What do you think are the best comics, graphic novels, or manga of all time—and why?
Think in terms of art, writing, emotional impact, and even didactic value if that's something you care about.

I'm starting to get more into comics and I really love this medium, but it's hard to know where to go next.

Those are all memes except for Watchmen.

The best: Carl Barks' Scrooge comics, the complete Peanuts, much of Chris Ware's work, Krazy Kat, and From Hell.

>>149286930 (OP)
the nortubel comic is a pretty good one

>>149286930 (OP)
id rather read this unironically

comics are action figures on paper, if you want actual depth read the books that inspired comics, the genre is meant to be low brow and for adolescents

>>149286952
>The other seven comics getting eternally teabagged, circa current year (decolourized)

>>149286952
This, lack of curation is a really big problem with getting into comics, you look through all those recommendations, doesn't matter whether it's some nerd site top 100 or /co/ chart, and like 99% of the list are absolute memes of books, it's never "best of" or even "mostly good" it's "here is some books that people say are classics and here is a bunch I read recently or just saw the cover and liked the blurb". How the fuck does Snyder or King or fucking Rucka make it anywhere near people's best of? Why do I see anything Waid post 90s? Who has ever enjoyed a book by Azzarello that wasn't 100 bullets?
I always feel so stupid when browsing those because it feels like nobody reads comics, they just collect stickers on their e-penises

>>149287010
Just get a couple books about the history of the medium.

>>149286986
Respondeo dicendum quod: I do read books too—specifically classic literature, philosophy, and theology. I'm currently working through Mortimer Adler’s list (with a few additions) in chronological order.

That said, comics are a medium, not a genre—just like film, music, or painting. The potential for depth or didactic value depends on how the medium is used, not the medium itself. Music, for example, doesn’t teach in the same way books do, but it can still profoundly affect the soul. Comics can do the same.

>>149287010
What would you say are your favorites/the best?

>>149286930 (OP)
I'll throw a curve ball and say there are two books I really recommend. Both are similar in ways and take up the 1 and 2 spots for me.

Starman: Great book about legacy and history. It's a bit different from the usual superhero fair and is much more slow. Taking it's time to build out the world. Lots of great characters too. Jack Knight is someone I personally connect with a lot. Also leads right into Geoff John's JSA run.

Invincible: Does everything you've seen before in hero books with one rule in place, continuity. There is no reset button and when people die they die. It also loving plays with tropes you've seen before in fun ways that feel unique. Also worth watching the show as well. It is stellar.

Plus Invincible also gave us Fatom Eve so....

>>149287070
>he potential for depth or didactic value depends on how the medium is used, not the medium itself.
True but the medium has been barely used to it's full potential.

>>149287200
you could say that about any other medium and it would still be true, 90% of everything is shit

>>149286930 (OP)
Dark Horse had some great stuff in the past...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0DNPVxFH_c

>>149286952
>Those are all memes except for Watchmen.

you have fucking garbage taste

>>149286930 (OP)
>these are the best comics of all time
Man comics are are really shit medium

>>149287200
I agree with what the other responder said. Nonetheless, comics aren’t a medium that was just born—storytelling and visual art have had thousands of years to develop.

Now, there are two possibilities in response to what you said:

You haven’t found good comics—maybe because you haven’t read the right ones, or because many of the best works aren’t mainstream and are harder to find.

We haven’t yet been gifted with a truly great mind and soul who’s deeply invested in comics (specifically comics—not just storytelling or sequential art). Or if such a person exists, their work hasn’t gotten much attention yet.

From the comics I have read, those that I'd say approach the depth, emotional beauty or insight of books (yet, unfortunately, do not reach it) are: Vinland Saga, perhaps Berserk, Maus, and perhaps Asterios Polyp, All-Star Superman (though I am in the process of rereading all but the first two).
I have yet to reread Watchmen. And many other works are on my list, some popular, some less.

Perhaps this is also an opportunity to post my planned reading list, and let others share whether they have read these works, why they are good, or why they recommend other works:
>From Hell
>Watchmen
>Jimmy Corrigan
>Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck
>Sandman
>Batman: DKR
>A Contract with God
>Daytripper
>Swamp Thing
>Kingdom Come
>Blankets
>Sin City
>Batman: Year One
>Fables
>Daredevil (both by Miller)
>Cerebus (at least High Society)
>V for Vendetta
>Bone
>The Incal
>Akira
>Black Hole
>Fun Home
>Essex County
>TinTin
>Berlin

(To the other posters, I'm also interested in checking out your recommendations.)

>>149288464
The comics on the picture are not represent my views, nor have I read most of them. It was simply a picture that I believed would fit to start a conversation.

