Graphic Novels-- Comic Books
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Agent
Member # 2210
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written Monday, January 17 2005 05:23
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Hello all, I am interested in finding good places to look at reviews for graphic novels, not The Comics Journal . Most of the places I can find which review new graphic novels are awful. They look like they are written by drunk monkeys. I can find what is forthcoming for science fiction and fantasy at SF Site and Locus Magazine I have a few favorite graphic novels-- Stan Mack, The Cartoon History of the Universe, P. Craig Russell-- The Ring of the Nibelungen, Frank Miller-- 300, The Dark Night Returns, Ronin, Alan Moore-- Promothea, and Box Office Poison. Do you have any favorites or recommendations. Regards, Toast. -------------------- Wasting your time and mine looking for a good laugh. Star Bright, Star Light, Oh I Wish I May, I Wish Might, Wish For One Star Tonight. Posts: 1084 | Registered: Thursday, November 7 2002 08:00 |
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Post Navel Trauma ^_^
Member # 67
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written Monday, January 17 2005 07:33
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You didn't mention Sandman, so I will. I loved the first volume of Promethea, but I hated the third (and the library didn't have the second). And don't forget about manga, although I've not read enough to make sensible recommendations there. -------------------- Barcoorah: I even did it to a big dorset ram. desperance.net - Don't follow this link Posts: 1798 | Registered: Thursday, October 4 2001 07:00 |
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Triad Mage
Member # 7
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written Monday, January 17 2005 13:53
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I like Calvin and Hobbes. -------------------- "At times discretion should be thrown aside, and with the foolish we should play the fool." - Menander ==== Drakefyre's Demesne - Happy Happy Joy Joy desperance.net - We're Everywhere ==== You can take my Mac when you pry my cold, dead fingers off the mouse! Posts: 9436 | Registered: Wednesday, September 19 2001 07:00 |
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Agent
Member # 2210
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written Monday, January 17 2005 15:08
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I do not know a whole lot about Manga. I have a bit of an idea about about anime but not much. Still, it would be nice to find out a bit more about them. Review sites for manga would be cool. I have read a tiny bit of it. Barefoot Gen is of course the quintessential "graphic novel" although people would not call it that. -------------------- Wasting your time and mine looking for a good laugh. Star Bright, Star Light, Oh I Wish I May, I Wish Might, Wish For One Star Tonight. Posts: 1084 | Registered: Thursday, November 7 2002 08:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 4973
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written Monday, January 17 2005 17:02
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quote:Me too! I also like The Far Side. -------------------- There are three kinds of people in the world: those who think, those who think they think, and those who would rather die than think. Posts: 104 | Registered: Thursday, September 16 2004 07:00 |
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Agent
Member # 1558
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written Monday, January 17 2005 23:46
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Gotta have The Far Side and Dilbert. If you haven't seen them, hurry up. Also, for the younger ones, I agree that Calvin & Hobbes and Peanuts can't be beat. [ Monday, January 17, 2005 23:50: Message edited by: The Absolut Sagacious stranger ] -------------------- I'm tired of the strain and the pain ___ ___ ___ I feel the same, I feel nothing Nothing is important to me ___ ___ ___ ___ __ And nobody nowhere understands anything About me and all my dreams lost at sea ___ __ But we’re not the same, we’re different tonight We’ll make things right, we’ll feel it all tonight _ The indescribable moments of your life tonight The impossible is possible tonight ___ ____ ___ Believe in me as I believe in you, tonight Go All Blacks xtraMSN Rugby _ MuggleNet Posts: 1112 | Registered: Friday, July 19 2002 07:00 |
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Cartographer
Member # 1851
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written Tuesday, January 18 2005 00:47
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Bone by Jeff Smith, don't forget those. -------------------- "Son--err," her father said, "I mean... Daughter, I give you your first and only sword. Use it for with skill for great villainy." Nanoisms Ooh! Homepage - Blog - Geneforge, +2, +3 - My Elfwood Gallery - WannabeCool Forums So many strange ones around. Don't you think? Posts: 1308 | Registered: Sunday, September 8 2002 07:00 |
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Apprentice
Member # 5368
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written Saturday, January 22 2005 23:41
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As for manga, I have been into Masamune Shiro's Appleseed and Dominion Tank Police. I have gone so far as to become a collecter. Posts: 43 | Registered: Friday, January 7 2005 08:00 |
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Agent
Member # 2210
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written Sunday, January 23 2005 16:43
