Essential Graphic Novels

What graphic novels should everyone have?

I'll get it started with two very obvious ones:

Watchmen - Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons

The Dark Knight Returns - Frank Miller

The Absolute editions for both of them if you can find them

V for Vendetta - Alan Moore & David Lloyd
Not as revolutionary as Watchmen, but all about what it means to be free.

Ghost In The Shell - Masamune Shirow
All about what it means to be human.

TEKKONKINKREET - Taiyo Matsumoto
All about what it means to just "be".

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Moore & O'Neill perhaps?
Although I do not enjoy the art very much, I still find it to be a grand tale, with a huge amount of interesting literary references.

Asherett wrote:The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Moore & O'Neill perhaps?
Although I do not enjoy the art very much, I still find it to be a grand tale, with a huge amount of interesting literary references.

I've only read the first one in the series, but the artwork just didn't grab me and make me want to continue.

I would also put The Sandman, but I've only read the first few issues so can't say if it's essential or not.