Good Comic Books

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Good Comic Books

Post Post #0 (ISO) » Thu Mar 31, 2016 9:29 am

Post by AlwaysInnocent »

Does anyone know any good comic books to read (or graphic novels if you prefer that name)? I have never really been into comic books (probably because superhero comics dominate the comic books world, and I simply don't like them), but recently I got into The Walking Dead and I found it to be very refreshing. But now I am done with it and am looking for something new, something similar to it.

I like dark comic books, preferably with a lot of dialogue and character development. But it is hard to find anything that I want to read (I am very picky). Most comic books seem way too colorful for my taste (not just figuratively speaking, but also literally -- I prefer the black and white comic books).

It can be manga. I also like Death Note and Monster, for example.
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Post Post #1 (ISO) » Thu Mar 31, 2016 10:02 am

Post by hiplop »

The Sandman
Y: The Last Man
Watchmen(I know you dislike superheroes, give this one a chance)
Blankets
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Post Post #2 (ISO) » Thu Mar 31, 2016 11:14 am

Post by Randomnamechange »

The Sandman and Deathnote were my first thoughs. V for Vendetta was p. good, watchmen wasn't really about superheroes in the way I think that you mean, definitely give it a look.
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Post Post #3 (ISO) » Thu Mar 31, 2016 11:31 am

Post by BROseidon »

Maus is really good.
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Post Post #4 (ISO) » Thu Mar 31, 2016 1:35 pm

Post by AlwaysInnocent »

The thing about superhero comics is that I remember them as very linear. Issues are pretty isolated and self-contained stories (with some exceptions). I want a continuous story that develops over time. There is also the predictable plot setup:

<begin_issue>
* Everything starts out "normal" / peaceful. Maybe some minor conflict in the main character's life.
* Villain does something bad.
* Superhero is notified and starts to investigate.
* Superhero and villain encounter each other and start struggling.
* Superhero appears to lose because of some trap or whatever.
* Superhero wins anyway by exploiting the situation.
* Happy end.
</end_issue>

I want to see some bigger picture. Superhero comics never seem to have that bigger picture.
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Post Post #5 (ISO) » Thu Mar 31, 2016 1:46 pm

Post by Albert B. Rampage »

Have you seen the walking dead tv show?
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Post Post #6 (ISO) » Thu Mar 31, 2016 1:47 pm

Post by AlwaysInnocent »

In post 5, Albert B. Rampage wrote:Have you seen the walking dead tv show?
Yes. This is why I started reading the comic book version.
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Post Post #7 (ISO) » Thu Mar 31, 2016 2:21 pm

Post by hiplop »

watchmen isnt like how you described at all. Its a graphic novel that happens to be somewhat about superheroes
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Post Post #8 (ISO) » Thu Mar 31, 2016 2:26 pm

Post by SnowStorm »

In post 4, AlwaysInnocent wrote:The thing about superhero comics is that I remember them as very linear. Issues are pretty isolated and self-contained stories (with some exceptions). I want a continuous story that develops over time. There is also the predictable plot setup:

<begin_issue>
* Everything starts out "normal" / peaceful. Maybe some minor conflict in the main character's life.
* Villain does something bad.
* Superhero is notified and starts to investigate.
* Superhero and villain encounter each other and start struggling.
* Superhero appears to lose because of some trap or whatever.
* Superhero wins anyway by exploiting the situation.
* Happy end.
</end_issue>

I want to see some bigger picture. Superhero comics never seem to have that bigger picture.

Some superhero comics stay truer to the formula than others, but they very rarely have a story begin and end in the same issue, they usually span over five issues, like in other comics. Most of them also have an overarching storyline with a bigger picture. There are also some less traditional super hero books, usually solos, usually more interesting.

