Okay, readers, I need your input and guidance.

Say you're teaching a college/university course on comics-as-literature. Say you need a reading list-- somewhere from 6-8 "graphic novels," by which I mean comics-with-spines. Say there were only two stipulations:

1. They have to be great. Not just good, but great. Worthy of experiencing in a sophisticated and probably pretentious classroom setting, and worthy of our love and the love of non-comics readers.

2. No superheroes (except Watchmen. I'll allow Watchmen).

The rest of the approach is up to you-- that is, if you incorporate some kind of overarching theme or chronology to the list. I look forward to what I'm sure will be exceptional answers.