buy the volume. The story is excellent, I love the main character, and the art is definitely great. I had no complaints!

Christina wrote: "I have been enjoying the new Batwoman Detective issues. I think there are only 2-3 issues out so far but I was really blown away by the first ones I read. The added short comics at the end are ju..."

There are five issues out, the last two I just about read the first of which, I felt, is very strong being a backstory. The first arc (first three) has such a beautiful artwork. In the second arc, JHW is switching between two different styles the backstory reminiscent of Batman: Year one. It's getting better and better. It's comforting because the other, Grant Morrison's, Batman title I've'bn following is getting worse.

I'm reading Preacher Vol. 6, Seven Soldiers of Victory Vol. 3, and Stardust (the illustrated edition). Just finished reading Detective Comics 858 &859 which is growing up to be strong. Other recent reads are Promethea, A Tale of One Bad Rat, Chicken with Plums, all were fine reads.

It's hard to pick only few favorites yet I would say, and keep it short, Sandman series, Watchmen, We3, Persepolis Vol. 1, The Mystery Play, Swallow me Whole...

Finished the first 5 tps of Queen And Country.
Messy spy stuff...not Bond, more Len Deighton or John le Carré.
Queen & Country, Vol. 5 Operation Stormfront being particularly nasty, good people doing bad things.

I have been dying to read Queen and Country ... waiting to borrow it from a friend. Glad to hear another person recommending it.

Everyone has some really good mentions, maybe I can throw a few too. MadMan by Mike Allred (Tundra/Dark Horse)is a lot of fun to read, though his newer stuff being published by Image I have not yet checked out. Animal Man by Grant Morrison is another favorite. The Twelve by J. Michael Straczynsk (when will he finish this?) Superman for All Seasons by Jeff Loeb. Ultimates by Mark Millar.

I keep asking about THE TWELVE when I go into my local shop. I was really enjoying it and then...where is it? I hear conflicting stories about who is responsible.

I have to recommend going back and reading the first few dozen isssues of TMNT by Eastman & Laird. These were the basis for the first Turtles movie.

Since everybody mentions SANDMAN (as I did in another thread) let me put in a vote for SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE by Matt Wagner & Steven T. Seagle. Not quite a 'spin-off' from Gaiman's title, but there is a connection. This features the Golden Age gas-mask wearing Sandman.

Sandman Mystery Theater is one of my all-time favorite titles. The original covers for the individual issues are just as cool as the stories.

Steve wrote: "I keep asking about THE TWELVE when I go into my local shop. I was really enjoying it and then...where is it? I hear conflicting stories about who is responsible.

I have to recommend going bac..."

Thanks for recommending Sandman Mystery Theatre. I'd never heard of it and I just got The Absolute Sandman, Vol. 4 for christmas. It will make me less sad to finish the series knowing that I have something more to look forward to!

My favorite graphic novel is either Vampire Knight or Fullmetal Alchemist. Both are REALLY good!

I just finished A Contract with God by Will Eisner and Abandon the old in Tokyo by Yoshihiro Tatsumi. Both really phenomenal works if you're into the short story genre. Also, I just finished the Frank Book by Jim Woodring. Also highly recommended.

Just finished Mouse Guard. Holy cow, highly recommended.

Eric wrote: "I am currently reading the Bone series by Jeff Smith. It is very epic although a bit juvenile. It is absolutly hilarious. There are nine books in total. A very good lite-hearted read."

I really loved Bone. I bought the "all in one" book. It took a long time to get through, but it is one of my favorites