This is going to be a list of six comics I would recommend to someone if I didn't know anything about them and my life depended on them liking at least one of them. Thus, it's not a list of my favorites but of the ones I think will be liked by the largest number of people. Because of this, each pick belongs to a specific genre or type of comic (more or less).
First, some honorable mentions:
Gil Jourdan by Maurice Tillieux. Maybe the best detective comic out there, Tillieux’s Gil Jourdan is very well drawn, has great humor and stories that are interesting and light (it is by no means a gritty or dark comic). The only reason this didn’t make it into the actual list is because there’s only a couple of volumes available in English, which is a real bummer.
The House by Paco Roca. A contemporary comic about three siblings having to decide what to do with their father’s house after his passing, Roca manages a heartfelt story with real characters and a problem that’s mundane and relatable yet extremely emotional. His art is also very good and carries the story without a problem.
Tetris: The Games People Play by Box Brown. A very interesting comic about the history of games in general and video games and Tetris in particular, Box Brown analyzes the biological foundation of games and walks us through the key moments in the development of video games and consoles throughout the twentieth century. It also serves as a great way to visualize how life in the USSR really was and how much control the State had over people’s lives.
My actual pics:
The Nao of Brown by Glynn Dillon. A fantastic comic all-around with a very interesting character at its heart and done in a gorgeous art-style. It tells the story of Nao Brown, a young woman who suffers from severe OCD and her day-to-day life, as she meets new people and tries to achieve some sort of balance. It manages a perfect combination of everyday mundanity with what feels like honest and real conversations tackling complex philosophical questions. A great choice for the contemporary reader.
Concrete by Paul Chadwick. An adventure comic with a sci-fi twist, this comic follows Concrete, a human who was abducted by aliens and put into an indestructible body that reminds one of Marvel’s The Thing. He decides to put his new body to use by exploring oceans and mountains and bringing much-needed coverage to several environmental issues. The artwork is not anything revolutionary but it’s still fantastic all the way through and even has some more experimental instances.
The Photographer by Guibert, Lefèvre and Lemeier. This comic has the reader following French photographer Didier Lefèvre as he accompanies a Doctors Without Borders into the heart of Afghanistan in the midst of the Soviet-Afghan War. You get to experience life in war-ridden Afghanistan and admire the work of the team of doctors and nurses that risked their lives to save the lives of others. The use of photographs also makes the events more impactful, as your brain has to accept that what the comic is talking about is real and people did and do go through very horrible events. That said, the comic also contains some humor and banter between the members of the expedition and enough acts of kindness to convince one that the world isn't all bad.
Batman Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli. The definitive Batman story, Year One covers the caped crusader´s origin story as well as his first steps as a masked vigilante in Gotham City, while also showing how things look from Gordon´s perspective. Bruce Wayne has to take down the evil and the corrupt while deciding who he wants to be and how he’s going to honor his parents’ deaths. Finally, Mazzuchelli’s artwork is nothing short of spectacular, managing a cartoony look that still remains serious and grounded.
Ghost World by Daniel Clowes. A cult classic and indie icon, Clowes’ Ghost World is basically eighty pages of two girls criticizing each and every one of the people they know as they live through their final days as teenagers. While full of banter and satire, it also contains a very emotional story as the girls take their first steps towards adulthood and find themselves growing apart. Clowes’ art, though not for everyone, is definitely a highlight of this comic as well.
Nausicaä of the valley of the wind by Hayao Miyazaki. One of the best works of epic fantasy/science fiction I’ve read, it manages to combine a decently-sized cast of characters with a complex and original world and some of the best artwork out there. Nausicaä, the main character, is a typical Ghibli protagonist; full of heart and compassion but with some issues of her own to overcome. A very worthwhile read in my opinion.
If you want to know more about how I came up with this idea and get another bunch of great recommendations, then I suggest you check out my first post here.
Comments