10 Comics You Haven’t Read (But Probably Should)

Sometimes it is hard to branch out from our favorite Superheroes and Villains, but few things are as exciting as being absorbed into a new storyline for the first time. Of course with so many titles out there how do you know which ones are worth your time?  Well you can start with this list of our favorite comics that haven’t quite received the recognition they deserve.

Hellblazer
The adventures of John Constantine have been ongoing since 1988, but for some reason this series is sometimes overlooked in comic circles.  Constantine has a penchant for solving problems in his own lawless way, which normally ends up creating a new set of dilemmas for him and his friends.

Bottom Line:  While this is far from a new title, creative storylines have continued to make Hellblazer a quality production.

hellblazer

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born
Comic fans who don’t normally read Stephen King might look past this series with concerns of not having enough background information on the epic journey of Roland of Gilead.  The truth is this seven issue mini-series actually chronicles the very beginning of Roland’s life as a gunslinger, making it appropriate for even the newbies.

Bottom Line:  With the second series already in production, now is the time to expose yourself to this captivating character.

Runaways
The Runaways break free from many of the historical superhero attributes.  With common names such as Alex, and no costumes to distinguish their superhuman abilities, this series is a refreshing change to same old regurgitated hoopla.  Their mission is to make up for the evil ways of their villainous parents by using their own powers for good.

Bottom Line:  A creative take on the standard superhero dogma, the Runaways offers a change-of-pace with all the comforts of a good heroic drama.

Welcome to Tranquility
Ever wonder what it would be like if the suburbs were full of comic heroes instead of soccer moms?  This is precisely what happens in Welcome to Tranquility, a fictional
town populated with retired superheroes and villains.  Of course it would be boring if they all lived in harmony, but fear not; there is plenty of drama to keep things interesting.

Bottom Line:  Many comic fans turn to fiction to escape the boredom of their suburban life, but this is one town that will have them racing to come home.

Drain
Let’s see, a hot girl, who is also a ninja vampire, roaming the streets seeking avengement.  Any questions?  Drain is a morph of many different styles, but this mish mash seems to work well with its quick-hitting style.

Bottom Line:  There is only one more issue left to be released in this series of six.  Jump on board for what should be a great ending as Chinatsu faces her vampire destiny.

American Virgin
Nothing sounds lamer than reading a comic book about the moralistic struggles of 21-year old virgin, but those who don’t give American Virgin a look are missing out on one of the most captivating life dramas available.  Adam Chamberlin is a devout virgin whose girlfriend is killed by terrorists while serving in the Peace Corps.  What ensues is an international chase to solve the mystery of her killing.

Bottom Line:  There is so much more to American Virgin than it would appear to the outside fan.  A great read.

Scalped
Who knew that life on an Indian Reservation could be filled with so much drama?  Dashiell Bad Horse returns to his childhood home as an undercover FBL agent to clean up the crime and corruption that has riddled his reservation.  With the grand opening of a $100 million casino on the way, there is much to do to clean up the image and reputation of this his once-proud community.

Bottom Line:  While perhaps not an accurate portrayal of reservation life, Scalped gives us an inside look at a culture few have access to.

DMZ
In this cryptic portrayal of the future, the United States is in civil war with itself.  At the heart of this war is the state of New York, and photo journalist Matty Roth has joined a news-crew to cover the devastation in Manhattan.  Unfortunately for the young Roth, his crew is killed and he becomes trapped in this dead zone.  The DMZ series chronicles his adventures as he tries to survive while continuing to act as a reporter.

Bottom Line:  This type of scenario probably happens everyday in war ravaged countries, but it becomes much more engaging with the backdrop being the United Sates.

DMZ

The Exterminators
Another original storyline in a niche that few people think about on an everyday basis.  Henry James takes a job as an exterminator after being released from prison.  He soon gets tangled up in a web of politics and lies once it is discovered that one of bug-bee-gone’s products can invoke some serious side-effects.  The combination of James’ need for steady work and his relationship with his girlfriend (who is an employee for the manufacturer of the tainted product) makes for some interesting predicaments.

Bottom Line:  Who would have thought the extermination industry could be so intriguing?  An artful mix of drama and satire.

Jonah Hex
Jonah Hex was originally released in the late seventies with the series appearing off and on through the present.  The latest series, published by DC, captures various adventures that span Hex’s entire lifetime.  Fans have been drawn to Jonah’s wit and gun-slinging approach to bounty hunting.  Many have compared him to a comic book version of Clint Eastwood’s early westerns.

Bottom Line:  If you are enthralled with western stories and don’t necessarily need a character with superpowers to fulfill your expectations, then Jonah Hex will no doubt satisfy you with his unpredictable adventures and biting sarcasm.

Jonah Hex

This is just a small list of the quality comics that you may have missed at the newsstand.  As faithful comic readers, it is easy to get stuck in a rut of reading the same franchises over and over.  But sometimes a new favorite can be just what the doctor ordered.  You’ll never know unless you branch out!

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