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12 comics for those who don't read comics
12 comics for those who don't read comics
Anonim

Lifehacker advises what to read if you don't like superhero stories.

12 comics for those who don't read comics
12 comics for those who don't read comics

Every year serial comics and individual graphic novels are becoming more and more part of the culture. In cinemas, films from Marvel and DC are collecting the most solid box office, and TV screens are flooded with series about "heroes in raincoats."

Although, despite the stories of fans, many still believe that books in pictures can be of interest only to children. But there are quite a few serious adult stories that will make you look differently at the comic book industry.

1. Guardians

Keepers
Keepers

The graphic masterpiece of the famous author Alan Moore deservedly made it to the list of the 100 best novels of the 20th century according to Time magazine. At first glance, this is a typical story about heroes in strange costumes. But in fact, "Guardians" can be opposed to ordinary comics.

Here, the life of superheroes is similar to that of a human: a character similar to Batman has problems with erection, a villain saves the world, and a principled avenger can destroy it.

2. V is for vendetta

V for Vendetta
V for Vendetta

Another work by Alan Moore. This time in the genre of dystopia. Great Britain is dominated by a fascist government, everyone is trying not to stand out from the crowd. But the mad anarchist V challenges the system.

In this graphic novel, it is not the main character that is important, but the world in which the action takes place. In the mid-80s, Moore wanted to describe a dystopian future, but in fact he predicted a lot of what has become our reality.

3. Mouse: a survivor's story

Mouse: A Survivor's Tale
Mouse: A Survivor's Tale

The only comic strip in history to win a Pulitzer Prize. Its author Art Spiegelman tried to tell the story of his father, a Jewish survivor of the camps during the Holocaust. To slightly simplify the visual presentation, he portrayed all the Jews as mice, and the Nazis as cats.

But one should not think that this makes the work comic. Eerie sensations from him are no less than from serious articles on this topic. Moreover, at the end of the book, Spiegelman shows a real portrait of his father, forcing the reader to remember that all this time it was about real people.

4. Persepolis

Persepolis
Persepolis

Autobiographical work of the French writer Marjean Satrapi. She is originally from Iran and in this piece she talks about how a little girl is going through the Islamic revolution. Like, after the war with Iraq, she is sent abroad, and there she thinks that she is in the world of freedom. And how she has to go back to her native country, where a lot has already changed.

5. Sandman

Sandman
Sandman

Those who lack literary content in comics should read the Sandman series by Neil Gaiman. His writing talent, combined with his passion for mythology, has led to a magnificent story about the Lord of Dreams, his sister Death and many other inhabitants of the other world. Even if the first volume does not seem very exciting, it is definitely impossible to stop after "Dollhouse".

6. Sin City

Sin City
Sin City

The complete opposite of the previous comic. This is a purely visual work by Frank Miller, on which the scripts of his films of the same name are based. There is little text and bright colors, but a lot of cruelty, passion and other emotions.

7. From hell

From the hell
From the hell

Another graphic novel by Alan Moore, this time a story about the 19th century. A depressed opium addict police inspector tries to investigate the murders of prostitutes on the streets of London. Girls are killed by one of the aristocrats, and even with a medical education. The inspector is trying to find out who is hiding behind the frightening pseudonym Jack the Ripper.

8.100 bullets

100 Bullets
100 Bullets

Brian Azarello, a fan of all kinds of gangster stories, suggests thinking: what if they show you the person responsible for your main hardships? And they will not just show, but also give 100 bullets that cannot be tracked. Will this be justified revenge or just murder for the purpose of self-justification?

Azarello's story is more reminiscent of Tarantino's films than the usual comics. There are no heroes here - only scoundrels and villains. Not a single character will remain episodic, everyone will be told in detail.

9. Blacksad

Blacksad
Blacksad

In recent years, children's cartoons about anthropomorphic animals have become very popular. But a detective story, where the main characters are animals, does not always look like Zootopia. The Spanish authors of the Blacksad comic strip take the reader into a noir world filled with lies and cruelty.

The main character, a black cat, works as a private detective. He investigates murders, robberies and disappearances. Every time he has to face the world of money, temptations and lies. The picture in this comic is drawn very gracefully, and where necessary and realistic. Literally after a few pages, you can forget that there are cats, bears and rhinos in front of you: their behavior is too human-like.

10. Preacher

Preacher
Preacher

It was this comic by Garth Ennis that formed the basis of the AMC series. However, if the plot is drawn out in the film adaptation, then the original is dynamic from the first to the last 66th issue. The priest Jesse Caster is possessed by a divine essence, and he gains power over the word - the ability to control people with his voice. However, things are not so simple. Angels are sent from heaven to return the essence, and along with them, the immortal patron saint of murderers. Although even this can be dealt with, there is still a more serious problem: God himself escaped from paradise.

Ennis managed to mix literally everything in this series: the apocalypse, worldwide conspiracies, saving the world, fights, family relationships, black humor, vampires, voodoo. And if you are not afraid of rudeness and frankness, then it is very easy to read it, even if you do not like comics.

11. Spy

Spy
Spy

Jessica Jones is often portrayed as "a superhero show for those who don't like superhero shows." It is logical that its original source will be on the list of "comics for those who do not like comics." The story is exactly the same: Detective Jessica Jones has super powers that she hates. And most of all, she wants to forget about her past and live a normal life.

This is primarily an emotional work about a woman who has suffered from violence. And although she is part of the superhero Marvel universe, "Spy" can be read without even knowing anything about all the other heroes. These are completely independent stories combining noir detective story and psychological thriller.

12. I kill giants

I kill giants
I kill giants

Once upon a time there was a girl who wore hare ears on her head. She also had a magic bag that held a huge hammer and many magical items. Every day she saved the city from the giants. Or maybe this girl just wanted to believe that she was saving, but in fact was hiding from real problems in a fictional world. But be that as it may, she knew that she was doing something important.

Drawn in the form of black and white sketches, the comic is sometimes mistakenly attributed to the fantasy genre. But in fact, this story is about the life of a simple, frightened child in a complex world of adults.

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