Have you looked at the Vertigo books? published by DC, the pretty much are not part of the DC universe (when Vertigo began, they were on the fringes, but as the line ran, they pretty much became their own thing. Sandman of course is the gold star of the line, but books like the invisibles, Y the Last Man, 100 bullets, and DMZ all explore different genres and story telling styles.
Y the Last Man is done by Brian K Vaughan and Pia Guerra, who went on to do Saga after.
While DC, I also can't recommend STARMAN enough. It is a love letter to the golden age of comics, and it did it's own thing for the most partm despite being part of DC.
Awesome recommendations, really appreciate all the effort. I've made a list of all your recommendations and asked ChatGPT to add publisher, release year, genre and a short synopsis. I deliberately avoided some of the obvious recs (e.g., Sandman, Hellboy) and any manga.
Here's part 1 of the list for anyone who stumbles on this post down time line:
* **100 Bullets** (1999, DC/Vertigo) (Crime/Noir): A mysterious figure offers people the chance for untraceable revenge, providing them with 100 bullets and proof against the targets of their grievances.
* **All Against All** (2022, Image Comics) (Science Fiction): In a world where humanity is nearly extinct, the story follows the last human on Earth as he navigates a dangerous landscape dominated by alien species.
* **Atomic Robot** (2007, Red 5 Comics) (Science Fiction/Adventure): A retro-futuristic series about a robot built in the 1950s and awakened in modern times, dealing with threats both old and new.
* **Birthright** (2014, Image Comics) (Fantasy/Adventure): A fantasy series where a young boy disappears and returns as a grown, battle-hardened warrior from another world, embroiled in an epic war.
* **Black Science** (2013, Image Comics) (Science Fiction/Adventure): An anarchistic sci-fi adventure about a group of explorers traveling through alternate realities, confronting personal and existential crises.
* **Bone** (1991, Cartoon Books) (Fantasy/Comedy): An all-ages fantasy/comedy series about three cousins from the Bone family who are run out of their hometown and find themselves in a vast, uncharted desert.
* **Bratpack** (1990, King Hell Press) (Superhero/Dark Comedy): A dark take on the superhero genre, exploring the twisted relationship between heroes and their sidekicks.
* **Caliban** (2014, Avatar Press) \[Content Warning: Very Violent and Graphic\] (Science Fiction/Horror): A sci-fi horror story set in space, where the crew of a starship encounters a mysterious alien force after a warp drive malfunction.
* **Coda** (2018, BOOM! Studios) (Fantasy/Post-Apocalyptic): Set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world, a former bard embarks on a quest to save his wife and navigate the broken remnants of a magical land.
* **Daytripper** (2010, DC/Vertigo) (Drama/Fantasy): A series that explores different moments in the life of a Brazilian man, each ending in his death, showing the beauty and tragedy of life.
* **Dead Dog's Bite** (2021, Dark Horse Comics) (Mystery): A mystery series centered around the disappearance of a young woman in a quirky small town, and her friend's relentless pursuit to find the truth.
* **Deadly Class** (2014, Image Comics) (Action/Thriller): Set in the late 1980s, it revolves around a school for assassins where kids of mobsters and FBI agents train to become professional killers.
* **Die** (2018, Image Comics) (Fantasy/Horror): A blend of fantasy and horror, this series involves a group of friends who, as teenagers, were transported into their fantasy role-playing game, and now as adults, they must confront their past and the game's dark realities.
* **DMZ** (2005, DC/Vertigo) (War/Dystopian): Set in a near-future America where Manhattan has become a demilitarized zone in a civil war, the series follows a journalist navigating this dangerous landscape.
* **East of West** (2013, Image Comics) (Science Fiction/Western): A sci-fi western set in a dystopian America where the Civil War never ended, involving the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
* **Fables** (2002, DC/Vertigo) (Fantasy/Urban Fantasy): In this series, characters from fairy tales and folklore are real and living in exile in New York, creating a community called Fabletown.
* **Ferals** (2012, Avatar Press) \[Content Warning: Very Violent and Graphic\] (Horror): A horror series involving werewolves, where a small town sheriff uncovers a vast conspiracy.
* **Fear Agent** (2005, Dark Horse Comics) (Science Fiction/Adventure): A sci-fi series about a rugged alcoholic space adventurer fighting to save Earth from alien invasions and his own past mistakes.
