I notice that Cages has made a couple lists. Very interesting.

While I did enjoy it a great deal, I kind of felt some of the over-the-top plot abstraction was a bit too inaccessible. I don't think it's possible for me to *not* enjoy McKean (although a couple of his experiments with the overrated Iain Sinclair have come close), but I'd have liked a bit more story with Cages. I want to have it on my list, but I just can't do it.

So what did you like about Cages?

Also, I'm trying to justify forking over the big cash for Pictures that Tick. Does anyone have it? What did you think? Is it worth it?

In no particular order and no offense to all the other stuff I love which didn't make the list.
Elektra Assassin
[B]Sandman: Season of the Mists[B]
[B]Lone Wolf and Cub[B] 28 volumes
[B]Batman: Long Halloween[B]
[B]Essential Conan[B] Barry Smith and Gil Kane Good stuff!
[B]Essential Fantastic Four[B] Volume 3 Kirby!
[B]Planetary[B] both volumes
[B]Astro City: Confession[B]
[B]The Compleat Sally Forth[B] Need some Wally Wood!
[B]Flash Gordon[B] 6 volumes Alex Raymond run

Okay, a little free-form brainstorming for me on this topic, (order does not indicate rank):

Hicksville
How To Be An Artist
Jaka's Story
It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken
I Never Liked You
Cages
Chester Square
Love & Rockets X
Cave-In
The Last Lonely Saturday

Damn, I forgot about Hicksville...

Oh, the waters, they do get muddy...

These lists are impossible things.

Matthew

To answer the Pics That Tick questie above: yes, yes, it's totally worth your $45. If you found Cages a bit dense or whatever, then I'm sure you'll find the smaller, self-contained stories in Pictures much friendlier. But both volumes are so great - just make sure you have em both. Pictures That Tick has a lot more of McKean's Photoshop work in it as well - which may or may not be a plus - it's up to you. -s

My favorites (in no particular order):

Maus by art spiegelman
My Cancer Year by Harvey Pekar, Joyce Brabner and Frank Stack
My True Story by Spain Rodriguez
Black Hole by Charles Burns (I know it's not finished yet but the first 10 chapters are so consistently brilliant I know he won't drop the ball on this one!)
Billie Holiday by Munoz and Sampayo
Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Kim Deitch
The Freddie Stories by Lynda Barry
Jungle Book by Harvey Kurtzman
It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken by Seth
Jimbo by Gary Panter

Jason

My current list...

Marvels
Weapon X
Top Ten (first volume)
Sin City (first volume)
Grendel: Devils & Deaths
Watchmen
Planetary (first volume)
StormWatch: Change or Die
Promethea (first volume)
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (first volume)

I like lists!

For obvious reasons, I may include stuff that I have read in issue format which is also availible in collections.

Hicksville

My New York Diary

The Boulevard of Broken Dreams

Buddy the Dreamer

Wig Wam Bam

The Death of Speedy

Until the End of the World

Ghost World

Good-Bye, Chunky Rice

Fantastic Butterflies

The Right Hand of Doom

GOOD GOD! I forgot Good-bye, Chunky Rice and The King of Persia.

Let's try this one more time...

Maus
Our Cancer Year
Stuck Rubber Baby
From Hell
Nowhere/Summer of Love
I Never Liked You
Cages
Good-bye, Chunky Rice
The King of Persia
Pastil/Pastil 2/Pastille
um, plus
Hicksville
Jar of Fools
It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken.

Ghost World and David Boring are great, too.

Matthew

Wow. So many people have responded, and so many non-super hero books listed!

Y'know, I usually have my nose in either the Flash or JSA trades these days, but the books I would recommend to anyone would be either Bone, Goodbye Chunky Rice, Hate, Eightball, Flaming Carrot or Reid Fleming.

I have no idea why I like Goodby Chunky Rice so much. I've taken it out of the library so many times now. I guess I'm just a softy after all (presses finger into expanding wasteline and giggles).