I love comics. They're one of my absolute favorite forms of media, and I've loved them my entire life so it's a little weird for me when I hear that there are people who haven't read them. To me that's like saying you've never watched TV; it makes no sense. But, I do understand that comics are a bit of a niche community (and a lot of people want to keep it that way) but I also love sharing what I love with people so I compiled a list of comics that I absolutely adore for anyone who's interested.
1. "The Wicked + The Divine"
Set in a world where every 90 years 12 gods from different faiths are reincarnated as young people and become pop stars and after 2 years they all die. Weird? Yes, very. Entertaining? Yes, very. The Wicked + The Divine (or WicDiv for short) tells a compelling story about sex, drugs, rock and roll, and magic all while also showing the effects of fame at a young age and the inevitability of death, all told through the eyes of a fan. Writer Kieron Gillen crafts wonderfully rounded and diverse characters that are all relatable in their own way and the art from penciler Jamie McKelvie and colorist Matt Wilson is stunning. And the puns. Oh, the puns. If you like puns this is the book for you.
2. "The Fade Out"
Basically a murder mystery set in the Golden Age of Hollywood, but it becomes so much more. Writer Ed Brubaker and artist Sean Phillips strip away the veneer of nostalgia and show a seedy and dangerous underbelly to the world of filmmaking. We see the effects of racism, homophobia, misogyny, and the Red Scare all play a hand in the world our characters are trying to survive and make a name for themselves in.
3. "Saga"
The best way I can describe Saga is that its Star Wars but for grown ups. A Sci-Fi Fantasy mash-up set in a distant galaxy torn apart by a racial war between a planet and its moon. There's bombastic action and dynamic art from Fiona Staples; but at it's heart it's a romance about two people from opposing sides falling in love, having a baby, and just trying to create a good life for their family in the thick of a terrible war.
4. "Seconds"
Crafted by graphic novel auteur Bryan Lee O'Malley, Seconds tells the story of a young chef stuck in the limbo of leaving her first restaurant and opening her new one. That's simple enough, but when the chef finds a mushroom in her house that allows her to change the past she jumps at the opportunity to change all her mistakes, but this has untold consequences on those around her. While that's a pretty strange premise, Seconds is really all about becoming an adult and coming to terms with one's decisions. And there's also food in it too.
I hope this peaks somebody's interest in comics. I love sharing this with people and if this list gets anyone into comics I'll be happy.
