With all the legacy of the comic book industry that has made its way into TV and movies over the past decade, it can easily be tempting to immerse yourself in this culture and read everything you can reach. This can be a problem as the comic industry releases dozens of new titles a week and thousands a year. In this regard, it becomes almost impossible for beginners to understand where to start reading. Only on rare occasions can you come to a comic store and buy one episode of Batman or the Avengers without having to know what happened before and have a good understanding of what is happening at the moment. But don't worry, we're here to help.
Collecting comics doesn't have to be a second job for you instead of an exciting hobby. And that's why we have created a list of absolute masterpieces over the entire history of the industry, covering all genres. This is not a list of "Best Comics of All Time", but rather a place to start.
From classic superhero series to political thrillers and horror stories, this list of 25 must-read comics in your lifetime will keep your habit moving in the right direction. So what comics to read ...
25. Punisher MAX
By: Garth Ennis
Artist: Various
As part of the traditional Marvel Universe, the Punisher has always risked turning into a typical kiddie action hero with tons of cool gadgets. But when Marvel, with the help of writer Garth Ennis, finally released the Punisher MAX series, the latex suit and wacky supporting characters were replaced by a destructive arsenal and a cynical, bordering sociopathic attitude towards others.
In this episode, a greatly aged Frank Castle lives in the real world, where there are no superheroes, and the villains are human traffickers and drug lords. Over the course of 60 episodes, the punisher makes his way through countless criminals. His personal war on crime crippled his psyche and left no chance for a normal life.
Ennis made an incredibly deep character, which up to this point was nothing more than a walking and talking cliché. And although this series is considered part of the superhero genre, it is more of a bloody thriller.
24. I killed Adolf Hitler
Author / Artist: Jason
Sometimes the best comics are the simplest comics. Science fiction and time travel, combined with the minimalist world of I Killed Adolf Hitler by Norwegian cartoonist Jason, has made him one of the best comic series in the Indie genre of the past decade. It is about a murderer from the future who returns to the past to kill Adolf Hitler before he directs his hatred and cruelty against the whole world.
Naturally, something went wrong and by unfortunate coincidence of circumstances Hitler was able to escape to our modern world. The expanded plot also includes a small piquant love story about the killer and his girlfriend, which brings a little sweet and slightly unusual humor to the story.
Even though the artwork and dialogues are quite simple, "I killed Adolf Hitler" is a rather extravagant and cheerful reading.
23. Invisible
By Grant Morrison
Artist: Various
If you want to understand what Grant Morrison was really trying to express in his Invisibles, you should take into account that he received most of his inspiration after, judging by his words, he was abducted by aliens from Kathmandu and presented with ideas for the story.
I am not kidding!
The book itself tells the story of a group of people working for the Invisible College, a secret organization fighting against a race of alien gods who want to stop the metaphysical evolution of humanity by enslaving it. The mixture of anarchy and existential overtones with lofty ideas and incoherent delirium under acid makes the Invisibles Morrison's most difficult work to understand. But if you fully understand her, she will also become the most amazing and charming. Well, really, how can you not love a book dedicated to such a dear topic as alien invasion and at the same time pays attention to tantric sex and drug use?
Morrison is more famous for his experiments with superheroes in series like Batman: Arkham Asylum and The New X-Men, but it's like comparing Betty to Veronica. And in the end, anyone who aspires to explore the darkest corners of comic book culture dives into these psychedelic waters.
22. Daredevil: Born Again
By Frank Miller
Painter: Dave Mazzukelli
Back in the distant 1980s, the daredevil was already on the verge of death. The sharp drop in sales and general indifference to the character practically forced Marvel to write him off. With the arrival of artist Frank Miller, who was named head writer, Daredevil has become one of the best superhero novels in the last 10 years.
After initial difficulties, Miller returned to work on the book in 1986, starting with the short story "Born Again", in which Matt Murdoch's life is at times endangered due to Kingpin learning that Matt Murdoch is actually "Daredevil." His identity was revealed by his ex-girlfriend, Karen Page, who, in typical Miller style, became an addicted pornographic actress.
This story finally broke Daredevil, leaving him only a lot of fractures and Christian guilt. As the story unfolds, Murdoc pulls himself out of his own hell and brings order to his city.
Millersky Daredevil is full of true Greek tragedy as well as explosions and latex costumes. Simply put, this is the greatest single-hero Marvel story.
