Alan David Doane's Recommended Comics, Graphic Novels and Related -- I started reading comic books in 1972, at the age of six. This is a list of the very best comics, graphic novels and related publications I have read in my lifetime of reading and a decade of writing about the artform. This is a work in progress; if you have a suggestion for this page, or if you have questions about any of these titles I've listed, please email me.

Alison Bechdel

• Fun Home, graphic novel, published by Houghton Mifflin

Chester Brown

• I Never Liked You, graphic novel, published by Drawn and Quarterly


• The Little Man, graphic novel, published by Drawn and Quarterly


• Louis Riel, graphic novel, published by Drawn and Quarterly


• The Playboy, graphic novel, published by Drawn and Quarterly

Ed Brubaker

• Criminal, comic books and graphic novels with artist Sean Phillips, published by Marvel/Icon Comics


• Sleeper, comic books and graphic novels with artist Sean Phillips, published by DC/Wildstorm

Charles Burns

• Black Hole, graphic novel, published by Pantheon Books

Eddie Campbell

• Fate of the Artist, graphic novel, published by First Second


• Alec: The King Canute Crowd, graphic novel, published by Top Shelf Productions


• Alec: How to be an Artist, graphic novel, published by Top Shelf Productions


• Alec: Three-Piece Suit, graphic novel, published by Top Shelf Productions


• After The Snooter, graphic novel, published by Top Shelf Productions


• additional works listed under Alan Moore

Dan Clowes

• 20th Century Eightball, graphic novel collecting stores from Eightball, published by Fantagraphics Books


• Caricature, graphic novel collecting stores from Eightball, published by Fantagraphics Books
• Ice Haven, graphic novel, published by Pantheon


• David Boring, graphic novel collecting stores from Eightball, published by Fantagraphics Books


• Eightball, single issue comic book series, published by Fantagraphics Books


• Ghost World, graphic novel collecting stores from Eightball, published by Fantagraphics Books


• Like A Velvet Glove Cast in Iron, graphic novel collecting stores from Eightball, published by Fantagraphics Books


• Pussey, graphic novel collecting stores from Eightball, published by Fantagraphics Books

Jordan Crane

• The Clouds Above, graphic novel, published by Fantagraphics Books

Robert Crumb

• The Complete Crumb Comics, series of graphic novels, published by Fantagraphics Books


• The R. Crumb Handbook, art book and memoir, with writer Pete Poplaski, published by MQ Publications

Joe Daly

• Scrublands, graphic novel collecting short stories, published by Fantagraphics Books

Warren Ellis

• The Authority, comic books and graphic novels with artists Bryan Hitch, Paul Neary and Laura Depuy, published by DC/Wildstorm


• Crécy, graphic novel with artist Raulo Caceres, published by Avatar Press


• Desolation Jones, comic books and graphic novel with artist JH Williams, published by DC/Wildstorm


• Fell, comic books and graphic novels with artist Ben Templesmith, published by Image Comics


• Planetary, comic books and graphic novels with artist John Cassaday, published by DC Wildstorm


• Stormwatch, comic books and graphic novels with artists Tom Raney, Bryan Hitch and others, published by DC/Wildstorm

Garth Ennis

• 303, graphic novel with artist Jacen Burrows, published by Avatar Press


• The Punisher, graphic novels collecting single issue comic books, published by Marvel/MAX Comics


• War Stories, graphic novels with various artists, published by DC/Vertigo Comics

Renee French

• Marbles in My Underpants, graphic novel collecting short stories, published by Oni Press


• Micrographica, graphic novel, published by Top Shelf Productions


• The Ticking, graphic novel published by Top Shelf Productions

Gary Groth

• The Comics Journal, magazine, with managing editor Michael Dean and various contributors, published by Fantagraphics Books


• MOME, semi-annual graphic novel edited by Groth and Eric Reynolds, with various cartoonists, published by Fantagraphics Books

Gilbert Hernandez

• Love and Rockets, comic book series with Jaime Hernandez, published by Fantagraphics Books


