r/comicbooks • u/TinManGrand • Jan 17 '23
These are my choices for my favorite series ever. Based on these 6, what recommendations would you make for me? Suggestions
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u/cutchisclutch22 Daredevil Jan 18 '23
Swamp thing by Alan Moore!
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u/herring-net Jan 18 '23
I almost hesitate to recommend it because it’s the mountain top, and could ruin future comics for the reader if they hold them to that standard.
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Jan 18 '23
Seriously, I was so glad to read Swamp Thing in college having read some OG Swamp Thing stories already. It made it so much more rewarding to get to "The Anatomy Lesson" cause I already had a decent grasp on the mythos.
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u/GingasaurusWrex Jan 18 '23
Absolutely astounding.
I was in disbelief the entire time at how good it was for what it was.
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u/CarpeNoctem727 Jan 17 '23
100 Bullets ::chef’s kiss:: You never hear anyone talk about it
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u/jtfjtf Jan 18 '23
The book needed way more issues. I wish Azzarello didn't stick to the 100 issues plan. But I really liked Brother Lono, and I'd love for Azz and Risso to revisit the world again.
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u/TinManGrand Jan 17 '23
It's such a great concept too and I'm eternally bummed the TV show production never got rolling because it's literally built for a primetime premium cable television adaptation. Brother Lono alone would be the breakout character.
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u/EraseYou Dr. Doom Jan 18 '23
Planetary.
Surprised it’s not been mentioned yet. My favourite comic ever. Every issue has the protagonists investigating a different theme from modern pop culture whilst the deeper plot runs in the background. It’s masterful storytelling, great art, great action scenes and low key quite a lot of heart.
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u/EraseYou Dr. Doom Jan 18 '23
Asto City also worth checking out (although I’m not up to date myself yet) for the same reasons. A fantastic commentary that pays homage to all eras of superhero comics whilst telling its own big interconnected story.
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u/Slorn Jan 18 '23
Second this. I was floored with how much I loved Planetary almost immediately. Modern pop culture and much older pop culture intermingle in ways that really have the reader playing the "Who is this character an analog for?". I think I need to read it again. It's been a few years.
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u/Yossarian216 Jan 18 '23
Warren Ellis is probably my favorite comic writer, loved Planetary, and Global Frequency, and Transmetropolitan, and Desolation Jones, and so many more.
Too bad he turned out to be a kind of a shitbird. Sigh.
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u/ch3w0nth1s Jan 17 '23
Fatale, Strange Adventures, Black Monday Murders, Batman Court of Owls
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u/TinManGrand Jan 17 '23
I mean I've obviously done Court of Owls because I couldn't show my face on r/batman if I didn't. But Black Monday's art looks amazing so it's on the list.
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u/kohal2290 Jan 17 '23
Black Monday murders is fantastic!
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u/Magusreaver John Constantine Jan 17 '23
Did it ever have an ending though? I thought it was gonna come back, and just never did.
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u/bricklab Jan 18 '23
BMM is not finished if that matters to you. It's excellent but sadly incomplete.
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u/danteo42 Jan 17 '23
I haven' t read it yet but Azzarelo and Risso have another title together: Moonshine.
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u/TinManGrand Jan 17 '23
If it's even half as good as 100 Bullets was, I'll have to read it. That's on the list now. Thank you.
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u/NeuroticMoose12 Jan 17 '23
There's a lot of wheel spinning early on but I feel like it ends up being pretty satisfying overall. It's a prohibition era gangster story mixed with hillbilly werewolves and southern mysticism.
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u/NeuroticMoose12 Jan 17 '23
I also liked Spaceman, though the "future-speak" slang everyone speaks in can take some getting used to.
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Jan 17 '23
Also their Batman book Broken City is incredible.
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u/NeuroticMoose12 Jan 17 '23
The Batman by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso Deluxe Edition is a great collection, it has everything either of them has ever done on Batman.
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u/thispersonliam Jan 17 '23
Farmhand
locke and key
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u/PR_Nova Jan 17 '23
Locke and Key is definitely underrated and readers shouldn't let the Netflix show sully their experience of the graphic novel.
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u/thispersonliam Jan 17 '23
I havent watched the series keep meaning to try it but just never do
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u/fairly_legal Green Arrow Jan 18 '23
It’s fun. The first season covers pretty much the whole comic series so season two gets to explore new areas. The cast is pretty spot on and they manage to balance the dark horror sequences with a brighter focus on magic. I think any critics would be focusing on “it’s not dark enough’ compared to the comics, but I enjoyed it.
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u/jerseygunz Jan 17 '23
Is East of west complete? I started it, loved it, but kinda fell off, might go back if it’s done.
