5 must-read biographies about chefs/cooks

“I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.”
- W.C. Fields

Above image depicting appropriate use of a food group? Possibly not. But too funny not to use for this post.

'Food good' is my lifelong philosophy. Well, that and 'Chocolate good.' And probably 'Books good.' (I'm beginning to believe that there's a lot I find good, and that maybe I should amend my philosophy to 'Life? It is good' fullstop). My cooking is not that crash hot, to be honest. I bake better than I cook, but I'm amazingly lazy. I'd much rather buy a bag of chips (potato crisps) and eat those on bread than cook myself a proper sit down meal. It's less fuss. For a few years I happily lived on my own and would start out cooking actual dinners, and then somewhere along the line it got to be too much effort for one person, and so I stopped. And when mum and dad would make their monthly visits out to see me they'd poke their nose in my freezer, fridge and cupboards to make sure I was taking care of myself. And because I was living on tuna sandwiches or chip sandwiches (sometimes with marmite because OBVIOUSLY) everything was always full. Meaning that I looked like an actual adult who was capable of making adult-ish lifestyle decisions. It was around that time that I discovered how much I enjoyed cooking shows and books. More often than not it was because I loved the food and the locales (especially if the chefs were on location - combine food and travel and I'll happily watch it and be a fan for life) more than wanting to try to recreate any of the dishes myself. After that, it wasn't such a big leap to go from following food shows to reading biographies of those same people. And today's list is, really, nothing more than that - foodies, their lives, and the place of food in it. This list is quite selfish on my part, really: I heart food, and I heart people who make food. Now come live in my house and cook for me so I don't have to. (And on the days when you don't want to cook, I can still make a mean tuna sandwich, and I've perfected the best ratio of marmite to chip).

5 wordless picture books to try with Mr3

"Before they read words, children are reading pictures."
― David Wiesner

I heart words. Printed, online, skywritten, painted... On billboards, in eNewsletters, books, subtitles on tv shows... I love them all. Yes, even the curse laden ones. Every time I read something it's like a mini-celebration that I can do so. It makes me squee. Which is possibly why I was thrown a little when I came across my first wordless picture book as an adult.

One of my earliest memories of reading is sitting with my dad and re-telling my own version of Sleeping Beauty - it had words but I was too young to read them (I was 3 years old, give me a break), and dad would flip the pages while I babbled away about what I thought was happening. (You can laugh at this bit: There had been a nits outbreak at kindy, and mum had had to check my hair, so of course that was in mind when reading Sleeping Beauty who had her head in somebody's lap and so I said "Shes' looking for nits, isn't she?" Gran was silenced, mum was mortified, and dad pretended he hadn't heard). My rendition of the story probably wasn't as good as the real thing, but it didn't really matter. As far as dad was concerned, as far as I knew, I was reading pictures.

It's very likely that I had come across wordless picture books as a kid, and just never noticed. But as an adult, it sorta blew my mind that whole stories could be told without words. And, as is usual with me, I requested any and all I could find in our libraries, and inhaled them like chocolate. (If you tell me you can't inhale chocolate then I will tell you to your face that you are wrong). It became one of those things that I then had to share with everyone. Mostly my nephews (who are now Mr15 and Mr16 and too cool for school, oh how I miss the days when they were little and books were magic). Mr9 doesn't like my help when choosing books anymore, and fair enough, otherwise I'd be angsting over why he hadn't gotten to War and Peace or Great Expectations yet. (Give me a break! I was an intense 9 year old).. But Mr3...he can't escape me. Yet. We're going to work our way through my favouritest wordless picture books (I suspect his mum thinks I'm being overly ambitious with expecting him to understand Robot Dreams and The Arrival but I don't think so) and see where it takes us.

If you have wordless picture book recommendations of your own (their subject heading is stories without words in the catalogue), then leave them as a comment, and we'll try those, too. Enjoy the list!

