500 Essential Graphic Novels by Gene Kannenberg, Jr. - The List

For anyone out there looking for something worth reading, I have taken the time to type out the 500 essential graphic novels according to Gene Kannenberg Jr. in his book of the same title. Get this book to read plot summaries and such, but otherwise I wanted to make his list alone available. The book was published in 2008. Thus, I know it is not completely up to date. Even so, it’s a good list overall. I do want to note that I didn’t include the artist name here, only the writer. This is note at all an affront to artists; it just worked out that way because a list of 500 was a lot to type up and I’m lazy. Also, the list, like the book, is broken down by category. The books aren’t ranked. Find a category you’re into and start reading!

The List

Adventure

Top 10

• The Yellow “M” by Edgar P. Jacobs


• Disney’s Duck Tales Stories: Volume 1 by Carl Barks


• In The Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak


• Leave it to Chance Volume 1: Shaman’s Rain by James Robinson


• Lone Wolf and Cub Volume 1: The Assassin’s Road Kazuo Koike


• Orient Gateway by Vittorio Giardino


• Owly: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer by Andy Runton


• Prince Valiant Volume 20: The Pilgrimage by Hal Foster


• The Towers of Bois-Maury Volume 1: Babette by Hermann Huppen


• The Complete Classic Adventures of Zorro by Various

The Best of the Rest

• Alison Dare, Little Miss Adventures: Volume 1 by J. Torres


• Blackjack: Blood and Honor by Alex Simmons


• Bookhunter by Jason Shiga


• Blade of the Immortal by Hiroaki Samura


• James Bond: Casino Royale by Ian Fleming (adapted)


• Gon: Volume 1 by Masashi Tanaka


• Gunsmith Cats, Revised Edition: Volume 1 by Kenichi Sonoda


• Lady Snowblood by Kazuo Koike


• Mouse Guard Volume 1: Fall 1152 by David Petersen


• The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck by Don Rose


• Naruto: Volume 1 by Masashi Kishimoto


• The Rocketeer by Dave Stevens


• Skidmarks by ILYA


• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Volume 1 by Peter David


• The Complete Terry and the Pirates Volume 1: 1934-1936 by Milton Caniff


• Tintin in Tibet by Hergé


• Tor: Volume 1 by Joe Kubert


• Usagi Yojimbo: Book 1 by Stan Sakai

Non-Fiction

Top 10

• Alice in Sunderland by Bryan Talbot


• American Splendor: The Life and Times of Harvey Pekar by Harvey Pekar


• Binky Brown Sampler by Justin Green


• Blankets by Craig Thompson


• Epileptic by David B.


• Maus: A Survivor’s Tale, Volume 1 and 2 by Art Spiegelman


• The Minotaur’s Tale by Al Davison


• Persepolis: A Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi


• Pyongyang by Guy Delisle


• Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud

The Best of the Rest

• Alex by Mark Kalesniko


• Borgia: Blood for the Pope by Alejandro Jodorowsky


• Buddha Volume 1: Kapilavastu by Osamu Tezuka


• Cancer Vixen by Marisa Acocella Marchetto


• An Cartoon History of the Universe Volume 1 by Larry Gonick


• Casanova’s Last Stand by Hunt Emerson


• Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi


• Dori Stories: The Complete Dori Seda by Dori Seda


• Drawing Comics Is Easy (Except When It’s Hard) by Alexa Kitchen


• Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi


• Ethel and Ernest by Raymond Briggs


• Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel


• I Love Led Zeppelin by Ellen Forney


• Indian Summer by Hugo Pratt


• It’s a Bird by Steven T. Seagle


• Kafka: Give It Up and Other Short Stories by Franz Kafka


• King: A Comic Biography of Martin Luther King Jr. by Ho Che Anderson


• Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography by Chester Brown


• Laika by Nick Abadzis


• Love that Bunch by Aline Kominsky Crumb


• Making Comics by Scott McCloud


• Malcolm X by Andrew J. Helfer


• Mom’s Cancer by Brian Fies


• My Troubles with Women by Robert Crumb


• Need More Love by Aline Kominsky Crumb


• Notes from a Defeatist by Joe Sacco


• Our Cancer Year by Havey Pekar and Joyce Brabner


• Pedro and Me by Judd Winick


• The Playboy by Chester Brown


• The Plot: The Secret Story of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion by Will Eisner


