For Amy

Books of magic is a spin-off from Sandman.

Books of Faery spin-off from Books of Magic.

Fable - hmmm not up to Gaiman standards but fun. A lot of the graphic novel authors are informed by a liberal world view. Far from propaganda, but how you see the world affects the world you write. Fables is written by someone with a very conservative viewpoint, and that occasionally shows. Again not propaganda, but simply a matter of world view informing world creation. If I have not mixed you with another poster, that may be something you find a plus.

When they announced the Quarter Quell, my jaw fell open and I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach. I did not expect that at all!

Amy - Scott Pilgrim is a lot of fun!

I don't think of Sandman as much more graphic or sexual than Watchmen or VfV, though.

Continuing the Gaiman theme, 1602 is good, but works far better if he's familiar with Marvel characters/basic canon. Bone may not be "adult" enough for his taste, though I'd recommend it.

Does he like Buffy? Fray is fun.

For less fiction-y stuff, I like American Born Chinese. If he's at all interested in WWII/Holocaust then Maus is a classic for a reason.

I think Sandman is more likely to give you nightmares, but that doesn't exactly go away with growing up.

I still think of the Corinthian and shudder, amongst others.

Yes. Definitely creepier. But not really more graphic.

Gaiman's sense of the perverse and fucked up definitely puts Moore's to shame.

Ben loved Umbrella Academy, which I think is just pure fun, but he's also really interested in Watchmen, and he's definitely mature enough for some of the stuff listed here. Maus, especially. I wouldn't have said the same of his brother at this age, at all.

The thing with Ben is that he'll come to S. and I to talk about what he's read or seen or learned in history, and he really loves the art aspect of the graphic novels. So I trust him to bring it up if something freaks him out or confuses him, but I also like giving him food for thought.

Thanks so much, people. This has been really helpful.

I think the sex in Watchmen is more graphic (in the literal sense) than the sex in Sandman, but the violence and gore are about even.

It sounds like he might like The Cartoon History of the Universe.

Heh. That does sound good.

Now, everyone figure out what else I can get him aside from a netbook! Argh.

It sounds like he might like The Cartoon History of the Universe.

Many thumbs up for this. Insanely educational, subtly subversive, and funny.