I have a personal reading challenge coming up: to read Graphic Novels/Comics over June and July.  I own a stack of graphic novels but haven't gotten around to reading them, so it's high time.

I'd like some recommendations please!  I prefer standalones, but short series are fine.  What I call "illustrated books" (eg. Griffin & Sabine, Brian & Wendy Froud's fairy books, which are not strictly graphic novels) are most welcome.  I'm not fond of manga, but if it's anything like Akira or Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell, I'd consider it.

My to-read list so far:

• Christian Gossett et al., The Red Star: The Battle at Kar-Dathra’s Gate
• Christian Gossett et al., The Red Star: Nokgorka
• Christian Gossett et al., The Red Star: Prison of Souls
• Katsuhiro Otomo, Akira
• Nick Bantock, Griffin & Sabine series
• Archaia Studios Press, Artesia series
• Shaun Tan, Tales From Outer Suburbia
• Douglas TenNapel, Iron West
• Karl Kofoed, Galactic Geographic: Annual 3003
• Kazu Kibuishi (editor), Flight anthologies
• Kazu Kibuishi, Daisy Kutter: The Last Train
• Neil Gaiman, The Sandman (finish the series)
• Bill Willingham et al., Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall
• Bill Willingham et al., Jack of Fables: The (Nearly) Great Escape
• Alan Moore, V For Vendetta

FYI, I've already read Maus, Watchmen and most of Warren Ellis' Transmetropolitan.

And I know this is a long shot - but if anyone owns anything by Alejandro Jodorowsky (esp. Metabarons and Technopriests) and is willing to loan them via PBS... I would be very very grateful.  (He's unbelievably hard to find!)

If you like Masamune Shirow's  work on Ghost in the Shell you might want to try some of his eariler works such as Appleseed, Black Magic and Dominion.  There's also Domu by Katsuhiro Otomo from Dark Horse.

As for non manga one of my personal favorites is Bone by Jeff Smith.  You can get a the 1,300 paged graphic novel that contains every issue of Bone ever printed. 

Well if you want some short manga series i have a couple of suggestions: Zodiac P.I. By Natsumi Ando there is only for in the series, and Time Stranger Kyoko By Arina Tanemura there are three in this series. all of these books i love. I hope that helps you. Happy reading.

I'll second the Bone book, I've only read a couple of issues and they where good.  I'm looking for the big 'phone book' version or the colorized hard backs

If you like Akira you might like Cowboy Bebop not sure how many books are in that series.

With Sandman there is the Death series that goes off that, haven't gotten around to reading any of them.

You might want to check out Contract with God, it's the first graphic novel, I've heard it's good and it's been another one I just haven't been able to locate.

I know there's some other great stories out there I'm just not thinking of them right now.

If you don't want manga, I'm out :-)

Hey all, thanks for all the recs.  Bone definitely sounds fun so that's going on my list.  Will take a look at the manga too.

Anymore recs? =)

My all time favorite graphic novel series is Preacher by Garth Ennis, but be warned it's very violent, adult, and sometimes completely insane.  Not for the faint of heart or easily offended.

Also enjoyed:

Y: the Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan (brilliant series about a plague that destroys all the men on earth but one and what happens to him in an all-female world, fun and thought-provoking at the same time)

From Hell by Alan Moore (looks massive, but its a surprisingly quick read and totally brilliant)

The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman

Sin City by Frank Miller (not as acclaimed as his Batman gns, but I actually like them better, awesome Noir series, another set Not for the Faint of Heart)

Batman: the Long Halloween by Jeff Loeb

Batman: the Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller

Arkham Asylum: Living Hell by Dan Slott

Swamp Thing by Alan Moore

The Boys by Garth Ennis

Wanted by Mark Millar (great standalone with awesome bada$$ anti-heroes, also Not for the Faint of Heart)

Punisher: MAX by Garth Ennis

30 Days of Night by Steve Niles

The Amazing Remarkable Monsieur Leotard by Eddie Campbell (who drew From Hell) & Dan Best is, well, amazing and remarkable.  It's really wonderful and creative and lovely.

Alex rider.

I would recommend Terminal City by Dean Motter and Michael Lark -- it's an offbeat book with outstanding Art Deco inspired art and lots of quirky characters.  Good stuff, but sadly under appreciated.