• The Salon by Nick Bertozzi


• Shenzhen Guy Delisle


• Spiral Cage by Al Davison


• True Story, Swear to God: Chances Are by Tom Beland


• Two Fisted Science: Stories about Scientists by Jim Ottaviani


• The Times of Botchan by Natsuo Sekikawa


• Yukiko’s Spinach by Frederic Boilet

Crime/Mystery

Top 10

• 100 Bullets Volume 1: First Shot, Last Call by Brian Azzarello


• City of Glass by Paul Auster


• The Complete Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy, Volume 1: 1931-1933 by Chester Gould


• A History of Violence by John Wagner


• Human Target: Final Cut by Pete Milligan


• Kane Book 1: Greetings from New Eden by Paul Grist


• Road to Perdition by Max Allan Collins


• Sin City: The Hard Goodbye by Frank Miller


• The Best of the Spirit by Will Eisner


• Whiteout by Greg Rucka

The Best of the Rest

• After the Rain by Andre Julliard


• Alias Volume 1 by Brian Michael Bendis


• Brodie’s Law: Project Jameson by Alan Grant


• The Chuckling Whatsit by Richard Sala


• The EC Archives: Crime Suspenstories Volume 1 by Various


• Criminal Volume 1: Coward by Ed Brubaker


• Criminal Macabre: A Cal McDonald Mystery by Steve Niles


• Crying Freeman by Kazuo Koike


• The Drowners by Nabiel Kanan


• Grendel: Devil by the Deed by Matt Wagner


• Greyshirt: Indigo Sunset by Rick Veitch


• Harum Scarum: The Spiffy Adventures of McConey Volume 1 by Lewis Trondheim


• Ice Haven by Daniel Clowes


• Kabuki: Circle of Blood by David Mack


• The Loser Volume 1: Ante Up by Andy Diggle


• London’s Dark by James Robinson


• Lupin the Third Volume 1 (World’s Most Wanted) by Monkey Punch (Kazuhiko Kato)


• Modesty Blaise: Bad Suki by Peter O’Donnell


• Monster, Volume 1 by Naoki Urasawa


• Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham


• Outlaw Nation by Jamie Delano


• Oldboy Volume 1 by Garon Tsuchiya


• Queen and Country: The Definitive Edition Volume 1 by Greg Rucka


• Powers Volume 1: Who Killed Retro Girl? By Brian Michael Bendis


• Ring of Roses by Das Petrou


• Rex Mundi Book 1: The Guardian of the Temple by Arvid Nelson


• Sandman Mystery Theatre: The Tarantula by Matt Wagner


• Sanctuary by Sho Fumimura


• Scene of the Crime: A Little Piece of Goodnight by Ed Brubaker


• Silverfish by David Lapham


• The Steel Claw: The Vanishing Man by Ken Bulmer


• A Treasury of Victorian Murder: The Borden Tragedy by Rick Geary


• Why Are You Doing This? By Jason

Fantasy

Top 10

• Bone: Volume 1 by Jeff Smith


• The Chronicles of Conan Volume 1: Tower of the Elephant and Other Stories by Roy Thomas


• Fables: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham


• Heart of Empire: The Legacy of Luther Arkwright by Bryan Talbot


• Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay


• Marie Gabrielle by Georges Pichard


• The Compleat Moonshadow by J.M. DeMatteis


• Promethea by Alan Moore


• Sandman Volume 3 –Dream Country by Neil Gaiman


• Sláine: Books of Invasions Volume 1 by Pat Mills

Best of the Rest

• Abadazad: The Road to Inconceivable by J.M. DeMatteis


• Asteriz and the Great Crossing by René Godcinny


• Birdland by Gilbert Hernandez


• The Book of Ballads by Charles Vess & Various


• The Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman


• The Books of Magic: Bindings by John Ney Rieber


• Castle Waiting by Linda Medley


• Cheech Wizard by Vaughn Bode


• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Volume 1 by Wang Du Lu and So Man Sing


• Death: The High Cost of Living by Neil Gaiman


• Dungeon Volume 1: Duck Heart by Joann Sfar


• Elfquest Archives Volume 1 by Richard & Wendy Pini


• Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham


• Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde, Vol. 1: The Selfish Giant & The Star Child by Oscar Wilde


• The Frank Book by Jim Woodring


• Fushigi Yugi by Yuu Watase


• Inuyasha Volume 1 by Rumiko Takahashi


• Lenore: Noogies by Roman Dirge


• Light Brigade by Peter Tomasi


• Little Ego by Vittorio Giardino


• Lucifer Volume 1: Devil in the Gateway by Mike Carey


• Louis: Lying to Clive by Metaphrong


• The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, P. Craig Russell


• Moomin: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip (Vol. 1) by Tove Jansson


