3 Must Read Comic Mini-Series

When You Don't Feel Like Reading a Novel

Comics sometimes get a bad rap for being for kids and many people will urge you to read novels instead which I do here.  Comics have come a long way since their inception.  No longer are superhero comics as popular but people are looking for quality writing these days.  These are 3 mini-series that are in a class by the,selves as a few of the very best ever written and are just as great as any novel.









Y: The Last Man - Vertigo 2002

In Y: The Last Man a mysterious virus has killed every male of every species on Earth with two exceptions.  A man named Yorick and his pet monkey, Ampersand.  Yorick wants to get back with his girlfriend who is currently in Australia but when he goes to Washington D.C. to meet his mother, who a senator, things take a turn.  She wants Yorick protected and kept out of site so he can meet up with a scientist to help find answers about why this plague has happened.  Yorick then begins his journey along with a government agent named Agent 355 who is with him for his protection.

Rumours soon spread that there is a surviving male and different factions start trying to track him down.  Yorick and Agent 355 must fight their way across the U.S. and the world, as they are harassed by gangs, rival governmental agencies and other country's agents.

There are a lot of twists and turns in the series.  Yorick's only talent is that he is an amateur escape artist and makes a lot of jokes.  He is really just a pawn for everyone to compete over.  At some point he starts to realize that he just wants to live his life and not be part of this but he has no choice.

"Y - The Last Man 23 - (August 2004), cover art by Massimo Carnevale.. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia

This series is excellent for many different reasons.  The writing is great as Yorick cracks a lot of jokes and spits out random facts to people who don't care.  Agent 355 realizes that she is tired of what she is doing and just wants to be a normal woman but is also stuck in her situation.  Yorick starts to get frustrated with what is happening around him and sometimes rebels or tries to guide the future the way he wants it.  The series has many different plot lines to follow but lays them out slowly so you can take them all in.

The conclusion to all the different plot lines are fantastic.  Some are sad, some are happy and some will just leave you in deep thought.

The only negative I could say about this series is that the artwork isn't up to the standards of today's superhero comics but it doesn't detract from the series at all.

Locke and Key - 2008-20013 IDW Publishing

This is one of those series that you have to read carefully because it is heavy with plot and intrigue. The series follows the Locke family who suffers a tragedy at their family's summer retreat called Keyhouse.  The families father is killed by two robbers who break into the house.  Years later the surviving children Tyler the son, Kinsey the daughter and Bode the youngest son return with their mother to Keyhouse.

Its not soon after that they find Keyhouse holds many secrets including a portal to another dimension in the caves underneath,  The demons that come out from the other dimension turn into chunks of metal when they cant posses someone.  The chunks of metal are forged into a number of keys that can do amazing things when used on certain items.

"Joehilllockekey" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia

The main antagonist in the series is a man named Dodge who years ago was friends with the father and was possessed by a demon.  He hasn't aged because of this but tries to change his appearance.  Dodge is trying to find the Omega key that will open the door to the other dimension.  Dodge tries to ingratiate himself to the family but they soon start finding hidden keys everywhere and the objects they interact with.  After this Dodge's schemes starts to unravel and its a race to find all the keys.

The plot in Locke and Key is thick.  There are a lot of characters and sub-plots to follow.  The keys are used to swing power and advantage either way,  People get possessed, used and lied too.  There are even competing ghosts trying to help each side.

This is probably one of the best comic series I've ever read.  Its been reissued many times over the years and many other comic writers consider it to be "perfect".  The ending is amazing and is almost worth reading just for that.

The Watchmen - 1986 DC Comics

Even though The Watchmen was published back in 1986 it stands the test of time as being one of the classic comic mini-series ever written and its still worth reading to this day.

The series takes place in an alternate reality in the United States where costumed superheroes were once famous but have since been outlawed.  Almost all have quit except for one character named Rorschach who believes the world is a disgusting cesspool and whatever he does to try and change that, no matter how violent. is necessary.

The story begins with the murder of a former costumed hero called the Comedian who is anything but.  He has committed terrible acts when he was a "hero" and has come to terms with what he has done.  He now leads a lonely life with no friends.

"Watchmencovers" by As noted by original uploader:(UTC). Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia

Rorschach seems to be the only one that wants to investigate his death and tries to enlist the help of his former team.  Eventually his former teammates decide to help with the exception of Dr. Manhattan who posses god like powers and has no interest in trivial matters of normal people.

The writing is fantastic and there is a lot to read but its worth taking your time to read everything.  The characters are extraordinarily well written with very differing personalities and thought processes.  Its great to see how they interact with each other as they are always trying to convince each other of their views.

Reading the comic and then watching the movie is a good thing to do since it will give a deeper understanding of the varying personalities.  Just like the movie, the comic has plenty of action but this is a series that will have you thinking the whole time.

Final Words

Don't be afraid to track these books down since they can be found in collected book format.  They may be pricey but are cheaper than buying all the issues.  Of course they can probably be found on the internet as well.  Either way, get your hands on them and enjoy.