[Micahb]

I am just starting to get into comics, and I would like to know what you all think are essential comics or authors to read.

Right now I am reading
Marvel Zombies, The Walking Dead, Invincible, Battle Pope (Robert Kirkman)
The Boys (Garth Ennis)
Army of Darkness: Ashes 2 Ashes (Andy Hartnell)

[Lightknight]

Well, there's the three juggernauts of comics.

The Dark Knight Returns
Kingdom Come
Watchmen

I mean, those are each just one book, but they are simply classic. Beyond that it depends on what your tastes are. I have a lot of favorites, but the essentials I listed are classics that should be read soon.

[LadyCroft]

Watchmen. Absolutely.

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[Jeffrey]

Transmet? I'm disappointed. And The Boys? Micahb, do you hate people in general. But this thread caught my eye, so I'm breaking my brief CGR fast to pop in and chime in.

As Gavin said, the Big Three are (shockingly, all DC) Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, and Kingdom Come.

Watchmen loses a bit of its impact if you're not already engrossed in superheroics, so I'd recommend heading to Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble and picking up (or for the later, flipping through) some of the classic collection, especially Silver Age DC and Marvel.

Also worthwhile and recommended:

Love and Rockets by Los Bros Hernandez
Bone by Jeff Smith
Billy Hazelnuts and Sock Monkey by Tony Millionaire
The Daredevil issues done by Frank Miller (should be collected)
The Question by Denny O'Neil and Denys Cowan (coming to trade paperback after two decades, but available in the back issue bins of most comic shops)
Cat **** One (a.k.a. Apocalypse Meow by Motofumi Kobayashi
Cerebus the Aardvark by Dave Sim
Trigun by Yasuhiro Nightow
The Spirit by Will Eisner

I would also read the comic book about comic books, Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud.

[Lightknight]

But would you call those others truly "essential"? I mean, I really enjoy them, but I wouldn't say they're essential, just worth a try.

[Jeffrey]

I'd call them essential because the Big Three you and I listed are just superhero comics.

For Micah and others (Gavin probably knows all this)

Love and Rockets was one of the first "indie" comics, coming out the wake of the underground comic scene without all the gruesomeness of R. Crumb.

Bone is of course a beautifully-rendered fairy tale adventure. Long-running and acclaimed, I would consider it essential at this point.

Billy Hazelnuts and Sock Monkey are two beautiful works (the latter has several installments) that show an early 20th century aesthetic applied to a whimsy modern tale.

The Daredevil issues done by Frank Miller are what brought him to acclaim in the comic industry, allowing him the freedom and star power to do Dark Knight.

The Question by Denny O'Neil and Denys Cowan is something I would consider essential, not just for my bias toward the character - it was one of the first (I believe in fact the first) "Mature Readers" titles, tackling issues like racism, sexism, and corruption several steps above the simple angles taken previously on those issues in previous comic titles. Many of the current architects of the DCU who began writing in the past ten years have hailed this as foundational to their own development as comic writers and readers.

Cat (Poop) One (a.k.a. Apocalypse Meow) is important because it shows how anthropomorphic animals have played a part in modern sequential art, using animals to play roles in a Vietnam drama. I put this on here because I'm confident in a decade or so this will be one of those underground favorites that many creators will cite. It's Japanese comics without the stereotypical conventions of that segment of sequential art.

Cerebus the Aardvark by Dave Sim is a mind-bending, episodic series that one's the longest-running (it may be the longest-running) comics to ever come out, written and produced by one of the pioneers of self-publishing in comics. Sim is either a madman or a prophet, but his work is highly regarded in the field, if begrudgingly by some.

Trigun is on here because I wanted to include a generally well-done manga that inspired anime. This is what I think is essential for new comic readers to understand - the West is finally beginning to not only access but crossover and collaborate with a vibrant market in Japan where comics are respected reading even for adults. Trigun is a great story with inventive characters that was made in a well-liked anime.

The Spirit by Will Eisner is coming to screens (for good or bad) thanks to Frank Miller. I'm terrified of what he'll do to it, but he and many creators cite Eisner (who worked himself to the bone even in his twilight years, out of love for comics) as one of the masters of the genre. Heck, the awards for comicdom are named after him!

And McCloud's Understanding Comics is essential, because it highlights what makes sequential art so outstanding.

[Lightknight]

Wow, that's really good reasoning actually. I wish I could give you mad props somehow.

[Skeeter]

"Bone" is truly fantastic. They have the entire series at the local library. I also recommend "Usagi Yojimbo." It's masterful.

[Lightknight]

Yes, I have Bone here too. It is rather large but I can't recall it being too expensive. I think you can order it through Scholastic. At least I saw it in their warhouse last time they had an 80% off sale.

[Fandrew]

Originally Posted by Lightknight

Yes, I have Bone here too. It is rather large but I can't recall it being too expensive. I think you can order it through Scholastic. At least I saw it in their warhouse last time they had an 80% off sale.

I want a warhouse, sounds like a fun bulding.

[Micahb]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

Transmet? I'm disappointed. And The Boys? Micahb, do you hate people in general.
.

After reading your explanations I will check out a bunch of the ones you listed, but what is wrong with Transmet? It continues to be one of my favourites.
I have stopped reading The Boys, tho. I posted this thread after reading the first issue which was awesome, expecting the rest to be like that, and after buying the next three I was really really disappointed. It seems like the book is there solely to be offensive.
I have gotten into Preacher a lot, which I really like, but it is a bit over the top at times as well.

[LadyCroft]

I *heart* Trigun.

Would it be wrong to name my first born "Vash"?

Also, am I really the only girl around Comics?

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[Role Modlin]

I've been trying to find a Watchmen TPB around here...no such luck. I opted to not buy the V...For Vendetta TPB right now.

[Skeeter]

You should be able to order the Watchmen TPB from any respectable bookstore.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by Skeeter

You should be able to order the Watchmen TPB from any respectable bookstore.

Yeah even if a store doesn't carry they should be able to order. If they can't order it then your stores must be REALLY bad.