Can y'all out there recommend TWO collections that would serve as a good introduction to Clowes's work?

I've been meaning to check out his stuff but don't know where to start.

Thanks!

Hmmm, I'd recommend both Ghost World (which you probably know about) and Caricature, which is a collection of some of his shorter stories. You can't go wrong with those.

If you have any knowledge of comics or the comic book collecting subculture, you would really enjoy reading Pussey, too.