If anyone's an afacionado of literature, and snobbish literary criticism, you may know Harold Bloom's "The Western Canon". I think such a work should be done regarding comic books. Someday I'll write an academic work on comics, and I think it's a good start to talk to people who also share this enthusiasm. Though I'm not very well-read, I'm very much willing to learn and would like to read your recommendations on the BEST comics of Western History. Would have LOVED to write my thesis about this, but comics were just demmed unworthy by my professors...
Out of the top of my mind I think...
Marvels - By Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross.
Kingdom Come - By Alex Ross and Mark Waid.
The Sandman - By Neil Gaiman et al.
Watchmen - By Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - By Frank Miller.
Batman: The Killing Joke - By Alan Moore and Brian Bolland.
Peanuts - By Charles M. Schulz .
Calvin and Hobbes - By Bill Watterson.
Understanding Comics - By Scott McCloud.
Maus - By Art Spiegelman.
I have read MORE than just that. These are just some of the works that come to mind which have made me fall even more in love with comics.
Cheers to all!