Comics Without Men in Tights

[BreakABone]

Although they tend to be the most popular and well known comics about, there is actually a ton of comics published that doesn't deal with the adventures of superheroes and villains and all of the in-between stuff. I guess in here we shall highlight some of the ones we have read.

The first one is one Danny forced me to read, and like all things he forces me to do it takes months and months and teeth pulling before it happens.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ac/Finals_1_cover.jpg

The story if a 4 issue mini-series which deals with kids in a specialized school dealing with their upcoming senior projects. It is taken in the most extreme way, but a good read. And pretty short to pick up.

[Teuthida]

I recently read the Essex County trilogy.

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/covers/essexcountysoftcover_lg.gif

Where does a young boy turn when his whole world suddenly disappears? What turns two brothers from an unstoppable team into a pair of bitterly estranged loners? How does the simple-hearted care of one middle-aged nurse reveal the scars of an entire community, and can anything heal the wounds caused by a century of deception? Award-winning cartoonist Jeff Lemire pays tribute to his roots with Essex County, an award-winning trilogy of graphic novels set in an imaginary version of his hometown, the eccentric farming community of Essex County, Ontario, Canada. In Essex County, Lemire crafts an intimate study of one community through the years, and a tender meditation on family, memory, grief, secrets, and reconciliation.

One of only two (I think) comics I've read they caused a salty discharge. Somewhat crude drawings but the storytelling is impeccable.

Earl's probably dry heaving right now after seeing that it takes place in Canada.

[Swan]

The one I think alot of people read is Walking Dead.


So far Y is my favorite though.

[Teuthida]

http://illustration.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/shirtcovercolorfinal.jpg

A man who hates his job finds his true calling through the one thing he's passionate about.

Plus, an amputee fetishist tries to discretely ask for his preferred porn at a sperm bank.

Also, a cartoonist in King Arthur's court.

:)

Wholesome family fun- if you don't mind seeing a lot of cartoon breasts.

[Professor S]

So far Y is my favorite though.

I thought Y was okay, but just okay. I made it through 3 or 4 trades and couldn't justify investing any more in the story. My main problem was with Yorick... I hate him. He's such a complete ass, I have have a hard time believing anyone could be that pathetic and stupid and still be alive in that situation.

He reminds me a lot of Hodlen Caufield from Catcher in the Rye, I think purposely so, and I hated that book too.

[jeepnut]

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[BreakABone]

Okay already gonna break my rule, but this is somewhat debatable and one of my favorite reads.

http://sobrecomics.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/gotham-central.jpg
Gotham Central obviously takes place in Gotham City, and there are issues which have appearances from Batman and his rogue's gallery.
But the comic itself focuses on the GCPD and dealing with life as a cop in a city overran with crime and corruption not to mention Batman and what he brings.

[Teuthida]

http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/casanovaLrg.gif

I read Casanova vol. 1...and will probably have to read it again. A really fun (and a bit confusing) dimension-hopping, robot-kidnapping, sex-island-dictator-removing, magician-killing, espionage book.

Read the first issue here (http://imagecomics.com/iconline.php?title=casanova_001&page=cover&resize=now).

[Teuthida]

http://www.earth-2.net/images/news/2009/02/2009-02-20/i-kill-giants.jpg

Best comic of the year.

A girl struggles with impending family disaster by escaping into a fantasy life of magic and monsters.

Barbara Thorson is your new hero. A quick-witted, sharp-tongued fifth grader who isn't afraid of anything. Why would she be..? After all, she's the only girl in school who carries an ancient Norse warhammer in her purse and kills giants for a living...

At least, that's what she'll tell you... but where does the fantasy end and reality begin in the heart of this troubled girl? And what if she's telling the truth?

I Kill Giants is the quirky, bittersweet story of a young girl struggling to conquer monsters both real and imagined as her carefully constructed world crumbles at the feet of giants bigger than any one child can handle.

I Kill Giants is written by Joe Kelly, and everything else is done by the überwünderkind JM Ken Niimura. His sheer artistic power will make you bleed.

Read the first issue here (http://imagecomics.com/iconline.php?title=ikillgiants_001&page=cover&resize=now).

[Teuthida]

http://www.dccomics.com/media/product/1/5/1597_400x600.jpg

After a freak accident allows Lester Biggs to see and interact with his guardian angel, the homeless, aspiring actor learns that all of his misfortunes are the direct result of his bored celestial protector's twisted machinations. Hoping to make amends for ruining his charge's life for his own amusement, the mischievous angel grants Lester his greatest desire, to be famous. Now in a humorous and satirical series of events that exposes the absurdity of the entertainment industry, Lester encounters insane talent agents, gorgeous groupies, abducting aliens and a secret society based on hair loss on his road to instant stardom as a movie star, a recording artist, and a TV personality.

Highly enjoyable. Could see this making a good movie but it would probably end up being shit...so read the comic.

Preview: http://www.dccomics.com/media/excerpts/1597_x.pdf

[Swan]

http://www.bleedingcool.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/chew.jpg

Tony Chu is a cop with a secret. A weird secret. Tony Chu is Cibopathic, which means he gets psychic impressions from whatever he eats. It also means he's a hell of a detective, as long as he doesn't mind nibbling on the corpse of a murder victim to figure out whodunit, and why. It's a dirty job, and Tony has to eat terrible things in the name of justice. And if that wasn't bad enough, the government has figured out Tony Chu's secret. They have plans for him... whether he likes it or not.

