Hello /co/, first time here!
I want to start reading comic books, but the non-heroes type. I'm watching The Walking Dead TV show at the moment, and i know that it was adapted to big screen from comics - so there definitely has to be great comic series with serious and adult themes out there.
What should i start with? Remember, i don't know NOTHING about comics. So if someone would go to /g/ and ask about very good headphones, i'd recommend HD650 of the bat. If someone would ask what is the best game on PS3, as he is first-time playing and want to get the best experience - i'd say try The Last of Us.
What would you suggest for the very best of the best comics out there not involving superheroes? Maybe there are good sources to start of with? Websites? Thanks a lot!
>>77640453
That's a very opinion based question, but in mine I would say sandman is a great place to start. Maybe the first couple issues might not fit you but I can guarantee that if you stick with it you'll at least see why people love it
you need to specify a genre before anyone can recommend anything
>>77640500
I've skipped through a review just now for Sandman and i think i can really dig it, but am a bit disillusioned by the narrative style which is not continuous. Could you write your top 5 picks please?
>>77640534
Sorry, i'm interested in science fiction, fantasy, mystery, maybe even something post-apocalyptic. A world where i can delve into, or just a personal story, with rich character development. As long as there is a strong captive narrative.
>>77640649
To be entirely honest, I don't read non-big 2. I'm planning to start though. A few of the most consistently recommended things I've seen are Judge Dredd, Hellboy and Transmetropolitan. (I have read Sandman, defs worth a read.)
>>77640649
The thing about sandman is that some arcs are a continuous narrative others are more of an anthology of people's interactions with Dream. There is a consistent story sometimes but other times it goes for a really good fabel like storytelling.
My top 5 non cape stuff would be
Swamp thing (Alan Moores run)
The Incal
Sandman
Hellblazer
Asterios Polyp
If you're looking for a good ongoing comic East of West is a pretty dope one with future Cowboys in an alternate history setting, good but I'd be lying if I I said I know what's going on in it
>>77640695
> Judge Dredd, Hellboy
One of the reasons i'm looking into comics is i want to get into something new, and as i've seen the movies, reading the comics would be contrary to what i want haha. I'll look into Transmetropolitan though!
>>77640453
>i'd say try The Last of Us
>>77640838
Hellboy comics are very different from the movie
>>77640453
OP, I'm typing up a long response. Don't go away.
>>77640649
Prophet for scifi
Busiek conan for S&S
>>77641029
Yeah, the movies are definitely worth watching, but Hellboy comics strike a different tone in terms of the universe and world-building that Mignola creates, and the medium itself provokes a different interaction with that setting than watching a movie.
You REALLY need to read the Hellboy series.
I personally really want to recommend Planetary, but it's a big pastiches/commentary on superheros, so I'm not sure if you'd enjoy it or not.
>>77640453
>>77640500
Sandman was the thing that got me back into comics, so you should check out Sandman.
You could also check out Hellblazer, Preacher, Tank Girl and possibly The Goon, but I guess he's sort of a hero type
>>77640802
I'm interested in Swamp thing and Hellblazer. Which would be more engrossing?
>>77640850
Haha sorry, but i really liked how they portrayed the connection between Joel and Ellie. I really like character development and considering most games have cringe-worthy stories, that game just shines to me. If gameplay would be someones priority then i'd recommend Portal for sure!
Y the last man and most chicks at my lcs love saga
>>77640453
The Lemon Party is a blog from three old guys who review comics. They have some good opinions, though when they get into off-topic details about their lifestyle, things can get disturbing. Think of it like Sleepycabin, but geriatric.
http://lemonparty.org/
Go to your local library
Check out whatever you think looks fun
Read
If you're into sci-fi, fantasy, post-apocalyptic and such, I'd highly recommend 2000AD. It's an anthology series, so it's home to a ton of different characters and universes, but in your vein I'd recommend:
- Judge Dredd
- Rogue Trooper
- Slaine
- Strontium Dog
- Kingdom
- Shakara
- The Order
- Nemesis the Warlock
Outside 2000AD, I'd recommend Lazarus, Conan, East of West, Bodies (from Vertigo), Manifest Destiny and Walt Simonson's Ragnarok.
