Graphic Novels - Where to Start?

[Flingo]

Rescued Thread

Claire 20th September 2006 02:58 PM

For assorted reasons, I'm quite keen to give some graphic novels a go. It's a field I know nothing at all about - I hadn't even considered them until very recently.

When I went for a delve round at the library, I was at a loss as to where to start. Every single book on the shelves looked like it was from the middle of a long, ongoing series. Does this matter, Do they stand alone reasonably well, or is it only going to make sense if I start at the very beginning and read a series in order??

Also, if there are any fans out there, which are the really good writers or series to look out for?

Who reads these types of books and why? What's good about them that you can't get in a book just full of words?

Hazel 20th September 2006 03:58 PM

I used to really like graphic novels, but one I would recommend is Ghostworld by Daniel Clowes as it's a good mix of the literary and graphic.

Grammath 20th September 2006 06:19 PM

I know it divides opinions among the few people who read graphic novels on this site, but "Maus" by Art Speigelmann is a fine introduction IMO, effectively using the format and a simple cats and mice metaphor to depict the experiences of his family during the Holocaust.

I've had a "Ghost World" lurking on my shelves for ages, I must read it some time. I bought it after seeing the film version at the flicks years ago, but somehow have never got around to it.

Claire 21st September 2006 10:37 AM

Thanks, both of you.

Maus is the one that I did manage to get from the library. It was one of the few that didn't look like it was Part 17 of 22. Plus I suspect I recognised the title from seeing it discussed here. I'll let you know how it goes.

Ghostworld, I will keep an eye out for.

Any other thoughts on the genre, anyone?

Adrian 21st September 2006 11:03 AM

I'd recommend Alex Robinson. I'm half-way through Box Office Poison, and Tricked was my first five star read of the year.

His books are set in the real world, feature down to earth characters, but he excels for two reasons; the plots, and especially his cinematic way of drawing that makes it more like reading a film that a book.

My Friend Jack 21st September 2006 01:15 PM

Not everybody's cup of tea by any means, but Marvel Comics have been re-printing loads of their old 1960s/70s titles. Borders stock a few, but they are a lot cheaper on Amazon. They all come prefixed by the word "Essential" but you can also get the more recent, modernised versions which are prefixed by "Ultimate."

Not to be out-done, DC Comics are doing the same. I recently bought one volume which covers all the Superman stories from around 1958 to 1960, and was quite surprised at how poor the story-telling was. The genre sure grew up in the next few years.

MarkC 21st September 2006 04:23 PM

I'd say start with Gaiman, but then I'm a fan of his novels as well as his comics. The Sandman series has been collected into 10 books. Most contain approx 7-8 comics, most of which form a complete story, some also have stand alone stories.

The first collection is Preludes and Nocturnes and while it has some high points (a hope in Hell for example), I don't think he really found his feet and settled in to the series until the final part (The sound of her wings) that which is a standalone that serves as a coda to what came before and introduces his version of Death, personified as a cooler than anything goth girl.

It is some of the stand alone stories scattered throughout the series that are for me the highlights, Men of good fortune, Ramadan, Soft places and Dream of 1000 cats.

Artegall 22nd September 2006 05:54 PM

Ooh....there's loads. Dave Sim's Cerberus is aces, anything by Todd McFarlane is great (he was an artist/writer on Spiderman and those issues are superb). Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman are giants in the genre, Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo was a favourite in my youth...

Claire 24th September 2006 06:46 PM

Thanks Guys, I knew someone here would have helpful suggestions. I'll write some names down and take them with me to the library next time I go.

Flingo 28th September 2006 04:29 PM

Bit late to the conversation, but there is a magazine called Neo that chronicles all the best new Manga. You should be able to buy it from any good mag stockist!

If you are interested in Manga particularly, the latest Teen Librarian Monthly newsletter was a 5 page feature all about where to start. You can view the back issues by visiting the website, but it hasn't been uploaded yet by the looks of it! (Visit newsletter 1.5 when uploaded here).

Enjoy, Claire, and let us know about any gems you find!

tagesmann 29th September 2006 10:04 AM

I would recommend anything by Neil Gaiman but especially The Sandman. As there are quite a few collections available you would be best to start at the beginning with The Dolls House.
Other collections of DC comics that I have enjoyed include Hellblazer and Preacher, both are aimed at adults.

Krey20 29th September 2006 08:35 PM

Writing - anything by Neil Gaiman or Alan Moore.

Artwork - anything by Dave McKean. He has a very dark mixed media approach that seperates his work from other comics/graphic novels. He did most of the Sandman covers. His stand-alone works include Arkham Asylum (a batman story), signal to noise, cages and even a few childrens books including The day I swapped my Dad for two Goldfish.

