Graphic Novels Read in January 2014

The Complete Terry and the Pirates, Vol. 3: 1939-1940 (2008) Milton Caniff (IDW)

Hands down my all-time favorite newspaper comic strip. Read more to find out why. 

5.5

Daredevil, Vol. 6 (2013) Mark Waid, Chris Samnee (Marvel) 

This volume collects Daredevil #28-30 and Indestructible Hulk #9-10. This will teach me to stop buying titles sight-unseen… Had I known the contents, I would've only bought the individual issues of Daredevil. I really wanted to like the Indestructible Hulk issues, especially when I read the premise, but was disappointed to see that this storyline is just a modern take on a well-worn concept. I'll be more careful next time….

3/5

Showa: A History of Japan 1926-1939 (2013) Shigeru Mizuki (Drawn & Quarterly) 

The first book in a four-volume set on the history of Japan may not sound like everyone’s cup of tea, but you should definitely give it a look. Please read more about it. 

5/5

Boxers & Saints (2013) Gene Luen Yang (First Second)

Gene Luen Yang does some incredible work. His American Born Chinese is rightfully hailed as a great graphic novel and even when his work isn’t great (as in The Eternal Smile), it’s still very good. Boxers & Saints represents a little of both. Boxers (showing the beginnings of the Boxer Rebellion in late 19th century China) is more detailed, taking its time to tell a story that’s both longer and more solid than that of Saints. The two should be read as a set and Boxers should definitely be read before Saints. A podcast and a commentary on both books can be found at The Comics Alternative.   

Boxers 4.5

Saints 3.5 

Rachel Rising Vol. 2: Fear No Malus (2012) Terry Moore (Abstract Studio)

I enjoyed Moore’s work on Strangers in Paradise, but am addicted to Rachel Rising, one of the best horror comics being produced today. The first volume provides the set-up of a young woman who literally crawls out of her grave seeking answers to why she was put there in the first place, but the second volume ramps things up several notches. Moore is very strong on relationships, which is one of the reasons Rachel Rising works so well. 

4.5/5

Studying Comics and Graphic Novels (NF 2013) Karin Kukkonen (Wiley-Blackwell) 

Studying Comics and Graphic Novels seems geared to college students taking an introductory class in comics/graphic novels. (One section even shows you how to write an essay, which is something that will no doubt serve you well in college. See... graphic novels are important!) As such, the book assumes you know little-to-nothing about comics/graphic novels, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. 

Kukkonen does go into a fair amount of depth in discussions of narrative and panel layout as well as a good, but concise history of comics. At times Kukkonen gets a little too academic for my tastes, but this is a textbook, after all. The recommended reading list is also good. Worth a look, especially for those new to comics studies.

3.5/5

Uzumaki, Vol. 1 (2004) Junji Ito (VIZ Media)

A really fun, seriously messed-up Japanese horror tale, the first of three volumes. I first heard about it from Shea Hennum over at The Comics Alternative Podcast. 

4/5 

Ballad (2013) Blexbolex (Enchanted Lion Books)

From Goodreads: “This image-based story builds page by page, over seven sequences. The initial sequence consists of three images: beginning, middle and end of a journey. The following six sequences take up this same story, but with new details and extra images added each time. The story thus quickly becomes enormous as the number of new images doubles with each sequence.” 

That’s it in a nutshell, but the art is absolutely gorgeous. I’m not sure where this book belongs. Our library initially (and mistakenly) had it in children’s picture books, but it’s far too sophisticated for that section. A beautiful and complex book that requires multiple readings. Definitely worth a look. 

4/5

Doom Patrol, Vol. 1: Crawling from the Wreckage (2000) Grant Morrison, Richard Case, Doug Braithwaite, Scott Hanna (DC Vertigo)

I love the original Doom Patrol from the 60s - especially the weirdness of it - but Grant Morrison takes weirdness to a whole other level with his incarnation of the series from the late 80s-early 90s. I certainly liked this volume enough to continue with the next one.

4/5

Madison Square Tragedy: The Murder of Stanford White (2013) Rick Geary (NMB)

I just love Rick Geary’s true crime graphic novels. They combine a love of history with some serious shenanigans. A review should be forthcoming from The Comics Alternative soon. 

