Graphic Novels

Gotham Central book cover

Gotham Central

Greg Rucka

COMIC Gotham
Graphic Novels

Gotham City: a town teeming with corrupt cops, ruthless crime lords, petty thieves … and just a small handful that would oppose them. Grizzled veteran Harvey Bullock, Captain Maggie Sawyer, detective Renee Montoya and the GCPD are the law force that stands between order and complete anarchy. Gotham's Finest work around the clock to not only keep the world's most psychotic criminals off the street... but also cleaning up the mess left behind by Batman's one-man war on crime. Written by critically acclaimed authors Ed Brubaker (Captain America) and Greg Rucka (52, DETECTIVE COMICS), this Eisner Award-winning series follows the detectives of Gotham City’s Special Crimes Unit as they navigate the against the city's greatest villains — in the shadow of Batman himself.

Brian's picture

A police drama and procedural set in Gotham City. Batman is a presence--and not always a welcome one--but this is really about the men and women in uniform. -Brian

Batman book cover

Batman

Tom King

COMIC Batman 2016
Graphic Novels

"A part of DC Universe: Rebirth! "I AM GOTHAM" The Caped Crusader has never been stopped. Not by the Joker. Not by Two-Face. Not even by the entire Justice League. But now, in the wake of DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH, Batman must face his most challenging foe ever--a hero who wants to save Gotham...from the Batman! From one of the biggest breakout writers in years and former CIA analyst, Tom King (GRAYSON, THE SHERIFF OF BABYLON) and superstar artist David Finch present BATMAN VOL. 1!"--

Brian's picture

Tom King's current run on Batman is ridiculously good, and it's not even done yet! -Brian

Batman, Incorporated book cover

Batman, Incorporated

Grant Morrison

COMIC Batman Incorporated
Graphic Novels

"The war on crime is about to go global. Returned from a fate worse than death and once again wearing the mantle of the Bat, Bruce Wayne is no longer merely Batman's secret identity. Now he's the public face and financier of Batman, Inc.-- a worldwide army of like-minded crimefighters sworn to protect society from its own worst elements. From Tokyo to Paris, from Argentina to Australia, from war-torn African villages to poverty-stricken Native American reservations, a network of Dark Knights is taking the fight to the enemy-- and evil has no place to hide. Or does it?" -- dust jacket back.

Brian's picture

Batman, Incorporated is when Grant Morrison's sprawling epic really got good. But, if you want to read it from the beginning, start with Batman and Son. -Brian

Batman : dark victory book cover

Batman : dark victory

Jeph Loeb

COMIC Batman
Graphic Novels

In this sequel to the legendary Batman: The Long Halloween, another mystery killer has sprouted in Gotham City, but it's not the town we all quite knew. Once a place controlled by organized crime, Gotham City suddenly finds itself being run by lawless freaks, such as Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, and the Joker. It is still early in Batman's crimefighting career, but the Dark Knight is on the verge of completing his transformation into the city's greatest defender. However, nothing he has experienced thus far—not even a new sidekick named Robin—will prepare him for the Hangman. With the murders reminiscent of the Holiday killing spree just a year ago, Batman will have to call on every one of his detective's instincts to solve a mystery that goes even deeper—and more dangerous—than any he's faced before. From the juggernaut creative team of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sales comes Batman: Dark Victory, one of the finest stories in the Dark Knight's fabled lore. Collects issues #0-13.

Brian's picture

Batman: The Long Halloween is held up as a classic Batman story (and it is)! I prefer it's sequel, Dark Victory, waaaaaaay more though. -Brian

Batman : year one book cover

Batman : year one

Frank Miller

COMIC Batman Miller
Graphic Novels

The story of how Batman's career started, told in graphic novel form.

Brian's picture

Mazzucchelli and Miller re-imagined Batman's origin with legendary results. I still want to get Mazzucchelli's artwork from this tattooed on me. -Brian

MISTER MIRACLE. book cover

MISTER MIRACLE.