21. Legends
By Bill Willingham
Painter: Mark Buckingham and others
Many were afraid that the Vertigo studio would not be able to keep the bar that they set for themselves in the 2000s, thanks to 20 years of persistent creative activity. Bill Willingham's incredible Tales proved that if your publisher demands the impossible from you, no matter what comic you are working on, it will be a masterpiece ready to conquer store shelves.
"Tales" tells about the heroes of fairy tales on whom we all grew up. Such as Snow White, Pinocchio, Cinderella, trapped in the real world. They live in secret in a community called the City of Fairy Tales in the upper west of Manhattan. While some of the stories revolve around mysterious events and adventures, Willingham also gives us a glimpse into the political arena of the City of Fairy Tales, showing readers how fairytale characters make futile attempts to create their own government. This approach helped "Tales" go beyond the ordinary fantasy genre and become something much more complex than an ordinary fairy tale.
To summarize, I would like to thank the author for the exciting characters, a complex and detailed world, in which a lot of attention is paid to detail and drama. "Tales" were able to get out of the shadow of traditional fairy tales and create their own mythology.
20. Y: The last man
By Brian Vaughn
Painter: Pia Guerra and others
One of the most successful titles Vertigo has released since the Sandman was The Last Man by Brian Vaughn and Pia Guerra. Released in 2002, this story tells of a man named Yorick Brown, the last man to survive a mysterious plague that wiped out the entire male population on Earth.Left alone, with his tame monkey, Ampersant, Yorick sets out on a journey, trying to find the origins of the plague and understand why he survived. This book by Brian Vaughn does not have a protracted or unpredictable plot, but rather focuses on the personality of Yorick himself. With comics being serialized, we don't often see characters mature and mature. They often don't change. Y: The Last Man was originally planned as a complete narrative. Over 70 episodes of Yorick's adventure are guaranteed to keep you entertained.
Humor, sadness and anxiety will all accompany Yorick in his quest to learn more about the plague and to reunite with his girlfriend, Beth. Due to the fact that Vaughn saw his story fully completed, he, through careful planning, made sure that it came out in its entirety, instead of just becoming a story arc with no specific direction.
19. Bone
Author / Artist: Jeff Smith
What Jeff Smith did for Bone's all-ages series was unprecedented. With his uncomplicated art and simple dialogues, Smith created an epic fantasy in the spirit of Tolkien, telling a typical tale of the wanderings of the protagonist, but doing it in such a way that he could put Joseph Campbell to shame.
The story begins when Bone's cousins - Fone Bone, Fony Bone and Smiley Bone - are exiled from their city, Boneville. From that moment on, they become involved in events that will subsequently lead them from humiliating exile to a battle with the Locust Lord himself, a great evil, strongly reminiscent of Sauron from The Lord of the Rings.
Bone's tremendous success is further proof that you don't need sex and violence to sell books. Smith just made a well thought out story. Unpretentious, but so rich at the same time.
18. Murderous Joke
By Alan Moore
Painter: Brian Bolland
Since the 1980s, it has been difficult to find an author as prolific as Alan Moore. While he wasn't making a name for himself with originals like V for Vendetta and The Guardians, he also had his hand in major DC superhero series like Superman, Green Arrow and Vigilante. He worked on Batman, but nevertheless, he radically changed not only Batman and Joker, but the entire industry as a whole.
In The Killing Joke, Moore explored the relationship between Batman and his most famous enemy, the Joker, in a way that makes it clear what virtually every interpretation of the relationship between the two heroes is. The plot unfolds quite simply: The Joker escapes from the Arkham Asylum and kidnaps Commissioner Gordon in order to lure Batman into a trap in an abandoned amusement park.
As the story unfolds, the Joker commits perhaps the worst crime we've seen in the comic before: he shoots Gordon's daughter, Barabara, also known as Batgirl, in the stomach and completely paralyzes her from the waist down. In telling the story, Moore slightly spiced it up with the story of the Joker's rise to give us an understanding of how a seemingly adequate person can turn into a psychopathic serial killer.
Moore balances the Joker's craving for the atrocities with Batman's cold and logical approach to law and order. But as his crimes grow worse, even the dark knight tends to give vent to his anger. This story constantly presses on the sore spot until it becomes first an abrasion, then an abscess, and then turns into an open wound.
It is the equivalent of the seven parts of The Dark Knight, and I doubt we'll ever see a Batman story as psychologically deep as this one.
