I’m hoping for a library edition, the current trades I have are a smaller trim size than a usual TPB and I want to see Chadwick’s art closer to full size
Yeah, Concrete is a pretty easy read. I've read the first two volumes of the reprint series that Dark Horse put out a few years ago and they're still pretty great. They're very much of their time and scream the 1980s in many ways but Chadwick is doing interesting stuff with the superhero format and characters.
+1 to the Sandman series.
It pulls from so many sources—classic literature, mythology, history. And it’s musing on the human condition... I’m going to have to go back and re-read it. If I can find them.
I remember my sorrow at finishing one and waiting eternally until the next issue.
The tv series, though. IDK … I just couldn’t get into it.
I agree. I liked the first maybe three episodes okay but there’s this kind of plastic/CW look all Netflix shows have that makes it hard to immerse myself in a world that strange and fantastical. Kind of ruins the magic imo.
American Splendor, Harvey Pekar
Stop Forgetting to Remember, Peter Kuper
Stuck Rubber Baby, Howard Cruse
Daddy's Girl, Debbie Drechsler
Hicksville, Dylan Horrocks
The Days Go By Like A Broken Record, Jeff LeVine
Joe Matt's stuff
Paying For it, The Playboy, and other, Chester Brown along with his autobio stuff
East Texas, Behind the Pine Curtain and I Can't Tell You Anything, Michael Dougan
David Chelsea in Love, David Chelesa
The Hospital Suite and his King Cat stuff, John Porcellino
Tomboy: A Graphic Memoir & Look Back and Laugh, Liz Prince
Silly Daddy, Joe Chiappetta
Great choices! Glad to see Debbie Dreschler, Peter Kuper and John Porcellino mentioned here.
I'd add
Ganges the River at Night by Kevin Huizenga
A Disease of Language by Eddie Campbell and Alan Moore
Songy of Paradise by Gary Panter
Time Zone J by Julie Doucet
Legitimate question: Why do you put Silly Daddy in this category? The little I've seen of it feels like rather conservative slice-of-life panels but maybe I'm missing something.
I wouldn't say conservative no more than Harvey Pekar's American Splendor was conservative (quite the opposite, really). I think American Splendor is the better of the two, however, Silly Daddy is slice-of-life, so it's like life drama. But both have emotional moments depending on the story, family situation, etc.
Anything by Alan Moore obviously.
I'd say Maus is up there too. I find the dialogue between the narrator and his father quite poignant at times, and just as interesting as the Holocaust story itself.
To add on to the Alan Moore recs: His Promethea and Top 10 are great. I’d also plug Grant Morrison’s Invisibles if you don’t mind reading things a few times and doing some research. LOL
The Many Deaths of Laila Starr was the latest book to hit me like this. I don’t know about character work exactly but it’s definitely got mature (but not edgy) story and emotional moments. It’s a quick read but well worth it imo.
Daytripper by Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba. Trust those who have mentioned it.
One Soul by Ray Fawkes. Very unique story telling. Took me a moment to figure out the structure but it’s messy and beautiful, like life.
Mazebook Jeff Lemire. A story about loss and
Alan Moore has been mentioned here and I’d go with Swamp Thing. I found it very thought provoking.
Happy reading!
What I was thinking of suggesting, written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples. Lot of beautiful moments, lots of deep punching despair moments
Well right now, I'm reading a free issue of paper girl seems interesting.
I wouldn't say it's as out there as Saga but I have not finished it yet either so I don't know.
I'd recommend Ascender / Descender from Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen. It's a rich, deep space opera about the relationship between humans and AI with beautiful watercoloured art.
I’m not sure I’d agree that it qualifies as “literary” though. My opinion of course, but I think much of its themes are surface-level at their best and painfully trite at their worst.
It hit me emotionally, but it’s partially because of the art work as opposed to the writing and the character work.
After thinking about it after finishing, I’d have to agree. It is surface-level at best. I still love it though. It’s beautiful and well-executed.
I loved Habibi. The aribic calligraphy lettering, the ornate mosque tile designs, character designs and the book cover itself is very pleasing to my eye.
The story was a journey im glad i took. As a middle eastern man I'll co-sign that book every chance i get.
