Saturday, April 14, 2007

Graphic Novels

Years ago when Maus came out, I bought both volumes and thought the “comic book” style an interesting choice. But it didn’t occur to me that there was a whole world of graphic novels out there, and pre-internet, I wouldn't have known where to look for them, anyway.

Well, thank goodness for the internet, I guess. I read a review of Y: The Last Man and started reading the series in February. Dan and I are now hopelessly addicted.

We’ve also bought the first book in the Preacher series, which I’ve heard from none other than the fabulous December Quinn is well worth my time.

I wasn’t much into comic books as a kid, but here I am at the advanced age of forty, enthusiastically hooked on their adult equivalent. This is especially funny when one considers that my favorite type of reading material is non-fiction, especially history, linguistics and sociology.

And now I’ve gone and lent one of my Last Man books to a friend at work. As a hostage for its return, he lent me one of his favorite Batman graphic novels. Oh, dear. If I go getting hooked on superheroes at my age, it’s all over.

7 comments:

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Preacher's phenomenal.

I am a HUGE fan of Joann Sfar, a French dude who writes THE funniest stuff in the world. I love his use of colors, too. Check him out.

Oh, and I read Maus for a grad school class on Jewish American Lit -- but the night I read it, my power was out and I read by flashlight. Something fitting about doing that.

Ruth said...

My daughter reads a lot of graphic novels. She convinced me to read Maus and I couldn't put it down. I will have to check out your recommendations. The graphic novel section in our local Chapters store keeps growing and growing.
ruth

Crabby McSlacker said...

I've been slow to come around to the whole graphic novel thing, I'm not sure why. I tend to think of them as aimed more towards men and college kids, but I guess that's not the case at all.

In fact, the only graphic novel I've read was Alison Bechdel's Fun Home, which I enjoyed. Though I don't know how typical it is. Next time I'm out trolling for something to read perhaps I'll take a look at some of your recommendations.

Anonymous said...

Cool Beans! I've only read one graphic novel and it was many years ago, but it was fabulous: The Watchmen by Alan Moore. I highly recommend it!

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Susan Helene Gottfried said...

I'm back to pimping Sfar on my blog... just stopped over to tell you I left you a message on Mitchell's views of Marriage -- the Tour Manager and I just got to the ten year mark and congrats on being one of those that go to eleven! (get the Spinal Tap reference??? Couldn't resist...)

Alice Audrey said...

It's funny that I'm such a manga reader, but don't generally get into graphic novels. I tend to think of them as being a touch grim.