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One other all time favorite-- manga-- Usagi Yojimbo-- Rabbit Samurai. Plus my favorite unbeatable anti-hero is in graphic novel form Groo! -------------------- Wasting your time and mine looking for a good laugh. Star Bright, Star Light, Oh I Wish I May, I Wish Might, Wish For One Star Tonight. Posts: 1084 | Registered: Thursday, November 7 2002 08:00 |
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Agent
Member # 798
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written Friday, January 28 2005 07:11
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What exactly is a Graphic novel? because I really don't know. -------------------- "I am Batman". Batman. "No one could touch me, I was Escobars Guy" George Jung-Blow. "Dare to disturb the Universe". The Chocolate War. There is nothing sadder Than wasted Talent. Lorenzo, A Bronx Tale. Posts: 1046 | Registered: Friday, March 22 2002 08:00 |
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Agent
Member # 2210
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written Friday, January 28 2005 08:40
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It is a book length-- 60 plus pages long most of the time comic book usually in a large format with heavier binding than a traditional comic book. The beginning of the official designation is with Will Eisner-- A Contract With God (1978). Jack Katz-- The First Kingdom however used the designation before Eisner in his advertisements in 1976. -------------------- Wasting your time and mine looking for a good laugh. Star Bright, Star Light, Oh I Wish I May, I Wish Might, Wish For One Star Tonight. Posts: 1084 | Registered: Thursday, November 7 2002 08:00 |
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Agent
Member # 798
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written Monday, January 31 2005 07:19
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Thank you. -------------------- "I am Batman". Batman. "No one could touch me, I was Escobars Guy" George Jung-Blow. "Dare to disturb the Universe". The Chocolate War. There is nothing sadder Than wasted Talent. Lorenzo, A Bronx Tale. Posts: 1046 | Registered: Friday, March 22 2002 08:00 |
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Master
Member # 4614
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written Monday, January 31 2005 09:07
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 -------------------- -ben4808 For those who love to spam: CSM Forums RIFQ Posts: 3360 | Registered: Friday, June 25 2004 07:00 |
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Bob's Big Date
Member # 3151
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written Monday, January 31 2005 18:37
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The only comic book I ever read was Maus. -------------------- The biggest, the baddest, and the fattest. Posts: 2367 | Registered: Friday, June 27 2003 07:00 |
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Agent
Member # 2210
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written Tuesday, February 1 2005 05:52
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There are quite a few "comic books" which are more focused on regular life than you might expect. Recently there have been a whole slew of reporters writing a historical style of comic book. Joe Sacco-- Palestine, Persepolis-- Marjane Satrapy, Stan Mack-- History of the Jews and Cartoon History of the Universe, Berlin City of Stones, etc. One of my favorite artists, P. Craig Russell has done quite a few of the classics-- The Jungle Book, The Ring of the Nibelung, Bluebeard, and The Magic Flute. -------------------- Wasting your time and mine looking for a good laugh. Star Bright, Star Light, Oh I Wish I May, I Wish Might, Wish For One Star Tonight. Posts: 1084 | Registered: Thursday, November 7 2002 08:00 |
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Shock Trooper
Member # 156
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written Tuesday, February 1 2005 07:23
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quote:I have been pretty much out of the scene for a long time(I quit buying them in protest of what Marvel was trying to do to the industry back in the early-mid 1990's. You could not find a more dispicable company than Marvel if you were investigating child-porn rings!) but my favorites: 1)Faust: Love of the Damned - One of the most revolutionary and well-written comics of all time(and Tim Vigil's 'Berni Wrightson meets Bill Senkiewicz style art does not hurt any either!). It is an adult gothic horror meets anti-hero kind of book. The book that McFarlane tried to rip off with his crappy "Spawn". Not only is the book revolutionary for the style and approach taken by writer David Quinn(who became so popular as a result of Faust that he was writing everything from Dr. Strange to columns in Wizard magazine on scripting as well as countless other books fro DC, Marvel and various indies.) but also because the series averages an issue released every few YEARS!! Tim Vigil is DAMNED opposed to the standard monthly grind and his work shows this. Astonishing detail! The book also makes no bones about it being very sexual and very violent as well as sexually violent! SO the faint of heart need not apply. TO give an idea of just how disturbing this book can be, several comic shops were shut down in the 90's just for selling the book! Visually, Faust is like a combination of Wolverine + Batman + Satan which is probably why the book sold as well as it did even to people who did not get the story(which IS admittedly complex and deep). Was turned into a very crappy direct-to-video movie which you should avoid like the plague! Find out more at www.brokenhalos.com/ 2)The Crow - James O'barr's original magnum opus was one of the most emotionally moving works of graphic literature ever produced. Forget that crappy Brandon Lee movie which resmebled O'Barr's book about as much as Sesame Street does. James does a masterful job of building up the characters...letting you into their lives and personalities, before socking you in the gut with the "Atrocity Exhibition" of book four. As far as illustration goes, he bridges the gap between Will Eisner and Ernie Colon and does so without distracting the reader. 