4.5/5

The Invincible Gene Colan (NF 2010) Clifford Meth (Hero Initiative) 

Gene Colan certainly deserves a better treatment than he gets here. Dr. Michael J. Vassallo gives a good overview of Colan's career, followed by summaries of Colan's work on Sub-Mariner, Daredevil, Dr. Strange, Iron Man, Captain America, The Tomb of Dracula, Howard the Duck, and other miscellaneous Marvel titles. These sections include a variety of art samples: reproductions of original artwork, commissioned art, sketches, sample pages from comics and comics covers. There's some wonderful stuff here, but far too many of the covers are small, smaller than a typical playing card. These covers certainly deserve a larger and better treatment. In fact, a coffee table-sized book as we've seen representing other artists (Ditko, Kirby, Kubert, etc.) would certainly be in order. 

Much of the book's text consists of tributes from artists such as Walt Simonson, Tom Palmer, Mike Esposito, and writers such as Neil Gaiman. However the place we learn the most about Colan is near the end of the book in a 1995 interview with editor Clifford Meth. The tributes are nice, but we really (and briefly) get to know who Colan really was in this interview. It makes you want more, but unfortunately it's just not there. 

Something that is there is a frequency of printing errors. Many pages contain margin captions that have been printed over each other, rendering them unreadable. 

Colan was such a unique artist and a great influence on others that he deserves a better, larger book. Let's hope we get that book someday.

3/5

Coffee with Jesus (2013) David J. Wilkie (IVP)

Many of these comic strips are both hilarious AND theologically accurate. How often does THAT happen?

4/5

Be sure to tell me what you read!

Mid-Week Art

Here's a little art for your Wednesday, courtesy of Giorgio Comolo's website and The Comic Alliance's Best Art Ever (This Week) from last month. Enjoy!

Terry and the Pirates - An Appreciation

One of my all-time favorite comics is Terry and the Pirates by Milton Caniff. I recently wrote a commentary about the series at The Comics Alternative Podcast.

Best Graphic Novels of 2013: Part 3 of 3

Best Graphic Novels of 2013 Part 3 of 3

The 10 best graphic novels that were published in 2013:

The Black Beetle Volume 1: No Way Out - Francesco Francavilla (Dark Horse)

Francavilla has recently become one of my favorite artists of the past few years. You get the feeling with this first volume of The Black Beetle that Francavilla is giving us the barest of introductions, which is fine with me. Colt City could be any noir city, and while The Black Beetle has certain noir hero characteristics as well, we really don’t learn much about him in this installment. Again, that’s okay with me, because Francavilla’s art is so wonderfully matched to the noir genre. 

Copra Compendium One - Michel Fiffe (Bergen Street Comics Press)

I bought Copra on a whim at my local comic shop and was just blown away at all the energy, action and imagination on display. It might be a little hard to find, but it’s worth seeking out. Read more about it. 

Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant - Tony Cliff (First Second)

If you want the short review, it’s two words: pure fun. If you want to know a little more, then I will pontificate. 

The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story - Vivek Tiwary, Andrew C. Robinson (Dark Horse)

I am absolutely in love with the art in The Fifth Beatle and think the story works well in most places. It's good to see Brian Epstein get some well-deserved praise. For more on this title and Tiwary, check out this interview with the author at The Comics Alternative Podcast. 

Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapon - Matt Fraction, David Aja (Marvel) 

I don’t read a lot of Marvel titles, but I enjoyed both My Life as a Weapon and Little Hits. 

The Massive, Vol. 1: Black Pacific - Brian Wood, Kristian Donaldson, Garry Brown (Dark Horse) 

Probably my second favorite book of the year. Read more about it. 

Mind MGMT - Matt Kindt (Dark Horse) 

Mind MGMT is the perfect read for people who enjoyed the TV show Lost until it reached a certain point, then became disgusted with it. Mind MGMT’s first volume, The Manager, is very, very smart, as is its second, The Futurist. Both are highly recommended.

Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales - Nathan Hale (Harry N. Abrams) 

One Dead Spy

Big Bad Ironclad!

Donner Dinner Party

Okay, I’m cheating a bit here. The first two books were released in 2012, but I didn’t read them until 2013. I’m bending the rules because not enough people have heard about these great books that make history fun and fascinating. Don’t miss them!

Nowhere Men, Vol. 1: Fates Worse than Death - Eric Stephenson, Nate Belegarde (Image)

Here it is - my pick for the best graphic novel of 2013. No other title stayed in my head and made me think of all the implications in it quite like Nowhere Men. Find out why.  

