Comic Novice

Complete Stories

I'm keen to read a few graphic novels (after having read the watchmen which I really enjoyed), but the problem I have is knowing which ones are complete storys and which ones require you to have read earlier work first.

Which are the best review sites on the net where I might find out this kind of info?
 
comicbookresources.com
newsarama.com
thefourthrail.com
silverbulletcomicbooks.com
comiccritique.com

Most of the above are all encompassing sites - news, interviews etc so you may have to search a little bit. If you're in any doubts about something I'm fairly confident I can answer or find an answer to what you're looking for :) Hope this helps.
 
Top 10 'Adult' comics.trades
10. Will Eisner's Contract with god
9. Palestine
8. Akira
7. Lone Wolf and Cub
6. Understanding Comics
5. Torso
4. From Hell
3. Fortune and Glory
2. Safe Area Gorazade
1. Maus
Click to expand...

These ten are all excellent (although Fortune and Glory is by far the weakest). If you are looking for more comics like this, I'd recommend:

Epileptic by David B
Blankets by Craig Thompson
Box Office Poison by Alex Robinson
Black Hole by Charles Burns
Buddy does Seattle & Buddy does Jersey by Peter Bagge
Anything by Chris Ware
Anything by Daniel Clowes.

By favorites of all these are Epileptic and Safe Area Gorazde.

Apart from the top 30 on page 1, I would also recommend Lucifer by Mike Carey (preferable after you've read Sandman) and Y - The Last Man (at least so far - I'm reading it in the HC editions and only two of these has been released so far).
 
For non-superhero material:

The Occult Files Of Dr. Spektor
The Twilight Zone (lots of short stories, so if you dislike one strip, you'll be reading another in a couple of minutes)
Asterix (I find the English translations funnier than the original French)
Alec by Eddie Campbell
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Classic's Illustrated Dracula by Nestor Redondo

I would post more, but there are plenty of suggestions already in this thread.
 
Comics

I'd recommend the Soulfire Series. A fairly good series, combines fantasy elements and science fiction elements. Id also recommend a series, maybe a four-shot like on of the Marvel Zombies or Batman: Battle of the Cowl.

There are lots of indie titles that might appeal to you.

Check out my video reviews for Comics, if your interested. Especially Soulfire.
 
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Hi

I am interested in reading some comic books (after reading the guards, which I liked), but the problem we have to find out what the storys are complete, and you have to read beyond the first.

What are the best online review sites where I could find that information? :) :D
 
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I'm a bit of a comics novice myself, although I've dabbled here and there, mostly prompted by friends' recommendations. I've enjoyed Neil Gaiman's 'Sandman' series, the first few volumes of 'The Walking Dead' and Joss Whedon's run of 'Astonishing X-Men'. Beyond that, however, I'm still pretty clueless.

Happily, one of the aforementinoed friends has just started a comics podcast, which serves as a useful primer for what's worth picking up and what's best avoided. It sounds like the new run of 'Captain Marvel' might be worth a look! You can find the podcast here: The Cape and The Cowl, Episode 1.
 
Valiant comics (from the nineties anyway; haven't read any new stuff) are my personal all-time favorites alongside the staples Watchmen and the Akira manga series. Some might be hard to find, but there are graphic novels based around some of them, and certain issues (like the first issue of Turok: Dinosaur Hunter) are easy to find thanks to over-production.
 
Going off the threads first post, which intimated an inability to go too comic stores, my advice is to download a comic app on your phone or tablet. Comixology is the best choice by far as it offers the widest range of comics on graphic novels for download.

As for reading choices I'd have to agree with previous posts that put forward Sandman. By far the greatest fantasy comic of all time. Dark, beautiful, tragic and uplifting all in one fell swoop, however, it's not light reading. It's an intense but ultimately rewarding experience.

For a more light-hearted and contemporary choice I'd like to put forward Chew for consideration. An irreverent take on Cop procedurals, Chew explores a world where eating chicken is outlawed and a new breed of human have food related super powers. It's left-field and brilliant, I've often gotten weird looks on the train from laughing while reading this.
 
So many good suggestions! I think I know what I'm going to tell people I want for my birthday!
 
You can look for other suggestions on The Comic Vine. But one thing recently caught my attention: Tarot, Witch of the Black Rose. Have to find a way to read that some time.
 
