During our most recent meeting of The Artist's Bookshelf, in which we discussed the wonderfully droll Fun Home, several participants requested recommendations on other graphic novels of literary merit. My personal favorites include Harvey Pekar's American Splendor and Joe Sacco's Palestine.
Alison Bechdel (author of Fun Home and Dykes To Watch Out For) recommends graphic novels by Chris Ware, Jessica Abel, Seth, and Chester Brown.
Local cartoonist Robert Kirby [author of Curbside Boys(Cleis Press) and The Book of Boy Trouble (Green Candy Press)]recommends Persepolis by Marjane Setrapi (Pantheon), Stuck Rubber Baby by Howard Cruse (DC Comics), and Ghost World by Daniel Clowes (Fantagraphics).