If superhero stories are not a requirement, a fantastic one from 2003 is
Blankets. It's 592 pages and I read it all in one sitting (about three hours). It's a very well told growing up and first love story. Very pretty art as well.
Fun Home is one that came out in June and is getting heaps and heaps of praise. Deals with lesbianism though so it would probably do better with a liberal audience
If you want straight up comic-book action stuff, I recommend
Sea of Red. It's the story of a shipman in the 16th century who gets picked up after a shipwreck by a ship full of vampire pirates - yes, VAMPIRE PIRATES - who turn him, then strap him to an anchor and sink him to the bottom of the sea. He stays down there for 500 years until he's found in present day by a movie producer doing an undersea documentary. They free him and he sets about looking for revenge. Make sure you get Volumes 1 and 2 because they do a major plot twist in 2. The only downside is that volume 3 isn't available yet, and looks to be a few months out still, at least.
