Comments on: Comic recommendations: the usual suspects?

By: Russ Burlingame

Russ Burlingame — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:12:47 +0000

Strangers in Paradise is a great gateway book for people who you awnt to just really confuse. “Wait a second…this is comics?”

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:55:45 +0000

Fables is an awesome series that can definitely get people who are non-typical comic book readers into checking out comic books. It takes a look at the other side of life as a fairytale in a much more mature way.

By: Zilla

Zilla — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 12:26:38 +0000

I can’t believe Hellboy and Sin City have escaped mention so far… These def have appeal outside the mainstream comic audience, and i’d also personally recommend Powers, Goon, TWD, Invincible, and Sleeper as serious gateways.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 17:02:25 +0000

I just read blankets by Craig Thompson. Amazing book! Don’t be intimidated by the size, you can breeze through the whole thing in an afternoon. I think it would work well to convince all of your wives and grilfriends that comics can tell amazing stories for anybody.

By: Joseph Olesco

Joseph Olesco — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 15:42:12 +0000

I can’t believe no one mentions top ten in any of these lists I think it’s one of Allan Moores most reader freindly works.I’ve also had great success in hooking freinds to comics with Will Pfeiffer and Jill thompsons little known work Finals I hope vertigo collects it on paperback soon my copies are starting to get ratty

By: Pat

Pat — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 06:13:18 +0000

One of my good friends has recently gotten into comic, and her fave right now is Preacher (which I’ve yet to read….). One of our friends and I have been recommending stuff like Watchmen, Maus, I lent her the first arc of Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men, that sort of thing.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 06:10:48 +0000

Scott Pilgrim, Joe Sacco, Ethel and Ernset by Raymond Briggs…

By: Rasmus

Rasmus — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 03:09:45 +0000

Bone – For those fantasy lovers.

The Invisibles – The first trade is quite dull, but it picks up after that. And there’s nothing like it for that odd, interlectual friend.

Transmetropolitian – For your cynical friend.

Preacher – For just about anyone.

Fell – The whole one issue = one story aspect is very important here.

By: Kid Doozer

Kid Doozer — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 03:09:28 +0000

Y: the last man
Invincible
X-Factor seems to be a really good jumping on book, the first issue pretty much wraps up all the continuity you need into a few pieces of dialog and moves on into its own little world.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 02:15:01 +0000

Invincible is pretty great, and it’s easy to get the trades/hardcovers, AND it’s all self-contained and there’s no need to know anything else about any other superheroes.

Scott Pilgrim is the greatest no-brainer there is right now. My brother is hooked, and he’s been asking for more recommendations from there. The free Fearless Griggs story from its website is similarly great and FREE.

By: Hrairoo

Hrairoo — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 00:57:47 +0000

Cages__by Dave McKean

Heavy Liquid__by Paul Pope

Cave In__by Brian Ralph

Death: The High Cost of Living__by Neil Gaiman

The Invisibles__by Grant Morrison

Bone__Jeff Smith

Ultimate Hulk VS Wolverine__by David Lindoff (hopefully)

Y:The Last Man__by Brian Vaughn

…and the “usual suspects,” too…

By: Skatonic10

Skatonic10 — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 00:45:17 +0000

I’m not so sure I would reccomend Watchmen. I just read it recently, after reading comics for years, and found it to be EXTREMELY boring at times. A co-worker also happened to be reading it at the same time and had the same complaint. As opposed to me, he is pretty much a newbie when it comes to comics. But he did read V for Vendetta before the film came out and enjoyed it extremely.

Someone mentioned Runaways, and I think the Hard Cover should be suggested reading for newcommers. Also, depending on the reader, I might suggest some of the Ultimate books first, before anything else.

By: Lipton

Lipton — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 00:23:57 +0000

Scott Pilgrim

By: Homero

Homero — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 17:47:57 +0000

*Summer Blonde
*Mail Order Bride
*Maus
*Sleepwalk: and other Stories
*Barry Ween

I tend to stay away from giving people super hero stuff and move towards drama and comedy. I think superhero stuff is a ninche.

By: John

John — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 17:40:09 +0000

I’ve had a lot of success with “Sandman” vol. 3: Dream Country and vol. 4: Season of Mists, and I’d imagine that “Endless Nights” would be a pretty good jumping-on point too.

Ellis’ “Transmetropolitan” hooked two friends of mine. I like Mark’s suggestion of “Global Frequency,” too. It never occured to me, but it seems so perfect for non-comics readers. Same with “Fell.”

For some of my odder friends, I’d recommend “The Invisibles,” or even “The Filth.” It’s hard to find a good entry point for Morrison though, for regular comics readers or non-comics readers both.

After reading Matt Fraction’s “Five Fists of Science,” I’d recommend that one, too. Also, the two non-readers I’ve showed “Indigo/Vertigo” (katiejane garside/dan schaffer) to really enjoyed it.

By: Michael May

Michael May — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 17:20:06 +0000

Bone.

By: Bram

Bram — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 16:07:20 +0000

Usually when folks talk “gateway” they mean “not superhero” — getting away from that stigma. But I think they still can be fun, accessible reads. Whiteout (and Whiteout: Melt) are terrific, intelligent thrillers.

