As comic books and graphic novels (GN) find more mainstream success, readers tempted to check out the adventures of their favorite superpowered characters are often frustrated by the sheer volume of stories available, while others view superhero comics as silly, nothing more than old-fashioned adolescent power fantasies. The following titles not only serve as good jumping-off points for new readers but might also convince the more sophisticated GN fan.

Fans of director Christopher Nolan's Batman films will find much of Batman: Year One (DC Comics. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4012-0752-6. pap. $17.99) familiar. Written by Frank Miller (300, Sin City) and illustrated by David Mazzucchelli (Asterios Polyp), the story tracks a young Bruce Wayne as he makes his first foray into masked vigilantism. While the action is breathtaking and plentiful, the heart of the story lies with Lt. Jim Gordon, whose struggles with the corruption at the heart of Gotham City's police force, the demands of his pregnant wife, and his undeniable attraction to a female colleague allow this tale to transcend the realm of children's entertainment and enter a world of noir. Mazzucchelli's drawings ably capture the atmospheric detail.

Watchmen (DC Comics. 1995. ISBN 978-0-930289-23-2. pap. $19.99), written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, is one of the most beloved and influential superhero comics of all time. The heroes are past their prime, striving to get by in a world that's made it clear they are unwelcome and unnecessary. When a killer begins singling them out, the heroes come out of retirement to save their own lives. Gibbons's illustration matches the plot's complexity perfectly, with storytelling tricks that comic and GN illustrators are ripping off to this day.

Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D (Marvel. 2000. ISBN 978-0-7851-0747-7. pap. $19.95) collects the seminal superspy stories written and illustrated by comics' legend Jim Steranko, combining the swagger of James Bond with the style of Mad Men and? mixing in a sort of cosmic psychedelia that has thrilled readers since the series' initial 1960s release. Fury, who appeared in the recent Iron Man films, battles enemies ranging from espionage agents to alien invaders, while Steranko's innovative illustration design elevates the work to the level of true pop artifact.

The Wonder Woman Chronicles. Vol. 1 (DC Comics. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4012-2644-2. pap. $17.99) collects the earliest adventures of the beloved heroine, written by creator William Moulton Marston and illustrated by Harry G. Peter. Aficionados of pop culture oddities will get a peek into the mind of Marston, who also was a pioneering popular psychologist, a feminine theorist, and the inventor of the polygraph machine. Much of the feminine theory evident in these stories is laughably dated by modern standards, but the undeniable spirit and energy put into their creation make them a joy to read.

The Ultimates. Vol. 1: Super-Human (Marvel. 2002. ISBN 978-0-7851-0960-0. pap. $12.99) is the debut of a series by writer Mark Millar and illustrator Bryan Hitch that reset classic comics heroes Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, and The Wasp in a modern context. When the United States brings these heroes together, it creates a superhuman arms race that brings the world to the brink of war. Much of the material here serves as the basis for the recent Iron Man and Incredible Hulk films, as well as upcoming movies starring Captain America and Thor.

In All-Star Superman. Vols. 1 & 2 (DC Comics. 2008. ISBN 978-1-4012-1102-8; 2010. ISBN 978-1-4012-1860-7. ea. vol: pap. $12.99), writer Grant Morrison and illustrator Frank Quitely don't set out to reinvent Superman but instead craft a story that captures all of the best and most successful elements of the icon's mythos, regardless of established continuity. The tales range from adventures to the center of Earth to more somber meditations on mortality and responsibility.

Sleeper: Season One and Two (WildStorm: DC Comics. 2009. ISBN 978-1-4012-2360-1; ISBN 978-1-4012-2493-6. ea. vol: pap. $24.99), written by Ed Brubaker and Sean Philips, combines a noir atmosphere, the intrigue of espionage, and the epic scope of superhero comics into one of the best comics in recent years. Holden Carver, a secret agent cursed with the power to feel no pain, goes undercover in a supervillain criminal organization. When the only person who knows his secret is attacked and left in a coma, Holden must scramble to protect his identity and bring down the mysterious villain Tao even as his loyalties are tested by his romance with the sinister Miss Misery. Brubaker's plot twists careen wildly, while Philips's illustration expertly handles scenes of both sensuality and violence.