So, Mrs North's (younger) brother seems to be increasingly getting into reading graphic novels.

I figured I might as well buy him a couple for Christmas, but this is a genre about which I know nothing..!

So, any recommendations?

Thanks

😀

The Filth

I'd say like most things go for authors rather than just "genres"

Start with Frank Miller (Dark Knight, Killing Joke, etc etc) and Alan Moore (Watchman, V for Vendetta).

depends what he likes. Graphic Novels are as diverse as anything else. I have a penchant for collected 2000AD works like Nemesis the warlock, Slaine, Strontium Dog, ABC warriors and Bad Company, but then I'm old skool.

It would be hard to beat The Dark Knight Returns IMO.

Had a quick flick through Watchmen in Waterstones the other week and was mightily tempted.

The Dark Knight Returns is great.

But if he's already a fan of graphic novels he's probably read it because it's the one everyone recommends.

True.

Gotham by candlelight is good too, as is the one where he fights dracula – can't remember the name of that one.

OK. I *think* (this is bad, I need to pay more attention) that he already has Watchmen and V for Vendetta.

Not sure about Dark Knight Returns. I'll do some digging.

Cheers

Watchmen is good.

It's a really broad church. Graphic novels are pretty synonymous with superhero-themed stuff that draws on classic comic heritage, like Frank Miller and Alan Moore, but there are plenty of "alternative" types too. Some of these people like Dan Clowes and Charles Burns deal in pretty dark and twisted subject matter, while some like James Kochalka and Jeffrey Brown tend to keep it pretty twee and light-hearted.

The best shop in the UK for comics and grpahic novels is probably Page 45 in Nottingham. They are super-friendly, have an encyclopaedic selection, and it might be worth just finding out what he is reading at the moment, then giving them a call and seeing hwhat they'd recommend.

Cheers Mr A. Really useful.

I'm a real fan of the Sandman series and its Lucifer spin off. Constantine is very dark and thoughtful too, quite different from the film.

Fables.
Transmet.
Sock Monkey.

2nd vote for Slaine, some stunning artwork in the later ones – but the earlier ones give more humour.

He didn't think it too many.

I like Neil Gaiman's stuff. Not your typical graphic style but good stories. His 'normal' books are good too.

All the good ones have been mentioned above.

Watchmen
Sandman and spinoff Death High Cost of Living

Repeated reading stuff. The latter 2 are expecially good if bro is a bit emo.

There is some stunning painted artwork in the older Daredevil/Elektra ones circa 1990

Preacher
The Invisibles
Other Alan Moore aside from the obvious – Supreme, Top 10, Tom Strong
I really like Mike Mignola too – Hellboy and BPRD.

I love Daniel Clowes stuff but it's not trad graphic novel stuff. If he hasn't got Watchmen (everyone should own a copy) or V for Vendetta start right there.

Just read Frnak Millers Batman Year One and the Dark Knight Returns. They are most commendable.

Walking Dead
Deus Ex Machina
100 Bullets
Scud the Disposable Assassin

Woosh. That's the sound of so many titles passing straight over my head.

It seems that a part of the zeigeist has gone right by me.

OK, I shall form a list, and see what's what.

A nice adventure – cheers all.

Charleys war

I'm going to throw a curve ball here and suggest something different.

Manga.

The art is completely different, mostly black and white pen and ink stuff, but some of the stories are top dollar.

I would recommend some older stuff to start off with, and for extra niche, try and get hold of some original Japanese stuff (read right to left with the spine on the right)

Here's a few suggestions;

Guyver Bio Booster Armour.
AD Police
Appleseed

And my personal favourite – Spriggan (Striker in Western format)

Ronin by Frank Miller. Stunning and not as widely read as it should be as it has been around for aeons.

I used to have a bit of a graphic novel habit when I had disposable income but I have recently(ish) discovered my local library has a good range while the county as a whole has a great range of titles available.

Currently working my way through

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Avengers

Excellent stuff

Ok – assuming you want "grown up" stuff:

Maus, From Hell and Blankets, in addition to some of the other stuff up there (especially Sock Monkey, Preacher, Transmet, Sandman).

It also depends on whether you want something from an ongoing serial or something written as a self contained novel.

But yeah, Maus, From Hell and Blankets. Roman Dirge and Jhonen Vasquez are worth a look if he's into dark humour too. But they're probably best for angsty goffiks.

There's 2 or 3 Batman/Judge Dredd ones that are pretty good.
"We can do this the hard way or the easy way"
"Hard suits me fine"

I'd second aflyingmonkeycorps' recommendation of Maus.

Also, The Complete Alan Moore Future Shocks is very good, or Volume 1 of his Saga of The Swamp Thing.

Basically anything by Alan Moore, but not Lost Girls if you don't want to get into trouble with your Mrs…

Haha I've read book one of Lost Girls, it's amazing! Can't beat pervy old men writing comics

1977 Beano annual is pretty cool.

@flyingmonkeycorps I've not read any of it, but a mate bought the Absolute Edition (I think) and nearly got thrown out of his house 😉

The Complete Alan Moore Future Shocks

Oh wow, really? i loved future shocks in 2000AD
woohoo amazon – £7.59 minemimeminemine

My favourites of the more normal kind are:
Watchmen (obviously)
Crossing Midnight
Sandman

On a less "comic book" sort of level
Pyongyang or Perseopolis for a good story
Maus or Palestine are VERY serious

I'd agree about the Sandman. Preludes and Nocturnes is the first book in the series. Death: The High Cost of Living shares the setting (and some characters) but is a standalone story.

I have generally liked Warren Ellis's stuff – Transmetropolitan, Planetary and Global Frequency, anyway. All 3 are multi-book stories so again make sure you get the first of them if you're getting them. Global Frequency is collected into only 2 books and is made up of shorter stories that aren't tightly connected so it's less important for it than the others, though.

Fables is another great series. Legends in Exile is the first collected set of these.

Loved 'The Hobbit' version illustrated by David Wenzel – 1st published 1991. The artwork really suits.

dark tower trilogy- stephen king…epic

On the Manga front – how about Akira ?

(I'm not a big graphic novel fan, despite loving Marvel as a kid, but a mate lent that whilst I was in hospital some years back and I was rivetted..)

John Wagner is best known for Dredd and Strontium Dog, but his most interesting work is Button Man ( and its sequels)
Wagner and artist Arthur Ranson created a downright brilliant cold blooded killer in the shape of Harry Exton- totally recommended
The Last American by Wagner, Alan Grant and Mick McMahon is also great, and prefigures in some ways Cormac McCarthey's The Road, except that in TLA 'even the cannibals are dead'
If you can find it, Metalzoic, by Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill is one of the best GNs published, but the copyright being held by DC comics means that its unlikely to be reissued anytime soon.

y the last man
ex machina
hellboy, bprd
marvel zombies….