• Oh My Goodness Volume 1 by Kosuke Fujishima


• One Piece Volume 1: Romance Dawn by Eiichiro Oda


• Pop Gun War by Rarel Dalrymple


• Scary Godmother: The Boo Flu by Jill Thompson


• Skeleton Key Volume 1: Beyond the Threshold by Andi Watson


• Steampunk: Manimatron by Joe Kelly


• Suckle: The Status of Basil by Dave Cooper


• Thorgal: Child of the Stars by Jean Van Hamme


• Three Fingers by Rich Koslowski


• The Yellow Jar: Two Tales from Japanese Tradition (Vol. 1) by Patrick Atangan

General Fiction

Top 10

• Bardín The Superrealist by Max


• Cerebus: Church and State by Dave Sim


• The Contract with God Trilogy: Life on Dropsie Avenue by Will Eisner


• Ghost World by Dan Clowes


• Jar of Fools by Jason Lutes


• Locas: The Maggie and Hopey Stories by Jaime Hernandez


• Signal to Noise by Nail Gaiman


• A Small Killing by Alan Moore


• Stuck Rubber Baby by Howard Cruse


• The Tale of One Bad Rat by Bryan Talbot

Best of the Rest

• American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang


• B. Krigstein: Comics by Greg Sadowski and Various


• Ballad of the Salt Sea by Hugo Pratt


• Berlin: City of Stones by Jason Lutes


• The Birthday Riots by Nabiel Kanan


• Blue by Kiriko Nananan


• Boulevard of Broken Dream by Kim Deitch


• Box Office Poison by Alex Robinson


• Brooklyn Dreams by J.M. DeMatteis


• A Child’s Life and Other Stories by Phoebe Gloekner


• Can’t Get No by Rick Veitch


• Cerebus: High Society by Dave Sim


• Click by Milo Manara


• Clyde Fans: Book 1 by Seth


• The Complete Omaha The Cat Dancer Volume 1 by Kate Worley


• Corridor by Sarnath Banerjee


• Couscous Express by Brian Wood


• Curses by Kevin Huizenga


• Dead Memory by Mar Antoine Mathieu


• Demo by Brian Wood


• Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel


• Extended Dream of Mr. D by Max


• Fagin the Jew by Will Eisner


• Flood! A Novel in Pictures by Eric Drooker


• The Four Immigrants Manga: The Japanese Experience in San Francisco, 1904-1924 by Yoshitaka (Henry) Kiyama