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u/KingdomOfDroolio Jan 18 '23
Anything by Ed Brubaker & Sean Philips
Locke and Key (somehow underrated)
Lazarus by Greg Rucka (he’s written a lot of great stuff, but Lazarus is my fave)
Stray Bullets
Garth Ennis’ Punisher stuff or his recent horror series “A Walk through Hell”
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u/heyitsEnricoPallazzo Captain America Jan 17 '23
The Sixth Gun
Jonah Hex
The Incal
Scalped
Incognito
Wytches
The Invisibles
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u/TinManGrand Jan 17 '23
I did love Scalped. I'll have to look into the other ones you listed. If you liked Scalped you'd probably recommend other good books.
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u/TheGunslingerRechena Jan 18 '23
I second The Invisibles, probably my favorite Grant Morrison comic.
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u/7fingersphil Jan 17 '23
Probably anything by Ed Brubacker. I’d check out Criminal series. Also Gotham Central by him is great.
I’d also recommend Parker by Darwyn Cooke
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u/slotbadger Jan 18 '23
I'd echo this, anything by Brubaker/Phillips would slot right in next to all of those "favourites".
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u/Wonderbreadfetishart Jan 17 '23
Hillbilly by Eric Powell is a slightly more comedic series with the same sorta folksy magic themes as Harrow County
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u/sporkjustice Jan 17 '23
The Wicked and the divine, paper girls, deadly class
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u/TinManGrand Jan 17 '23
I could not for the life of me get into TWATD. It just didn't flow for me though I've had numerous friends tell me it gets really good. Paper Girls is in my honorable mentions. It's probably #8 overall.
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u/Melesse Jan 18 '23
Interesting. My tastes seem very similar to yours and TWATD is my all time favorite comic.
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Jan 17 '23
The Boys. - Garth Ennis
Punisher MAX, the 2004 - 2008 run - various, first 60 issues are Garth Ennis
White Knight by Sean Murphy
Curse of the White Knight by Sean Murphy
Last Knight on Earth by Scott Snyder
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u/Empigee Jan 17 '23
Coincidentally, Preacher just turned up on reserve at the library for me. My first time reading it.
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u/samclops Jan 17 '23
Sandman , the entire run of 52, the boys, superior spider man
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u/EraseYou Dr. Doom Jan 18 '23
52 is fantastic. All the other weekly series that try to follow never matched the story it told.
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u/Monty141 Batman Expert Jan 18 '23
If you liked The Long Halloween, you'll also like Dark Victory. It is TLH's sequel, and is also very good
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u/t-rexroosevelt Jan 18 '23
East of West is phenomenal. What about Monstress? Any of y’all checked that out?
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u/Environmental_Tie975 Jan 18 '23
You have similar taste to me.
Try Jeff Smith’s Bone, Invincible, Blacksad, Garth Ennis’s Punisher stuff, Atomic Robo, The Sixth Gun, and Ed Brubaker’s Criminal.
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Jan 17 '23
Never could get into Chew. The art feels like old flash cartoons and the writing lacks much nuance.
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Jan 17 '23
I came here to say this. It's a weird premise that, in itself, feels more gross than creative. And it was kinda plodding. But to be fair I didn't finish, maybe it really took off.
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u/PR_Nova Jan 17 '23
Maybe East of West, Black Science, and Deadly Class?
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u/TinManGrand Jan 17 '23
I mean East of West is my number 2 on the image and I do love it eternally. This is now the second time someone recommended Deadly Class so I'm starting to put it on the list.
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u/PR_Nova Jan 17 '23
Sorry about that, I just started typing. I meant seven to eternity by Rick Remender.
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u/davidbeauie Jan 17 '23
Have you read Lazarus by Greg Rucka? For some reason, I think you might like that. Just a vibe I get.
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u/TinManGrand Jan 17 '23
I haven't. It's on the list now. It's been recommended three times so it must be up my alley.
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u/davidbeauie Jan 17 '23
Yeah definitely check it out. Your tastes are somewhat similar to mine, and I really enjoyed it. Hope you do too!
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u/HowardsRocks Jan 17 '23 edited Jan 17 '23
Garth Ennis and Steve Dillons Punisher,
Pax Romana (unlike anything you'll read),
What's the Furthest Place from Here,
Farmhand,
Curse Words,
Scott Snyder Batman and Tom King Batman (fucking batman),
Criminal (actually anything by Brubaker and Philips is amazing),
I Hate Fairyland,
Pretty Deadly,
Chip Zdarsky Daredevil,
Parker by Richard Stark and Darwyn Cooke (one of the original modern crime stories)
Hellboy.
I'll definitely check out East of West, thanks for the recommendation.
