Bear 1817 Posted July 18, 2014 So, there's already a manga thread here, but I haven't seen any thread about graphic novels and comic books yet. Talk about all things comics and graphic novels here. Comics and graphic novels are more or less the same thing, to many, but I tend to use them a bit different. A graphic novel, to me, is something a bit heavier, deeper and more complex than a comic, maybe a bit more for a grown up crowd. Though, not all think of it as I, so it doesn't really matter. Here's a few recommendations to get you started, unless you're already familiar with graphic novels and comics. I'll take the obvious ones to begin with: Scalped I'll just jump straight to it, because Scalped is a graphic novel in 10 issues that just can't get enough praise. This is by far the most impressive thing I have ever read, or seen. Because as far as character development and storytelling goes, this is just as good as The Sopranos, The Wire and True Detective. It's that good. Scalped is a series where we follow Dash Bad Horse, a reluctantly undercover FBI agent who's to infiltrate an orginasation run by Lincoln Red Crow, the leader of an Indian reservation. It's a bad soup of lies, money, drugs, violence and murder, melted together with a fantastic gallery of characters, and superb stories. Jason Aaron, the creator, has never lived in an Indian reservation, but when you read this you'd think he's lived in one for 60+ years. It's impressive. It'll need and issue to two to get going, but it is worth it. Also, the colourisation is a bit weird at first, but it gets better. Dark, gritty and fantastic crime noir. From Hell Another ten issue graphic novel by legends Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell. From Hell is a dark, gritty, gripping and hallucinatory piece of crime noir fiction about Jack the Ripper. It's a masterpiece, like much of what Alan Moore made in his early days. There's an film called From Hell which is loosely based off this, but it's no match for this, and it is quite different. So if you didn't like the film you should still check this out. The Dark Knight Returs This four issue graphic novel by Frank Miller is probably the most important Batman-piece since the first issues of Batman ever. This is often considered the best Batman story of all time, together with Miller's Batman: Year One. The Dark Knight Returns took Batman to new heights as Frank Miller created a dark, gritty version of a character that had become synonymous with camp. It stars a 55 year old Bruce Wayne, and that itself is amazing. It keeps all the important elements of Batman imtact, but just takes it to a whole new level of brilliance. Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files For thirty years, one man has dominated the British comic scene. He is judge, jury and executioner, a merciless far-future lawman delivering justice with an iron fist on the mean streets of Mega-City One. He is Judge Dredd. He is the law. He is the biggest British comics character of all time! Discover (or re-discover) the roots of this legendary character in this vast, thrill-packed graphic novel collecting together all of Dredd's early adventures in chronological order - complete and uncut! Watchmen This Alan Moore classic is known to most people, so this is kinda useless. Anyway, if you haven't read it, you should. Watchmen is one of the best and most important graphic novels of all time. Complex, dark and gritty, with Watchmen Moore re-defined what superheroes could be. It's so well-written, and everything's so well-executed. Ultra-detailed drawings that just draws you in. That's some of the MUST-READS for all of ya. Should've mentioned V for Vendetta, Batman: Year One, Batman: Arkham Asylum, 300, Hellboy, Swamp Thing, Preacher, Hellblazer, The Punisher, X-Men and a lot more. Though, I'm not too familiar with all of these, though. Still working on it. But c'mon, talk graphic novels and comic books, folks! 1 Zeus reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jigsaw9 6783 Posted July 18, 2014 I'm not super-into comics but I have my faves. I guess I'd discover more if they were more readily available over here and/or cheaper - Hungary has a kinda lame and almost non-existant comics culture, and I like to read the books on paper so usually ages pass till I buy some new comic book that I might like. Watchmen is pretty cool. I also love the art style of Mike Mignola, so his Hellboy comics are a must for me. Frank Miller's Sin City is excellent too, I think I have most of it actually. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bear 1817 Posted July 18, 2014 Cool! Yeah, it's expensive as fuck here too, so I usually lend from the library from free. They've got plenty. Though, I do plan to get myself a nice bunch of comics with time. I'll buy compilations with all issues of this and that, instead of buying one and one. It's usually a lot cheaper. Aso, internet > buying in Norway. It's way too expensive here. Have to agree about Sin City too. Great graphic novel. Also, I am revisiting From Hell nowadays. It's so fucking good. Dark, gritty and so well-written. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bear 1817 Posted July 20, 2014 No one else? Really? No one's even interested in talking about this? How disappointing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Original Saku 1593 Posted July 20, 2014 Graphic novels are cool as fuck, but too expensive for me to read... sorry :/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bear 1817 Posted July 20, 2014 Don't you guys have libraries where you can borrow his shit? I don't own a single graphic novel, but I've read quite a lot. I do plan on buying the big collections, though. But the libraries here have a lot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bear 1817 Posted July 20, 2014 The Walking Dead Most of you know The Walking Dead now, but by the TV-series, and not the comic. There's no doubt in my mind whatsoever, that the TV-series are highly inferior to the comics. In fact, the TV-series are absolute shit, while the comic was very good. While the TV-series is based off the comics, there's a lot of changes and often they feel like two different series. The comics have better characters, better drama and is more of a pleasure to the eye than the TV-series. It's just on a whole different level. I have to admit though, that while great for as long as I read it, it ran for way too long. I fell off a long time ago, I read 93 issues, and after that I haven't read a single thing. It's currently at 129 issues, and from what I've heard it's gotten a bit weak. It's lost its punch, as comics and TV-series often do when they go on for too long. Shame, but it's worth reading just for the 93 first issues anyway. It's superior to the awful TV-series. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Original Saku 1593 Posted July 20, 2014 Dude I haven't left my house in over two weeks, does it seem like I go to Libraries? Hell I haven't been to a library since I was in middle school... plus you have to register for a membership around here and that's just a hassle. If i was going to read graphic novels the best method for me would be to pirate them, but I already pirate too much shit as it is.. I don't need to add anything else to long list of shit I don't pay for Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bear 1817 Posted July 20, 2014 I see. I don't go much to the library myself, other then to pick up the things I've ordered. The local library is really small and haven't got anything I want to read, but the main library over here (which is 40 minutes away) is pretty fucking big. So I just order whatever I want to read via the internet and in a day or two I go and pick them up at the small, local library. It's easy and well worth it. Had to sign up here too, but that's done in a few minutes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
