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100 Comics, or Graphic Novels, to Read Before You Die?

Discussion in 'Misc. Comics' started by Artistsean, Feb 6, 2008.

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  1. Artistsean

    Artistsean Monkey Boy

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    What would be the comics you think someone should read before they die?
    I am starting a list, based on a book I saw at a store about the 1001 paintings you must see before you die (showing classics like Van Gogh and Picassos),
    But I thought 100 was good enough.
    They can be single issue comics or graphic novels, DC or Marvel or Dark Horse or whatever.
    They can be mature content or children comics.
    They can be about any subject as well, superhero or realistic or cartoony.
    Which ones have the best art, or the best writing, or both?

    If there is a thread like this already I am sorry for posting this.

    Are there any comics that you think someone has to read before they die.
     
    #1 Artistsean, Feb 6, 2008
  2. Artistsean

    Artistsean Monkey Boy

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    I should clarify, I am not asking for anyone to list all 100 comics.
    I was just asking for some recommendations, so that I might start compiling a list or something.
     
    #2 Artistsean, Feb 6, 2008
  3. st barbara

    st barbara Civilian

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    Okay i'll start by recommending any of the "Astro City" or "Top Ten" collections !
     
    #3 st barbara, Feb 6, 2008
  4. Obi-Ron

    Obi-Ron Deal with it

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    Anything by Osamu Tezuka, especially his 8-volume biography of Buddha or 11-volume time-jumping epic Phoenix

    If I was making this list I'd have 19 down right off the bat.
     
    #4 Obi-Ron, Feb 6, 2008
  5. GNR

    GNR Avenger

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    from the top of my head at the moment...

    • The American Way by John Ridley and Georges Jeanty
    • The Authority by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch
    • Planetary by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday
    • The Golden Age by James Robinson and Paul Smith
    • Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross
    • Batman The Long Halloween/Dark Victory by Jeph Loeb and Time Sale
    • Marvels by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross
    • New Frontier by Darywn Cooke and Dave Stewart
    • Captain America by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting/Mike Perkins/Butch Guice
    • Superman For All Seasons by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale
    • Daredevil by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev
    • Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
    • Thor Disassembled:Ragnarok by Michael Oeming and Andrea DiVitto
    • Justice by Jim Kreuger/Alex Ross/Doug Braithwaite
    • Casanova by Matt Fraction and Gabriel Ba/Fabio Moon
    • The Ultimates 1 and 2 by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch
    • Avengers Under Siege by Roger Stern and John Buscema
    • Flash:Return of Barry Allen by Mark Waid and Greg LaRocque
    • Rising Stars by JMS and Christian Zanier/Brent Anderson
    • Green Lantern Rebirth by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver
    • Thor Blood Oath by Michael Oeming and Scott Kolins
    • Superman Secret Identity by Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen
    • Young Avengers by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung
    • Batman Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli
    • Superman Red Son by Mark Millar and Dave Johnson
     
    #5 GNR, Feb 6, 2008
  6. tzarinna

    tzarinna Mamochka

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    I like this list.
     
    #6 tzarinna, Feb 6, 2008
  7. film_geek

    film_geek Joker fanatic.

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    Transmetropolitan vol 1 by Warren Ellis, Fables vol 1 by Bill Willingham, Preacher vol 1 by Garth Ennis, Lost Girls by Alan Moore.

    there's a few to start off with.
     
    #7 film_geek, Feb 7, 2008
  8. Artistsean

    Artistsean Monkey Boy

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    I have read a few of the ones mentioned, and others I haven't gotten to yet.

    What about Will Eisner, anything by him?
    I am reading a compilation book by him right now called Life in Pictures. Don't know if its a must read but its a semi autobiography on his life, his art, his time in the war, his comic career and his comic friends, and the racism he faced.

    I think eventually I will put all the comics mentioned together in a list, and people can tell me if they agree or dissagree. Or somethinbg like that, there is still time.

    Oh, I just thought of one (perhaps) what about Little Nemo?
     
    #8 Artistsean, Feb 7, 2008
  9. High-Father

    High-Father Guest

    The MaxImmortal by Rick Veitch

    New Gods by Jack Kirby

    All B.P.R.D.

    All Astro City

    Watchmen (of course)

    Just to name a few ....
     
    #9 High-Father, Feb 8, 2008
  10. Mladen

    Mladen Civilian

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    No point seperating it out into single volumes if its something like Preacher or Sandman where the idea was carried through from its initial conception to completion by a single writer with a single vision. The distinction between volumes in those cases is pretty much arbitrary (and suggesting volume 1 in a lot of cases may not be the best choice).
    when its several writers on a title (something like Hellblazer), then recommending a specific story may be the way to go (and saying: Collected in _____).

    For me, the following are must-reads:

    Little Nemo in Slumberland - Windsor McKay
    Cerebus - Dave Sim
    Preacher - Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon
    Sandman - Neil Gaiman
    Akira - Katsuhiro Otomo
    Y The Last Man - Brian K Vaughan and Pia Guerra
    DMZ - Brian Wood and Riccardo Burchielli
    Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth - Chris Ware
    Strange Embrace - David Hine
    City of Glass - Paul Aster, David Mazzucchelli, Paul Karasik
    V for Vendetta - Alan Moore
    Maus - Art Spiegelman
    Understanding Comics - Scott McCloud
    Epileptic - David B
    Asterix - Goscinny and Uderzo
    Tintin - Herge
    The Nightly News - Jonathon Hickman

    I don't personally exclude comic strips from these types of lists either (can't think of a reason not to include them?):
    Peanuts - Charles Schultz
    Calvin and Hobbes - Bill Watterson
    The Perry Bible Fellowship - Nicholas Gurewitch

    There's so much more, i'm inclined to make my own list if anyone were to ever read it.