[Slowreader]

I can recommend the graphic version of Paul Auster's 'City of Glass' - its a stand-alone work intelligently drawn

[Flingo]

I have in front of me a list of Comic and Graphic Novel resources produced by one of the UK's leading Graphic Novel experts, Mel Gibson (not the male film star, a female Dr at Northumbria University!).

Mel's enthusiasm and knowledge with Graphic Novels is astounding. Even after a few drinks she can speak fluently and passionately about the subject! Anyway, some of her recommendations from her list and my notes of good places to start are:

Take a look at what Tokyopop have to offer soon(http://www.tokyopop.com/c-65/ ) - they offer sneak peeks catalogues which give a real flavour of new stuff.

'Maus' and 'Watchmen' (Gaiman) are must have adult titles
As well as 'Leviathan' (Edgington and D'israeli)
Try any thing by Alison Bechdel (well, 'Fun Home' actually.)

Re manga a selection of shojo (such as 'Fruits Basket' and 'Peach Girl'...
plus older work like 'Ranma 1/2') and some shonen (most likely 'classics'
like 'Akira' or even 'Dragonball Z'!!) along with a few Shonen-ai (like
'Tokyo Babylon' and 'Fake') would help zip things along.

any Hope Larson
Andi Watson (Little Star or Breakfast After Noon)
Craig Thompson (esp Goodbye Chunky Rice)
Bryan Talbot (esp Tale of One Bad Rat and Alice in Sunderland)
Mark Waid, 'Kingdom Come'...

...as well as Asterix (!)

A good resource document can be found at Learning and Teaching Scotland Graphic Novels Resources (http://www.lyscotland.org.uk/literacy/findresources/graphicnovels/section/intro.asp) - a 50 page introduction document predominantly about how to work with Graphic Novels in schools, but the case studies often feature individual titles.

There are lots more things on my lists and in my notes, including explanations of what the difference between Shojo, shonen, and shonen-ai are if anyone is interested!!

[Adrian]

Craig Thompson (esp Goodbye Chunky Rice)
Over Blankets?

That's bogus. Blankets is easily in the top three of all graphic novels, and GCR is (to me) just another book.

Try any thing by Alison Bechdel (well, 'Fun Home' actually.)

I've read many of her "Dykes to Watch Out For..." books and I'm looking forward to "Fun Home." She's a really good writer and a drawer and the relationship with her father looks like it'll make a good book.

'Maus' and 'Watchmen' (Gaiman) are must have adult titles
I have mentioned before my dislike for Maus, but I am quite happy to do so again.

[Krey20]

Read a good one in college called - Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth.

Slick artwork and a very adult, uncomfortable story about the relationship between fathers and sons.

[Copy-and-Paste Philosophy]

I would suggest reading Alan Moore's <i>V for Vendetta</i>. It's wondrously illustrated, and the story is top-notch political/social commentary. If you liked the movie, you'll love this.

[megustaleer]

A thread for discussing V for Vendetta can be found here (http://www.bookgrouponline.com/forum/showthread.html?t=2726), although to date it has mostly been about the film. Any move to put it on the right track would be welcome :rolleyes:

[Copy-and-Paste Philosophy]

Cheers, and duly noted. ;D

[pvincent]

I see there have been plenty of suggestions - the comics field is a vast one - so I think I'll just weigh in with a few personal favourites.

Firstly, if you want a monthly source of inspiration, I suggest you subscribe to The Comics Journal, which is pretty much the Last Word in journalism about comics excluding (for the most part) Manga and the whole underwear-outside-trousers brigade. Very US-centric, but they feature European comics artists quite frequently, too. It's published by Fantagraphics, who are a massive presence in the comics as art/literature field. Have a look around their website at www.fantagraphics.com , and their excellent (and frequent) blog at http://www.fantagraphics.com/blog/ . There's another excellent comics blog at http://thedailycrosshatch.com/ . Why am I recommending publishers and blogs, rather than specific comics? Because, frankly, asking someone to recommend comics is like asking a random roomful of readers to recommend books. Without knowing your tastes, I've no way of knowing which comics would push your buttons. Without you knowing mine, how do you know what credence to lend my recommendations? The blogs I've cited, which also contain links to masses of other publishers and comics-related sites, should be a source of inspiration to you. If you don't come away from an hour or so browsing these sites, with a scribbled list of interesting-sounding comics to investigate, then comics are probably not for you! Good hunting!

But - OK, fair enough, since you asked; in no particular order:

MAUS by Art Spiegelman - comics as biography/autobiography. World War II played out by Cats and Mice. The horrors of Mauschwitz - and don't let the pun fool you into thinking it's played for laughs. It isn't. As involving and emotionally harrowing as anything I've read.

