Tired of wasting your money on lousy reads? Daunted by the sheer number of comics available? Looking to make the jump into the colorful world of comics but don’t know where to begin? Well, look no further. Ahead you will find reader-friendly books that are worth both your time and your money.

X-Men: Magneto Testament (2008)

What’s it about:

This five-part miniseries is the origin story of Magneto as a Jewish boy in Nazi Germany circa 1944. For those familiar with Magneto this opens up a whole new grey zone for the character as he is infamous for his violence against humans; he survives the Jewish holocaust only to live through a mutant holocaust of sorts. Writer Greg Pak went to great lengths to ensure historical accuracy and it shows. This book reads more like a Holocaust survivor’s tale than a comic book. In fact, save for the title on each of the covers you’d probably never guess that this was even a part of X-Men canon.

Why you should care: This is hot of the press of Marvel’s MK or Marvel Knights line. To be brief, MK is a special division of Marvel’s best tenured writers who are allowed to operate in a zone with absolutely no ties to Marvel continuity. That means two very important things. First, it means these writers have creative reign to do pretty much whatever they want. Second, it means these books require no scribe-like-knowledge of past Marvel events. If you’re new to comics there is no greater place to jump in. And if you aren’t, then I’m preaching to the choir. Oh yea, by the way, IGN gave this the award for best miniseries of 2008 based on the strength of only 3 of the 5 issues (the final two weren’t even released yet!). Yea, it’s that good.

Y: The Last Man (2002-08)

What’s it about: In the year 2002, for reasons completely unknown, every living creature with a Y chromosome drops dead. Every single living male on the planet is wiped out. Well, except for protagonist Yorick, the titular Last Man and his pet monkey Ampersand. Together they travel the globe in search of family and a way to save mankind. No small feat when you consider that every infrastructure known to man has been crippled.

Why you should care: RevolutionSF.com says “This is why God created comic books.” Writer Brian K. Vaughn won the Eisner award (think Oscars of comics sans the fame and fortune) for this in 2008 when the series came to its conclusion. He now writes for JJ Abram’s hit television series Lost. I’ll be the first to admit that yes, sometimes reading about superheroes saving the world can get a bit, well, comical. Capes and spandex aren’t for everyone, not even me, which is why the plausibility of everything contained within these pages is such a breath of fresh air. At 60 issues or 10 trade paper backs this series is quite an investment, both in money and time but I assure you, it is worth every penny and every second. Ever wish you could read a book for the first time again? It’s one of those.

Joker (2008)

What’s it about: For reasons unknown and totally irrelevant, the Joker is released from Arkham Asylum. This appropriately ultra-violent stand-alone graphic novel follows the Joker’s rise back to his rightful throne as Gotham’s Clown Prince of Crime. Narrated by one of his low-level thugs, this book is the ultimate case study into the psyche of the twisted mind of the Joker.

Why you should care: Was your mind blown away by Heath Ledger’s performance of the Joker in The Dark Knight? Of course, it was. So this should be a no-brainer. For fans of a disturbing and twisted take on Batman’s archenemy, this one has got your name all over it. Winner of IGN’s best original graphic novel of 2008 this is easily one of the most gut wrenching books you’ll ever lay hands on. More Hannibal Lecter than Saturday morning cartoon special this book is not for children or the faint of heart. It is a brutal look into what makes the Joker tick. And while Batman only makes a brief appearance in this book his stock in comicdom immediately skyrockets as his heroics are only magnified when juxtaposed by this unnerving take on his greatest adversary.

P.S.

A quick bit of advice for those new to the medium: Follow writers, not characters. Good writing can elevate even the flimsiest of characters to greatness; weak writing can can bring great characters to their knees like a kryptonite bat to the teeth. Plus, it’s a great way to explore books you might have otherwise not read. Either way, you win. Enjoy.

Rainbow Connection Staff Writer-Drew Shinjo