Top Ten Graphic Novels

Compiled by: Alex Shaw

These are the ten graphic novels I most recommend if you've seen Watchmen and want something more. Most of them involve superheroes and the re-working of the popular themes set by Marvel and DC.  A warning; these are filled with dark, adult themes, sex, death, politics, religion. Most of them are offensive in some way. All of them are exhilarating and fascinating.

Transmetropolitan: Back on the Street (Warren Ellis) A foul-tempered journalist in a hedonistic future world documents the events of his city and follows the election of a twisted liar into presidency. Clearly based on the work of Hunter S Thompson, this book is what made me want to be a journalist.

Preacher: Gone to Texas (Garth Ennis) A young priest in Texas becomes the carrier of a power equal to God and goes to find the almighty with his ex girlfriend and an Irish vampire in tow. Bloody, pitch black, hilarious and terrifying American storytelling.

Rising Stars: Born in Fire (J. Michael Strazinski) A meteorite collides with a small American town. Every local unborn baby at that moment absorbs a share of unearthly powers. This book is about how the kids grow up to become superheroes and villains and then change the world. 

Y The Last Man: Unmanned (Brian K Vaughan) Every single male on the planet suddenly dies horribly except a young escape artist named Yorrick and his monkey. The book is all about how the women cope in the following years. Absolutely brilliant female characterisation. Sharp, funny dialogue, epic scale and a real sense that the apocalypse could be like this.

Powers: Who Killed Retro Girl? (Brian Michael Bendis) In a noirish city filled with capes, how do the police get by? Join two jaded detectives on the hunt for the killer of a beloved superhero. Bendis hung out with real cops to get his facts and lingo right so this is hard hitting stuff.

Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others (Mike Mignola) The best way to read Hellboy is in this collection of short tales. The red, horny one travels the world, tracking down menacing ghouls and demons and putting an end to their mischief in his customary gruff manner. Pure, dark-spirited but light-hearted, fascinating, tale-weaving.

The Authority: Under New Management (Mark Millar) What if the Justice League had no compunction with taking on real world events? A troubled superteam deal with dictators, a twisted alternate Avengers and God in the form of a titanic space slug. And the wonderful Jenny Sparks, foul-mouthed, chainsmoking spirit of the 20th century finally gets to see midnight at the turn of the milennium. Harsh and brilliant.

Planetary : All over the World and Other Stories (Warren Ellis) A trio of superpowered archeologists uncover the secret history of the 20th century. Like the Authority, it deals with ghosts, alternate worlds and time travel. A grown up Dr Who.

Wanted (Mark Millar) Pure nihilistic nastiness. Much like the film, a worthless office jerk gets pulled out of his horrible life to become a super-powered assassin. Unlike the film, this deals then with a team of super-villains who secretly took over the world in the 1980's. Awesome stuff.

Nightly News (Jonathon Hickman) A cult target newscasters for assassination to make a point. More of an investigation as to how all of our news is apportioned out by six major real life corporations. Scarily real and chock-a-block with facts and figures about just what we're watching and reading. Impossible to put down.