In lieu of the weekly new comic book list, True North Country Comics presents the top 10 go-to comic book and graphic novel list from Michael Walsh.

Michael is an Eisner award winning Canadian comic-book creator, based out of Hamilton, Ontario.In 2013 Michael co-created the IMAGE comic book series Comeback (soon to be a major motion picture) . After this, Michael launched a follow-up to the hit television series the X-Files for IDW. Since then he has worked primarily with MARVEL COMICS on properties such as Star Wars, Spider-Man, The Avengers, and the X-Men, as well as adapting the Star Wars film The Last Jedi. In 2019 Michael was the artist and colourist of the hit DARK HORSE and DC COMICS crossover, Black Hammer/Justice League. His publishers include Marvel comics, DC Comics. Dark Horse, Valiant, Humanoids, Archie Comics, Titan, Boom!, Dynamite and IDW.

Here is Michael Walsh’s top 10 go-to comic book and graphic novel list:

1. Batman: Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli
“My favourite Batman story ever. Featuring some of the most influential, and groundbreaking, Superhero-noir art ever drawn. You see the influence of this book in so many modern comics, and for good reason. It’s a simple story told with control and restraint by two masters of their craft.”

2. Uzumaki by Junji Ito
“The Japanese king of horror’s masterpiece. A slew of interconnected, wickedly terrifying tales that spin into a disturbing, epic conclusion. Any fan of horror should read this collection.”

3. 20th Century Boys by Urusawa
“A sweeping story about a group of childhood friends facing the end of the world (multiple times). Spooky and supernatural with a ton of heart and brilliant storytelling. For my money, the best longform manga ever written.”

4. All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly
“Yes this is the greatest and last Superman story. It encapsulates everything that makes the character great and features art from a modern master at the top of his game.”

5. Nausicaa by Hayao Miyazaki
“Miyazaki is primarily known as a film director but this manga sits at the top of my list for a reason. Environmentalist themes, gorgeous art, strong character work and so, so much heart. Another Masterpiece that I recommend to any reader looking to try something new.

6. Scalped by Jason Aaron, R. M. Guéra and more
“My favourite, and one of the first, of the new wave of crime comics. This book cemented Jason Aaron as one of the most versatile and talented writers working in modern comics. Guera renders these characters with so much life and grit they feel like people you would meet on the street, and probably regret it.”

7. Hellboy by Mike Mignola, Fegredo and more
“Of this list, Hellboy is probably the most influential on me as a creator. When I first came across it I was primarily a big two reader. I instantly fell in love with Mike’s use of shapes, negative space, dense blacks and poetic storytelling. It changed the way I looked at a possible career in comics and made me realize what kind of books I wanted to draw.”

8. Bone by Jeff Smith
“One of the first books I loved as a kid and one I will always go back to. I’m constantly lending my volumes out to friends to read to their children and introduce a new generation to this epic tale filled with heart, hilarity and beautiful art.”

9. Upgrade Soul by Ezra Claytan Daniels
“I was enraptured by this book the first time I read it and it has really stayed with me, I often find myself thinking about it. It bends genres into an unsettling mix of sci fi and horror and dwells on what makes us human and what holds our loves together.”

10. Spinning by Tillie Walden
“The newest book on my list. This is an incredibly slice of life comic that is heartbreakingly honest and raw. The way Walden frames her splashes with a ton of space really set the tone for an examination of loneliness and self-understanding. Tillie Walden is one of the brightest young talents making comics right now and her more recent outing, On a Sunbeam, is just as strong. Check out her work.”

Honorable Mentions:
This One Summer
The Prince and the Dressmaker
Black Widow – Samnee and Waid
Blacksad
Criminal
Thor: God of Thunder– Aaron and Ribic
Akira
Land of Sons
Through the Woods
Fantasy Sports
City of Glass

You can discover more about Michael on Twitter at @Mister_Walsh and michaelwalshcomics.com