Hi Swistle, could you do a post about what comics you read? I started reading Dumbing of Age because you mentioned it in a post once and I really love it. And I think it was you that mentioned Bad Machinery too, and I love that too. I’m going through a bit of a reading slump where I’m struggling to find a book that I feel like reading more than a couple pages of, but I realized I still enjoy comics, especially the sort that tell an on-going story. So I was hoping you might have some more recommendations.
Thanks
Nancy
This is a great idea: I want suggestions TOO.
Here are the comics I currently read, of the sort that tell an on-going story (those are my favorite kind, too):
Bad Machinery / Scary Go Round – This one seems to do several different sometimes-overlapping comics, in batches. I’ve never figured out what the pattern is, or which series is named what: I just go with it.
And here are the comics I currently read, of the sort that don’t tell an on-going story per se:
Nancy and I would like to know what comics YOU read—particularly the kind that have a long-running storyline, but also the kind that don’t.
If you don’t already read Hyperbole and a Half, definitely add that to your list!
Oh, Hyperbole and a Half is a great one! Her comics about depression are particularly insightful.
Ooh, is she still updating anywhere (online) regularly?
I have read her, but she hasn’t posted in years. I’ve got her new book on pre-order.
This one is a lot like Dumbing of Age but in a different way. I HIGHLY recommend it even if you’re not into hockey, it’ll be worth it I promise!
http://omgcheckplease.tumblr.com/
Spent big chunks of today reading all of it! You’re right, totally worth it!
I read it all in one day too! NEED MORE!
Aah, so good! Exactly what I wanted. I’m kinda sad I raced through it so quickly.
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal (no ongoing story).
Oglaf is also frequently funny, but as the site’s disclaimer says, “This comic started as an attempt to make pornography. It degenerated into sex comedy pretty much immediately.” So be warned.
I LOVE Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal! I got one of the books for Christmas last year and now I’m obsessed. (Even though some of the jokes are the sort that make me feel sort of bad for laughing.)
Are we only talking online comics? I used to read Sluggy Freelance but fell off it; I need to go back and pick it up again. There’s YEARS AND YEARS amid material though so it’s not for the time-deficient among us.
Print-wise, I read The Walking Dead, and recently finished Fables and Y: The Last Man. I’ve also been told to read Locke & Key but haven’t gotten to it yet.
Yeah, I was going to recommend Sluggy Freelance. I’ve been reading it for years. FYI, for those who want to start reading it at the very beginning – the art gets much better as you go along. It’s pretty rough at the beginning.
Maybe not the kind of comic you’re looking for, but Saga is very good. It is a print comic, not online.
Ooh, new comics! I’ve read many but not all on your lists!
Here are some that I love that haven’t been mentioned yet.
Grrl Power
Strong Female Protagonist
A Girl and Her Fed
Breaking Cat News! If you have or love cats, this one is adorable. Georgia Dunn’s three cats run a regular news report that is both entertaining and cute. There are occasionally short recurring storylines, but most of the comics are self-contained. My wife and I love the artwork so much that we have one of her watercolors (sold in her Etsy store) hanging in our house.
I also second Swistle’s recommendation of Robot Hugs. It’s funny, and I have also learned a lot about gender and diversity and how to not make myself look like an idiot in front of other people. Valuable stuff.
I am a huge Hellboy fan. I also like B.P.R.D. from the same artist. If you’re a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, there’s a ton of comics that basically form a season 8.
I loved the first two giant Walking Dead compilations, but by the end of the second one I was kind of tired of the hopelessness and the sort of repetitive nature of the story, but I liked it for a very long time.
Stand Still Stay Silent is amazing and gorgeous
http://sssscomic.com/
Liz Climo’s comics are also totally amazing, but not a storyline
http://lizclimo.tumblr.com/
YES – heartily seconding SSSS. So wonderful.
Here are several, VERY-different-from-each-other recommendations:
Traditional newspaper comic: Cul de Sac. The author has Parkinsons and is no longer producing new strips, but If you miss the “clever small child” universe of Calvin and Hobbes, this is a great place to go.
http://www.gocomics.com/culdesac
Webcomic: Achewood. Achewood is… strange. Vulgar cats and other animals, some are alcoholics, some depressed, some have anger management/murder issues. Very inappropriate, very funny. Here is one of the strips about depression (ha ha ha, ahahaha!).
achewood.com/index.php?date=02282007
Graphic novel: Fun Home by Alison Bechdel. You would need to get this in print, but it is worth it. It is a memoir about her less than perfect childhood (her closeted father ran the local funeral parlor). Bechdel got her start with the comic Dykes to Watch Out for, which originally ran in alternative papers. Some strips are available on her website. This one is from the 2008 election season (nothing changes, nothing!!)
dykestowatchoutfor.com/dtwof-episode-526
I’m a huge fan of Lumberjanes, and my middle daughter loves it too. It’s in book form and not online however. More of a graphic novel.
For online I enjoy Lunarbaboon, Fowl Language and Liz Climo.
Bitch Planet, DC Bombshells and Captain Marvel are all great print series, some have trades published.
I’m sure there’s more, but I won’t remember until tonight, when I’m almost asleep :)
Seconding the Lumberjanes books! I love them as an adult, and they’re also aimed at/appropriate for teens/preteens.
The only comics I read are in the newspaper but I love, love Zits. It’s about parents and life with their teenage son. It’s like the creators are peeking in our windows to get material!
Turns out they have an online presence as well…
http://zitscomics.com/
this and Family Circle are the only comics I read. I need to expand my horizons. :)
Floccinaucinihilipilification (no idea how to pronounce that; I had to copy and paste the name) is probably my favorite. It doesn’t have a storyline, but it’s funny!
Omg swistle we’re comic soulmates. been reading QC since at least 2008 and am very interested to see where Alice Grove goes. Yay Jeph Jacques! Love all your picks though.
She’s done now, but Girls With Slingshots as a serial webcomic definitely had its moments. Danielle Corsetto.
Oh, yes! I forgot about that one! I liked that one too.
Thank you so much Swistle and everyone else who made suggestions. I’m looking forward to checking these all out.
::add to feedly…. add to feedly… add to feedly::
thank you all!! I am way behind in this game (only subscribed to xkcd and the oatmeal) so this is massively helpful :)
Here are some more fun ones I haven’t seen show up yet:
Gunnerkrigg Court: http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/
Looking for Group: http://www.lfg.co/
Wilde Life: http://www.wildelifecomic.com/
Excellent art and ongoing storylines in all of these.
I downloaded the LINE WEBTOON app on my phone and I read comics on that. Sometimes I sit down to read literary fiction and end up scrolling on my phone for two hours instead. (I know they might not be for everyone, though.)
The comics are available online, too, if you don’t want to use the app:
http://www.webtoons.com/en/
My current favorites are Yumi’s Cells, Noblesse.
Ahhh! It’s done now, but no one here has said Nimona yet! I lovvvved it.
I stumbled across one today – Dork Tower
it reminds me of Dilbert, but in a younger/cooler way.
I have SO MANY tabs open now!
I heartily second Strong Female Protagonist.
2 others I haven’t seen mentioned – they’re good, but be warned that they’re on a slow update schedule:
As the Crow Flies: http://www.melaniegillman.com/
Oh, Human Star: http://ohumanstar.com/
I really loved Dylan Meconis’ Family Man, but she never finished it, and has moved on to better paying offline work. :( The art is gorgeous, though.