Not a graphic novel, at least not yet, but you would love Pax Romana. Only two of the four issues have been released.

Yeah, I think Global Frequency might sort of qualify, but maybe not Transmet.

Warren Ellis stuff usually has a little research behind it.

Planetary!

Oh yeah. My favorite of his. But is it "hard sci fi"?

I wish they'd put out a Vol. 4 of the trades.

It's probably as hard sci-fi as you can get... I guess. I've never heard that term until today. We still need that last issue before the fourth trade. I have no idea why they're dragging their heels on this... he's had it written for a year now.

yeah I would probably say that if anyone dabbles in hard sci-fi in comics it's probably Ellis.

I dunno, he tends to lose me more often than not with the nanobots and shit, but that could be right up your alley.

Global Frequency
Transmet (while not great about really explaining technology, is really got about planning and implimentation)
Planetary

and I second Pax Romana, though I missed an issue and now I'm fucked with trying to keep up with it.

Orbiter is another Warren Ellis one that would probably fit and unlike the others it's a single trade.

I will look into Ellis. From the brief search I did on Pax Romana, I'd say that it isn't really hard sci-fi but the more general alternative histories - which is rather less interesting to me. Feasibility of the 'science' is usually an issue in hard sci-fi. But his Transhuman looks interesting.

If you like, check out some of Greg Egan's stuff (but are not graphic novels); but still, I have no great definition of hard sci-fi either.

But maybe consider : http://www.depauw.edu/sfs/abstracts/a60.htm#A60

I will keep looking and perhaps reply here but in another thread, more appropriate (don't want to hijack)

I was thinking about my 10 favorite graphic novels and I get screwed up by the definition. This would mean it has to be one complete work in a book. I couldn't include a serialized trade paperback (Top Ten, Vol. 2) or collections (I can't remember which Hellboy. Right Hand of Doom?) that I seem to like a lot more than the stand alone, serious stuff.

Yeah, in reality it should be things that were originally published in a single volume. But people (including me) seem to be including things that are collected in a single volume, but weren't originally published that way (e.g., Watchmen, Ghost World).

Very, very few things would qualify, actually. I think it's good to just limit it to anything that has been published in a single volume, and is self-contained that way.

Well, Crecy and Pride of Baghdad from my list would still count, at least.

yeah i was thinking this too but it's pretty hard to keep track of.

oh and i'd add blankets and whiteout.

I still need to get Pride of Baghdad.

Off the top of my head, my favorite books published in a single volume:

100% by Paul Pope
Cages by Dave McKean
Bone One Volume Edition by Jeff Smith
Enigma by Peter Milligan and Duncan Fegredo
We3 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely
The Fixer by Joe Sacco
Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
Blankets by Craig Thompson
Jar of Fools by Jason Lutes

Agreed.

Can we throw in Flex Mentallo as well, since that 4-issue mini was collected in one TPB? I have to go back and re-read Enigma... I remember it being outstanding, as long as I was in the proper mood. I think I have that in .cbr only.

I really got a kick out of Tellos Colossal as well. Wieringo's art is just masterful.

Darn... I bougt the Hardcover on Friday, and I'm way too lazy to go & exchange it...

Pax is so involved, it feels like you're wading through a text book sometimes. This guy writes and draws comics like none other and he completely immerses you into his world right off the bat. For example, he dedicates pages solely to text, such as back room depositions. One issue takes me at least a half hour to get through. It's outstanding stuff.

Transhuman is only one issue in and is nowhere near as complex and involved as his other two... at least, not yet. He may be barking up your tree though... check it out.

Also, you should check out his Nightly News trade... that deals with the ills of media and those that despise them. This will give you a sense as to how far he goes telling a story.

Nightly News could definitely be up there on my list of favorites as well.

I almost put Flex Mentallo on there even though it hasn't been collected. If that counts it would definitely be on my list.

Nightly News was fucking great.

I still couldn't put together a list if I wanted, but things I'd consider including:

Jinx
The Red Star (I'm sure it's collected in one volume somewhere)
Batman: The Long Halloween
Kingdom Come
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (vol. 1)