Comics to read

I am a huge DC Comics fan, especially Batman. For someone starting out I would recommend getting a trade paper back (TPB) which is a collection of multiple issues bundled together. This allows you to read an entire story arc for cheaper than separate issues, and to ensure you get them all. Choose a character you really like then find the most recent TPB for them. If you like DC characters (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, etc) then also try Justice League TPB of the New 52. The caution I would give is be selective as this can be an expensive hobby. Stick to main story lines and not extra unrelated stories. I have been collecting since 1994 and still love it. It is lie having a book you love and each month a new chapter comes out. hope this helps, enjoy.
 
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I love my retro comics! :P Space Family Robinson, Planet of the Apes, Starlord, Planet of the Vampires etc... Can't beat them! :D
 
fluffy bunny said:
Here's SFX's recommended top 30 comics of all time from May last yr

OK- I'd contend some of these- it's just a matter of finding what u like. However I found this list quite helpful whilst getting back into comics last yr. Ok there's decriptions next to the lists in the mag, but I'm not typing all that out, not to mention the copyright stuff. Most are available in trade paperback form, except no. 2.

30. Batman: The Long Halloween
29. A Superman for all seasons
28. Will Eisner's The Spirit
27. The Ballard of Halo Jones
26. Zenith
25. Judge Dredd: the cursed earth saga
24. Hellblazer (not specific about the story arc)
23. Green Lantern/Green Arrow by Denny O'Neill
22. Saga of the Swamp Thing (Alan Moore)
21. The Invisibles
20. Kingdom Come
19. Preacher
18. Spiderman (not specific but implying the early stuff u can find in the spiderman essentials trades)
17. Sandman
16. The Authority
15. X-Men (not specific- but raves on about the Claremont and Byrne stuff- X-Men essentials vol 2 contains most of it)
14. Justice League of America (Grant Morrison stuff)
13. Starman
12. Batman: the Killing Joke
11. Planetary
10. Justice League International- whilst Kevin Griffen was artist
9. V for Vendetta
8. The Fantastic Four- the stuff u can find in the essentails collections
7. Captain Britain
6. Dr & Quinch
5. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
4. Batman: Year one
3. Watchmen
2. Miracleman (you will not find this in trades- unless u pay a bomb for them)
1. Daredevil: whilst Frank Miller was writer- found in Daredevil visionaries: Frank Miller volumes 2 and 3 (1 is just with Miller doing the sketchwork). The main book mentioned is Miller's trade- Daredevil: the man without fear.


Top 10 currently on release (remember this was May last yr- things have changed since then)
10. Ultimate X-men
9. Captain Marvel
8. 100 bullets
7. Green Arrow
6. Superman
5. Ultimate Spiderman
4. The Authority
3. Powers
2. The fantastic four
1. Planetary

Top 10 'Adult' comics.trades
10. Will Eisner's Contract with god
9. Palestine
8. Akira
7. Lone Wolf and Cub
6. Understanding Comics
5. Torso
4. From Hell
3. Fortune and Glory
2. Safe Area Gorazade
1. Maus
Click to expand...
The Long Halloween will always be my favorite comic book. It's what got me into superhero comics altogether. Fantastic book, largely because it's more about drama and suspense than slugfest action.
 
Another of my favorites was the Batman run written by Grant Morrison in the late 2000s and early 2010s. I read the trades, which began with Batman and Son, then went into The Black Glove, Batman R.I.P., Batman Reborn, Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne, Batman and Robin Must Die, and Batman Incorporated (along with a few other trades.)

It was a great use of Batman's supporting cast (characters like Dick Grayson and Tim Drake, as well as a lot of new characters and many not seen in decades) and took a lot of older, campy ideas and updated them to make them creepy and cool.
 
blahginger said:
I really do not know anything about comics, but occasionally I am intrigued enough to go to the comic store with the full intention of "getting into" something. Unfortunately it never seems to happen...I am too overwhelmed by the selection and end up with nothing. I am looking for a recommendation for something that might get me interested. To give some parameters, I would rule out *standard* super hero or horror stuff (but am open to something different) In general I am a science fiction/space opera fan. Long Epics with good characters. I would be looking more for story than for art. Any direction would be appreciated.

Thank you
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Hi there. If you like science fiction and space opera and you want to read comics try reading 'Valerian: The Empire of a Thousand Planets'. There is an upcoming movie based on it as well.
 
There's always my comic that I've started. It's bite sized, 12 pages per issue, but I think the story is going in some interesting directions. Residents of the Machine its called. What's even cooler, is if you're a fan of it you can help me steer the direction of the damn thing by talking to me about it.
 
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