The Spectral Engine - Ray Fawkes (McClelland & Stewart)

The Spectral Engine might not be your typical horror graphic novel, but its dark stories, combined with stark black and white art, make it a gripping read. Find out more. 

Honorable Mentions

The First Kingdom, Vol. 1: The Birth of Tundran - Jack Katz (Titan Comics)

The First Kingdom isn’t really new; it first appeared in the 70s in single issues, but 2013 (and into 2014) marks the first time the six-volume black-and-white series will be reprinted in its entirely in handsome hardcover editions. And it’s epic. Read more about it. 

Heck - Zander Cannon (Top Shelf)

Looks can be deceiving, and in this case, that’s a good thing. Intrigued about this black-and-white graphic novel? Read on...

Lazarus, Book One: Family - Greg Rucka, Michael Lark (Image)

It’s too early to tell how good Lazarus is going to be over the long haul, but for now, it’s quite good. Investigate more. 

New School - Dash Shaw (Fantagraphics)

Intrigued. Often fascinated. Confused. Eager for more. 

Those are the four words and phrases that best describe my reaction to Dash Shaw’s New School, my first exposure to Shaw. Thanks to the guys at The Comics Alternative, I decided to check out this coming-of-age story set in a strange, distant land. Shaw is showing us something about sibling rivalry, but also how to navigate a world we don’t really understand. I am amazed at Shaw’s storytelling, but am not quite sure how to interpret his uses of color. This is a definite read-again book.

  

The Reason for Dragons - Chris Northrop and Jeff Stokely (Archaia) 

Another book for younger readers (approx. ages 12 and up) that I hope finds its audience. You can read more about it. 

So... Tell me about the best graphic novels you read published in 2013.

Best Graphic Novels of 2013: Part 2 of 3

Best Graphic Novels of 2013 Part 2 of 3

The 10 best graphic novels I read this year that were published before 2013:

DMZ: Vol. 1: On the Ground (2005) Brian Wood, Riccardo Burchielli

In DMZ, a second American civil war has turned Manhattan into a demilitarized zone. A mostly clueless reporter named Matthew Roth stumbles into an assignment that literally opens his eyes to the ways of life and death in the DMZ. Part of my 2013 tour of Brian Wood comics, this was one of the best. 

Gotham Central, Book One: In the Line of Duty (2004) Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka, Michael Lark

Gotham Central, put simply, is the Gotham Police working on crimes when Batman isn't around. Of course, it's more complicated than that, but that's a good starting point if you're considering whether you should pick this up (and you should). 

Rucka and Brubaker are both excellent writers and Lark's artwork is the perfect match for their stories. It becomes clear from the first story how difficult and frustrating it is for the police not only to solve crimes in Gotham, but also to work in the shadow of Batman (who does appear briefly). 

The Incal (1988) Alejandro Jodorowsky, Moebius

This is a mind-blower. You can read my previous thoughts on this one. 

Maus (1986/1991) Art Spiegelman

There’s not much I can tell you about Maus that you haven’t already heard. What I will tell you is how I saw a group of guys react to it for the first time. The Guys Book Club that I lead at our library read the first volume for our June selection. Most of these guys (ranging in age from teens to guys approaching their 80s) had never read a graphic novel of any kind. We talked about the story itself and how graphic novels work. Several of the guys said that the format took them awhile to get used to, but they soon realized how the format made the story more powerful than it perhaps would’ve been in a text only format. 

We also had some great conversation about the themes of the book, including family, survival, guilt, how difficult it is to escape from the past, and of course, the Holocaust itself and everything connected with it. Although I had only asked them to read Volume 1 (our library system has several copies of Volume 1 and not as many of Volume 2), most of the guys went ahead and read Volume 2 anyway. If nothing else, these guys now have a greater appreciation of what the graphic novel format can do. I’m quite happy with that. 

Queen and Country: The Definitive Edition, Vol. 1 (2007) Greg Rucka, Steve Rolston, Brian Hurtt, Leandro Fernandez

Thanks to my good friend John for recommending this one. Previous thoughts.

Rachel Rising: The Shadow of Death (2011) Terry Moore

Recommended by my friend Derek at The Comics Alternative, Rachel Rising is a horror comic that has now become a must-read. (And if anyone is still looking for a Christmas present for yours truly, volumes 2 and 3 would be most welcome!) In black and white (and all the creepier for it), Rachel is the creation of Terry Moore, whose Strangers in Paradise I enjoyed, but always felt if Moore got a little edgier, I might enjoy his work more. May I say that with Rachel Rising, Moore has delivered. 

