- last update 30 Nov 2024 -
I used to read a lot of superhero stuff when I was a kid. Loved X-Men, but it was those edgy and gritty comics from Image that I found the coolest thing ever, until later I got a hold of some V for Vendetta, Transmetropolitan, Tank Girl, The Invisibles and random Heavy Metal issues and it completely blew my mind. Now we were really talking!
So I've been posting my favorite comics, and here is the comprehensive list - keep in mind that I'm always posting more stuff:
• LOVE them anthologies!
• Damn cool comics
• The superhero stuff
• Books, Movie and TV series franchises
• Video Game franchises
• Webcomics and Comic Strips
• LOVE them anthologies! •
The damn best thing that ever happened to comics!
Originally named Métal Hurlant, Heavy Metal (the American version) is a French magazine that so many great writers and illustrators have worked on that I couldn't even begin to name them (well, I can try some: Moebius, Philippe Druillete, Juan Gimenéz, Nicole Claveloux, Enki Bilal, Philippe Caza, H.R. Giger...). It delves primarily into science fiction and fantasy, but ended up going through all possible genres, with some heavily experimental and original stories. The 70s got too many epics and heroic adventures for my taste, despite already having some great alternative and psychedelic stuff, but for me, it really peaked in the 80s.
ps: Heavy Metal is not Métal Hurlant, but a magazine that translated its stories and articles.
I added tags to some stuff that got collected later, like Exterminator 17, Nikopol, Ranxerox, Rebel and The Green Hand.
I commented on the movies here.
The birth place of Judge Dredd and way more gritty and violent than mainstream comics of the time. I feel like it took awhile for it to develop beyond action adventure cliché tropes, but stories got increasingly crazy and satirical through the 80s, and from there it only got better.
In the 90s they started a parent publication called Judge Dredd Megazine, it also follows the anthology format and got some great original stuff.
With names like John Wagner, Alan Moore, John Smith, Peter Milligan, Pat Mills, Jamie Hewlett, Grant Morrison, Garth Ennis and Mark Millar working on it, you know you are in for a good time.
I added tags to some stuff that got collected later, like Future Shocks, Rogue Trooper, Zenith, Time Flies and Canon Fodder.
After the success of the "British Invasion" and more mature comics, Fleetway started another parent publication, this time very focused on current counterculture and politically subversive themes. At the end it merged with Revolver (1990-1991), which had a more "60s" appeal.
Grant Morrison, Garth Ennis, Mark Millar, John Smith and Pat Mills are some of the names that worked here.
A somewhat short-lived anthology comic book, most notoriously known for being the birthplace of Alan Moore's V for Vendetta. I'd also like to highlight his work with Marvelman, an awesome and intriguing retcon of a silly 50s superhero, and the beginning of Moore's tradition of making superhero stories something adults can read without losing brain cells.
Vertigo
Vertigo has tons of anthology series, most are special stories connected to their main DC-related titles, but there are some other random stuff that I will be posting if I find cool.
Vertigo Pop! was a series of three mini series by different artists, taking place in different cities. It ran for just a year. Bangkok and London had a more serious style, what I liked was the chaotic and colorful Jonathan Vankin and Seth Fisher's Tokyo.
Harlan Ellison’s Dream Corridor (1995)
A comic anthology adaptation of a few Ellison's short stories.
Who? Well, if you want to talk about modern sci-fi, you have to talk about Ellison!
Grunt: The Art and Unpublished Comics of James Stokoe (2019)
The name should be self explanatory... Stokoe art is damn great!
666: The Mark of the Beast (1992-1993)
A horror comics anthology published by Fleetway with a lot of guys from 2000 AD working on it, including some great writers like Alan Moore and Peter Milligan.
• Damn cool comics •
Multiple award-winning comic series by Carla Speed McNeil. Humanity went super technological, but that society already collapsed, and now we have a mix of clans living in domed cities, with technology they don't fully understand, and tribes and all kinds of intelligent man-animals from the wilds.
You think you are for some post-apocalyptic adventure? You couldn't be more wrong, the stories are increasingly intimate, sometimes very introspective, with takes on customs and morals, but most importantly, with so very vivid and humane characters, intricate details beautifully composing the narrative for a superb story-telling and a massive world building.
Finder has a few other stories that were published later on Dark Horse Presents.
Eisner winner and my personal favorite Frank Miller's work, with just stunning art from Geof Darrow. Hard Boiled is about a tax collector who stops for nothing... a three-part story like you won't believe!
