# Recommend graphic novels **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 6, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-graphic-novels/311311 "2005-07-06T17:09:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-graphic-novels/311311/21 "2005-07-06T22:58:40Z")
If you’re looking for something that is “non-genre”, I just purchased from Amazon _Persepolis_, which is a graphic novel about a young girl growing up in Iran. I discovered it when I was doing a general graphic novel search on Amazon. I’m also interested in Art Spiegelman’s works (Maus, Maus II, In the Shadow of No Towers) but haven’t checked them out yet. Anyone else have any other type of non-SF/F graphic novels to recommend? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-graphic-novels/311311/22 "2005-07-06T23:36:25Z")
The _Blue Monday_ books by Chynna Clugston-Major, from Oni Press. Very sharp, fun art, razor sharp wit. A clear vision of what high school really was. ---
**Author:** ![Selkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Selkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Selkie)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-graphic-novels/311311/23 "2005-07-06T23:49:56Z")
> [@scout1222](#): > > Anyone else have any other type of non-SF/F graphic novels to recommend? I loved Persepolis, and _strongly_ recommend trying **Epileptic** , which IMHO is one of the artistic high points of the medium. Others to try would include: **Box Office Poison** (slice of life) **Blankets** (slice of life) The **Queen & Country** series (espionage) The Brian Michael Bendis crime noir books: **Jinx** , **Goldfish** , and **Torso** **Whiteout** (detective story set in the Antarctic) **Blacksad** (detective noir. Yes, it features anthropomorphic animals, but no, it’s not a fantasy book. Trust me on this) **Clan Apis** (the life cycle of bees - really terrific stuff) **Garlands of Moonlight** (horror) **Nobody** (horror) **Hellblazer: All His Engines** (horror) The comedy books of Kyle Baker: **I Die at Midnight** , **Why I Hate Saturn** , and **You Are Here** **Nowheresville** (noir) **Skinwalker** (horror) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-graphic-novels/311311/24 "2005-07-07T00:04:38Z")
> [@Ultraviolet](#): > > I cannot recommend strongly enough **Maus** and **Maus II** by Art Spiegelman. There are no superheroes involved, and it is based on Spiegelman’s father’s experiences in the Holocaust. It is absolutely amazing - it won a Pulitzer Prize. One of the most moving and intense books I’ve ever read in any format. I forgot to mention this in my first post, but I second everything **Ultraviolet** said. **Maus** is stunning. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-graphic-novels/311311/25 "2005-07-07T00:07:34Z")
Jeez, I wish I were home so I could look through the titles on my bookshelf. So many good recommendations so far. I don’t think anyone’s mentioned **Persepolis** and **Palestine** , which are both very good, but not exactly graphic “novels” since they’re real life stories. I’ll have to post again after looking at my bookshelf (assuming no one’s posted everything I’ve read by then). ---
**Author:** ![Selkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Selkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Selkie)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-graphic-novels/311311/26 "2005-07-07T00:11:12Z")
> [@scout1222](#): > > Anyone else have any other type of non-SF/F graphic novels to recommend? I loved Persepolis, and _strongly_ recommend trying **Epileptic** , which IMHO is one of the artistic high points of the medium. Others to try would include: **Box Office Poison** (slice of life) **Blankets** (slice of life) The **Queen & Country** series (espionage) The Brian Michael Bendis crime noir books: **Jinx** , **Goldfish** , and **Torso** **Whiteout** (detective story set in the Antarctic) **Blacksad** (detective noir. Yes, it features anthropomorphic animals, but no, it’s not a fantasy book. Trust me on this) **Clan Apis** (the life cycle of bees - really terrific stuff) **Garlands of Moonlight** (horror) **Nobody** (horror) **Hellblazer: All His Engines** (horror) The comedy books of Kyle Baker: **I Die at Midnight** , **Why I Hate Saturn** , and **You Are Here** **Nowheresville** (noir) **Skinwalker** (horror) ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-graphic-novels/311311/27 "2005-07-07T02:30:12Z")
**Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn** : This was the first comic I ever read. About 9 months ago I said to myself “I like that John Stewart fellow from Justice League. Green Lantern powers are awesome!” So I dug up some of my older brother’s comics I found Emerald Dawn. I loved it, but I maybe a little biased. My favorite Green Lantern arc is The Power of Ion. One Green Lantern gains the full power of the entire corps and essentially becomes a god. It also includes an amazing John Stewart story. My second favorite is Circle of Fire. A monster appears and makes the big guns of the JLA disappear. Kyle Rayner, a bunch of second stringers, and bunch of GLs have to save the day. Hijinx and drama ensue. Unfortunately you might need to be familiar with the Green Lantern story post-Hal Jordan to appreciate them. On another tack, how about manga? Its’ not all giant boobs, even gianter robots, and other fan-service. I currently read Rurouni Kenshin (Former assassin attempts to live the rest of his life protecting the weak without taking anymore lives.) and Fullmetal Alchemist (Two brothers travel the land looking for the philosopher’s stone. Hijinx, drama, and ass kicking ensue.). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-graphic-novels/311311/28 "2005-07-07T03:02:06Z")
I don’t think anyone’s mentioned Kyle Barker yet. Check out _The Cowboy Wally Show_ or _Why I Hate Saturn_ if you’re looking for some really good non-super-hero graphic novels. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-graphic-novels/311311/29 "2005-07-07T03:09:05Z")
Another **Maus** lover here. I’ll add the **Cartoon History of the Universe**. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-graphic-novels/311311/30 "2005-07-07T13:17:13Z")
Outside of the traditional superhero genres, I’ll second the recommendations for Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber’s **Whiteout** and Rucka’s **Queen & Country**. Whiteout’s complete in one volume with a sequel ( **Whiteout: Melt** ) in an second. They’re great – the first is a murder mystery set on Antarctica and Lieber does a tremendous job imparting the truly alien environment. Q&C is an ongoing series about the British Secret Service focused on Minder Tara Chace. There are about seven TPB’s so far (including one of the spin-off series **Queen & Country: Declassified** , which is really part of the main Q&C narrative). IMO, the first volume is not representative of the series’ regular quality, so push through, especially if you liked Whiteout, which you should read first. All of this stuff is published by Oni Press. Oni also publishes the funniest comics ever written, the Barry Ween series by Judd Winnick. So far there are four thin TPB’s chronicling the adventures of Barry, a 12 year old genius, and his friend Jeremy. I challenge anyone to read Barry Ween and drink a glass of milk at the same time without shooting any of it out your nose. From Top Shelf, there’s Andy Runton’s **Owly** , which is the most adorable thing ever. There are two OGN’s so far, with a third coming out sometime this year. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-graphic-novels/311311/31 "2005-07-07T13:38:06Z")
Many thanks to all who contributed. That gives a me a lot to work with. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-graphic-novels/311311/32 "2005-07-07T14:59:17Z")
**Selkie** , thank you thank you. I’m going to go look a bunch of those up to see what tickles my fancy. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-graphic-novels/311311/33 "2005-07-07T20:38:11Z")
Just wanted to throw out another vote for **God Loves, Man Kills.** Still relevant after all these years. And anything with the word **Astro City** in the title is a must _must MUST_ buy, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-graphic-novels/311311/34 "2005-07-08T04:11:59Z")
Someone mentioned _Blankets_, by Craig Thompson. It’s really good, and the artwork is stunning. _Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life_ is really good; part two just came out. ---
**Author:** ![DataZak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@DataZak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataZak)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2005, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-graphic-novels/311311/35 "2005-07-08T07:52:18Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > I’ll add the **Cartoon History of the Universe**. Thank you for reminding me of this book. Volume II was what? 10 years ago? Just searched Amazon and there’s a Vol. III. WOO-HOO! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-graphic-novels/311311.md?page=1)