>>77641168
>Slaine
>Shakara
I wholeheartedly second these.
>>77641095
Read Alan Moores Swamp thing first, Constantine first appears in Swamp thing I believe. They're both great though so you should still probably read the first couple issues of Hellblazer
>>77641029
>>77641059
I'm 100% convinced i will try it in the future because there'll be a time when i'm done chewing all the stories i'm not familiar with at all. But i don't think it will be in one of my first few picks just for the thirst of something completely different thank you!
>>77641058
>>77641094
>>77641106
Thank you very much! Reading reviews as i write this.
>>77641116
I always like to research before i consume something haha
>>77641168
>>77641181
I'd like to get into a long series with similar universe without superheroes. Will look into it!
>>77641030
nomnom take you time!
Well you should read The Walking Dead, duh.
If TWD is your thing you should also give American Vampire a try.
It seems that you have prejudices against "superheroes" comics, thinking they are not "serious" and "adult themed" (your words).
Honestly it's a case by base basis, sometimes these days "super heroes" are an excuse to tell a story from another genre. For instance with Bucky Barnes you'll get James Bond style espionnage stories.
>>77641270
>I always like to research before i consume something haha
LIbrary's free, son. Just find where they keep comics/graphic novels and thumb through stuff that catches your eye. It's how I got into a lot of comic stuff when I was new to the medium too.
>>77641270
>I'd like to get into a long series
Definitely 2000AD and Cerebus the Aardvark.
Cerebus looks smaller than 2000AD, but it's the world record-holder for longest comic book of all time by a single author.
>>77640453
Look up reviews on TCJ.com and check out the following publishers:
Fantagraphics
Drawn & Quarterly
Top Shelf
Jonathan Cape
SGL
Last Gasp
Kitchen Sink
Nobrow
Koyama Press
Oily Comics
Image (altough they also publish some kiddie shit and geek stuff)
>>77640649
Vertigo just wrapped up a really great sci-fi book called FBP
>>77640453
>I want to start reading comic books, but the non-heroes type. I'm watching The Walking Dead TV show at the moment, and i know that it was adapted to big screen from comics - so there definitely has to be great comic series with serious and adult themes out there.
There are, but the Walking Dead isn't one of them.
>>77640500
This, skip Book 1 of Sandman and go directly to book 2.
>>77641565
Don't listen to this guy, book one sets up a lot of important stuff, and is generally quite good.
I'l get shit on for this but check out God is Dead for maximum edge.
>>77641596
I very strongly disagree, and I'm a capeshit fan.
This guy isn't even a cape fan, Book 1 will just bore him.
>Slice of life/realistic fiction
Essex County by Jeff Lemire
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
Diary of a Teenage Girl by Phoebe Glockner
Habibi by Craig Thompson
Age of Reptiles by Richard Delgado
City of Glass by Paul Auster/David Mazzuchelli
>Scifi
Chew by John Layman/Rob Guilroy
Fear Agent by Rick Remender
Black Hole by Charles Burns
D4ve by Ryan Ferrier/Valentin Ramon
Prophet by Brandon Graham
Godzilla in Hell by various
>Fantasy
Sandman by Neil Gaiman
Hellboy/BPRD by Mike Mignola
Cerebus the Aardvark by Dave Sim/Gerhard
Hellblazer by Delano/Ennis/Jenkins/Carey (4 separate runs that are the best ones)
Camelot 3000 by Mike Barr/Brian Bolland
>Comedy
Megg, Mogg and Owl by Simon Hanselmann
Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
Habits by Lauren Monger
>>77641767
If you don't read book one Seasons of Mists will be shit.
