If you only read one series...

Say somebody only had a few days to live or something and really wanted to read a comic book series before they died, what would you recommend them to read?

By series, I mean a complete story rather than every issue of a type of comic.

Personally, I think everyone should read Preacher before they die. It's just how comics should be written. The story is funny as hell, there's a not so subtle bit of social commentary running through it, the artwork is unbelievably good, the story pre-dates the Da Vinchi code and is far better executed and with the Saint of Killers you have the best comic book villain of all time.

So what would you recommend?

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The ultimates... which will be finnnished in a month or two.. dont die until then haha.

is story arcs ok? Then i want everyone to read Batman: Hush. Awesome art and the story is good too.

no homo

Neil Gaiman's Sandman. I love the characters, the imagery, and the fact that it's a complete story with a real beginning, middle and end. It makes me laugh, it makes me think

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Zip

The ultimates... which will be finnnished in a month or two.. dont die until then haha.

is story arcs ok? Then i want everyone to read Batman: Hush. Awesome art and the story is good too.

Batman wise, I'd say the graphic novel "Arkham Asylum" would be my recommendation. I guess I just like sinister stuff with lots of black and red ink...

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

300

Nice complete 5 issue mini, everything is explained to you nicely in the books plainly, and it leaves you with a nice warm fuzzy feeling when you're done.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I'd recommend Strontium Dog: The Early Cases TPB. When this came out, it became one of my favorite series of comics. The best thing about it is that it really doesn't take that long to read.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

the books of Jeffrey Brown.
I'd recommend all of them, as no one is any better than any other.

FELIPE NO

I feel tempted to recommend V: for Vendetta, but that has something that you're supposed to walk away with, which means basically nothing when you're dead.

As much as I'd like to recommend The Walking Dead, or Invincible, neither of them are finished, or even close to being finished.

I'd have to back up Soluzar's suggestion of Sandman, because it's simply too good a yarn to miss out on before one's death.

Actually, scratch that. For the sake of being different (I'm different) I have to go with Empire. A comic world where the Supervillain has won is phenomenal storytelling material, and the creators did not fail to dissapoint.

HAIL GOLGOTH!

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I recommend all of Hellboy. Simply put, it's my favorite series.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

The Ultimates 2 - yes, I know it's not finished yet, but it will be soon.

WE3 is another really good read. Good art and a really odd, yet touching story.

Oh, how could I forget The Authority? This book is just great. Sure, it had some bad moments, but overall, it's just great.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Saga of the Swamp Thing, starting at #20 by Alan Moore. It is some of the most hardcore stuff I've ever read.

How ya doing, buddy?

Only one? I'm gonna go with Morrison's run on JLA. It's how JLA (or superhero team books in general) should be written.

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Originally Posted by Preacher33

Only one? I'm gonna go with Morrison's run on JLA. It's how JLA (or superhero team books in general) should be written.

I'd say that Ultimates 2 or Busiek on the Avengers are how team books should be written, but maybe that's just me.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Can't just do one!!! All Crossgen comics, all Punisher comics, all Michael Turner comics and my favorite series: Y: The Last Man.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

If I could only figure out Michael Turner's numbering scheme for his Aspen comics, I'd be a happy man...

Trying to track down all of the comics for Fathom/Soulfire/X mini-series is getting very annoying with all of the variant covers and different "Issue 1" and "Issue 1 Prelude" and "Issue 1 Beginnings"

Otherwise, the comics are great...he just needs to learn how to count. Use both hands, and your toes if need be, Mr. Turner, but only count them once!

FELIPE NO

I'd go with Transmetropolitan.

Than again, it's possible I'm a bit biased; the comic is, after all, about an extremely bitter, extremely cynnical, and extremely misanthropic writer (journalist.)

What's not to love?

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

What Moth said, plus Spider Jerusalem is bald. WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE INDEED. Besides, with all the bullshit that we endure from our politicians everyday, it's gratifying to see someone act out our fantasies for the worst of their kind, even if it's just in a comic book. It's the kind of warm, fuzzy feeling I'd like to take to my deathbed.

Preacher comes second in case this person doesn't die so soon. It's the most fun anyone will ever have with a comic book.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Wanted is a great story, in which the villians have taken over the world and noone remembers that they or super heroes exist. Fantastic.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. Classic stuff right there. Batman pounding the shit out of Superman was one of the best scenes in comic book history, period.

Finally, I'll also recommend a very overlooked little gem called Robin 3000. Its really well written, abit out there, but a damned good story about the future of Batman and Robin.

How ya doing, buddy?

Young Justice. Of all the comic book series I've read, it's the only one that I followed obsessively from beginning to end. Go Impulse, Go!

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by XerxesTheMighty

Can't just do one!!! All Crossgen comics, all Punisher comics, all Michael Turner comics and my favorite series: Y: The Last Man.

Would you really want them to read all of the Crossgen titles? I mean, things like Sojourn and Negation War were never really finished.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Acro-nym

Would you really want them to read all of the Crossgen titles? I mean, things like Sojourn and Negation War were never really finished.

Sad but true. I still think reading all of them(as I have) makes you appreciate what they tried to do and at the same time makes you sad that they are gone.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Bradylama

Actually, scratch that. For the sake of being different (I'm different) I have to go with Empire. A comic world where the Supervillain has won is phenomenal storytelling material, and the creators did not fail to dissapoint.

HAIL GOLGOTH!

Sorry. -_- I'm going to have to disagree with you there. Empire was poorly executed while the art was cliched. It did satisfy the desire to see the villain win in the end, but while I thought Wanted was a little more childish, it had a better story.

If I had to choose a series, I'd have to go with JLA v3. That incarnation of the JLA is my favourite and it had loads of well written story arcs along the way. Notables include Tower of Babel and Obsidian Age.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I'm not going to mention Dark Knight, Watchmen or even V. All those should be required reading ANYWAYS.

In all honesty, the best story I've read in years was Identity Crisis. It's not so much a super hero story as a story that just happens to have super heroes in it. Then again, it was written by a best selling author (who is taking over JLA and has me so excited I could explode).

Spoiler:

The race in the Batmobile back to the Drake house, and the full page of Batman holding Tim is easily one of the best moments in comics I have ever read. Period. It takes a hell of alot for printed words to actually instill a sense of panic.

It out in TPB, and I strongly suggest everyone to pick it up.

Another great mini-series was Batman:Hush. I forgot just how good it was until I reread the whole thing from beginning to end yesterday. Needed something to do on a long car trip and before I knew it, it was a coupole hours and 12 issues later. The best Bat-story since Dark Knight (well, it's tied with Killing Joke. Another one everyone should read right now.)

FELIPE NO

Identity Crisis would have been better if the heroes fighting Deathstroke hadn't been written as incompetent.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Acro-nym

Identity Crisis would have been better if the heroes fighting Deathstroke hadn't been written as incompetent.

Except that they wern't written as incompetent. They were written as being caught off gaurd by the best tactician on the planet. It's ok when Batman does it, but if Deathstroke does it it's stupid?

If they were incompetent, they wouldn't have would up beating him, would they?

Jam it back in, in the dark.