"Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks

[Greatwyrm]

Okay, I admit I'm a little weird. I like superheroes. I like supers movies and cartoons. I just don't like comics all that much. It's really not even that I don't like comics, I just don't like having a single story spread over months or even years.

I've recently discovered the wonderful world of graphic novels and trade paperback collections. So, what would you recommend I should pick up? I'm especially looking for stuff that's particularly representative of certain characters (e.g. If you only read one Captain America story, get this...) or stuff that's "groundbreaking" (which I'm led to believe The Watchmen is).

I've already been sold on Batman: Dark Knight Returns and The Watchmen . Any other suggestions?

[Nero Craft]

I'm really partial to Daredevil: Born Again.......which is labeled as Daredevil Legends Vol. 2. currently.

[Eyendasky80]

Kingdom Come
Astro City (Confession/Tarnished Angel)
Ultimate Spider-Man Hardcovers (in order)
Avengers Forever
Daredevil: Born Again
Rising Stars (in order)

I'll think of more.

[jackalope]

I'm going to put in a third vote for Daredevil: Born Again. Definetely a Must Read, and it has a high degree of re-readability.

[Eyendasky80]

I second that third vote and offer my second vote to make four.

[Darren Watts]

Squadron Supreme (the Gruenwald stories from the mid-80s.)
V For Vendetta and the Miracleman and Swamp Thing collections by Alan Moore.
The various JLA, JSA and Starman collections from DC. dw

[bblackmoor]

I don't know if it's ever been collected into a graphic novel, but V For Vendetta is one of my all-time favorite miniseries.

[Eyendasky80]

JSA and Starman are both thick with continuity, it probably won't be as appealing to a brand new reader as it is to us hardcore addicts. JLA suffers from this to a lesser degree (depending on which trade you buy)

[Lord Mhoram]

Kingdom Come
Astro City (Confession/Tarnished Angel)
Ultimate Spider-Man Hardcovers (in order)
Avengers Forever
Rising Stars (in order)

I'll think of more.

I'll second everthing listed above, except Avengers forever. I am a fairly decent avengers fan, and that story left me lost and confused. And as much as I love Busiek, it was not very good. Likely his worst work (which still makes it better than most but definately not in an "essential" collection.

I'd add the other Astro City Trades (Life in the Big City and Family Album)
I'd also add Marvels - The history of the Marvel U seen throught the eyes of a newsman/photographer. Written by Busiek and painted by Alex Ross.

I'd second the JSA trades. Johns has a talent for writing continuity heavy stuff without losing the new reader. The JLA trades - just go for the Rock of Ages and whichever one is the invasion trade that was the start up of the Morrison run.

Teen Titans - The Judas Contract.

[Lord Mhoram]

Oh yeah and Eyendasky80's sigline reminded me.

The Ultimates Volume one and two.
The Ultimate Spiderman (start with the first couple and see if you like them) - I've never been much of a spiderman fan, but I've really enjoyed the USM.







Edited for spelling - in the word Ultimate the "t" comes before the "i" - *sigh*

[Lord Mhoram]

Squadron Supreme (the Gruenwald stories from the mid-80s.)

Now there is a writer who really got into his comics.










Sorry.

[Corven_Ren]

Spider Man: Kraven's Last Hunt

[egyptian]

V for Vendetta: The best Punisher story to not feature the Punisher

The Essential books, especially Essential Fantastic Four and Essential Spider-Man: It's almost inexcusable for anyone interested in a Silver Age style game to not own a few of these books.

Batman-The Long Halloween: One of the best Batman stories in recent memory, possibly a more definitive Batman tale than Dark Knight Returns. No, really.

Green Lantern-Emerald Dawn: It's because of stories like this that fans have been begging for Hal Jordan's return for years.

[Lord Mhoram]

The Essential books, especially Essential Fantastic Four and Essential Spider-Man: It's almost inexcusable for anyone interested in a Silver Age style game to not own a few of these books.

And if they were printed in color, I'd be all over then. I don't want to buy a coloring book. I want these, but I hate reprints that change something that basic - It is a sin as bad as colorizing old B&W movies, so I don't buy them.

[megaplayboy]

Graphic Novels:
The Death of Captain Marvel
X-Men: god Loves, man kills

trades:
Essential What If? (not sure if this is out or not, but it SHOULD be)
any of the Elseworlds stuff
Kingdom Come