Please Help Me!

[Comics N' Toons]

I am 22 years old and have started quite a nice collection of graphic novels...

I am no stranger to comic books as I had a lot when I was younger... but I prefer graphic novels now!

WHAT WOULD YOU RECCOMMEND ME GETTING...... no superhero/character is off limits.

I WOULD SIMPLY LIKE TO EXPAND MY COLLECTION

HERE IS WHAT I HAVE:

BATMAN:

arkham asylum
long halloween
dark victory
haunted knight
DKR
year one
Chronicles Vol. 1 & 2


THE SHADOW:

In the Coils of Leviathan

SUPERMAN:

For All Seasons

CATWOMAN:

When In Rome


SPIDERMAN

SPIDERMAN BLUE


DAREDEVIL:

DAREDEVIL YELLOW

 

[The Question]

Hellblazer. It's not very super hero-y. Much more horror/crime noir. But it is most sweet. Especially Garth Ennis' run on the book.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

I recommend Preacher to just about anyone who asks anymore.

 

[Elijya]

Title: Invincible
Writer/Artist: Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, Cory Walker
Publisher: Image

Amazon.com listing:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/15...f=pd_bbs_1/103-9396336-0621452?_encoding=UTF8

Invincible is the Eisner Award-nominated top selling Image book, created and written by Robert Kirkman (same guy who's doing The Walking Dead, Marvel Zombies, Marvel Team Up, and Ultimate X-Men). Here's the pitch from the back of volume one:

"Mark Grayson is just like most everyone else his age. He's a senior at a normal American high School. He has a crappy part time job after school and on weekends. He likes girls quite a bit... but doesn't quite understand them. He enjoys hanging out with his friends, and sleeping late on Saturdays... at least until the good cartoons come on. The only difference between Mark and everyone else is that his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet, and as of late, he seems to be inheriting his father's powers. Strange things begin to happen to Mark Grayson as he begins to develop superpowers. Luckily, his dad is around to show him the ropes, at least he would be if he weren't so busy saving the world all the time. "

But that's just the begining. Over only two years, Kirkman has not only developed Mark and his father into amazingly fleshed out characters, he's created a whole world around Mark that rivals the entire Marvel or DC Universes in variety and creativity. The twists are non stop, as is the fun. The plot is no holds barred, and you truly don't know what is going to happen next. The storytelling is top notch, and it is downright the best superhero title being published today.

Format: So far there's six softcover volumes collecting the first 26 issues. But the Hardcovers are the real bargain, as they contain three softcovers each, plus a load of bonus material, for cheaper than the softcovers. You can buy the volume 1 HC for an incrediblly low $23 at Amazon (softcovers they ask $10 a peice for). Buy it, and get hooked!

 

[Elijya]

just FYI, the only difference between what you're calling comic books and what you're calling graphic novels (but are actually trade paperbacks) is that comics that were originally published monthly and have been collected into one volume. A true graphic novel, if you want to get technical, is something that was only ever published as a single volume, like Blankets, Black Hole, Wonder Woman: The Hiketea, Pride of Baghdad, etc.

 

[Elijya]

Title:Batman: The Killing Joke
Writer/Artist:Alan Moore and Brian Bolland
Publisher:DC Comics

Summary:Alan Moore the man that brought you Watchmen and V for Vendetta writes this in depth look into the psyche of one of the greatest villains of all time, The Joker. Batman: The Killing Joke is a one shot story that develops an origin for the clown prince of crime. An emotional and psychological journey into the mind of the Joker and how the man’s mind ticks. Told in flashbacks, this in depth look almost makes you feel bad for him, almost. In the present Batman has discovered the Joker has once again escaped from Arkham and has committed heinous crimes on two of Batman’s supporting cast.

Brian Bolland provides one can only be said to be a definitive Batman. His dark, scary pencils perfectly fit the mood of this story. A must have for any fan of Batman and the Joker as its effects are still felt in the modern DC Universe. Batman: The Killing Joke, essential for any comic book fan.

Format:One shot story available everywhere.

Batman: The Killing Joke

write-up originally by Darthphere

 

[Elijya]

Title: Watchmen
Writer/Artist: Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons
Publisher: DC Comics

Summary: Watchmen is Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ comic book masterpiece that for many, stands as one of the greatest comics ever written. This epic takes place at a point in world history known as the cold war, and therefore it tackles a lot of the different concerns of the time. But this story starts, rather simply, with the murder of a Masked Hero known as the Comedian. He is beaten and thrown out the window of his high-rise apartment. This of course, draws the attention of one of several other masked heroes. A rather insane and uniquely hilarious man called Rorschach. He begins an investigation to discover just who was behind the murder of this hero. What he uncovers is a conspiracy that is so horrible, so devastating, that when it’s all over, the world will never be the same. We follow Rorschach, Nite Owl, the Silhouette, Ozymandias, and Dr. Manhattan, throughout this deep and immersive tale about a world on the brink of collapse, and the heroes who live in it.