Also all of the stories are good, I don't know why you're being a pretentious faggot who thinks "Oh there's superheroes in this book, it will be boring compared to the rest of Gaiman's cape free (not even true) masterwork"
>>77641502
What's this and what's it about? Looks cool
>>77641880
>Age of Reptiles
>Slice of life/realistic fiction
lol wut?
>>77640453
>I want to start reading comic books, but the non-heroes type. I'm watching The Walking Dead TV show at the moment, and i know that it was adapted to big screen from comics - so there definitely has to be great comic series with serious and adult themes out there.
Are you implying Superheroes can't be mature, because some of the more mature and nuanced works I've read are cape, and I've read edgy as hell non cape.
If you don't like Superheroes that's fine, but your reason shouldn't be "they're for kids lol"
>>77641949
It's realistic historical action fiction.
>All these people recommending Cerebus
A huge chunk of issues 1-100 are heavily involved in shitting on the contemporary state of the mainstream comic book industry. I don't recommend Cerebus to people who are unfamiliar with 80's Superhero comics let alone someone who has never read any comics at all and does not want to read any capes.
>>77641918
I'm not being pretentious. When I was a teenager (and a huge comic book nerd), I read Sandman Book 2 and it was amazing. I immediately went back to the library and took out Book 1, and was disappointed.
I don't think I would have loved Book 2 as much if I had read Book 1 first.
It's not because it had capes, it's because it's not as good a read. Start him off strong.
Read Prez, it's being published right now and someone could probably link you to the issues or to storytimes.
>>77641308
>>77641964
I'm sorry i didn't word it properly. I don't think superhero comics are for kids and that they are not capable of exploring serious themes and have depth to characters. But the themes that can be explored should be a bit limiting just by design i would think?
>>77641880
Thanks! I won't even have to categorize these because you did it for me. Thanks a lot!
I now have a pretty big list of comics i can choose from safely saved into .txt document. Will sort them by genre, shift through reviews and will get something to read tomorrow! Thanks a lot everyone this is more than i can chew haha
>>77641918
>>77642196
Well that's confusing. So will i or will i not understand what is happening if i skip the first book?
>>77642301
That's a good question, because while I read the second book first, I did have a little bit of background knowledge and plenty of cape experience so I wasn't confused as to what was going on.
But we both agree: Read Sandman.
>>77640453
>>77640649
>science fiction
Planetary. Technically involves super powers, but is NOT a "superhero" comic. Literally one of the greatest works of fiction of the 21st century.
Nexus (wacky sci-fi action-adventure and the GOAT art in a single series)
Starlight. Basically R-rated Flash Gordon.
Chrononauts. Essentially a popcorn flick in comic form, but fun if you like that idea or are into time travel adventures.
Lawdog (forgotten sci-fi action book from the 80s)
Alien Legion (aliens and laser guns and explosions and just generally a really underrated sci-fi action book)
Evangeline (typical, but entertaining, action series set in a space-faring future)
Grimjack (one of the medium's greatest accomplishments in sci-fi -- imaginative and unique to the point of probably being impossible in live action -- a must read)
>fantasy
Conan volume 1 as published by Dark Horse. Possibly the best overall comic of the last decade or so. Don't bother with the stuff after that, though the old Marvel Conan comics were pretty cool as well.
Manifest Destiny (what if Lewis and Clark's expedition had secretly been to rid America of Lovecraftian monsters?)
Bone (what if The Lord of the Rings had starred Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy?)
>mystery
Mister X. Also fits the category of sci-fi. The most unique vision in the history of the medium. If you like retro-futurism you'll LOVE this. Also look for Electropolis and Terminal City, which are technically spin-offs of this though are otherwise unrelated.
Sin City (basically the movies with more graphic content and without the shitty acting)
Parker (adaptations of the noir novels)
Chandler Red Tide (the ultimate noir comic, just sick with style)
Torpedo (bad men doing bad things)
Polar (silent, stylish, and BAD-ASS)
Somerset Holmes (classic movie style mystery story about an amnesiac woman with a complicated past)
cont.
