Best 'mature' & non superhero collections

[Batmil]

Hi all,

Lately I've been getting into more non-superhero stuff. I'm currently reading Punisher MAX, I started Providence by Alan Moore & I absolutely LOVED Fight Club 2 #1. Besides that I've always had a huge interest in post-apocalyptic types of stories.

I wanted to ask the experts, what are your favorite non-superhero stories? Preferably with a post-apocalyptic and dark tone?

Curious about your opinions!

[legion_quest]

Marvel's takes on Stephen King's Dark Tower and The Stand are pretty good, and the omnibus collections are very nice (for Dark Tower, I understand The Stand has some binding issues)

[Batmil]

I own both HC's and wasn't that impressed to be honest, the Stand was cool but Dark Tower wasn't my taste (i've read the books beforehand so maybe that influenced it to much)

[DialHForHagai]

There are quite a few. Cannot think about any post-apocalyptic ones, but here are my favorites:
Fury MAX: My War Gone By
The Filth
Flex Mentallo (Technically superhero-esque, but not really. It's really a metaphore and the combined history of the comic book industry AND Grant Morrison, disguised as a superhero story.)
Preacher
The Invisibles
Zero
Black Science

[wolpherine]

East of West by Hickman is fantastic. It's more alternate history than post-apocalyptic, but the story is very well done.
I don't think you can get more post-apocalyptic than The Walking Dead. Even if you're not a fan of the show, the graphic novel is really good. It's very dark.

[legion_quest]

East of West by Hickman is fantastic. It's more alternate history than post-apocalyptic, but the story is very well done.
I don't think you can get more post-apocalyptic than The Walking Dead. Even if you're not a fan of the show, the graphic novel is really good. It's very dark.

East of West is great world building, as is Lazarus by Greg Rucka.

[FanboyStranger]

Awkwright Integral by Bryan Talbot. It collects The Adventures of Luther Awkwright and Heart of Empire in one very nice HC.

[Batmil]

Good info, imma look into them all! What is the general opinion on Locke & Key and Neonomicon by Moore? Are they truly scary? I also missed out on Wytches, the first tp should be coming out soon, everyone was hyped after issue 1 but I didn't hear much about it after that, any thoughts?

[victorxd1999]

Good info, imma look into them all! What is the general opinion on Locke & Key and Neonomicon by Moore? Are they truly scary? I also missed out on Wytches, the first tp should be coming out soon, everyone was hyped after issue 1 but I didn't hear much about it after that, any thoughts?

Haven't read Neonomicon but Locke & Key can be pretty damn haunting at times. If you're looking for good horror then you might want to look at 30 Days of Night and Hellblazer. Those are two the seminal horror works

[Dorktron]

East of West is great world building, as is Lazarus by Greg Rucka.

Great stuff there. I'd also add:

- Sheltered (a pre-apocalyptic tale)
- Chew
- Manifest Destiny
- Deadly Class
- Hellboy & BPRD

[Balakin]

Neonomicon IIRC was Lovecraft + porn.
My suggestions:
Hellboy+BPRD
Anything by Brubaker
Anything by Morrison (beware! mindbending mindf#&ery, The filth is very disturbing but really good)
Planetary
PREACHER, The Boys, Ennis' Hellblazer
Chew
Saga
European stuff: Metabarons (really f&@ked up weird but unbelievably epic sci fi), Loisel Peter Pan, Millenium, Blacksad
Frank Miller's Ronin
Punk Rock Jesus
Casanova
Alias
Fear agent
Daytripper

[Rich]

Judge Dredd
Hellblazer
Fear Agent
Walking Dead
Colossal Conan
Lazarus
Hellboy
Black Science
Bullet to the Head
Punisher Max
Preacher

Not all of these are post apocalyptic.

[Batmil]

Wauw, so many suggestions, thank you all! I read Hellboy vol 1. I liked it but never got around to picking up the rest of the trades, perhaps I should look into that. I also started Planetary (heck, I have the omni sitting next to me as we speak). I loved the first couple of issues, but school etc got in the way so I never continued, almost forgot about it! I looked at the Preacher wiki aswell.. that is something ENTIRELY different that what I had expected from the covers etc, looks cool (and its created by the lord Ennis himself). So much to read...

@Balakin, Lovecraft + porn.. did that combination eh... work out in your opinion?

@Victor, I've watched the 30 days of night movie and thought it was... mediocre *immortan joe voice*. How does the comic stand next to the movie? Hellblazer.. i've been on the fence about that for... years now... something always kept me from it, idk why..

[Balakin]

Wauw, so many suggestions, thank you all! I read Hellboy vol 1. I liked it but never got around to picking up the rest of the trades, perhaps I should look into that. I also started Planetary (heck, I have the omni sitting next to me as we speak). I loved the first couple of issues, but school etc got in the way so I never continued, almost forgot about it! I looked at the Preacher wiki aswell.. that is something ENTIRELY different that what I had expected from the covers etc, looks cool (and its created by the lord Ennis himself). So much to read...

@Balakin, Lovecraft + porn.. did that combination eh... work out in your opinion?

@Victor, I've watched the 30 days of night movie and thought it was... mediocre *immortan joe voice*. How does the comic stand next to the movie? Hellblazer.. i've been on the fence about that for... years now... something always kept me from it, idk why..

I've read Neonomicon when it came out and didn't know what to think about it. I like to think I have a much more open mind now than I had back then but haven't read it since then so unfortunately I can't tell.
Otherwise: PREACHER! READ IT GOD DAMN IT!
Also The Boys!
You gonna love it.
LOVE IT I SAID!

Both Hellboy and Planetary are getting better and better as the story progresses. But don't get the Hellboy trades, get the Library editions. They absolutely worth the price.
I'm also pretty sure you would love Sleeper and Fear agent as well.
Forgot one title: The Goon!!!!!

[zevious zoquis]

Afaic, Hellboy just gets better and better through its run. It starts off good and goes from there...(I agree with the suggestion above about going for the Library Editions instead of the trades. The LE's are good value and frankly they are such nice books to own!)

BPRD is really great too.

Fear Agent is fantastic all out action sci-fi zaniness.

The Sixth Gun...great

I'm not sure about Lovecraft porn, but Lovecraft noir is great in Fatale

I'd also recommend Afterlife With Archie

Oh yes, and The Goon!

...as far as Post Apoc goes, I haven't read it but Wasteland gets lots of praise...