Best of
Graphic-Novels-Comics

1987

Watchmen


Alan Moore - 1987
    Along the way, the concept of the super-hero is dissected as the heroes are stalked by an unknown assassin.One of the most influential graphic novels of all time and a perennial best-seller, Watchmen has been studied on college campuses across the nation and is considered a gateway title, leading readers to other graphic novels such as V for Vendetta, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and The Sandman series.

Heartbreak Soup


Gilbert Hernández - 1987
    This volume collects the first half of Gilbert Hernandez's acclaimed magical-realist tales of "Palomar," the small Central American town, beginning with the groundbreaking "Sopa de Gran Pena" (which introduces most of his main cast of characters as children, plus the imposing newcomer Luba), and continuing on through such modern-day classics as "Ecce Homo," "Act of Contrition," "Duck Feet," and the great love story "For the Love of Carmen."

Batman: Year One


Frank Miller - 1987
    Completing this collection are over 40 pages of never-before-seen developmental material such as character and layout sketches, sample script pages, sketches and more that provide a glimpse into the making of this contemporary classic.This volume collects Batman #404–407.

The Fun House


Lynda Barry - 1987
    Her latest project is her best yet: a wide-ranging look at childhood.

Usagi Yojimbo, Vol. 1: The Ronin


Stan Sakai - 1987
    He's a rabbit bodyguard, a samurai who wanders the mountains, plains, and villages of a 17th-century Japan populated almost exclusively by anthropomorphic animals. Cats, snakes, rhinos, and ninja moles plot and fight their way across a land ravaged by civil war. The 10 stories in this first collection introduce Usagi, the evil Lord Hikiji, and a host of other characters. The stories themselves can stand alone, but taken together they begin to form an ongoing saga of treachery and revenge. Sometimes violent, sometimes funny, Usagi's adventures are filled with fascinating historical detail. The costumes, landscapes, and buildings are beautifully drawn, creating such a sense of realism it's easy to forget the hero is a rabbit. If you buy the first book in this series, you'll want the rest.

Maggie the Mechanic


Jaime Hernández - 1987
    The 25th anniversary Love and Rockets celebration continues with this, the first of three volumes collecting the adventures of the spunky Maggie, her annoying best friend and sometime lover Hopey, and their circle of friends, including their bombshell friend Penny Century, Maggie's weirdo mentor Izzyas well as the wrestler Rena Titanon and Maggie's handsome love interest, Rand Race. Maggie the Mechanic collects the earliest, punkiest, most heavily sci-fi stories of Maggie and her circle of friends, and you can see the artist (who drew like an angel from the very first panel) refine his approach: Despite these strong shifts in tone, the stunning art and razor sharp characterizations keep this collection consistent, and enthralling throughout. (Note: A number of these stories were not collected in the hardcover Locas.)

Wonder Woman, Vol. 1: Gods and Mortals


George PérezJ.M. DeMatteis - 1987
    Collecting WONDER WOMAN #1-7, featuring the young Amazon's origin and her introduction to "Man's World." Before she has a chance to fully assimilate into her new home, Wonder Woman must battle the chaos of the Greek god Ares, as he plans to bring upon World War III! This collection, the first in a 4-volume series reprinting the first two years of George Pérez's run on WONDER WOMAN, also features an introduction, rare art, and a new cover by Pérez.

Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters


Mike Grell - 1987
    But Ollie's world collides with one of unspeakable violence involving the beautiful and mysterious archer known as Shado.Collecting: Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters 1-3

The Collected Fantasies, Vol. 1: Upon a Star


Mœbius - 1987
    This out-of-print English translation collects The Repairmen, Upon a Star, Aedena and Celestial Venice by Jean "Moebius" Giraud.

American Splendor: The Life and Times of Harvey Pekar


Harvey PekarVal Mayerik - 1987
    For over 25 years he's been writing comic books about his life, chronicling the ordinary and everyday in stories both funny and moving.This 320 page collection was issued on the heels of the film "American Splendor," and it includes material previously published in the first two collected volumes in the American Splendor series.

Tale of the Beast


Tadao Tsuge - 1987
    Tale of the BeastMadness prevails in this hard boiled noir story that starts out in the proletariatbars and neighbour hoods of Tokyo.This English edition includes an epilogue by Mitsuhiro Asakawa.

A Distant Soil 1a: Immigrant Song


Colleen Doran - 1987
    Colleen Doran started her Ovanan Saga at a very young age but in 1984 she joined Wendy & Richard Pini at their WaRP Graphics line (published by Starblaze/Donning books) and released a 9-comic series introducing the crew that would morph into the characters as seen in this TPB. In 1991 Colleen, with her mother's help, started a self-publishing line of the re-worked A Distant Soil under her own line of Aria Press. With issue #16 Image picked up the title. Immigrant Song sets the scene for the story to come with Jason & Liana escaping and getting separated.