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! 

[ERocktheRed]

I constantly try to get my wife to check out new books but so far the only ones she has enjoyed have been Scott Pilgrim, Walking Dead, Buffy and Mysterius The Unfathomable.

[JoeMan212]

My girlfriend tends to like everything I do! 

We like Fables, Walking Dead, Northlanders, Pluto, Death Note, Monster (her favorite), Gotham Central (her other favorite), Chew (her first comic, great one to get a girl hooked - if she can stomach it), One Piece etc.

On second thought, she has liked everything we have read except Afrodisiac (which is understandable considering it is a male oriented book).

It is a good thing, I think. 

[Wood]

My girlfriend tends to like everything I do! 

We like Fables, Walking Dead, Northlanders, Pluto, Death Note, Monster (her favorite), Gotham Central (her other favorite), Chew (her first comic, great one to get a girl hooked - if she can stomach it), One Piece etc.

On second thought, she has liked everything we have read except Afrodisiac (which is understandable considering it is a male oriented book).

It is a good thing, I think. 

The next comic book I get my wife to read will also be the first.  Savor it, my friend, you have an open minded woman.

[Lukeh]

I just posted a mate a stack of books. He is a big reader and is keen to give comics ago. He has read only a couple before, first two volumes of preacher and the first two hardcovers of walking dead, so hes not totally a virgin to it.

I sent him as follows.

Point blank and the first "season" of Sleeper.
The Unwritten vol 1.
Chew vol 1.
Star wars Legacy vol 1.
Mysterious the Unfathomable.
Scalped vol 1 & 2.
Buffy season 8 vol 1 & 2.
Astonishing X-men vol 1.
Pluto vol 1 & 2.
20th Century Boys vol 1 & 2.

I think that was all. I would of liked to send some big HCs but they would of been tooheavy and limited the varity. I meant to send Queen and Country vol 1 and Parker hunter which he would of loved but bloody forgot. Always next time though if this lot gets him keen. Hopefully theres somthing in there that gets him hooked!

[Jurassicalien]

Preacher, totally Preacher.

[Witherer]

Watchmen. My wife is an English major who actually thinks reading Shakespear is fun really got a kick out of this one.

[horsekack]

So i was listening to the podcast the other night while i was working, actually trying to get a feel for it since i am new to both comics and the podcast and have decided that after listening to the show where the book Crossed was discussed i would give it a try so its in my shopping cart in dcbs. Also pre ordered the new Stan Lee Soldier Zero. So i am hoping that i have made some good choices here, i know that i am a little late into the comic game but being from a small town with no comic shops to speak of around the internet and this podcast are my only hopes in helping me transition into a hobby that i have always been curious about.

[jdudley]

My girlfriend had never read a comic in her life till recently (took nearly 3 years of dating before I could get her to read one and it was only because we were on a road trip and she had nothing else to do!) What comic was it? Y the last Man. Three weeks later, she had read all 11 trades and still won't stop raving about it. I feel like I have to be very careful in selecting the next book for her though, any ideas?

[Tim H]

My girlfriend had never read a comic in her life till recently (took nearly 3 years of dating before I could get her to read one and it was only because we were on a road trip and she had nothing else to do!) What comic was it? Y the last Man. Three weeks later, she had read all 11 trades and still won't stop raving about it. I feel like I have to be very careful in selecting the next book for her though, any ideas?

Strangers in Paradise.

[jdudley]

Wow. I was actually debating between Strangers in Paradise or Blankets. Probably will go with Strangers in Paradise (because I want to read that myself)

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

Wow. I was actually debating between Strangers in Paradise or Blankets. Probably will go with Strangers in Paradise (because I want to read that myself)

If I made my wife read Blankets, she'd never read another comic again.

[jdudley]

So that's a "no" on Blankets for the girlfriend then? 

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

So that's a "no" on Blankets for the girlfriend then? 

Not at all. It's a "no" for my wife. She would be irritated with it for the same reasons I was. Your girlfriend, however, might love it (lots of people do). I will say it sure looked pretty.

[Farrell]

So that's a "no" on Blankets for the girlfriend then? 

My girlfriend liked Blankets a lot, as did I.  Just to confuse the issue. 

[jdudley]

Hmmm, I have not read it but from what I know, I assume the religious beliefs of the reader will play a large part in his or her enjoyment of Blankets?? Definitely appears to be something my GF would like but I have to tread carefully when sending comic her way.

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

Hmmm, I have not read it but from what I know, I assume the religious beliefs of the reader will play a large part in his or her enjoyment of Blankets?? Definitely appears to be something my GF would like but I have to tread carefully when sending comic her way.

That's part, I guess. Romantic love/spiritual love are compared and contrasted, explored, and examined.
The intensity of the narrative came off as self-absorbed (I know: teenagers!) and tedious to me. I am well aware that I'm in the minority here, though.

[Dave A]

My girlfriend liked Blankets a lot, as did I.  Just to confuse the issue. 

Ditto!

Another love or hate it book, apparently... you'll never know 'til you read it. 

[Dave A]

PS @ Matt: Have you guys ever checked out any Goon?

I think you would very much like The Goon. I'll provide rationale if you have not tried it and/or are on the fence.

[Matt H.O.W.L.]

PS @ Matt: Have you guys ever checked out any Goon?

I think you would very much like The Goon. I'll provide rationale if you have not tried it and/or are on the fence.

I read the Chinatown/Mr. Wicker book and really liked it, although I understand that it's not really representational (in tone or style) of the series itself. I keep meaning to pick up the other stuff.

[MarioMuscar]

My girlfriend had never read a comic in her life till recently (took nearly 3 years of dating before I could get her to read one and it was only because we were on a road trip and she had nothing else to do!) What comic was it? Y the last Man. Three weeks later, she had read all 11 trades and still won't stop raving about it. I feel like I have to be very careful in selecting the next book for her though, any ideas?

My wife has read two series. Y the Last Man and the Walking Dead. She loves both.

Go with the Walking Dead.