Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with graphicnovels

Total Crud Face Universe and Galaxy

Juliet Banana — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:13:39 -0800

I am obsessed with artist&writer Lynda Barry, and don't believe she has any peer or equal in the world of comics. Prove me wrong; who else would I love? I like how the art is appealing but from a totally different planet than the enviable mechanical precision of, say, Chris Ware.

Her work represents how my youth actually was; instead of a bland suburban innocence that doesn't really exist, she depicts the bloody skinned knees and lack of parental supervision and messy school assignments and gnawing anxiety and fear and destructive crushes and cruel teachers and wild neighborhood dogs and bittersweet memories of childhood.

Reading her work is having the feeling "I had no idea anyone else felt like that!" over and over. She manages to be nostalgic without kitschiness or saccarine sugar overload.

The closest I've found is Rebecca Kraatz's House of Sugar. I know I'm totally slacking by not having read any Ariel Schrag. Your suggestions don't have to be female, or even comic book artists, if you feel the feeling fits.

I know bonus questions are frowned upon, but how many Ask theads about Lynda Barry can I possibly start? I want to know how many more Lynda Barry books I need to buy before I have a reasonably complete collection of all the Marlys-Maybonne-Freddy-Arna-Arnold stories. I currently own Down the Street, It's So Magic, The Freddy Stories, and The Best of Marlys (which collects a lot of the strips, but not all). I still need My Perfect Life, Come Over Come Over, and The Fun House, I know. Do any of her other books contain Marlys-Maybonne-Freddy-Arna-Arnold stories?

What French-language comics would you recommend?

Grinder — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:53:29 -0800

What French-language comics would you recommend? I will be in Paris shortly and hope to spend some time in the comic shops there. I am aware of the bande dessinée phenomenon but don't know much about specific titles or authors. I can read French relatively well, and would like to pick up something different while I'm away.

In English, I like most "mainstream" graphic novels: Sandman, Watchmen, Y, Blade of the Immortal. If I had a preference for a particular genre, I suppose it would be science-fiction. I'm looking for tips on a few particularly good, current titles to check out. (I'm not looking for a guide to the classics: I just want to sample the best of now rather than get an education!) Suggestions for good, friendly shops in Paris would be a bonus.

So, what's particularly exciting in the BD world at the moment?

Looking for english-language blog about french graphic novels.

yeoz — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:36:27 -0800

I'm looking for english-language blogs about french or franco-belgian comic books or graphic novels. There was one that I think that was linked on MetaFilter some time ago, but, I can't find it again, and i'm not even sure that was english-language ... But, any blogs about french comics/graphic novels that you can share would be great! Thanks.

Help me be a cool comics-buying mom

ClaudiaCenter — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:16:13 -0800

In search of dark, gory, female-centered, Asian, did I mention dark, comics/graphic novels. Help me be cool! My 17 year old foster kid (lesbian Asian girl) is turning 18 in a couple of weeks. I want to get her some cutting edge comics and/or graphic novels. She likes female, Asian, dark, gory, goth(ic). Any suggestions?

This story should totally be a comic!

overglow — Sun, 25 May 2008 14:06:53 -0800

What's the process by which published fiction gets adapted into comic book form? I'm most interested in how this happens or could happen with short stories, but if you have information on novels, feel free to share that too. Does an author/story just get famous enough for a comic book company to approach them? Or is there a way for authors to propose adaptations to comic companies? Do you know of any examples of not-already famous short stories which have been adapted into comics? Alternately, are there spaces (virtual or real) where more DIY-style comic artists who are looking for short stories to adapt might go? Thanks!

Strong Eastern/Western Graphic Novel dramas?

bullitt 5 — Mon, 19 May 2008 08:03:09 -0800

MangaFilter: I'm just finishing the Lone Wolf and Cub series, and read the Akira mangas two years ago. I've really enjoyed the mix of action and relatively good writing in both of them. What should I read next? I'm considering other work by the same authors, Lady Snowblood, etc. I'm really interested in finding another untapped vein of talent in the graphic novel/drama field. I've read Watchmen, Sin City, 300, so I'm open to either Eastern or Western stuff, but my preference would be another Japanese series, that's been translated to English.

Online webcomics - graphic novel or manga style

arcticwoman — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:05:59 -0800

Can webcomics fans point me to some good online manga or graphic novel type comics? Bonus points if the story is complete and I don't have to wait for an update every week (side question - why is it so hard to find webcomics that are completed?). Sex, violence, serious, silly, whatever, as long as the story is engaging and the artwork is well done. Some I have found so far that I like (although all are unfinished): Last Blood, No Rest for the Wicked, Rice Boy, Flipside.