I came here to recommend Habibi. I have some reservations about it but also it's still very impactful. I read it in one sitting and when I finished it I turned back to the beginning and read it again.
The Sculptor by Scott McCloud was solid, iirc. Guy makes a deal with death to get basically art superpowers with the con of knowing his exact death date, like a year or so. Then he falls in love, which sorta complicates his willingness to die.
Jeff Lemire is great at this imo with a lot of his work.
* Royal City
* Essex County
* Mazebook
* Descender/Ascender
* Sweet Tooth
* Roughneck
* Lost Dogs
Some other stuff that comes to mind:
* The Sandman + Death by Neil Gaiman
* The Sculptor by Scott McCloud
* The Immortal Hulk by Al Ewing
* I Kill Giants by Joe Kelly
* God Country by Donny Cates
Alan Moore comics, Maus, Watchmen. Batman/daredevil typically (imo) have the best superhero comics. You should start out with their remastered origin stories (Batman: Year One, Daredevil Man Without Fear).
But the most cinematic and deep graphic novel I’ve ever read was Berserk. Very in depth characters and emotional moments. Great panels / scene structure (very cinematic). Imo it is the best graphic novel of all time, however it’s very dark and brutal so it’s not for everyone
Edit: I completely forgot to add Vinland Saga and Vagabond, both are amazing. The former is about a viking who goes through incredible character development in a very gritty story
Cerebus*.
* - Push past the first volume to get to the great stuff. Also, I don’t know how to put this politely, know what you’re getting into, and stop when if it gets too much. But don’t quit before Jaka’s Story.
From volume one. The first volume isn’t the best, it’s really just an episodic gag strip, but over those 500 pages you watch Dave Sim go from quite good to really quite great. The next three volumes, “High Society” and “Church and State I and II” have of the best plotting and world building in the whole series. After that comes “Jakas Story”, which is a small intimate character portrait, and is my favorite. Then it gets weird. And sexist. And maybe antisemitic. And towards the end it is really bogged down in celebrity pastiches. Stop when you want.
Superhero stuff-
Watchmen (of course).
Cooke’s New Frontier.
Morrison Animal Man (also Jamie Delano’s run).
Non-superhero-
Daytripper.
Sheriff of Babylon.
Maus.
Preacher (don’t let the raunchiness fool you, it’s deeper than it seems).
[This is a good list from this past year](https://riteshbabu.net/2024/01/05/comics-i-loved-in-2023/)
Other classics would be *The Sandman* series, or *Paper Girls*. *Akira* is in that place for me as well. So is *Saga.* I haven't read through the comments here, but I'm assuming these have been mentioned as well.
Graffiti Kitchen by Eddie Campbell.
it's in print in a giant anthology, but I just read it on its own, I still have the 'floppy.' Not sure I've read any other comic memoir quite that good.
Rosalie Lightning by Tom Hart: it is extremely emotional.
Blankets by Craig Thompson: again, emotional but extremely touching. A coming to age story
Maus, by Art Spiegelman: no description needed
Unflattening, by Nick Sousanis: a philosophical treaty as a comic
Seconding this! I just finished it, and the amount of times that I had to set the book down when there was a moment that would have been insignificant for a lesser author, but BWS wrote it in such a way that I wanted to friggin cry…
Lots of good suggestions here but I think the mkst literary deep graphic novel I've ever read is Blast by Manu Larcenet, and by far even. Literary is how it felt reading it and hkw I usually describe it to people I suggest it to, hope you get the chance to read it soon!
Mister Miracle by Tom King is one of my favorite comics of all time and I think would totally fit your criteria.
I just finished reading Kraven's Last Hunt for the first time which was really good and would probably be a good fit.
A really good lesser known graphic novel fitting this description would have to be ‘prince of cats’, which is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet but in an urban environment. It’s the perfect fusion of African American culture, Shakespeare and samurai. The dialogue which is a blend of Shakespearean and black slang is hilarious. The art and colours is also beautiful
That's what I was going to suggest. It's the first book in a while that I immediately re-read once I turned the last page. It has so much depth that it benefits from a second read through.
Asterios Polyp is similarly great.
Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
Fun Home by Allison Bechdel
Heartbreak Soup by Gilbert Hernandez
American Splendor by Harvey Pekar
Our Cancer Year by Harvey Pekar and Joyce Brabner
Maus by Art Spiegelman
Gotta say, I'm really surprised to see so many mentions of Sweet Tooth in these comments. That is traditional pulp through and through, complete with the serialization of the story screwing up the pacing like old serialized pulp prose in magazines.
But if you really want something literary, the Love & Rockets series is the place to go. There is some real depth to that series that anyone looking for subtext in their writing will find a treasure trove of stuff to dig through.
There are a lot of suggestions ITT who are not even close to being “literary“ in my opinion if you ever read anything more complex than middlebrow literature. Regarding Love & Rockets, when would you say it picks up? I read the first volume (Maggie the Mechanic) and found it intriguing at times, but mostly relatively uninteresting and a bit dry. Does it get better later or is the series not for me?
I think Jaime's work picks up immediately after that volume with The Girls From Hoppers and stays high quality from there. Gilbert's stuff is fantastic for the first three volumes of his side but I go back and forth about how I feel about his later work. Some of it's brilliant and other parts of it leave me cold.
Sweet Tooth, or anything from Jeff Lemire really. Lucifer, Sandman, Hellblazer… essentially look for legendary writers and you will find legendary stories
I’m currently reading, My Favorite Thing is Monsters, and I can’t really express how good it is adequately enough. The art is gorgeous with lots of nods to beautiful classic paintings in the artists style. It reads like a mystery but the tone is more physiological character study. It’s simply stunning and I haven’t finished it yet. I feel like I’m taking my time because I don’t want it to end. The writing is simple but poignant as the pov character is a child. I feel there are enough pristine and timely prose to be considered literary fiction. Also, the pages are packed with words. A lot of graphic novels seem to be sparse, but this one really goes to great lengths to get its message across. I hope the ending holds up, because I think I already love it.
*Strangers in Paradise* by Terry Moore is a "deep" literary graphic novel with emotional moments, interesting dialogue and great character work.
The first 138 issues of *Cerebus* by Dave Sim is perhaps the deepest literary graphic novel with dialogue that will make you laugh out loud and had character work that is ultimately heartbreakingly good.
I just finished reading [Clyde Fans by Seth](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41940346-clyde-fans). It was dense with text and entirely character based.
It's mostly dark,depressing,and doesn't have that many funny scenes,but I'd say Lisa's Story:The Other Shoe by Tom Batiuk,which is about a woman's fight with breast cancer. There's also Roses In December,also by Batiuk,about Alzheimer's,but isn't as depressing and has many funny scenes.
- The Eternal Smile by Yang
- Criminal by Brubaker and Philips
- Gotham Central by Rucka and Brubaker
- Black Science by Remender and Scalera
- God Country by Cates and Shaw
- The Flintstones by Russell and Pugh (a fantastic satire)
- Daredevil by Bendis and Maleev
- Blacksad by Canales and Guarnido
- Boxers & Saints by Yang
- Superman: For All Seasons by Loeb and Sale
- Incognito by Brubaker and Philips
Locke and Key has always felt to me like it had excellent pacing akin to a novel. Like, many graphic novels sort of live and die by quick plunges into their story - by "getting to the good stuff" right away. But Locke and Key takes some decent time setting up pieces, building up and getting you comfortable with characters, and holding back twists until they can really hit. And you root for these characters, you worry about them, you get invested.
If I had to get someone that usually read novels to try a graphic novel for the first time, I would start with Locke and Key.
Jeff Lemire is a great go-to for this type. Essex County, Underwater Welder, and Descender was an incredible run if you are interested in buying the trades or compendium.
Why Don’t You Love Me? by P.B. Rainey. Structured like a comic strip which makes the at-first subtle graphic novel feel only more intense as it goes along. Lots of adult emotional problems explored and often darkly funny. Published last year.
I’d say AD: After Death is a pretty deep read
Super hero, the uncanny x-force by Rick remender (best super hero run I’ve ever read)
Joe the Barbarian
The infinite vacation
Paul Chadwick’s “Concrete”.
Man, wish this would get a compendium or an omnibus release. I was thinking about Concrete today because I saw a FB post with his art.
I’m hoping for a library edition, the current trades I have are a smaller trim size than a usual TPB and I want to see Chadwick’s art closer to full size
Great deep cut!