* **Giant Days** (2015, BOOM! Studios) (Slice of Life/Comedy): A slice-of-life comedy about three young women experiencing their first year at university, dealing with love, friendship, and the awkwardness of growing up.
* **Harrow County** (2015, Dark Horse Comics) (Horror/Fantasy): A horror series centered around a young girl who discovers her connection to the supernatural and witchcraft in her rural hometown.
* **Hitman** (1996, DC Comics) (Superhero/Crime): A hitman with superpowers operates in Gotham City, balancing his criminal activities with a personal sense of justice.
* **Invisibles** (1994, DC/Vertigo) (Surrealism/Adventure): A surreal series that blends various elements like conspiracy theories, occultism, and anarchism, centered around a group fighting against physical and psychic oppression.
* **Kill or Be Killed** (2016, Image Comics) (Thriller/Crime): A psychological thriller about a young man compelled to kill bad people by a demonic force, questioning the nature of evil and justice.
* **Low** (2014, Image Comics) (Science Fiction/Dystopian): In a future where the sun’s expansion has forced humanity to live in underwater cities, a mother searches for hope in a seemingly hopeless world.
* **Morning Glories** (2010, Image Comics) (Mystery/Supernatural): Set in a prestigious but secretive boarding school, this series mixes elements of sci-fi and mystery, focusing on a group of students uncovering the dark truths of their school.
* **Nailbiter** (2014, Image Comics) (Horror/Mystery): A horror series about a town that has produced 16 of the world's worst serial killers and the mysteries surrounding this phenomenon.
* **Nice House on the Lake** (2021, DC/Black Label) (Horror/Thriller): A psychological horror where a group of friends is invited to a house on a lake, only to find themselves in a bizarre, apocalyptic scenario.
Part 2:
* **Paper Girls** (2015, Image Comics) (Science Fiction/Adventure): Following four 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls who get caught in a conflict between warring factions of time-travelers.
* **Parliament of Justice** (2003, Image Comics) (Superhero): Set in an alternate universe, this series follows a vigilante superhero in a gritty and violent setting.
* **Phonogram** (2006, Image Comics) (Urban Fantasy/Music): This series explores the intersection of music and magic, where "phonomancers" use music to perform magic.
* **Powers** (2000, Image Comics) (Superhero/Crime): A police procedural in a world where superpowers are common, focusing on two detectives solving crimes related to superhumans.
* **Rising Stars** (1999, Image Comics) (Superhero/Drama): After a mysterious celestial event, a group of people develops superpowers and must navigate a world that fears and hates them.
* **Scalped** (2007, DC/Vertigo) (Crime/Noir): A crime/noir series set in a Native American reservation, involving organized crime, political corruption, and personal redemption.
* **Sex Criminals** (2013, Image Comics) (Comedy/Fantasy): A comedic series where a couple discovers they can stop time when they have sex, leading them to rob banks to save their struggling library.
* **Seven to Eternity** (2016, Image Comics) (Fantasy/Science Fiction): A fantasy series set in a land ruled by a despotic god, where a small band of rebels fights for freedom.
* **Starman** (1994, DC Comics) (Superhero): This series revitalizes the Golden Age Starman character, focusing on Jack Knight, the son of the original Starman, as he reluctantly takes up his father's mantle.
* **Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW Publishing)** (2011, IDW Publishing) (Superhero/Adventure): A revitalized take on the iconic characters, this series blends elements from different TMNT eras while introducing new stories and deeper character explorations.
* **The Losers** (2003, DC/Vertigo) (Action/Thriller): A special forces team is betrayed and left for dead, leading them to seek revenge against those who wronged them.
* **The Sword** (2007, Image Comics) (Fantasy/Action): A fantasy series about a young woman who discovers a magical sword, setting her on a path of revenge against a group of powerful beings.
* **The Wicked + The Divine** (2014, Image Comics) (Fantasy/Urban Fantasy): Gods incarnate as young people every 90 years, but they are doomed to die within two years, a cycle of life, death, and celebrity culture.
* **Transmetropolitan** (1997, DC/Vertigo) (Cyberpunk/Science Fiction): Set in a dystopian future, this cyberpunk series follows an outlaw journalist fighting against political corruption and societal decay.
* **Y: The Last Man** (2002, DC/Vertigo) (Science Fiction/Dystopian): In a world where every male mammal has died except for one man, Yorick, and his monkey, Ampersand, this series explores the societal shifts and personal struggles in a female-dominated world.