TOM KING

COMIC/Mister/2017
Graphic Novels

"Mister Miracle is magical, dark, intimate and unlike anything you've read before. Scott Free is the greatest escape artist who ever lived. So great, he escaped Granny Goodness' gruesome orphanage and the dangers of Apokolips to travel across galaxies and set up a new life on Earth with his wife, Big Barda. Using the stage alter ego of Mister Miracle, he has made quite a career for himself showing off his acrobatic escape techniques. He even caught the attention of the Justice League, who has counted him among its ranks. You might say Scott Free has everything--so why isn't it enough? Mister Miracle has mastered every illusion, achieved every stunt, pulled off every trick--except one. He has never escaped death. Is it even possible? Our hero is going to have to kill himself if he wants to find out. From Hugo Award nominated writer Tom King and artist Mitch Gerads, the team behind The Sheriff of Babylon, comes an ambitious new take on one of Jack Kirby's most beloved New Gods in Mister Miracle!"--

Brian's picture

This was easily my favorite comic series that came out last year, and a new high-water mark for comic book storytelling. -Brian

The Umbrella Academy book cover

The Umbrella Academy

Gerard Way

COMIC Umbrella
Graphic Novels

"In an inexplicable worldwide event, forty-seven extraordinary children were spontaneously born by women who'd previously shown no signs of pregnancy. Millionaire inventor Reginald Hargreeves adopted seven of the children; when asked why, his only explanation was, 'To save the world.' These seven children form The Umbrella Academy, a dysfunctional family of superheroes with bizarre powers. Their first adventure at the age of ten pits them against an erratic and deadly Eiffel Tower, piloted by the fearsome zombie-robot Gustave Eiffel. Nearly a decade later, the team disbands, but when Hargreeves unexpectedly dies, these disgruntled siblings reunite just in time to save the world once again" -- from publisher's web site.

Jason's picture

Netflix will release a series based on this comic featuring a dysfunctional family of superheroes, originally created and written by Gerard Way and illustrated by Gabriel Bá. -Jason

Wraith book cover

Wraith

COMIC/Wraith
Graphic Novels

Joe Hill's New York Times Bestselling novel, NOS4A2, introduced readers to the terrifying funhouse world of Christmasland, and the mad man who rules there: Charlie Manx. Now, in an original new comic mini-series, Hill throws wide the candy cane gates to tell a standalone story that is at once both accessible to new readers, and sure to delight fans of the novel where he explored Charlie's twisted beginnings, introduces a new and depraved cast of characters to Christmasland, and takes readers on a 100 mph ride down a nightmare road in a car with no brakes.

Shawna's picture

Joe Hill explores the past of the main villain of his novel, NOS4A2 in this graphic novel. -Shawna

Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-man book cover

Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-man

COMIC Spider-Man Peter 2017
Graphic Novels

Brian's picture

"Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man" is a great companion series to "Amazing Spider-Man" and is written by super popular comic book creator Chip Zdarsky. -Brian

The Amazing Spider-Man. Worldwide book cover

The Amazing Spider-Man. Worldwide

Dan Slott

COMIC Spider-Man Amazing 2015
Graphic Novels

"The world's greatest superhero goes global! Parker Industries is more successful than ever, with new offices in Shanghai, London and San Francisco. Peter Parker is racking up the frequent-flyer miles--with his "bodyguard" Spider-Man in tow! But success breeds enemies, like the astrological Zodiac who have widened their scope to threaten the entire Earth. Pete isn't neglecting New York--but his new HQ is in the former Baxter Building, and the Human Torch is going to have something to say about that! And while Spider-Man has expanded his reach, so have his foes. Someone in Africa is masquerading as a member of the Goblin family, and it's up to everyone's favorite wall-crawler to investigate. Join Dan Slott and Giuseppe Camuncoli as they take Spider-Man to the next level!"--Volume 1 cover.

Brian's picture

Curious what regular 'ol Spider-Man is up to? "Amazing Spider-Man: Worldwide" is a good place to start. -Brian