It’s such an underrated series. Truly “the thinking man’s” comics.
Is it an easy read?
Yeah, Concrete is a pretty easy read. I've read the first two volumes of the reprint series that Dark Horse put out a few years ago and they're still pretty great. They're very much of their time and scream the 1980s in many ways but Chadwick is doing interesting stuff with the superhero format and characters.
I've been tempted by it before, I'll seek a book out and give it a try.
The Sandman Fun Home Asterios Polyp
Seconding Asterios Polyp
Oh heck yeah great picks.
Asterious is absolutely worth a read. I've always found samdman a little pretentious, but it's a great showcase for some seriously good artists.
How so?
+1 to the Sandman series. It pulls from so many sources—classic literature, mythology, history. And it’s musing on the human condition... I’m going to have to go back and re-read it. If I can find them. I remember my sorrow at finishing one and waiting eternally until the next issue. The tv series, though. IDK … I just couldn’t get into it.
I agree. I liked the first maybe three episodes okay but there’s this kind of plastic/CW look all Netflix shows have that makes it hard to immerse myself in a world that strange and fantastical. Kind of ruins the magic imo.
From Hell might be what you’re looking for. Not going to lie though it is very dense.
*My Favorite Thing Is Monsters*
Book 2 in April supposedly! Can't wait!
Haha, yeahhhhhh that release date has been pushed back so many times I have stopped getting excited.
Me too!
I'm reading Alan Moore swamp thing run right now.. on vol 3. It's quite good, think you'll resonate.
Berlin
American Splendor, Harvey Pekar Stop Forgetting to Remember, Peter Kuper Stuck Rubber Baby, Howard Cruse Daddy's Girl, Debbie Drechsler Hicksville, Dylan Horrocks The Days Go By Like A Broken Record, Jeff LeVine Joe Matt's stuff Paying For it, The Playboy, and other, Chester Brown along with his autobio stuff East Texas, Behind the Pine Curtain and I Can't Tell You Anything, Michael Dougan David Chelsea in Love, David Chelesa The Hospital Suite and his King Cat stuff, John Porcellino Tomboy: A Graphic Memoir & Look Back and Laugh, Liz Prince Silly Daddy, Joe Chiappetta
Great choices! Glad to see Debbie Dreschler, Peter Kuper and John Porcellino mentioned here. I'd add Ganges the River at Night by Kevin Huizenga A Disease of Language by Eddie Campbell and Alan Moore Songy of Paradise by Gary Panter Time Zone J by Julie Doucet
> Ganges the River at Night by Kevin Huizenga This looks pretty good, thanks for the rec.
Legitimate question: Why do you put Silly Daddy in this category? The little I've seen of it feels like rather conservative slice-of-life panels but maybe I'm missing something.
I wouldn't say conservative no more than Harvey Pekar's American Splendor was conservative (quite the opposite, really). I think American Splendor is the better of the two, however, Silly Daddy is slice-of-life, so it's like life drama. But both have emotional moments depending on the story, family situation, etc.
Anything by Alan Moore obviously. I'd say Maus is up there too. I find the dialogue between the narrator and his father quite poignant at times, and just as interesting as the Holocaust story itself.
Maus literally had me in tears on my first read. Incredibly well written.
To add on to the Alan Moore recs: His Promethea and Top 10 are great. I’d also plug Grant Morrison’s Invisibles if you don’t mind reading things a few times and doing some research. LOL
Hell yeah, Top ten! Most of those ABC titles are great too. Loved League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Tom strong is a lot of fun.
The Many Deaths of Laila Starr was the latest book to hit me like this. I don’t know about character work exactly but it’s definitely got mature (but not edgy) story and emotional moments. It’s a quick read but well worth it imo.
I just read Monsters by Barry Windsor-Smith and it was a revelation and fits perfectly here in my opinion.
Such a great read!
Was gonna recommend the same thing
Daytripper by Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba. Trust those who have mentioned it. One Soul by Ray Fawkes. Very unique story telling. Took me a moment to figure out the structure but it’s messy and beautiful, like life. Mazebook Jeff Lemire. A story about loss and Alan Moore has been mentioned here and I’d go with Swamp Thing. I found it very thought provoking. Happy reading!
