There is a long list of things that are wrong with today’s graphic novels. Whether they concentrate on making sex the entirety of the story when it does not need it, or continue to stick with flat characters to try and get out every single facet of an over-convoluted story, many critics including this editor agree that they can be cut out and replaced with something a little more substantial. But what are hard-core readers salivating for? While this editor cannot speak for the rest of the graphic novel reading community, here are five things that the world needs to see more of in graphic novels.

1. Main character death – We’re not talking a “self-sacrifice at the end to save the world/fluffy kitten/heroine”, but a real, good, true death of a main character within the thick of the story. It’s far more interesting to watch the rest of the cast try to regroup and attempt to solve the problem/kill the enemy/save the kittens involved when they are a man down and struggling with grief. Nine times out of ten this will also eliminate the easiest way for the story to be wrapped up, making it more interesting for the reader to try and figure out.

2. Armageddon NOT Caused By The Human Race – Yes, yes, we get it. Human nature is a tricky little monster of a thing that is out to ultimately destroy the universe because, let’s face it, the little trollop is bored. But it’s refreshing to see people struggling to survive when it wasn’t their own damn fault in the first place. Give me a resurrected god who wasn’t defeated because the main character died (see number one). Give me an inter-planetary catastrophe that isn’t caused by global warming. Give me an unforeseen mechanism built into the very genetic code of people that ends ninety percent of life because of our obsession with reproduction and Paris Hilton! But please, stop playing the blame game.

3. Death Games – Battle Royale. Enough said.

4. Regular Joes and Janes – Heroes are more interesting if they are juggling a real life with their alter-egos. And when I say juggle, I mean if they miss one more shift at the factory they’ll get canned and lose their insurance, not trying to date supermodels and fight crime at the same time. While it’s a convenient plot device to make heroes and heroines these financial stable, well-to-do citizens who happen to have one tragic moment, it’s more interesting to see a regular person off the street decide to no longer just be a faceless meat puppet in the crowd and do something to make the world a better place.

5. Intelligent Villains – There is something to be said for the villains that make themselves look like boobs, but in the end, what graphic novels really need are intelligent villains. Someone that the audience can not only actually learn to like, but almost empathize with even while the villain does horrible, terrible things. The villain should also have some kind of master plan that doesn’t involve explosives or a convoluted plot that requires billions of dollars of resources that nobody will notice missing to be successful to be a true intelligent villain. Screw Magneto, give me Ozymandias any day.

There are so many different nuances that graphic novels need more of. But, let’s hope that some day soon, authors will learn that there is more to a hero than his money, more to a villain than a perfect soliloquy, and more to the world than a bunch of greedy, self-absorbed twits.