If you know me at all, then you probably know I’ve been reading comics for as long as I can remember. And you know what? You should try it. If you’re a fan of genre fiction, be it literary or televised, you owe it to yourself to give comics a shot, because if you don’t, you are missing out.

Now that comic book heroes routinely make millions for Hollywood, the medium is quickly approaching a new golden age. The current market is overflowing with unique books that cater to a wide variety of tastes and extend well beyond the usual superhero fare. With services like Comixology now releasing all major titles digitally and collected editions lining the shelves of bookstores, comics are also more accessible than ever.

So here’s the deal: Even if you’ve never read a comic in your life, allow me to recommend to you seven extraordinary books that are out right now and that you should be able to get into without a lot of catching up. In return, I will then quit bugging you. Maybe. So let’s get this show on the road…