• Gemme Bovery by Posy Simmonds


• Get a Life by Phillipe Dupuy and Charles Berberian


• The Golem’s Mighty Swing by James Sturm


• Goodbye, Chunky Rick by Craig Thompson


• Hicksville by Dylan Horrocks


• In Search of Shirley by Cosey


• It’s a Good Life, If You Don’t Weaken by Seth


• The Jew of New York by Ben Katchor


• Jimbo in Purgatory by Gary Panter


• Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer: Stories by Ben Katchor


• Jimmy Corrigan, The Smartest Kid in the World by Chris Ware


• Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson


• King Lear: Graphic Shakespeare by William Shakespeare


• Kings in Disguise: A Novel by James Vance


• La Perdida by Jessica Abel


• Lost Girls by Alan Moore


• Mail Order Bride by Mark Kalesniko


• Nemi by Lise Myhre


• Mirror, Window: An Artbabe Collection by Jessica Abel


• The Comical Tragedy or Tragical Comedy of Mr. Punch by Neil Gaiman


• The New Adventures of Jesus: The Second Coming by Frank Stack


• Palomar: The Heartbreak Soup Stories by Gilbert Hernandez


• Paul Has A Summer Job by Michel Rabagliati


• Remembrance of Things Past: Within A Budding Grove by Marcel Proust


• The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge


• Robot Dreams by Sara Varon


• Same Difference and Other Stories by Derek Kirk Kim


• The EC Archives: Shock Suspenstories Volume 1 by Al Feldstein


• Slow News Day by Andi Watson


• Smoke by Alexi De Campi


• SSHHHH! By Jason


• Strangers in Paradise: Pocket Book 1 by Terry Moore


• Stray Tosters by Bill Sienkiewicz


• Streak of Chalk by Miguelanxo Prado


• Summer Blonde by Adrian Tomine


• The Summer of Love by Debbie Drechsler


• Tangents by Miguelanxo Prado


• The Three Paradoxes by Paul Hornschemeier


• Tricked by Alex Robinson


• Video Girl AI Volume 1: Preproduction by Masakazu Katsura


• Violent Cases by Neil Gaiman


• Wet Moon Volume 1: Feeble Wanderings by Ross Campbell


• Wind of the Gods Volume 1: Blood From The Moon by Patrick Cothias


• Whoa, Nellie! Jaime Hernandez

Horror

Top 10

• Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits by Garth Ennis


• Hellboy Volume 3: The Chained Coffin and Other Stories by Mike Mignola


• Hellspawn: The Ashley Wood Collection by Brian Michael Bendis and Steve Niles


• Preacher: Gone to Texas by Garth Ennis


• The Sandman Volume 1: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman


• Skin Deep: Tales of Doomed Romance by Charles Burns


• Strange Embrace by David Hine


• Swamp Thing Volume 1: Saga of the Swamp Thing by Alan Moore


• The EC Archives: Tales From the Crypt Volume 1 by Al Feldstein


• The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman

The Best of the Rest

• 30 Days of Night by Steve Niles


• B.P.R.D Volume 3: Plague of Frogs by Mike Mignola


• Black Hole by Charles Burns


• Blood: A Tale by J.M. DeMatteis


• Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon


• Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Collected Best, Volume 1 by Clive Barker and Various


• Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things by Ted Naifeh


• Death Note, Volume 1 by Tsugumi Ohba


• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: A Graphic Novel by Robert Louis Stevenson


• The Goon Volume 1: Nothin’ But Misery by Eric Powell


• Fiends of the Eastern Front by Gerry Finley-Day


• Hell Baby by Hino Hideshi


• Black Cat (Hino Horror, Book 6) by Hino Hideshi


• Hellblazer: All His Engines by Mike Carey


• Collected Hook Jaw Volume 1 by Pat Mills and Ken Armstrong


• Museum of Terror Volume 1 by Junji Ito


• Marvel Zombies by Robert Kirkman


• Nocturnals Volume 1: Black Planet by Dan Brereton


• Ode to Kirihito by Osamu Tezuka


• Pure Trance by Junko Mizuno


• The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Hoodoo Voodoo Brouhaha by Various


• Six Hundred and Seventy-Six Apparitions of Killoffer by Killoffer


• Swamp Thing: Dark Genesis by Len Wein


• Essential Tomb of Dracula: Volume 1 by Marv Wolfman


• Uzumaki by Junji Ito


• Zombie World: Champion of the Worms by Mike Mignola

Humor

Top 10

• Buddy Does Seattle by Peter Bagge


• The Complete Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson


• The Complete Crumb Comics: Volume 8 by Robert Crumb


• The Cowboy Wally Show by Kyle Baker


• Flaming Carrot Volume 3: Flaming Carrot’s Greatest Hits by Bob Burden


• Groo: Library by Sergio Aragones with Mark Evanier


• He Done Her Wrong by Milt Gross


• Liberty Meadows Book 1: Eden by Frank Cho


• Quimby the Mouse by Chris Ware


• Tank Girl: Volume 1 by Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin

The Best of the Rest

• Action Philosophers: Volume 1 by Fred Van Lente


• The Amazing Mr. Pleebus by Nick Abadzis


• The Adventures of Tony Millionaire’s Sock Monkey by Tony Millionaire


• Amphigorey by Edward Gorey


• Archie Americana Series: Best of the Fifties by Paul Castiglia


• Beg the Question: Bob Fingerman


• The Big Book of Hell by Matt Groening


• Big Fat Little Lit by Various


• The Best of Bijou Funnies by Jay Lynch


• Billy Hazelnuts by Tony Millionaire


• Birth of a Nation: A Comic Novel by Aaron McGruder and Reginald Hudlin


• Blue Monday, Volume 1: The Kids Are Alright by Chynna Clugston-Major


• Book of Leviathan by Peter Blegvad


• The Book of Mr. Natural by Robert Crumb


• Clumsy by Jeffrey Brown


• Collected hutch Owen by Tom Hart


• Dame Darcy’s Meatcake Compilation by Dame Darcy


• The Complete D.R. and Quinch by Alan Moore


• The Doofus Omnibus by Rick Altergott


• The Collected Dork Tower Volume 1: Dork Covenant by John Kovalic


• The Complete Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers Volume 1 by Gilbert Shelton


