"Hi, I'm new to comics and interested in what the medium has to offer..."

[Terminator X]

This statement does not apply to me. But if someone said this to you, and you could give them only one book to make or break their interest in comics, what book would you give them?

I think I would hand them Y the Last Man. To me, the book is perfect, but moreover, it is a fantastical situation, essentially, but not set in the realm of superheroes. Some of my favorite books are superhero books, but for a new reader, I'd want to make sure they knew that comics can be and are so much more.

I know some people who point to Watchmen. For me, I think you get a much richer reading experience from Watchmen if you read after you have some knowledge of comics in general. Not that you have to read all the Charlton books these characters are based on (I never have--but maybe that'd make it even better, who knows), but have more a sense of the flow and poetry of a comics page. Now, I've never read it from the perspective of someone who has never read any comics before, because when I read it, I had already been reading comics for several years. But that's just how it seems to me.

What book would you hand over?

[sacredbob]

Bone, probably.
The artwork is beautifully done but not too overbearing, the story is ethralling, the characters are both likeable and believable, and it's the only comic I've ever gotten my wife to read all the way through (including my own, beloved Sacred Pie.)

[Terminator X]

Bone is a good choice, too, for sure.

I've been pretty lucky in that my wife is open to checking out books that I highly praise. She has read or is reading Y, Walking Dead, Batman LH and DV, Dark Knight Returns, Scott Pilgrim, Buffy and Watchmen. She's got on her plate for the near-ish future Runaways, Saga and Maus. Maybe I will try and entice her with Bone as well.

[weirdozhead]

I think Elektra Assassin encompasses most of what I love about comics.. I could also show them parts of Claremont's X-men run, but it would be hard to condense that or decide what single book to focus on. to really appreciate the impact and scope of it I think there's probably 100 or more issues you'd need to read lol. I guess the mutant massacre would be a good start

[sirandal]

I think you are asking a lot of this hypothetical person coming from your own biases. A much more likely scenario would be someone asking "what am I going to find entertaining?" and you would base your reply on what you know about what they like.

[Inkthinker]

I've run into this problem a few times in forums recently, when people say, "I don't read comics (or more often, I don't read manga) but what would you suggest to get me started?" People always leadt in with their favorite works, and that's not the right place to start.

As sirandal says, the first thing you should ask is, "what kind of stories are you into?". See what they enjoy in TV or movies, and start with their favored genres.

If someone's into horror movies, I'd hand 'em Domu, or maybe Berserk. If they're into the supernatural, I might give 'em Hellboy or maybe Preacher... crime thrillers, 100 Bullets, police drame, Kane, slice-of-life family drama, Eisner's Family Matters or The City. If they're into sports, there's probably a manga for them; Eyeshield 21 (football), Slam Dunk (basketball), Prince of Tennis (not sure what that one's about).

The point is to try and hook 'em with comics as something unique to read, by giving them a story they're already inclined to enjoy. Once you get 'em hooked on comics, then you try and expand their horizons with other good titles that express what you love about comics... Blacksad, Bone, Akira, Y: The Last Man, Transmetropolitan, Blankets, Amulet, et cetera and etc.

But don't focus on what YOU like most first, unless you and the person in question have very similar tastes to begin with. See what they're interested in, and tailor their first comics experience towards that.

And honestly, do us all a favor and don't start with a superhero book. American comics have been dominated by the capes-n-tights genre to the degree that so many people think that's what comics ARE. Show 'em that comics aren't about genre, they're about stories.

[amadarwin]

pretty much in line with what ink said. Try to tailor a comic to their tastes at first. Then punch 'em in the gut with what you like.

additionally, don't shy away from directing them to a webcomic either.

[Logan]

Inkthinker pretty much summed up my tactics. I always always always take an interest in the person first, then when I feel like I know the sorts of things that they like I look for the best example of that in comics form. Hasn't failed me yet.

[CyberLord]

Simple, yet easy to appreciate artwork. Compelling story lines. Nice introduction to comic art for both guys and gals.
Yes, it is thick and expensive. If I'm not allowed anything so large and expensive then I opt for the first issue of "Love and Rockets". Los Bros Hernandez at the beginning. Nice sci-fi story from Jaime for those that like that stuff and Gilberts down to earth stories for the more mundane among us.
Oh, yeah! Make it the FIRST "Love and Rockets": the REAL one. None of that re-numbering crap.

[Carl_Shinyama]

If I had to pick one book? Morning Glories.

I agree with others in inquiring as to the the hypothetical person's tastes, but that's not the question, is it? Also, I think that if a person who is asking me such a question, that he or she is has tastes that are wide open enough to try out a book that is in someone else's tastes.