A good beginner - friendly option is 'Amulet'. It has a great adventure story set in a world where a magic amulet gives the main character special powers. The art is detailed and helps bring the story to life. Also, 'Fables' is interesting as it takes fairy - tale characters and puts them in a modern - day world with a lot of twists and turns.
One of the best is 'Watchmen' by Alan Moore. It's a deconstruction of the superhero genre, set in an alternate 1985. Another great one is 'The Sandman' by Neil Gaiman, which combines elements of mythology, horror, and fantasy in a dark and dreamy world. And 'Transmetropolitan' is also highly regarded for its unique take on a future society filled with political intrigue and a crazy protagonist.
One great example is 'Akira'. It's set in a post - apocalyptic Neo - Tokyo. The detailed art and complex story about psychic powers and a dark government conspiracy are really captivating. It has influenced a lot of Western sci - fi works too.
I think 'Hard to Be a God' by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky is among the best. It's set in a medieval - like world on another planet where a scientist from Earth is observing and trying to influence the course of history. It's a complex and dark story. Another excellent choice is 'The Cyberiad' by Stanislaw Lem. It's a collection of short stories that are full of imaginative ideas about robots, artificial intelligence, and the future of technology in a very Slavic - inspired way. And 'The Lord of the Snows' by Vasil Bykaŭ also has its place. It tells a story of a hero in a frozen, post - apocalyptic Slavic - type world, facing various challenges and enemies.
One of the best is 'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien. It has a richly detailed world, filled with diverse races like hobbits, elves, and dwarves. The epic battles between good and evil are captivating. Another great one is 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. It has a complex political and ecological system in a far - off desert planet. The story of Paul Atreides' rise to power is full of intrigue. Then there's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' by George R.R. Martin. It has a large cast of characters, each with their own motives and backstories, and the political scheming in the fictional world of Westeros is very engaging.
Well, 'Metabarons' is a great one. It's got this epic family saga set in a far - flung sci - fi universe with amazing art and a really engaging story about power, family, and survival.
Some great European sci - fi graphic novels include 'The Incal' by Alejandro Jodorowsky and Moebius. It's a mind - bending journey through a complex and vividly imagined universe.
One of the best is 'Watchmen' by Alan Moore. It's a deconstruction of the superhero genre set in an alternate 1985. The complex characters and dark, gritty storylines make it a classic. Another great one is 'The Sandman' by Neil Gaiman. It blends elements of fantasy and sci - fi, with Dream, the king of dreams, as the central character, exploring different worlds and stories. 'Transmetropolitan' is also highly regarded. It follows a journalist in a futuristic, dystopian city, full of satire and social commentary.
I also highly recommend 'Akira' by Katsuhiro Otomo. Set in a post - apocalyptic Neo - Tokyo, it has stunning visuals and a fast - paced story. It was one of the first major works to bring Japanese manga - style graphic novels to a global audience.
One of the best is 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. It combines a richly detailed desert planet, political intrigue, and a messianic hero. The world - building is extraordinary, with complex cultures and technologies.