by Stefano Benni.This is an act of love for Italy, for the city of Bologna in the 70s, for the culture of the plains around River Po. Benni's "absurdist" style perfectly exaggerated the typical characters of the area, becoming universal enough to make the book an instant bestseller in the entire Italy. If you want to see how Italy used to see itself in the 80s, understand the nostalgia for a certain blue-collar epic, or even just have a laugh, you should read this.See reviews on Amazon or on GoodReads
by Warren Ellis.Probably one of the main works that defined Warren Ellis to mainstream audiences, "Transmet" was a great series. The first storyarc is arguably the best, sketching the first picture of a scarily-believable near future where even machines are drug-addicts, cameras are everywhere, mass-media lie, the mafia is a legitimate business, and (most importantly) there is no justice.See reviews on Amazon or on GoodReads
by Marjane Satrapi.A rare example of autobiographical graphic novel not involving nerds, this work strikes a perfect balance between personal history and political History, without ever being boring. Much lighter than MAUS but still a compelling read for everyone, it's a perfect "first comic" for friends and family to make them respect the medium. I'd also recommend the movie (also produced by Satrapi), which is really original as well.See reviews on Amazon or on GoodReads
by Andi Watson.This probably wouldn't be such a fantastic book if only we had more "normal" graphic novels like it. This said, it's very good, and if you are of "breeding age" (20+) you really want to read it.See reviews on Amazon or on GoodReads
by Stephen Fry.Funny, entertaining and erudite, this is quintessential Fry. I love the guy, and it would be nice if he could write a bit more rather than spending all his time on telly.See reviews on Amazon or on GoodReads
by Paul Karasik.This is not just a transposition of one of Auster's most famous works in graphical form; it's a masterpiece on its own merit, interpreting the text in a very creative way, pushing the boundaries of sequential art.See reviews on Amazon or on GoodReads
by Ingvar Ambjornsen.This book is hilarious, tragic, fun, sad, insane, true. Go and read it. (And if you can find a version of the movie based on it, "Elling", with English subtitles, please let me know.)See reviews on Amazon or on GoodReads
by Jason Lutes.Fantastic book. Lutes clearly takes seriously the "novel" part of "graphic novels", and draws an epic picture of life during the Weimar Republic. Commoners, aristocrats and bohemien students, they all intertwine their personal struggles within the development of tragedy on a grander, historic scale. Lutes makes you feel for the characters, showing you their mistakes and motives, their hopes and fears, and the inevitable manipulation of their actions by higher powers on all sides of History. Victor Hugo would be proud. You don't need to wait for volume two, as this is a self-contained novel in its own merit. I honestly don't know how Jason Lutes can now top himself, but I'd really like to see him trying.See reviews on Amazon or on GoodReads
by Stefano Benni.
This is an act of love for Italy, for the city of Bologna in the 70s, for the culture of the plains around River Po. Benni's "absurdist" style perfectly exaggerated the typical characters of the area, becoming universal enough to make the book an instant bestseller in the entire Italy. If you want to see how Italy used to see itself in the 80s, understand the nostalgia for a certain blue-collar epic, or even just have a laugh, you should read this.
See reviews on Amazon or on GoodReads
by John Steinbeck.
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by Alan Moore.
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by Warren Ellis.
Probably one of the main works that defined Warren Ellis to mainstream audiences, "Transmet" was a great series. The first storyarc is arguably the best, sketching the first picture of a scarily-believable near future where even machines are drug-addicts, cameras are everywhere, mass-media lie, the mafia is a legitimate business, and (most importantly) there is no justice.
See reviews on Amazon or on GoodReads
by Antonio Tabucchi.
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by Neil Gaiman.
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by Marjane Satrapi.
A rare example of autobiographical graphic novel not involving nerds, this work strikes a perfect balance between personal history and political History, without ever being boring. Much lighter than MAUS but still a compelling read for everyone, it's a perfect "first comic" for friends and family to make them respect the medium. I'd also recommend the movie (also produced by Satrapi), which is really original as well.
See reviews on Amazon or on GoodReads
by Michael Ende.
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by Jose Muñoz.
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by Andi Watson.
This probably wouldn't be such a fantastic book if only we had more "normal" graphic novels like it. This said, it's very good, and if you are of "breeding age" (20+) you really want to read it.
See reviews on Amazon or on GoodReads
by Stephen Fry.
Funny, entertaining and erudite, this is quintessential Fry. I love the guy, and it would be nice if he could write a bit more rather than spending all his time on telly.
See reviews on Amazon or on GoodReads
by Alan Moore.
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by Primo Levi.
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by Bill Watterson.
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by Grant Morrison.
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by Luigi Pirandello.
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by Douglas Coupland.
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by Primo Levi.
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by Neil Gaiman.
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by Art Spiegelman.
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by Paul Karasik.
This is not just a transposition of one of Auster's most famous works in graphical form; it's a masterpiece on its own merit, interpreting the text in a very creative way, pushing the boundaries of sequential art.
See reviews on Amazon or on GoodReads
by Bill Watterson.
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by Ian McEwan.
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by Ingvar Ambjornsen.
This book is hilarious, tragic, fun, sad, insane, true. Go and read it. (And if you can find a version of the movie based on it, "Elling", with English subtitles, please let me know.)
See reviews on Amazon or on GoodReads
by Jason Lutes.
Fantastic book. Lutes clearly takes seriously the "novel" part of "graphic novels", and draws an epic picture of life during the Weimar Republic. Commoners, aristocrats and bohemien students, they all intertwine their personal struggles within the development of tragedy on a grander, historic scale. Lutes makes you feel for the characters, showing you their mistakes and motives, their hopes and fears, and the inevitable manipulation of their actions by higher powers on all sides of History. Victor Hugo would be proud. You don't need to wait for volume two, as this is a self-contained novel in its own merit. I honestly don't know how Jason Lutes can now top himself, but I'd really like to see him trying.
See reviews on Amazon or on GoodReads
by Frank Miller.
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by Ian McEwan.
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by George Orwell.
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