Top 5 Non-Superhero Comics
bralinator
Posts: 5,967
Just read an article someone shared with me and I thought it might make for some good, informative discussion here. The article was pointing at Marvel and DC 'relaunching' their lines recently, and amidst all the hoopla, it discussed lesser known properties by smaller publishers that didn't feature heroes in 'capes and tights' but featured well written, interesting stories that often feature exquisite artwork.
They listed their Top 5 Non-Superhero comics as follows:
1 ) Chrononauts
2 ) Descender
3 ) Alex + Ada
4 ) The Dying & The Dead
5 ) Southern Bastards
Two things stood out in this list. First, these are ALL Image comics. Secondly, two of them are no longer ongoing (Chrononauts & Alex + Ada) I also like the three of these that I have either collected, read, or at least sampled. I was also surprised Walking Dead didn't make this list...
Anyone else want to list their top 5 non-superhero comics? I bet we can come up with some titles that aren't just from Image Comics, although there are several that Image publishes that are truly top shelf comics.
They listed their Top 5 Non-Superhero comics as follows:
1 ) Chrononauts
2 ) Descender
3 ) Alex + Ada
4 ) The Dying & The Dead
5 ) Southern Bastards
Two things stood out in this list. First, these are ALL Image comics. Secondly, two of them are no longer ongoing (Chrononauts & Alex + Ada) I also like the three of these that I have either collected, read, or at least sampled. I was also surprised Walking Dead didn't make this list...
Anyone else want to list their top 5 non-superhero comics? I bet we can come up with some titles that aren't just from Image Comics, although there are several that Image publishes that are truly top shelf comics.
Comments
2) The Fade Out
3) Saga
4) Autumnlands
5) Invisible Republic
"East of West' and "The Dying and the Dead" just miss making it.
On the original list, I only read Dying and the Dead and Chrononauts. Thought Chrononauts sucked.
2. East of West
3. Saga
4. The Dying & The Dead
5. ....uhm.....
Yeah, OK, so I don't read much that isn't Marvel or DC....yes, 3 of the four are Hickman books and they're all from Image..shoot me.
2. Fade Out
3. Manhatten Project
4. Chew - does his ability count as a superpower?
5. Rasputin
(drops the mic)
:smiley:
Here is my top 5 current non-capes:
American Vampire
Big Trouble in Little China
The Sixth Gun
Wayward
Southern Bastards
I read both Lazarus and Saga. I recognize and respect their quality/craftsmanship, and I really like both books. I enjoy reading the 5 books up there more.
1) Black Lagoon
2) Yotsuba
3) A Silent Voice
4) Citrus
5) Ancient Magus Bride
Don't call it a comeback...they been here for years...
Cerebus
American Flagg
Love & Rockets
Strangers in Paradise
Sgt. Rock
Honorable mention to the Marvel B&W Planet of the Apes magazines.
1. Lazarus- by some margin. Fascinating work.
2. Outcast
3. Ragnarok- slow to come out, but fantastic. Eases the pain of the Conan book not doing it for me.
4. Descender
5. Walking Dead- after a lull, the past six months have picked up again quite a bit.
Honorable mentions:
American Vampire, Autumnlands: Tooth & Claw, Wytches, Rumble, Sixth Gun
All of these titles have been a bit delayed so that's dampened my enthusiasm a bit, but they are ALL excellent IMO. Image seems to be on the model where a trade's worth of issues come out, then a break, then the next trade's worth. We've had a full trade worth of Rumble, Wytches, and Autumnlands so they're on that "break" now.
I'm lagging a few issues behind on Fade Out. I love the premise but it's more a double than a home run. Good, but I'm hoping it gets better.
1 - Lazarus
2 - Black Science
3 - We Stand On Guard
No longer ongoing (but otherwise falling on the 3 & 4 slots
Scalped
Fables
Honorable Mention for 100 Bullets, based on where I'm at in the series. I'd put Dredd in here somewhere as well, but I'm not currently reading it.
I read Valiant stuff as well, but that's all pretty firmly super heroic in nature.
Locke & Key
Rat Queens (still a young series but it's the perfect book for me. If I were to make a comic of my own this would be it)
Strangers in Paradise and everything else by Terry Moore really
Transformers: MTMTE (cheating a bit I think, not cape & tights per se but still fits in there I think. I'm picking this one because...stories about alien robots dealing with religious, gender, relationship and other issues. I still believe it's under-appreciated for it's writing)
SQWEEEEEeeeee
Um... Hello?
SQWEEEEEeeeee
Bone
*drops mic again*
THUNK
Anything by Doug TenNapel
Hellboy/B.P.R.D.
Bone
Tellos
Ghostbusters
If we go beyond five (that haven't been mentioned yet):
Axe Cop
Age of Bronze
Sandman
Mouse Guard
Wild's End
Essex County
Underwater Welder
I think when I recommend books/graphic novels to read to people/students, I rarely suggest a Marvel or DC book. Especially if it is an ongoing book. I think most people are used to stand alone, complete stories, and recommending something serialized may turn them off. I know that I'm reluctant to pick something up that is mid-story, I assume most people are. Sure there are book series, like Harry Potter and the Hunger Games, but even as they are a series, they still have an eventual conclusion.
1. Descender
2. Harrow County
3. Lantern City
4. A Silent Voice
5. Shutter.
My own all-time favorite non-cape comics are probably:
1.) Bone
2.) Saga
3.) Transmetropolitan
4.) Scott Pilgrim (which probably shows my age)
5.) 100 Bullets
Saga
Ghostbusters
American vampire
Nailbiter
Dark Tower series
Currently ongoing, not necessarily in order (it's tough enough just picking five):
Velvet
The Stuff of Legend
Saga
Hellboy
Beasts of Burden
All-time, again not necessarily in order:
Bat Lash
Hellboy
Cerebus
Fables
Beasts of Burden
My list of honorable mentions could go two pages by itself.
2: Love and Rockets
3: Hicksville
4: Dharma Punks
5: Revival
I know it will never be collected in color, but man I would love to have Bat Lash (and old Jonah Hex) in a nice hard cover. I'd put it right between my Blueberry Epic reprints and the Rio hard cover.
Fables
From Hell
Maus
Kamandi
Persepolis
This I've gotta read!!!