Watchmen provides a wide view at Reagan Era politics. The characters all represent a different point of view. The optimist, the scientist, the conspiracy theorist, the everyman. All blend into one big picture that clearly shows the world that is involved in Watchmen. The main plot is engrossing, emotional, and relevant to this day. It all begs the questions, do the ends justify the means? What is the price for having a world of peace? How far are you willing to go to ensure your safety? These are questions Watchmen makes you think about. Watchmen's relevancy is still felt today in this post 9/11 world. Alan Moore is able to provide a politically charged story, but one that isn't dragged down by the message. Politics in comics are some what old hat at this point, but Watchmen changes that as it set the stage for a new era of comic books in which politics and flying men could co-exist. It was said earlier, that Watchmen is considered to be one of the greatest comic book stories ever written, there's a reason for this. Its essential for any comic book collector to read this book, for it changed the whole face of comics as we know it.

Format: There is a trade paper back collecting the entire Watchmen mini series. There is also an Absolute edition of the book.



Heres a look at what they have at Amazon regarding the Watchmen.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=br_ss_h...rm=gurupa&url=index=blended&keywords=Watchmen

write-up originally by Darthphere and Anubis

 

[Mister J]

The links below point to some general recommendations. You might have to dig around a bit, but there are some good write-ups on several trades and a lot of variety.

http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=186190
http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=235880

 

[Mr. Sinister05]

just FYI, the only difference between what you're calling comic books and what you're calling graphic novels (but are actually trade paperbacks) is that comics that were originally published monthly and have been collected into one volume. A true graphic novel, if you want to get technical, is something that was only ever published as a single volume, like Blankets, Black Hole, Wonder Woman: The Hiketea, Pride of Baghdad, etc.

Actually, to get even more technical the term "graphic novel" was just a marketing ploy brought up in the 1980's. There really isn't any specific way to distinguish a "graphic novel" simply by whether it was only published in 1 volume or not (Watchmen wasn't originally published in 1 volume).

I feel that Alan Moore says it best in an interview done 7 years ago with Blather.net. Check it out at:

http://www.blather.net/articles/amoore/northampton.html

 

[Mladen]

You seem to prefer Superheroes, but you might enjoy something a bit different.
Definately check out 'Preacher'. its a must-read.
If you like action and would like to try something a bit different, give 'Akira' by Katsuhiro Otomo a go. Its VERY action-packed and really beautifully illustruted, plus it looks awesome on a bookshelf.

 

[Elijya]

Actually, to get even more technical the term "graphic novel" was just a marketing ploy brought up in the 1980's. There really isn't any specific way to distinguish a "graphic novel" simply by whether it was only published in 1 volume or not (Watchmen wasn't originally published in 1 volume).

I feel that Alan Moore says it best in an interview done 7 years ago with Blather.net. Check it out at:

http://www.blather.net/articles/amoore/northampton.html

From what I recall, the term was acually first coined by Will Eisner when he was trying to get A Contract with God published in the 1970s.

 

[Mr. Sinister05]

Well, "A Contract with God" is considered one of the 1st comics made in which the term "graphic novel" was slapped onto it. Speaking of which, I'd like to read it sometime. Heard it was pretty good. Guess that's another good recommendation.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

A Contract with God is indeed quite good.

 

[Andy C.]

To add to the list, you can't go wrong with Hellboy. Something like The Right Hand of Doom or Wake the Devil is a good starting point.

 

[Tropico]

Get all of the "Fables" TPB's. Now. DO IT!!t:

 

[Joker]

if it says Written by Alan Moore or Written by Neil Gaiman, but it right now

 

[Joker]

From what I recall, the term was acually first coined by Will Eisner when he was trying to get A Contract with God published in the 1970s.

from what I've always gone by, a graphic novel is something that's orginally published as one big volume, like From Hell...a collection of single issues is a TPB/Hardcover...that's what I use anyway...

 

[Mr. Sinister05]

from what I've always gone by, a graphic novel is something that's orginally published as one big volume, like From Hell...a collection of single issues is a TPB/Hardcover...that's what I use anyway...

Actually, "From Hell" was originally an anthology comic that appear appeared in segments in Taboo magazine. However, when this magazine folded, the story continued living throgh various publishers onwards until it was finally collected in a trade paperback in 1998.