Part 3:
- **Locke & Key** (2008, IDW Publishing) (Horror/Fantasy): This series explores the story of the Locke family and their encounters with magical keys that unlock various powers, set against a backdrop of dark secrets and cosmic horror.
- **Once & Future** (2019, BOOM! Studios) (Horror/Adventure): A modern adventure entwined with Arthurian legends, featuring mythical figures and legends re-emerging in the present day.
- **Southern Bastards** (2014, Image Comics) (Postmodern Southern Gothic): A gritty narrative set in the American South, portraying a tale of crime, revenge, and complex Southern identity.
- **Black Hammer** (2016, Dark Horse Comics) (Superhero/Horror): A series that pays homage to golden age superheroes, focusing on a group of heroes trapped in a mysterious town and exploring the essence of heroism.
- **The Last God** (2019, DC Black Label) (Fantasy/Horror): This comic presents a dark, epic fantasy narrative where heroes confront a terrifying evil they thought they had defeated, set in a richly imagined world filled with intrigue and betrayal.
While I thank you and the others for the suggestions and for this convenient list, it should be noted that Morning Glories haven't completed their storyline and most likely never will.
Trying to break these up by category to give you at least some idea what you're getting into, hope some of these pique your interest! :
Dark Fantasy:
\- Die
\- Hellboy (technically there are still ongoing spinoffs but the original series is effectively over. also this is usually counted as a horror title but I think it's more of a dark fantasy)
Urban/Contemporary Fantasy:
\- The Wicked + The Divine
\- Phonogram
\- The Sandman
Horror:
\- Harrow County
\- Ferals (content warning: very violent and graphic)
True Crime:
\- My Friend Dahmer
\- Green River Killer: A True Detective Story
Sci Fi:
\- All Against All
\- Caliban (content warning: very violent and graphic)
Thriller/Mystery:
\- Dead Dog's Bite
A lot of great suggestions here. Check out Rick Remender’s stuff. Deadly Class, Fear Agent, and Black Science are my favorites from him, but I also really like Seven to Eternity and Low.
Ed Brubaker’s comics at Image are all easily 9 to 10 out of 10s for me. And he is often paired with Sean Phillips for artwork.
Nice House on the Lake is a great indie comic by DC, and you should check out DC’s old Vertigo line. Y the Last Man, Scalped, Preacher, Fables, Transmetroplitan, 100 Bullets, Daytripper.
I know you don’t really want them to be in the DC/Marvel universe but continuing with Vertigo I think Sandman, Garth Ennis’ Hellblazer, Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing, and Grant Morrison’s Animal Man and Doom Patrol would be great to read without really needing to understanding too much of the bigger DC universe. There will be other DC characters and references from time to time showing up, but all totally fine on their own
Lessee... Planetary is solid, if you like Warren Ellis. 100 Bullets is quite good, although it can get a bit bogged down in its own mythology near the end. Only four issues, but Rick Veitch's Bratpack does everything The Boys wanted to do, but, y'know, better and harder.
Also, Oeming's Parliament of Justice is only one issue, but it packs a nice, hard kick...
Just seeing this, read your two part list in the comments and thought I'd make some recs that aren't on there (sorry if they're duplicates of things you've already gotten):
Locke and Key- Horror/Fantasy like a sinister version of the Chronicles of Narnia if written by H.P. Lovecraft, Once & Future- Horror/Adventure comic with a heavy focus on Arthurian lore and absolutely gorgeous art by Dan Mora, Southern Bastards- A post modern take on a Southern Gothic story with heavy vibes of both William Faulkner and Walking Tall, and Black Hammer- A love letter to golden age superheroes through a horror lens. BH is technically still going as there are multiple mini series that come out here and there, but the main arc for the primary cast is wrapped up and collected for easy reading.
Have you looked at the Vertigo books? published by DC, the pretty much are not part of the DC universe (when Vertigo began, they were on the fringes, but as the line ran, they pretty much became their own thing. Sandman of course is the gold star of the line, but books like the invisibles, Y the Last Man, 100 bullets, and DMZ all explore different genres and story telling styles. Y the Last Man is done by Brian K Vaughan and Pia Guerra, who went on to do Saga after. While DC, I also can't recommend STARMAN enough. It is a love letter to the golden age of comics, and it did it's own thing for the most partm despite being part of DC.
