these are my personal viewpoints on certain graphic novels dispute what you must but hear and respect my rational...submitted for your approval....
10. WATCHMEN written by ALAN MOORE and illustrated by DAVE GIBBONS - i could pick numerous works to replace this, i feel it is a bit unoriginal to blindly worship one specific written work. but it is just that AWESOME! nothing new can be added to any sort of personal interpretation you may have. my favorite characters? DR MANHATTAN AND OZYMANDIAS because they both, more so than others,are the most original yet often duplicated archetypes MOORE helped bring to "light". great great story, but its just not one of my PERSONAL top 5 lol!
9. WOLVERINE (the 4 issue mini-series) written by CHRIS CLAREMONT and illustrated by FRANK MILLER. two iconic members of a decisive medium that only accepts few people a decade. these 2 stars were on the rise at the time this project was completed. the plot is well crafted and deals with WOLVERINE as a individual and tries (and succeeds) in attempting to begin administering a level of depth that would help to define the character of LOGAN over time. his doomed relationship is a crucial milestone numerously referred to. MILLERS art is still a work in progress, as he has yet to successfully define his unique style although the action beats are brilliantly rendered. "THE WOLVERINE" the sequel to WOLVERINE:ORIGINS AKA BORIGINS! (LOL @LEE), is at least in part following this story arc. great, phenomenal story but its incredibly short for how much it shapes LOGAN.
8. X-MEN : GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS written by CHRIS CLAREMONT and illustrated by BRENT ANDERSON - this is a "fabled" tale that is an admitted favorite amongst many AND for those who dwell beneath rocks...it was also used as a "loose" ADAPTION for the most acclimated of the SINGER X films, X2: X-MEN UNITED. THE SOURCE MATERIAL IS MORE PHENOMENAL THAN THE FILM COULD EVER BE AND PALES IN COMPARISON. SIMPLY....IF YOU LOVE X2 but have not read this......READ IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALSO THE ART IS AMAZING, NIGHTCRAWLER ESPECIALLY LOOKS FANTASTIC! great characterizations but ages oddly.
7. KINGDOM COME written by MARK WAID and ALEX ROSS (2nd best art in my top 10 G.N)- this is a brilliant piece of literature. the art work is heavily enhanced by ROSS more so than other works of his. i always loved WHAT IF? or time travel/paradoxical concepts. not only is the crux of the story told through the eyes of an "anonymous" on-looker to the core DC UNIVERSE. also this tale boasts an introspective take on the core DC "holy trinity" (SUPERMAN is almost the most definitive he has ever been) and the various archetypes provided by the collective lore. EARTH X is more "shocking + fun/unexpected" compared to this or its WEAK sequel, the KINGDOM.
6. EARTH X written by JIM KRUEGER and ALEX ROSS, what can i say about this concept? i always loved WHAT IF? or time travel/paradoxical concepts. this is a genius conversion of MARVEL lore and that " mentality". the art work may be "blocky + rigid" at times but the raw sensibility of their unique approach to stale old concepts MARVEL has coasted on for decades is at least worth a gander and ponder. two volumes proceed this one. in my humble opinion this is the most "ideal" but aspects of each are enjoyable. CAPTAIN AMERICA has a predominant role in the trilogy (so you CAP fans keep that in mind).
5. JTHM or JOHNNY THE HOMICIDAL MANIAC written and illustrated by JHONEN VASQUEZ - this deserves the final and coveted position of being the last considered to be in the top five. i come from this mentality in a way, i feel a personal connection (not goth or emo but still...) to this and remember laughing at NOODLE BOY often. ALSO, INVADER ZIM IS CREDITED AS BEING A PRODUCT OF JHONEN'S IMAGINATION and that was one of the BEST nick 'toons along the lines of...ROCKO'S MODERN LIFE, REN + STIMPY, and AAAAHHHH! REAL MONSTERS. the plot of JTHM is sporadic and keeps you guessing between stand alone "bits" offshoots of 'toons of NOODLE BOY coupled with a "loose" over arc-ing idea. it adds up to be unforgettable, lol. trust me!
4. PREACHER VOL. 4 written by GARTH ENNIS and illustrated by STEVE PUGH (crappy artwork but it pulls off the grittiness) - Again, this fought for the top spot in my personal picks. THIS IS AFTER ALL MY ADMITTEDLY FAVORITE SERIES....as a "whole"! i love the dialogue and the story threads introduced are awe-inspiring be it the SAINT OF KILLERS (my personal favorite character) amongst other greats like CASSIDY, HERR STAR or the plucky fem-fatal TULIP. VOL.4 was chosen for one reason and one reason only. call it what you will a vain sense of importance in my own gratification. but the origin tale of the SAINT OF KILLERS is the ultimate urban legend. one that must be told to others upon learning, lol!
3. BATMAN : THE LONG HALLOWEEN written by JEPH LOEB illustrated by TIM SALE - the artwork is admittedly mediocre + sub-par, so make your peace with that (why do you think its ranked where it is) before you enter this tale because once you begin its a hard G.N. to put down. others could be chosen also in the end almost every tale on a consistent basis is entertaining for the character. THIS tale is a bit inflated but basically BATMAN must capture the HOLIDAY KILLER who strikes only upon HOLIDAYS so throughout a year BATMAN must tangle with his rogues gallery and the mob. in the end a great rogue was given a loose back story that was so compelling it made its way to the silver screen in TDK. plus I LOVE IT WHEN BATMAN'S BRAIN/DETECTIVE SKILLS ARE MORE PREDOMINANT.
2. SANDMAN VOL. 1 written by NEIL GAIMEN and illustrated by SAM KIETH (best art in my top 10 G.N hands down! in MY opinion) amongst others - what can i say? its an amazing and groundbreaking. in fact i grappled with making this number 1 over SWAMP THING. i didnt because i felt more "genuine" emotion reading S.T. as opposed to this which struck me more as perversely intriguing, alluring yet at times......bleak. there was no promise of a "light at the end of the tunnel" for the character of MORPHEUS and his perpetual struggle. You none the less need to read more however.....lol.....
1. SWAMP THING VOL.1 written by ALAN MOORE and illustrated by STEVE BISSETTE - THE ART IS DECENT BUT NOTHING "SPECIAL". SOME BELIEVE IN SPOILERS OTHERS DO NOT. I PERSONALLY DO NOT MIND BUT SOME MAY....SUFFICE TO SAY THE PLOT IS AS FOLLOWS. ROUGHLY A CREATURE AWAKENS TO REALIZE IT "BELIEVED" IT WAS THE IDENTITY OF A MAN WHOSE BODY DECOMPOSED OVER soil, NUTRIENTS then ABSORBED IN THIS SOIL. THUS THE SOIL AND "SWAMP" ITSELF ROSE UP AND BECAME CORPORAL + SENTIENT. THE STORY PROGRESSES FROM THERE. READ THE COMPLETED WORKS THEY DO NOT DISAPPOINT ESPECIALLY THE 1ST AND GREATEST VOLUME. but you leave the 1ST VOLUME with a smile and a growing admiration for the concept you "thought" you knew, lol. you have a positive mindset to go forward with the "read" its no where near as morose as SANDMAN VOL.1 :)
there you have it those are my private picks.....BUT I COULD ALWAYS CONTINUE WITH GEMS SUCH AS.....GUARDIAN DEVIL, THE WALKING DEAD VOL.1, BATMAN : ARKHAM ASYLUM, EXILES VOL. 1, SPIDER-MAN : BLUE in fact those are more than likely my next 5 i'd choose, i'll elaborate if this is well received