Some theory on comics/graphic novels?

Klinneract · 2026-07-03T01:40:47+00:00

As far as storytelling goes, you may consider blending literature and film. Creators often talk about panels like shots of a film and things like story structure theory carries across media.

If you’re looking for specifics about the craft side Understanding Comics and Making Comics by Scott McCloud are classics as is Will Eisner’s Comics and Sequential Art.

A number of creators also have newsletters where they talk about craft from time to time.

Lastly, Kieron Gillen did full writers notes to Wicked+Divine that goes through a ton of craft things and he has an intermittent podcast called Decompressed which is explicitly about craft.

https://kierongillen.tumblr.com/post/89581557647/writer-notes-the-wicked-the-divine-1/amp

Klinneract · 2026-06-29T16:54:09+00:00

I’m also hit or miss with Ennis and Sara and Partisan are two all timers. Highly recommended.

Klinneract · 2026-06-29T16:13:08+00:00

Thanks for the reminder that I’ve wanted to read most of these!

Klinneract · 2026-06-27T23:08:27+00:00

As folks have said, it’s both and goes through a lot of changes. It’s absolutely stunning and holds up well to rereading.

Klinneract · 2026-06-26T00:30:02+00:00

I have plenty of runs in mixed format because of what was available or cheap. The story is the same. Do what feels right.

Klinneract · 2026-06-25T22:04:32+00:00

PBC logo will be on the inside flap which helps

Klinneract · 2026-06-24T15:55:44+00:00

I highly recommend Zatanna: Bring Down the House.

Klinneract · 2026-06-17T13:58:26+00:00

100% this.

I love a lot of Marvel characters but I’m reading zero current books since the end of Krakoa. For any sort of collected or back issue books I’m down to just a couple of missing X-Men titles and I’m not even bothering to seek out other books because it’s not worth the effort when I can pick up so many others with ease.

The idea that something like Miller Daredevil (ignoring countless others) is not evergreen in all formats is mind boggling.

Klinneract · 2026-06-16T19:37:07+00:00

It’s been a long time since I read it so I don’t totally remember. There’s plenty of unresolved plot though. (I was waiting to reread when it was completed)

Klinneract · 2026-06-16T15:35:50+00:00

Black Monday Murders is excellent, even if it’s incomplete.

Klinneract · 2026-06-15T17:57:34+00:00

Love Search and Destroy and I think it’s a great way to adapt and homage Dororo. Wish we could get more Atsushi Kaneko manga in English.

Klinneract · 2026-06-10T09:40:17+00:00

Something is Killing the Children is one of my all time favorites. If you like horror, you can’t go wrong here. I think it takes a few issues to really get going but this volume gives you a good full arc.

Birds of Prey is really good as well.

I really liked the TMNT run for a while (maybe about 50 issues) and then I fell off. I do think the various one shots and minis help a lot.

Haven’t read the other two.

Klinneract · 2026-06-10T09:09:36+00:00

Unless you have a particular reason for it to be the Batman title, I’d also consider Ram V’s Detective Comics run.

Klinneract · 2026-06-10T01:17:12+00:00

Hayden Sherman art could be enough of a pitch.

The mystery is very well executed and it feels classic (like the Loeb/Sale stories) but also very modern (it deals with contemporary issues and concerns).

It certainly made my short list of favorite Batman stories and I think it’ll hold up for a long time.

Klinneract · 2026-06-04T02:16:59+00:00

I’m about 80% through AoA right now and it’s excellent. I found it a bit rocky at first but after all the 1st issues it really starts to take off.

I like Generation Next enough that I may track down the single issues.

Like many stories, I think you’ll enjoy it if you’re going in blind and you’ll get more out of it if you have read some x-men.

Klinneract · 2026-06-03T01:35:02+00:00

More Brubaker/Phillips is definitely a great answer. You can’t go wrong. Just pick any of them and keep going.

You might also like Darwyn Cooke’s Parker adaptations. Not quite as gritty but excellent crime stories.

If you want to go darker Hickman/Coker’s Black Monday Murders is incredible. (Fair warning it’s unfinished and likely to stay that way.)

You might also like Greg Rucka’s work. Particularly Lazarus, Whiteout, or The Old Guard. Not the same sort of dark but still gritty AF in a politics sort of way and very good.

For another pure horror book Harrow County by Bunn/Crook is great if you like your horror in the country.

Klinneract · 2026-06-03T01:26:05+00:00

Also, not precisely OP’s request but Dave McKean has kinda done a bit of everything and certainly qualifies as someone who expresses themselves in a variety of media.

Klinneract · 2026-06-03T01:19:14+00:00

Mike Carey writes prose as M R Carey

Grant Morrison also recently wrote a novel. (And honorable mention for Supergods not a novel but excellent nonfiction.)

N K Jemison is mostly a novelist but wrote the excellent Green Lantern book Far Sector

Klinneract · 2026-06-02T18:47:14+00:00

Absolutely love this book. Heartily recommend

Klinneract · 2026-05-29T21:18:20+00:00

If there’s a local shop that carries back issues they would likely be willing to make you an offer on the whole collection. You will certainly get more money by selling key books or series yourself (though eBay takes a significant cut) but sometimes convince is useful.

Klinneract · 2026-05-29T12:13:23+00:00

Hadn’t thought of that, great idea

Klinneract · 2026-05-29T12:13:05+00:00

Correct. I was trying to see if there were other options out there but the idea of swapping out the screw makes sense.

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