The whole point of comics is that you can't judge just the writing or the art, though. They need to work together.

I'm sticking with Maus for single story achievement; absolutely nothing touches it. Series, I'm less sure of. L&R is great, but I agree with Tom. Sandman has greatness, but I really only love about half of it. Hmmm.

The whole point of comics is that you can't judge just the writing or the art, though. They need to work together.

They do work together, but, for me personally, the primary impact comes from the writing. I'll forgive bad art on a beautifully written story where I won't forgive bad writing on a beautifully drawn or painted story.

They do work together, but, for me personally, the primary impact comes from the writing. I'll forgive bad art on a beautifully written story where I won't forgive bad writing on a beautifully drawn or painted story.

I'm just the opposite. If I don't like the art, it takes me right out of the story.

Oh, other great standalone graphic novels? From Hell and Stuck Rubber Baby. Love 'em both to death.

I am art's bitch. It can break me and abuse me. I have no idea what the text quality was of anything JJ Muth illustrated, and it took me way too long to become disenchanted with Sin City. The virtue of the white space alone in both transported me, in very different ways. If the plot is sufficient, the right slump of the shoulders or exaltation in flight or just fucking clever panel composition can overcome clunky dialog.

Favorite comic experience? STRAY TOASTERS. Yes, I am style-as-content's bitch (hence my love for Dario Argento, Hitchcock, Lynch, etc.). Three issues in I still didn't know what the fuck was going on, but loving the ride. Then in book four? He actually pulls it together in a way that doesn't suck.

Most powerful? V for Vendetta. Particularly the issue when Evie (? - it's been ages since I could bring myself to read the series) is reading the stories from the person in the cell next door, and everything that follows. Moore already had me, but that broke me, just like the character in question.

However, as an ongoing series? Sandman, hands down. Pings so many things with me it's not even funny.

Bats is still my favorite superhero. John Constantaine is my second, if he counts as one.

thomash, did you read both parts of Hush? Because your question is answered in book 2.

Nope, just book one I guess. Though I didn't notice the TPB saying book 1. I guess that's why I was wondering if there was more to it.

You know, I remember reading Stray Toasters, and being totally absorbed in it, and waiting impatiently for the next issue to come out, but I can't remember anything about it. Just an image or two here and there. I did love it while I was reading it, though.

You know, I remember reading Stray Toasters, and being totally absorbed in it, and waiting impatiently for the next issue to come out, but I can't remember anything about it. Just an image or two here and there. I did love it while I was reading it, though.

It's worth digging up again. What finally surprised me was that the story turned out to be a lot more conventional than it looked like it was going to be, but there were so many lovely asides, detours and tangents that the cumulative effect was amazing. Plus, I'm a big fan of Bill S's art. He wasn't a bad writer, though.

Has he been doing ANYTHING lately? After BIG NUMBERS died prematurely, the only things I remember him doing (other than occasional single panels) were MOBY DICK for the short-lived revival of Classics Illustrated and a set of Kennedy Assassination Conspiracy Theory trading cards. Oh, and he did a story in the Sandman Eternals hardcover, right?

eta, Delirium, natch. The bio in there says he was working on a Batman mini-series. Anything ever come of that, or is it still in the works?

Where can I find out which Batgirl TPBs collect which issues? I had figured they'd be sequential, but I picked one up in the store which started at around 16, and skipped a couple before it got to, I think, 24.