>>77642435
>>77640453
>>77640649
>post-apocalyptic
Scout. My favorite post-apoc story of all time in any medium. More memorable characters than you can shake a stick at.
Martha Washington (DARK AS FUCK)
Ronin (sci-fi samurai in a desolate future world -- underrated masterpiece)
Hard Boiled (very graphic clusterfuck in cyberpunk hell with some of the most impressive artwork you will ever see)
Get Jiro! (answers the question nobody was asking: what if the world was ruled by restaurant warlords -- very fun and entertaining and violent take on classic samurai stories but with an absurdist post-apoc setting and food jokes)
Officer Downe (GORY AS FUCK INSANELY OVER-THE-TOP cop story)
New York Year Zero (forgotten post-apoc miniseries -- underrated)
Vic and Blood (a boy and his dog at the end of the world)
Rover Red Charlie (a dog and a dog and a dog at the end of the world -- EXTREMELY GRAPHIC DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH)
Winterworld (earth is a frozen wasteland and a dangerous place)
cont.
>>77642435
>>77642510
>>77640453
>>77640649
>>77640453
>>77640649
>GENERAL RECS
Swamp Thing volume 2 #20-64 (set in the DC Universe, but not really about superheroes -- a MUST read)
Hitman (set in the DC Universe, and has some superhero content, but literally THE best comic of the last 20 years)
Punisher MAX (Garth Ennis era) (published by Marvel, but set in a world without superheroes -- an utterly amazing crime/action comic -- VERY dark)
The Life & Times of Scrooge McDuck (probably the pinnacle of the medium)
The Life & Times of Scrooge McDuck Companion (read this after the above)
Badger (absurdist comedy about a mentally ill martial arts master who wears a superhero costume and has bizarre adventures -- has NOTHING to do with actual superheroes -- see pic related)
Tom Strong volume 1 (sci-fi adventure hero with top notch writing)
Tom Strong's Terrific Tales (related to above)
The Many Worlds of Tesla Strong (related to above)
Howard the Duck volume 1 (bizarre satire from the 70s about a self-aware cartoon animal in the Marvel Universe)
The 'Nam (daily life in Vietnam War for American grunts -- published in the 80s, so it's still PG-13, but quality overall)
Battlefields (any volume) (DARK AS FUCK WWII stories)
War Story 1 and 2 (DARK AS FUCK WWII stories)
Adventures in the Rifle Brigade (bawdy comedy set in WWII -- very funny)
Cherry Poptart (porn comic that's actually well written, though admittedly low brow, comedy)
Groo (one-joke, but funny, Conan parody -- start with Friends and Foes and then read the old Marvel series)
Red (Warren Ellis' original 3 issue mini -- one of the best portrayals of film style action in a western comic)
cont.
>>77642576
>>77642510
>>77642435
>>77640453
>>77640649
>>77640453
>>77640649
PIC RELATED IS WHAT I MEANT TO POST FOR BADGER.
Shaolin Cowboy (makes ZERO sense, but tons of fun with mind blowing art)
We3 (decent story carried by one of the greatest artists the medium has ever seen at his absolute best)
Archie Meets The Punisher (possibly the GOAT comic -- not even joking)
Archie vs. Predator (one of the best releases of the year)
Godzilla In Hell (THE best release of the year)
Missionary Man (top notch action stories with some strong art)
Betty Boop's Big Break (underrated one-shot)
Gumby Summer Fun Special (better than you'd ever believe a Gumby comic could be with some of the greatest art in the history of the medium)
Gumby Winter Fun Special (sequel to above)
Ginger Fox (the most 80s thing ever)
Misty (the most 80s thing ever: G-rated edition)
Julius Corentin Acquefacques, Prisoner of dreams (possibly the biggest mindfuck in comics history -- only the first two chapters are translated unfortunately)
Flaming Carrot (a classic of surrealist comedy)
Fearless Dawn (everything-but-the-kitchen-sink action series about hot bitches -- includes miniseries The Bomb and the one-shots Strange Battle Tales, Strange Pirate Tales, and Strange Fairy Tales)
Marshal Law (killing superheroes: the comic)
The Rocketeer (Dave Stevens era) (more a "WWII era pulp adventure hero" than a "superhero" -- quality writing and best art ever)
Whisper (NINJAS! -- fun if you don't take it seriously)
Tarzan (DC Comics volume) (most faithful adaptation of the novels ever done in any other medium)
Charley's War (bleak, and LONG, look at WWI)
Transformers vs. G.I. Joe (based on the idea of a kid playing with toys while hallucinating -- VERY WEIRD)
Twisted Toyfare Theater (photo comic about superhero action figures written by the Robot Chicken guys -- the funniest thing I have ever read)
cont.
