Ryan Keely’s Top Ten Comic Books

October 11, 2011
RYAN-KEELY

Ryan Keely loves comics—so much so that she's got a fancy, shmancy new project that's all about comics coming down the pipeline (see the video above for a taste of the action). Unfortunately, Nerd*gasm won't be ready for public viewing for a little while yet—so while you're waiting, enjoy Ryan's list of her top ten comic books (and if you know some comics she might like to read, feel free to make some recommendations in the comments!)

Preacher: the perfect comic book. Blasphemy, violence, true love. It's perfect. I read this in trade and was so riveted I'd finish one volume and head back to the comic store for the next. Try not to read it at breakneck speed, savor the awesome.

Transmetropolitan: Written by Warren Ellis, who is easily my favorite comic book writer, with art by the incomparable Darick Robertson. Imagine Hunter S Thompson embroiled in a political drama in a dysfunctional, dystopian future and you've sorta got the gist…but it's so much weirder than that. A two-headed chain smoking cat is one of the less wild details. A filthy and provocative science-fiction political drama that's got a little something for everyone…if you've got a tolerance for gross.

Scalped: I was able to deal with Preacher ending because I simultaneously read this and Y: The Last Man. Scalped is a little crime noir and very edgy. Jason Aaron's characters a complex and very evolved. It's hard not to emotionally connect with this book. The art is gorgeous and very stylized.

Y: The Last Man: An adventure story, and probably the least twisted selection on this list. However, it does deal with some of my favorite themes. An apocalypse where all the men in the world die with the exception a young man named Yorick and his monkey. This book is sweet, thoughtful and not nearly as fucked-up as the rest of my selections.

Ignition City: I love my Warren Ellis and I give this book to anyone that is struggling with the concept of steam punk. Smart, bad-ass female protagonist with a rocket ship and score to settle. It's single volume is perfect as is, but I have fantasies about this book being resurrected.

The Boys: Garth Ennis's second selection on my top ten list. In this universe the supes aren't idealistic do-gooders, they are a marketing and military strategy, super-weapons created by shadowy government contractors…and they are just as willful, perverted and narcissistic as any human. The supes are kept in line by a secret government task force called The Boys. It's a fascinating read with no one side ever totally in the right. An epic battle in the grey zone. The first seven volumes where illustrated by Darick Robertson, sadly now he's only doing the covers. Regardless, the book is brilliant.

Perdita Durango, the graphic adaptation: This is the book that started it all for me. A strong flawed, female lead. A road trip filled with peril, crime and magic. A man with a cock she can't quit…. The original story was written by Barry Gifford, adapted by Bob Callahan and the spectacular art is by Scott Gillis. I have never seen another book done in this style. The entire thing is in scratchboard, which means the artist started each frame looking at a solid black square and meticulously scratched it to let in the light. It's a spectacular accomplishment.

The Walking Dead: The best zombie story ever told. Don't even bothering trying to argue with me about this on the nets. Read the book, it's perfect. Survival horror at its best.

Anything Paul Pope: Dark, dreamy, highly stylized and intelligent. Paul Pope is the sole creator of his worlds, he conceives, writes and draws each of his books. A massive undertaking. Pope is an artist and really incomparable to anyone else on this scene. He has an amazing ability for his stories to feel like they are happening in the now, even when he's writing about the future. His Batman Year 100 is a must read as is Heavy Liquid and 100. These books are perfect for Cowboy Bebop fans.

Freakangels: This is the third time Warren Ellis appears on on this list. He's my favorite writer and Freakangels is my favorite book. Clearly I love Ellis' writing, but I would re-mis if I didn't talk about how perfect Paul Duffield's art is. This story has lots of different moods, some very surprising concepts and he's able to perfectly capture them all in a cohesive, attractive package. The book looks beautiful and is a tiny bit steam punk, something I alway appreciated. It has all of my favorite themes, post-apocalyptic dystopian futures, strong and independent female characters, complicated relationships, sex, survival, violence and magic. For me, it's perfect and Warren is still writing issues. Life is good.