Graphic Novels
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Graphic Novels
There is a great debate within the comic book community in regards to the use of the term "graphic novel". Some comic book writers are indifferent to that term, saying that it is a marketing gimmick to draw in more customers. People have a misconception that comics are for children and teenagers, and using the term "graphic novel" almost makes it look like it is of a different class of comic books, like it is better than comic books, and inching into the realm of written novels - it's not. It really is a longer version of comic books, and the only difference between a comic book and a graphic novel is really the binding. What graphic novel usually does is to collect a few issues of comic books together, use a better quality binding and paper, and then release it as trade paperbacks, or a compiled version of the comics. Some writers are offended by the term, while others like Neil Gaiman actually embraces the term and see it as a compliment. Euphemisms don't always have to be a bad thing I suppose, and that is what Neil Gaiman's stand is in regards to the debate. I have no problem with either terms I suppose, I am OK if someone calls Watchmen a comic book, because it did start off as a comic book anyway. Calling it a graphic novel does make it sound somewhat more expensive, if you will, but they are all different names for the same thing at the end of the day.
Due to reasons unknown, all the men in the world dies at the very beginning of the story, leaving just Yorick, his pet monkey, and all the women in the world. It sounds like the beginning of a porn movie, but it really isn't. A world ruled by women is equally screwed up as a world ruled by men, and Yorick has to survive the journey through this very messed up world to Australia, where his girlfriend is. It kinda sounds like I Am Legend, and most of you might be turned off by the idea because the movie was such a giant failure. However, Y: The Last Man is probably one of the most popular series out there right now, with the last book just released a couple of months ago. Although the end of the series was rather disappointing in my opinion, the journey there is probably some of the best writing I have ever read. It resembles a TV series like 24 or Lost, with quite a number of characters involved in the story, and everything goes through this twist and turn in terms of the story that you can never really predict what is going to happen next, who is going to die next, and nothing ever stays the same in the story. My complaint is probably how rushed the ending of the series felt, and how the artwork of the characters were not very clear cut. Almost all the female characters looked the same for some reason, and it became hard to tell them apart after all. It isn't helped by the fact that two of them has the same name, which can get even more annoying. Other than that, if you enjoy a suspenseful story that has a great pacing, check out this series at the bookstore. It moves fast, it does not stop to breathe for too long, and the characterization is different some of the best that I have read.
From Hell by Alan Moore
There is a great debate within the comic book community in regards to the use of the term "graphic novel". Some comic book writers are indifferent to that term, saying that it is a marketing gimmick to draw in more customers. People have a misconception that comics are for children and teenagers, and using the term "graphic novel" almost makes it look like it is of a different class of comic books, like it is better than comic books, and inching into the realm of written novels - it's not. It really is a longer version of comic books, and the only difference between a comic book and a graphic novel is really the binding. What graphic novel usually does is to collect a few issues of comic books together, use a better quality binding and paper, and then release it as trade paperbacks, or a compiled version of the comics. Some writers are offended by the term, while others like Neil Gaiman actually embraces the term and see it as a compliment. Euphemisms don't always have to be a bad thing I suppose, and that is what Neil Gaiman's stand is in regards to the debate. I have no problem with either terms I suppose, I am OK if someone calls Watchmen a comic book, because it did start off as a comic book anyway. Calling it a graphic novel does make it sound somewhat more expensive, if you will, but they are all different names for the same thing at the end of the day.
So, Watchmen has finally made its way into the cinemas after twenty years of planning, a host of different directors, screenwriters, scripts, and all of those directors gave up on the project because, like Terry Gilliam mentioned, the book is "unfilmmable". So Zack Snyder took up the job to film this "unfilmable" book, and he crafted a film that is satisfying to most of the fans of Watchmen out there. It isn't a perfect film, in fact it is very flawed in many ways. Yet, I suppose it is the closest that we are ever going to come to a film version of the book, and this was a decent adaptation at that. I suppose one good thing that is coming out of the film is probably the fact that people are going to be more aware of the source material, that they are going to go to the nearest bookstore and pick up a copy of Watchmen, because it is purest and truest version of the story that cannot be replicated in any other medium. It is a story that can only be told in the comic book, or graphic novel, medium. People are going to pick the comic up for sure, but there are a lot of other comic books out there that are very good as well. Personally, it is rather depressing to have started off my journey into the comic world with Watchmen, because nothing has even come close to its brilliance. Yet, there are still a lot of comic books out there that I enjoyed, and this entry will introduce you to some.
Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan
55 issues, Book 1-10 [Completed]
55 issues, Book 1-10 [Completed]
Due to reasons unknown, all the men in the world dies at the very beginning of the story, leaving just Yorick, his pet monkey, and all the women in the world. It sounds like the beginning of a porn movie, but it really isn't. A world ruled by women is equally screwed up as a world ruled by men, and Yorick has to survive the journey through this very messed up world to Australia, where his girlfriend is. It kinda sounds like I Am Legend, and most of you might be turned off by the idea because the movie was such a giant failure. However, Y: The Last Man is probably one of the most popular series out there right now, with the last book just released a couple of months ago. Although the end of the series was rather disappointing in my opinion, the journey there is probably some of the best writing I have ever read. It resembles a TV series like 24 or Lost, with quite a number of characters involved in the story, and everything goes through this twist and turn in terms of the story that you can never really predict what is going to happen next, who is going to die next, and nothing ever stays the same in the story. My complaint is probably how rushed the ending of the series felt, and how the artwork of the characters were not very clear cut. Almost all the female characters looked the same for some reason, and it became hard to tell them apart after all. It isn't helped by the fact that two of them has the same name, which can get even more annoying. Other than that, if you enjoy a suspenseful story that has a great pacing, check out this series at the bookstore. It moves fast, it does not stop to breathe for too long, and the characterization is different some of the best that I have read. Kingdom Come by Mark Waid
4 issue mini-series [Completed]
I am not usually a fan of Superman and Batman comic books. It isn't so much about the characters themselves, but because I never actually grew up loving any of these characters. Their stories are also deeply rooted in the comic book community, which makes it very difficult to know where to begin at all. This mini-series is a little detour from the usual story line of all these characters, and they throw all of them into this one single story arch that is both exciting and tragic. People who knows me should know how much I love comic books that involve unrelated characters in the same story, a type of comic book that I call "Gangbang Comic". For comic book characters, Kingdom Come is probably the epitome of Gangbang Comic, because it involves so many characters and it is layered with such a rich and exciting story line, you cannot put it down once you begin with the very first page. Kingdom Come also features one of - if not the best - artwork by any comic book that I have seen. The work of Alex Ross is not just limited to the cover art, but every single frame of the comic book as well. It is basically about how the newer generation of superheroes are taking over the older generation, not because they are fighting crime but because they
I am not usually a fan of Superman and Batman comic books. It isn't so much about the characters themselves, but because I never actually grew up loving any of these characters. Their stories are also deeply rooted in the comic book community, which makes it very difficult to know where to begin at all. This mini-series is a little detour from the usual story line of all these characters, and they throw all of them into this one single story arch that is both exciting and tragic. People who knows me should know how much I love comic books that involve unrelated characters in the same story, a type of comic book that I call "Gangbang Comic". For comic book characters, Kingdom Come is probably the epitome of Gangbang Comic, because it involves so many characters and it is layered with such a rich and exciting story line, you cannot put it down once you begin with the very first page. Kingdom Come also features one of - if not the best - artwork by any comic book that I have seen. The work of Alex Ross is not just limited to the cover art, but every single frame of the comic book as well. It is basically about how the newer generation of superheroes are taking over the older generation, not because they are fighting crime but because theyFrom Hell by Alan Moore
10 issues [Completed]
An often overlook masterpiece by Alan Moore is probably From Hell, thanks to the horrendous film adaptation starring Johnny Depp. The film took the basic idea of the graphic novel and bastardized it, and it is a stripped down version of the original source material, with nothing in resemblance, whatsoever. V for Vendetta and Watchmen usually receives a lot more attention simply because of the relative success of the films, but not From Hell. People tend to overlook it, and they aren't usually that excited about the length of the book, which stands at a staggering 572 pages. That's a lot for a graphic novel, but a lot of that is devoted pages after pages of appendixes. You will not believe the amount of research that went into writing this book, judging from the amount of materials cited in the comic book itself. It is amazing just how far the writer went to craft this story to be as truthful to the original events as possible. This is probably the closest one can get to finding out who Jack the Ripper was, though it isn't so much about the who but the how in this story. It is established early on in the book, in fact the cover of the book, who the murderer is. Yet, you never quite know the reason behind his murders and how he went about committing them. From Hell is a detailed examination of that series of murders, and an in-depth look into the mind of a psychotic killer. I love how the writer suggests that the royal family was involved due to a bastard child the prince had with a commoner. From there, the murderer goes on a killing rampage based on religious killing. This comic book does not hold anything back when it is depicting the raw and gritty aspect of late 19th century London. This is as raw as it gets, and the last act of murder, despite the fact that the book is entirely black and white, is hard to look at. This is a highly recommended book from me, simply because of the amount of research work that went into writing it.