>>77642611
>>77642576
>>77642510
>>77642435
>>77640453
>>77640649
>>77640453
>>77640649
>IF YOU DECIDE TO TRY SUPERHEROES HERE ARE THE BEST ONES (COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO NORMALLY DOESN'T LIKE THE GENRE)
Frank Miller's Daredevil
Batman Year One
The Dark Knight Returns
Batman The Killing Joke
All Star Superman
Silver Surfer Requiem
Grant Morrison's Animal Man
Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol
>IF YOU WANT TO READ JAPANESE COMICS AS WELL
Akira (download the colorized Epic Comics edition -- single greatest colorization of a B&W comic of all time -- was overseen by the original author and looks GORGEOUS)
Black Lagoon (duel wielding, hot bitches, and the best action sequences in the history of the medium)
Bad Police (Dirty Harry turned up to 11)
Bambi and Her Pink Gun (stylish filth)
Lone Wolf and Cub (the single most popular manga outside of Japan and just generally a cool samurai story -- HUGE influence on Frank Miller)
Anyway, that should get you started.
>>77640838
If you think Dredd comics are like the movies you are going to be in for quite the surprise.
>>77642301
>But the themes that can be explored should be a bit limiting just by design i would think?
No. If look at the recommendation pics after that post you'll see plenty of books based on "super heroes" characters and that's covering various genres.
>>77642510
>Who is Jake Ellis
Any one have a download link for this?
>>77642301
Your reading experience will suffer if you skip Sandman Volume 1, whoever is telling you to skip the start of a long narrative is fucking retarded.
Love & Rockets
Sweet Tooth
Hellboy
>>77641397
Only in North America.
>>77642435
>>77642510
>>77642576
>>77642611
>>77642649
Wow, this is a very comprehensive and a big list, this will help me greatly. If i was you i would save these posts and when anyone else asks for similar recommendations as mine just dump all of these. THANK YOU!
>If you think Dredd comics are like the movies you are going to be in for quite the surprise.
I think i'm in for a lot of surprises. I'm starting on a completely new medium! Really excited about that.
>>77642691
Yeah i would suppose that wouldn't be advisable i just thought that if Sandman is full of jumping between times and locations, that maybe the first book is not necessary because the narratives aren't continued and end there. Thanks for clarification!
>>77640453
>>77640649
>something post-apocalyptic. A world where i can delve into, or just a personal story, with rich character development
Sweet Tooth
>>77641925
Kinda hard to sum up
It's set in a world where physics work like weather, and the Federal Bureau of Physics is formed by the government to keep civilians safe.
It starts out pretty wacky and high-concept, but at its core is a very personal story about a guy and his dad
>>77643020
Sandman is not a super disjointed narrative, I don't know where you got that idea.
>>77643044
>>77642759
Two votes for Sweet Tooth!
Just a last question /co/. Is there a better website for comic reviews than goodreads.com?