I keep pushing The Red Star and Finder as smart sci-fi. And there’s Hopeless Savages (though a familiarity with the conventions of comic storytelling is necessary), along with some of the excellent suggestions above.

By: subnaut

subnaut — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 16:00:45 +0000

Runaways is the my gateway comic of choice to turn on non-comic readers to the medium. League of Extroadinary Gentleman works well too, I think.

By: Andrew Wickliffe

Andrew Wickliffe — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 15:47:22 +0000

Ennis’s MAX Punisher.
Paul Pope’s 100%.
Love and Rockets.

By: Grant

Grant — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 14:44:56 +0000

Monkey Food
Nikolai Dante
We3
Scott Pilgrim
Ultra

By: Anthony

Anthony — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 14:41:14 +0000

My vote would go to the original Squadron Supreme mini-series by Mark Gruenwald. It was a pre-Watchmen attempt to portray comic characters is a realistic way. A fantastic achievement.

Tony

By: Kevin Frost

Kevin Frost — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 14:38:25 +0000

My girlfriend’s brother is really into comics and she tried read Watchmen and Dark Knight Returns but couldn’t get into them. I agree with Augie, that those need to be read after one has read a number of superhero comics. I lent her Scott Pilgrim and she loved it. She then went and got Persepolis 1 & 2 on her own.
I think the key to introducing people to comics/graphic novels is to shy away from superheroes initially and have something with very simple layouts (complicated layouts being a complaint of my gf’s, and I know Quesada said that his own dad has trouble following comic layouts). Bone is an excellent example of something anyone can come into fresh and enjoy on some level. Next on my gf’s list of comics to read are Scott Pilgrim 3 when I’m finished with it, Preacher, Transmetropolitan, Torso, Stray Bullets and I think that Young Avengers would be a great introduction to superheroes, because the characters are new themselves and Heinberg has written for TV, which helps with the transition. For someone wanting to get into superheroes I would whole-heartedly go with Ultimate Spider-Man, which a friend of mine’s young brother with autism loves.

By: krh

krh — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 14:15:35 +0000

Preacher is defintely a great recommendation. It is largely responsible for getting me into comics. The Authority is quality stuff, as is planetary.

I think Hush is a great gateway comic too. I used it to hook my brother, although I had to explain who Jason Todd was.

It’s hard to make a generic gateway comics list, because different people would be turned on by different stuff. I loved Preacher, my brother wasn’t into it at all.

Plus, just because a person digs a trade won’t get them hooked on comics as far as monthlies go. My girlfriend started to buy single issues, but just lost interest. Same with a friend of mine who loved Ultimate Spider Man, but once he caught up, he would just wait for the trades.

By: joncormier

joncormier — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 14:11:16 +0000

All-Star Superman.
You already know all you need to know about the character so now you can join him on new adventures not straddled by years of continuity.

Others would be:
Bone
Scott Pilgrim (depending on the person)

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 14:00:54 +0000

James Robinson’s Golden Age and the first Starman trade are great “gateway” books for almost anyone

Charles Burn’s Black Hole for your indy punk rocker friends

Anything by Scott Morse for the younger readers, purely for the art; the content’s great for older readers

Jerry Bruckheimer fans do well by any of Millar/Hitch’s Ultimates trades, especially the second one

Alltime greats for anyone to get into Batman: Moore’s Killing Joke, Morrison’s first JLA trade or any of Geoff John’s Flash trades

for the Tarantino/Rodgriguez older fans: Preacher vol 1 trade

By: Augie De Blieck Jr.

Augie De Blieck Jr. — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 13:58:50 +0000

I think WATCHMEN is about the last book I’d give a neophyte. I don’t think you can appreciate that book until you’ve read a fair number of “regular” comics. I don’t even think THE DEATH OF PHOENIX is a good spot to start your X-MEN reading.

After that, it all depends on who you’re trying to hook on comics. I think ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN would work for a great many teenage readers, for example. I’ve successfully used TRUE STORY, SWEAR TO GOD to get my girlfriend to try a comic. (She’s even asking for more!) If Oni still stocks THE COPYBOOK TALES, I think that would work on anyone between the ages of 25 and 40.

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 13:49:07 +0000

There are tons of great titles, but these have hooked a few of my friends and family:

Astonishing X-Men: Gifted is great for people wanting to check the X-Men out after seeing the movies.

Ex Machina is definitely a comic great for non-readers.

By: Mark Cook

Mark Cook — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 13:32:13 +0000

Global Frequency. It’s short, sweet, and to the point with little data retention required when going from episode to episode. Warren Ellis has a wide range of work, so you can use his name to turn them on to anything from Transmetropolitan to Fell to Ultimate Fantastic Four; and if they like any of the individual artists you can use that as a springboard as well.

By: Drew

Drew — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 13:25:50 +0000

Supreme Power by JMS, everyone knows the Superman/Batman mythology, but JMS has a more modern somewhat realistic take on it, and Zadra’s like naked for a whole issue

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 13:10:15 +0000

Well, my mom hates me reading comics, but she absolutely loved Persepolis 1 & 2 and Embroideries, as I hoped she would. I tried to get her to read Maus, but I think she lost interest after the first few pages. That’s about as far as she got since then. So she probably doesn’t qualify as an “enthusiast”.

Sandman is always good to throw out there though.