Watchmen by Alan Moore (*****)

Yes, I know, you have heard it a trillion times before, but Watchmen really is the ultimate graphic novel; one of the first mature ones, it tackled deeper issues than its predecessors (excluding Moore’s Swamp Thing, see below). A story of all-too-real superheroes investigating a potential conspiracy, Watchmen grips from the first page with its uncompromising, “neon-noir” futuristic style and Moore’s trademark snappy dialogue, brimming with wit and intelligence. This guy knows what he’s doing. If recently the reclusive author has perhaps delved too deep into metaphysical explorations, this incredibly influential masterwork will forever serve as a perfect gateway to the world of intelligent, adult graphic novels.

Sandman by Neil Gaiman (*****)

Where do I even start… While Watchmen is a laconic murder mystery/political conspiracy, Neil Gaiman’s Sandman is a sprawlingly epic journey through history, which also encompasses elements of contemporary/gothic horror, sci-fi, Shakespearean farce, allegorical fantasy… It’s an examination of various states of human condition, here personified as antropomorphic beings named Dream (the protagonist, also known as Morpheus and many other names), Desire, Destiny, Delirium, Destruction, Despair and Death. If this all sounds too complicated and ponderous, trust me, it’s worth the effort. After all, it did win the World Fantasy Award for one of its stories, an award never previously given out to comic books. Sandman will change your life. It will make you re-examine yourself, prompt you to question your darkest desires, make you laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time. It will evoke a sense of wonder in you, a desire to read up on all the obscure and not-so-obscure references which form Sandman’s foundation. It’s both horrifingly depressing and unbelievably uplifting. In Gaiman’s world our dreams shape us, and the end is only the beginning. Don’t hesitate to dig into Sandman – it’s unconventional narrative and scope will put you in awe. Up there with the best of literature, Sandman is the reason why there are now college classes on the art of graphic novel writing.

Fables by Bill Willingham (****1/2)

It’s been compared to Sandman, and while Willingham certainly approaches Gaiman’s scope, he never quite lives up to the standard, let alone exceed it. Fables is fabulously entertaining though, especially if you are familiar with the fairy-tales it twists into savagely funny re-interpretations. It’s extremely clever. (The premise: popular fairy-tale characters live amongst us, having fled away from the Adversary’s armies that have taken over their ‘homelands’.) “1001 Nights of Snowfall” particularly stunned me with its wit and beautiful illustrations. Like Gaiman, Willingham employs different artists, and the variety works in his favor. The characters are great, and the whole tale swings wildly from funny little stories to a huge dark bloody epic. So while it lacks Sandman’s reach (and, I mean, it would be very very hard to beat), Fables definitely will keep you turning those pages.

Swamp Thing by Alan Moore (*****)

With Swamp Thing Alan Moore single-handedly (well, almost – a team of artists -Totleben, Veitch, Bisette- certainly helped) re-ignited the character, as well as revolutionized the comic-book industry by bringing in adult themes, meta-physical musings, and generally giving the finger to the whole restricted structure of the genre. Moore expanded it: his Swamp Thing is one with nature, swimming in its green milieu; its consciousness travels through space and time, in search of existential answers. The series is filled with macabre horror and poignant love scenes. In other words, you won’t find a trippier experience. Also, without Swamp Thing there would be no Sandman, or any other of the hundreds and hundreds modern graphic novels.

Preacher by Garth Ennis (****)

Preacher is a hilarious hell of a ride, crammed with blasphemy, loaded with guns and babes, oozing with gore and bucketloads of dark, dark humor… But this story of a given-up preacher who one day acquires the voice of God (lierally!) is also surprisingly touching, constantly catching you off-guard with its poignancy. With the help of his gun-loving girlfriend Tulip and a… vampire called Cassidy (don’t ask), preacher embarks on a quest to find and confront God, meeting peculiar (to put it mildly) characters on the way. Non-stop action, passionate love, betrayal – you will find it all in this funny, disturbing tale. Imagine Tarantino writing a comic-book, and you’ll get an idea of what Preacher’s like.

Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan (??)

Brian K. Vaughan is undoubtedly one of the leading, most prolific current graphic novel writers, and his Y saga shows why. The premise: Yorrick discovers he’s the only male left on Earth. With the help of his monkey, he gets into various adventures; what makes them special is the subtle philosophical subtext that Vaughan manages to sustain throughout the books. An original idea, great pacing, thought-provoking apocalyptic stuff – read Y to see a master at work.

Other Worthy Selections:

Bone by Jeff Smith (****) A Tolkien-like journey for all ages. You’ll fall in love with the characters, and get sweeped up in Smith’s world, both cosily inviting and terrifying.

Blankets by Craig Thompson (****) A lyrical, semi-autobiographical study of adolecense, full of touching moments that stun with their familiarity. Subtle and unique, and beautifully drawn by Thompson.

Flight by Various (***1/2) A collection of various talented young artists’ stories, this is an entertaining series that sometimes reaches brilliance, and always puts a smile on your face with its inspired illustrations.

From Hell by Alan Moore (****) While definitely not for everyone – it tends to gets very detailed and slow – this nevertheless is an epic, beautifully written exploration of Endland at the dawn of the 20th Century. It’s also a murder investigation (Jack the Ripper), as filthy as the London streets it depicts. Campbell’s artistry perfectly complements Moore’s narration, making this a fascinating, darkly gorgeous masterwork.

Hellboy by Mike Mignola (***1/2) Mike Mignola’s quirky tales are truly unique, and his gothic art is perfect. Hellboy is a helluva protagonist.

So here we come to the end of this list, but this is just a starter, an introduction to a vast world. There are many more great writers/artists to check out: Frank Miller, Grant Morrison, Kurt Busiek – the list goes on. Hopefully though, this was helpful in providing a glimpse – good luck exploring graphic novels!