comics / graphic novels

[keikiwai]

post your impressions of, thoughts on, favorites, any history you know, or other things about comics / graphic novels here


Probably the way most people see comics, is by opening their newspapers. I actually don't have enough time to look into the history right now, but newspaper comics, the way we are familiar with them, really began to evolve in the early 1900s, mainly in the US.... many say they are currently devolving as newspapers relegate a smaller and smaller amount of space to them over time.

From these early strips, the one that really speaks to me is The Adventures of Little Nemo (not to be confused by Little Ego an adult comic). This was made back one one... yes ONE comic strip took up an enire page:



This strip is basically about the dreams of a little boy.

Pogo - a true trailblazer:



Bloomcounty - one of my favorites growing up - (then came Outland and Opus):



obv. peanuts, garfield, etc.

and Calvin and Hobbes - LDO!





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A bit about zee French (and Belgian) comics-

Comics / graphic novels have played a big part in my life since i was quiet young. In fact I learned how to speak english through comics when I was around 5 years old. My dad bough a bunch of Asterix and Obelix comics (translated to English) and he would read aloud from them. I remember that my favorite one, at that time, was "Asterix the Legionary"



A whole separate thread could be started about French and Belgian comics.... Both Goscinny - the writer from Asterix and Obelix fame - and Uderzo - the drawer - are incredible.

For those not too familiar w/ French comics, Goscinny also wrote another series of books, this time teaming up with an artist called Jean Tabary. The books are about Iznogoud... a Grand Vizir is is hell-bent on becoming Calif in place of the Current Calif... hilarity ensues:





And before leaving the subject of zee french comeeeeeecs (ok, so this next one is Belgian ), I must mention Tintin. As a child I was fascinated by Captain Haddock and his horribly foul mouth.






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... this is all i'm posting for now, as i am out of time... however hopefully i'll get back to this and post some more thoughts about individual comics, and hopefully look some stuff up about their history

ps: fresh air has a great podcast of the interview Terry Grosse did w/ R. Crumb and Aline Kominsky-Crumb





i haven't enven touched on anime / manga - so someone plz reply about that and all the other stuff i missed... ok gtg work

[Dids]

I don't think anything comes close to Chris Ware's Jimmy Corrigan. I'm still very upset that I've apparently perma-loaned my copy to somebody.

Chris Ware's sense of design is just amazing.

[guids]

I am a big fan of Fox Trot, and Calvin and Hobbes (obv), I dont think you mentioned The Far Side though, one of the best of all time for kids my age.

[keikiwai]

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I am a big fan of Fox Trot, and Calvin and Hobbes (obv), I dont think you mentioned The Far Side though, one of the best of all time for kids my age.

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Far Side is def. great.... the giant 3 volume collection is a must have

The single panel strip is a very interesting form of the comic, as so much information is squeezed so well into one tiny little box.

One of my favorite single panel comics that I wish would get more exposure is "The Lockhorns" by Bill Hoest

[Eagles]

Big fan of the far side

Also in terms of graphic novels I haven't read any but want to. I've heard good things about watchmen and probably will read it soon.

[Dids]

The only printed daily comic that's been worth anything as of late was Boondocks, and that's sucked for the past 5 years.

Online, www.achewood.com and www.toothpastefordinner.com are both fantastic. Achewood especially.

[keikiwai]

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The only printed daily comic that's been worth anything as of late was Boondocks, and that's sucked for the past 5 years.

Online, www.achewood.com and www.toothpastefordinner.com are both fantastic. Achewood especially.

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i'm glad you mentioned toothe paste for dinner.... didn't know others followed that one

some of them are just plain weird, others i don't get, but there's quiet a few gems

[Dids]

Utter lifetime favorites:

[The DaveR]

Get Your War On

[The Yugoslavian]

I LOVED LOVED LOVED Elfquest back in the day.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOD!

Watchmen or whatever was awesome too...that's really all the graphic noveling I've done, lol.

Yugoslav