It’s sad, at least from my point of view, that the first thing most people do when they hear the phrase "comic books’ is roll their eyes or give a small groan of impatience. Yes, comic books. Those things that are perceived as nerdy or geeky or "not real story telling’. I’ve heard it all before. But as a comic book enthusiast, I have to disagree.
The first thing I’d like to mention is that comic books aren’t just about superheroes like Superman or The Avengers. Yes, generically, that’s what they’re about. But if you search long and hard, you find a few precious titles that aren’t. Some are simply about people who have strange, supernatural abilities. Some are about super spies. Some are about whole new worlds with strange mythical creatures. Some are parodies of existing works of literature. The list is endless, and varied, and so extensive, that it’s almost sacrilege to associate comics with the popular superhero titles.
The thing about comic books is that they not only show case brilliant writing, but also amazingly talented artists. Some stories are too complex to be told simply by typing words down, but wouldn’t look right as a movie. So they turn them into comic books. Whether they’re titles that have been running for years — Iron Man, Batman, X-Men — or graphic novels — Blue is the Warmest Colour — or independently published — Strangers in Paradise — there’s something for everyone. Below are four titles that I believe everyone, even those who aren’t really into the whole superhero thing, should read.
4. Scott Pilgrim
Genre: Comedy, sci-fi
Most of you have probably heard of the movie Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, which is in fact an adaptation of this particular 6-volume graphic novel. Scott Pilgrim tells the story of titular character Scott, who falls in love with a girl named Ramona Flowers. There’s a catch however (as always) — the only way he can be with her is by defeating her seven evil exes, who form part of the League of Evil Exes. Those of you who have watched the movie already know the story, but trust me when I say the comic is worth the read. The story is told through Scott’s eyes, and in a very comedic fashion that leaves you laughing at pop culture references and jokes. Though some references may be lost on those who are not totally immersed in comic culture, there are still some worthwhile moments throughout the whole story (especially any moments were Wallace is involved).
3. Rat Queens
Genre: Fantasy, comedy, adventure
A new title published by Image Comics, Rat Queens can be summed up in a few simple words: drunk, female assassins-for-hire. The story so far involves four main characters, who are employed by the town they live in to hunt down monsters and clean up the mess. With a mix of sass, sorcery, and alcohol, the four women make an unlikely team that works well together, despite their constant bickering and different views of the world around them. More so, the four women are even of four different races within their world, which makes interactions even more interesting. Recommended for anybody who enjoys strong female characters with good relationships, as well as a penchant for being smart-mouthed.
2. Sex Criminals
Genre: Adventure, sci-fi, comedy, adult themes
Matt Fraction did it again with this fabulously amazing comic! Sex Criminals tells the story of Suzie and John, two people who have a very strange ability — they can stop time while having sex. That’s not the best part though. The two come up with an ingenious scheme to rob stores and banks when they do this, all for one reason: to save the library Suzie works in. While the title has only just started, and consists of less than ten issues so far, I see great things happening for this story, and recommend it to anyone who wants to have a laugh, while also enjoy a brilliantly thought-out and well-told story.
1. Runaways
Genre: Sci-fi, adventure, coming of age
Probably my favourite comic, as it was my introduction into the culture itself, I recommend Runaways to anyone who will listen. The Marvel published title tells the story of six teenagers who find out that their parents are super villains. Discovering that they must take their place once they turn eighteen, the six run away in an attempt to get as far away from their parents as possible, inadvertently gaining (or stealing, in some cases) some of their parents’ abilities or possessions. They make up an unlikely team — a mutant, an alien, a jock, a computer geek, a witch and a time traveller — but somehow, the story works! One of Marvel’s lesser known titles, it deserves recognition for its incredible story telling and for dealing with growing-up issues in a tasteful ways: suicidal thoughts, self harm, even questioning sexuality. All in all, for anybody who’s a sucker for the underdogs, this is definitely a comic you should consider reading.