Recommend one graphic novel to me?

[Delenn_of_Mir]

Okay, so I can scrounge up just enough money to afford one graphic novel by JMS. If I can only ever buy one, what one would you recommend?

[Dan Dassow]

Okay, so I can scrounge up just enough money to afford one graphic novel by JMS. If I can only ever buy one, what one would you recommend?

Remembering 9/11: Amazing Spider-Man #36

http://www.comicbooked.com/remembering-911-amazing-spider-man-36/

[Jan]

That's a great one, Dan, but it's only a single issue.
ETA: Considering the time of year, it seems appropriate to link to the slightly revised version of the text of the 9/11 Spider-Man issue:

http://jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-16664&topic=Spiderman

For a full fledged graphic novel, I'd highly recommend "Midnight Nation". JMS has often said that it's one of his favorites of the comics he's done and it's very personal to him as he explains in the Afterword.

Without getting too spoilery:

Los Angeles police officer Lieutenant David Grey encounters a brutal murder. When he tracks down a possible lead he encounters strange, goblin-like men who attack him. When he awakes, Grey finds himself in a hospital, and those around him have become translucent and can no longer see him. It is explained to him by his mysterious guide Laurel that he has lost his soul and he has now been plunged into a shadow world that runs parallel to our own. Here is where all the abandoned and forgotten people and things go.

David is told that without his soul he will slowly become like "the Walkers", the monstrous people he encountered who attacked him. David must travel on foot to New York where "The Other Guy" (the Devil) holds his soul. Laurel has guided many others on the same journey before, but none have survived the trip.

This is a pretty good price and includes shipping:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Midnight-Nation-J-M-Straczynski-paperback-comic-collection-massive-300-pg-trade-/370645367471?pt=US_Comics_Graphic_Novels&hash=item564c2f7aaf

There are others so if this isn't to your taste, just say so.

Jan

[Joe Nazzaro]

I would probably go for Supreme Power, JMS's superb deconstruction of superheroes. I know some people prefer Rising Stars, but I prefer Supreme Power. It's been reprinted in a lot of different formats, but I would recommend the SUpereme Power Volume 1 hardcover (the one with the kid wrapped in the American flag) a big chunky book that reprints issues 1-12. You can still buy a new copy from one of Amazon's dealers for about 20 bucks, and a used copy as cheap as 10 (plus $3 for shipping). Just bear in mind that the book was originally released under Marvel's Max imprint, which was slightly more adult in content.

[JoeD80]

For a full fledged graphic novel, I'd highly recommend "Midnight Nation". JMS has often said that it's one of his favorites of the comics he's done and it's very personal to him as he explains in the Afterword.

When I talked to him at the Captain Power event here awhile back he told me Midnight Nation was the story that he was most proud of in all of his work!

[Delenn_of_Mir]

That's a great one, Dan, but it's only a single issue.
ETA: Considering the time of year, it seems appropriate to link to the slightly revised version of the text of the 9/11 Spider-Man issue:

http://jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-16664&topic=Spiderman

For a full fledged graphic novel, I'd highly recommend "Midnight Nation". JMS has often said that it's one of his favorites of the comics he's done and it's very personal to him as he explains in the Afterword.

Without getting too spoilery:



This is a pretty good price and includes shipping:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Midnight-Nation-J-M-Straczynski-paperback-comic-collection-massive-300-pg-trade-/370645367471?pt=US_Comics_Graphic_Novels&hash=item564c2f7aaf

There are others so if this isn't to your taste, just say so.

Jan

Thank You for the recommends The plot sounds intriguing enough, and if it's his favorite thing that he's done then I should at least check it out!

[David Panzer]

I second Midnight Nation. It's been a while since I read it, but it is one of the best comics I've read.

Supreme Power is good, but the story hasn't been finished. The series switched to the Marvel Knights imprint, the name changed to Squadron Supreme and was cancelled after 7 issues with an unresolved cliffhanger. It's still a good read though.

Rising Stars is very solid. It's about 113 people that were born after a comet appeared in the sky above Pederson, Illinois. The series shows how the US and the world reacts to people with superpowers, how those with the powers react to the world, and how in some cases having superpowers isn't all it's cracked up to be.

[Ubik]

I'd also recommend Midnight Nation. Remember the B5 epiosde 'Walkabout', well it expands on some of those themes, and if you know the background it's very personal to JMS. I will say no more, but it's nicely plotted and well illustrated. Has a very glossy modern polished style. I've been a comics fan for years, and this was the first JMS material I picked up. Plus, you don't have to deal with hunting down multiple volumes.

If you enjoy that, perhaps give Rising Stars a look. I believe there is now a thick one volume edition that collects it all. The series was excellent but suffered a little from artist switch ups in the later stages.

If you find yourself liking the medium (comics), I'd be more than happy to recommend some non JMS stuff too. There's some superb SF out there in comics form, and if you're willing to dig a bit and look beyond Marvel / DC there are some true gems to be had.