My Top 50 Graphic Novels (or Graphic Novel-like Trade Paperback Collections) -- Updated and Expanded

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, after a few years it was definitely time to update and expand this list.

But, before we get to the actual list, let me head some of your questions off at the pass, so to speak.

Question #1: Why do you have both trade paperbacks and graphic novels on this list?

It's based on my personal understand of what constitutes a "graphic novel." I ignore the TBP moniker and break them into collected graphic novels, original graphic novels, and collections.

A collection is just that, a group of stories based on a book title or  character. A graphic novel or original graphic novel is a complete story designed to be a finished product, even if it's part of an ongoing series. An original graphic novel is written for the long format and hasn't been published as single issues, whereas a collected graphic novel was published originally as single issues or across several issues of an anthology.

Question #2: Why is _____________ not on this list ?

Based on my definitions above, I've had to leave out several of my favorite comics, among them:

Saga -- Because it's so dependent on it's cliffhanger storytelling, it's difficult to separate into standalone stories. When the full volume is completed, it will definitely be on my list as a collected set of TPBs. BTW, Y the Last Man almost didn't make the list for this very reason.

Paper Girls -- The same reason as Saga.

Grindhouse and Grindhouse: Drive In, Drive Out -- Because it is a series of stories, an anthology of two-issue stories, not a single volume of linked tales. What separates it from other story collections in the list, however (such as some of those by Eisner) is a central building, city block, or character tying the tales together.

If you're favorite book isn't on the list, it's most likely one of those two reasons.

Bring on the List!

Honorable Mentions:

My Favorite Thing Is Monsters

by Emil Ferris

Published by Fantagraphics

Astro City: Confessions
by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson
Published by Wildstorm (originally) /Vertigo (later) 

 

Uzimaki

by Junji Ito

Published byShogakukan

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The Top 50:

50. The House of Secrets Omnibus

by Steve Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen

Published by DC Comics

49. Demon Knights: Seven Against the Dark (Vol. 1)

by Paul Cornell and Diogenes Neves

Published by DC Comics

 

48. Sex Criminals, Vol. 1: One Weird Trick

by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky

Published by Image Comics

 

47. The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite

by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba

Published by Dark Horse

 

46. Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft

by Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez

Published by IDW

 

45. Mockingbird: I Can Explain/My Feminist Agenda (Vols. 1 and 2)

by Chelsea Cain and Kate Niemczyk

Published by Marvel Comics

 

44. The Starman Omnibus

by James Robinson and Tony Harris

Published by DC Comics

 

43. Southern Bastards: Here Was a Man (Vol. 1)

by Jason Aaron and Jason Latour

Published by Image Comics

42. The Wicked + The Divine: The Faust Act (Vol.1)

by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie

Published by Image Comics

41. Uber (collected)

by Kieron Gillen, Caanan White, Gabriel Andrade. and Daniel Gete

Published by Avatar Press

 

40. Bitch Planet: Extraordinary Machine (Vol. 1)

by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Valentine De Landro

Published by Image Comics

39. Black Widow: The Finely Woven Thread (Vol. 1)

by  Nathan Edmondson and Phil Noto

Published by Marvel Comics

38. The Infinity Gauntlet

by Jim Starlin, George Perez and Ron Lim

Published by Marvel Comics

 

37. Ghost World

by Daniel Clowes

Published by Fantagraphics

 

36. Y the Last Man: Unmanned (Vol. 1)

by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra

Published by DC Comics 

35. Blankets

by Craig Thompson

Published by Top Shelf Productions

34. The New Frontier

by Darwyn Cooke

Published by DC Comics

33. Give Me Liberty

by Frank Miller and Dave Gibbons

Published by Dark Horse

 

32. The Golden Age

by James Robinson and Paul Smith

Published by DC Comics

 

31. The Fade Out (collected)

by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips

Published by Image Comics

30. The Lump

by Chris Wisnia

Published Salt Peter Press

 

29. Harpe

by Chad Crawford Kinkle and Adam Shaw

Published by Cave in Rock

28. Children of the Grave

by Tom Waltz and Casey Maloney

Published by IDW Publishing

27. Earth X

by Alex Ross and Jim Krueger

Published by Marvel Comics

26. Legion of Super-Heroes: The Greak Darkness Saga

by Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen

Published by DC Comics

25. I Am Legend

by Richard Matheson, adapted by Steven Niles and Elman Brown

Published by IDW Publishing

24. Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes

by Neil Gaiman and Sam Keith

Published by DC Comics

23. Batman: The Killing Joke

by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland

Published by DC Comics

 

22. The Interman

by Jeff Parker

Published by Octopus

 

21. Crisis on Infinite Earths

by Marv Wolfman and George Perez

Published by DC Comics

20. Astro City: Life in the Big City

by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson

Published by Wildstorm(originally) / Vertigo (later)

19. Minor Miracles

by Will Eisner

Published by DC Comics

18. Fatale (collected)

by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips

Published by Image Comics

17. Punk Rock Jesus

by Sean Murphy

Published by Vertigo Comics

16. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill

Published by Vertigo Comics

15. Fables: Legends in Exile

by Bill Willingham and Lan Medina

Published by Vertigo Comics

 

14. Sin City: That Yellow Bastard

by Frank Miller

Published by Dark Horse Comics

13. The Dark Knight Returns

by Frank Miller

Published by DC Comics

12. The Building

by Will Eisner

Published by W. W. Norton & Company

11. Maus (Vols. 1-2)

by Art Spiegelman

Published by Pantheon

10. Watchmen

by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

Published by DC Comics

9. V for Vendetta

by Alan Moore and David Lloyd

Published by Vertigo Comics

 

8. The Crusades

by Steve Seagle and Kelley Jones

Published by Vertigo Comics

7. From Hell

by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell

Published by Top Shelf Productions

6. The Complete Bone

by Jeff Smith

Published by Cartoon Books

5. Sandman: A Doll's House

by Neil Gaiman and various artists

Published by Vertigo Comics

4. Squadron Supreme

by Mark Gruenwald and various artists

Published by Marvel Comics

 

3. X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills

by Chris Claremont and Brent Anderson

Published by Marvel Comics

2. A Contract with God and Other Tenement Stories

by Will Eisner

Published by W. W. Norton & Company

1. Camelot 3000

by Mike Barr and Brian Bolland

Published by DC Comics