>>149286930 (OP)
>gay neopagan shit
>the capeshit that ruined capeshit
>jew persecution fantasy
>DEI persecution fantasy
>the capeshit that no one understood
>literally who
>gay little manga you only know of because it has a movie
>"whire people BAD" zombie apocalypse
One of the worst thread starters I've ever seen

>>149288639
Perhaps you can recommend some comics that you find good?

>>149288464
Damn dude save some pussy for the rest of us

>>149286930 (OP)
mortadelo y filemon
asterix
tintin

>>149288618
I'd read some more of Moore's stuff, too. If you like Sandman, you will like Promethea. If you like horror, you will like his Lovecraft Trilogy: Neonomicon, Providence, and The Courtyard.

You need some Grant Morrison in there too, most definitely. The Invisibles is his magnum opus, but it can be a bit much. You might try something like Animal Man or The Filth from Morrison first.

Let's see. Transmetropolitan probably belongs on your list. So does Batman: The Long Halloween. Also check out Locke & Key and Invincible. Usagi Yojimbo.

>>149288618
While you should definitely read Kingdom Come, it sucks. Alex Ross's art is great, but you'll have a better time with the stuff he did with Paul Dini. There are many other Elseworlds books much more worth reading.

>>149286952
Saga, TWD, and Fables maybe but the rest are excellent

>>149286930 (OP)
1. Cerebus
2. Sin City
3. Detective Comics #469-476
4. We3
5. The Far Side Gallery 2
6. Sandman
7. Amazing Fantasy #15, Amazing Spider-Man vol 1 #1-38
8. Hip Hop Family Tree
9. Clyde Fans
10. Captain Marvel Adventures
11. Spider-Man (1990) #1-16
12. Ghost World
13. Simpsons Comics
14. Fantastic Four vol 1 #1-102, Annual #1-6
15. Watchmen
16. Stardust the Super Wizard
17. Shock Suspenstories
18. Warrior (1996) #1-4
19. Tintin
20. Youngblood (1992) #1-5
21. Naruto
22. Captain Victory (1981)
23. Calvin and Hobbes
24. Heathcliff
25. Star Brand (1986) #1-7

>>149289543
26. Prince Valiant
27. The War That Time Forgot
28. Liberty Meadows
29. La Prensa's Spider-Man comics
30. King City
31. Planet Terry
32. Planetary
33. Scout
34. Jon Sable, Freelance
35. All Star Superman
36. Tales From the Crypt (1950)
37. Little Annie Fanny
38. Neutro
39. Sojourn
40. My Hero Academia
41. Phoenix: Endsong
42. Martha Washington
43. Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot
44. Hellboy
45. Corto Maltese
46. Street Angel
47. Druuna
48. Boof
49. Deathmate
50. Richie Rich

>>149289553
51. Gene Colan era of Daredevil
52. Spumco Comic Book
53. The Sons of El Topo
54. Kirby Manga Mania
55. GI Joe: A Real American Hero
56. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Mirage)
57. Warlock by Jim Starlin
58. Copra
59. Little Lulu
60. Amazing-Man Comics
61. Iron Man #1-332
62. Donald Duck: A Christmas For Shacktown
63. Casper: The Friendly Ghost (1958) #1-260
64. Captain America (1996) #1-13
65. Adolescent Radioactive Black-Belt Hamsters
66. Stan Lee/Jack Kirby Thor
67. Roy Thomas/Neal Adams X-Men
68. Futurama Comics
69. Blacksad
70. Chainsaw Man
71. Justice League International
72. Kamandi (1972) #1-40
73. Spider-Man: Life Story
74. Daredevil: Born Again
75. Sonic the Hedgehog

>>149289559
76. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Archie)
77. Savage Dragon
78. Shade the Changing Man (1990)
79. Lone Wolf and Cub
80. Cyberforce
81. Batman Incorporated by Grant Morrison
82. Metabarons
83. Ro-Busters
84. Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD by Steranko
85. Punisher MAX by Ennis
86. Snot Girl
87. Chamber of Chills (1951)
88. 1963
89. Tarzan by Burne Hogarth
90. Peanuts
91. Love and Rockets
92. Azumanga Daioh
93. Minus
94. Stray Toasters
95. Crime Does Not Pay
96. Gantz
97. Domu: A Child's Dream
98. Legion of Super-Heroes by Jim Shooter and Mike Grell
99. Biden's Titans vs Trump's Titans
100. Greb Comics

>>149287010
most western comics suck
I've been desperately trying to find good ones for the last ten years
Literally only Watchmen, Hard Boiled, Batman: The Killing Joke scratched the itch even a tiny bit. I'm going to give up soon, it's a genre or style of comics that's too stubborn and caught up in money and politics to be free to make good art and stories.

>>149287010
>Who has ever enjoyed a book by Azzarello that wasn't 100 bullets?
Moonshine was good

>>149289543
>>149289553
>>149289559
>>149289570
You seem to have made a mistake. By "Naruto," I think you meant "Dragon Ball," and by "My Hero Academia," you meant to say "Bleach."

>>149286930 (OP)
The Crow, A History of Violence, Watchmen, V for Vendetta, Bone, Grendel, The Dark Knight Returns.

This is all you need.

>>149289679
What kind of cartoons do you like?

>>149290561
You seem to have made a mistake. By "Bleach" you meant to say "Nick Simmons' Incarnate."

>>149286930 (OP)
>Think in terms of art, writing, emotional impact, and even didactic value if that's something you care about.
If you don't mind something for kids, pic related
I read it not expecting much but came out of it thinking it encapsulates a lot of what makes comics an effective and unique method of storytelling

>>149290643
I am not familiar with this Nick Simmons character. Bleach fans eat good. It has everything that makes battle shonen good in spades, plus now we have the TYBW anime and of course there's Club Kubo for lore junkies.

>>149288639
>>literally who
>Not knowing what Fables is

>>149288639
>>jew persecution fantasy
You read Maus thinking it's just a typical holocaust memoir
What you actually read is the author hammering down that being a victim of a terrible atrocity doesn't erase the fact that you can be a terrible person regardless

>>149286952
Watchmen is shit

>>149290613
I'm an edgy bitch so my favorite cartoons are
things like:
>Invader Zim (yes I read some of the Invader Zim comic and other Vasquez comics)
>Batman Beyond (yes I've read some of the comics)
>The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack
>Billy and Mandy
>Megas XLR
>Samurai Jack
>Aaah Real Monsters
>Regular Show

>>149290924
read this

>>149290924
>>149290968
If you're gonna recommend Jay Stephens' comics to an edgelord I strongly recommend his earlier stuff

It's always fun seeing the kind of stuff people would make before doing children's cartoons

>>149290968
okay I will do it for you anon

>>149290993
>>149291000
I've not read this before. Reminds me of Gregory. Looks right up my alley.

>>149291080
Yeah I think he has it all collected under Dejects
There's also the Nod comics which got collected ages ago

>>149291100
Cool

>>149286930 (OP)
Sandman
Lucifer
Alan Moore Swamp-Thing
Daytripper
Monstress
Prophet
Calvin and Hobbes
Eternaut
Edena
Locke and Key
Watchmen
Age of Apocalypse and Uncanny X-Force
Age of Reptiles
Olivier Ledroit stuff for the art
Fathom (Michael Turner) for the art
Blacksad
90s Venom stuff
Nemesis the Warlock
Major Bummer
dark horse star wars
2017 Darth Vader
We3
Heavy Hitters: Savage Feud
Punisher Max: Born
Ghost Rider 2099
Finder
Puma Blues
The Crow
Black Orchid
Books of Magic
The Unwritten
Ophiocus
Twig

>>149286930 (OP)
They all suck dick

>>149286930 (OP)
Usagi Yojimbo.

>>149286952
>The best: Carl Barks' Scrooge comics
Holy fucking Based i kneel
The only thing missing is Asterix and Tintin

>>149286930 (OP)
Watchmen
Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?
For the Man Who Has Everything
All-Star Superman
Final Crisis
Hellblazer

>>149290697
This. Art's dad is a fucking asshole and an unreliable narrator throughout the entire thing.

>only one person brought up Asterios Polyp so far
Get it together you guys. It's the kind of work that really leans into the medium itself. City of Glass was also good but Mazzucchelli really took things to the next level with Asterios Polyp.

>>149286986
Hey don't be talking shit about maximum Carnage.
It's kino of the highest degree.

>>149286930 (OP)
I can only think of Watchmen, but I have to reread a bunch of stuff. I remember The Dark Knight Returns being up there too.
I recently reread /co/ favorites like All-Star Superman and Silver Surfer: Requiem, and they don't hold up so much, especially Silver Surfer.
>>149286986
Stuff like this ends up being pretty boring. Not enough meat on it to keep me interested.
>>149286992
It has some of the greatest art in all of manga, but it's not that great of a read.

>>149286930 (OP)
That's a tough one. Comics have a lot of room for growth.

>>149287010
no, the problem is that you have shit taste

>>149289570
You just listed 100 comics you read. Most of these are terrible.

>>149295359
no, the problem is that you have shit taste

>>149294119
>>149295746
Fuck off, bot.

>>149292299
>i kneel
You have the same taste. How does that work?

>>149295746
>>149296768
why the fuck did someone copy my post lol

>>149297833
some butthurt fag probably
also you have shit taste for defending snyder, king, rucka, waid, and azzarello

>>149290708
It's great.