The Greatest Graphic Novels Of All Time
So many graphic novels, so little time. How do you sort through the mess to only read the good stuff? Easy: you print out this list, take it to your local comic book store, and tell the guy behind the counter "All of this, please."
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By K. Thor Jensen February 16, 2011 |
| 10 | Absolute Sandman |
Neil Gaiman's Sandman is maybe one of the most overrated comics of all time - but that doesn't mean it isn't good. The tale of the Lord of Dreams escaping imprisonment and returning to his station had some good parts and bad parts, but for my money the second storyline, The Doll's House, is the peak. As Morpheus works to seal a vortex leaking dreams into the real world, he must deal with the terrifying Corinthian and his siblings as well.
| 9 | The Death Of Speedy |
Coming to terms with the massive body of work of the Hernandez Brothers, maybe the greatest sibling act in all of comics, is a Herculean task. So I'm just going to go with my gut and recommend The Death Of Speedy, a collection by Jaime from 1989. This marks a real transition point from semi-goofy sci-fi to more realistic dramas regarding the residents of Hoppers, a primarily Latino neighborhood. The Death Of Speedy is an all-time classic that will turn you into a believer and have you hunting down more.
| 8 | God Loves, Man Kills |
I pity anybody trying to pick up and understand an X-Men comic in this day and age - decades of horribly convoluted continuity have rendered that franchise an unholy mess, despite the best efforts of some strong creators. Thankfully, there are still some awesome stories in the archives that you don't need to read Wikipedia to understand. God Loves, Man Kills was a stand-alone graphic novel that played with the key themes of the series - prejudice and predestination - in a remarkably mature way for 1982.
| 7 | Bodyworld |
Dash Shaw is one of the hottest young cartoonists working today, and one peek at Bodyworld will tell you why. Originally serialized online, this insane tale of a drug-addled researcher, a high school couple and a bizarre alien experiment is so mind-destroying you might not be able to think straight for a few hours after you finish it. Books like these make the strongest case for graphic novels being able to do things that no other form of art can accomplish, and even though Shaw's barely in his twenties, he's got the skills of a grand master.
| 6 | Earth X |
Earth X is something that you need a little bit of experience in the Marvel Universe to truly appreciate, but it's worth the back issue cost. Jim Krueger and John Paul Leon vault us far into the future, on an alternate Earth where the mutagenic Terrigen Mists have given everybody superpowers. Naturally, this makes everything fall apart in the most spectacular way imaginable. People die, continents are torn apart, and the day is saved by a very unlikely hero. The sequels Universe X and Paradise X are interesting but not as good.
