A Bucket List is a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime. This can take many forms, but for many lovers of the written word this comes more often in must read books. Here are award winning comics that are a must read for any one wanting a taste of the best!
The Sandman – Neil Gaiman
One of the first few graphic novels to ever be on the New York Times Best Seller list, Neil Gaiman (Yes, that Neil Gaiman of American Gods and Good Omens) penned this epic dark fantasy with an intriguing blend of history and mythology, all through the eyes of the Master of Dreams gazing into the human world. And much like recalling a dream or a nightmare, a few mere sentences cannot describe the scope of wonder and horror this comic has in store. (Did I happen to mention Neil Gaiman wrote this?)
Fables – Bill Willingham
Winner of 14 Eisner Awards and toting a prequel videogame, sole writer Bill Willingham sets the backdrop of immortal fairytale characters living as refugees in the non-magical ‘mundane’ world of New York City. There is no such thing as ‘Happily Ever After’ for these wonderfully complex and flawed characters. To quote Beauty on her marriage with Beast: “Try being married for almost a thousand years without a few ups and downs along the way!”
March – John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell
The March trilogy is an autobiographical account of the Civil Rights Movement as told by U.S. Congressman John Lewis. We follow young John Lewis and other student activists that drew inspiration from the very real 1958 comic book Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story that was freely distributed to bring awareness to the cause. March brings to full circle the power and influence visual storytelling can have to inspire a generation of nonviolent protest to bring about positive social change.
Y:The Last Man – Brian K. Vaughan
Set to be released for a television adaptation later in the year, Y:The Last Man is a post-apocalyptic tale where every male mammal in the world is eradicated with the exception of Yorick, an amateur escape artist and his pet capuchin monkey. The race is on to discover a means to save humanity from extinction. With society plunged into chaos everything depends on the reluctant Yorick…and whether or not he can survive the factions that want to capture or kill him for their own purposes.
Astro Boy – Osamu Tezuk
Lovingly nicknamed ‘The Godfather of Manga’ creator Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy debuted in 1952 and stars a young android boy with human emotions. Astro Boy is just the beginning of Tezuka’s illustrious career that also earned him the title ‘The Walt Disney of Japan’ by creating more than 700 individual manga series during his life.
~posted by Rye H.
Leave a Comment