• Fred the Clown by Roger Langridge


• Fun with Milk and Cheese by Evan Dorkin


• The Greatest of Marlys by Lynda Barry


• A Gregory Treasury Volume 1 by Marc Hempel


• Grickle by Graham Annable


• Hey Mister: Celebrity Roast by Pete Sickman-Garner


• Jane’s World by Paige Braddock


• Johnny the Homicidal Maniac: Director’s Cut by Jhonen Vasquez


• Krazy & Ignatz 1943-1944: He Nods In Quiesscent Siesta by George Herriman


• Leonard and Larry: Domesticity Isn’t Pretty by Tim Barela


• Life’s a Bitch:: The Bitchy Bitch Chronicles by Roberta Gregory


• L’il Santa by Thierry Robin


• Little Annie Fanny: Volume 1 by Harvey Kurtzman


• The Louche and Insalubrious Escapades of Art D’ecco by Andrew Langridge


• A Lucky Luke Adventure: Billy the Kid by Rene Goscinny


• Magic Whistle Volume 9 by Sam Henderson


• Maison Ikkoku: Volume 1 by Rumiko Takahashi


• Mister O by Louis Trondheim


• Monkey vs. Robot by James Kochalka


• Peanutbutter and Jeremy’s Best Book Ever! by James Kochalka


• Peepshow: The Cartoon Diary of Joe Matt by Joe Matt


• The Complete Peanuts 1950-1952 by Charles M. Shultz


• Pgog: The Complete Daily & Sudnay Comic Strips Volume 1: Into the Wild Blue Wonder by Walt Kelly


• Popeye Volume 1: I Yam What I Yam! by E.C. Segar


• Premillennial Maakies: The First Five Years by Tony Millionaire


• Ranma ½ by Rumiko Takahashi


• Pussey! by Dan Clowes


• The Collected Sam & Max: Surfin’ the Highway by Steve Purcell


• Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life: Volume 1 by Brian Lee O’Malley


• Sugar Buzz: Your Ticket to Happiness by Ian Carney


• Spy Vs. Spy: The Complete Case Book by Antonio Prohias


• Temptation by Glenn Dakin


• Tantrum by Jules Feiffer


• The Pro by Garth Ennis


• Underworld Volume 5: My Little Funny by Kaz


• Too Much Coffee Man: Guide for the Perplexed by Shannon Wheeler


• White Flower Day by Steven Weissman


• Why I Hate Saturn by Kyle Baker

Science Fiction

Top 10

• Akira Volume 1 by Katsuhiro Otomo


• Concrete Volume 1: Depths by Paul Chadwick


• Ghost in the Shell Volume 1: Masamune Shirow


• Hard Boiled by Frank Miller


• The Invisibles Volume 1: Say You Want A Revolution by Grant Morrison


• Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 01 by John Wagner and Various


• The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume 1 by Alan Moore


• Star Wars: Dark Empire I and II by Tom Veitch


• Transmetropolitan: Back on the Street by Warren Ellis


• V for Vendetta by Alan Moore

The Best of the Rest

• 2020 Visions by Jamie Delano


• A.B.C. Warriors: The Black Hole by Pat Mills


• Abraxas and the Earthman by Rick Veitch


• A.L.I.E.E.E.N.: Archives of Lost Issues and Earthly Editions of Extraterrestrial Novelties by Lewis Trondheim


• Alien Omnibus Volume 1 by Mark Verheiden


• American Flagg by Howard Chaykin


• Appleseed Book 1: The Promethean Challenge by Masamune Shirow


• Astro Boy Volume 1 by OSamu Tezuka


• Astronauts In Trouble: Love From The Moon by Larry Young


• Complete Ballad of Halo Jones by Alan Moore


• Battle Angel Alita Volume 1 by Yukito Kishiro


• Battle Royale by Koushun Takami


• Billi 99 by Sarah Byam


• Blackmark by Gil Kane


• A Distant Soil Volume 1 by Colleen Doran


• Classic Dan Dare: Voyage to Venus Part 1 by Frank Hampson


• Doctor Who: The Iron Legion by Pat Mills, John Wagner, and Steve Moore


• Morbus Gravis I: Druuna by Paulo Eleuteri Serpieri


• Fafhrd and Gray Mouser by Howard Chaykin


• The Fountain by Darren Aronofsky


• Full Metal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa


• Girl Genius Volume 1: Agatha Heterodyne and the Beetleburg Clank by Phil and Kaja Foglio


• Glacial Period by Nicolas de Crecy


• Global Frequency: Planet Ablaze by Warren Ellis


• Illegal Alien by James Robinson


• Judge Dredd: Origins


• Kamandi Archives by Jack Kirby


• Chaos: Lone Sloane by Philippe Druillet


• Ministry of Space by Warren Ellis


• Mister X: The Definitive Collection Volume 1 and 2 by Dean Motter and Paul Rivoche


• Mars by Mark Wheatly and Marc Hempel


• Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wing: Volume 1 by Hayao Miyazaki


• The Complete Nemesis The Warlock Volume 1 by Pat Mills


• Neon Genesis Evangelion by Gainax and Hidekai Anno


• Nexus Archives Volume 1 by Mike Baron


• Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. by Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Jim Steranko


