Anyone read Grandville yet?
Looks very good...hopefully get it from the mythical fat guy in the red suit.

If you want to try Manga try reading Barefoot Gen.It is
about a little boy who survives Hiroshima.
I love Maus, Berlin, Blankets, Carnet de Voyage, American
Splendor.

Karen the Comic Seller wrote: "Anything by Neil Gaiman - Sandman & Stardust. Sometimes I have to read the stories more than once to catch everything - but it's always worth the read. And Fables is a wonderful, fanciful tale...ye..."

I totally agree with everything you have just said, and would add Grant Morrison to that list :0)
I'm also very fond of Joss Wheadon!

Anything by Neil Gaiman - Sandman & Stardust. Sometimes I have to read the stories more than once to catch everything - but it's always worth the read. And Fables is a wonderful, fanciful tale...yes, it does get a bit convoluted, but then, there's an awful lot of characters out there to incorporate into the tales....
Frank Miller is another writer to watch...seems any established character he touches is revitalized - ie Batman: The Dark Knight Returns & Daredevil: Man Without Fear. Darker, deeper, psychological insight into what makes the character tick...more than superhero slugfest

I like reality/philosophical works including but not limited to What it is by Lynda Barry and 365 days by Julie Doucet. American Splendor and The Cancer Years, Persepolis, are brilliant insightful works.
Barefoot Gen, Maus, and Yoessel are poignant pieces that should be required reading for any contempory lit class.
I did not read graphic novels until 2 years ago and now I am addicted.
As far as apocalyptic graphic novels are concerned The Stand and I am legend are among my favorites. I had the great experience of working on the I am Legend movie that was released in 2007. When the graphic novel came out I got it the week it came out.
Don't get me wrong I love words but illustrations and artwork say so much more than the words alone. I think it requires less translation in your head and gets to the core faster. The artwork makes me so empathetic. You feel the nausea from radiation in both The Cancer Years and Barefoot Gen. You feel the isolation and loneliness in Persepolis and 365 days.
I look forward to participating in your discussions.

And try Batman Arkham Asylum andBatman Year One.

V for Vendetta if you love Watchmen, read this.

Transmet is great to get involved with...a real good one for picking up and putting down, without feeling guilty. A real treat.

Asterios Polyp, though new, feels quite distinguished and is making quite a buzz. This graphic novel is like that favorite song you wish you wrote (or could write). Things take time...devote a little to this treat.

Y: The Last Man, is really good to spend a week reading. Feels nice, especially in the summer air. All alone...

Preacher. Read it. That's all.

Yeah, the Persepolis books were wonderfully done -- one of my favorites. Interesting genre, underexplored I think.

The movie version of Persepolis was quite good, too... Marjane Satrapi was very involved in the making of it.

William wrote: "Has anyone read Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi?

Here's a link to Satrapi's own words telling of her inspiration for the book and her method of writing it. "

It was so good--a perfectly fitting use of the medium, I thought. The stark black and white style gave the story such gravity.

Has anyone read Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi?

Here's a link to Satrapi's own words telling of her inspiration for the book and her method of writing it.

I would add The Invisibles Vol. 1 Say You Want a Revolution, it's just great and fun to read.
Or The Breathtaker which is one the first comics I ever read (was 17 and in english i'm french) ...

Have good readings and fun ...

Péné

Raf wrote: "Personally I'd recommend ...

The Walking Dead - a zombie series. Still ongoing. Very gritty at moments.

Sin City. Well, it's Sin City. What more do you need ;-).

I'd ..."
I second The Walking Dead, Kirkman is my favorite writer, and the story is amazing.

I just finished:

I Never Liked You The New Definitive Edition and The Tale of One Bad Rat. I thoroughly enjoyed both of these and would recommend them to anyone.

Personally I'd recommend ...

The Walking Dead - a zombie series. Still ongoing. Very gritty at moments.

Sin City. Well, it's Sin City. What more do you need ;-).

I'd also like to second the suggestions for The Complete Maus, Watchmen and Preacher.

I think Y: The Last Man was one of the best series of the last few years.
I'd also back Chris on the Fables call, starts out a little messy but gets beautifully convoluted later on.
For the Transmetropolitan fans The Boys is so good it's scary, Mr Ennis still has his hardcore side.
If you like a good spy novel Queen and Country is great.
Scalped has some potential but i'll save my recommendation till i'm sure.
DMZ is also simple fun with some great art.
100 bullets is beautifully drawn but the storyline doesn't float my boat really.

there are loads more but i'd be interested to hear if anyone disagrees with these.

you can read terry moore's new series ECHO the first 6 or 7 issues just came out in a trade and the series is in it's 11 issues.

I would also recommend Brian K Vaughan's Ex-machina series it is simply amazing.

The Maxx is awesome. Well, the first half anyway - the story shifts massively around the halfway mark (only the first half made it onto MTV's series (as faithful a reproduction as there has ever been)) and it loses something for the last half. I must dig out all my issues and read it again, though - I may feel differently about it reading it now.

Additionally to the main story, there were a few one-shots released 'Friends of Maxx' which are also surprisingly good. Oooh - and Maxx issue 1 was released in 3-D I seem to remember... I have it somewhere - glasses and all!

Everyone should read The Maxx! Mr. Gone is a great character!

Jessica wrote: "The Sandman series of course... although it's a much different feel than Transmet, it's still my favorite.

Also, try the Maxx, for psychological themes, he's not just your OG masked superhero.

"

I remember the Maxx from MTV, back in the day. I have to check out the G N

I recommend Scalped by Jason Aaron. Very high quality writing and art... arguably the best title on the shelves today. It is sort of a cross between No Country For Old Men and The Sopranos, but there is more to it than that. It is a Native American/FBI crime series. There are only 3 volumes of trade paperbacks out, so now is a good jumping on point. This would make an awesome HBO series.

The Sandman series of course... although it's a much different feel than Transmet, it's still my favorite.

Also, try the Maxx, for psychological themes, he's not just your OG masked superhero.

I recommend Fables by Bill Willingham for anyone who likes Vertigo books. I finished the first volume a fortnight ago and enjoyed it immensely.

One of my all time favourite graphic Novels is The Crow by James O'Barr

The Preacher, writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon. AWESOME!!! Read about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preacher_(comics)

The Complete Maus, holocaust survivors tale. Funny papers stylee art.
From Hell, Jack The Ripper theory mixed with sacred geometry. Scratchy pen and ink art.
Fell Volume 1: Feral City, crime and very bad things. Dirty painted art.

also try love sucks and la perdida by jessica abel.

The Rabbi's Cat by Joan Sfar, epileptic by david b and fun home by alison bechdel. be warned though, these books are not for fanboy supahero lovers. they deal with adult themes.
Watchmen as mentioned above. anything by Eisner. Bone if you like fantasy. Ode to Kirohito on the manga side of things (another adult Graphic Novel).
I gotta say, i read the first SiP book and i didn't care for it at all so i don't know how helpful this will be to you.

Watchmen, Alan Moore.

I picked it up two weeks ago, devoured it in a day and change. And it was my first graphic novel, definitely a great one to start with. I've always had difficulty reading the words and getting the whole picture at the same time. But I found it quite easy to do with this one.

And with the movie coming out next year, it's definitely something to check out.

i enjoyed transmetropolitan and strangers in paradise. can anyone recommend any similar graphic novels to read?