The last mainstream comic I was into from Marvel was Havok and Woverine from epic, the ‘graphic arm’ of Marvel. It had two artists, one doing wolverine, the other Havok, both doing fully painted art. Late 80’s. wiki doesn’t have a page I can find, they should.
http://www.amazon.com/Havok-Wolverine-Meltdown-Walter-Simonson/dp/B000721DBQ
After that great writing and art, I couldn’t hack DC or Marvel anymore, I was on to Cerebus, Akira, Appleseed, and Nausicaa.
Akira and Nausicaa are two comics you should read, if you ever have the chance. I mean they are classics of the type. Greatly expanded story and scope in both cases as far as anime vs comic. You are probably getting 50% or more story in both cases maybe vs the anime. AND the writers are drawing it all like friggen masters.
I remember seeing battle angel alita anime back in the day, never read the comics to compare, although I have seen them in shops. I dug the anime.
Another anime that I thought had a lot of heart was this weird thing called ‘fooly cooley’. Completely wacky, but it had some really cool story parts too. I think I only saw it on cartoon network though so it might have been all cut up as far as I know.
Freegards
Saw some Fooly. Whacked out and hilarious. Try Excel Saga for more of that craziness ;)
Some other great Anime for anyone interested...
Hard / Serious Sci fi...
Gasaraki...get this NOW.
Spriggian...Pretty good story
Steamboy (american/Japanese colab)
Gunparade March
Geneshaft
For more ‘fun’ sci fi Anime (fun being in the eye of the beer-holder)
Gunbuster
Divergence Eve/Misaki Chronicles
Burst Angel
Full Metal Panic
And of course, the two classics aside from Akira..
Bubblegum Crisis/AD Police
Neon Genesis Evangelion (with End of Evangelion)