Rust, Vol. 1: Visitor in the Field (2011) Royden Lepp

One of several great titles for young readers I encountered this year. Read more about it.

The Spirit Archives, Vol. 1 (1940) Will Eisner

Wow..... I had no idea how awesome this is...  

Stumptown, Vol. 1 (2011) Greg Rucka, Matthew Southworth

I know it seems like a Greg Rucka love fest here at Graphic Novel Universe, but the guy can write a story, especially a noir one. Dex Parios is a Portland, Oregon private eye who’s trying to pay off a gambling debt and look out for her brother who has Down’s Syndrome. When Dex gets a call to find the missing granddaughter of a casino owner, she thinks maybe things are starting to go her way. Of course, she’s wrong.   

Greg Rucka has slowly but surely crept onto my list of “must read” comic book writers. Not only does he consistently write strong female protagonists, his sense of crime/noir fiction is well-grounded in tradition, yet willing to explore and push boundaries. Stumptown may be one of Rucka’s more conventional outings, but it’s nonetheless excellent storytelling. 

Super Spy (2007) Matt Kindt

Spies again, huh? Well, what can I say? I saw this awhile back and thought it might be a good diversion while waiting for Kindt’s next collected edition of Mind MGMT, another espionage tale. Published before Mind MGMT, Super Spy is a neat collection of interconnected short stories all focusing on espionage and the human element involved in deception. Kindt is always an interesting creator who gives you much to think about.  

Please tell me what you read this year that was published before 2013. 

Best Graphic Novels of 2013 Part 1 of 3

Best Graphic Novels of 2013 Part 1 of 3

I’m going to have to do this in three installments, otherwise it’s going to be a very long blog post! Later, I’ll go into my Top 10 graphic novels published before 2013, then those published in 2013. But for now, I’d like to do two things: 

1) List the graphic novel titles that I continued reading in 2013 that started before 2013, such titles as:

Daredevil - Mark Waid, Chris Samnee

Fatale - Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips

Manhattan Projects - Jonathan Hickman, Nick Pitarra

Peter Panzerfaust - Kurtis J. Wiebe, Tyler Jenkins 

The Steve Ditko Archives - Blake Bell, ed.

Sweet Tooth - Jeff Lemire

2) Books that may or may not be graphic novels as such, but are related to them in some way:

American Comic Book Chronicles, 1960-1964 (2012) John Wells

A painstaking look at all comics published in America during the years 1960-1964. Dense and filled with important facts and events; if you're interested in comics history, these volumes are a must-read. 

The Art of Joe Kubert (2011) Bill Schelly, ed.

One of my goals in 2013 was to learn more about artist Joe Kubert, who sadly passed away last year. This collection is a great introduction to the man and his work. 

Super Graphic: A Visual Guide to the Comic Book Universe (2013) Tim Leong

The nerdiest book I read this year, and just maybe the most fun! 

Superman: The High-Flying History of the Man of Steel (2012) Larry Tye

Tye's history covers Superman's beginnings, his ventures into radio, television, movies and more. Highly recommended, even if you're only a casual Superman fan. 

Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art (1993) Scott McCloud

I'm embarrassed it took me so long to read this one, but I'll never look at comics the same way again. If you haven't read it, move this to the top of your list immediately. 

Next post: The best graphic novels I read this year that weren't published in 2013.

Graphic Novel Goal for 2014???

My friend Chris over at the Collected Comic Library challenges himself each year to spend a significant amount of time reading a new or unfamiliar title, character, writer or artist in the coming year. Two years ago, I read Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. for the first time and loved it. This year, I read works by and about legendary artist Joe Kubert and had a great time. 

I struggled a long time over what to tackle in 2014. I've always wanted to get into Love and Rockets, but that task is so daunting, I think I'm not quite ready to dedicate a year to that series (or even just the first four or five volumes) just yet. 

What might be a more manageable task is Neil Gaiman's Sandman. Yes, I have never read beyond the first volume and that was years ago, so I'll need to re-read that and keep on going. Plus, if I time it right, I might finish in time for the completed Sandman Overture. 

So do you have a reading goal in 2014?