• Palomar, graphic novel, published by Fantagraphics Books

Jaime Hernandez

• Ghost of Hoppers, graphic novel, published by Fantagraphics Books


• Locas, graphic novel, published by Fantagraphics Books


• Love and Rockets, comic book series with Gilbert Hernandez, published by Fantagraphics Books

Paul Hornschemeier

• The Collected Sequential, graphic novel collecting short stories, published by AdHouse Books


• Forlorn Funnies, comic book series, first four issues published by Absence of Ink, future issues to be published by Fantagraphics Books


• Let Us Be Perfectly Clear, graphic novel collecting short stories, published by Fantagraphics Books


• Mother, Come Home, graphic novel, published by Dark Horse Comics


• The Three Paradoxes, graphic novel, published by Fantagraphics Books

Kevin Huizenga

• Ganges, ongoing oversized comic series, published by Fantagraphics Books


• Curses, graphic novel collecting stories from anthologies and mini-comics, published by Drawn and Quarterly

James Kochalka

• American Elf, daily diary comic strip


• American Elf Vol. 1, graphic novel collecting daily strips, published by Top Shelf Productions


• American Elf Vol. 2, graphic novel collecting daily strips, published by Top Shelf Productions


• Superfuckers, comic book series published by Top Shelf Productions


• The Cute Manifesto, graphic novel, published by Alternative Comics


• Magic Boy and Girlfriend, graphic novel, published by Top Shelf Productions


• Fantastic Butterflies, graphic novel, published by Alternative Comics


• Fancy Froglin's Sexy Forest, graphic novel, published by Alternative Comics


• Kissers, graphic novel, published by Highwater Books


• Perfect Planet and Other Stories, graphic novel, published by Top Shelf Productions


• Tiny Bubbles, graphic novel published by Highwater Books

Bob Levin

• Outlaws, Rebels, Free Thinkers and Pirates, non-fiction book of essays, published by Fantagraphics Books

Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

• Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus, graphic novel, published by Marvel Comics

Jasen Lex

• Gypsy Lounge: Lunchtime Variety Criminals, graphic novel, published by Aweful Books


• The Science Fair, four single issues, published by Antarctic Press

Jason Marcy

• Jay's Days Volumes 1, 2 and 3, series of graphic novels, published by Hairy Bald Guy Books

Joe Matt

• Peepshow, comic books and graphic novel published by Drawn and Quarterly


• The Poor Bastard, graphic novel, published by Drawn and Quarterly


• Spent, graphic novel, published by Drawn and Quarterly

David Mazzucchelli

• Batman: Year One, with writer Frank Miller, published by DC Comics


• Daredevil: Born Again, with writer Frank Miller, published by Marvel Comics


• Paul Auster's City of Glass, with writer Paul Karasik, published by Picador Press


• Rubber Blanket, series of oversized comic books, self-published

Mike Mignola

• Hellboy, series of graphic novels published by Dark Horse Comics

Mark Miller

• Superman Adventures, digest-sized graphic novels collecting single issue comic books, with various artists, published by DC Comics

Gary Spencer Millidge

• Strangehaven, comics and graphic novels, published by Abiogenesis Press

Tony Millionaire

• Maakies, series of graphic novels collecting comic strips, published by Fantagraphics Books

Alan Moore

• A Disease of Language, graphic novel with artist Eddie Campbell, published by Knockabout Comics


• The Courtyard, graphic novel collecting single issue comics, with artist Jacen Burrows, published by Avatar Press


• From Hell, graphic novel with artist Eddie Campbell, published by Top Shelf Productions


• League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 1 and 2, series of graphic novels collecting single issue comics, with artist Kevin O'Neill, published by America's Best Comics (future releases published by Top Shelf Productions


• Lost Girls, graphic novel with artist Melinda Gebbie, published by Top Shelf Productions


• Promethea, series of graphic novels collecting single issue comics, with artist JH Williams, published by America's Best Comics


• Smax, graphic novel collecting single issue comics, with artist Zander Cannon, published by America's Best Comics (sequel to Top Ten)


• Tom Strong, series of graphic novels collecting single issue comics, with artist Chris Sprouse and others, published by America's Best Comics