As for good comic books. I suggest Lazarus. It's dark and political with lots of intrigue, blood and action. It's kinda like a modern world alternate universe Game of Thrones.
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Post Post #9 (ISO) » Thu Mar 31, 2016 11:05 pm

Post by AlwaysInnocent »

OK. I have read the summaries of the suggested comics and this is my current priority list:

1. Lazarus
2. Maus
3. Watchmen
4. Blankets
5. Y: The Last Man

Not sure about the Sandman. It seems like any other superhero comic.
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Post Post #10 (ISO) » Fri Apr 01, 2016 7:23 am

Post by hiplop »

sandman isn't a superhero at all
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Post Post #11 (ISO) » Fri Apr 01, 2016 8:14 am

Post by AlwaysInnocent »

In post 10, hiplop wrote:sandman isn't a superhero at all
Wrong comic, I suppose?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandman_%28DC_Comics%29
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Post Post #12 (ISO) » Fri Apr 01, 2016 8:51 am

Post by hiplop »

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Post Post #13 (ISO) » Fri Apr 01, 2016 2:24 pm

Post by Zulfy »

The drawings by the DMT guy, the Michael Keaton biographer
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Post Post #14 (ISO) » Fri Apr 01, 2016 2:25 pm

Post by Zulfy »

The one who burned stuff down and made tumblr upset
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Post Post #15 (ISO) » Fri Apr 01, 2016 2:25 pm

Post by Zulfy »

The homeless lady who may have visited my country
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Post Post #16 (ISO) » Fri Apr 01, 2016 2:33 pm

Post by PJ. »

Killing Joke.
And the stuff hippo suggested for American comics.

Manga

All You Need Is Kill
Bokurano
Berserk
Gantz
Shamo
Shigurui
Oyasumi PunPun (different kind of dark)
Slam Dunk (not dark; just the best)
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Post Post #17 (ISO) » Fri Apr 01, 2016 6:15 pm

Post by DiamondSentinel »

My personal favorite, as far as graphic novels go, would be Scott Pilgrim series. Solid reads there. Also, the Gunnerkrig Court webcomics has 3 (4?) printed books, which I'd also suggest.
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Post Post #18 (ISO) » Sun Apr 03, 2016 3:44 am

Post by Jahudo »

In post 0, AlwaysInnocent wrote:I like dark comic books, preferably with a lot of dialogue and character development.
You might like "East of West", "Low" or "Saga". The art is kinda colorful but the tone of each is mostly adult and at times violent, especially in EoW's case.
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Post Post #19 (ISO) » Sun Apr 03, 2016 4:36 am

Post by Psyche »

scottttttt pilgrim
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Post Post #20 (ISO) » Sun Apr 03, 2016 5:03 am

Post by Porochaz »

Watchmen...

much preferred the movie.

Particularly the ending.
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Post Post #21 (ISO) » Sun Apr 03, 2016 7:36 am

Post by Iecerint »

Sandman is incredible. We're talking of course about Morpheus (the 80s/90s version of the character).

Fables is pretty readable.

I liked the Buffy/Angel continuation comics.
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Post Post #22 (ISO) » Sun Apr 03, 2016 11:18 am

Post by Zulfy »

The bionicle comic that came with my little brown bionicle.
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Post Post #23 (ISO) » Mon Apr 04, 2016 4:08 am

Post by BlackStar »

Batman: The Long Halloween is the best batman story ever. You should also check out the series "Sex Criminals". It's about a couple that can stop time with their orgasms so they use this ability to pull off a heist. Transmetropolitan is also good if you like cyberpunk stuff
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Post Post #24 (ISO) » Sat Apr 30, 2016 12:04 pm

Post by AlwaysInnocent »

I am almost finished reading Maus. What an incredible story. To think it is possible to tell about the Holocaust in a comic book form seems outrageous at first, but when you start reading it, you will quickly see that there is nothing wrong with comics (or rather, graphical novels) as a medium. The horror still feels very real. It also makes you empathize with the survivor Vladek Spiegelman and depicts a real living human with real feelings, with real experiences, with both many flaws and talents. It not only shows how the Holocaust shaped him, but also how a big part of his personality outlived the Holocaust.

Really, comics do not deserve the bad reputation that they have (like that they cannot be taken seriously, that they are for "geeks" or children, etc.). There is something about graphical novels that I really like. It is hard to put my finger on it, though.
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