17. Day Traveler
By Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba
Painter: Gabriel Ba
Even though the Day Traveler came out fairly recently, it is impossible to ignore this absolute masterpiece. Each of the 10 issues from Vertigo begins with a description of important moments from different spheres of life of the obituaries writer Braça de Oliva Domingos, each of which leads to his sudden death. However, in the next issue, he is completely unaware of the fact that he was dying earlier, and we can observe his daily routine throughout the entire episode.
Such a strange concept, invented by Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba, does not seem like a cheap gimmick at all. This book is a reflection on life, death and how every moment, be it sad or funny, can be the last in the blink of an eye. The day traveler checks everything that we hold dear, draws our attention to the inevitability of death and teaches us not to live aimlessly every day.
Moon and Ba breathed almost poetic beauty and sadness into every page of their creation, making The Day's Traveler one of the most successful pieces of magical realism. By combining moments of true bliss with moments that can break your heart to pieces, you can experience every emotion a comic book can, in principle, evoke as you read this piece.
16. Sin City
Author / Artist: Frank Miller
You've probably already watched the movie, but believe me, Sin City is more than just a movie. Frank Miller's bloody neo-noir world of violence and drug trafficking is one of the most expansive and detailed ever in comics. The black-and-white drawing of the book resembles cheap stories from the 40s, but Miller easily refutes this.
His harsh dialogues just ooze testosterone, while the inner monologues of his characters emphasize their anguish and suffering, which suits the environment perfectly. Everyone knows characters like Marv, Nancy and Dwight from the movie, but they really came to life in the comics.
Combining minimalism and negative space in its own style, Miller's Sin City seems to be leaving the pages. In modern comics, this visual style is no longer used.
15. Superman: All Stars
By Grant Morrison
Painter: Frank Quightley
After a failed attempt to bring the man of steel back to his roots, DC hired Grant Morrison to write Superman: All Stars. Mixing poetry, nostalgia and signature blockbuster action, Morrison turned All Stars into a love letter to the world's greatest superhero.
The plot tells the story of a dying superman who is trying to spend as many days on Earth as possible. Over the course of 12 issues, he performs incredible feats, demonstrating incredible strength and intelligence, confesses his feelings for Lois Lane, heals all earthly diseases, fights his worst enemies and saves the planet. Everything to remind us why he is one of the greatest heroes, even after 100 years.
Morrison achieved this thanks to the great art of Frank Quightley. Quightley balanced the classic vision of a superhero with the total romanticism of every page of the comic, giving a weak point to the mysterious guy with a square chin. His art has forever changed the way we view Superman and his world.
Despite the fact that the character appeared in 1938, no writer before Morrison was able to embody all of his greatness in one story. Whether it's traveling deep into space, battling Bizzaro's world, or visiting a ward with children with cancer, Superman wasn't that great.
14. X-Men: Gods love, people destroy
By Chris Clairmont
Painter: Brant Andersen
There are a myriad of X-Men comics that we could include on this list, but if you're looking for one that expresses the idea of the entire franchise, this is the best fit.
The story revolves around a preacher named William Stryker who has attempted to wage a holy war against all mutants, no matter how much blood he has to shed.
This episode is a wonderful combination of social criticism and superhero action. And this is definitely the best work of Claremont since the release of the legendary X-Men. In 2003, this comic went down in history, with the release of the movie "X-Men", which absorbed a lot of his history. But the source material presented in the comics is much deeper and more in line with the general storytelling style.
It is impossible to stare at the opening scene when several of Stryker's fanatics kill 2 young mutants. And hang their corpses in the school garden. Horrific scenes like this one put this release of X-Men on this list. Unlike other, more famous series such as The Dark Phoenix Saga and Days of Future Past, which are more suitable for people who have been into comics for a long time, this issue will be a great choice for everyone else.
13. Swamp Thing
By Alan Moore
Painter: Stephen Bisset
Before Alan Moore began work on Swamp Thing in 1983, this character was a cliche monster from a book of monsters that DC has always ignored for their superhero series. Mark contributed to the development of the Beast by introducing ideas that were partly existential, partly postmodern, and yet completely unique to typical American comics.
Instead of doing a typical monster story, Moore turned Swamp Thing into a novel full of unique lyrics and beauty, practically giving a dying project a new life. This beauty was balanced by elements of horror and mysticism, which gave the book a more adult character. As a result, the deafening success of the Vertigo universe was brought closer.