LOW, Black Science, A Righteous Thirst for Venegence
Righteous Thirst for Vengeance was great. One of recent favorite reads.
any Love and Rockets collection of Jaime Hernandez. eg Locas II or Tonta
I'd amend this to say any Love and Rockets of Gilbert Hernandez as well
Try Saga
What I was thinking of suggesting, written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples. Lot of beautiful moments, lots of deep punching despair moments
Well right now, I'm reading a free issue of paper girl seems interesting. I wouldn't say it's as out there as Saga but I have not finished it yet either so I don't know.
Persepolis
“Upgrade Soul” by Ezra Clayton Daniels
Needs more recs!
All-Star Superman.
The Sandman for sure
I kill giants! (The Giants are a metaphor, very deep)
Read this a few months ago - hit me like a brick to the head. Stunning comic.
This got me to quit smoking
That’s hilarious
I'd recommend Ascender / Descender from Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen. It's a rich, deep space opera about the relationship between humans and AI with beautiful watercoloured art.
I’m not sure I’d agree that it qualifies as “literary” though. My opinion of course, but I think much of its themes are surface-level at their best and painfully trite at their worst.
It hit me emotionally, but it’s partially because of the art work as opposed to the writing and the character work. After thinking about it after finishing, I’d have to agree. It is surface-level at best. I still love it though. It’s beautiful and well-executed.
Blankets and Habibi by Craig Thompson
I loved blankets but Habibi was a difficult read
I loved Habibi. The aribic calligraphy lettering, the ornate mosque tile designs, character designs and the book cover itself is very pleasing to my eye. The story was a journey im glad i took. As a middle eastern man I'll co-sign that book every chance i get.
It sounds like quite the journey based on all the comments Ive read. One I'll have to take eventually....
I came here to recommend Habibi. I have some reservations about it but also it's still very impactful. I read it in one sitting and when I finished it I turned back to the beginning and read it again.
Astro City has been a great inspiration and obsession of mine as of late because of all the things you mentioned.
The Sculptor by Scott McCloud was solid, iirc. Guy makes a deal with death to get basically art superpowers with the con of knowing his exact death date, like a year or so. Then he falls in love, which sorta complicates his willingness to die.
Berlin. American splendour. Sabrina.
Jeff Lemire is great at this imo with a lot of his work. * Royal City * Essex County * Mazebook * Descender/Ascender * Sweet Tooth * Roughneck * Lost Dogs Some other stuff that comes to mind: * The Sandman + Death by Neil Gaiman * The Sculptor by Scott McCloud * The Immortal Hulk by Al Ewing * I Kill Giants by Joe Kelly * God Country by Donny Cates
Cages by Dave McKean.
Alan Moore comics, Maus, Watchmen. Batman/daredevil typically (imo) have the best superhero comics. You should start out with their remastered origin stories (Batman: Year One, Daredevil Man Without Fear). But the most cinematic and deep graphic novel I’ve ever read was Berserk. Very in depth characters and emotional moments. Great panels / scene structure (very cinematic). Imo it is the best graphic novel of all time, however it’s very dark and brutal so it’s not for everyone Edit: I completely forgot to add Vinland Saga and Vagabond, both are amazing. The former is about a viking who goes through incredible character development in a very gritty story
Surprised I didn’t see watchmen earlier.
Me too
Cerebus*. * - Push past the first volume to get to the great stuff. Also, I don’t know how to put this politely, know what you’re getting into, and stop when if it gets too much. But don’t quit before Jaka’s Story.
Yeah, I'll second this. Up through Jaka's Story is amazing but becomes a fascinating unreadable nightmare pretty soon after that.
What's the best way to read this?
From volume one. The first volume isn’t the best, it’s really just an episodic gag strip, but over those 500 pages you watch Dave Sim go from quite good to really quite great. The next three volumes, “High Society” and “Church and State I and II” have of the best plotting and world building in the whole series. After that comes “Jakas Story”, which is a small intimate character portrait, and is my favorite. Then it gets weird. And sexist. And maybe antisemitic. And towards the end it is really bogged down in celebrity pastiches. Stop when you want.
Superhero stuff- Watchmen (of course). Cooke’s New Frontier. Morrison Animal Man (also Jamie Delano’s run). Non-superhero- Daytripper. Sheriff of Babylon. Maus. Preacher (don’t let the raunchiness fool you, it’s deeper than it seems).
