The Greatest Graphic Novels Of All Time

Okay, so I have to put a few artsy-fartsy things on this list to keep up my indie cred. Epileptic, by French artist David B, is an incredible journey through reality and fantasy. When his brother Jean-Christophe is diagnosed with epilepsy, it opens a door to a world of holistic quackery, ineffective science, and an exploration of how far a family's limits can be stretched. Gorgeously drawn and intricately designed, this is a must-read for anybody serious about the potential of comics.

Superman, as a character, has always seemed sort of played out to me. I mean, here we have a dude who can do just about anything and he can't keep a bald guy in jail? Leave it to Scottish comics prodigy Grant Morrison to take the Man of Steel and make him interesting again with this twelve-issue limited series, recently collected in an awesome hardcover. Faced with his upcoming death, Supes must explore his legacy, conquer his fears and come out on top, all with spectacular art by Frank Quitely.

It may seem like a drug-addled fever dream that a comic written by the lead singer of My Chemical Romance could be any good, but here we are. The Umbrella Academy is a surreal, inventive tale of a group of ex-superheroes brought back together by the death of their mentor. When new menaces threaten their lives, they must puzzle out exactly what is happening in the world while combating an unusual threat from within their own ranks. There's nothing quite like this book out there, which is reason enough to pick it up.

Along with Watchmen, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns ushered in the modern era of superhero comics. This dystopian alternate future tale by Frank Miller posited an aging Caped Crusader retired from crimefighting and watching the world turn to poop around him. When his old enemies come out to terrorize Gotham City once more, Batman comes out of retirement, against the wishes of the government. Featuring the best Batman vs Superman fight ever, some hilarious media commentary on the 80s, and some of Miller's best art, this is a somewhat dated but still essential book.