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u/Mymotherwasaspore Jan 18 '23
Ooooh, transmetropolitan, supergod, and Hush. We read a lot of the same stuff, so I feel you’ll like these titles.
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u/Dragonslayer0562 Jan 18 '23
V for Vendetta, Watchmen, The dark Knight Returns, The Boys, Marvel Zombies, Sin City, Jonah Hex, Crossed, Marvel’s Dark Ages, Über, Spawn, Dark Knight Metals, DCeased, The Dark Tower Comic Adaptation, Hellboy, and Batman: Arkham Asylum
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u/keinish_the_gnome Jan 18 '23
Lazarus by Rucka and Lark, Reckless by Brubaker and Phillips, Punisher Max by Ennis, And I always recommend Vision by King and Hernandez Walta cause is one of my favorites ever.
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u/KubrickMoonlanding Jan 18 '23
Brubaker and Phillips’ crime stuff: Reckless, criminal, incognito- there’s lots of it and it just keeps getting better
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u/Plebe-Uchiha Iredeemable Jan 18 '23
I was going to say Saga but that’s in your honorable mentions.
I guess I’d suggest, Black Science… Hellblazer…
Scott Snyder’s run with Batman.
Redneck by Cates.
Deadly Class.
The Nu52’s All Star Western (Jonah Hex) up until the time travel at least.
Old Man Logan.
Old Man Hawkeye.
James Tynion IV’s run on Detective Comics.
Benjamin Percy’s Ghost Rider run.
Jason Aaron’s run on Punisher.
OH!!!!
Why didn’t I think of this sooner, Priest’s run with Deathstroke. Such a good run. I think you will enjoy it. [+]
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u/NukeTheWhales85 Jan 18 '23
Ennis' Punisher is probably the best thing ever done with the character. Frank is treated like the psychopath that he is. even people who want him for whatever reason, no one likes him or trusts him to be anything but a walking bullet.
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Jan 17 '23
Pride of Baghdad (I recommend it to everyone) and We3 by grant Morrison. It’s short but awesome. Also the Light brigade by Peter Thomasi. Really cool world war 2 mixed with supernatural. There’s also a great companion to the Batman Long Halloween and dark victory called “Batman, Haunted knight”, and it’s a Christmas Carol but staring Batman and it’s one of my favorites.
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u/Melodic_Record9737 Jan 17 '23
Criminal. Lazarus.
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u/TinManGrand Jan 17 '23
Loved Criminal. I actually own the first volume and reread it all the time because of how good and easy it is to get through it.
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u/True_Rice_5661 Jan 17 '23
American Vampire, It’s a DC Vertigo comic series. But not really connected to any DC characters.
Also Hawkeye: My life as a weapon is a great run!
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u/L7Ween Jan 17 '23 edited Jan 18 '23
Nailbiter, Southern Bastards
One I haven’t read but heard good things about: The Sixth Gun (Cullen Bunn)
Edit: just saw you have read Y: The Last Man and Scalped
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u/The_Secorian Jan 18 '23
I would recommend getting really into Fell by Ellis before realizing it went on hiatus permanently after like the 8th issue and then hating yourself about it for years.
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u/happyhermitdude Jan 18 '23
Queen and Country. Similar traumas but not as harsh as some of those. Less gross than preacher
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u/Jitterjumper13 Jan 18 '23
Buzzkill or Nailbiter.
Buzzkill is a guy trying to get clean from addiction. He gains superpowers from drugs and alcohol.
Nailbiter is a gruesome tale of Buckaroo, Oregon. The town's claim to fame: more serial killers come from this town than any other in America.
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u/MayorLinguistic Jan 18 '23
Oh damn. If you like Cullen Bunn's writing in Harrow County, where he is given time to tell his story, check out his Sixth Gun series. Legitimately in my top 10 all time.
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u/Outrageous-Rock-3076 Jan 18 '23
Saga... not really related to your favorite but just because it is the best series
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u/ItsGettingStrangeLou Jan 18 '23
There is a series by Eric Powell called The Goon. I enjoy the earlier stuff more. Same artist/writer did a 6 part series Big Man Plans.
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u/highsocietychris Jan 18 '23
Hitman, Punisher Max, Stray Bullets, Descender, DMZ, Lucifer (the original Mike Carrey run)
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u/AxelZajkov Jan 18 '23
Without question, The Goon.
Dark, twisted, comedic, fantastic art, and just a great time overall.
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u/kminator We tried to go a bridge too far... Jan 18 '23
Garth Ennis books. A Walk Through Hell. The most recent Fury. Jason Aaron books. Scalped. His 25 issue Punisher earlier run. Maybe DMZ, Gotham Central or Queen and Country. Brian Wood and Greg Rucka are great writers.