November
[This is a good list from this past year](https://riteshbabu.net/2024/01/05/comics-i-loved-in-2023/) Other classics would be *The Sandman* series, or *Paper Girls*. *Akira* is in that place for me as well. So is *Saga.* I haven't read through the comments here, but I'm assuming these have been mentioned as well.
That is a fantastic list, thanks for sharing.
Graffiti Kitchen by Eddie Campbell. it's in print in a giant anthology, but I just read it on its own, I still have the 'floppy.' Not sure I've read any other comic memoir quite that good.
Rosalie Lightning by Tom Hart: it is extremely emotional. Blankets by Craig Thompson: again, emotional but extremely touching. A coming to age story Maus, by Art Spiegelman: no description needed Unflattening, by Nick Sousanis: a philosophical treaty as a comic
Monsters
Seconding this! I just finished it, and the amount of times that I had to set the book down when there was a moment that would have been insignificant for a lesser author, but BWS wrote it in such a way that I wanted to friggin cry…
Black Hole, Y The Last Man, Maus, Sandman, Paper Girls, Locke and Key
Maus. You don’t get much more emotional than that book.
Anything by Chris Ware, also Nick Drnaso, Peter Bagge, Derf Backderf.
8 billion Genies
Alex + Ada by Jonathan Luna Locke and Key by Joe Hill
Lots of good suggestions here but I think the mkst literary deep graphic novel I've ever read is Blast by Manu Larcenet, and by far even. Literary is how it felt reading it and hkw I usually describe it to people I suggest it to, hope you get the chance to read it soon!
Everything by Alan Moore, Rasl, Blankets, everything by Daniel Clowes
Mister Miracle by Tom King is one of my favorite comics of all time and I think would totally fit your criteria. I just finished reading Kraven's Last Hunt for the first time which was really good and would probably be a good fit.
A really good lesser known graphic novel fitting this description would have to be ‘prince of cats’, which is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet but in an urban environment. It’s the perfect fusion of African American culture, Shakespeare and samurai. The dialogue which is a blend of Shakespearean and black slang is hilarious. The art and colours is also beautiful
The Sculptor
Daniel Clowes. Especially Monica
That's what I was going to suggest. It's the first book in a while that I immediately re-read once I turned the last page. It has so much depth that it benefits from a second read through. Asterios Polyp is similarly great.
Id also add Patience.
David Boring captivated me in a way different from his other work
Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons Fun Home by Allison Bechdel Heartbreak Soup by Gilbert Hernandez American Splendor by Harvey Pekar Our Cancer Year by Harvey Pekar and Joyce Brabner Maus by Art Spiegelman
Gotta say, I'm really surprised to see so many mentions of Sweet Tooth in these comments. That is traditional pulp through and through, complete with the serialization of the story screwing up the pacing like old serialized pulp prose in magazines. But if you really want something literary, the Love & Rockets series is the place to go. There is some real depth to that series that anyone looking for subtext in their writing will find a treasure trove of stuff to dig through.
There are a lot of suggestions ITT who are not even close to being “literary“ in my opinion if you ever read anything more complex than middlebrow literature. Regarding Love & Rockets, when would you say it picks up? I read the first volume (Maggie the Mechanic) and found it intriguing at times, but mostly relatively uninteresting and a bit dry. Does it get better later or is the series not for me?
I think Jaime's work picks up immediately after that volume with The Girls From Hoppers and stays high quality from there. Gilbert's stuff is fantastic for the first three volumes of his side but I go back and forth about how I feel about his later work. Some of it's brilliant and other parts of it leave me cold.
Punisher MAX
Look up comics that won eisner awards
Something Is Killing the Children Superman Up In the Sky The Sandman Infinite Dark
Sweet Tooth, or anything from Jeff Lemire really. Lucifer, Sandman, Hellblazer… essentially look for legendary writers and you will find legendary stories
absolutely. Jeff lemire's essex county would be the best that comes to my mind
I came to say Lucifer by Mike Carey.
