Great Non-superhero graphic novels

Historical/Animal

A retelling of the Jewish Holocaust using animals to lighten the mood slightly. Definitely worth a glance for anyone interested in this time, but keep in mind, even lightened slightly, this is still a heavy and very personal story.

Warning: Dark content.

Fantasy/Elves

The fantasy comic book, if you read no other. The art in this series is beautiful, the story is an excellent take on the Hero's Journey, and the characters are perfectly crafted to help you care about them.

Warning: Adult subjects and dark content.

Fantasy/Fairy Tales

What if all the fairy tales were based on other worlds where those tales really happened? And what if some great malignant force began to attack those lands? And what if some of the people from the fairy tales escaped and came to live in our world?

Fables is the story of an enclave for those escaped fairy tale characters--at least the ones that can pass as human. Set in modern-day New York City, the fairy tales try to keep their origin hidden from the mundane world, despite the fact that they are as eternal as their tale.

Warning: Adult subjects and dark content.

Fantasy/Sci-Fi

A brother and sister, captives of an institute because of their unique abilities, discover that they are not as human as they always believed.

A space-opera story, and while the basic idea seems cliched, the art and the characters make it something quite unique.

Colleen Doran, the creator, has been reposting the originals here.

Warning: Adult subjects and dark content.

Goth Fantasy

Lex has always had a crush on someone unattainable. Until the night she realizes he was always meant for someone else.

Gloom Cookie follows Lex and her friends through a gothic fantasy set in the real world. But it is also a world that contains immortals and monsters, and things are never quite what they seem.

Warning: Adult subjects and dark content.

Historical/Vampire

Based on the second book in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. The story was done as a series of comic books, then collected. It's a lovely retelling of the story, and my favorite part of the series.

Warning: Adult subjects and dark content

Steampunk

Agatha's always been a bit scatter-brained. Turns out there was a reason for that--she's the long-lost heir to the Heterodyne legacy. A spark in a world where lone sparks rarely survive their first few years. And where the ultimate spark is the ultimate power in the world.

The comic is now online, and can be read Here.

Historical/Humor

Asterix is a warrior from one of the last Gaulish villages holding out against the Roman invaders. He and his fellow villagers have a secret weapon that makes them invincible against anyone they fight.

Goscinny and Uderzo have created something that is well worth a glance, particularly if you are interested in this time period. Obviously, there is more farce here than history, but it's wonderful fun to read, and you never know who you might discover coming to visit the Gauls next.

Fantasy/Sci-fi

Based on the novel by Tanith Lee of the same name. Set in a possible future where robots are possible, a company has created a new line of robots that look human, but for their skin.

Jane finds herself entranced by one particular robot, and asks a friend to help her buy it. What follows is a journey of self-discovery, and of what it means to have a soul.

Warning: Adult subjects.

Fantasy/Humor

Based on Robert Asprin's Myth series. Skeeve is a thief who has apprenticed himself to a wizard in hopes of learning a few tricks. What he doesn't realize is just how odd the larger world of magic is.

The comic is being reposted online and can be read here.

Fantasy/Sci-fi/Arthurian

We all know the story of the once and future king, but what sort of calamity would be the one to finally bring him back? And who will he find to make up his table when he does return? And will the same plots and treacheries destroy Camelot once more?

Historical/Adventure

A series written in the first half of the 20th century centering around a boy and his dog. As such, some characters are subjects are a bit problematic due to prejudices at that time, but still an excellent story overall, and an interesting group of characters, once you get past those issues.

Modern/Romance/Humor

A series of comics surrounding the main character, Bleu and her friends and their adventures in high-school in the early 90s.

Sort of like Archie for a new generation.