This list will exclude The Watchmen, which is univesally, to both critics and fans alike, as THE best graphic novel, hell, THE best comic book story EVER done. Since it IS that, it's making the list, and being at the very top is a given. I've also excluded series that are collected in graphic novel format (like Preacher and Sandman, of which I have all the graphic novels, and which are damn good stories in their own right). I'm just including things that were put out as graphic novels, or mini-series later collected into grahic novel format.
And I'm not listing them in the order of how I like them, cause that's just frankly too difficult to do.
1) Camelot 3000. From the early 80's, one of the first, I beleive, to be released in graphic novel format. It's got outstanding Brian Bolland artwork. The storyline is that King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table return in the year 3000. But they come back different: one in the body of a hulking alien brute, another in the body of a samuri, and yet another in the body of a woman. the last makes an interesting issue with that knight's woman love, who returns as well, and in the body of a woman. For the Reagan years of the early 80's, it was pretty daring, and one of comics first mature adult protrayals of homosexuality. But a great read overall.
2) Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. From 1985, the same time as The Watchmen. This one's written and drawn by 300's and Sin City's Frank Miller. Batman comes out of retirement to deal with gang problems and such in Gotham City. But Batman's in his 60s. A great story. It's got Superman, a few other DC heroes, the Joker, Dr. Ruth Westheimer and David Letterman characatures, a teenaged girl as Robin, and a whole new take on Batman.
3) X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills. From the early 80's as well, and again, one of the first put out in the graphic novel format. The second X-Men movie was loosely based on this, but I think the graphic novel did it better. A religious wingnut is persecuting mutants, calling them demons and devils, and such. Great story of the evils of prejudice and intoleance and the harm they can do.
4) The Golden Age. This is one of my favorites, but that's just cause I'm such a fan of the Justice Society Of America. This is the story of what could have happened to the JSA and other WWII heroes after the war was over. The ending, I swear, it blew me away. I still remember reading it, and being totally surprised by it, even actually gasping when everything was revealed. Without sufficient knowledge of the JSA, one might be a bit lost. I can't recommend this one enough, nonetheless, I can't recommend this one enough.
5) JLA: Identity Crisis. This one's only five years old or so, but it's great. Brad Meltzer is an author, and it's clear he wrote this thing like a novel. It's a great murder mystery, with earth shattering concequences for some of DC's heroes, and it too took me buy surprise when it was all revealed. Consise and well written, this one is a must read.
6) Batman: The Killing Joke. From the mid to late 80's. This one has more of Brian Bolland's outstanding art, and is written by Alan "The Watchmen" Moore. Anything with the Joker in it HAS to be good (usually), but this one too has some major changes for a venerable DC character. And those changes have stuck. The character's had to deal with, and even prospered with, the changes made 20 years ago. But a great story as well.
7) Kingdom Come. Unbelievably well drawn and written story from the genius Alex Ross. I loved it, cause it had a negative commentary on the "dark heroes" that were so prevalent at the time. Superman, the original 'boy scout' had to return and save the world from the 'indiscriminate killing' 'heroes' that had taken over. But the way it done, and how beautifully its illustrated is amazing. And to see the future of so many of today's heroes is a hoot too. But all make sense. A great story.
8) Batman; The Long Halloween. A 13 part miniseries dealing with Batman trying to catch a killer than strikes only on Holidays, starting on Halloween one year. I think each of his villains appears at least once: the Joker, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, The Riddler, Scarecrow, etc. A great mystery that once more, stumped me. I couldn't figure it out, and the revelation was a total surprise and shock. But an outstanding story as well.
9) Marvels. The first piece that gave a lot of exposure to Alex Ross. the whole story is told from the point of view of a newspaper photographer and following the beginning and rise of the Marvel Universe, from Spider-Man, to the Fantastic Four, to the Avengers, to the X-Men. All from the 'common man's' eyes. A great down to earth story.
10) JLA: The Nail. What if a nail had prevented John and Martha Kent from discovering the rocket carrying Superman, and there was a Man Of Steel? This is that story. Written and drawn in his incomparable style, Alan Davis does a fun, credible version of this possible universe. And as I said, anything with the Joker in it HAS to be good, right?
I welcome any comments on this: agree/disagree, whatever. And if you haven't gotten these graphic novels, you really should. They're a great way to waste a rainy day reading.
POLT Listening to "Lip Gloss" by Lil Mama
Earlier this year, I had my hair feng-shuied. - Jerry Hall
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