After Watchmen

As part of their "After Watchmen" promo, DC has compiled a list of 20 must-read titles (that they publish, of course) to draw in readers who enjoyed Watchmen either as a movie or graphic novel.

1) All-Star Superman Volume 1
2) Batman: Arkham Asylum
3) Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
4) Batman: The Killing Joke
5) Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days
6) Fables Volume 1: Legends in Exile
7) Identity Crisis
8) Joker
9) Kingdom Come
10) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume 1
11) Planetary Book 1: All over the world and other stories
12) Preacher Volume 1: Gone to Texas
13) Ronin
14) Saga of the Swamp Thing Book 1
15) The Sandman Volume 1: Preludes & Nocturnes
16) Superman: Red Son
17) Transmetropolitan Volume 1: Back on the street
18) WE3
19) Y: The Last Man Book 1: Unmanned
20) V For Vendetta

This is a kick ass list. I was not expecting such fantastic selection from a mainstream publisher! Having read each of these, I attest to the high caliber of storytelling they contain. It also gives me hope that DC is willing to push creator based material, especially those from their Vertigo imprint, which focuses on original characters in self contained worlds that aren't necessarily tied to the DC universe.

The books they've chosen represent some of the best achievements in comics to date, showcasing that perfect blend of literature and visual art. Just a few edits are needed in my opinion:

* Replace Batman: Arkham Asylum with 100 Bullets
Arkham Asylum is dark, violent and gritty, but you already get that in other Batman titles. It's the weakest Batman story on the list. 100 Bullets is just as dark, much more violent, and infinitely more gritty.

* Replace Identity Crisis with Batman: The Long Halloween
Sure, Identity Crisis is superhero mystery done in a relevant fashion. So is The Long Halloween, with better writing and deeper insight into the mythos.

* Replace The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with Astro City
While League is neat because of its high brow references and cheeky twist on the superhero team, Astro City is far superior in both story and world. It reinvents superheros in a startlingly humanistic way.

Three more Vertigo titles that deserve recognition:

* Hellblazer: I have a huge crush on John Constantine. Something about mages with a tortured past. And please don't think Keanu Reeves - that portrayal was nothing like the wise cracking, chain smoking blonde brit we all know and love.

* The Books of Magic: Boy wizard learns the ways of magic while growing up. Before Harry Potter and far more mature in both scope and writing.

* Northlanders: Because sometimes you want to see Vikings smash things in a well executed manner. Complete with vulgar language, badass characters, and obligatory rape and pillage.