5 crafts you can make with old graphic novels

Graphic novels. Comic books. Call them what you want, it doesn't matter to me. I'll read them whatever name they go by. Often, at Armageddon each year, I'll buy up a crapload of cheap ones and then not know what to do with them after. It's not like I buy expensive or rare ones that break my bank. When I visit any of our branches I always check out the withdrawn sale books especially for graphic novels, and buy them LIKE A FIEND. Once I've read them, well, I'm stuck with falling-to-bits books. What's a girl to do? TURN THEM INTO CRAFTS and wear the most badass gear you can! This? This fills my geek girl heart with ohsomuch joy and feels. I don't see it as cutting up comics. I see it more as extending the enjoyment I get out of them. Judge me. Judge me not. It don't bother me none :) Here are 5 crafts you can make with old graphic novels. All of which I intend to try out over the next few weeks. In fact, #1 I can already cross off the list. (Mr9's effort is the image for today's post. He swears by it. Minus, you know, the actual swear words). If there's one teeny, tiny comment I have, it's that all of these are kinda girly. That's not a bad thing. I'd just like some stuff for guys. My nephews love the idea of these, they just don't want to wear charm bracelets or kickass heels :) Maybe that's a future post - comic book crafts for guys/guy gifts.

5 graphic novels you need to request now right now

"Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it."
- PJ O'Rourke

I'm spoilt for choice when it comes to graphic novels. Not because I'm any good at picking them. (If anything, I'm absolute rubbish at knowing what to try next. It's because I have next to no filter when it comes to books. I will try anything and everything at least once, and sometimes this goes against me). It's more that I'm lucky enough to work with amazeballs people who, almost daily - by email, text, Facebook message, Twitter, and in person - give me suggestions. Totally unsolicited. Once they've given me one, I find a whole heapload more that I just have to read. Which results in a Top 5 list much like this one. My parents encouraged me to read comics as a child. They wouldn't just buy them, though, we'd also talk about them. I distinctly remember, as a 9 year old, falling in love with Peter Bromhead. Well, his editorial cartoons in the Auckland Star, that is. My parents noticed my interest, and so Bromhead would, often, be a part of our dinner conversation. We would discuss the point of the cartoon in relation to whatever current events were taking place both nationally and internationally at that point in time. I am lucky enough to work with people who do the same - recommend titles or writers and, afterward, want to talk about them. The other day, someone told me to give Marbles: mania, depression, Michelangelo, & me : a graphic memoir by Ellen Forney a try, so I've requested it already, and am impatiently awaiting its arrival. Once I've finished it, we'll catch up and trade opinions and thoughts. And, as is usually the case when I'm in the catalogue, I came across 5 other graphic novels that, really, have to be bumped to the top of my TBR list. Today's list is: 5 graphic novels you need to request now right now. Have I steered you wrong yet? (Don't answer that just in case I have). They're an unusual mix of books, too - cooking, fantasy, life in Jerusalem, love in a time of a galactic war, and aliens in Australia. I know, right? You're welcome!

What graphic novels are you reading right now?

Top 5 books I need in my life like air

The worst part of working in a library is that, daily, I am tempted by ALL OF THE BOOKS. The best part of working in a library is that, daily, I am tempted by ALL OF THE BOOKS. Whether I'm on the front counter or in a support role in a backroom, this is, I believe, the true beauty and the beast of being a part of a public library. As a result, my TBR (to be read) list is phenomenal. I'm one of those people who finds inspiration/ideas from my surroundings. This means that everything I see, everyone I talk to, other books I read, or films I see, or CDs I hear, lead to my coming across MOAR recommendations to request or look up. I quite happily suffer from a perpetual case of DO WANT and DO LIKE and grabby hands. It makes me ask, though, what is the true purpose of a TBR list? Do we really want to get to the bottom of the pile and know that we've read/watched/listened to everything? Because I suspect I'd suffer from heartbreak if I ever really did complete it. I don't know this for certain because I've never managed to get there. And so what do I do with today's post but freely confess that I've found more to add to my list and, if I've done my job right, to yours, too. This particular list is made up of titles I've come across/heard about/read of that, really, I'm convinced I need in my life like air. Happy 12 Posts of Christmas, people!

How big is your TBR list?

5 brilliant movies based on graphic novels/comics

List by Julia, Natalie, Renee, Clint and Danielle

"Don't worry, miss. I've got you."

"You've got me? Who's got you?!"

~ From Superman : the Movie

Ask a bunch of librarians for their favourite graphic novel/comics-inspired movie, and you get some wildly different picks. Some of us are superhero blockbuster fans, some of us go for indie classics, some of us like the action, and some the rich mythology accompanying the iconic characters. When I saw the Avengers (the first time), it made me want to dive into the comics and find out more about the backstory. Libraries are perfect for this - DVDs, comics, anthologies, compilations, animations... your one-stop shop for Comic Book Month!

