Graphic Novel opinions

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Lice

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So For fathers day my dad wanted:
http://www.amazon.com/Incredible-Hu...bs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216696740&sr=8-1

I got it and returned it for him because he wants a single stand alone story not just compiled issues.

Im not so familiar with standalone graphic novels and was wondering if there are any sure bets I can get to replace the Hulk.

Dc -marvel, its all good, I was even thinking the Watchmen might be a good idea. Any opinions folks?

Thanks.
 
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Watchmen is a great graphic novel but if Superhero is more his thing then go for the Dark Knight Returns. It's a great novel, one of my all time favorites, good luck getting a new hardcover of it though. Most I've seen go for over $100.
 
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Added it to the list in paperback... might as well get more comics than one hardcover book. Any others people really thought was great?
 
V for Vendetta, From Hell, Mystery in Space Volumes 1 and 2 are solid, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Batman: Hush, Batman: Long Halloween, The Hedge Knight 1 and 2, Batman Year One. Those are all very good self contained stories.
 
Grendel: Devil by the Deed

grendeldevilbythedeed.jpg


It's the original stand-alone story (redone) by the original artist/writer, Matt Wagner. Different than the usual superhero stuff and very well done.
 
Some really great ones mentioned so far, so I'll just add a few more of my favorites.

Superman: Red Son
Justice League of America: The Nail
Batman: The Killing Joke (if your father changes his opinion of collections, DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore has "The Killing Joke," as well as other classics, like "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" and "For the Man Who Has Everything.")
 
[quote name='MikeHoncho']Watchmen is a great graphic novel but if Superhero is more his thing then go for the Dark Knight Returns. It's a great novel, one of my all time favorites, good luck getting a new hardcover of it though. Most I've seen go for over $100.[/quote]

This.


I teach high school English and, in the past year, I have encouraged the use of graphic novels many times and have had the privilege of using Art Spiegelman's Maus: My Father Bleeds History as a course text. If you want to move away from the iconic superhero graphic novels to something a bit different, please check out the Pantheon published books such as Maus, Persepolis, and Epeleptic.
 
Instead of blind-buying, you should go to your local library and check out the young adults section. Most towns have a small to medium graphic novels section with many of the more popular or respected GNs included. Maus was so highly regarded that I've seen it in the "real" book section in a few libraries.

I highly recommend the Sandman series (I've read the entire 10-volume graphic novel epic through the library), Maus, and for fun: The Complete Bone (buy it from Amazon for ~$25)
 
I enjoyed Superman: Birthright. It's kind of the new, official beginning of Superman, as they tend to revamp the character every 30 years or so to modernize him.

Dark Knight Returns gets my vote, as well. Phenomenal book!
 
[quote name='R1V3R5']Grendel: Devil by the Deed

grendeldevilbythedeed.jpg


It's the original stand-alone story (redone) by the original artist/writer, Matt Wagner. Different than the usual superhero stuff and very well done.[/QUOTE]

holy crap another grendel fan. nice to meet you :)
op another suggestion would be:
mage: hero defined

miracle man ---a wonderful twist on the old story, good luck finding this...i read a digital version of it(shhh dont tell)

We3
---sad book about robot animals, great story


Transmetropolitan --- start with volume 1 if he digs it keep it up, great story with awesome characters. no super hero-y more political i guess


Warren Ellis' Strange Killings ---crazy shit, combat magician detective story kind of, all these are self contained for the msot part if i remember correctly


Bone: One Volume Edition ---great story, wonderful sweeping fantasy tale of brothers and fate.


there are so many another good idea would be look into what you father already owns and loves and google the writers of them, then go by artist and see what catches your eye.
 
Watchmen
Dark Knight Returns (the first one, not Dark Knight Returns Again)
Preacher (although there is 7-8 volumes of this).

The way trades are now is they are usually several issues long, that combine to make a story arc. Marvel & DC sell so many trade paperbacks through Borders, Barnes & Noble etc. that the companies always pattern their arcs so they are long enough to make it into a trade paperback.

So even if you bought a trade paperback of "various issues", you would almost certainly be getting a self contained story.
 