What's so unusual about Moore's Swamp Thing, even though he's never been a regular comic book writer? An incredibly detailed exposition and mind-blowing action scenes were replaced by metaphorical and deep reflections on the balance between man and nature. Together with a group of artists who brought Moore's nightmare to life, Swamp Thing was the book that made adults turn their attention back to comics.
12. County of Essex
Author / Artist: Jeff Lemire
Without any superpowers or fantasy elements, Jeff Lemyre's Essex County is a true-to-life drama about a small Canadian town and family living in it. This intricate development of the hero's personality is more typical for Indie films than for comics. Lemir clearly showed why this story can only be told in this format and no other.
These are stories about rivalry between brothers, problems of fathers, lost love and compassion, with which Lemir connects the lives of seemingly unrelated characters at first glance, into one long story about real human feelings.
As warm as it is morally devastating, full of sad moments, this story will make you cry throughout the entire story. And no matter how gloomy it may seem, Essex is a rich, vibrant and lively work.
11. Miracles
Author: Kurt Bucek
Painter: Alex Ross
Unlike DC, which created the Vertigo universe, or, for example, Image and Dark Horse, which release comics every month, Marvel has rarely moved away from the superhero genre. Everything went well and the writers of the so-called "House of Ideas" gradually became masters of ostentatious exaggerated heroism. The company reached its highest point of creativity in 1994 when Marvel comics flooded store shelves.
The comic offers a glimpse into the most memorable moments of Marvel history through the eyes of photojournalist Phil Sheldon. See your favorite characters through the eyes of an ordinary person, for whom they look more like gods than just comic book heroes. It was an original idea, but as good as Buceick's script was, it wouldn't have worked if the artists hadn't done their job.
Thanks to Alex Ross, who painted each page, the characters have acquired a special mystery. Readers witness Spiderman fighting the green goblin, the Fantastic Four fighting Galactus, and the X-Men opening up to the general public in a photorealistic style. Imagine a cross between the style of Jack Kirby and Norman Rockwell. In truth, Marvel's heroes have never looked so great.
10. John Constantine: Messenger of Hell
Writers: Various including Jamie Delano, Garth Ennis and Peter Milligan
Artists: Various
After several successful scenes with John Constantine in Alan Moore's Swamp Thing in the 1980s, DC in 1988 finally gave John Constantine his own comic book called Hell's Messenger. This, by the way, is the only comic on this list, where artists and writers are constantly changing. But whoever worked on it, Hell's Messenger remains one of the most famous examples of the dark, mature work of Vertigo's universe.
The peak of creative activity fell on such writers as Garth Ennis, Jamie Delano and Peter Milligan. Each of them skillfully combined an eerie narrative with the disclosure of Constantine's personality. “Messenger of Hell” touches with an unusual story about an ordinary, seemingly, person living in a world dominated by supernatural forces, constantly fighting with which he gradually finds himself. The main idea of this work is that anyone can become a hero, even if he has a whole bunch of flaws.
The series ended on issue 300, becoming the longest in the history of the Vertigo universe. If you don’t want to read so much, then in order to grasp the essence it will be enough to read such issues as: "Original Sin", "Family Man", "Dangerous Habits" (which was used in the film in 2005) and "Persecuted".
9. American splendor
Author: Harvey Picard
Artists: Robert Crumb, Gary Damm, Kevin Brown, etc.
The world of underground comics is so vast that we can only make another list about them. Anyone looking into this little corner of a huge industry should definitely start with Harvey Picard's American Splendor. This comic is a snapshot of Picard's life as a hospital clerk and focuses on his personality and professional relationships, as well as phobias and neuroses.
This comic book series portrays the world from a rather cynical point of view. There is no romanticism that people usually try to shove down our throats, much more often we see Pekar trying to cope with the usual daily routine. Minor events, such as going to the store, taking the bus, become incredibly exciting stories about the real world and how one single person tries to find his place in this huge system. And you will surely find something close to you in Pekar and his worries.
8. Phantom world
Author / Artist: Dan Cloves
Phantom World came out at the best time for him. In 1993, American popular culture was overwhelmed by weary teenagers listening to punk and, oddly enough, popular music. The comic shows this era beautifully.
In the center of the narrative are 2 girls: Rebecca and Enid, who spend most of their time walking around and making fun of society. Their indifference to everyone is associated with concern for their future and fear of being hurt by the cynical youth of that time. The problem raised by Cloves is so fundamental that even we, who happily passed the sunset of Generation X, can even today learn a lot for ourselves in his story.