5 geeky graphic novel/comic book links

"Using comics to promote literacy? Well I’d hope comics would do so anyway, regardless of "trends"." - Declan Shalvey

KAPOW! BANG! KABLAM! Holy birthday cake, Batman - it's Comic Book Month :) Throughout September we're celebrating the wonderful world of graphic novels/comics with a series of events, competitions and workshops taking place across the city. I remember last year when Onehunga Library had a Cosplay parade and customers/dressed up as characters. It looked like so much FUN *sigh* I wish I could've been there to see it. Don't miss out like I did - find out now what's happening this September. I'm feeling a tad bit guilty at the moment because our New Titles lists were posted this morning and within err ten minutes I'd found/requested 13 new graphic novels because obviously I don't have enough to read. Oops. Knowing my luck they'll all turn up at once and instead of finishing my assignment I'll be nose deep in superheroes, villains and kickbutt plans to save the world. Life being normal, then heh. To kickstart my Comic Book Month celebration I'm sharing 5 geeky graphic novel/comic book links that y'all might enjoy.(One I use all the time, and the rest I've started following recently-ish). Feel free to suggest sites/blogs you follow - I never say no to new links. Happy Comic Book Month, everyone!

Do you read comics?

5 new graphic novels

Roschach's Journal: October 12th, 1985

Dog carcass in alley this morning, tire tread on burst stomach. This city is afraid of me. I have seen its true face.

The streets are extended gutters and the gutters are full of blood and when the drains finally scab over, all the vermin will drown.

The accumulated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout "Save us!"... and I'll look down and whisper "No."

― Alan Moore, Watchmen

Graphic novels. Comics. Illustrated novels. Comic strips. Narrative work. Whatever you choose to call them, we hold an interesting (and varied) selection of graphic novels, and we receive new titles all the time and for me, it's like Christmas every day of the year. During the nine years I've worked in public libraries, it has never ceased to amaze me how discussions about what to call 'graphic novels,' and whether or not they qualify as 'art' or 'literature' and are 'worthy' (you wouldn't believe how much I hate this type of value judgement about books) can get heated. And unnecessarily so. I remember, about five years ago, being told that graphic novels were for lazy people who couldn't be bothered to read full length novels. That took me aback. My parents had given me comics - and I mean actual comics - as a kid. I never received the impression from mum and dad that this form of reading was 'less than.' I had always been taught that the issue should never be about how people are reading, or what format they're reading in. People are still reading. That's worth celebrating. I spend a fair bit of time in the New Books lists each month, and the new graphic novels list gets a serious workout, and here are 5 that I've picked out. (That, not coincidentally, I've also requested and am working my way through at the moment). And while I'm thinking about the new book lists, they were updated just the other day. So make sure to check them out!

5 reactions you will have when you read Nilsen's birdy-filled graphic novel

"I mean, if my life is to be meaningful and full, is it up to me to make it that way, or can I just wait for circumstances to come together?"
- Big Questions by Anders Nilsen

Title: Big questions, or, Asomatognosia : whose hand is it anyway [graphic novel]
Author: Anders Brekhus Nilsen
Publisher: Drawn & Quarterly
Year: 2011
Summary: A haunting postmodern fable, Big Questions is the magnum opus of Anders Nilsen, one of the brightest and most talented young cartoonists working today. This beautiful minimalist story, collected here for the first time, is the culmination of ten years and more than six hundred pages of work that details the metaphysical quandaries of the occupants of an endless plain, existing somewhere between a dream and a Russian steppe. A downed plane is thought to be a bird and the unexploded bomb that came from it is mistaken for a giant egg by the group of birds whose lives the story follows. The indifferent, stranded pilot is of great interest to the birds—some doggedly seek his approval, while others do quite the opposite, leading to tensions in the group. Nilsen seamlessly moves from humor to heartbreak. His distinctive, detailed line work is paired with plentiful white space and large, often frameless panels, conveying an ineffable sense of vulnerability and openness. Big Questions has roots in classic fables—the birds and snakes have more to say than their human counterparts.