Another great book. 3 issues out now so easy to catch up

[Teuthida]

Chew's great.

I mentioned this one in the Wendigo vs Bigfoot poll.

http://www.cryptomundo.com/wp-content/uploads/proof1.jpg

The story concerns John "Proof" Prufrock, a sasquatch, who works for a secret government organization. He hunts cryptids with his partner, Ginger Brown, and seeks clues to his past.

Like a mix of X-Files and Men In Black.

Besides being a damn cool book, sprinkled throughout the pages are little educational cryptoids that expand on creatures and situations in the story.

Read the first issue here (http://imagecomics.com/iconline.php?title=proof_001&page=cover&resize=now).

[Teuthida]

Been a while. Some cool series I've been reading:

Mysterius The Unfathomable
http://blog.newsarama.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10087/Mysterius_comics.jpg http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LcYCjYs-R-c/SXVb9arOdOI/AAAAAAAABSM/ayvH0Mgts0Y/s400/1.jpg

Very fun six issue miniseries about a real magician who offers his services for income (and prolonging his life). Such villains as a Dr. Seuss-like writer who gains his powers by having parents read his books to their children (which are actually magical incantations.) The art resembles some of the nicer stuff in Mad Magazine. Highly recommended.

Cowboy Ninja Viking
http://comicreadersregina.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/cowboy-ninja-viking-1.jpg http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/40/999042-cnvp1_super.jpg

Only three issues out so far but chock full of insanity. The main character has multiple personalities that were each trained in a different fighting style. The personalities argue amongst themselves which makes for some interesting comics. There are other agents (called triplets) that have some wackier combinations like: marine, demolitions expert, and amish guy. Same artist as Proof but even messier and more chaotic.


RASL
http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/27_rasl5.jpg http://www.comicon.com/resources/pulse/images_07a/4rasl8.jpg

Sci-fi noir about a dimension jumping art thief. Six issues out so far. They come out pretty infrequently. A lot of science goodness. The last one was almost entirely about Tesla.


Punisher: FrankenCastle

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j264/codemfc/Punisher11-frankencastle.jpg http://marvel.com/i/content/10484new_storyimage-59608673|527.2030651341x800.jpg

So technically this is a superhero comic but it's like nothing I've read before. The Punisher was beheaded by Wolverine's son and then put back together by the living vampire, Morbius, as a frankenstein-like monster. He's now living in a monster-run city dealing with his situation. Some really awesome art. (The original artist of Walking Dead.) Just a damn fun comic. 3 issues into this story starting with Punisher #11.

[incredibledave]

http://gametavern.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3288&stc=1&d=1266424652

Can't recommend this enough
Switched over to trades cos they release the trade heaps early. Like a month after all the issues have been released. Currently up to #8

[Teuthida]

http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/077/4/e/Bear_and_Shark_by_WyA.jpg

One-shot out in June. Bound to be awesome.

[Teuthida]

Wow, this thread hasn't been touched in longer than I thought.

I just read the first trade of Near Death.

Markham is a professional killer who has a near death experience during a botched mission. Determined to avoid ever returning to the hell he's glimpsed, Markham dedicates himself to balancing the scales. He's going to save a life for every life he's taken. And he's taken a lot of lives...

Good read. Each issue is pretty much a standalone story but there is an overarching plot. More than most comics this would be a good one to buy in single issues. However the trade collects the first five issues for only $10. Also, I'm friendly with the artist online, who is the nicest and most supportive guy around.

Review: http://ifanboy.com/articles/tradewaiters-gonna-wait-near-death-vol-1/

http://paradisecomics.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/n/e/neardeath_vol1.jpg

[Professor S]

Can't believe I didn't share this earlier:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WKkn5yjmZtk/TpdQOSFN7tI/AAAAAAAAOKU/02D7PpuVd6Y/s1600/MG07.jpg

[Vampyr]

Mouse Guard is such a fantastic comic.

Here is my recommendation, Locke and Key (http://www.amazon.com/Locke-Key-Vol-Welcome-Lovecraft/dp/1600103847/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331689266&sr=8-1)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/29/Joehilllockekey.jpg

[Professor S]

Mouse Guard is such a fantastic comic.

I feel like Petersen is taking his sweet time with the recent books. Waiting forever for the next collection. But I am proud to say that I own an original work from Winter 1152. I can't find an image of it, but it's one of the pages from the funeral at the end showing all the guard mice. The art is just fantastic.

And I love Locke and Key as well.

[Seth]

Tokugawa hack it. My only comic following.

http://images.darkhorse.com/covers/b/boitpb3.jpg

http://images.darkhorse.com/covers/17/17291.jpg

[Vampyr]

Saga (http://www.comixology.com/Saga/comics-series/7587)by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples is really, really good.

Just finished the sixth and most recent issue last night...can't wait for the next one. It kind of feels like Star Wars, but weirder. Great characters and a really interesting story.

Disclaimer: There is nudity, gore, and sex, but it's not based around those things or good because of them. It uses those themes to punctuate moments.

[Teuthida]

^Saga is indeed quite good.


An anthology coming out October 10th.
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[Professor S]

Saga (http://www.comixology.com/Saga/comics-series/7587)by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples is really, really good.

Just finished the sixth and most recent issue last night...can't wait for the next one. It kind of feels like Star Wars, but weirder. Great characters and a really interesting story.

Disclaimer: There is nudity, gore, and sex, but it's not based around those things or good because of them. It uses those themes to punctuate moments.

I have the TPB pre-ordered...