OT - Best Graphic Novel
Let me preface this by saying that I welcome all opinions, nerd and non-nerd alike.
I was sitting around, reading one of my favorite Batman graphic novels, "The Killing Joke," and I got to thinking - what is the best graphic novel ever made. I know Watchmen gets a lot of hype from publications as the "best graphic novel ever written" and, while I liked it, it wasn't my favorite. I have just started reading "The Walking Dead" series because, as my love for anything zombie related is well known, I was told this was a great series. I am a big fan so far and it is quickly shooting up my rankings list. So I will post the question to you mgoblog nation:
What is your favorite graphic novel of all time?
December 5th, 2009 at 1:39 AM ^
The Dark Knight Returns
Also, The Long Halloween.
December 5th, 2009 at 1:52 AM ^
The DK Returns is the best of all time by far. I hope they make it into a movie before I die.
December 5th, 2009 at 1:29 AM ^
calvin and hobbes
December 5th, 2009 at 1:42 AM ^
Well, It's hard to name a favorite but I think The Killing Joke might be my favorite. However, I did just recently read "The Arrival" by Shaun Tan and it is fantastic. It's a graphic novel in the truest sense of the word, in that there is absolutely no text in the entire book. I highly recommend reading it.
EDIT: I take back what I just said. "Blankets" by Craig Thompson is my favorite graphic novel. I picked it up because part of it takes place in my home town and I fell in love with it. It's a great read.
December 5th, 2009 at 1:46 AM ^
I loved World War Z. After reading I thought it would make a damn good movie in the right hands. I heard there is a film in the works, but that may be a bad thing given Hollyweird's track record as of late.
December 5th, 2009 at 10:26 AM ^
World War Z was a book with no pictures. Novel, Yes. Graphic Novel, no.
December 7th, 2009 at 7:00 PM ^
Ah, much to learn I still have. Thanx for the correction.
December 5th, 2009 at 1:55 AM ^
I liked the art of "The Killing Joke" but not the story so much.
"Watchmen" was a page-turner. For sheer inability to put it down, I'd have to give it my #1 vote.
However, I have just recently got into reading graphic novels. I've only read the aforementioned ones and "V for Vendetta."
However, I will probably use this thread to add a couple books to my Christmas list. Now that football season is over, I'll have more time to do some leisure reading.
December 5th, 2009 at 9:21 AM ^
I loved the movie but I found the graphic novel of V to be almost unreadable. I simply hated it. Hasn't happened with any other graphic novel/ movie adaptations, but I read Watchman before it was a movie.
December 5th, 2009 at 10:25 AM ^
The movie had little to do with the graphic novel. Alan Moore had some pretty scathing things to say about it.
December 5th, 2009 at 2:12 AM ^
Of more recent ones I loved "Y: the Last Man" and "Fables."
I also really liked "100 Bullets" and "Powers" but they started to get published too infrequently for me to keep track of them. Someday I'll go back and get caught up.
December 5th, 2009 at 3:16 AM ^
I mean this in the nicest possible way because I am a nerd as well.
December 5th, 2009 at 3:14 AM ^
stand-alone graphic novels, then I like Watchmen and Akira.
If we go broader and include issue sets and compilations, then Daredevil: Born Again, Planetary, and Batman: Hush are my favorites.
December 5th, 2009 at 5:36 AM ^
My favorite: Sandman. You can't really go wrong with any of them. If you're making me pick I'll probably go with The Kindly Ones. Though The Doll's House is also really really awesome.
December 5th, 2009 at 9:23 AM ^
Although I'd vote for Season of Mists.
December 5th, 2009 at 8:30 AM ^
I don't believe The Dark Knight Returns will ever be topped.
"I want you to remember my hand at your throat. I want you to remember the one man who beat you." - The catalyst of my largest nerdgasm to date.
December 5th, 2009 at 9:24 AM ^
It has been a while, did Dark Knight Returns feature a panel with Batman holding a sniper rifle. Because that was awesome.
December 5th, 2009 at 8:32 AM ^
As far as stand-alones the Dark Knight Returns is a classic.
So far though my favorite continuing series are Dark Horse's Star Wars Series' written by John Ostrander. The Clone Wars was really good and Star Wars:Legacy is also a really fascinating read.
December 5th, 2009 at 8:38 AM ^
the smartest kid on earth
http://blogs.indiewire.com/images/blogs/twhalliii/archives/jimmyspread1…
December 5th, 2009 at 9:23 AM ^
Like Sandman, not exactly a single work, but it is hard to go wrong with any of those stories. I read the all after seeing the movie and I was not disappointed.
