Don’s Reading List

The Incal
Quite simply one of the most perfect
comics ever conceived and probably
the most beautiful piece of graphic
literature ever drawn. The Sci-Fi
masterpiece by Moebius and
Jodorowsky about the tribulations
of the shabby detective John Difool
as he searches for the precious and
coveted Incal. A low-class detective in
a degenerate dystopian world, finds
his life turned upside down when he
discovers an ancient, mystical artifact called The Incal.

Love And Rockets: Heartbreak Soup
This volume collects the first half of Gilbert Hernandez’s acclaimed magical-realist
tales of “Palomar,” the small Central
American town, beginning with the
groundbreaking “Sopa de Gran Pena”
(which introduces most of his main
cast of characters as children, plus
the imposing newcomer Luba),
and continuing on through such
modern-day classics as “Ecce Homo,”
“Act of Contrition,” “Duck Feet,” and the
great love story “For the Love of Carmen.”

Valerian: Ambassador Of The Shadows
Point Central is a multicultural space station
that serves as a sort of United Nations to
the galaxy. Tasked with protecting the new ambassador from Earth, Valerian is kidnapped alongside his charge in a lightning commando attack. It’s up to Laureline to do all the heavy
lifting and slog through the seedy bowels of
the station as she tries to locate and rescue them—and figure out who kidnapped them
and why. Written by Pierre Christin and
illustrated by
Jean-Claude Mezieres. If you
only read one, then read this.

Lone Wolf And Cub
Lone Wolf and Cub chronicles the story of
Ogami Ittō, the Shogun’s executioner who
uses a dōtanuki battle sword. Disgraced
by false accusations from the Yagyū clan,
he is forced to take the path of the assassin.
Along with his three-year-old son, Daigorō,
they seek revenge on the Yagyū clan and are known as “Lone Wolf and Cub”. A samurai epic
of staggering proportions written by Kazuo
Koike
and the groundbreaking cinematic
visuals of Goseki Kojima create a
graphic-fiction masterpiece of beauty,
fury, and  thematic power.

Donald Duck & Uncle Scrooge By Carl Barks
Carl Barks
was an American comic book creator, undoubtedly one of the biggest figureheads of the 9th art. In the Duckverse, he is credited for the invention of Duckburg, Scrooge McDuck, Gyro Gearloose, Gladstone Gander, the Beagle Boys, the Junior Woodchucks, Magica De Spell and Flintheart Glomgold. His images and stories have become part of worldwide consciousness, even transcending his mediums, and have influenced the thought and work of countless other artists.

The most popular and widely-read artist-writer in the world… is one about whom most people have never heard.

Mai: The Psychic Girl
Written by Kazuya Kudō and illustrated
by Ryoichi Ikegami. The main character
is Mai Kuju, a 14-year-old Japanese girl
with powerful psychic abilities. Mai is a normal teenaged girl in every way but one—she has strong telekinetic powers. She has always viewed this unusual talent as a game, something to amuse herself with when she’s bored… until she gets a high score on a test designed to find those with psychic abilities, bringing her to the attention of a shadowy organization who want to use her powers for their own gain. Suddenly, she must leave her normal life behind and go on the run, using her powers—which she still doesn’t have complete control over—to stay one step ahead of her would-be captors.

The Cartoon History Of The Universe III
Larry Gonick’s Celebrated Series The Cartoon History of the Universe is a unique fusion of world history and the comics medium, a work of serious scholarship and a masterpiece of popular literature. Praised by historians as a narrative and interpretive tour be force, Gonick’s clever illustrations deliver important information with a deceptively light tone, reaching us about the people and events that have shaped our world.This volume covers the Middle Ages around the globe, including the origin and spread of Islam; West Africa and the cross-Saharan trade; Central Asia and the Byzantine Empire; the European Dark Ages and the Crusades; the Mongol conquests; the Black Death; the Ottoman Empire; the Italian Renaissance; and the rise of Spain, leading up to Columbus’s departure for the New World. Highlighting key events and retrieving oft-neglected historical connections.

The Life Of Groo The Wanderer
He first appeared as a parody of the brutal sword and sorcery heroes who were popular in the 1970s. Groo is a large-nosed buffoon of unsurpassed stupidity who constantly misunderstands his surroundings. Possessed of superlative skills in swordsmanship (the only task at which he is remotely competent) he delights in combat but otherwise is a peaceable and honest fellow who tries to make his way through life as a mercenary or by working odd jobs. He is incredibly accident-prone, and despite generally good intentions causes mass destruction wherever he goes. If you only read one, this is a good start.

Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter
Forged in heaven, it is called Kusanagi, the Grasscutter–the lost sword of the Gods. This legendary blade could potentially tip the scales of power for the shadowy Conspiracy of Eight in their quest to overthrow the Shogunate and reinstate the Emperor. With the help of a witch and the souls of dead warriors, they plan to recover the lost sword and bring the Shogun down. But when the fates place the Grasscutter in the hands of masterless samurai Usagi Yojimbo, the ronin rabbit becomes the focus of a deadly struggle for possession of the dread blade. And this crisis pales beside the dark possibilities should the sword come to the demonic warrior, Jei!

Fantastic Four Epic Collection
The Fantastic Four. World-shattering events, cosmic calamities, and struggles that were intimate and mortal, despite their otherworldly powers. Jack Kirby is one of the most important creators in the history of comics, and the Fantastic Four is one of his greatest achievements. First published in 1961, the adventures of Mr. Fantastic, the Human Torch, the Invisible Girl and the ever-loving Thing introduced a bold new era in comics. Kirby’s dynamic storytelling, coupled with Stan Lee’s poignant writing style, were unlike anything comic book readers had seen before—it literally ushered in THE MARVEL AGE OF COMICS!