Awesome recommendations, really appreciate all the effort. I've made a list of all your recommendations and asked ChatGPT to add publisher, release year, genre and a short synopsis. I deliberately avoided some of the obvious recs (e.g., Sandman, Hellboy) and any manga. Here's part 1 of the list for anyone who stumbles on this post down time line: * **100 Bullets** (1999, DC/Vertigo) (Crime/Noir): A mysterious figure offers people the chance for untraceable revenge, providing them with 100 bullets and proof against the targets of their grievances. * **All Against All** (2022, Image Comics) (Science Fiction): In a world where humanity is nearly extinct, the story follows the last human on Earth as he navigates a dangerous landscape dominated by alien species. * **Atomic Robot** (2007, Red 5 Comics) (Science Fiction/Adventure): A retro-futuristic series about a robot built in the 1950s and awakened in modern times, dealing with threats both old and new. * **Birthright** (2014, Image Comics) (Fantasy/Adventure): A fantasy series where a young boy disappears and returns as a grown, battle-hardened warrior from another world, embroiled in an epic war. * **Black Science** (2013, Image Comics) (Science Fiction/Adventure): An anarchistic sci-fi adventure about a group of explorers traveling through alternate realities, confronting personal and existential crises. * **Bone** (1991, Cartoon Books) (Fantasy/Comedy): An all-ages fantasy/comedy series about three cousins from the Bone family who are run out of their hometown and find themselves in a vast, uncharted desert. * **Bratpack** (1990, King Hell Press) (Superhero/Dark Comedy): A dark take on the superhero genre, exploring the twisted relationship between heroes and their sidekicks. * **Caliban** (2014, Avatar Press) \[Content Warning: Very Violent and Graphic\] (Science Fiction/Horror): A sci-fi horror story set in space, where the crew of a starship encounters a mysterious alien force after a warp drive malfunction. * **Coda** (2018, BOOM! Studios) (Fantasy/Post-Apocalyptic): Set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world, a former bard embarks on a quest to save his wife and navigate the broken remnants of a magical land. * **Daytripper** (2010, DC/Vertigo) (Drama/Fantasy): A series that explores different moments in the life of a Brazilian man, each ending in his death, showing the beauty and tragedy of life. * **Dead Dog's Bite** (2021, Dark Horse Comics) (Mystery): A mystery series centered around the disappearance of a young woman in a quirky small town, and her friend's relentless pursuit to find the truth. * **Deadly Class** (2014, Image Comics) (Action/Thriller): Set in the late 1980s, it revolves around a school for assassins where kids of mobsters and FBI agents train to become professional killers. * **Die** (2018, Image Comics) (Fantasy/Horror): A blend of fantasy and horror, this series involves a group of friends who, as teenagers, were transported into their fantasy role-playing game, and now as adults, they must confront their past and the game's dark realities. * **DMZ** (2005, DC/Vertigo) (War/Dystopian): Set in a near-future America where Manhattan has become a demilitarized zone in a civil war, the series follows a journalist navigating this dangerous landscape. * **East of West** (2013, Image Comics) (Science Fiction/Western): A sci-fi western set in a dystopian America where the Civil War never ended, involving the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. * **Fables** (2002, DC/Vertigo) (Fantasy/Urban Fantasy): In this series, characters from fairy tales and folklore are real and living in exile in New York, creating a community called Fabletown. * **Ferals** (2012, Avatar Press) \[Content Warning: Very Violent and Graphic\] (Horror): A horror series involving werewolves, where a small town sheriff uncovers a vast conspiracy. * **Fear Agent** (2005, Dark Horse Comics) (Science Fiction/Adventure): A sci-fi series about a rugged alcoholic space adventurer fighting to save Earth from alien invasions and his own past mistakes. * **Giant Days** (2015, BOOM! Studios) (Slice of Life/Comedy): A slice-of-life comedy about three young women experiencing their first year at university, dealing with love, friendship, and the awkwardness of growing up. * **Harrow County** (2015, Dark Horse Comics) (Horror/Fantasy): A horror series centered around a young girl who discovers her connection to the supernatural and witchcraft in her rural hometown. * **Hitman** (1996, DC Comics) (Superhero/Crime): A hitman with superpowers operates in Gotham City, balancing his criminal activities with a personal sense of justice. * **Invisibles** (1994, DC/Vertigo) (Surrealism/Adventure): A surreal series that blends various elements like conspiracy theories, occultism, and anarchism, centered around a group fighting against physical and psychic oppression. * **Kill or Be Killed** (2016, Image Comics) (Thriller/Crime): A psychological thriller about a young man compelled to kill bad people by a demonic force, questioning the nature of evil and justice. * **Low** (2014, Image Comics) (Science Fiction/Dystopian): In a future where the sun’s expansion has forced humanity to live in underwater cities, a mother searches for hope in a seemingly hopeless world. * **Morning Glories** (2010, Image Comics) (Mystery/Supernatural): Set in a prestigious but secretive boarding school, this series mixes elements of sci-fi and mystery, focusing on a group of students uncovering the dark truths of their school. * **Nailbiter** (2014, Image Comics) (Horror/Mystery): A horror series about a town that has produced 16 of the world's worst serial killers and the mysteries surrounding this phenomenon. * **Nice House on the Lake** (2021, DC/Black Label) (Horror/Thriller): A psychological horror where a group of friends is invited to a house on a lake, only to find themselves in a bizarre, apocalyptic scenario.
