Y is a graphic novel, in the sense that the sixty issues that make it up fit together into one overreaching story. In this case, it's what the heck caused all the men on Earth to die, leaving only Yorick Brown and his pet monkey Ampersand alive. As with any good story however, it's the characters that keep you reading. Vaughan populates Y with a diverse cast of females, none of who feel like caricatures and each of which represent the different ways one would imagine women reacting to the death of men. Some think we deserved it, others blame themselves, some commit suicide, some try to bring them back, etc.

Which brings me back to Lost. The show meandered a lot in season 2, essentially wasting time because the show runners were afraid to give away too much before they knew how many years they had to stretch the story out. In season 3 they remedied this by settling on an end date for the series and hiring Vaughan, who probably doesn't deserve all the credit, but his hand has certainly helped shape Lost into a more focused show. His experience crafting and bringing a long running work like Y: The Last Man (sixty issues over five or so years) to its conclusion was no doubt instrumental in him getting his assignment to one of TVs highest rated and critically acclaimed shows.

When I read Y, I don't think of myself as reading a comic book…it feels like I'm watching a movie, or a damn good TV show. When an issue ends (usually with a cliffhanger or surprise reveal…which Lost has also started to do more frequently since Vaughan joined the ranks), I'm almost salivating to read the next book. It's the same feeling I've had ever since I started watching Lost, that desire to see the next episode, bed times or homework deadlines be damned, because you just want to know what the fuck is going to happen.

The overall point I'm trying to make here, is that what a lot of people consider great entertainment shares a lot in common with comics. Shows like Heroes and Lost have on staff writers and producers who come from comics backgrounds, and a lot of what people consider great entertainment can be found in comics. The Ultimates is probably the best action film I've ever read, with a smart, modern take on The Avengers complimented by Brian Hitch's amazing, anal retentive art (it took five years for him to drawn two years worth of comics, partly because he drew every window on every building). The Punisher: MAX is a gritty, violent, disturbing and very adult take on a character who has yet to get the same treatment in a half decent movie.

Not every comic is for everyone, but a book like Y: The Last Man is a fantastic place to start, especially for fans of Lost. You'll definitely see a lot of recurring themes, plot devices, and even a similar sense of humor at play. Another worth recommending is Grant Morrision's All-Star Superman, which is a stand alone, continuity free take on the man of steel. It's a nice nod to the Superman tales of yesteryear that never shies away from some of the more outlandish and absurd elements of the Superman mythos. Yet somehow this makes it all the more charming. Reading this comic made me feel like a kid again, in a good way.

Reading a good comic is like watching a good movie. It takes the same elements to make both: It has to be visually interesting, have interesting characters, and an interesting story. In pre-production, most movies are storyboarded, which is a very rough form of paneling like in a comic. The two aren't as far removed as you think, so maybe it's time you gave some of the non-spandex wearing series a try? (But even some of those are good).

Recommendations:

Y: The Last Man - Brian K. Vaughan
All-Star Superman - Grant Morrison
Batman: Year One - Frank Miller
The Dark Knight Returns - Frank Miller
Watchmen - Alan Moore
The Punisher: MAX - Garth Ennis
Preacher - Garth Ennis
The Ultimates - Mark Millar and Brian Hitch