As bus books go, this has to be one of my strangest choices. For books on the run I usually (although not always) choose something that I can easily pop into a bag or a pocket and yank out as needed. (Like some weird version of a bookish Houdini who performs magical tricks by yanking them out of thin air - or out of rabbits?) Or I carry my iPhone so I can grab a few minutes to read some paragraphs/pages/chapters in whatever Supernatural epic fanfic I'm partway through. At something approaching 600 pages, though, Nilsen's book is definitely not of the 'smallish' variety. Not by any stretch of the imagination. Does that mean you should avoid it? Heck, no. Perhaps I'm biased, though. After all, I like big books and I cannot lie. (You other brothers can't deny). Sorry. I couldn't resist doing that. (Although I do admit that I didn't try very hard). It is well worth the workout you'll get carting it around, though. It's one of those stories that sneaks up on you. It's subtle, and tricky like that. Your fellow bus co-passengers will thank you for it. Seriously, those sitting around me were chuckling and smiling at the illustrations and dialogue. I've been catching buses and trains since I was 10 and I'm still not used to communal reading on this scale. It's nice. It's just creepyweird nice. It makes me want to clutch my books closer to my chest as if it were MY PRECIOUS. For some reason, people feel that they can comment on my reading choices on public transport. And more power to them that do so. Just don't be surprised if you find yourself sitting somewhere strange while you, and your co-passengers, contemplate the meaning of life. If you're anything like me, these are the reactions that you'll have. Although, to be honest, all y'all are tonnes smarter than me and won't spend points 5, 4 and 3 just trying to get past the characters :)

Have you read Big Questions?

5 great finds at Northcote Library

List by Danielle

'People like to believe there are mysteries yet to be discovered, loves to be lived.'
~ From 'Daytrippers' by Fábio Moon & Gabriel Bá

I moved house about a month ago, so now that the school holidays are in full swing, I'm taking a look around me for the holiday essentials... parks, beaches, playgrounds, and of course my local libraries. Last holidays we were treated to Lucy and the team's fun and hugely energetic Dare to Explore programme at my then-local, Panmure, the highlight of which was a treasure hunt that saw us solving maths, Dewey and alphabet clues as we ran in and out of the library and surrounds. This week we clocked the way the weather was changing and took ourselves to Northcote for a unicorn story and craft session.

If you've got young kids at home, I really recommend our Mythical Creature holiday programme as a way to unwind while picking up some new books and DVDs. While the 3 year old and I checked out the picture books, graphic novels and cookbooks - and played a game of hide-and-seek in the cute little garden courtyard - my 5 year old daughter got to listen to stories and show off at question-and-answer time, as well as making a very cool unicorn collage - painted in part with her foot! The librarians were really friendly and helpful, and we took home a great stash of books on top of our 2 hours of free entertainment.

Our top 5 bedtime stories for February

List by Danielle

Enchantress: Can I be in your video?
Thor: Nay, witch. Thou dost headbang like a girl. Now be gone, less thou detract from my mighty rocking. More cowbell! Thus spoke Thor.

No doubt about it, February was Super Hero month in our household. Our first dip into the mighty, marvellous pool of superheroes (if you don't count last month's fabulous Traction Man) was my 5 year old daughter's discovery of superhero phonics books, early readers about heroes such as X-ray Rex and Jumping Jade.

The find of the month, though, has been Marvel's mind-blowing Super Hero Squad, which comes in several formats - DVD, chapter book, and junior graphic novel. I say mind-blowing, because for those raised on Marvel comics (not me) and even for those who came to the characters late through films like Iron Man, the X Men and Fantastic 4 flicks, the various Hulks... this is a whole new world. Imagine brooding, angsty heroes like Wolverine turned into wisecracking kiddy characters. Hulk as comic relief. Captain America as the wise old mentor/butt of jokes. The characters now have no back story - the Hulk has no human form, Wolverine (or 'Wolvie') appears in flashbacks as a baby, complete with adamantium claws. Thor, as in the quote above, went to Valhalla High School.

It about blows your mind, huh?

Couple that with the most catchy theme song ever to grace a kids' cartoon... It's time to hero up, squaddies!

