Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes
Neil Gaiman, 1988, Fantasy
This is a famous set of graphic novels, it tells a story of a dysfunctional family that's been around for billions of years, and it's been reviewed by a ton of people. People who nothing about comic books have heard of this story, that's how famous it is.
So. I'd heard about it, since it got so much play in the media and on the net. In 2002, I finally wondered what all the fuss was about and sat down with the first volume. I almost bailed on it halfway through, as it wasn't catching my interest. That would've been a huge mistake. The fourth issue made me want to read to the end of the volume. The eighth issue made me want to read the whole series. I did that, I bought all the collected volumes, and though each one cost $15 to $20, I would do it again immediately. That's how good the book was. As always, Your Mileage May Vary.