GATEWAY DRUG (recommendations, please!)

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

The mods and posters on this board seem to be some of the most well-read folks I've had the pleasure to "meet" in the comics community on the Web. I know David is married (I'm still shaking my fist at Renee for the Spider-Man abuse) and I think Vince is, anyway, I need recommendations for getting my Renee into sequential art.
She's open to the medium, but I feel like I have a narrow window, like it has to be a slam dunk, or she's not going to give other stuff a chance, you know? A little about her: she's very clinical, in many ways. She taught psych classes at a university. She loved Peanuts as kid (still does), she's got a real nasty Louis CK kinda streak to her (who doesn't?), she's very sensitive, too (oddly enough), I'd say we're both very liberal (clean-cut hippies?). She has read Dan Clowes' Caricature and liked it (she was into "Blue Italian Sh*t" and "Why I Hate Christians" by him, in particular). I described Blankets to her in depth and she kinda pretended like she was interested in reading it, but I could tell she wasn't. I always want to shove From Hell or Watchmen down someone's throat, but know that's probably too much for a greenhorn. My gut says she'd love Black Hole, but [EDIT: She read it and LOVED it!]. Part of me wants to buy her McLeod's Understanding Comics because I think she'd appreciate the medium if she understood it (in a constructivist, brick-by-brick kinda way).
ANYWAY: Your recommendations (with a brief rationale, if you would) would be greatly appreciated. I know you guys will have a ton of ways to get my wife on our side! 

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

So, my mom reads constantly. She reads the Literature and she reads that stuff you see in the checkout line and think "Who the f*ck is reading this sh*t? How is it on the NY Times bestseller list? P is for Patricide? What the sh*t?!". She reads more arty-smarty books than pulpy ones, but does not discriminate as much as I do.
I decided to try and get her to read comics, so I bought her The Complete Persepolis for her birthday. Before she opened it I prefaced it by saying "You probably won't like the gift, but it's my favorite artistic medium and it would mean a lot to me if you gave it a try." She asked if it was a comic book and I said it was. She opened it and I explained the basic plot and she seemed into it. Then she asked me, "So, how do I read it? Like the funnies?" I told that was exactly how you read it. 
She called this week to say she was well into it and really enjoying it, but that it was taking a lot longer than she thought it would, "because you have to look at all the pictures and really figure out who's who and what's going on." Aw, mom. I love you. This Christmas? Lost Girls, for sure!

[Farrell]

So, my mom reads constantly. She reads the Literature and she reads that stuff you see in the checkout line and think "Who the f*ck is reading this sh*t? How is it on the NY Times bestseller list? P is for Patricide? What the sh*t?!". She reads more arty-smarty books than pulpy ones, but does not discriminate as much as I do.
I decided to try and get her to read comics, so I bought her The Complete Persepolis for her birthday. Before she opened it I prefaced it by saying "You probably won't like the gift, but it's my favorite artistic medium and it would mean a lot to me if you gave it a try." She asked if it was a comic book and I said it was. She opened it and I explained the basic plot and she seemed into it. Then she asked me, "So, how do I read it? Like the funnies?" I told that was exactly how you read it. 
She called this week to say she was well into it and really enjoying it, but that it was taking a lot longer than she thought it would, "because you have to look at all the pictures and really figure out who's who and what's going on." Aw, mom. I love you. This Christmas? Lost Girls, for sure!

Karma for you and your Mom. 

[Jon O]

Lost Girls for sure.

[clever_username]

This Christmas? Lost Girls, for sure!

And then for her birthday: Tarot, Witch of the Black Rose.


 

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

And then for her birthday: Tarot, Witch of the Black Rose.


 

Hey, that's not funny. My mom's hoo-ha is haunted. 

 

[clever_username]

Hey, that's not funny. My mom's hoo-ha is haunted. 

Well it seemed a natural progression:

Literature-->Literature Porn-->Porn

[Sasquatch]

I just asked my wife which books she liked the most out of all the ones I used to get her into comics.
She answered :

[JustinHelmer]

I'm only one book in but I'm really digging on Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life.

[LA Rabbit]

The title has been mentioned here before but my wife really likes Fables.  She actually reads it before I do.  Now she also likes Jack of Fables and will try anything with Bill Willingham on it.  Along with being well written and illustrated, it has characters that everyone knows so there isn't 50 years of history to worry about.  I would advise TPB as opposed to monthly issues.  I think monthly issues are an acquired taste.   

[Diezel]

[zip a tone]

I have not read this whole thread but wanted to chime in.  Forgive me if I repeat any information from previous posters.
First of all, I have long ago given up on the idea that my wife will get as into this medium as I am, just not going to happen.

That being said here is some stuff that I have gotten her to read that she enjoyed:
Watchmen
Sandman
Swampthing
Ultimate Spiderman
Fun Home
Rick Geary's vicotian murder books
Maus
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Dark Knight Returns

[BlackDynamite]

My wife really loves Neil Gaiman's Sandman, and as a result, any of his novels as well, now. She also read the first few Y: The Last Man trades and seemed to enjoy those. I think a good idea is to mirror the kind of movies or TV shows she likes. You can find a good match in comics or graphic novels for almost any genre done in film.

[synch]

Anyone ever give the locke & key series to there wife to read?

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

Anyone ever give the locke & key series to there wife to read?

I did. Months ago. It's still on her nightstand under 2 novels. She works her ass off, the poor thing. 

[Sasquatch]

Anyone ever give the locke & key series to there wife to read?

I did, and she actually loved it even though she usually dislikes anything approaching horror.

[mguy1977]

Anyone ever give the locke & key series to there wife to read?

No wife but I got the 1st HC and was amazed by the stunning art & intriguing story of Locke & Key.  Since then I got the 2nd HC and I am hungry for the next volume already.

Matthew

[Lucas]

My girlfriend liked Matt Kindt's "3 Story".  I think that's a good option: it's very character/relationship based, the art looks "arty" enough to intrigue someone who might dismiss comics as for kids, and I think the science and use of shifting perspectives from story to story would especially interest someone who's "clinical", as you say...

[Matt J Design]

Well, you mentioned Salinger and memoirs so my ideas are:

Fun Home -Alison Bechdel comes to terms with growing up, her sexuality, and the life and death of her closeted gay father.  The family business is a funeral home where the kids play.  Super well-written, and the equal to any serious novel.  A bit of a downer, though.

Tricked by Alex Robinson -its a long book, but its great.  Slice-of-life mixed with a twisty, plot full  of cosmic coincidences, about love, and honesty, and fathers and rock and roll.

Too Cool to be Forgotten by Alex Robinson - A middle-age man goes under hypnosis to quit smoking and wakes up in the body of himself as a teenager, being forced to relive his Jr high years, with the knowledge of an adult.  Simple, Straightforward, and emotionally powerful.  A quick read.

But really, the suggestions are somewhat besides the point.  If she wants to get into comics she will.  And if she doesn't she won't.  She's already into comics if she loves Peanuts (get the Complete Peanuts books!!).  And most likely, if she falls in love with a comic, it will be something that's a complete surprise.  And something that she comes across on her own in some way.

[Dudley]

http://comics.ign.com/articles/107/1075745p1.html

This is a great article from IGN bout getting ladies into comics. I have yet to try to get my long time GF into comics but I think Y is definitely the best comic to start with. Sandman may be a good option as well for some ladies but I suspect it is a bit surreal and difficult to follow for most newbie readers. 

[tgibs]

I let my girlfriend borrow my copy of Jefferey Brown's clumsy and she absolutely loved it. Since then I've gotten her two more of her books and she wants to read all of his other stuff. Good route to check out.