Ask HN: Comics/graphic novel for geeks?

Yes, plenty! Warren Ellis has some great stuff, particularly Transmetropolitan, Global Frequency, and now Trees¹. The Private Eye is an independent series, also ongoing, about a near future where privacy is much more important to society. The Fuse is a policial where all the events happen in a "floating city", orbiting around the Earth. Planetoid and Who is Jake Ellis are both good short series (4 and 5 issues, respectively), though the latter may not fit as sci-fi necessarily. Last but not least, there's Prophet, though that's a more fantasy mixed work.

I recommend looking into publishers such as Image Comics (lots of good creator-owned series with cheap DRM-free releases) and Vertigo, a DC imprint dedicated to different kinds of works, which includes both Transmet and V for Vendetta.

¹ My favorite work by him is actually Fell, but there's nothing futuristic or techy about it.

I second (or third) Warren Ellis's stuff. Orbiter and Ministry of Space are a couple of good sci-fi books. Planetary's also pretty awesome, but it's more superhero-y.

Others off the top of my head:

Wizzywig by Ed Piskor - fictional account of a Kevin Mitnick-type hacker.

We3 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely - 3 bionically enhanced animals escape their captors and talk funny.

Lazarus by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark - an immortal hitwoman with a conscience in a feudal society.

RASL by Jeff Smith - art thief is chased through parallel universes.

Casanova by Matt Fraction, Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba - more parallel universe hijinks, this time with spies.

I never could effectively read and process comics without a lot of effort -- something about transitioning the brain rapidly between text and image processing. I guess my left brain and right brain can't function in parallel (I'm sure there is a name for this "condition").

But back to the question, I've heard from people who enjoy comics that Girl Genius is fairly good -- there is a good write up on it on http://www.quadibloc.com/other/anoint.htm

(BTW, this guys home page has a huge treasure trove of random knowledge -- worth exploring a bit more).

The comic version of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep was great, it's the same text as the novel but an excellent experience. Sandman and Watchmen are general must-reads if you haven't gotten to those yet.

Saga, Y: The last man, Ex Machina, Alex + Ada, The Sword.

Not really techie but a really good comic & gorgeous art (imo): Sex criminals

Manhattan Projects has a fantastic cast you'll recognise.