J. Torres’ Top 10 Go-to Comic Books and Graphic Novels

True North Country Comics presents J. Torres’ top 10 go-to comic books and graphic novels.

J. Torres is a comic book writer from Ontario whose credits include Alison Dare, Batman, Brobots, How to Spot a Sasquatch, Lola:A Ghost Story, Rick & Morty Presents, Teen Titans Go and so much more. His most recent book is Planet Hockey with artist Tim Levins.

Here’s the top 10 go-to comic book and graphic novel list from J. Torres

Alpha Flight by John Byrne
“Canadian superheroes in the Marvel Universe. John Byrne’s run. ‘Nuff said.”


American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
“Gene Luen Yang tackles racism with heart and a sense of humour in a story within a story with a plot twist that makes me feel inadequate as a writer.” 


Batman Adventures by Kelley Puckett, Mike Parobeck, Rick Burchett, Ty Templeton, Paul Dini, and Bruce Timm
“Just as entertaining and stylish as the Animated Series, and featuring some of my favourite comic work by Kelley Puckett, Mike Parobeck, Rick Burchett, Ty Templeton, Paul Dini, and Bruce Timm.”


Bone by Jeff Smith
“Jeff Smith’s much celebrated “kids’ comic” started out as an indy darling embraced by older fans of classic cartooning, and is truly a book for “all-ages.”


Elfquest by Wendy Pini and Richard Pini
“The Original Quest” (a.k.a. The Complete Elfquest, Volume 1) is where the Wolfriders’ epic 40-year fantasy adventure begins, and for me, ends because it’s peak Wendy Pini (but your mileage may vary). 



Maison Ikkoku by Rumiko Takahashi
“Rumiko Takahashi’s romantic comedy would make a great live action sitcom  set in 1980s Japan, and Netflix subscribers would be all over it.” 


DC’s The New Frontier by Darwyn Cooke and Dave Stewart
“Darwyn Cooke bridges the gap between the end of the DCU’s Golden Age and the beginning of the Silver Age, and I can stare at these pages all day long.” 


Pluto by Naomi Urasawa
“Naoki Urasawa’s reimagining of an Astro Boy story into a Giant Robo whodunnit makes me want to be a better storyteller.”
 
Why I Hate Saturn by Kyle Baker
“It’s a romantic comedy in graphic novel form by cartoonist Kyle Baker, and I wish there were more comics out there like this.”

 
The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans by Chris Claremont and Walt Simonson
“I only had room for either an X-Men or Teen Titans book, so I cheated and went with this crossover which is pure nostalgic fun for me courtesy of Chris Claremont and Walt Simonson.” 

You can discover more about J. Torres on Twitter at @jtorrescomics and online at jtorrescomics.com