phydaux Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 I've been in the mood to get some graphic novels. I've been putting it off because they're just SOOO expensive, but I'm in a situation where I have a lot of time on my hands to read, and my reading list is getting kind of thin. I'm mostly a Marvel fan. The first graphic novel I ever bought was Secret Wars. I did buy Dark Knight Returns (and loved it) so I'm not ruleing out any DC stuff. I'm thinking maybe some of the Marvel Essential series (although I already KNOW the origins of my favorite heros, so maybe I'll skip Vol Ones). I just really don't want to pay all that money for stuff I've read a dozen times already. I'm thinking Spiderman, X-Men or Avengers. nothing else really trips my trigger. Maybe Dr. Strange (unless it's TOO strange). I'll probibly buy the 3-book Broken Bat series. (Three books? Those money grubbing @$$-holes!!!) I might get Crisis on Infinate Earths. I WON'T get any of the Death of Superman crap. Is there any JLA stuff on par with Essential Avengers? Is there anything out there that is just any good? Up there with Secret Wars or Dark Knight Returns (other than Broken Bat)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hermit Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? Speaking for my own experience, "Kingdom Come" is fantastic, believe the hype, it really is that good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corven_Ren Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? Well one I would reccomend is the one I have in hardback form and thats is Kraven's Last Hunt which was originally a six part series that ran through Amazing, Spectacul and Web of Spider Man. Ohters I would reccomend Batman: Death in the Family X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga Batman/Titans: Lonely Place of Dying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. MID-Nite Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? Emperor Doom was a good read. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JmOz Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? What I would recomend From DC ANy of the Geoff Johns JSA Outsiders Titians From Marvel Essental Dr Strange is a blast Avengers/Thunderbolts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
assault Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? Watchmen (Alan Moore) Batman: The Killing Joke (Alan Moore) Batman: Year One (Frank Miller) Elektra: Assassin (Frank Miller) Are you seeing a pattern here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleepyDrug Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? If you have no graphic novels at all.... Watchmen (DC) Kingdom Come (DC) Squadron Supreme (Marvel) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgrandjean Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? A slightly different set of books: Death and the High Cost of Living Death and the Time of Your Life The Books of Magic: Summonings, Bindings, Reconnings, etc.... The Frank Miller Wolverine Batman: The Dark Knight Batman: The Dark Knight Returns While you're at it, pick up the Five Star Stories manga... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sketchpad Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? I'll second Kingdom Come and add Teen Titans: Judas Contract and Teen Titans: The Terror of Trigon as well. For Marvel, X-Men: Dark Pheonix is a must and, if you can find it, Avengers Forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mhoram Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? And it will be a month or so, but Marvel is republishing the Infinity Guantlet trade. Other good ones Anything Astro City. Titans Judas Contract. Any of the Johns or Busiek Avengers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? I think the Avengers/JLA was collected into an expensive hardback, but it's worth looking to see if they've put it out in a TPB. Avengers/Thunderbolts are generally pretty good reads. Neil Gaiman's 1602 is an exploration of the Marvel Superheroes transported to the year 1602. Sounded kind of dry to me from the description, but my faith in Gaiman held up. I thought it was great. Ending could have been a *little* better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? One not mentioned yet: The Golden Age (Elseworlds) by James Robinson, 1995 Also Justice League of America: The Nail by Alan Davis & Mark Farmer, 1998 Re: Crisis...get it. You won't regret it. Perez's artwork is magnificent, and the story is epic, even if some of it has been undone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackSword Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? From DC ANy of the Geoff Johns JSA Beat me to it. This is an excellent series. They just released TPB Six, "Savage Times." I am thinking of using this incarnation of the JSA as a basis for a campaign, a mix of heroes from the original team, plus new heroes taking on the legacy of the previous generation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