In 1997 it got a quite good Playstation arcade shooter game, but it's just driving around your flying taxi and blowing shit up.
Another peak Frank Miller, mixing feudal Japan and science fiction in an art and narrative style way more European than American. Having guys like Will Eisner and Harlan Ellison praising it in the preface should tell you enough.
Grant Morrison at his peak of countercultural psychedelic storytelling, in a complex narrative mixing everything from esoteric to science fiction, and a big punch to mainstream aesthetics and philosophy.
The Invisibles actually got divided into three series, and in the last part the issues are on a countdown - which I ignored, and numbered them as they came out.
Grant Morrison, again with his unique and complex narratives, subverting tropes and expectations, and always taking a shit on mainstream morals and philosophy. The Filth is a crazy ride that every page screams with small details.
By Warren Ellis. The future is a clusterfuck of technology, and regardless of whatever new philosophical challenges it presents, some things never change... Transmetropolitan is a crazy cyberpunk story following Spider Jerusalen, a grumpy reporter very tired of demagogues.
The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (2013-2014)
By Gerard Way and Shaun Simon. A mix of post-apocalyptic and cyberpunk with heavy doses of counterculture and psychedelia... everything I love!
Years later we got a prequel called The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys: National Anthem (2020-2021), that is a complete another level when it comes to art.
I always found too pompous calling comics a "graphic novel", but truly calling From Hell a comic book seems like an understatement. This epic work is a testament of Alan Moore's writing prowess, with a superb narrative that will keep you on the edge, engaging characters, and an insanely rich background research with so many quotations and references that it would take a whole other book just to list them. I really have no words to describe this magnificent and utterly brutal work.
ps: I'm posting screenshots of the colored Master Edition.
ps²: There is a movie that shares the name. Disregard it, for it's an abomination.
Judge Dredd Megazine (1990-????)
By John Wagner. A gritty and violent comic that became an icon of authoritarian dystopian future, and a bootlicker wetdream. A bit of cyberpunk, a bit of post-apocalyptic, a lot of action.
Dredd got shit tons of spin-offs and alternative takes with several titles. I'm also not listing, but you can go check what I post here.
[I will comment on the movies and games when the sections are ready]
By Jamie Hewlett, from the Deadline (1988-1995) pages. A comic figurehead of counterculture of its time. Impolite and ungovernable, violent and full of humor, the post-apocalypse is the background for the wild adventures.
Tank Girl hit big the alternative comic scene in the 90s, and from time to time new adventures are still released. - I won't list, but I've been posting a bunch of them, so go check it out.
ps: The early stories I'm posting the colored version of the collected editions.
[I will comment on the movie when the section is ready]
A Texas preacher possessed by a powerful entity is on a quest to find God, but a lot of people have other plans for him.
A Garth Ennis' satirical pitch black humor wicked and twisted ride.
I commented on the series here.
Frank Miller pays a huge homage to the film noir genre while elevating its tropes to a whole new level of grittiness and brutality.
Sin City has several stories published and I won't be listing them here either, but I'm posting a lot of them, so go check them out.
[I will comment on the movie when the section is ready]
Alan Moore's absolute classic that created a pop culture icon. V is a mysterious anarchist plotting the downfall of a fascist regime.
[I will comment on the movie when the section is ready]
Multiple award-winning Neil Gaiman's masterpiece, a story full of little stories and fantastical tales and very intimate take on its characters. It follows Dream, who got imprisoned and it had consequences everywhere.
The Sandman got dozens of beautiful spin-offs that I will be posting some too.
I watched a few episodes of the 2022 TV series and so far so good, but I can't comment further because I wasn't really engaged.
By the great David Mack, Kabuki series start with a badass yakuza assassin vengeance story, but by the second volume the whole Mackism kicks in and the story just gets increasingly introspective, experimental, and, frankly, just stunningly beautiful.
The idea of supersoldiers being used in WWII has existed since WWII, but Kieron Gillen made a magnificent and thrilling new take on the concept, where supersoldiers are indeed soldiers - and not cheesy superheroes.
His meticulous historical research blends real characters and events with a fantastical and haunting amoral alternate WWII history that keeps you on the edge.
Only Garth Ennis could breath new life to zombie-apocalypse!
Crossed has several spin-offs with other great writers participating, like Alan Moore and Jamie Delano.