5 books shared between me and my valentine

List by Danielle

The eskimos had fifty-two names for snow because it was important to them: there ought to be as many for love.
~ Margaret Atwood

This is a shout-out for all of us out there who might not be celebrating a grand romance this Valentine's Day, but who have happy, bookish, geekish memories to treasure anyway.
Sharing books can be a real expression of love... there's the excitement you get when you stumble on something you think your sweetie will enjoy, because you know some of what ticks their fiction-lovin' boxes... the pleasure if you get it right, and they pick it up and run with it... the lingering discussions of favourite characters and plot points afterwards... the race for sequels, prequels, the author's entire back catalogue. Usually I'd end up in a queue for the library copy while he raced ahead with a stealthily purchased ebook, but he's a faster reader anyway, and he knows better than to spoiler me (though I swear he gave away at least one of the key events in A game of thrones without meaning to).
Here are just some of the books we've shared over the years.

Top 5 graphic novels: animals with issues

List by Danielle

'A cat is a puzzle for which there is no solution.'
~ Hazel Nicholson

Graphic novels featuring animals can be fabulously entertaining, whether the creatures in question are occupied by realistically natural fights for survival, companionship or dominance, or on a more existential quest for the meaning of life. When art accompanies the story, you get to marvel at the artists' ability to nail those aha! moments of animal behaviour and body language - the way a dog obsessively chews a patch of his hair, the hunched shape of a pet rat, the way a cat looks when he's pleased with himself... I borrowed a very funny new graphic novel yesterday, sub-titled 'Sled dogs with issues', which inspired this list - here, then, are a handful of great graphic tales that feature animals facing major life challenges.

Top 5 fictional TV shows

List by Danielle, Natalie and Tosca

"Television! Teacher, mother, secret lover."
~ Homer Simpson

Danielle: The inspiration for this list came from a New Books list find, Paul Hornschemeier's Life with Mr Dangerous, a slice-of-life graphic novel about getting your creative mojo back that includes an homage to a surreal little cartoon called 'Mr Dangerous'. I got to thinking: what other meta-fictional TV shows might we have known and loved in our reading & watching? Thanks to Wikipedia, I have an incomplete but very entertaining list, which includes some of our choices below.

A life in images: 5 graphic novel memoirs

"When I put together a graphic novel, I don't think about literary prose. I think about storytelling."
- Ted Rall

I find graphic novel memoirs endlessly fascinating. They're an open invitation for us to literally view the author's life history as seen through their own eyes. It is an honour that I am ever mindful of. Sometimes the journey is challenging. Sometimes it's awkward and uncomfortable. Sometimes it's hugely inspiring. Sometimes it's devastatingly sad. Sometimes it's incredibly hopeful. Always, always they are a revelation. Earlier this month I read Alyson Blechdel's Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic in relation to another Comic Book Month post. Blechdel's bittersweet yet darkly funny memoir made me wonder what other graphic novels we had that were autobiographical which, of course, led me here. I've read quite a few over the last few days and the ones that I've chosen to list from #1 - #5 are ones I'd never heard of until this month. All of those in listed as further recommendations are either ones I'd read, read about, or had recommended to me by friends and colleagues. And so I give you - A life in images: 5 graphic novel memoirs.

Query: Have you read any of the titles below?

5 GLBTQ graphic novels you might not know we have (that I've read and enjoyed recently)

List by Tosca

"My sexuality is a part of me that I really like. But it's not the totality of me."
- Portia de Rossi

A message on our work tweetstream the other month made me realise that I take my sexuality for granted. I often tweet funny haha (and sometimes funny weird) romance book covers and titles I've seen or am reading at the time, but it's only just occurred to me recently that all of those books feature male/female characters. In my taken-for-granted-mostly-straightness I hadn't considered that before. I'm guessing that the reason for that is because my sexuality is much like my gender, or my name, or seeing my face in the mirror each morning (messy hair, bad breath and all): it's not something I consciously think about. I don't say to myself each morning, "My name is Tosca, I'm a female and I'm bisexual." It just is. So I set a personal goal to celebrate Comic Book Month by requesting and reading a whole bunch of graphic novels featuring gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) characters. Some of my books were parts of series (such as Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore, Love and Rockets by Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez, Alison Bechdel and various manga series like Antique Bakery and Ghost talker's daydream). Some were standalone titles. All of them exceptionally beautiful in their own way.

