Good Comic Books
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AlwaysInnocent Mafia Scum
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Good Comic Books
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."You've been furthering the win condition of the Mafia even better than the Mafia." - Dierfire-
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hiplop Jury Darling
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Randomnamechange Jack of All Trades
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BROseidon Expert Marxman
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AlwaysInnocent Mafia Scum
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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."You've been furthering the win condition of the Mafia even better than the Mafia." - Dierfire-
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Albert B. Rampage Survivor
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AlwaysInnocent Mafia Scum
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Yes. This is why I started reading the comic book version.In post 5, Albert B. Rampage wrote:Have you seen the walking dead tv show?"You've been furthering the win condition of the Mafia even better than the Mafia." - Dierfire-
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hiplop Jury Darling
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SnowStorm Mafia Scum
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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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AlwaysInnocent Mafia Scum
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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."You've been furthering the win condition of the Mafia even better than the Mafia." - Dierfire-
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hiplop Jury Darling
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AlwaysInnocent Mafia Scum
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Wrong comic, I suppose?In post 10, hiplop wrote:sandman isn't a superhero at all
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandman_%28DC_Comics%29"You've been furthering the win condition of the Mafia even better than the Mafia." - Dierfire-
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hiplop Jury Darling
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Zulfy Mafia Scum
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Zulfy Mafia Scum
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Zulfy Mafia Scum
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PJ. Hell in a Cell
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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)Sometimes a sandwich is just a sandwich.-
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DiamondSentinel Jack of All Trades
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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.“Why was I chosen?'
'Such questions cannot be answered,' said Gandalf. 'You may be sure that it was not for any merit that others do not possess. But you have been chosen, and you must therefore use such strength and heart and wits as you have.”-
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Jahudo Mafia Scum
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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.In post 0, AlwaysInnocent wrote:I like dark comic books, preferably with a lot of dialogue and character development.-
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Psyche he/theySurvivorhe/they
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Porochaz Oh, Prozac
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Iecerint Survivor
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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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Zulfy Mafia Scum
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BlackStar he/himMafia Scumhe/him
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AlwaysInnocent Mafia Scum
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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."You've been furthering the win condition of the Mafia even better than the Mafia." - Dierfire
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