Best Graphic Novels

For the sake of this list, I'll define graphic novels to include collections of single issue comics that comprise a single story arc, as well as those that were conceived as a single novel.

1. Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (in an imaginary past and future, this follows the exploits of a group of heroes, along the way examining the nature of the superhero paradigm.)
2. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller (the primal Batman story, it explores Batman coming back to action as an older man after retiring. In many ways this was the inspiration for all the Batman films beginning with Tim Burton's 1989 version.)
3. To the Heart of the Storm by Will Eisner (Eisner was one of the earliest producers of graphic novels, and remains the master.)
4. Blankets by Craig Thompson A personal story, beautifully illustrated. Like Eisner, Thompson is a great writer who happens to be a brilliant artist as well.
   
5. Box Office Poison by Alex Robinson (a personal story, in all ways a novel that just happens to use illustrations. A great place to start for all those put off by men in tights books.)
6. Marvels by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross (a story of the beginning of the Marvel heroes {Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Human Torch, etc} universe, told from the point of view of "real people", including a reporter.)
7. Animal Man books 1-3 [ok, so I'm cheating, this is 3 books, but you need to read all 3, or don't read any] by Grant Morrison and Chas Truog and Doug Hazlewood (tells the story of a forgotten "b-list" superhero, from a unique perspective, eventually breaking the 4th wall and examining what it's like to be a character in a comic book.)
8. Our Cancer Year by Harvey Pekar (amazingly personal poignant story, this was the inspiration for the movie "American Splendor")
   
9. V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd (the book is even better than the movie, an intriguing story, with as much political subtext as you care to read into it)
   
10. Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross (a story of the traditional DC heroes many years from now, when they are called back into action to set the "new kids" straight. Fantastically painted by Alex Ross
    

Best Cover Songs

For this category I'll use my rough definition; a new version of a song made famous by someone else. Therefore I won't include Springsteen's "This Land is Your Land" or Clapton's "Crossroad Blues", because the songs are standards, and I won't include The Ramones' "Spiderman Theme", as it wasn't really identified with another artist. Sure, it's a bit arbitrary, but that's my rules, and I'm stickin' with 'em!
Some of these are great because they're better than the original, and some are just dang funny (and some are both.) Click on the song title to go to the amazon.com page, where you can listen to a sample.

1. "Enter Sandman" by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
   Faster and more intense than the original, and completely irreverent.
   
2. "Enter Sandman" by Pat Boone
   Funnier than funny, check it out.
   
3. "Renegades of Funk" by Rage Against the Machine
   explosive funky tribute. Rage at their best.
   
4. "Fortunate Son" by the Dropkick Murphys
   Irreverent and intense. It's at once funny, yet deadly serious. They make both ideas come through at once.
   
5. "Dirty Water" by the Dropkick Murphys
   The ultimate version
   
6. "How I could Just Kill A Man (Bonus track 2)" by Rage Against the Machine
   As intense as it gets.
   
7. "Crazy Train" by Pat Boone
   Swing away with Pat: the Master of Metal.
   
8. "Sweet Emotion" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones
   Blisteringly Fast.
9. "I'm a Believer" by Smash Mouth (from the Shrek soundtrack)
   Sure, it was overplayed, but it's a great take on the original.