In an episode of my podcast with comic artist Carli Ihde she mentioned some one-off comic book stories that influenced her artistically and with their stories. The best part is that they don't involve any previous knowledge of comics or superheroes, so it's a great place to start!
All these books are available as digital or physical as well.
The Pro is a prestige format one-shot comic book written by Garth Ennis, with pencils and lettering by Amanda Conner and inks by Jimmy Palmiotti.
A parody of mainstream superhero comics, the story details the brief career of an unnamed prostitute given superhuman powers by an alien called the Viewer. The Pro reluctantly joins the League of Honor.
Just when you think Garth Ennis has gone too far, just when you thought it was safe to walk the streets, just when you thought no one would go near the idea of the world's first superhero prostitute... here comes THE PRO!
NOTE: This comic is for adult viewers only, due to sexual content and nudity.
Available on Amazon & Comixology
https://amzn.to/2WF7vS5
We3 is a mini-series by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely, who describe its kinetic style as "Western Manga". It was published in 2004 by Vertigo.
We3, a squad of three prototype "animal weapons", are a government project headed by Dr. Rosanne Berry and her superior Doctor Trendle. The group consists of a dog, a cat and a rabbit, who were all kidnapped from a nearby city and encased in robotic armor. They were also given a limited ability to speak through skull implants. Their body armor fields numerous weapons, including mine laying devices, machine guns and razor claws.
But they are just the program’s prototypes, and now that their testing is complete, they’re slated to be permanently decommissioned, causing them to seize their one chance to make a desperate run for freedom.
Available on Amazon & Comixology
https://amzn.to/2WIizha
Pride of Baghdad is a graphic novel written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Niko Henrichon by Vertigo on September 13, 2006.
In the spring of 2003, a pride of lions escapes from the Baghdad Zoo during an American bombing raid. Lost and confused, hungry but finally free, the four lions roamed the decimated streets of Baghdad in a desperate struggle for their lives. In documenting the plight of the lions, PRIDE OF BAGHDAD raises questions about the true meaning of liberation - can it be given, or is it earned only through self-determination and sacrifice? And in the end, is it truly better to die free than to live in captivity?
Available on Amazon & Comixology
https://amzn.to/2QICQzy
All these books are available as digital or physical as well.
The Pro
The Pro is a prestige format one-shot comic book written by Garth Ennis, with pencils and lettering by Amanda Conner and inks by Jimmy Palmiotti.
A parody of mainstream superhero comics, the story details the brief career of an unnamed prostitute given superhuman powers by an alien called the Viewer. The Pro reluctantly joins the League of Honor.
Just when you think Garth Ennis has gone too far, just when you thought it was safe to walk the streets, just when you thought no one would go near the idea of the world's first superhero prostitute... here comes THE PRO!
NOTE: This comic is for adult viewers only, due to sexual content and nudity.
Available on Amazon & Comixology
https://amzn.to/2WF7vS5
We3
We3 is a mini-series by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely, who describe its kinetic style as "Western Manga". It was published in 2004 by Vertigo.
We3, a squad of three prototype "animal weapons", are a government project headed by Dr. Rosanne Berry and her superior Doctor Trendle. The group consists of a dog, a cat and a rabbit, who were all kidnapped from a nearby city and encased in robotic armor. They were also given a limited ability to speak through skull implants. Their body armor fields numerous weapons, including mine laying devices, machine guns and razor claws.
But they are just the program’s prototypes, and now that their testing is complete, they’re slated to be permanently decommissioned, causing them to seize their one chance to make a desperate run for freedom.
Available on Amazon & Comixology
https://amzn.to/2WIizha
Pride of Baghdad
Pride of Baghdad is a graphic novel written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Niko Henrichon by Vertigo on September 13, 2006.
In the spring of 2003, a pride of lions escapes from the Baghdad Zoo during an American bombing raid. Lost and confused, hungry but finally free, the four lions roamed the decimated streets of Baghdad in a desperate struggle for their lives. In documenting the plight of the lions, PRIDE OF BAGHDAD raises questions about the true meaning of liberation - can it be given, or is it earned only through self-determination and sacrifice? And in the end, is it truly better to die free than to live in captivity?
Available on Amazon & Comixology
https://amzn.to/2QICQzy