Dark Knight Returns (the first one, not Dark Knight Returns Again)
Click to expand...
Yes, indeed. The Dark Knight Strikes Again was very disappointing and unnecessary, but The Dark Knight Returns is comic landmark. Not only is it a great story, but it helped dragged Batman, as well as comics in general, out of the campy, corny portrayals made famous by things like the '60s Batman and Super Friends (which I grew up on, mind you).
 
I have to agree with
Justice League New Frontier - great for a fan of DC universe
Superman: Birthright - revamp of Supermans orgins

If he's a fan of batman and or Frank Miller
Batman year - if there a fan of the movies
All-Star Batman & Robin (ongoing) - most people don't like but if he likes Miller then he may like this
Dark Knight Returns - great for an old school batman fan

Also it's ongoing but there is one hardcover out of All-Star Superman it's more of a sliver age superman story.
 
My take on suggestions: follow the great writers.

Any Frank Miller collection of Daredevil stuff is seminal, but also the last great run by Brian Micheal Bendis, who kicks much ass. As a matter of fact, virtually any collected run of his would be a great introduction to the more modern gritty take on superheroes. Miller introduced the modern gritty feel to urban heroes, but it's now Bendis who does it better than anyone.

The best and most intellectual writer of all is probably going to be Alan Moore in most peoples' lists. His earliest work was probably the best, since he's fallen far from what he once was, but even his latest Image (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) work is good stuff compared to everyone else at Image.

Last but not least is Rob Kirkman, who writes the only comic book I still pay to read: The Walking Dead. TWD is described by Kirkman as "The never-ending zombie movie". This is currently so influential that Marvel even hired Kirkman to create a zombie book featuring Marvel superheroes. As Zombies.

That said, here's my list of writers whose work is just about all good:

Frank Miller - Besides what's already been said, 300, Sin City stuff
Alan Moore - Swamp Thing, Miracle Man, Watchmen, Superman stuff
Brian Michael Bendis - Primarily Daredevil, but also any Avengers stuff
Robert Kirkman - Any of his Zombie stuff, but it's all good (he also does Invincible and Battle Pope)
 
A friend gave me a Hardcover "The Complete Frank Miller Batman" which has since gone out of print, but you can still find it on eBay for less than those Hulk & Cpt America Omnibuses. The Frank Miller collection has "Batman: Year One" AND "The Dark Knight Returns", as well as the should be classic "Santa Claus: Wanted Dead or Alive".

It is three stories instead of just one, but two of the stories you'll find on most people's lists of "Best comic stories evar".

For a Comic Fan's gift, I can't recommend it enough.
 
A lot of great suggestions (especially the Transmetropolitan, never enough love there), and here's a few more I've not seen listed yet:

Astro City: Confession (It's the best Batman story that isn't a Batman story)
Astro City: Tarnished Angel
Quantum and Woody (atleast snag the first volume if you can)

I honestly don't see how you could lose with anyone's choices so far,
 
Thank you guys so much for the suggestions. I have added many to a must get list and ended up ordering these for him:

  • 1 of: Batman: Year One
  • 1 of: Superman: Red Son (Elseworlds)
  • 1 of: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
  • 1 of: Batman: The Killing Joke
  • 1 of: Watchmen
Thanks again for the help cag's.
 
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If he is a Hulk fan I recommend Hulk: The End. And Planet Hulk is OK but if you get Planet Hulk then you have to get World War Hulk. I highly recommend Silver Surfer: Requiem, The artwork is FANTASTIC! And Thor: Loki is great as well (also by the same artist). Here are some other great ones that come highly recommended by me!

Superman For All Seasons
Batman: Snow
Spider-man: Blue
Any Sin City book
Samurai Executioner (very long running manga series but Vol. 1 is awesome)
Spider-man: Kraven's Last Hunt
Star Wars: Enemy of the Empire (Boba Fett vs. Vader!)
Kingdom Come
Justice Vol. 1 and 2
If I think of some more I'll post em
 
[quote name='Lice']Added it to the list in paperback... might as well get more comics than one hardcover book. Any others people really thought was great?[/quote]

yeah, i just read this book, and Batman:Year One and they're amazing. I've heard good things about Batman:The Killing Joke as well. "The Arrival'' is a new graphic novel by Shaun Tan and has high acclaim and an interesting story your dad may appreciate being a family man. The Sinestro Corps story has been compiled into two volumes and you can find them on amazon's site and it's an amazing story...
 
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