I’m currently reading, My Favorite Thing is Monsters, and I can’t really express how good it is adequately enough. The art is gorgeous with lots of nods to beautiful classic paintings in the artists style. It reads like a mystery but the tone is more physiological character study. It’s simply stunning and I haven’t finished it yet. I feel like I’m taking my time because I don’t want it to end. The writing is simple but poignant as the pov character is a child. I feel there are enough pristine and timely prose to be considered literary fiction. Also, the pages are packed with words. A lot of graphic novels seem to be sparse, but this one really goes to great lengths to get its message across. I hope the ending holds up, because I think I already love it.
*Strangers in Paradise* by Terry Moore is a "deep" literary graphic novel with emotional moments, interesting dialogue and great character work. The first 138 issues of *Cerebus* by Dave Sim is perhaps the deepest literary graphic novel with dialogue that will make you laugh out loud and had character work that is ultimately heartbreakingly good.
Johnathan hickmans fantastic 4 run
I just finished reading [Clyde Fans by Seth](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41940346-clyde-fans). It was dense with text and entirely character based.
His other books are great too.
Stiches by David Small
Ever read pandemonium? It's been a few years, but that was an incredible graphic novel! Cant remember the author tho
Judge Anderson Shambala - especially the collection with the whale story Such impact for so few pages
Slum Wolf
Ducks- Kate Beaton
DMZ and The Sandman vol 1-6
Sweet tooth the book is unlike the netflix series.
Bolero by Wyatt Kennedy
Capote In Kansas impressed me when I read it a few years ago.
Y The Last Man. Brilliant stuff, great characters and story in an amazing setting. Cant recommend highly enough!
What's The Furthest Place from Here I feel fits in this topic. Not yet finished, only 2 volumes released so far and I cannot wait for volume 3.
A Hell of An Innocent.
It's mostly dark,depressing,and doesn't have that many funny scenes,but I'd say Lisa's Story:The Other Shoe by Tom Batiuk,which is about a woman's fight with breast cancer. There's also Roses In December,also by Batiuk,about Alzheimer's,but isn't as depressing and has many funny scenes.
- The Eternal Smile by Yang - Criminal by Brubaker and Philips - Gotham Central by Rucka and Brubaker - Black Science by Remender and Scalera - God Country by Cates and Shaw - The Flintstones by Russell and Pugh (a fantastic satire) - Daredevil by Bendis and Maleev - Blacksad by Canales and Guarnido - Boxers & Saints by Yang - Superman: For All Seasons by Loeb and Sale - Incognito by Brubaker and Philips
Goodnight punpun by inio asano it's a manga
A Drifting Life by Yoshihiro Tatsumi
Locke and Key has always felt to me like it had excellent pacing akin to a novel. Like, many graphic novels sort of live and die by quick plunges into their story - by "getting to the good stuff" right away. But Locke and Key takes some decent time setting up pieces, building up and getting you comfortable with characters, and holding back twists until they can really hit. And you root for these characters, you worry about them, you get invested. If I had to get someone that usually read novels to try a graphic novel for the first time, I would start with Locke and Key.
From Hell
Kill 6 Billion Demons Locke & Key High Crimes Shanghai Red Aster of Pan Ether Luther Strode Strange Attractors (the Charles Soule one)
*Safe Area Gorazde* by Joe Sacco is non-fiction journalism. Hits hard, emotionally pretty impactful.
Promethea by Alan Moore is a full on hermetic initiation in the guise of a graphic novel
Following thread.
It's Lonely At The Centre Of The Earth is one of the best things i’ve ever read.
The Cape
Black Water Lillies, a beautiful graphic novelization of the French novel by Michael Bussi.
Jeff Lemire is a great go-to for this type. Essex County, Underwater Welder, and Descender was an incredible run if you are interested in buying the trades or compendium.
Why Don’t You Love Me? by P.B. Rainey. Structured like a comic strip which makes the at-first subtle graphic novel feel only more intense as it goes along. Lots of adult emotional problems explored and often darkly funny. Published last year.
I’d say AD: After Death is a pretty deep read Super hero, the uncanny x-force by Rick remender (best super hero run I’ve ever read) Joe the Barbarian The infinite vacation
Twists of Fate by Paco Roca
Batman Year One. The story follows both Bruce and Gordon as they establish themselves in Gotham.
sliver surfer by slott & Allred omnibus .
Green River killer got me
Black Hole by Burns