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DC Comics: 30 Essential Graphic Novels

Libra6Poe

Libra6Poe

New Member
On my way out of my local (& favorite) comic book store (Dragon's Lair), I picked up this booklet: DC Comics 30 Essential Graphic Novels. I thought I'd share it with you all (those interested). Let me know which ones you've read and/or own. I'll mark mine with an asterisk*.

  1. Watchmen - Alan Moore & Gibbons
  2. The League of Extraordinary Gentlement Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 - Alan Moore & O'Neill
  3. *V for Vendetta - Alan Moore & Lloyd* I absolute loved this book. In the V thread I've expressed my disappointment in the film.
  4. *The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes & Nocturnes - Neil Gaiman & Kieth, Dringenberg, Jones III* I'm completely in love with The Sandman series. Words cannot describe how I feel about it.
  5. *The Sandman: Endless Nights - Neil Gaiman & various artists* This is a fantastic collection and the artwork is AMAZING! Individual stories for each of the Endless. This was published about a decade after the Sandman series. I would highly recommend this to anyone. Even if you haven't read the series (but you may appreciate it more if you have).
  6. *Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile - Bill Willingham & Medina* I've only read this one, but it's really fun to see all our favorite fairy tale characters in the 21st century. You can actually read the first issue online: here.
  7. Superman for All Seasons - Jeph Loeb & Sale
  8. Superman: Birthright - Mark Waid & Yu
  9. Superman/Batman: Public Enemies - Jeph Loeb & McGuinness
  10. *Batman: Arkham Asylum - Grant Morrison & McKean* McKean's artwork is great. I found the history of Arkham Asylum very interesting. I'm definitely a huge Batman fan.
  11. Batman: The Long Halloween - Jeph Loeb & Sale
  12. Batman: Dark Victory - Jeph Loeb & Sale
  13. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - Frank Miller
  14. Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again - Frank Miller
  15. *Batman: Year One - Frank Miller & Mazzucchelli* It was good, but to be honest I had higher expectations. You can definitely see that Batman Begins gets a lot from Miller's work.
  16. Batman: Hush Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 - Jeph Loeb & Lee
  17. Kingdom Come - Mark Waid & Ross

So, I'm tired of typing. I'll give the rest of the list later. ;)
 
18. Identity Crisis – Brad Meltzer & Morales
19. JLA Vol. 1: New World Order – Grant Morrison & Porter
20. Green Lantern: Rebirth – Geoff Johns & Sciver
21. Crisis on Infinite Earths – Marv Wolfman – Perez
22. Transmetropolitan Vol. 1: Back on the Street – Warren Ellis & Robertson
23. The Quitter – Harvey Pekar & Haspiel
24. Hellblazer: Original Sins – Jamie Delano & Ridgway, Alcala
25. Y: The Last Man Vol. 1: Unmanned – Brian K. Vaughan & Guerra
26. Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne – Arina Tanemura
27. Sword of the Dark Ones – Kentaro Yasui & Kotobuki
28. Ex Machina Vol. 1: The First Hundred Days – Brian K. Vaughan & Harris

So, it looks like there’s 28, but you’re supposed to count each volume individually.
 
Lets see, I own 1-3, 10, 11, 13-15, and 17. I would've added Preacher by Garth Ennis and Frank Miller's Ronin to the list.
 
I know! I'm totally surprised that Preacher wasn't on there.
Lenny, which one out of the 30 (or from what you own/have read) is your favorite?
 
I can't pick just one but 3 of the ones I've read really stand out: V for Vendetta, Watchmen, and The Dark Knight Returns.
 
I've only glanced quickly at The Dark Knight Returns, but it looked amazing (my brother thinks my attraction is due to Returns being my favourite Batman film). Which of the Batman graphic novels would you all recommend?
 
No Spider-Man?

Preposterous. Asinine. Ludicrous. Foul. Disturbing. Wrong. TREACHEROUS!

I am appaled by that books blatant useage of lies!
 
SevenWritez said:
No Spider-Man?

Preposterous. Asinine. Ludicrous. Foul. Disturbing. Wrong. TREACHEROUS!

I am appaled by that books blatant useage of lies!
Click to expand...

Its DC comics.

I would've added Preacher by Garth Ennis and Frank Miller's Ronin to the list.
Click to expand...

I think Preacher would have been there if you could forget the last 5 books or so. :)

I would have picked ronin too, one of the best by frank miller.

Oveall it seems that whoever made that list might be a bit too much of a batman fan.
 
SevenWritez said:
That does not lighten my shock.
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Well, it's not the "30 Essential Graphic Novels of all time, ever, no matter who the publisher is." :p It's "DC's" as Zolipara points out. It was a booklet published by DC. It wouldn't make sense for DC to mention a Marvel comic just as it wouldn't make sense for Marvel to mention a DC comic in their catalog. ;)

Zolipara: yes, it definitely seems like there's a whole lot of Batman there.
 
Okay.... I have most of the list but I liked best the following:

1. Watchmen may just be the best Graphic Novel written (DC or Marvel or any other pulisher)
2. Batman: The Long Halloween - great mystery story and a great retelling of the origins of one of Batman's greatest foes.
3. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - Batman getting old, but still deadly. Final confrontations with the Joker and Superman are monumental. Probably the best Batman story ever.
4. Batman: Year One - a great retelling of Batman's origins. You could see its influence on the Batman Begins movie
5. Kingdom Come - it may include a cast of thousands and feature the ("old") JLA, Batman, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel, but its really a Superman story. Waid and Ross, try in their own words to explain what Superman really symbolizes and what he means for us in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

I cannot believe they did not include Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bollard - to my mind only The Watchmen and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns are better graphic novels. And probably the best version of the origins of The Joker. Dark, witty and tragic in so many ways, it examines the psyche of Batman and the Joker and how surprisingly similar they are. The way the book ended alone, with The Joker relating to Batman a story about two prisoners, was just one of the greatest endings I have seen in any medium (books, movies or graphic novels), well worth the price of the whole book. Plus, the story becomes a big life-changing event of one of Batman's major supporting characters.

For the life of me, I have not come around to buying The Sandman stories. I was so caught up in mainstream books that I stayed away from the Vertigo titles. So now I find myself preparing to engulf Neil Gaiman's works (novels and graphic novels).
 
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