• Nikolai Dante: The Romanov Dynasty by Robbie Morrison


• The Originals by Dave Gibbons


• Phoenix Volume 4: Karma by Osamu Tezuka


• Rocco Vargas: The Whisper Mystery by Daniel Torres


• Rocketo: Journey to the Hidden Sea Volume 1 by Frank Espinosa


• Ronin by Frank Miller


• Scarlet Traces by Ian Edginton


• Skizz by Alan Moore


• Wandering Star: Volume 1 by Teri Sue Wood


• Waterloo Sunset by Andrew Stephenson


• We3 by Grant Morrison


• The EC Archives: Weird Science Volume 1 by Various


• Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan

Superheroes

Top 10

• Across the Universe: The DC Universe Stories of Alan Moore by Alan Moore


• Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller


• Batman: Hush Volume 1 and 2 by Jeph Loeb


• Essential Fantastic Four Volume 3 by Stan Lee


• Marvels by Kurt Busiek


• Planetary Volume 1: All Over the World and Other Stories


• Spawn: Collected Edition Volume 1 by Todd McFarlane


• Essential Spider-Man, Volume 2 by Stan Lee


• The Ultimates Volume 1 by Mark Millar


• Watchmen by Alan Moore

The Best of the Rest

• All Star Comics Archives, Volume 1 by Gardner Fox


• All Star Superman Volume 1 by Grant Morrison


• Animal Man by Grant Morrison


• Astonishing X-Men Volume 1: Gifted by Joss Whedon


• Astro City: Life in the Big City


• The Authority: Relentless by Warren Ellis


• The Avengers: The Kree-Skrull War by Roy Thomas


• Batman: Arkham Asylum by Grant Morrison


• Batman: Year One by Frank Miller


• Birds of Prey, Volume 1: Of Like Minds by Gail Simone


• Bratpack by Rick Veitch


• Marvel Masterworks: Captain America Volume 1 by Stan Lee


• Civil War by Mark Millar


• Crisis on Infinite Earths by Marv Wolfman


• Crisis on Multiple Earths Volume 1 by Gardner Fox


• Daredevil by Frank Miller Omnibus Companion by Frank Miller


• Doom Patrol, Book 1: Crawling From The Wreckage by Grant Morrison


• Elektra: Assassin by Frank Miller


• The Essential Doctor Strange, Volume 1 by Stan Lee


• Ex Machina, Volume 1: The First Hundred Days by Brian K. Vaughan


• Definitive Silver Surfer by Stan Lee and Marv Wolfman


• Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne Volume 1 by John Byrne


• Godland Volume 1: Hello, Cosmic! by Joe Casey


• Green Lantern/Green Arrow Collection Volume 1 by Dennis O’Neil


• Green Arrow: Quiver by Kevin Smith


• I Shall Destroy All Civilized Planets! by Fletcher Hanks


• Identity Crisis by Brad Meltzer


• Incredible Hulk: Return of the Monster by Bruce Jones


• Invincible: The Ultimate Collection Volume 1 by Robert Kirkman


• Iron Man: Demon in a Bottle by David Michelinie


• Jack Kirby’s New Gods by Jack Kirby


• Jack Staff, Volume 1: Everything Used To Be Black and White by Paul Grist


• Justice League: A New Beginning by Keith Griffen and J.M. DeMatteis


• Kingdom Come by Mark Waid


• Madman: The Oddity Odyssey by Michael Allred


• Mage: The Hero Defined Volume 2 by Matt Wagner


• Manhunter: The Special Edition by Archie Goodwin


• Marshal Law: Fear and Loathing by Pat Mills


• Marvel 1602 by Neil Gaiman


• The Plastic Man Archives, Volume 1 by Jack Cole


• Plastic Man: On The Lam by Kyle Baker


• Shade, The Changing Man: The American Scream by Peter Milligan


• Shazam! Archives, Volume 1 by Bill Parker


• Spider-Girl Volume 1: Legacy by Tom DeFalco


• Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt by J.M. DeMatteis


• Starman: Sins of the Father by James Robinson


• Superman: The Death of Superman by Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Louise Simonson, and Roger Stern


• Superman: The Man of Steel by John Byrne


• Supreme: The Story of the Year by Alan Moore


• Thor Visionaries: Walter Simonson Volume 1 by Walter Simonson


• Thunderbolts: Justice Like Lightening by Kurt Busiek with Peter David


• Top Ten Book 1 by Alan Moore


• Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 1: Power and Responsibility by Brian Michael Bendis