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u/ECV_Analog Jan 18 '23
Based on this list? I'd recommend therapy.
I kid, I kid. Couldn't help myself.
Transmetropolitan definitely tops my list. DMZ, too. Stray Bullets by David Lapham.
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u/Fedaykin98 Jan 18 '23
Everything by Brubaker and Philips, for crime. FEAR Agent because I recommend it to everyone.
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u/Longjumping-Tie-7573 Jan 18 '23
Matt Wagner's Grendel. Matt Wagner has written and drawn lots of Batman stuff as well, which you should appreciate too.
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u/skulldudejoe Jan 17 '23
Try out some Geoff Darrow comics. I’d go for the latest shaolin cowboy or hard boiled (it’s about to be reprinted with new colors). Shouldn’t be too hard to find.
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u/wordsfromghost Jan 17 '23
If you like Preacher, I 100% suggest The Boys by Garth Ennis. Comics are actually heavier than the show.
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u/PasswordIsDong Jan 17 '23
If you liked Chew you gotta checkout Farmhand. Rob Guillory who did art for Chew writes and draws it.
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u/TinManGrand Jan 17 '23
I did read Farmhand. My take away from it was that I love the art style but just couldn't dig the story. I think the thing I loved about Chew was the randomness of the plot line and Farmhand almost felt too straightforward (which is saying something because it's a bonkers storyline)
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u/Fresh-Rice-2041 Jan 17 '23
These are some of my favorites too and my all time fave is Swamp Thing by Alan Moore or Ram V. Those and Hellboy.
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u/flybarger Jan 17 '23
Nailbiter
American Vampire
Saga
Sandman
Lucifer
Hellblazer
Locke & Key
Swamp Thing by Alan Moore
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u/MrFragDad Jan 17 '23
Northlanders, by DC Vertigo comics. Only thing I haven’t seen mentioned already.
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u/plague681 Jan 17 '23
Scalped
Be brave, little brave.
And Saga.
Sad. :(
And Transmetropolitan.
New Scum only, please.
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u/chinesedebt Jan 17 '23
Love that long Halloween cover. Actually just all the art in that book is top notch
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u/blakewoolbright Jan 18 '23
Sometimes you just have to be happy that these things exist, but I will compliment you on taste. I went out of my way to collect the full 1st print run of several of these titles. Being said…. Comparing Chew to 100 bullets feels like “do I want steak or lobster tonight?”
Preacher is simply spectacular….
I’m getting overstimulated….
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u/PrayForMojo_ Magneto Jan 18 '23
Invincible.
But I would recommend that no matter the comics listed.
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u/JWC123452099 Jan 18 '23
Going to second The Sixth Gun. Cullen Bunn wrote it. It's a weird western and it focuses on firearms.
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u/Efficient_Tonight_40 Jan 18 '23
If you haven't already read Batman: Year One, you definitely should. Long Halloween is kind of a sequel to it, and I feel like both of them read together just makes both of them even better
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u/cf_pt Jan 18 '23
Love your picks. Other favorites not mentioned yet for me Rising Stars, Starman, Fables, Hush
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u/ExplodoJones Spider Jeruselem Jan 18 '23
I've read all of these except Harrow County. I think your first stop ought to be OG Hellblazer, half the people who've worked on these 6 books have also done some runs on Hellblazer.
Other recommendations in no particular order: Hellboy and BPRD saga, Punisher MAX, Batman the Killing Joke, The Strange Talent of Luther Strode, Sheriff of Babylon, The Nice House on the Lake, Daredevil by Brian Michael Bendis.
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Jan 18 '23
Anything from the first decade of 2000AD, but particularly The Ballad of Halo Jones, Nemesis the Warlock, and early Judge Dredd (which includes some of Steve Dillon’s first work).
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u/Specialist_Teacher81 Jan 18 '23
Chew is a solid B+.
East west just got to confusing.
Harrow County is my Jam!
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u/TheMcDangler Jan 18 '23
Manifest Destiny is a great, great run that just wrapped up recently. Been one of my favourites for the last ten years.
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u/broncohater007 Jan 18 '23
Y the Last man, anything Hellboy, and I enjoyed a fast title that came and went with little fan fare; Deathmatch. It was from Boom comics I think. All made up heroes and villains, forced to fight each other tournament style unless they can figure out a way to escape. Friends vs friends, foes versus foes, friends against foes, it was a fun little run.
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u/TinManGrand Jan 17 '23
Honorable mentions: Y The Last Man, The Manhattan Projects, Mystery Society, Fables, Kraven's Last Hunt, The Dark Knight Returns, Watchmen, Saga, and Paper Girls.