Cloves challenges mercantilism and culture through Enid, seeking to find the purpose and hidden meaning behind everything in this life. As we learn over time, the answers to such questions usually do not bring the expected results, but fortunately, Cloves presents this story with a fair amount of humor and warmth, which is its main advantage.
7. V is for vendetta
By Alan Moore
Painter: David Lloyd
Since its publication in 1983, V for Vendetta hit the big screen (2005) and has become a symbol of the Occupy Wall Street protest movement. When the comic was first released, he could not even dream of such fame. Reminiscent of the combination of Batman and 1984, V for Vendetta has turned its merciless gaze on an almighty government and a lonely hero trying to end its hegemony. In the center of it all stands the faceless V, wearing the now popular Guy Fawkes mask.
V is intellectual reading with deep allusions and social criticism. Alan Moore makes caustic comments on the oppressive government depicted in his story, and it can be difficult to refrain from drawing parallels with the work of Orwell or Huxley. And while the protagonist V commits crimes, there is a certain superhero spirit to the novel. However, Moore never turned the story into a set of action-packed scenes in pictures. It is a story about a plot and a hero, and it unfolds more like a short story than like a movie.
6. Transmetropolitan
By Warren Ellis
Painter: Daric Robertson
Warren Ellis's Transmetropolitan debuted under the Helix brand with the sardonic mixture of political satire and science fiction that loyal readers of such works cherish so much. Following the adventures of a gonzo addict and misanthropic journalist named Spider Jerusalem, the most cynical comic book fans have made this book the manifesto of their lives. At the time, it was rare to find discussion of atheism or sex on the pages of publications such as DC. The Transmetropolitan, however, turned in full swing.
Over 60 issues, Jerusalem and its Dirty Assistants are deploying a massive campaign to end political corruption, social injustice and other issues they believe deserve to be eradicated. History went on as usual and Jerusalem began to perform various "sexual exploits" and other social lewdness, which will make even wise readers blush with shame. Ellis' innovation was also a perverse model of the earth of the future, mired in pornography, overblown consumerism and poisoned by the ubiquitous intelligent AI technology (Household Utensils High on Drugs).
It’s worth reading for the playful, manic demagoguery alone. Nevertheless, Ellis has risen above dirty jokes to make a worthy satire, which is now more in demand, for our world is turning into a cornucopia, from which corruption and collective madness are pouring. Transmetropolitan is like the pop culture child of Hunter S. Thompson, Phillip K. Dick and Kurt Vonnegut.
5. Preacher
By: Garth Ennis
Painter: Steve Dillon
Vertigo has been responsible for some incredibly creative work that defies the mainstream. But none of them were as blasphemous as "The Preacher" by Garth Ennis. The main character of this comic is the preacher Jesse Caster, who lives in a small Texas town called Annville. At the very beginning of the story, a creature known as Genesis infiltrates Castor, which gradually kills all of its parishioners and endows the hero with supernatural powers. Genesis, which is the fruit of the love of an angel and a demon, possessed Caster and gave him incredible power, with which he is practically equal to God himself.
Caster goes on a journey in order to find this very God who left paradise after the birth of Genesis. He travels with his ex-girlfriend who is also a professional assassin, Tulip O'Hara and an ever-drinking Irish vampire, Cassidy. Thanks to this trinity, the blasphemous bacchanalia does not stop for a minute. For more than 66 issues, Ennis has introduced bizarre characters such as The Butt, Jesus De Sade and Caster's mad granny Mary L'Angel, who will surely take you to the core.
This is a brutal comic strip of scenes of sex, violence and social criticism, wrapped in an original and provocative cover. We honestly can't even imagine something like this on store shelves now, given how loyal large publishers have become to society.
4. Return of the Dark Knight
Writer / Painter: Frank Miller
Before Frank Miller released The Dark Knight Returns in 1986, most people knew Batman only from his 1960 anniversary TV show. Despite the comic returning to its dark roots in the early 70s, people couldn't stop staring at the eerie scene of Adam West performing the Batusi dance in a pair of cheap gray pajamas without a shudder. Fortunately, everything changed when this book came out.
Miller was going to "Give Batman Back His Balls," as he so eloquently put it. In this story, Bruce Wayne is already 50, and he gave up on the image of Batman several years before superheroes were outlawed. After he sees that his city is literally torn apart by a new gang known as the Mutants, he dons his cloak and mask for the final crusade.