An astronomer kills his family, then himself, leaving a cryptic warning. A Veiled Lady hunts her victims through human nightmares. An occult hustler known only as ‘Nameless’ is recruited by a consortium of billionaire futurists for a desperate mission. Just Grant Morrison's nightmarish mix of eldritch horrors and sci-fi with his usual crazy and provocative narrative style.
An arms race or just a religious fervor fix?
Humanity have always been imagining gods, but now we are manufacturing them.
Another great Warren Ellis miniseries.
Wouldn't it be magical to travel the powderpuffing huggerfluffer Fairyland?
This comic is too damn cute, even when swearing. By Skottie Young, the original run ended in 2018, but since 2022 a second volume is being released - and as of 2024, it's still running!
Serial killers team up to take on creep cultists to save an FBI agent, showing us that the real killers are the friends we made along the way... what?
A bloody awesome Doug Wagner miniseries.
Another Doug Wagner. A guy was just traveling with his girlfriend when some jackasses messed with her and they got beaten up good. Too bad one of them was the son of a local crime boss...
Plastic is a crazy black comedy mini-series about a psychopath trying to save the love of his life. There is also the prequel Plastic: Death & Dolls (2024)
By Jason LaTour. A very cool crime drama mini-series that is too damn short, and would have been an awesome movie.
Blue is the Warmest Colour (2010)
By Julie Maroh. A captivating and very raw coming-of-age drama that was adapted to an award winning movie.
The movie and the comics has slightly different focus, and a very different ending, but each very fitting to their medium.
The End of the Fucking World (2011-2013)
By Charles Forsman and with some very nice minimalist art, The End of the Fucking World is a thrilling and emotional dark comedy that follows two runaways.
I commented on the series here.
By Antony Johnston, a great Cold War spy thriller that was adapted to the movie Atomic Blonde (2017). It also has a sequel, The Coldest Winter (2016).
[I will comment on the movie when the section is ready]
A one-shot by Frank Miller. Little Jason discovers his life is not what it looks like. A full edgy boomer, Heavy Metal-inspired, tale with the rebellious anti-hero on dystopian society and big tittied girls that serve no other purpose than being big tittied... but hey, still loads of fun.
A worldwide not-so-secret organization full of sleeper agents has to deal with an insane amount of crazy terrorists that keep pulling world-ending menaces every other week!
Warren Ellis is great anyway, and each issue is a different story with a different artist drawing.
Written by Keanu Reeves, and kinda starring him as well, BRZRKR is a brutal action series about an immortal warrior trying to figure out his origins. It has a few spin-offs and more sequels in the making.
A short story by Neil Gaiman that was later adapted to a comic book. A fantastic mix of Sherlock Holmes and Cthulhu Mythos with sprinkles of Victorian horror that just teases you so much into wanting more... also, if you are not familiar with Conan Doyle works you'll miss a lot of the hints and be fooled by who you are actually following.
By Scott Rockwell. A two-part story with a name that couldn't be more generic, written by a guy with low understanding of technology, but with everything to make a quintessential classic cyberpunk.
By Harvery Pekar. One of the most iconic underground comics, American Splendor is a down-home genuine look at modern life. The so-called "Slice of Life" genre has much to learn from it.
It also got a lot of publications under other titles that I won't list, but I may post.
[I will comment on the movie when the section is ready]
• The superhero stuff •
Alan Moore's masterpiece. The best superhero story ever written!
It has a few prequel spin-offs that the grumpy wizard doesn't approve of, but you can view them as some cool fanfic.
It also got a game in 2009, called The End Is Nigh, but it's a very mediocre beat 'em up. I mean, there is nothing wrong with it, it's just very basic.
[I will comment on the movie when the section is ready]
A dark and cynical satire of the superhero genre, exposing the corruption and depravity of powerful people left unchecked.
Another Garth Ennis pitch dark black comedy with a powerful social commentary. Say what you will, The Boys is the best superhero story written after Watchmen.
I commented on the series here.
When I was a kid, I heard about a kid from other school selling his comic book collection for $10, and I went there and bought it. Among it there was the full Marvels miniseries, it really stood out, and Alex Ross' art alone made it feel so classy. It was a cute homage to silver age comics... only way later I came to discover Ruins, by Warren Ellis, and the cop out is that it's an alternative universe that "everything that could go wrong, went wrong", as if anything could go right after being bitten by a radioactive spider or being exposed to the radiation of an experimental nuclear weapon. Nah, Ellis just removed all the childish fantasy from Marvel stories, and this, this is the real masterpiece.