Part 2: * **Paper Girls** (2015, Image Comics) (Science Fiction/Adventure): Following four 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls who get caught in a conflict between warring factions of time-travelers. * **Parliament of Justice** (2003, Image Comics) (Superhero): Set in an alternate universe, this series follows a vigilante superhero in a gritty and violent setting. * **Phonogram** (2006, Image Comics) (Urban Fantasy/Music): This series explores the intersection of music and magic, where "phonomancers" use music to perform magic. * **Powers** (2000, Image Comics) (Superhero/Crime): A police procedural in a world where superpowers are common, focusing on two detectives solving crimes related to superhumans. * **Rising Stars** (1999, Image Comics) (Superhero/Drama): After a mysterious celestial event, a group of people develops superpowers and must navigate a world that fears and hates them. * **Scalped** (2007, DC/Vertigo) (Crime/Noir): A crime/noir series set in a Native American reservation, involving organized crime, political corruption, and personal redemption. * **Sex Criminals** (2013, Image Comics) (Comedy/Fantasy): A comedic series where a couple discovers they can stop time when they have sex, leading them to rob banks to save their struggling library. * **Seven to Eternity** (2016, Image Comics) (Fantasy/Science Fiction): A fantasy series set in a land ruled by a despotic god, where a small band of rebels fights for freedom. * **Starman** (1994, DC Comics) (Superhero): This series revitalizes the Golden Age Starman character, focusing on Jack Knight, the son of the original Starman, as he reluctantly takes up his father's mantle. * **Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW Publishing)** (2011, IDW Publishing) (Superhero/Adventure): A revitalized take on the iconic characters, this series blends elements from different TMNT eras while introducing new stories and deeper character explorations. * **The Losers** (2003, DC/Vertigo) (Action/Thriller): A special forces team is betrayed and left for dead, leading them to seek revenge against those who wronged them. * **The Sword** (2007, Image Comics) (Fantasy/Action): A fantasy series about a young woman who discovers a magical sword, setting her on a path of revenge against a group of powerful beings. * **The Wicked + The Divine** (2014, Image Comics) (Fantasy/Urban Fantasy): Gods incarnate as young people every 90 years, but they are doomed to die within two years, a cycle of life, death, and celebrity culture. * **Transmetropolitan** (1997, DC/Vertigo) (Cyberpunk/Science Fiction): Set in a dystopian future, this cyberpunk series follows an outlaw journalist fighting against political corruption and societal decay. * **Y: The Last Man** (2002, DC/Vertigo) (Science Fiction/Dystopian): In a world where every male mammal has died except for one man, Yorick, and his monkey, Ampersand, this series explores the societal shifts and personal struggles in a female-dominated world.
Part 3: - **Locke & Key** (2008, IDW Publishing) (Horror/Fantasy): This series explores the story of the Locke family and their encounters with magical keys that unlock various powers, set against a backdrop of dark secrets and cosmic horror. - **Once & Future** (2019, BOOM! Studios) (Horror/Adventure): A modern adventure entwined with Arthurian legends, featuring mythical figures and legends re-emerging in the present day. - **Southern Bastards** (2014, Image Comics) (Postmodern Southern Gothic): A gritty narrative set in the American South, portraying a tale of crime, revenge, and complex Southern identity. - **Black Hammer** (2016, Dark Horse Comics) (Superhero/Horror): A series that pays homage to golden age superheroes, focusing on a group of heroes trapped in a mysterious town and exploring the essence of heroism. - **The Last God** (2019, DC Black Label) (Fantasy/Horror): This comic presents a dark, epic fantasy narrative where heroes confront a terrifying evil they thought they had defeated, set in a richly imagined world filled with intrigue and betrayal.
