Best Fantasy comics?

[kyloss]

I always liked Lullaby, but they have always been really sporadic with the printing of the issues. Its been so long since they published one, I think it may have been canceled.

 

[Glyfair]

Thieves and Kings: http://www.glasswings.com.au/comics/t+k/
Castle Waiting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Waiting
Bone: http://www.boneville.com/
Cerebus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebus)

I'll second these and add Mouse Guard.

Cerebus has the caveat of only the first half of the 300 issue run. It's my favorite comic of all time. High Society and Church & State were amazing story arcs. Once he reached the halfway point, he began to lose my interest (although the completist in my kept buying them hoping he find hs touch again).

 

[Glyfair]

Warlord also had my interest.

The original was great. The new one lost my interest quickly.

 

[Soel]

Artesia is a really great epic fantasy comic, with a mature focus and in depth storytelling. Currently running as Artesia - Besieged (mini-series.) There are three trade paperbacks out that collect the earlier series.

Same company that puts out Artesia (Archaia Studios Press) also puts out a mini series called Secret History, which has an alternate, fantastical take on the shaping and development of our world's past by the hands of a small groups of people.

Virgin Comics puts out Ramayana Reborn 2292 AD, which is a fantasy/sci-fi take on the classic indian story. They're also doing one shots of various Indian deities which look to be good as well.

Conan is good, and I'm just checking out Red Sonja here recently...

 

[Klaus]

Can't believe I forgot about so many of these.



The artwork was mostly very good (even if Greg Land does lightbox so much of his artwork), and the story was okay. Better some times than others (I think Marz' work was the best on the title).



This was a really good title. Great story, great artwork. Sadly (due to Crossgen's misfortunes) ended prematurely mid storyline.



The Mark Waid issues were the best; the title kind of petered off after he left. Excellent story- Sherlock Holmes with a bit of fantasy thrown in. Great stuff.

I remembered one that I can't believe I forgot to mention. Busiek and Pacheco's Arrowsmith.

Woo, you're totally correct! Arrowsmith is/was awesome, and Busiek and Pacheco should be locked up until they finish a second miniseries set in that era.

Apart from the abysmally late issues and the paper-thin story, Battle Chasers had some great setting ideas, starting with the original warforged, Callibretto the War Golem.

 

[WayneLigon]

Dark Horse has reprinted the Mignola ("Hellboy") Fafhrd and Grey Mouser issues in one volume.
The Ptolus comic and the Exalted limited series comics are, I think, due for collections soon if they don't already have them.

 

[Mistwell]

Where to start?

Well, here:
(Some of these are mentioned before, others not. Some are completed, others are ongoing.)

1) Fables: One of my current favroite ongoing titles.
2) A Distant Soil. (http://www.adistantsoil.com/)
3) Bone (www.boneville.com)
4) Thieves and Kings (www.iboxpublishing.com)
5) Sandman
6) Mage: The Hero Discovered
7) Mage: The Hero Defined
8) Tellos
9) Preacher
10) Wandering Star (http://www.teriwood.com/wanderingstar/WS2.html)- First 4 issues available free.
11) Castle Waiting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Waiting)
12) Y: The Last Man
13) Pakkins Land (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakkins_Land): In the Narnia vein, there's quite a few "religious" overtones.
14) Fray: The sucessor to Buffy (available in TPB.)

THat OK for a start? (If you DO pick up any of these, I'd be interested in getting your take on them!!)


And, also worth mentioning, though not STRICTLY fantasy/sci-fi:
1) Invincible (Super-Hero)
2) Walking Dead (ZOmbie/Horror)
3) Rising Stars (Super-Hero.) It's similar to the TV show "heroes", but done YEARS before.

[ETA: WOw! Mistwell and I apparently have REALLY similar taste in comics!!]

So much so that I am taking your list and plugging in the ones I do not have to my San Diego Comic Con list for this year! (Though I have all of Sandman and some of Preacher, I just didn't list it as fantasy).

 

[Mistwell]

I'll second these and add Mouse Guard.

Cerebus has the caveat of only the first half of the 300 issue run. It's my favorite comic of all time. High Society and Church & State were amazing story arcs. Once he reached the halfway point, he began to lose my interest (although the completist in my kept buying them hoping he find hs touch again).

Ditto that on Cerebus (and I will make sure to pick up Mouse Guard at ComicCon). I think Dave Sim sort of lost his mind some time after his divorce with Deni, and it shows in the comic. But High Society and Church & State, and even some things here and there through Guys, were brilliant!

 

[The Human Target]

Faaaaaaables.

 

[Glyfair]

As an aside, my favorite single comic book I own is a reprint of the two issue story from the original Conan comic. The story features the first (and only?) meeting of Conan and Elric, co-written by Michael Moorcock.