About a superhuman group maintaining world peace, and what it really represents to the world powers. Very few people can write actual good superhero stories, and here is Warren Ellis again, showing he is one of them.
DC's dying title that wasn't going anywhere was handed to the newcomer British writer Alan Moore, who set the ground for his story in the issue #20 and then just rocked the comic book world in The Anatomy Lesson, and spun into a new a direction. Swamp Thing writing became so mature and touched so many themes that DC just gave up aiming at the stupid Comic Book Authority censorship seal of approval, and started releasing the series without it - because sales were that good.
Other British artists that worked later in the series are Grant Morrison and Mark Millar. Neil Gaiman and Jamie Delano were also supposed to write, but after Rick Veitch's resignation for issue #88 being censored (because it would show Jesus as a character, and religious fanatics had just bombed theaters and sent death threats to Martin Scorsese over his movie The Last Temptation of Christ), both Gaiman and Delano resigned in support.
I don't dare touching a Swamp Thing comic that wasn't headed by the Brits.
So, before Alan Moore turning Swamp Thing into something great, he had an overlooked recreation of Marvelman (the British copy of Captain Marvel - Shazam), and this thing he does of getting completely generic superhero crap and turning into a comic book an adult can read without losing brain cells is a tradition Warren Ellis greatly carried on.
Supreme was a creation of 90s edgiest boy (and shittiest artist) Rob Liefeld. Ironically, Moore had written some arcs for Supreme but I haven't yet read. Warren Ellis' Supreme: Blue Rose (2014-2015), though, twisted Liefeld's crap into a great, mysterious, crazy, and hallucinatory sci-fi thriller.
And still on the theme, Warren Ellis took a forgotten spin-off Marvel franchise, showing that he is the man to go if you want to read a superhero comics.
What if Superman and the people of the world were humans and existed in continuity, instead of only when some supervillain is attacking, and he did indeed hear what everyone is saying and this power is not only a plot device writers bring up only when it's convenient? By Mark Waid, another great and thrilling take on the superhero genre, although I think the second part wasn't really necessary.
The Man of Muscle Mystery is investigating the mysterious The Fact, a terrorist terrorizing the population. Just Grant Morrison and his full blown psychedelic, surreal and reality bending story-telling in a great four issues mini-series that is not like your common DC stuff.
By Sam Kieth. Surreal and a deeply introspective journey into the human psyche, I gotta admit The Maxx got a bit of a rough start, with some issues that seem very aimless, mixing with the general Image universe, but nonetheless, it deliveries one the most brilliant and impactful stories in comic books.
A prostitute gains super powers and reluctantly joins a superhero group.
A hilarious Garth Ennis piss take on the over-saturated infantile superhero genre that prompted some Silver Age fossil to accuse it of terrorist attempt to destroy the American values.
By Mark Millar. One of the most brutal and interesting Wolverine stories ever. Taking place in an alternative reality where the villains united and pulled an all out attack killing almost every hero in one go about 50 years ago, the world has changed beyond recognition and Logan is tormented by the memories of what happened that day. It was the inspiration for the movie Logan but the stories differ wildly - and like all Marvel storylines the reading order is a mess, but if you are up for a treat, then:
Wolverine Vol.3 (2003-2009) #66-72
Wolverine Giant-Size: Old Man Logan (2009)
That's the original story, but if you want more: Old Man Logan returns in an event that fucked up several different Marvel universes. The story gets increasingly crazy in Secret Wars, and then very sidetracked during the 50 issues series, but ties up for a nice conclusion:
Secret Wars: Old Man Logan #1-5 (2015)
Old Man Logan #1-50 (2016-2018)
Old Man Logan Annual (2018)
Dead Man Logan #1-12 (2018-2019)
And you can also read as a cool prequel to the original series and a goodbye to this awesome story:
Old Man Hawkeye #1-12 (2018)
[I will comment on the movie when the section is ready]
As aforementioned, I've read a lot of X-Men when I was a kid, and I met Deadpool back when he was just another guy fighting Cable. I never really cared about the character, most probably because of how dull Rob Liefeld’s writing and drawings are. Then Deadpool got his own series by Nicieza and without Liefeld's hands on it, and what a blast! - although, I think it was Joe Kelly that really got it.