• Top Ten, series of graphic novels collecting single issue comics, with artists Zander Cannon and Gene Ha, published by America's Best Comics


• Top Ten: The Forty-Niners, graphic novel by Alan Moore and Gene Ha, published by America's Best Comics (prequel to Top Ten)


• Voice of the Fire, prose novel with illustrations by José Villarrubia, published by Top Shelf Productions


• Watchmen, graphic novel with artist Dave Gibbons, published by DC Comics


• Writing for Comics, illustrated essay, published by Avatar Press

Grant Morrison

• All-Star Superman, comic book with artist Frank Quitely, published by DC Comics


• The Filth, graphic novel with artist Chris Weston, published by DC/Vertigo Comics


• JLA Earth Two, graphic novel, with artist Frank Quitely, published by DC Comics


• We3, graphic novel collecting single issues with artist Frank Quitely, published by DC/Vertigo Comics

Bryan Lee O'Malley

• Lost at Sea, graphic novel, published by Oni Press


• Scott Pilgrim, series of graphic novels, published by Oni Press

Harvey Pekar

• American Splendor, series of single issue comics and graphic novels, with various artists, published by Four Walls/Eight Windows, DC/Vertigo, Ballantine, Dark Horse and self-published by Pekar

John Porcellino

• Diary of a Mosquito Abatement Man, graphic novel published by La Mano


• King Cat Classix, graphic novel published by Drawn and Quarterly


• King Cat Comics, mini-comic, self-published


• Perfect Example, graphic novel published by Drawn and Quarterly

Jim Rugg

• Street Angel, comic books and graphic novel, with writer Brian Maruca, published by Slave Labor Graphics

Greg Sadowski

• B. Krigstein Comics, biography/art book, published by Fantagraphics Books


• B. Krigstein Comics, graphic novel, published by Fantagraphics Books

Salgood Sam (Max Douglas)

• Revolver, comic book, self-published

Frank Santoro

• Incanto, mini-comic, published by PictureBox, Inc

Charles Schulz

• The Complete Peanuts, series of graphic novels, published by Fantagraphics Books

Seth

• Clyde Fans, graphic novel, published by Drawn and Quarterly


• It's a Good Life if You Don't Weaken, graphic novel, published by Drawn and Quarterly


• Palooka-Ville, comic books, published by Drawn and Quarterly


• Vernacular Drawings, art book, published by Drawn and Quarterly


• Wimbledon Green, graphic novel, published by Drawn and Quarterly

Jeff Smith

• Bone, series of graphic novels, published by Scholastic Books

Jiro Taniguchi

• The Walking Man, graphic novel, published by Fanfare/Ponent Mon

Yoshihiro Tatsumi

• Abandon the Old in Tokyo, graphic novel, published by Drawn and Quarterly


• The Push Man and Other Stories, graphic novel, published by Drawn and Quarterly

Adrian Tomine

• Optic Nerve, comic book, published by Drawn and Quarterly


• Summer Blonde, graphic novel, published by Drawn and Quarterly

C. Tyler

• Late Bloomer, graphic novel, published by Fantagraphics Books

Rob Vollmar and Pablo G. Callejo

• Bluesman, graphic novel serialized in three volumes, published by NBM Publishing


• The Castaways, graphic novel, published by NBM Publishing

Chris Ware

• Acme Novelty Library, series of comic books and graphic novels, published by Fantagraphics Books


• Jimmy Corrigan, The Smartest Kid on Earth

Bill Watterson

• The Complete Calvin and Hobbes, slipcased set of three volumes, published by Andrews McMeel Publishing

Barry Windsor-Smith

• Adastra in Africa, graphic novel, published by Fantagraphics Books


• Young GODS and Friends, graphic novel, published by Fantagraphics Books


• The Freebooters, graphic novel, published by Fantagraphics Books


• Opus Vol. 1 and 2, collecting art and biographical text, published by Fantagraphics Books

Jim Woodring

• The Frank Book, graphic novel, published by Fantagraphics Books

Labels: lists, recommendations

// posted by Alan David Doane @ 4:08 PM [LINK TO THIS] | E-MAIL ADD | SUBSCRIBE