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30 great graphic novels (literary, longer comics!)

Ranked #543 in Books, Poetry & Writing, #25,882 overall

Plunging into the wide world of graphic novels

Many of my friends have asked me for recommendations on graphic novels, probably owing to the fact that I've attended San Diego Comic Con every year since I was 11, and collected enough comics to fill 5 store-sized long boxes. I've seen such graphic novel lists published before, but they've never fully aligned with my tastes.

I'm not a huge superhero fan (gasp). I don't hate it, in fact that's how I got into the comics arena, but now I mainly look for realistic art, stories about real people, gorgeous fantasy, nuanced drama, amazing comedy. Do you look for the same?

I've discovered these graphic novels over many years of sifting. Some may sound familiar, others sit quietly, waiting for their deserved moment in the spotlight. Enjoy!

Photo by levork

Disclaimer

I've been collecting for 15 years and I've tried to include a broad array of my discoveries. Some authors I've listed twice, because they're that good, and in other cases I've just listed the first volume in an excellent series. However, I don't pretend to have come across even close to all the great graphic novels out there! I am but one person, and I have a few genre biases.

If you have a great graphic novel recommendation, please leave a comment!

Indie

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Indie II

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Nonfiction

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Nonfiction II

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Fantasy

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Fantasy II

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Comedy

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Superheroes?

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Make your own!

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Leave a recommendation or a comment!

  • Decanus May 8, 2012 @ 6:11 pm | delete
    Nice lens. I'm kind of the opposite to you, I generally read superhero graphic novels/ comics and dabble in indie stuff. Can recommend some if you like..your list has given me some to look for!
  • awesomedealz4u Feb 9, 2012 @ 11:03 pm | delete
    Very nice!
  • goldenrulecomics Nov 22, 2011 @ 9:51 pm | delete
    You may say you aren't much into the superhero ones, but the two you picked are topnotch!
  • cffutah Nov 21, 2011 @ 11:28 pm | delete
    another great lens put together by you!
  • cbessa Jul 24, 2011 @ 8:57 pm | delete
    i've highligthed some classics on my 5 Comic books that became movies 2011 lens.

    Please check it out and tell me what do you think about them.

    :-)
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Other nice lists of great graphic novels

You start to see a bit of overlap after several lists, and yet there will still be many, many new ones!
All Time 100 Novels by Time Magazine
Includes Time's picks for top 10 graphic novels of all time at the bottom of the list.
Great Graphic Novels for Teens - prepared by YALSA
See library recommended lists from 2007-2010!
DC Comics: 30 Essential Graphic Novels
Some good ones here - granted, biased towards DC.
Great Graphic Novels list on Amazon - By Marc DiPaolo
Includes some more classic authors like Eisner, Bendis, Busiek, Cho, and Clowes.
The Best Graphic Novels of the Decade
This is a great list of modern comics. I can attest to the fact that Persepolis and Perry Bible Fellowship are two great books on completely opposite ends of the genre spectrum. And my brother, an equally discerning reader, ADORES the Walking Dead.

by

sustainableartist

I've been reading comics over half my life, and attending comic conventions just as long. I'm in my twenties, and with my comic collection, I might be... more »

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