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Reading has always been one of my favorite ways to pass the time, but graphic novels hold a special place in my heart. Sure they might be written off as “adult comic books” which would be ludicrous to say, but I have always held these books in high regard. I mainly started reading these during my undergraduate years in college, but have picked up a few since then. These books are hallmarks of my collection and I wanted to share my favorite picks with you as we wrap up the week. Below are my favorite graphic novels and also some stats about where they rank in the pantheon of their medium.
Watchmen: Created by by the British creative team of writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons and colorist John Higgins, Watchmen is in many ways a must-read novel. A commercial success, Watchmen has received critical acclaim both in the comics and mainstream press. Watchmen was recognized in Time’s List of the 100 Best Novels as one of the best English language novels published since 1923. The story focuses on the personal development and moral struggles of the protagonists as an investigation into the murder of a government-sponsored superhero pulls them out of retirement. In terms of commercial success, it is one of the greatest novels of the 1980’s and is probably my favorite graphic novel of all time for its thought provoking narrative.
The Dark Knight Returns: There might not be a better Batman or major superhero graphic novel than The Dark Knight Returns. Another iconic graphic novel from the 1980’s, it tells an alternative story of Bruce Wayne, who at 55 years old returns from retirement to fight crime and faces opposition from the Gotham City police force and the United States government. The Dark Knight Returns was written by Frank Miller who would later go on to write 300 and Sin City. The immense popularity of The Dark Knight Returns served both to return the character of Batman to a central role in pop culture, but also (along with Watchmen) started the era known as the Dark Age of Comic Books. While some would say the above two classics are overrated for their own reasons, they are both incredible pieces of creative work.
Dragon Ball Z: Okay this is sort of a cop-out since this is more of an anthology of Dragon Ball manga (a style of Japanese comic book or graphic novel), but it is a pillar of my youth and early adult life. Growing up, there was almost nothing better than throwing on Toonami and tuning into the latest episode of DBZ. As a kid, the Ocean Dub and later Funimation versions of DBZ have been burned into my brain and the story of Goku and friends is legendary amongst my age group. In terms of business impact, in Asia, the Dragon Ball Z franchise, including the anime and merchandising, earned a profit of $3 billion by 1999 (20 years ago!). DBZ is regarded as one of the most famous works of creative work through its iterations as both a manga and anime and is one of my favorite series of all time.
So let me know what your favorite graphic novel or comic book is of all-time in the comments below!
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