I read it for the first time when I was 17. At the time I thought it was the greatest comic-book ever written because of the fantastic story. But I only really saw the surface elements and missed some of the deeper themes and symbolism.

I'm now 25 and just reread it and now revise my opinion in thinking, no, it's not the greatest comic-book ever written. It's the greatest book ever written. Period. Each panel is laden with more symbolism than you can cram into an hour of "Citizen Kane." And the psychological profiles for each character are so deep they make oceans look shallow.

If it's been more than a few years since you last read this fantastic graphic-novel, then set aside your One-More-Identity-Crisis head-aches and take an afternoon to plow through it.

But now I'm so very worried the movie's going to be balls.