Graphic Novels
Posted on December 30, 2007
12 Comments
On a whim, I picked up Richard Matheson’s “I Am Legend“
Now then, that brings up the question: What other graphic novels should I be looking for? I read “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” a couple years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed Vol. 1. I liked Vol. 2
Ideas or suggestions? Anything that is considered “defining” that I just have to read to consider myself a true reader? 
Side Note: Speaking of books (kinda) I’m proud to say that I finally finished the Harry Potter series! Yay me. Loved ‘em.
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On the other hand, I...
The Gunslinger Born is a must have for any Dark Tower reader.
Nothing really new. Just an adaptation of much of the backstory put together chronologically.
Ah, that one was at the store as well, but it was wrapped so I couldn’t have a peak.
It’ll definitely go on the list. I <3 Dark Tower.
There is a great Halo graffic novel based on the game. It is more of a comic book, but still enjoyable. It should be available at the library.
Thanks Nathan, I’d be willing to have a go at it. Do you recall a title or author by chance?
There’s a third League of Extrodinary Gentlemen novel out (the black dossier). I haven’t finished it yet, but I don’t think it’s as good as it’s predecessors. It has it’s moments, but a lot of it is just ‘ha ha, here’s a great story we could have put in this book, but decided to give you a plot summary of it instead’.
One of my favorite’s by Moore is the Watchmen, and it’s also one of the most written about books in comic book criticism. He initially wanted to use the Carleston Key characters, but instead was forced (by DC) to use characters obviously based off of them. It takes place in an alternate timeline and looks at what the world would be like if superheroes really did exist. Vietnam was an overwhelming victory, Woodsworth and Bernstien were assassinated early in their investigation, and the superheroes are egotistical men who believe themselves beyond morals or laws. All of this is interwoven into a mystery revolving around someone trying to get rid of the remaining superheroes.
Another big one is Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. In it the world has turned against the superheroes and only Superman remains active, working for the government and forcing the other superheroes into retirement if need be. Meanwhile a nearly sixty year old batman comes out of retirement to fight the rising crime in gotham city while the media and liberal propagandists label him the true criminal and the ultimate source behind gotham’s crime.
Neil Gaimen’s Marvel 1602 uses most of the original marvel heroes created by Stan Lee, and a few of the villians, and places them in the year 1602. The story isn’t centered around teen angst and big fight scenes like early Marvel, but around political intrigue involving a coming apocalypse and the end of Elizibeth’s reign.
Both Niel Gaimen’s Sandman series (11 graphic novels) and Frank Miller’s Sin City series (7 graphic novels I think) are really good if you want something a bit bigger.
If you don’t mind shelling out a few hundred dollars, I can’t recommend Dragon Ball enough (42 trade paperback volumes). I’ve read through it about six times now, and I’m far from bored with it. It’s one of my favorite books, and far deeper than it initially appears to be.
Hey Rob, thanks for all the ideas! I guess I knew about Sin City from some point — I see it on my Amazon Wish list at any rate. I’ll definitely have a look at the others and probably add them to that same list. Watchmen and Dark Knight Returns both really sound interesting.
To expose my ignorance, I didn’t know Gaimen did graphic novels! I’ve been hearing about him for years too. I gotta come out of my cave more often I guess.
*gack*
SANDMAN!!!
Those are required reading for any geek.
Please tell me you’re yanking our collective chain by saying that about Gaimen.
Nope - no chain yanking.
Last year I tried to read “anansi boys” (or some similar such titled book.
Hated it. Decided that I’m probably too uncouth to be a Gaiman fan. If there are better representations of his work, I’m definitely glad to try them.
Sandman a graphic?
At the risk of incurring the wrath of fan-bois across the interweb I got through Anansi Boys but didn’t think it was all that and a bag o’ chips. It was “meh” to me.
Sandman is a series of graphic novels. There are like six of them. They are, I believe, his best work to date. They were also when I quit buying comics. After that series quit I was spent. I needed a cigarette and a nap. They were just that good. If you don’t want to invest in them I can perhaps be persuaded to ship you my copies and you can return them to me when you’re done reading them. It’s a lotta books… Wil Wheaton suggests the hard-cover Absolute Sandman which has all the stories in 2 books, but it’s going for like 120 USD for them.
crap. why can’t I edit my comments? I wasn’t finished.
THere’s 2 more volumes coming in sandman absolute.
I also don’t know if my copies are here or in storage in TN. I was going to check before hitting submit.
Hey Rich - I appreciate the shipping offer! However, I’m happy to say it looks like my local (small town) library has ‘em. In fact, with luck I’ll have the first Sandman in my sweaty hands tomorrow or Monday.
Where I can, I figure I’ll try the library first. If I like it, then I’ll start buying ‘em (or the series).
The original Sandman series consisted of 75 comics, one oversized special edition, and a few small stories added to compliations to help sell the comic, all of which are collected into 10 graphic novels along with Gaimen’s later contribution in Dreaming #8. A later set of Sandman stories were written by Gamian for the graphic novel Endless Nights, bringing the total to 11 graphic novels (and this is what is officially listed on the back of the Sandman novels). Additionally Gaimen worked on two spin-off miniseries made up of four comics each centered around Death, Time of Your Life and High Cost of Living, both of which I believe have been collected into graphic novels. There was one more illustrated novel, Dream Hunters. Gaimen also did a story for Sandman Midnight Theater which was included in DC’s Midnight Days completion of the oddities Gaimen produced for DC.
I know Sandman Absolute collects the ten volumes of Sandman novels and might include Endless Nights, but I’m not sure. I’m pretty sure none of the other Sandman stuff is included in there though.