THE COMPLETE CRUMB by Robert Crumb. Mainstay of the 1960s underground comics ("comix") scene. R.Crumb both celebrated and satirised the 60s counterculture with his scabrous tales of Fritz The Cat, Mr.Natural, and a host of other characters. As time went by, his work became increasingly autobiographical and confessional, holding back nothing when portraying his own sexual foibles. Great writing, and his work just LOOKS so fantastic.

CEREBUS by Dave Sim. Beginning as a "funny animal" comic, the tale of Cerebus, a barbarian aardvark, rapidly evolved into scathing social satire and parody, sending up organised religion, state politics, and everything else Dave Sim could think of. As time went by, it became obvious that Dave had certain... issues... with women. This attitude had an air of paranoia about it, until several successive issues almost abandoned the comic format, and became a text-with-illustrations tirade blaming women for all the ills of the world. Really hard to digest, and downright offensive to many (myself included). However, despite these, arguably, wrong turns, the entire 300-issue cycle formed a vast sprawling folly, the like of which has never been attempted before or since. This was one of the two titles that got me back into comics at the age of thirtysomething. The other was...

SANDMAN by Neil Gaiman. This is the nearest to a "superhero" comic in this list, but that's a label it completely transcends. Gaiman takes all the world's myths and legends as his raw material, and then bakes them into a cake which is all his own. The eponymous Sandman is Morpheus, aka Dream, one of the Endless, living archetypes representing aspects of human existence (Delirium, Despair, Destiny, Destruction, and - my favourite - Death). Hard to describe, other than to say that if you've a love of myths and legends, the Brothers Grimm, and other somewhat-twisted fantasy, then dive right in.

Hmmm... I'm typing this at work, and it's nearly time to go home, so I'll leave it there and pick up again later. Hope there's something there of interest.

...but before I go... Graphic Novels? Oh dear - that's a rather limiting term, which certainly didn't originate from within the world of comics. It always reminds me of the people who buy the Adult Edition of the Harry Potter books, in order not to be seen reading something that looks like a - *gasp* - children's book. They're comics. Trust me. It's a far wider-ranging term than "graphic novel". Why limit yourself?

Bye for now.

[Grammath]

THE COMPLETE CRUMB by Robert Crumb. Mainstay of the 1960s underground comics ("comix") scene. R.Crumb both celebrated and satirised the 60s counterculture with his scabrous tales of Fritz The Cat, Mr.Natural, and a host of other characters. As time went by, his work became increasingly autobiographical and confessional, holding back nothing when portraying his own sexual foibles. Great writing, and his work just LOOKS so fantastic.

Big thumbs up from me for the work of Mr. Crumb too, possibly the only modern cartoonist to merit a gallery exhibition devoted to his work (there was one at the Whitechapel Gallery in east London a couple of years ago that I went to).

I used to have a panel from a "Mr. Natural" strip pinned up in my flat ("But Mr. Natural, what does it all mean?" "Don't mean s***". How true). Love the man's work, warts and all.

The Terry Zwigoff documentary about him is worth tracking down too just to see quite what an eccentric man he actually is in person.

He and Gilbert Shelton ("Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers") were the two best comics writers of the era, IMHO.

[Athalia]

Watchmen - Alan Moore
Sandman - Neil Gaiman or pretty much anything with his name on it
Frey - Josh Whedon (standalone book on a futuristic vampire slayer)
Liberty - can't remember
X-Men - Josh Whedon. His work on what should have been the mvies is great.
Origins: Wolverine
Barefoot Gen - series
Any World Of Warcraft GN but just for fun

Those are my faves anyway :)

[Jeremy DEagle]

I guess I have to same question as the original poster but I know where I want to start roughly...

I love Spiderman, where best to start reading stuff about him?

[Jeremy DEagle]

Anyone???

[tagesmann]

I love Spiderman, where best to start reading stuff about him?
If you want to start with Spiderman you could do worse than try the "Ultimate Spider-Man" series. I haven't read them but they are apparently very good.
I would strongly recommend "The Sandman" series by Neil Gaiman, "Watchmen" by Alan Moore (soon to be a film) and "The Dark Knight Returns" & "Batman Year One" by Frank Miller.
Then perhaps you could look at some of the collections of British comics or Japanese Manga.

[David]

Radio 4's Open Book had a piece on the recent growth of the graphic novel and for a short time you can listen again here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/openbook/openbook.shtml).

You'll have to scroll around to find it - I didn't actually listen myself so don't know how far in it was!

[tagesmann]

I caught a bit of it when they talked about Maus and how graphic novels have tackled some very strong subjects in a way that couldn't be done with photographs.