I was really frustrated I would tell everyone about Deadpool and nobody had ever heard about him. I distanced myself from comic books in my teenage years, and it wasn't until the movie came out that I discovered how popular the character had become, and I went back to read his "newer" stuff.
Deadpool has shit tons of volumes, spin-offs and side stories that I won't list, although I'm posting a variety of them, but if I could mention one, I really like Deadpool MAX (2010-2012). Also I find Agent X (2002-2003), by the great Gail Simone, a really underrated series - which was probably the last Marvel stuff I ever bought. I'm also adding here tags for related street-level stories Taskmaster - that really I only ever found interesting after Deadpool, and he got some very nice miniseries of his own, and Gwenpool, that might be the best thing to happen to Marvel since Joe Kelly's Deadpool, because who doesn't love a psychotic killer?
[I will comment on the movies and game when the sections are ready]
I find Batman the most boring comic book character ever - next to Superman. But a few talented writers can get blood from a stone when focusing on other characters. Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth (1989), by Grant Morrison and beutifully illustrated by Dave McKean, and The Killing Joke (1988) by Alan Moore, are some great examples, and I'm putting them under a "Joker" tag because fuck Batman.
Peacemaker was a generic soldier-hero from the 60s until Paul Kupperberg put his hands on him in the 80s and created a character with dubious morals and a terrible haunting background. Garth Ennis has a cool one-shot that kind rewrites his past, but I really liked the hilarious Peacemaker Tries Hard! (2023) by Kyle Starks, that's more in line with the John Cena character.
The Umbrella Academy (2007-????)
By Gerard Way. A Eisner winner comics about a dysfunctional superhero family brought together by the death of their adoptive father. A mix of black humor, quirky characters and pulp action.
I commented on the series here.
The cream of 90s over-the-top edginess that made all Marvel and DC superheroes look like they were written for toddlers. There was no cooler comics to show around the schoolyard.
Yeah, Spawn was and is edgy as fuck, but it developed immensely with time, always with overly-badass and brutal characters with so damn awesome design. So many great artists worked on it that Todd McFarlane was dwarfed.
I commented on the cartoon here.
Mark Millar just wanted to have a bit more of a realistic approach to superheroes, why do they call it a parody?
I'm particularly fond of the Hit-Girl (2018-2020) around the world series, that just embraces the over the top absurdity and has some great artists participating - I'm not much of a fan of John Romita Jr.
By Ben Edlund. The Tick is an insane superhero in a world full of weirdos that are also superheroes... or villains...
It spawned a very fun cartoon, a very fun game, and two very fun live action series that were very unjustly cancelled!
I commented on the cartoon here, and the series here.
• Books, Movie and TV series franchises •
Of all adaptations of the George Orweel masterpiece I had seen over the years, none manages to capture the absolute horror and dense atmosphere like this gorgeous work by Fido Nesti.
[I will comment on the movies when the section is ready]
By Tom de Haven. A very nice adaptation of the Willian Gibson's novel that defined the cyberpunk genre, but unfortunately it covers only the first two chapters.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (2009-2011)
The original Philip K. Dick novel that inspired Blade Runner was adapted, word by word, by Boom! comics, and its damn amazing!
The world building and narrative is whole other level, with a complexity that couldn't be translated to a movie anyway. Even if, like me, you had watched Blade Runner dozens of times before reading the novel, the original is so different that you are going for a new a ride and it feels like you are experience the universe for the first time again.
It has an "authorized prequel" (read: official fanfic) named Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?: Dust to Dust (2010-2011) that is quite ok.
Blade Runner has a few comics around. First, a Marvel direct adaptation of the movie in 1982 that is quite ok - there are some awkward misquotes in the comics, but the art is cool, and you can't go wrong adapting such great material. There are Blade Runner Origins (2021-2022) and Blade Runner: Black Lotus (2022), neither of which I cared much about - Black Lotus is sequel to a Blade Runner anime series by the same name. But what I really want to talk about about is Blade Runner 2019!
By Michael Green (writer of the awesome Blade Runner 2049 movie, as well as Logan, Alien: Covenant, and many others) and Mike Johnson. Blade Runner 2019 (2019-2020) is a fantastic miniseries that continued in Blade Runner 2029 (2020-2022) and then Blade Runner 2039 (2022-2024). It’s a really good addition to the franchise!
