"Reinventing Comics" by Scott McCloud is quite an interesting read.  it's right above me at my desk now.

It's not the best comic in the world, b/c I felt he violate the #1 rule of visual media --> he narrates almost every frame.  However, he has a visual accompaniment to explain his thoughts on subjects, and he is quite a deep thinker.  A visionary.  A dreamer.

Yeah, I liked the book...  But it's a better read for the comic artist/writer/inventor than for anyone looking for entertaining diversion.