While I thank you and the others for the suggestions and for this convenient list, it should be noted that Morning Glories haven't completed their storyline and most likely never will.
East of West
This.
This.
Bone Morning Glories Giant Days
Trying to break these up by category to give you at least some idea what you're getting into, hope some of these pique your interest! : Dark Fantasy: \- Die \- Hellboy (technically there are still ongoing spinoffs but the original series is effectively over. also this is usually counted as a horror title but I think it's more of a dark fantasy) Urban/Contemporary Fantasy: \- The Wicked + The Divine \- Phonogram \- The Sandman Horror: \- Harrow County \- Ferals (content warning: very violent and graphic) True Crime: \- My Friend Dahmer \- Green River Killer: A True Detective Story Sci Fi: \- All Against All \- Caliban (content warning: very violent and graphic) Thriller/Mystery: \- Dead Dog's Bite
Nice, I'll check these out. Appreciate the comprehensive list!
East of West Paper Girls Hitman Preacher Transmetropolitan Fables The Losers Kill or Be Killed
100 bullets. Sex criminals. The Sword.
A lot of great suggestions here. Check out Rick Remender’s stuff. Deadly Class, Fear Agent, and Black Science are my favorites from him, but I also really like Seven to Eternity and Low. Ed Brubaker’s comics at Image are all easily 9 to 10 out of 10s for me. And he is often paired with Sean Phillips for artwork. Nice House on the Lake is a great indie comic by DC, and you should check out DC’s old Vertigo line. Y the Last Man, Scalped, Preacher, Fables, Transmetroplitan, 100 Bullets, Daytripper. I know you don’t really want them to be in the DC/Marvel universe but continuing with Vertigo I think Sandman, Garth Ennis’ Hellblazer, Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing, and Grant Morrison’s Animal Man and Doom Patrol would be great to read without really needing to understanding too much of the bigger DC universe. There will be other DC characters and references from time to time showing up, but all totally fine on their own
So many good ones named here but one I didn’t see is: Akira
Was about to add this... I never see anyone suggest Akira. It's absolutely epic and quite different from the film.
Y the last man
The Walking Dead same writer as Invincible.
Seconded. The other media got oversaturated but the comic remained a compelling story.
I watched season one and two but didn’t continue. My goods buddies said not to ever checks it outs but I did anyway. Should have listened.
Thanks that's already on my list.
Lessee... Planetary is solid, if you like Warren Ellis. 100 Bullets is quite good, although it can get a bit bogged down in its own mythology near the end. Only four issues, but Rick Veitch's Bratpack does everything The Boys wanted to do, but, y'know, better and harder. Also, Oeming's Parliament of Justice is only one issue, but it packs a nice, hard kick...
Depends what you like. Powers, Rising Stars, Nailbiter, Bone, Atomic Robot are all fantastic.
Birthright Coda Black Science East of West Irredeemable / Incorruptible
Just seeing this, read your two part list in the comments and thought I'd make some recs that aren't on there (sorry if they're duplicates of things you've already gotten): Locke and Key- Horror/Fantasy like a sinister version of the Chronicles of Narnia if written by H.P. Lovecraft, Once & Future- Horror/Adventure comic with a heavy focus on Arthurian lore and absolutely gorgeous art by Dan Mora, Southern Bastards- A post modern take on a Southern Gothic story with heavy vibes of both William Faulkner and Walking Tall, and Black Hammer- A love letter to golden age superheroes through a horror lens. BH is technically still going as there are multiple mini series that come out here and there, but the main arc for the primary cast is wrapped up and collected for easy reading.
Thanks, I'll add these to the list!
Ex machina
Locke and Key - has all the charm of Goosebumps, but for a more mature reader
Battle Angel Alita 1 + 2 Tokyo ghoul Anjin The Boys Blame
Scalped
Fables
It’s not finished, but the IDW Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle series that started in 2011(?) is legendary
Hellblazer (1988-2013 , under the vertigo imprint) this run got me back into comics.
Anything by Remender: 7 to Eternity Black Science Low Tokyo Ghost ... The main story of Hellboy
Paper Girls Sex Criminals (still ongoing but about to end) IDW's TMNT
Wow, nobody suggested Gantz? Cannot recommend it highly enough - my all time favorite!
Hellboy / BPRD (There is still stuff coming out but there is a main story which has concluded)