Nothing is quite like a graphic novel with violence, sex and controversial content. Here are 10 mature graphic novels that are a must-read:
1. Preacher
Garth Ennis’ absolute masterpiece follows Jesse Custer, an ex-reverend as he tries to find and punish God. Everything about this comic is bloody, and you’ll meet some of the most perverse characters imaginable.
2. Planetary
Set in the Wildstorm universe, Planetary is an organization about the “Archaeologists of the Impossible”. Three superhumans travel the globe recording Earth’s secret history, everything from monsters to secret relics. As the story progresses, the trio face a powerful evil force.
3. Y: The Last Man
When every male mammal simultaneously dies except for Yorick and his pet monkey, Yorick is determined to find out why. Society completely breaks down as women either try to kill Yorick, or have sex with him.
4. Sin City
Frank Miller’s neo noir series is about the inhabitants of Sin City, a fictional town run by the powerful Roarke family and riddled with criminals and questionable police. Every character is morally ambiguous and extremely deadly.
5. 100 Bullets
The mysterious Agent Graves gives someone who has been wronged a handgun and 100 bullets. The bullets are untraceable, and any police who encounter it instantly stop their investigation. This game is only part of a much larger and intricate plot, involving a worldwide conspiracy.
6. Fables
Fables is about fairy tale characters who have been forced out of their Homeland and into our world by an unknown enemy. Characters like Snow White and the Big Bad Wolf are forced to hide from us “mundies” and try to regain their land.
7. The Boys
What would happen if superheroes really did exist? Garth Ennis takes a much darker approach, where superheroes engage in dirty sex, do drugs and have no regard whatsoever for everyone else. When the supes get out of line, the CIA calls in The Boys–5 of the meanest people who specialize in killing the superpowered.
8. Ex Machina
Ending its 6 year run this month, now is the perfect time to read Ex Machina. Mitchell “The Great Machine” Hundred has the ability to talk to machines. He is elected as New York’s mayor, and must face a range of strange political matters.
9. Transmetropolitan
Spider Jerusalem is a journalist in the very strange future, full of sex, corruption and consumerism. The overall plot sees a presidency between the “Smiler” and the “Beast”. Spider tries to stop the corruption of his city through his writing, making powerful enemies.
10. The Walking Dead
Zombies! With a TV series in production, The Walking Dead is an excellent apocalypse series. The world is overrun by zombies, and survivors must constantly be on the move. When numbers begin to dwindle, the characters begin to suffer powerful psychological effects.
