She's a huge Neil Gaiman fan, so she read 1602 and thought it was okay. I also know she's fascinated by superheroes and finds Superman much more interesting than I do. All Star Superman, maybe? That may be too cracked-out.

Some of her favorite TV shows include Buffy, Chuck, Gilmore Girls, Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls, Arrested Development, 30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother, Dexter and Doctor Who.

P-C, if she's a Gaiman fan, has she tried Sandman? Bone might be a good choice, too. Of course, you could just hand her The Umbrella Academy ...

(Why yes, I AM wearing my UA school blazer today. I keep catching sight of the school crest and giggling.)

Sandman seems like a more obvious starting point than 1602. (Or: what Jilli said while I was still typing.)

Based on the TV shows, it seems like offbeat is good, and slightly dark is also. So depending on how dark and how weird she likes her reading, I'd take her to a shop and show her Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, Hellboy, Transmet, Battle Royale, & Preacher. See if any of those look at all appealling.

Oh, and Why I Hate Saturn. It's kinda in between "book with illustrations" and "comic," which might actually be a selling point for her.

P-C, if she's a Gaiman fan, has she tried Sandman?

I think she tried a little but couldn't get into it. Or else she hasn't attempted it. But I know she's lamented that she can't get into what is often considered his greatest work.

Of course, you could just hand her The Umbrella Academy ...

Hee. If she was not in New York, I would hand her stuff. Right now, I'm trying to see whether there's anything I could buy at my comic book store's sale that she might actually like. She's an Orthodox Jew, so she can never participate in Free Comic Book Day (and she doesn't have any stores conveniently located), so I was going to send her the free comics I picked up. And possibly include a TPB she might like.

So depending on how dark and how weird she likes her reading, I'd take her to a shop and show her Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, Hellboy, Transmet, Battle Royale, & Preacher. See if any of those look at all appealling.

Ooh. Although see above, re: taking her to a shop. I think she liked the Hellboy movie. I still haven't read the comics.

Oh, and Why I Hate Saturn. It's kinda in between "book with illustrations" and "comic," which might actually be a selling point for her.

Ooh, I haven't heard of that one.

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm starting to think that there's no good comic I can just buy tomorrow and hope she likes. I did show her a David Mack Kabuki spread that she said was pretty, so I was considering one of his Daredevil books, since his art is unlike anyone else's, as is his painting/collage style when he does his own book. If anything, it doesn't have those boxes.

I'd recommend Superman: Identity for someone who has a fondness for the character. Immonen's painting style in that might ease her past any objections to the comic format, and it's a great read.

Or, depending of the degree of stylization she likes in her drawing, something like Elektra Assassin.

As someone who is not a comics fan, I will admit I spent half an hour standing at B&N one day reading through the first volume of Y: the Last Man. If that's a datapoint you might find useful. Way more newbie-friendly than Sandman, I must say.

I think she tried a little but couldn't get into it. Or else she hasn't attempted it. But I know she's lamented that she can't get into what is often considered his greatest work.

Well, if she started with the first volume - it's not the best, and I don't like the artwork, or the colouring.

She'd probably be better dipping into one of the short story collections...God, I get the titles mixed up. Fables and Reflections, I think? Or Dream Country? Or am I mixing them up again?

I'd recommend Superman: Identity for someone who has a fondness for the character. Immonen's painting style in that might ease her past any objections to the comic format, and it's a great read.

Thanks, Matt! I'll see if my store has it.

P-C -

there is also a possibility your friend won't ever get into them.

I have a stack of Buffys that I need to read. I love the story, but it is the medium that works my nerves. I love to read. I love tv and movies. I don't really like images and text together. I suspect it has something to do with my wanting to fill in my own images when I'm reading or taking the images at face value in tv/film.