death tribble Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? If you don't have it definitely get Watchmen. Kingdom Come is also highly recommended as are the Astro City books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMcL63 Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? Watchmen (Alan Moore) Batman: The Killing Joke (Alan Moore) Batman: Year One (Frank Miller) Elektra: Assassin (Frank Miller) Are you seeing a pattern here? I heartily second all of these suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMcL63 Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? Another essential compilation available in TPB is the Miller/Mazzuchelli Daredevil run Born Again. This shows that The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One weren't accidents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Democracy Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? Hmm. I was surprised that no-one has mentioned League of Extraordinary Gentlement (Alan Moore - volumes one and two) and unsurprised though a bit saddended that no-one mentioned Inhumans (Paul Jenkins & Jae Lee) Both of these formed recent examples of excellent comics writing. I think the second was best as I'd never been a fan of the Inhumans and never heard of Paul Jenkins! Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightray Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 This is mostly DC... For recent stuff: - Any of the JSA trades. - Starman. For "classics": - Legion of Super-Heroes, the Great Darkness Saga. - X-Men, Dark Phoenix Saga - Sandman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yogzilla Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? I'm surprised no one's yet mentioned Marvels (Busiek/Ross) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackalope Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? Daredevil: Born Again is one of my all-time favorites. If you like Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, you'll probably like Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again. Watchmen is essential. Every person who reads superhero comics should have a copy of Watchmen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susano Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? KINGDOM COME MARVELS DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN WATCHMEN ASTRO CITY PLANETARY TOP TEN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Hiemforth Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? If you're willing to step away from superheroes slightly, Camelot 3000 is also a good read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEmerged Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? ASTRO CITY -- *especially* the Confessions and Tarnished Angel storylines. Other than that, let me throw out a couple of lesser knowns that haven't been mentioned. PS238: "With Liberty and Recess For All". The concept pretty much creates itself -- a unified comic universe (Superman, Batman, Spiderman, and the Hulk all in the same universe, albeit renamed) that's been around long enough for the principles to have kids in elementary school. What Aaron does remarkably well is telling a story *about* kids that isn't *for* kids. The last issue (about Mr. Extraordinary) is one of the more touching I've read in the superhero genre -- a MUCH better take on the "why Secret ID could exist" than Astro City's, IMO. "The Crossovers". This one might be hard to come by with Crossgen/Code 6 out of business, but especially for fans of the HERO System it's worth tracking down. Basic concept is a family of 4 (plus dog), each of whom is the main character in a different genre (Dad's a super hero, Mom's a vampire slayer, Sis visits a fantasy world, Bro is an alien collaborator). The first 6 issues are available as a trade and quite funny. The latter issues stunk, don't bother -- but 1-6 are a classic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KA. Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? For specific recommendations, I would have to agree with: Watchmen Astro City - Confessions Astro City - The Tarnished Angel Any of the Marvel Essentials - The don't just have the origins, they have a lot of early stories that you probably haven't already read. Not everything usually gets reprinted. Find a store that lets you thumb through them first, and see how much is familiar. But, in addition to specifics, I have a piece of advice. Go to the Library! Check in the children's section! I don't know about yours, but I live in a relatively small city, and even my local branch library has around 100 Graphic Novels/TPB's on the shelf. I had no idea! I was just trying to help my nephew find a very basic book on how to draw. (he isn't that young, but knew nothing about drawing at the time, so we ended up in the children's section) I passed this little alcove with benches and racks, and there they were. I don't think I saw a copy of Watchmen, but they had tons of other stuff. Even some of the "darker" more "mature" stuff. (I think it is possible that whoever does the buying is still under the "comic book = for kids" assumption. Anyway, if money is tight, and you just want to read them, take a look. KA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phydaux Posted November 3, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Re: What graphic novels should I get? Well, I picked up Kraven's Last Hunt (based on the board's recommendation) and the Avengers Kree/Skrull War (I've always wanted to read that one). I also picked up Spider-Girl (Peter and MJ's daughter fights Norman Orborn's grandson). And as for the Bat, I have my eye on the 3-part Knightfall and the 5-part No Man's Land. I'll just have to sell my car first... Nothing else really jumped off the shelf and said "read me." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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