Comics comics everywhere...

[blahflowers]

So, this is the list of graphic novels I'm planning on looking for when I go to do the shopping for the Closed Library restocking in a few weeks, anyone suggest titles that would be worth including? (xxxlibris I'm looking at you...)



I should hasten to add that just because it's here (or not here) doesn't mean I think it's good (or bad) (except for The Adventures of Barry Ween, I consider it a solemn life duty to get books about a foul-mouthed nine-year old with a sex obsessed friend into any place where I work).

Pope, Paul 100% (might not be out yet)
Miller, Frank 300
Winick, Josh Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius (all)
Otomo, Katsuhiro Akira
Morrison, Grant Animal Man (all)
Busiek, Kurt Astro City (thanks enrobso!)
Ellis, Warren Authority Book 1
Ellis, Warren/Millar, Mark Authority Book 2
Millar, Mark Authority Book 3
Millar, Mark Authority Book 4
Batman Any Recent
Miller, Frank Batman Dark Knight Returns
Miller, Frank Batman Dark Knight Returns Again
Smith, Jeff Bone (all)
Sim, Dave Cerebus (all)
Crisis over Infinite Earths
Milligan, Peter Enigma
Moore, Alan From Hell
Green Lantern (any recent)
Moore, Alan Halo Jones (Complete)
Pope, Paul Heavy Liquid
Ennis, Garth Hellblazer (all, Azzarello stuff only if you need to spend
the money)
Mignola, Mike Hellboy
Milligan, Peter Hewligan’s Haircut
Morrison, Grant Invisibles (all)
Ware, Chris Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth
Morrison, Grant JLA (all, including One Million)
Judge Dredd (any we don't already have, I'm sure they aren't going out)
Waid, Mark Kingdom Come
The Kingdom (only if money left over)
Moore, Alan League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (both)
Hernandez Bros. Love and Rockets (several)
Carey, Mike Lucifer (all)
Matrix Comics
Spiegelman, Art Maus (complete edition)
Gaiman, Neil Midnight Days
Gaiman, Neil Mister Punch
Russell, P. Craig Murder Mysteries
Ellis, Warren Orbiter
Origin (Wolverine)
Palestine
Hernandez, Gilbert Palomar
Ellis, Warren Planetary (both)
Ennis Garth Preacher (all)
Moore, Alan Promethea (all pback)
McCloud, Scott Reinventing Comics (only if money left over after everything else??)
Strazynski, J.M Rising Stars (only if money left over)
Gaiman, Neil Sandman (all)
Thompson, Jill Sandman: At Deaths Door
Milligan, Peter Shade the Changing Man
Gaiman, Neil Signal to Noise
Miller, Frank Sin City
Spiderman (ones we don't already have)
Ellis, Warren Stormwatch: Change or Die
Ellis, Warren Stormwatch: A Finer World
Ellis, Warren Stormwatch: Lightning Strikes
Ellis, Warren Stormwatch: Change the World
Ellis, Warren Stormwatch: A Finer World
Ellis, Warren Stormwatch: Final Orbit
Ellis, Warren Stormwatch: Force of Nature
Wright, Micah Ian Stormwatch: Team Achilles
Moore, Terry Strangers in Paradise (buy first few only)
Cruse, Howard Stuck Rubber Baby
Superman (any recent)
Superman, Death, Still Dead, Rebirth of…
Moore, Alan Swamp Thing (all)
Martin & Hewlett Tank Girl (all)
Moore, Alan Top Ten (all)
Ellis, Warren Transmetropolitan (all)
Ultimates (all titles, all editions)
McCloud, Scott Understanding Comics
Moore, Alan V for Vendetta
Gaiman, Neil Violent Cases
Moore, Alan Watchmen
Morrison, Grant X-Men (all)
Milligan, Peter X-Force (all)
Milligan, Peter X-Statix (all)
Vaughan, Brian K. Y: The Last Man (all)

My target audience is supposed to be eighteen up but I'm intepreting that as everything bar Powerpuff Girls and Disney, so any suggestions?

Comments

[xxxlibris.livejournal.com]

Erk - will have a proper look at this when I have more time, and get back to you....

[enrobso.livejournal.com]

No "Preacher"?

And if you have any money left ver, you might like to consider Kurt Busiek's "Astro City".

Re: Preacher

[blahflowers.livejournal.com]

Preacher is up there, but Astro-City is a good catch. That'll go on the list...

Re: Preacher

[randimason.livejournal.com]

Is there no manga for a reason?
Even if you're avoiding the Dragon Ball and YuGiOh sorts of titles, you might want to consider Miyazaki'sNausicaa and Otomo's Akira,

Only other things to add would be Vess' Ballads and Sagas if you can find it, and perhaps a Hellboy title.

Re: Preacher

[randimason.livejournal.com]

Right. You do have Akira and Hellboy on the list. I will learn how to read one of these days.

Re: Manga

[blahflowers.livejournal.com]

There's very little manga there for a reason, that being I don't know about that stuff. That's what I need you lot for. Akira-type stuff only though please, to be on the safe side.