    A while back Scott O Brown at CBR did a piece on how to approach defining a 'canon' for comic books. its a good read if you're interesting in trying to create a method for which to evaluate and determine what has a lasting relevance in comics.
    http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/authorlist.cgi?authorid=93
     
    #10 Mladen, Feb 8, 2008
  11. Mladen

    Mladen Civilian

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    Little Nemo is fantastic. McKay does some truly amazing things with that comic
     
    #11 Mladen, Feb 8, 2008
  12. Obi-Ron

    Obi-Ron Deal with it

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    How many made it to that list, Artistsean?
     
    #12 Obi-Ron, Feb 14, 2008
  13. Olivier

    Olivier Civilian

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    Carl Barks' Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge comics (plus his Walt Disney's Comics and Stories ten-pagers)
    Floyd Gottfredson's Mickey Mouse daily strips
    a special thread would be needed to detail the essential titles by both

    Alan Moore's From Hell
    Alan Moore's Swamp Thing
    Alan Moore's Promethea

    E.C. horror & science fiction comics-- this one would also require a full discussion to pick the very best
     
    #13 Olivier, Feb 17, 2008
  14. cerealkiller182

    cerealkiller182 Must Get Deadpool Avatar

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    Kinda off topic but there are quite a few of the 1001 things before you die books if anyone was interested. I believe theres books to read, songs to hear, and albums to hear. Theres definitely movies to watch because I own that one. Its not bad, there are a few surprising entries as well as some surprising left out


    Id also like to add 30 Days of Night. Im surprised the setting hasnt already been used.THe art is real moody. Although I might be biased since iloe vampstories and Steve Niles work.

    Big fan of the first League of Extraordinary Gentlemen volume. very cool, very creative
     
    #14 cerealkiller182, Feb 17, 2008
  15. Artistsean

    Artistsean Monkey Boy

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    Thats cool, I just saw it in a store once and flipped through it... the works of art book.
    I haven't counted it in a while but I am not sure we made it up to 100 yet. Also I am not sure how I would count it either. I guess just make a list out of the ones listed and people could write in and say which they agree with and which should be taken off.

    Does that sound like it would work?
     
    #15 Artistsean, Feb 17, 2008
  16. cerealkiller182

    cerealkiller182 Must Get Deadpool Avatar

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    As good as any

    I'd also like to add Orign (the Wolvie story) and Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth.
     
    #16 cerealkiller182, Feb 17, 2008
  17. Max J Power

    Max J Power Trash Boat

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    Some that haven't been mentioned:

    Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont & John Byrne/Dave Cockrum
    Daredevil by Frank Miller
    Sin City by Frank Miller
    The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
    Hellboy by Mike Mignola
    Astonshing X-Men by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday
     
    #17 Max J Power, Feb 17, 2008
  18. Gabe99

    Gabe99 Sidekick

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    Robot 6 Exclusive:
    Fantagraphics to publish the complete Carl Barks
    From Hero Complex:
    Wait, 'Inception' stole everything from Scrooge McDuck?
    From CBR: Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #133
    From Comics Alliance:
    The Complete Carl Barks Coming in All New Color at Fantagraphics
     
    #18 Gabe99, Jan 8, 2011
  19. Watchman

    Watchman Adios, Cowboy

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    I can't wait for these reprints. :awesome:

    For superheroes my favorites are,

    Absolute Dark Knight
    Watchmen
    Flex Mentallo
    All Star Superman
    Also anything Jack Kirby did- The Fourth World Saga and the Fantastic Four Omnibus

    Others besides the ones listed,

    Love and Rockets series
    Cerebus by Dave Sim
    Work done by Daniel Clowes, Charles Burns, R. Crumb
    The Golden Age work of Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Cole (Plastic Man)
    Cages by Dave McKean
    American Splendor

    Far too many to list and very hard to keep it to a 100.
     
    #19 Watchman, Jan 8, 2011
  20. Comics N' Toons

    Comics N' Toons Viva La Revolucion!

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    READ THIS... if you dare:


    [​IMG]
     
    #20 Comics N' Toons, Jan 13, 2011
  21. plushbug

    plushbug Certifiable anomaly

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    Working backwards from my most recent "damn, but that's GOOD" experience: the latest Hellboy trade, The Storm and The Fury. At the end of year that gave the world too damn many flavours of Ragnarok, this one did it right...beautifully written, drawn, paced, everything in this one just works.

    Not that all the previous Hellboy trades wouldn't be on the list as well. Mostly great little atmospheric fruitcakes of folklore and horror and weirdness that I look forward to re-reading many times before I die.
     
    #21 plushbug, Mar 29, 2012
  22. Art_of_Crime

    Art_of_Crime Heretic

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    Watchmen
    Sandman Preludes and Nocturnes and Seasons of Mists
    Preacher vol 1-9
    TMNT the first collection at least.
    Superman: Red Son
    Batman: Hush, The long Halloween, Dark Victory and Knightfall 1-3
    Kingdom come
     
    #22 Art_of_Crime, Mar 31, 2012
  23. Max J Power

    Max J Power Trash Boat

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    #23 Max J Power, Mar 31, 2012
  24. Spider-Aziz

    Spider-Aziz Dummy Dragon Holo

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    This is a title Brian Cronin should consider
    As one who likes those stories, I recommend you don't expect much of them (with exception to the one in bold), especially HUSH
    Read Heart of HUSH, it's from Detective Comics and is under the Batman R.I.P label
     
    #24 Spider-Aziz, Apr 1, 2012
  25. Harlekin

    Harlekin Business

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    Daytripper
     
    #25 Harlekin, Apr 1, 2012
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