Miller took all his tech and gadgets from Batman, making him the focus of a massive mass of rage. He is no longer a noble hero, but rather a tortured old man who wants to die and is greatly obsessed with crime. There is no room for any sentimentality in Miller's coolly wrapped script and neo-noir style of painting, and the world of Batman turns into a truly dark place. Even terrific battles against enemies like the Joker or Superman, essentially a pawn in the hands of the US government, end in brutal ways, ignoring the experience of the more reckless skirmishes of yesteryear.
As in all of his other works created over the years, in The Dark Knight Returns, the liberated crusader views the world through the prism of a person knowledgeable about violence and corruption. There is nothing friendly or comforting in this book, but it is for some reason the concept for creating new comics about the Dark Knight.
3. Sandman
Writer: Neil Gaiman
Artists: Various
Comics don't have to pander to the wishes of the majority. In the 80s, teenagers hid these comics under the mattress away from their parents. Now that companies have begun experimenting with different genres, making their works more mature, comics have gradually begun to attract the attention of an increasing audience. Ultimately, in some circles, they are now perceived as good modern literature. And the book that initiated this leap was "The Sandman" by Neil Gaiman.
With a focus on Morpheus, the god-like lord of dreams, The Sandman introduces the reader to a complex narrative of heroes that are both divine and vulnerable. Left alone with his brothers and sisters (Death, Madness, Destruction, Despair and Desire), Sleep (the nickname of Morpheus) travels through different dimensions and time periods, he explores the perception of reality by man.
Gaiman is confident that no two stories are alike. One could happen to Shakespeare, while the other, in the very heart of hell. With its literary allusions and rhythmic poetry, The Sandman was unlike anything the comic book industry had seen or would ever see.This great art was created by the man who turned the entire comic book industry upside down.
2. Guardians
Writer: Alan Moore
Painter: Dave Gibbons
Yes, we are almost sure that everyone has heard about The Guardians because the film was released in 2009, but in our opinion there is no obvious reason not to get into a useful habit: not to buy comic books without reading the original series.
When Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons launched this 12-issue series under the DC umbrella, no one in the general public had ever made a story so bold, complex, and brutal. He took the idea of superheroes and changed it forever, imagining what it would be like to own these colorful characters the same flaws that ordinary people suffer from.
The deconstruction of the genre becomes apparent literally from the very first pages, where we see that the popular hero known as the Comedian was thrown out of the window of his high-rise apartment. After this scene, Moore sends us in search of the causes of his death and plunges the reader into an unusual world in which his characters live.
On our way, we will meet such heroes as the fat impotent, the Night Owl, the sociopath Rorschach, the god-like Doctor Manhattan, the emotionally unstable Silk Ghost and the narcissistic Ozymandis. This mixture of riot, criminals and fake humanism is combined with the hopelessness and chaos created by Moore. In the Guardians, women and men in suits are just as dangerous as the enemies they fight.
This masterpiece by Moore is full of metaphors, symbolism and literary sophistication, which makes his work more than a regular superhero story. Plus, this story can be a great option for people just looking for a gripping long story. The holy grail of comic book culture reached its pinnacle in 2005 when the Times named it one of the 100 Greatest English-language Writings of the 20th Century.
1. Mouse
Writer / Painter: Art Spiegelman
By now, most people are familiar with Art Spiegelman's amazing Holocaust comic strip. But for everyone else, this isn't just the best comedian you'll ever need to read in your life, it's a piece of art that is invaluable and worth experiencing.
Taking as a basis the life story of his father (a Polish Jew who survived in a concentration camp), Spiegelman gained fame during the Second World War by portraying the characters in his comics in the form of animals. Thus, Jews are depicted as mice, Germans as cats, British as dolphins, non-Jewish Poles as pigs, and Americans as dogs. This choice of animals is not just a quirk of the author. Each has been carefully designed to add depth to each of these segments of the population.
Whether you agree with this view or not, Spiegelman's interest in just such a choice cannot be disputed. Although at first glance these animals look cartoonish, they are only designed to brighten up the story, full of adversity and attempts to survive, created by them.
The story is based on the story of Spiegelman's father, Vladek, and his first wife Anya. This is the most heartbreaking story about the Holocaust, in which the author spares no effort to talk about the mortal danger hanging over his life since the time of "Night and Fog", which gives, however, a rather crude description of this darkest spot in human history.
Over the years, Mouse has brushed off the comic book label. It is now part of the college curriculum and is often featured on the Best of the 20th Century lists. If you have the slightest interest in comics or world history, you must read this.
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