Re: Manga

[randimason.livejournal.com]

DB would recommend the entire "Lone Wolf and Cub" series, although it's a bit too violent and dark for me personally.

Of what I've read, I've liked Astroboy, Rurouni Kenshin, and Petshop of Horrors but am not sure they are to everyone's taste.

[plumsbitch.livejournal.com]

am a huge ignoramus, but how about Kill Your Boyfriend - GM. have chucked it at many non comics readers who've been pleasantly surprised/inspired to read more. Jessica Abel's Artbabe?

(and is these days out in a more graphic novel-ish 'prestige' format (which basically means a proper spine and cover))

[dbborroughs.livejournal.com]

Manga wise I'd go with:

Astroboy ( Do not worry about continuity other than a few stories that carry over from volume to volume it can be started anywhere)

Lone Wolf and Cub. Everyone applauds Neil Gaiman for his run on Sandman or Dave Simm on Cerebus, but this is 9000 pages and never flags for a second since everything builds on everything else.

Ghost in the Shell simply because its the comic equivalant of William Gibson and spawned much.

I love Domu by Otomo Katsuhiro (AKira's creator)its a good thriller.

You may want to include some of the Rumic titles by Rumiko Takahasi, but I'm not sure which. (She also did One Pound Gospel, Ranma and Inu Yusha)

Iron Wok Jan proves cooking can be exciting.

One Piece is a favorite of mine.its silly pirates.

Planetes is a must, its only two volumes so far in English but is incredible story telling.

There should be more Tezuka beyond Astroboy but I don't know which to suggest.

Avoid Beserk which is just blood and guts and nastiness.

There are several things I could suggest if you got more story for your buck. Theres a thing called Kazan which is enjoyable but isn't cost effective for its 7 volumes.

Ah yes, the Gon reprints, about a dinosaur in the wild.

Petshop of Horrors is a building series of creepy stories.

Over rated is Trigun which self destructs after a while.

if you want foul mouthed 5 year old try Crayon Shincin (I think thats the spelling) the draw back is that the pieces are funnier than the whole, one strip or two is fine but more than that gets to be a bit much.

NON MANGA- Do you have the Marvel Essentials? Its 25 to 30 volumes of straight continuity of a Marvel Character in on place. Just avoid anything where Don Heck did the writing/art

Earth X

Akiko which looks manga but isn't.

[darksong.livejournal.com]

Chynna Clugston-Major's Blue Monday by Oni Press. There's only a couple of books out, but it's a manga-styled story about teenagers in the early 1990's -- good for a nostalgia trip and just because it's good.

Jill Thompson's Ghoul's Out for the Summer is collected, as far as I can tell, and while it's more of an all-ages title, I'm in my 20s and I love it.

I'd also say Jhonen Vasquez's Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. It's violent and disturbing (as well as funny), but it does have a point.

Jeff Smith's Bone may have too much of an all-ages appeal, but it's still decent.

I think you have a good list, though. I wish I could think of a few more things, but it's late.

[xxxlibris.livejournal.com]

Ok - re Manga, the best selling stuff is:
* Chobits
* Love Hina
* Battle Royale (uber sex 'n violence)
* Lone Wolf and Cub (but is 28 part series)

Also - howzabout the two Optic Nerve collections, "Sleepwalk" and "Summer Blonde".

Plums - not sure that "Kill Your Boyfriend" is still in print atm.

[jankenstein.livejournal.com]

Concrete, by Paul Chadwick. An absolute must.
Anything by Will Eisner.
Fax from Sarajevo by Joe Kubert.
V For Vendetta by Alan Moore.
Castle Waiting: The Brambly Hedge by Linda Medley.
Any of the various GN's by P. Craig Russell, especially the Ring of the Neibelung.
Clan Apis by Jay Hosler.
Just an interesting observation, but I don't see any material here listed that was created prior to 1980. Several good compilation volumes of things such as (Hal Foster-era) Prince Valiant, the works of Charles Aadams, Edward Gorey, Alex Raymond, etc. would make for a well-rounded collection.

[randimason.livejournal.com]

Just random thoughts: you might want to consider looking at stuff by Andi Watson (Skeleton Key, Geisha), David Mack (Kabuki), and Colleen Doran (A Distant Soil)

You already have Arkham Asylum, yes?

Re:

[plumsbitch.livejournal.com]

Ooh, definitely recommend Skeleton Key, it rocks.

(also Blue Monday, which i can lend/bring, if you want to check it out. But it is lovely.)

[blahflowers.livejournal.com]

No, I'm not intending to buy Arkham Asylum unless I need to spend the cash, only on the grounds that we have tons of copies kicking around the other libraries. Plus, frankly, I've always had issues with the shockingly crap binding on that (especially when Batman meets the Joker outside the Asylum).

[randimason.livejournal.com]

There's a great place in the States for graphic novels with library bindings called BWI.
(They also provide you with reviews of them if you register from Library Journal and such).
Not sure if there's anything similar outside the US though :/

[larryhammer]

Age of Bronze by Eric Shanower — tho' only the first volume, A Thousand Ships is out so far.

---L.