• Wolverine by Chris Claremont


• Wonder Woman Archives: Volume 1 by William Moulton Marston


• Wonder Woman Volume 1: Gods and Mortals by George Perez, Greg Potter, and Len Wein


• X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga by Chris Claremont

War

Top 10

• The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jacobson


• 300 by Frank Miller


• Barefoot Gen Volume 1: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima by Keiji Nakazawa


• Charley’s War: 2 June - 1 August 1916 by Pat Mills


• The Fixer: A Story From Sarajevo by Joe Sacco


• Last Day in Vietnam by Will Eisner


• Palestine by Joe Sacco


• Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan


• When the Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs


• Yossel by Joe Kubert

Best of the Rest

• Adolf Volume 1 by Osamu Tezuka


• Adventures in the Rifle Brigade by Garth Ennis


• Age of Bronze Volume 1: A Thousand Ships by Eric Shanower


• Artesia: Book of Doom by Mark S. Smylie


• Battle Hymn: Farewell to the First Golden Age by B. Clay Moore


• Crecy by Warren Ellis


• DMZ Volume 1: On The Ground by Brian Wood


• Golgo 13 Volume 1: Supergun by Takao Saito


• In The Shadow of No Towers by Art Spiegelman


• The Life and Times of Martha Washington in the 21st Century by Frank Miller


• Notes for a War Story by Gipi


• Safe Area Gorazde: The War in Eastern Bosnia 1992-1995 by Joe Sacco


• Marvel Masterworks: Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos, Volume 1 by Stan Lee


• The Sgt. Rock Archives, Volume 1 by Bob Kanigher and Bob Haney


• To Afghanistan and Back: A Graphic Travelogue by Ted Rall


• The EC Archives: Two-Fisted Tales Volume 1 by Harvey Kurtzman and Various


• War Stories Volume 2 by Garth Ennis


• White Death by Rob Morrison

Superman: Secret Origin (Review)

As is probably evident, I’ve been on a real “origins of Superman” kick lately. I found a site that counts down the 30 best retellings of the Man of Steel’s origin, so I’m working my way through some of the things on that list. Here’s the link to that article.

My second step in this journey led me to the 6-issue limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Gary Frank in 2009 and 2010. This series has some good, a lot of bad, and some things in between.

Let’s start with The Good:

First, I think Gary Frank’s art in this series, for the most part, is enjoyable to look at. There are a few panels that fall short, but overall his art is strong. I also enjoy the short snippet we get in issue 2 of Superman as a teenager still trying to figure out what his idea of helping people is actually going to look like. Finally, I think Geoff Johns did a fabulous job writing the character of Lex Luthor. He’s evil, scheming, and ultimately, extremely insecure. His dialogue really captures these facets of Luthor’s personality.

But there is still plenty in this series that were in between.

For example, I am still not really sure how I feel about the characterizations of the Kents. They are both super helpful and extremely supportive from the beginning when it comes to Clark’s idea to help people. There’s no tension. It seems to simple. His parents wouldn’t be that gung-ho about him consistently putting his life in danger, right? It just seems a little unrealistic. Also, I wasn’t very impressed with the villains in the series (outside of Luthor). Parasite and Metallo just kind of fell flat for me. There was no motivation, or there was minimal motivation at least. They were merely there to give Superman something to overcome physically, but I don’t think that was the best choice. Finally, this story borrowed a lot of ideas from Superman: Birthright. I’m not saying this is good or bad, but it seems that without Birthright the beginning of this story wouldn’t exist. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but thought it was worth noting.

And, sadly, we must discuss the Badin this series:

First, there was nearly zero character development for Luthor. We see him as an outcast who either kills or is at least glad his father is dead. Then we see him in the next issue operating as a multi-million dollar businessman and the proclaimed “savior” of Metropolis. How did he get there? What led him to that point? The most we really get is him talking about his inventions, but it’s not enough. If we are going to operate under the assumptions that Lex built Luthor Inc. and did not inherit it, then something has to show us what led to the construction of that company. To tell an appropriate origin of Superman, one must also tell an adequate origin of Luthor, but this one is very far below adequate. Finally, the ending of this series bothered me a lot because the dialogue became overly cheesy and sentimental. I was especially let down by this speech of Superman’s: “I want you to stop looking for a great Savior. Lex Luthor isn’t it. I’m not it. You are. All of you are. I do what I do because I was given a gift, but all of you were given gifts, too. Use them to make each other’s lives better. Show the world that Metropolis has a heart.” I think the idea behind the speech is good, but the dialogue itself is almost laughable. Nothing in the series has quite sounded this way, so it is really out of place and doesn’t quite belong here.