December 5th, 2009 at 10:24 AM ^
I am a GN novice, but my take:
V for Vendetta- Unlike a previous poster I really liked the GN.
Watchmen- Liked the setting, the "grittiness" of characters and the cool interstitials (sp?) of that dude stranded on the ocean, but the alien-invasion ploy by Ozy was just...weird.
Sin City: BOOBIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Killing Joke: Meh...at least what I can remember of it.
Long Halloween: Liked it...but ,oddly, cannot really remember much about it. Just remember that I liked it when I read it.
League of Extraordinary Gentelmen: Pretty cool, MUCH better than the schlock-ey movie version.
Has anyone ever read the From Hell GN? I would be interested to hear someone's take on that title.
December 5th, 2009 at 10:35 AM ^
From Hell was insane. It was good but it was so crazy I wasn't sure I was getting it.
December 5th, 2009 at 9:25 AM ^
Sam and Max: Surfing the Highway, or Judd Winick's Barry Ween, Boy Genius.
December 5th, 2009 at 10:07 AM ^
Probably a cliche answer but I'd have to say "Watchmen". Just a thick entertaining read, and by thick I mean intellectually stimulating on every page. There's so much in that book it's hard to know what to start discussing when conversing about it. Other than that though, "The Killing Joke" was awesome. I haven't read "The Dark Knight Returns" so it looks like my opinion is void if I haven't experienced that yet. You guys just pushed me to buy it on Amazon.
December 5th, 2009 at 10:08 AM ^
Kingdom Come is the best ever. I would tell you the plot but there is way too much going on to do it justice. check out the link though and prepare to have your mind blown!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_Come_(comic_book)
December 5th, 2009 at 10:10 AM ^
I totally forgot about Bone. Its really long, but worth reading
December 5th, 2009 at 10:42 AM ^
SWEEET POST DUDE!!!!!!!!!! WHAT AN AWESOME THREAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 5th, 2009 at 11:47 AM ^
I like the Goosebumpbs books where you get to choose your own path. I really enjoy the freedom it gives me to tell my own story. Author is R.L. Stine
December 5th, 2009 at 12:19 PM ^
I loved "Y: The Last Man," and I highly recommend it.
I also really liked "Alias," which is by Brian Michael Bendis, who you may have heard of.
December 5th, 2009 at 1:14 PM ^
Maus I & II
December 5th, 2009 at 4:14 PM ^
And I say that with all the love they deserve. I would guess I have more than anybody on here, not saying that to brag for sure, but to show I'm not looking down on them. A GN is a stand alone story, usually in oversized format (Killing Joke, DKR, die-cut...debatable). Watchmen before it was a trade, or movie or a video game or whatever came out in wonderful single issue comics, 12 great stories you had to wait a month (or more) to find out what happens next. Embrace it!. And the old newsprint paper was fine! Now get offa my lawn!!
To the original question, I think there are generally the two camps...those that like their gritty realistic take, and for that there's Watchmen, the most literate story with thought bubbles ever. And then those who like their heroes epic, and bigger than life. And that's the Dark Knight Returns, my personal favorite. (The aforementioned Kingdom Come would fall in that category too).
Though guy buying DKR, do so, but don't pay extra for the DKR2 with it...it's shite.
Also thought I'd throw in the unmentioned Marvels; as well as any Frank Miller Daredevil issues. As you can see from my sig... ;-)
December 5th, 2009 at 4:49 PM ^
Grant Morrison's ASS is definitely #1 for me. Bonus points because it's so fun to abbreviate.
December 5th, 2009 at 5:04 PM ^
I recommend DMZ
Link here
"The series is set in New York City, sometime in the near future and in the midst of a civil war that has turned the island of Manhattan into a demilitarized zone."
Great artwork and a plot that seems like a not-all-that-extreme possibility.
Also, "Y: The Last Man" is awesome too. I hear a 2/3 part movie version is being discussed.
December 5th, 2009 at 5:05 PM ^
this thread's definitely better than the one about conelius jones!!!
December 5th, 2009 at 6:32 PM ^
i repeat, stupid posts like this show just how obsessed you are with acquiring meaningless mgopoints.
December 5th, 2009 at 5:55 PM ^
Watchmen is my choice, though Dark Knight Returns was good, too.
As far as series, I'll give shouts out to Spawn and Hellboy.
December 7th, 2009 at 7:02 PM ^
some serious comic book nerds on this board.
December 7th, 2009 at 7:03 PM ^
I enjoy the old Tales From The Crypt, Vault of Horror, Tales of Terror...Timeless classics.