An often overlook masterpiece by Alan Moore is probably From Hell, thanks to the horrendous film adaptation starring Johnny Depp. The film took the basic idea of the graphic novel and bastardized it, and it is a stripped down version of the original source material, with nothing in resemblance, whatsoever. V for Vendetta and Watchmen usually receives a lot more attention simply because of the relative success of the films, but not From Hell. People tend to overlook it, and they aren't usually that excited about the length of the book, which stands at a staggering 572 pages. That's a lot for a graphic novel, but a lot of that is devoted pages after pages of appendixes. You will not believe the amount of research that went into writing this book, judging from the amount of materials cited in the comic book itself. It is amazing just how far the writer went to craft this story to be as truthful to the original events as possible. This is probably the closest one can get to finding out who Jack the Ripper was, though it isn't so much about the who but the how in this story. It is established early on in the book, in fact the cover of the book, who the murderer is. Yet, you never quite know the reason behind his murders and how he went about committing them. From Hell is a detailed examination of that series of murders, and an in-depth look into the mind of a psychotic killer. I love how the writer suggests that the royal family was involved due to a bastard child the prince had with a commoner. From there, the murderer goes on a killing rampage based on religious killing. This comic book does not hold anything back when it is depicting the raw and gritty aspect of late 19th century London. This is as raw as it gets, and the last act of murder, despite the fact that the book is entirely black and white, is hard to look at. This is a highly recommended book from me, simply because of the amount of research work that went into writing it. Fables by Bill Willingham
81 issues, book 1-12 [On-going]
If Watchmen is the best comic book that I have read, then Fables is probably the best serialized comic book that I have read. In fact, it is better than any serialized book that I have ever read, period. Forget about the Japanese animations, because none of them can top this work of genius. Bill Willingham is a master at crafting a story, and here we have a bunch of fairy tale characters fleeting to New York from their homelands, after it was taken over by The Adversary. Fables is so good, that when I finished reading the first five books in the series, I immediately went out to buy the next six books in the series to catch up. Every character is thoroughly explored, deeply intertwined, with the stories so twisted and so wonderfully written that you cannot help but go from one page to another. That is not to mention the breathtaking cover artwork by James Jean, one of my favorite illustrators alive. Fables is everything that you want in a comic book and more, simply because of the depth that it involves and the variety of topics it deals with. It has just finished the first arch of the story, and the next arch is just about to begin. The greatest thing about this series is that none of the books has let me down at all, because they are just equally good - or better. Let's admit it, I forgot the last time when I was that excited while reading a book in bed. When the wooden soldiers attacked Fabletown, that is probably the best book in the entire series. That is not to say that the other book pale in comparison. It's just that book four was really when everything picked up, and oh did it pick up. In all honesty, if not for the two hours of speechlessness I experienced at the end of Watchmen, I'd happily give the title of Best Comic to Fables. I suppose we'd have to wait and see how the next arch develops. But for now, this is a solid series to read, and it provides some of the best entertainment ever to reach the pages of a book.