Overall, I would give this series a 2.5/5. It’s decent and it is worth a read, but overall it leaves a lot to be desired.

Superman: Birthright (Review)

I finished Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu’s Superman: Birthright today. I went into this book with the same idea that I’m sure most people had: haven’t I heard/read about the origins of Superman enough? It seems that they are constantly reworking his origin, but each time the most important things remain the same. Why do we keep coming back to this story? What is it doing for us that we want to have it told and retold time and time again?

While I don’t actually have an answer to those questions, I do think that this retelling of “The Origin of the Man of Steel” is one of the best I’ve ever come across. Waid’s story is new, fresh, and exciting, while also maintaining those basic characteristics of the origin of one of the oldest comic book superheroes in existence. It is in this story that we see the farm-boy Clark Kent struggle with his identity and powers. Clark, with help and encouragement from Ma and Pa Kent, soon comes up with the idea of Superman - the alter ego. Yet, after Superman meets the sinister Lex Luthor, Luthor decides that Superman cannot be trusted. Thus, Luthor begins to discredit the name of Superman by using Superman’s own race - Kryptonians - and his past as a member of the world of Krypton against him.

The best part about this rendition of the origin story of Superman is that, much like the television show Smallville, Clark Kent and Lex Luthor know each other as adolescents. Through this back story Waid is able to humanize the villainy of Lex Luthor. Playing on the image of Luthor as a lonely outcast who just want someone “to talk to,” Waid locates the evil schemes of Luthor within his own insecurities. And this is what makes Superman and Luthor both so similar and so different. Kent has always had insecurities, but he must escape those insecurities (with the help of Ma and Pa Kent and Lois Lane) in order to become the hero that Metropolis needs. Luthor, on the other hand, is unable to escape the insecurities that have plagued him since childhood. Thus, Luthor becomes a villain because he is steeped in insecurity, and Superman becomes the hero because he is able to leave his insecurities behind. In this version of the story, it’s all about choices and one’s point-of-view.

I give this story a 5/5, unreservedly.

Y: The Last Man (Thoughts and Review)

I recently finished the undertaking that is Brian Vaughan and Pia Guerra’s epic-length comic story, Y: The Last Man. After 60 issues (10 TPBs), which I devoured in about 10-12 days, there is so much that I want to say about this story. And yet, I’m left without words. Nothing that I write here could truly begin to unpack the complex ideas and musings that this story evoked in me. This saga (wink wink to all you Vaughan fans) is a critique of “normal” gender roles; it is a critique of the expectations we have of a specifically gendered body; it is a critique of community. But it is also a portrait of beautiful relationships (both platonic and non-platonic); it is a sprawling history of the individual psyche and the effects of trauma; it is a heartwarming and heart-wrenching tale of love, in all its forms. All in all, Vaughan and Guerra have produced a tale of the complexities contained within each of us, what we often call the human condition. And it is spectacular.
But one interesting fact still remains: in order to get to these real emotions and stories, Vaughan and Guerra had to first engineer a semi-apocolypse. Thus we get to the story itself. Y: The Last Man chronicles the adventures of Yorick Brown (pictured above) as the last surviving male on the planet. An unknown plague has killed every known living male on the planet (human and otherwise), and only Yorick and his pet Capuchin monkey, Ampersand, were saved. Why? (Thus the title, which echoes in the question “why?”, in the beginning of Yorick’s name, and within the Y chromosome, which the plague nearly exterminated). Yorick’s adventure leads him through many different continents and across the paths of many individuals, both for his good and his ill. Yet it is both the relationships that he builds with those around him and the hope of the love of his girlfriend Beth that keeps him going.

Anyone who loves dystopic fiction, adventure fiction, graphic novels, comic books, comedic writing, or even just beautiful art will no doubt enjoy this series. I give the entire series a 5/5, and unreservedly recommend you give it your time. It will return so much more to you.

WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW. Please do not continue with this post if you have not yet read Y: The Last Man.

Yet, for me, the whole story rides on that final image. That final page.

It is in this image that the entirety of this story hinges. The story introduces Yorick in a straightjacket and ends with the empty straightjacket, sixty years later. Yorick has lived, and his DNA will have eventually saved humankind. However, the love found and lost in 355, and the weight of tragedy, requires a freedom away from the view of the other characters or even the readers. Yorick’s conditions have led him to that final escape, but not before imparting words of advice and necessity to the new Yorick. Yorick has escaped the bounds of society, of gendered expectations, of relational expectations, and even of “savior-of-humankind” expectations in order to finish his life just being. Thus the tragedy, difficulty, melancholy, rebelliousness, beauty, and perfection of the human condition