Geek Speak – Comics to Lend Your Non-Comic Reading Friends

by Daniel

Bone by Jeff Smith. Image via Amazon.com. Click-through to purchase.

On Twitter yesterday, comic book artist Michael Oeming (Powers) had this to say:

@oeming: Give a TPB* to someone who doesn’t read comics. Seriously, lets convert some people, the industry needs it!

[*Trade paperback - Ed.]

And I totally agree. Sharing a favorite comic book with a pal is a great way to share the love and draw in new fans. Most of my favorite comics, books, music, etc. were introduced to me via friends: Hellboy, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Joy Division/The Smiths/Talking Heads–a friend brought them to my attention, and I haven’t been the same since.

Recently, a friend gave me a couple TPBs of The Goon for my birthday, and I loved ‘em. Another friend emailed me out of the blue and said I need to check out the novel, The Long Ships, which I am reading now and savoring every sentence.

Here’s a list (in no particular order) of comics I would lend (and have lent) to my non-comic reading friends.

• Bone (pictured above) by Jeff Smith – Yes, the complete collection is the size of a phone book (…do folks still have those?), but the story sucks you in with action, humor, and plenty of fantasy elements. This is one of my all time favorite comics, and with its Wizard of Oz like story, it is very approachable for those not interested in superheroes.

• Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 by David Petersen – Mouse Guard was a comic I decided to take a chance on because I met Petersen at a comic convention (he is from Michigan and I try support Michigan artists whenever I can). I bought the Fall 1152 hardcover and I could not put it down. Yes, the characters are talking mice–but this ain’t Mickey and friends.  These mice are serious. Really serious. This comic is full of great characters, outstanding artwork and has a great story to boot.

• Cursed Pirate Girl by Jeremy Bastian – Another “took a chance” artist I met in an Artist Alley, every single inch of Cursed Pirate Girl is an intricate work of art. I love Bastian’s linework. The story is akin to Alice in Wonderland, and the artwork matches that same theme.

• The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller (with Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley) – Yes, a big name book which most have heard of, but not everyone has–and I have lent this book out to multiple non-comic book fan friends over the years (and they all loved it). With The Dark Knight Rises hitting theaters next year, this is a topical choice. Miller takes the Batman, now in his later years, out of retirement and hilarity endues.  OK, there is no hilarity, but rather lots of baddies getting punched in the face and having their legs broke. This story is action packed, over-the-top, and gritty. It is perhaps an early example of the “gritty reboot.”

• Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons – Another popular favorite, but also another book which I have lent out to friends over the years. This multi-issue story is layered, deep, and not really for kids. Skip the film version and just read the comic. And, read only one chapter a day. There is a lot to digest here, so give it time to sink in (and it helps re-capture “monthly installment” feel of the original series). I love Watchmen, and I usually re-read the whole thing every year.

• Hellboy, Vol. 3: The Chained Coffin and Others by Mike Mignola – I’ll go on record and say I did not really care for both Hellboy films, story wise anyway. Visually they were great, but the films did not tap into the vibe of the comic that well (or so I felt). But, movies are different than comics and I’ll stop my rant there. I was introduced to Hellboy by a friend and I loved every panel. This collection, which I own and have also lent out to friends, has a few good “one-shot” stories, which are a great way to introduce someone to the Hellboy universe. The Chained Coffin is a favorite. I love its mix of folk lore and mythology.

• Creature Tech by Doug TenNapel – I could have a much longer list, but I’ll end with Creature Tech, one of my all time favorite comics. Space eels. Demonic cats. Angry ghosts–what’s not to like? I was at a comic book convention and a friend pulled a copy of Creature Tech out of a bargain bin and said, “You should buy this.” I did, and I was treated to one of the most original, fun stories I had read in a long time. TenNapel is the man behind the Earthworm Jim character (remember the video games?), and Creature Tech combines elements of EWJ with a bit of X-Files for an alien-paranormal adventure, with plenty of humor. See also: Iron West.

Do you have a favorite comic you have shared with a friend who doesn’t read comics?