3)The Justice Machine - Something to be said for REALLY good superhero books that don't follow the herd. Orginally created by artist-writer Michael Gustovich and given a soul when writer Tony Isabella was brought on during the Comico run, it is the story of "Six good little soldiers" who work as THE law enforcement arm of the governement of "Georwell"( another world, sort of "futuristic Earth"-like in another dimension) who slowly come to realize that everything they believed in was a lie. Isabella's knack for developing relationships between the various characters and weaving intricate plots is on full display here. Stomped the crap out of "X-Men" and other overhyped kiddie soap operas! 4) Miracleman(aka "Marvelman") - Probably Alan Moore's best work in the superheroes genre. Better plotting and pace than Watchmen and aged well(Watchmen became dated quickly with the end of the cold war). 5)The American - Written by Mark Verheiden and published by Dark Horse in the late 80's/early 90's, this was the book that Captain America COULD have been...but wasn't. Got a little wonky around issue 4 or 5 when they introduced "Robo-Eisenhower" but the first 3 or 4 issues(which were collected in trade paperback form) are gold. 6)Roachmill - Originally published by Blackthorne and later by Dark Horse (before forced cancellation because of a silly and quite frivolous law suit brought by DC comics for alleged similarities to Ambush Bug), It is the story of a futuristic pest-exterminator(in a future where "pests" can be anything from aliens to mother-in-laws as long as you have a license!) who looks like Clint Eastwood...only with two insectoid appendages extending from the small of his back and a "bug eye". This book did not give a rat's ass about convention or boundries. The story would go from zany and milk-out-the-nose funny to tear jerker in the span of a few pages. The way the book was drawn(by Rich Heeden and Tom Mcweeny) was, at the time, shockingly innovative. Characters would reach from one panel into other panels and cause panels' borders to fracture like shatterd glass when they would land in one. You always had to be scanning the backgrounds as if reading a "Where's Waldo?" book because they were chock full of funny and bizarre cultural references. 7)The Badger - Written by Mike Baron adn originally published by First Comics, it is the story of Viet Nam veteran Norbert Sykes who suffers from Multiple Personality Disorder(9 of 'em!). One of his personalities(the one he most often enjoys) is Wisconsin's only costumed crimefighter, The Badger. Badge' is a master of several esoteric martial arts and can talk to animals(A power he recieved in 'Nam when God appeared before him as a giant hamster named "Myrtle"). Together with a supporting cast of friends including a 5th century druid named Ham and a talking Yeti, he embarks on adventures I could not begin to do justice to here. 8)The Prowler - A little known or remembered book by Tim Truman(Hawkman, Scout) that was published by Eclipse comics in the 80's. It was the story of a former vigilante who fought crime during the pulp-fiction era of the 1930s as "The Prowler"(Think The Shadow with a ski mask and fedora) who, at 75 years(circa 1985 or so) of age comes out of retirement to train young Scott Kida as his protege'/replacement. The book's title character was given a compelling faux-history through back up psuedo-reprints of his 1940s comic strips and a flexi-disc(included with the Prowler min-series "Revenge of the Prowler") with a few songs by Truman himself. One, an Andrews Sisters style swing number and the other a brilliantly evocative theme song from the psuedo-TV series that went off the air sometime before the time of the comic series itself. Honorable mentions: Hero Alliance: End of the Golden Age(serious superheoes), Power Factor(More serious supers by the same author, Kevin Juare), Concrete(Paul Chadwick), Maelstrom(Laugh out loud sword and sorcery by Jim Somerville), Scout(Tim Truman), Dark Wolf( Father Tremaine is a Catholic priest by day...a demonic avenger by night! Fun stuff.), Mantra(Man trapped in vivacious female body fights crime with sword and sorcery by Mike W. Barr), Sludge(another "Ultraverse" book), Jon Sable : Freelance(By Mike Grell who also did Green Arrow and Warlord for D.C.). [ Tuesday, February 01, 2005 09:26: Message edited by: SkeleTony ] -------------------- "I am in a very peculiar business. I travel all over the world telling people what they should already know." - James Randi Posts: 219 | Registered: Saturday, October 13 2001 07:00 |
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Apprentice
Member # 548
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written Thursday, February 3 2005 13:30
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Louie the Rune Soldier and Road to Perdition fanboy reporting in. One is a spoof of the fantasy genre, the other a Max Payne-esque revenge thriller. -------------------- The essence of balance is detachment. To embrace a cause, to grow fond or spiteful, is to lose one's balance, after which no action can be trusted. Our burden is not for the dependant of spirit. Posts: 16 | Registered: Wednesday, January 23 2002 08:00 |