>>77642649
SOME SHIT THAT I FORGOT:
Fury - My War Gone By (one of the greatest comics of the decade)
Gunsmith Cats (gun porn, car porn, and hosiery porn: the comic)
Fist of the North Star (fighting and exploding body parts: the comic)
Golgo 13 (James Bond with absolutely no restraint)
Man-Thing volume 1 (dated, but high quality, horror comic from the 70s)
Foolkiller (man finds laser gun, decides to become vigilante, does not go as planned)
Geoff Johns' JSA (senior citizen superhero team from DC)
Geoff Johns' Action Comics (great place to get into Superman if you decide you want to)
Geoff Johns' Green Lantern (one of the top long form superhero runs by a single writer of the last decade)
Grant Morrison's JLA (one of the top superhero team comics ever)
Ren & Stimpy (surprisingly well done adaptation of the show -- personally prefer this to the cartoon)
Fell (unfinished cult classic mystery series)
High Score Girl (the ONLY accurate portrayal of gaming culture in ANY medium)
Nextwave (pretty much the definition of a fun superhero comic)
US 1 (camp-fest about truckers and aliens and nazi chicken blimps and bar fighting)
Punisher - Welcome Back, Frank (black comedy about vigilantism and the mafia in the Marvel Universe)
There's more of course, but that'll get you off to a decent start.
>>77643208
Good comic reviews basically don't exist. The fandom that posts on the internet doesn't have the best taste (here included, but this thread is great) and all professional journalism is shill central. Vice Comics is decent because Nick Gazin knows what he's doing but it doesn't really do reviews that often. Sequart is hit and miss, but it doesn't even do stuff that often.
>>77643020
>>77640453
>Maybe there are good sources to start of with? Websites?
>>77590943
>>77590752
Also, read this: >>77576278 It has very few words, so it'll take you less than an hour for the whole thing. Great comic to start with, though it might raise your expectations for the medium pretty high.
>>77643331
You forgot TCJ.
>>77643208
Whatever you do stay away from review sites.
>>77643379
TCJ is washed up IMO.
>>77643253
I'd also tack Astro City onto here. It's capeshit, technically, but avoids a lot of the flaws of the medium by being in a completely self-contained universe that progresses realistically through time.
>>77643857
Don't care for Astro City, though /co/ seems to like it obviously.
>>77643452
TCJ is no longer "The" TCJ-- as in now they're more amateur journalists than professional journalists-- but they have good taste, they follow a wide variety of sources, and they aren't shills.
This is just my personal opinion, but I find it funny how when someone asks for "non superhero" stuff, so many people here are jumping through loops to recommend superhero comics with caveats of "no it's totally different dude".
I mean, there's still a lot of great recs, no doubt, but to me it would be far easier to just say "Safe Area Gorazde" or "Usagi Yojimbo" or whatever
>>77644159
It's probably because they haven't read any non superhero comics really.
>>77644159
I agree, but a few people at least were non-retarded enough to recommend actual non-cape stuff and just throw in a "if you want some capes somewhere down the road here's what to read" at the end of their posts. Those types of posts actually are useful.
For French comics, Miss Touch Me Not and Beautiful Darkness. There's a mediafire for those two and other comics by Dan Dashly (namefag who posts stuff here) but I can't find the link right now.
>>77644159
A LOT of people here do that because they want to contribute but only read capeshit and its derivatives.
Or they don't read comics at all.
>>77640453
What kind of genre of fiction do you enjoy? Action? Slice of life? Fantasy? Usually it's best to nail something down like that first
I'll recommend Hellboy and Love and Rockets though because they are my favorites
I find it funny how Americans view superheroes comics. Like you all pretend reading other stuff makes you have a "deeper" taste.
I'm from Europe, where capeshit isn't as famous even as far as graphic novels go, and I can tell you there is good, bad, deep and shallow in every genre.
And that's assuming capeshit is A genre, which it is not as it can treat of pretty much of genre.
>>77644576
Pretty sure OP is gone.
>>77644583
Most Americans don't read cape books, you moron. It's why the comics industry is so small.
All that OP said was that he doesn't want capes. Most people who try to get into comics from other fandoms are the same.
>>77644583
This is the worst post ever.
