European Comics?
 

I have been looking for some original sci-fi and Fantasy Comic books recently.The guys at the comic book stores recommended me to check out some European comic, and particularly French and Italian. To be honest, I have absolutely no idea where to start. Anyone has recommendation on good European comics (preferably fantasy and sci-fi) and where to find them in English?

Oh god, can't go wrong with "The Nikopol Trilogy" by Enki Bilal.
Actually, anything by Enki Bilal is fucking incredible, good solid sci-fi. It was adapted (crappily) into a green-screen film called Immortel. Of course, some people like the film better...but I feel differently.

Schuiten & Peeters are what you'd be looking for, although I fear that they are not available in english. Their series "les cités obscures" is among the best that French comic writers have ever written. Another good one is Yslaire, known for the Samber series, but again, hard, if not impossible to find in english.

Druuna by Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri. :) Just dont let anyone see it. :P

If you're looking for comedy theres always the Goscinny and Uderzo Asterix series.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned 2000AD. It's a British comic book that's more or less known for being the stomping ground for Judge Dredd but the comic also features other popular Sci-Fi/Fantasy stories and characters such as Rogue Trooper, Maniac 5, Strontium Dog & Slaine among others.

It may not be French or Italian but I'd figure it'll give you the fix you need for Sci-Fi & Fantasy comics outside the US. More info on the characters and such related 2000AD can be found here:
http://www.2000adonline.com/

If you're recommending Asterix, be sure to mention the OLD series, when both creators where still alive, since they are really superior compared to the lastest material.

Good point. Thanks.

Yes, the old series with both Goscinny and Uderzo at the helm is MARVELOUS. The new series (with just Uderzo after Goscinny's death I think?) is still better than a lot of crap out there but nowhere near as engaging in many peoples opinion. It misses something crucial. But overall the series is good fun.

If you're looking for a good sci-fi story from Europe, I recommend Strontium Dog. {points at avatar} I don't really know how often the stories are printed within the 2000 A.D. stuff (I hear that an arc finished a few months ago, but never saw an indication of such a story in Previews), but I do know that DC released a trade paperback of adventures called The Early Cases.