[I will comment on the movies when the section is ready]
The Matrix Comics Series is a series of stories based on The Matrix (bet you didn't see that coming!). I believe they were posted online before being compiled for printing. Several different writers and illustrators worked on it (Neil Gaiman, Geof Darrow and Ted McKeever would be my highlights). There are some really nice pieces in the middle, and I consider the comics way better than all the Re-stuff - you know, Reloaded, Revolutions, Resurrections...
[I will comment on the movies when the section is ready]
Space horror doesn't get any better than Alien, and it got an absurd amount of comic miniseries (maybe even more than Star Wars), most of which are really good. From direct adaptations to no-longer-canon sequels and completely alternative takes on the universe, there are too many for me to even start listing (but, to mention one, Peter Milligan's Aliens: Sacrifice (1993) is one of my favorites). It's a damn great, and terrifying, world to dive into.
[I will comment on the movies when the section is ready]
Terminator keeps getting awful movies and a lot of bad games, but in the comics it fares very well. The Alex Ross' debut in the great Terminator: The Burning Earth (1990), that perfectly follows the original concept of the first movie, and the very nice prequel Terminator: All My Futures Past (1990), would be my highlights. But you will see more stuff in the posts.
[I will comment on the movies when the section is ready]
RoboCop is another one that hasn’t fared very well in later movies and games, but got some nice comics. I’d say some focus too much on heroic police action and forget the awesome absurdly dystopic background, but series like RoboCop: Road Trip (2011-2012), a sequel to the RoboCop (2010) series, perfectly captures it, with high doses of subtle black humor. Also a nod to RoboCop: Last Stand (2013-2014), with Frank Miller’s vision for the final chapter of the original movie series.
[I will comment on the movies when the section is ready]
It's a damn crime this universe wasn't explored in comics! All we got are a few Fury Road prequels adding background to Max, Furiosa, Immortan Joe and Nux. They are some very nice comics, though.
But we need more!
[I will comment on the movies when the section is ready]
The great Netflix 80s nostalgia horror series has a lot of comic series as well, mostly they are some extra adventures with the main cast, but what I really liked were the ones expanding its universe, like the miniseries SIX (2019) and Into the Fire (2020)
I commented on the series here.
They made a comic with short stories in the universe, named I Am Legend: Awakening (2017), that is quite ok, but what is really amazing is Steve Niles' Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend (1991) superb and faithful adaptation.
[I will comment on the movies when the section is ready]
Planet of the Apes also has shit tons of comics. Direct adaptations, sequels, prequels, alternative settings, extra adventures... from long series in the 70s, some manga in the late 60s, to modern stuff being released every year. I really don't recommend most of them, as I'm really just a fan of the first two movies, but I will be posting what I like. One highlight of mine would be Planet of the Apes: Ursus (2018), taking place before and during the first two original movies and adding so much to it.
[I will comment on the movies when the section is ready]
The biggest sci-fi franchise after Star Trek, obviously got an absurd amount of comics as well. I haven't touched the oldest stuff, but there are some very cool later entries. My highlights are the Star Wars: Purge (2005-2013) and especially its sequel Star Wars: Dark Times (2006-2013) series, but Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2006-2012) was also pretty badass.
[I will comment on the movies when the section is ready]
For Altered Carbon fans, there are a few other Takeshi Kovacs adventures that expands the creative horrors this universe can deliver. Altered Carbon: Download Blues (2019) and Altered Carbon: One Life, One Death (2021).
I commented on the series here.
Another fantastic book series made famous by a TV adaptation, the comics are all supplementary to the show, and The Expanse: Dragon Tooth (2023-2024) works as its last season.
I commented on the series here.
The Twilight Zone has it's far share of comics as well. I couldn't bring myself to finish the original 92 issues 1962-1982 run, as it was three stories per issue they all felt super rushed with characters drawing stupid conclusions all the time, not to mentionm half of the stories were just "guy stumbled upon different time/dimension, a misunderstandings makes everyone turn on him, and he has to scape". But the rest of stuff, mostly they were ok. The 2013-2015 series was just one story spanning 12 issues, instead of the habitual anthology format, but it changed characters constantly and was quite thrilling, but my favorite was Lost Tales (2014).
I commented on the series here.
Obviously, Star Trek has an insane amount of comics. I'm not very interested in anything besides The Original Series and The Next Generation so far, and didn't came across anything so remarkable, although the IDW TNG series Mirror Broken (2017), Through the Mirror (2018), Terra Incognita (2018), The Mirror War (2021-2022), been quite fun, probably because the "evil" counterparts are just more fun anyway.
