Fri Feb 22, 2008 2:30PM23 comments ›
Fri Feb 22, 2008 — by Chris Ullrich
Eight Comic Books to Read Before You Die
Haven't read these comics? You should
Just in time for the opening of WonderCon in San Francisco today, the online arm of the San Francisco Chronicle, SF Gate, has decided to put out its list, a comics "mix tape" as they call it, of the "Eight Comic Books to Read Before You Die."
Posted by Peter Hartlaub, the list includes many notables in the comics world such as Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Neil Gaiman and their works -- which are probably considered classic must-reads by most comics fans already.
In addition, the list also features one or two other works traditional comics fans, those who usually confine themselves to one or more Marvel or DC titles featuring spandex-clad heroes, may be less familier with. Books such as Jeff Smith's Bone and Y:The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan, although successful and well-known to many in the comics community, are perhaps not as well-known to the masses as the X-Men, Spider-Man or Batman.
Here, then, is the list of what the folks at SFGate think you should read, and in the order you should read them, before you die. Hopefully, you've already had the pleasure of discovering some of these works. Maybe after reading this list, you can discover a few more.
Y: The Last Man: Unmanned by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra
Daredevil: Born Again by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli
Swamp Thing by Alan Moore
Marvels by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross
Bone Volume 1: Out From Boneville by Jeff Smith
Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman
The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
I'm pleased to say that, besides Bone, I've read all the books on this list and am a particular fan of Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns and Brian K. Vaughan's Y: The Last man. Of course, now that I've read this list, I can never, ever read Bone. That is, unless I'm ready to die.
What comics would be on your list?
Jump to comments (23)
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Comments (23)
Esbat (3:56 PM on Fri Feb 22, 2008)
I can honestly say I've only read and own DKR.
Rick Marshall (4:50 PM on Fri Feb 22, 2008)
Esbat! Great to see your name pop up here!
Now get reading -- you have a full list of books to get through before I can send a ninja after you.
Esbat (12:04 AM on Sat Feb 23, 2008)
Well if they're available at the local library or good will, I will... so far the best reads I've found at the library was Ultimate Daredevil/Elektra, Batgirl Year One, and Ultimate Spider-Man Vol 1 & 2
Alan Coil (6:00 PM on Fri Feb 22, 2008)
Y: The Last Man is too recent to be on any all-time list. And while I liked it a lot, I don't think it was THAT good.
mike weber (6:46 PM on Fri Feb 22, 2008)
I've only read about four of them - and not all of a couple of those.
I was more or less out of comics when Moore took on "Swamp Thing", and for some reason never picked upon "Sandman".
That said, i'd argue for at least some of "The Spirit".
Rick Marshall (8:36 PM on Fri Feb 22, 2008)
I DEFINITELY agree on The Spirit. There's a lot to be learned from Eisner's full-page title panels.
I've read all of these stories with the exception of Daredevil, Marvels and Sandman. I think I would probably add Transmetropolitan to the list, though.
J. Andrew World (10:14 PM on Fri Feb 22, 2008)
I am surprised that "Understanding Comics" is not on the list. Perhaps because it isn't fiction? I am not sure, but "Understanding Comics" should be on there. I also feel if the entirety of "Planetary", which is arguably the best comic since "Watchmen" (and I can construct that arguement, if you really want me too) and "Transmetropolitain" are both missing from the list.
Glenn Hauman (1:57 AM on Sat Feb 23, 2008)
Hell, I read most of them before they came out in trades-- geez, I even worked on one of the books. I'm going to die early, ain't I?
Mike Gold (8:41 AM on Sat Feb 23, 2008)
That wouldn't be EARLY, Glenn. Welcome to the dark side.
There's lots of really important stuff not on this list -- pre-1986 stuff that makes Dark Knight look like a Baby Huey one-pager. Certainly The Spirit. O'Neil and Adams' Batman. Englehart and Rogers' Batman. Kirby's Fantastic Four. Steranko's Nick Fury. Kurtzman's Two-Fisted Tales. Kurtzman's Frontline Combat. Kurtzman's Mad. Cole's Plastic Man. Kubert's Tarzan.