This isn't one of our tongue-in-cheek top 5 lists, after all, why would you rate someone's sexuality? It's more in the manner of highlighting parts of our collection you might not know about. Possibly I haven't listed titles that you expected or hoped to find here, and I'm more than willing to read any recommendations you leave as a comment. It was exceptionally hard to limit myself to such a small number but, here it is, my list of 5 GLBTQ graphic novels that I read recently and enjoyed. Viva la Comic Book Month!

Top 5 best graphic novels of the decade, 2000-2009 (according to Sean Edgar and Gib Bickel)

List by Sean Edgar and Gib Bickel of PasteMagazine,.com

We've been celebrating Comic Book Month throughout September and I've heard such great things about the events and challenges that have taken place. I held my own mini-celebration and read what amounted to a graphic novel a day in an effort to find authors and styles I could get a feeling for (there'll be a post about that in a couple of days or so). Sounds a bit woo woo but, relatively speaking, I'm still a newbie to graphic novels. Or maybe I mean a born again, I'm not sure. Years ago I read comics my parents would buy me as a kid and then, somewhere up until about five years ago, there's a big blank because I fell out of touch with them. When I moved to Manurewa Library and took over the young adult bookclub, twin brothers Israel and Isaac tried to teach me how to read a manga book. I still haven't quite gotten the knack of it yet but I do keep it up. (I'd like to point out that they didn't introduce me to yaoi. I managed to do that, with somewhat mixed feelings about it, on my own). As a result of their love of graphic novels I'm constantly on the lookout for recommendations. Until I know what I might/might not like I'm more than happy to try any and all suggestions, which is where this list by Edgar/Bickel comes in. So *rubs hands in anticipation* I've requested all of their top 5 and can't wait to read them! Enough about me, let's get on with the top 5 best graphic novels of the decade, 2000-2009, according to Sean Edgar and Gib Bickel of Paste Magazine :)

Honourable mention:

Ghost world / Daniel Clowes

All-star Superman. [Vol. 1] / Grant Morrison

Jimmy Corrigan : the smartest kid on earth / Chris Ware

Scott Pilgrim. Vol. 1, Scott Pilgrim's precious little lie / Bryan Lee O'Malley

Fables : the deluxe edition. Book one / Bill Willingham, writer ; Lan Medina ... [et al.] - In case you didn't know, Bill Willingham will be in New Zealand for Armageddon Expo 2011. FTW!

Top 5 bestselling paperback graphic novels, Sept. 25 - Oct. 02 (according to NY Times)

List by NY Times

We've been celebrating Comic Book Month throughout September with superhero storytimes, cos play, art workshops, creating your own comic books, mask making and trivia challenges. The feedback I've heard - from staff and participants - is that it has been all kinds of crazy-good! Don't take my word for it, if you have a few spare minutes, take time to check out Onehunga Library's Cosplay 2011 YouTube clip. Their celebration of all things comic book is fantastic :)

I'm working an another couple of Comic Book Month posts so keep an eye out for those. Until then, enjoy this quick list that that highlights a few popular paperback graphic novel titles that are on the New York Times Best Sellers list at the moment.

Top 5 vamp books that aren't Twilight

List by Annie

"The vampires have always been metaphors for me. They've always been vehicles through which I can express things I have felt very, very deeply."
- Anne Rice

Oh yes, Twilight et al have brought the vamp into the reading sphere. Honestly, there are other books out there. Here are some of my favs… not a paranormal romance in there, either – tho’ I love those, too.

Honourable mention: (i.e. not real vampires, or are there...?)

Sweetblood by Pete Hautman - Teen fiction. Vampire or diabetic? Intriguing, original, with a great narrator.

Top 5 graphic novels for grown ups

List by Kelly

"Comic books and graphic novels are a great medium. It's incredibly underused."
- Darren Aronofsky

Another of the joys of belonging to the fabulous 55 libraries across Auckland is the extensive collection of Graphic Novels for adults. Haven’t read a comic since you were a kid? These titles below are my all time favourites and a great way to launch you back into the world of comics. Please note that these are titles for grown ups, all feature adult themes and language.

Honourable mention:
Powers by Brian Michael Bendis - The only reason that this series is an honourable mention rather than at number 2 on my list, is because sadly we don’t have the complete run of this fabulous crime noir superhero series. I have the (to date) complete run on my shelf at home, and the combination of crime noir with capes is unbelievably good reading.