I commented on the series here.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1976-1977)
Written and drawn by Jack Kirby, the movie adaptation and the original ten issue series mark the return of the legendary artist to Marvel. Honestly the adaptation is pretty poor, and the series is just ok - too many sword wielding heroes for my taste, but the first part, that takes place in space, is quite cool.
I guess this is here more as a curiosity piece.
[I will comment on the movies when the section is ready]
Another universe that they could explore so much, yet they did so little - although the game is top notch. The Warriors has a very nice official adaptation, and at the same time the cool little sequel The Warriors: Jailbreak (2009-2011). Because no Warrior gets left behind.
[I will comment on the movie when the section is ready]
The campy cult classic got a few comic series, including a crossover with Snake Plissken, but I don't find them so remarkable. Old Man Jack by Anthony Burch, though, is a hilariously badass trip full of surprises.
[I will comment on the movies when the section is ready]
Most people don't know, but Chuck Palahniuk actually made two comic sequels for [redacted]. They get increasingly weird, absurd and abstract, and honestly the fourth wall breaks were kinda cringy... [redacted] 2 goes very well, it's an interesting read. The [redacted] 3 kinda derailed in my opinion. Not an essential read, more of a curiosity piece for the [redacted] fans.
[I will comment on the movie when the section is ready]
A miniseries showing the events of the movie through the antagonist's perspective.
Very cool art all around.
[I will comment on the movie when the section is ready]
A nice DC straight movie adaptation.
On another note: There is a very little known comic sequel made in 2011 by Dynamite. I don't think I'm going to be posting it, though... it kinda sucks. Just mentioning for movie fans that would like to see a "what if" of the next day.
[I will comment on the movies when the section is ready]
Another DC straight adaptation, the art is kinda dull, though... another curiosity piece.
[I will comment on the movie when the section is ready]
Avatar also has a bunch of comics. Prequels, sequels, extra adventures, background to adventures... they are all very enjoyable if you are really into the universe, but so far I feel like the only must-read for the fans is Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search (2013).
I commented on the cartoons here.
Adventure Time might have finished on TV, but the comics... they seem to be endless - and as psychedelic as always.
I commented on the cartoon here.
Bubblegum Crisis: Grand Mal (1994)
Somehow Bubblegum Crisis got a 4-issues original comic miniseries published by Dark House, and it's quite nice!
The tag will get you to everything related to Bubblegum Crisis, though.
I commented on the anime here.
A four issues original story released to promote the live action adaptation... and, honestly, way more entertaining.
I commented on the original anime here.
For how recent this series is, you are going to be surprised by how many comic spin-offs it has. A lot of adventures mentioned in the show are actually here, and it has a lot of different writers, but the downside is that they are notoriously Rated G... although the main comic series got some pretty cool stories, most of everything else is pretty lame, but you will see me posting what I like.
I commented on the cartoon here.
There is not much I can say, I won't even make separate entries for them. They both got a lot of comics, and a couple of crossovers, and it's more of Simpsons and Futurama. If you like the shows, odds are you gonna like the comics too. I will be posting panels from my favorites.
I commented on the cartoon here and here.
They made a prequel miniseries in 2009-2010, that I'd only recommend if you are a real fan, but I like more the straight movie adaptation.
I commented on the cartoon here.
• Video Game franchises •
Cyberpunk 2077 is getting a lot of comic miniseries and they are all fantastic! Cyberpunkish to the core, beautiful art, great writers, from revenge stories with surprising characters, introspective psychological thrillers to heist comedy, there isn't a single comic that I can't recommend. I love it all!
[I will comment on the game when the section is ready]
Starcraft has developed a great universe and there is so much to tell on it. It has quite a few miniseries and anthologies, some of which are very good and you will see around. I particularly like StarCraft: Scavengers (2018) and its sequel StarCraft: Survivors (2019).
[I will comment on the game when the section is ready]
I couldn't believe when I saw Mœbius and Tsutomu Nihei, two of my favorite comic book artists, working on a Halo comic. But that was just the beginning, Halo got tons of one-shots, miniseries and anthologies, some pretty good and brutal stuff, Halo: Tales from the Slipspace (2016) is one of my favorites, but I will be posting everything I liked.
[I will comment on the game when the section is ready]
From the awesome space survival horror game, Dead Space has a few comics, but what I really like are the absolutely stunning Dead Space: Salvage (2010) and Dead Space: Liberation (2013) drawn by Christopher Shy.