I'd mention Chaykin's American Flagg!, Ostrander's Wasteland, Wheatley and Hempel's Breathtaker, Grell's M.I.A. (my favorite Sable story arc) and O'Neil and Cowan's The Question, but, shucks, I'm way too shy and retiring to do that.
Linda Gold (9:09 AM on Sat Feb 23, 2008)
Also, O'Neil and Adams' Green Lantern, but you knew I'd say that.
Dan (9:46 AM on Sat Feb 23, 2008)
Steranko's Nick Fury was my favorite book in high school, even topping (barely) the FF. The art and story were just so far ahead of anything else being published at the time. I periodically pull out the copies I bought at Rich's Drug Store and the same sense of wonder I felt as a kid returns. You can tell the Chronicle's list was put together by someone not familiar with the wider history of the medium.
Mike Gold (9:52 AM on Sat Feb 23, 2008)
Steranko's relatively small output had an overwhelming influence on the medium, particularly here in the States. A lot of artists -- young and old, but particularly those learning their craft -- looked at this stuff and said "hey, I didn't know you could do that."
Of course, Jim had his influences -- Jack Kirby and Alex Schomburg stand out -- but when it came to storytelling, the man was sailing uncharted waters. I've love to see him at it again; we'll just have to settle for his occasional covers, like on Baen Publications' Spider series.
Dan (10:57 AM on Sat Feb 23, 2008)
Not to overtly flatter you, Mike (I think your ego can handle it), but the Question was always at the top of my reading pile when the original O'Neil/Cowan run was being published. It was a book that always got me thinking and wanting more. Definitely in my top 5 series.
Mike Gold (11:00 AM on Sat Feb 23, 2008)
Thank you. And my ego thanks you.
I'm real happy DC's reprinting the stuff in trade right now.
Rick Marshall (8:48 AM on Sat Feb 23, 2008)
Is it impolite to call dibs on some of your stuff?
Mike Gold (9:10 AM on Sat Feb 23, 2008)
Absolutely. Which is why I said I'm way too shy and retiring to do that!
joe (12:53 PM on Sat Feb 23, 2008)
I would add Mack's Kabuki: Metamorphosis to the list.
Rick Oliver (6:02 PM on Sat Feb 23, 2008)
Oddly enough, I've read most of the comics on the list, although I've been pretty much off comics since I left the business in the mid-80s. My own list would have to include Ditko's Dr. Strange. I'm also partial to Vaughn Bode's Cheech Wizard, Windsor McCay's Little Nemo, and Walt Kelly's Pogo, although technically those were comic strips -- but the latter two collected in book form make for some fine reading. (I haven't been able to find it, but I could swear there was a Pogo strip where the main characters are tromping across a ridge at sunset in silhouette, and one of them says "These silhouettes sure save a heap of drawing.")
Mike Gold (9:21 AM on Sun Feb 24, 2008)
Fantagraphics is going to be doing a Peanuts-number on Pogo soon -- the whole thing in hardcover. I'm looking forward to that.
Dan (10:21 AM on Sun Feb 24, 2008)
Now I'm going to have to look thru my boxes for the Cheech Wizard books. I'd forgotten all about them. Thanks, Rick.
Anonymous (10:12 AM on Mon Feb 25, 2008)
I find it hard to believe that no one put "Lone Wolf and Cub" on the list. It certainly belongs.
I admit to a weakness for "Camelot 3000" also. Mainly because I remember it as a big departure from the ongoing nature of comics at that time in telling a story from beginning to end.
Van Jensen (10:00 AM on Fri Feb 29, 2008)
When I talked to Jeff Smith a couple months back, he said he's designing the Pogo book for Fantagraphics, and the only hangup is trying to track down all the strips.
Re: The list, I've read everything but Daredevil and Marvels (I'm just about to start into it for a retrospective article). I'm about 80 pages into Bone: One Volume Edition. Only 1,220 to go!
I also really, really loved The Question. DC's new Zen and Violence collection is great, and I know a lot of people in their offices were thrilled that it was finally being rereleased.
As far as Y: The Last Man, it's definitely one of my favorites, but if pressed to pick one of BKV's books, I'd opt for Pride of Baghdad.