If Watchmen is the best comic book that I have read, then Fables is probably the best serialized comic book that I have read. In fact, it is better than any serialized book that I have ever read, period. Forget about the Japanese animations, because none of them can top this work of genius. Bill Willingham is a master at crafting a story, and here we have a bunch of fairy tale characters fleeting to New York from their homelands, after it was taken over by The Adversary. Fables is so good, that when I finished reading the first five books in the series, I immediately went out to buy the next six books in the series to catch up. Every character is thoroughly explored, deeply intertwined, with the stories so twisted and so wonderfully written that you cannot help but go from one page to another. That is not to mention the breathtaking cover artwork by James Jean, one of my favorite illustrators alive. Fables is everything that you want in a comic book and more, simply because of the depth that it involves and the variety of topics it deals with. It has just finished the first arch of the story, and the next arch is just about to begin. The greatest thing about this series is that none of the books has let me down at all, because they are just equally good - or better. Let's admit it, I forgot the last time when I was that excited while reading a book in bed. When the wooden soldiers attacked Fabletown, that is probably the best book in the entire series. That is not to say that the other book pale in comparison. It's just that book four was really when everything picked up, and oh did it pick up. In all honesty, if not for the two hours of speechlessness I experienced at the end of Watchmen, I'd happily give the title of Best Comic to Fables. I suppose we'd have to wait and see how the next arch develops. But for now, this is a solid series to read, and it provides some of the best entertainment ever to reach the pages of a book. The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
4 issues [Completed]
OK, Frank Miller sucks as a movie director (think The Spirit), but he is an awesome writer. Amongst all of his books that I have read (300, Ronin), The Dark Knight Returns is probably the best of all his works. In fact, it is widely considered to be one of the best comic books ever written amongst the comic book community, right next to Watchmen. Frank Miller has a different take on Batman, he doesn't see him the way that other writers do. He makes Bruce Wayne an old battered fighter, retired in old age, and the city of Gotham crumbling in upon itself. Bruce Wayne puts on the suit all over again in this story despite his age, and recruits a new Robin to become his sidekick. Yet, this time around, his enemies are two or three times younger than he is, and the Joker has once again escaped prison. This isn't your typical Batman story where he battles evil. This time around, Batman battles his own demons and - spoiler alert - kills the Joker, something he has sworn off doing. On top of that, the American government hires Superman to deal with the "Batman Problem", and guess what happens? Batman kicks Superman's ass in this book. This comic took the character of Batman and made him a bigger badass than he already was, and that is what makes this book a true classic. The next mountain to climb if you are talking about a comic book adaptation, this is it. After you have done Watchmen, you cannot not make a movie of The Dark Knight Returns, especially when The Dark Knight kinda ended with Batman on the run. You have to do this Christopher Nolan, you have to. It's just too awesome a story to be left alone. A word of advice though, keep it away from Frank Miller.
OK, Frank Miller sucks as a movie director (think The Spirit), but he is an awesome writer. Amongst all of his books that I have read (300, Ronin), The Dark Knight Returns is probably the best of all his works. In fact, it is widely considered to be one of the best comic books ever written amongst the comic book community, right next to Watchmen. Frank Miller has a different take on Batman, he doesn't see him the way that other writers do. He makes Bruce Wayne an old battered fighter, retired in old age, and the city of Gotham crumbling in upon itself. Bruce Wayne puts on the suit all over again in this story despite his age, and recruits a new Robin to become his sidekick. Yet, this time around, his enemies are two or three times younger than he is, and the Joker has once again escaped prison. This isn't your typical Batman story where he battles evil. This time around, Batman battles his own demons and - spoiler alert - kills the Joker, something he has sworn off doing. On top of that, the American government hires Superman to deal with the "Batman Problem", and guess what happens? Batman kicks Superman's ass in this book. This comic took the character of Batman and made him a bigger badass than he already was, and that is what makes this book a true classic. The next mountain to climb if you are talking about a comic book adaptation, this is it. After you have done Watchmen, you cannot not make a movie of The Dark Knight Returns, especially when The Dark Knight kinda ended with Batman on the run. You have to do this Christopher Nolan, you have to. It's just too awesome a story to be left alone. A word of advice though, keep it away from Frank Miller.
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