[I will comment on the game when the section is ready]
Taking place one year after the events of the original game and continuing from one of the possible endings, the Life is Strange comics span twenty-two issues. Although they are nowhere near as thrilling, and are more focused on drama, they’re a very cool read if you also felt empty after beating the game.
[I will comment on the game when the section is ready]
"When you ask the point of our brothers dying, you ask the point of war itself. You ask for some great unifying purpose. You ask for a story. One where every event, choice, and turn of fate leads to revelation. But this is not the nature of war. War simply is. Eternal and unending."
The most brutal space sci-fi franchise also has a lot of comics expanding its rich and complex mythos.
inb4 someone says Warhammer 40,000 is not a video game franchise.
[I will comment on the game when the section is ready]
The Last of Us: American Dreams (2013)
A four issues miniseries that is a prequel to the instant cult classic game.
[I will comment on the game when the section is ready]
The Division is an awesome game about a post-apocalyptic world swept by a pandemic. They made two comics that work as a prequel to the second game: Tom Clancy's The Division: Extremis Malis (2019) and Tom Clancy's The Division: Remission (2022), both quite nice.
[I will comment on the game when the section is ready]
From the best nazi-killing video game franchise ever, this miniseries is a prequel to the game Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. It kicks nazi ass.
[I will comment on the game when the section is ready]
From one of the best cyberpunk game series, it has quite a few novels but sadly very few comics.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution (2011) is a side story for the game of the same name, and then there are Deus Ex Universe: Children's Crusade (2016) and Deus Ex Universe: The Dawning Darkness (2016), that are prequels to the game Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.
[I will comment on the game when the section is ready]
Borderlands: Origins (2012-2013) and Borderlands: The Fall of Fyrestone (2014-2015) are a comic adaptation of the legendarily fun game. As of 2024 two new series were announced, but I have a feeling they are going to be based on the box office bomb movie.
[I will comment on the game when the section is ready]
A comic made as an introduction to the forgotten 90’s gem, Quarantine II. A post-apocalyptic Taxi Driver.
[I will comment on the game when the section is ready]
I'm actually posting those because they are two games I really love and they got some miniseries in Sonic The Comic magazine.
Kid Chameleon ran in 1993 from issues #07 to #12, and got another run in 1995 from issues #54 to #59.
Streets of Rage also ran in 1993 from issues #07 to #12, got another run in 1994 from issues #25 to #30, and then another from 1994 to 1995 from issues #41 to #46.
• Webcomics and Comic Strips •
Envisioned by Ryan Humphrey. A monumental and ambitious collaboration to remake Otomo's legendary work in Groening's iconic world through the lens of over 500 fantastic artists from all around the globe. Every few pages you get a completely new look at these two giants of pop culture. The free interpretation, ever-changing visuals and delightful Easter eggs and references will always keep you engaged to see what is coming next, even if you already know Akira... and yeah, they did the whole six volumes!
Romantically Apocalyptic (2010-????)
A dark twist of Douglas Adams and Lewis Carroll by Vitaly S. Alexius. Following the adventures of Zee Captain and his ragtag group through the radioactive wastelands, Romantically Apocalyptic is an absurd sci-fi horror drama parody that out of nowhere strikes you with very deep stories and abstract philosophical concepts. One of my favorite graphic novels ever.
Gone With The Blastwave (2005-????)
By Kimmo Lemetti. One of the most classic webcomics series, Gone With the Blastwave is a post-apocalyptic black humor blast. A lot of people think Romantically Apocalyptic was copying it, but in fact, it had a few concept arts and gags released even before Gone With the Blastwave. No one was copying anyone, they are just two great post-apocalyptic series.
From the twisted minds of Kamagurka and Herr Seele, an absurd and surreal comic strip that has been running since 1981 and was collected in several books. Sadly, too few have been translated from Dutch.
Wait, I said those guys were twisted? Wait till you meet Joan Cornellà!
You Should Have Killed Me When You Had The Chance! (2016)
A Kyle Baker comic collection.
• Here are some other webcomics I find great •
• Berkeley Mews • • Brad Jonas • • Channelate • • Dogmo • • Extra Fabulous • • False Knees • • Good Bear • • Hot Paper Comics • • Jeroom • • Jesse McGibney • • Mr. Lovenstein • • Rory Blank • • Skeleton Claw • • The Perry Bible Fellowship • • Toothy Bj •
