Help me break the tie on these compendiums!

East of West, Black Science, Descender. So I've only read a bit of the first volume of each, but it just seems more economical to go the compendium route for the full way so long as the story holds up. I like the artists on all three, and I have several works by all the writers. The basic premise of the plot of all three are intriguing to me.

I'd like something that finishes well, I like character-driven epics and more allegorical pieces all the same; the ending doesn't have to be definitive so long as there's a lesson or character growth or some sort of fulfillment. Which holds up the best over the course of the story? Which has the favorite main characters? Most memorable panels? And if there's something in the realm that absolutely deserves the attention instead of these, feel free to throw them out there. Thanks!