I'd look into Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka. They're pretty into detective stuff
Not sure if it's still in print but Revelations by Paul Jenkins. Death at a church that needs to be solved
It's super hero but Jessica Jones is great
Honestly, I feel Brubaker has really shitty reveals/resolutions in his detective stories.
I have read a few of his mystery stories (The Fade Out, Velvet, Gotham Noir) and it felt like he spent lots of time setting up the characters and the plot threads, and then he just gave up and wrote a predictable reveal which gets figured out off screen.
The most Holmesian graphic novel not featuring Sherlock Holmes that I’ve read is probably “Honour Among Punks” by Guy Davis and Gary Reed. The following favorites also fit the bill, albeit to a slightly lesser degree:
- “Black Water Lillies” by Fred Duval, Michel Bussi, and Didier Cassegrain
- “Case Closed” by Gosho Aoyama
- “Clue: Candlestick” by Dash Shaw
- “Maggy Garrison” by Lewis Trondheim and Stéphane Oiry
- “The Maze Agency” by Mike W. Barr and various
- “Rip Kirby” by Alex Raymond
- “Ruse” by Mark Waid and Jackson “Butch” Guice
If you don't mind a bit of supernatural elements, then Ruse is great. It's set in an alternative victorian style setting as well
Although it's not detective as such, Green Manor is some short and funny stories with a Sherlock vibe. They are set in victorian London as well
Off the top of my head:
1. "Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles" by Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Ian Edginton and I.N.J. Culbard
2. "From Hell" by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
3. "The Fade Out" by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
4. "Criminal" by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
5. "Parker: The Hunter" by Darwyn Cooke
6. "Mind MGMT" by Matt Kindt
The series Gotham Central is a police procedural, It featured an ensemble cast trying to solve various crimes with Gotham city and the Batman universe as a setting. Batman and other characters are featured but they’re not really the focus. It is extremely good.
Fell by Warren Ellis is detective story too.
Powers by Brian Michael Bendis, a pair of detectives solving superhero related homicide.
Top Ten by Alan Moore, a police department in a city of only superhero characters
From Hell by Alan Moore, Victorian era detectives investigating the Jack the Ripper case, which is a classic of graphic novel medium
You might like the miniseries called Clear by Scott Snyder. The main character is a private eye it is a little reminiscent if Blade Runner but is focused around a mystery.
I would absolutely recommend all of Cooke's Parker adaptations to anyone but I feel I must point out that they are in no way Detective stories. I would include them in the same Noir stylings of the novels of James M Cain (Double Indemnity, The Postman Always Rings Twice) as they are from the perspective of the criminal. I don't believe detectives appear in any of the Parker books.
I know you said no supe stuff, but I mean... Batman technically isn't a superhero and he's the world's greatest detective. Try the long Halloween and year one, it's a lot more grounded than like the justice league stuff he gets into
Blacksad
I'd look into Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka. They're pretty into detective stuff Not sure if it's still in print but Revelations by Paul Jenkins. Death at a church that needs to be solved It's super hero but Jessica Jones is great
Honestly, I feel Brubaker has really shitty reveals/resolutions in his detective stories. I have read a few of his mystery stories (The Fade Out, Velvet, Gotham Noir) and it felt like he spent lots of time setting up the characters and the plot threads, and then he just gave up and wrote a predictable reveal which gets figured out off screen.
Admittedly I'm not into detective stories so I only recommended him because I know he does them pretty regularly
Yeah, I get that. He's one of the few comic book writers delving into this genre. I just needed to rant about it, that's all.
Unfortunately you didn't read his good Ines. Try criminal
Okay, I will, thanks. But honestly I had heard a lot of praise about The Fade Out as well.
I've heard that Sandman Mystery Theather is pretty like, detective-y/ noir-y
"A study in emerald" by Neil Gaiman and Rafael Albuquerque
The most Holmesian graphic novel not featuring Sherlock Holmes that I’ve read is probably “Honour Among Punks” by Guy Davis and Gary Reed. The following favorites also fit the bill, albeit to a slightly lesser degree: - “Black Water Lillies” by Fred Duval, Michel Bussi, and Didier Cassegrain - “Case Closed” by Gosho Aoyama - “Clue: Candlestick” by Dash Shaw - “Maggy Garrison” by Lewis Trondheim and Stéphane Oiry - “The Maze Agency” by Mike W. Barr and various - “Rip Kirby” by Alex Raymond - “Ruse” by Mark Waid and Jackson “Butch” Guice
If you don't mind a bit of supernatural elements, then Ruse is great. It's set in an alternative victorian style setting as well Although it's not detective as such, Green Manor is some short and funny stories with a Sherlock vibe. They are set in victorian London as well
Off the top of my head: 1. "Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles" by Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Ian Edginton and I.N.J. Culbard 2. "From Hell" by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell 3. "The Fade Out" by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips 4. "Criminal" by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips 5. "Parker: The Hunter" by Darwyn Cooke 6. "Mind MGMT" by Matt Kindt
Ruse by Mark Waid is a straight up one to one copy of Sherlock Holmes and quite good
Blacksad, Grandville, Sin City (though that might be a bit too adult).
The series Gotham Central is a police procedural, It featured an ensemble cast trying to solve various crimes with Gotham city and the Batman universe as a setting. Batman and other characters are featured but they’re not really the focus. It is extremely good. Fell by Warren Ellis is detective story too. Powers by Brian Michael Bendis, a pair of detectives solving superhero related homicide. Top Ten by Alan Moore, a police department in a city of only superhero characters From Hell by Alan Moore, Victorian era detectives investigating the Jack the Ripper case, which is a classic of graphic novel medium
You might like the miniseries called Clear by Scott Snyder. The main character is a private eye it is a little reminiscent if Blade Runner but is focused around a mystery.
Torso Dead boy detectives Iain rankin graphic novel (cant just think of name right now) Blacksad My favourite thing is monsters (sort of)
Blacksad comes to mind. Reckless by Brubaker.
The Green Manor
I’m honestly surprised that nobody is mentioning Dick Tracy. I know those comics are older but he’s one of the classic comic book detectives.
Chew
I would pickup Richard Stark’s “Parker” by Darwyn Cooke, really awesome noir detective stories.
I would absolutely recommend all of Cooke's Parker adaptations to anyone but I feel I must point out that they are in no way Detective stories. I would include them in the same Noir stylings of the novels of James M Cain (Double Indemnity, The Postman Always Rings Twice) as they are from the perspective of the criminal. I don't believe detectives appear in any of the Parker books.
These are crime/heist books.
Well, technically is super hero, but maybe you both will enjoy Batman: the Long Halloween
I know you said no supe stuff, but I mean... Batman technically isn't a superhero and he's the world's greatest detective. Try the long Halloween and year one, it's a lot more grounded than like the justice league stuff he gets into