As promised a little while ago, this is a list of the comic books I reccomend for everyone reading this blog, geek or not. There's an amazing diversity within the comic book medium and you're not just limited to super-heroes. I'll be breaking down the reccomendations into two categories: (1) Monthly Comics- ongoing comic series that you can enjoy every month (2) Collected Editions- collections of comics you can find at your local book store or
Amazon.Com. Each format offers its own benefits, such as watching a film and television show are unique experiences, and I'll briefly touch upon those as well.
If you have any suggestions as to other comics I should have listed here, please leave your feedback in the comments section and I'll consider a second "must-read" list- I'm sure I'll forget a lot, but I'm just trying to talk about what's on my mind right now (and heck, while writing all this, I've thought of a few more comics). And if you have any suggestions as to other
Nerd Bling topics, please pass them on in them comments section of this article. I've not included books such as
Watchmen and
Sandman for specific reasons- I love them, but I don't know that the audience reading this blog will likely want to read them.
Monthly ComicsThe monthly comic is much like the weekly television show- there's something wonderful about the cliffhanger that keeps you coming back and the inherent soap opera of monthly comics (ie: the way we get attached to the characters' lives) is undeniably addictive. These are my favorite current series that I purchase monthly:
Astonishing X-Men (Marvel Comics, $2.99 per issue)- If you enjoyed the X-Men movies and want to read more about these rich characters, this series is what you have to be reading. Created expressley for writer Joss Whedon (of "Buffy" fame) and artist John Cassaday, this series is full of everything that makes superheroes fun. Whedon pays tribute to the rich history of the X-Men, but in the (8) issues of the series thus far, he's made things accessible and relevant only to what happens in the book. All the blanks are filled by what happens in the pages of this comic and you need not look any further. Additionally, the series is full of rich characterization that highlights the uniqueness of all the characters and while grounding, also makes each of them seem "uncanny" in their own right. There's already one collection of the book available and another due by summer most likely. Check it out.
DC Comics' All Star Line (DC Comics, monthly starting Summer 2005)- while neither "All Star Batman & Robin" nor "All Star Superman" have hit stands yet, I really think these are going to be the best super-hero books of the year. Author Frank Miller returns to Batman, with artist Jim Lee (arguably the most popular comic book artist for the last 20 years) to bring an "iconic" six-issue story of Batman and Robin to the masses. This isn't a story with any real "back story"- it's meant for the common person who has a passing knowledge of Batman and for those who like their heroes fighting the good fight and using cool toys. Similarly, "All Star Superman" promises to be a fun ride, but with writer Grant Morrison writing the series, his "mad ideas" are sure to infuse the series with a shiny optimism not seen in most fiction, comic books or otherwise. Artist Frank Quitely will provide the visuals and the two have worked magic before, so their Superman stories should be a comfortable throw back to tales of heroes fighting for what's right because it is right and beating the snot out of mad scientists.
Collected Editions
Collected editions of comics or thick volumes published in the square bound format (called "graphic novels") are like reading a good book or watching a movie. You'll generally find a nice complete story in each sitting and the format makes it easy to loan or re-read on a rainy day. Here are my "must read" GN picks, though I'll be honest, these are basically skewed towards the "new" reader:
The Andi Watson Library (Oni Press and Slave Labor Graphics, various price points)- go to Amazon.Com and search the name "Andi Watson." Now buy every comic he's ever written. From the fish out of water story of "Slow News Day" to the true to life relationship woes in "Slow News Day" and "Dumped," Andi Watson is a master of taking complex emotions and making them so simple, so straightforward that you wonder why we haven't all learned to love ourselves and others. His stories are squarely set in the real world and explore the notion of love- from the love of others to the love of one's self and the love of one's ambitions. His art may seem a bit too simple at first, but his art style has a unique flavor that allows him to convey more emotion than other "detailed" artists.
The Adrian Tomine Library (, various price points)- Remember what I told you to do with Andi Watson? Do the same with Tomine. He produces work at a slower pace, but his two big collections- "Sleepwalk" and "Summer Blonde"- are masterful deconstructions of the human condition through short stories and most of them will stick with you far after you've read the book. Anything I can say would seem like hyperbole, but trust me that Tomine is one of the master of the comic book medium and needs to be seen to believed.
Batman: Year One & Superman For All Seasons (DC Comics, various price points & formats)- while these books couldn't have more dispirate tones, there's no doubt that both these books successfully convey the core of each character. "Year One" is about a man who's parents are violently murdered in front of him and how he comes to grips with their deaths, as well as paralleling it to the story of a man who is about to lose his own family if he doesn't come to grips with himself. The former is Bruce Wayne, who dons his Batman mask for the first time and the latter is Gotham City Police Officer Jim Gordon, who is new to the corrupt city. The book isn't about about the fantastic nature of the titular hero, though it is shown; instead, "Year One" explores what it takes to exist in a corrupt world and how to deal with losing all that you love. Frank Miller truly "gets" Batman in this tale and artist David Mazucchelli brings a sense of atmosphere to the book that is perfectly real. On the other hand, we have "Seasons," which shows the change that is possible by one man embracing all that is within him and giving back to the world because he knows it is the right thing to do. This is a big, bright story about Superman triumphing over evil and the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity. It isn't sappy and isn't cliched, though by all means it should be- writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale paint a Rockwellian portrait of a world where one man can make a difference.
Blankets (Top Shelf Publishing, various prices and formats)- Craig Thompson's autobiographical story about his first love is at times sappy, predictable and frustrating, but it's also a brutally honest love story and we know love can be all those things. It's a huge book and illustrated beautifully, with splash page images used to maximum effect and to convey the true excitement of falling for someone. The small, intimate picture on the cover truly describes this OGN in volumes- the story isn't your typical Hollywood over the top love story. Rather, this is an intimate story about a moment in time when two people connect so utterly perfectly that there's no doubt that "it" will all work out- until the moment passes and reality challenges them both to see if this relationship really is true happiness.
Starman (DC Comics, price varies per volume)- As the name indicates, this is a super hero comic book, but what it doesn't say is that this series is really about fathers, sons and their complex relationships. This isn't a series about super powers, heroic angst or any of the played out comic book sterotypes- this is a series about a man trying to do right by his family and the consequences of simply being human. The series revels in the beauty within us all while tempering that optimism with the reality of life and that of being a "hero." A truly inspiring 10-volume series that only gets better every time it is read.
As many of you know, on my right shoulder, I have a tattoo of the Gryphon that David Boreanaz had fake-inked on his back during his time on Buffy The Vampire Slayer- I always like the look of the tattoo and thought it was a unique looking visual. I figured it had something to do with redemption or penance, as the character of "Angel" epitomized the struggle for redemption, so it seemed like something apt to have permanently etched in my body. It wasn't until recently that I learned that this particular tattoo has a deeper meaning and this web page has all the information. I don't want to steal what they've written, but there are a few excerpts that I found interesting:
