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A matter of misunderstanding of those who don't read comics is that they are all superhero related. This isn't so. For ever genre of fiction you can find in a bookstore there is a comic that fits with it. There is not topic that cannot be explored in comics. My 1st recommendation is to think about what you like to normally and then look for that genre in comics. I am confident you will find something to meet your taste.

The following are some recommendations that might help you figure out what you like.

Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud is a fantastic place to begin your foray into comics. It is a comprehensive book that can be used as a road map through comics. Everything you wanted to know about the art form can be found here.

If you like myth/Shakespeare I would recommend the Sandman Series by Neil Gaiman. It is rich with literary and mythical allusions that add to the richness of the story. There is no other book that I know of that can deal with fantasy, horror, the macabre, mythology, theology and history in the beautifully human way that Sandman does.

Watchmen by Alan Moore is an excellent read, particularly if you are looking for the anti-superhero comic, every stereotypical them of superheroes is explored and ripped apart in this intelligent work of art. The movie was good, but can't hold a candle to the book.

A book that has been on my must read list for sometime is Maus by Art Spiegelman. It is a survivor's tail of the holocaust. You can't get further away from the traditional comics medium then that. It is also a winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

Here is also a list of writers and books that you might want to look into:

Writers:

Brian Michael Bendis - practically a writing god to Marvel

J. Michael Straczynski you know his writing whether you realize it or not

Kevin Smith Sir writes comics, can't get them in on time, but he does write them

Joss Whedon yeah from Buffy/Angel/Firefly

Frank Miller one of the best gritty storytellers of his generation

Jeff Loeb like JMS you know his work too

Grant Morrison excellent writer, sometimes hard to understand, but very good

Peter David - a writer similar to Loeb and Straczynski

Richard Donner wrote for Superman of course

Books:

Batman: Hush

John Constantine: Hellblazer

The Sin City Novels

The Dark Knight Returns

Annihilation

Marvel 1602

DMZ

The Killing Joke

The Long Halloween

Learn more about this author, D. Kearney Sparano.
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