Help me Find New Comic Books to Read

cell divide — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:35:07 -0800

Can comic book fans suggest some good comic books/ graphic novels/ etc. for me to read? I am a huge fan of literature in general but only got into comics/graphic novels/whatever recently. Here's what I've read and liked so far:

Alan Moore's best known stuff (watchmen, swamp thing, gentlemen, promethea, vendetta, etc.)

Sandman by Neil Gaiman

Transmetropolitan and Planetary by Warren Ellis

Sin City by Frank Miller

"Palestine" and "Safe Area Gorezade" by Joe Sacco

Daniel Clowes' stuff

I'm not really all that interested in super hero stuff for the most part. I'm looking for interesting stories and definitely appreciate the stuff with more interesting art.

Any suggestions are really appreciated!!

Adult (mature, not pornographic) comic books review sites?

UncleJoe — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 07:32:28 -0800

I have just run across several good comic book series, in particular Chadwick's Concrete , Azzarello's 100 Bullets and the Sin City graphic novels. Its an area that I am unfamiliar with, and there does seem to be a lot of literate writing out there. I would love to find a site that could help me separate the wheat from the chaff and that would keep me posted of new good material. Any suggestions?

old people + radiation = disturbing graphic novel

changeling — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:17:50 -0800

Help me find the name of a graphic novel, in which a naive elderly couple deal with the aftermath of an atomic bomb. . . I found it in the bookshelf of my Science Fiction/Fantasy Writing professor a few years ago. The art was very cartoonish, I remember.

A bomb went off somewhere, and this elderly couple was terribly naive when it came to radiation and fallout--- like drinking water with ash in it from the fireplace. Or is that from Children of the Dust? I remember further along they grew thin, and their hair fell out. . . Obviously, a disturbing book. But it's been nagging at me for years. Anyone?

Converting my wife into a comic book geek

nightengine — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 13:58:36 -0800

What graphic novels can I use to persuade my wife to join me in geekdom? I'd like to buy my wife some comics/graphic novels for Christmas. She read comics as a child (Wonder Woman/She-Hulk) and while I will probably buy her a collected volume of WW, I'm curious what modern works might catch her eye. She's enjoyed the better examples of the recent superhero movie glut, particularly Spider-Man and Batman. Her reading material runs to thrillers (Cornwell etc) with the occasional dip into more literary waters (Eugenides), while her television viewing encompasses Heroes, Lost, and reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

I have a moderate collection myself--including standards such as Watchmen, Y: The Last Man, and several Batman volumes--with which I can get her started.

Given those parameters, what do you think would appeal to her sensibilities? Don't limit yourself to the superhero genre; I'm open to all ideas. If there are any female MeFites who can suggest stuff I might have overlooked, those suggestions will be especially welcome.

Tintintroduction

Robot Johnny — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 10:55:17 -0800

The Adventures of Tintin — where to begin? I read a lot of (non-superhero) comics, but for some reason I have yet to read any of Hergé's Tintin. Where should I start? Are the stories chronologically dependent that I should start at the beginning? Or are there particular noteworthy adventures that would be a good introduction?

Who's the gun-toting woman on my wall?

nafrance — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:09:05 -0800

Identify This Picture. Help! I just moved into my new place. There's a big graphic-novel style cutout on the wall (pic included). Who is she? Yes, my new apartment is cool. Yes, things like this pic was one of the reasons I liked it.
http://n0m.com/img.php?img=24-02-06_1504.jpg

That's a picture of my front room wall. It's about 8' tall, and a 3D cutout.

Who is it? I assume it's from a graphic novel, but I have no idea! The text reads something about the kick of a snub-nosed revolver, and how cops use 9mm automatics.
The last bit is 'The pistol is like part of my hand. With it, I'm a super-hero'.
Thanks!

There's this in the lobby:
http://n0m.com/img.php?img=24-02-06_1507.jpg
But I know that guy :)

Graphic novels for the mature reader

RobotHero — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 12:24:22 -0800

Can mefites recommend mature graphic novelists? (And by mature I do not mean pr0nographic.) Comics aren't just for kids anymore, or so I've heard. But it is still largely the realm of younger adults, or at least my own bookshelf doesn't have anything written by anyone over 40.

I gave my mother Jar of Fools, and she commented along the lines of "it does cover the concerns of young people." And I got to thinking about the supposedly high-fallutin comics I do have, and it seemed to consist of a lot of people having teenage angst, daddy issues, mommy issues, fear of the opposite sex, etc.

So who are the genuinely mature comic artists I should be reading when I need a break from that sort of thing?

Challenging Graphic Novels for an 11 year-old?

strangelove — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 19:15:13 -0800

What books / graphic novels are available for a 11 year old boy who needs something more challenging and of greater complexity than Naruto and Yu-Gi-Oh graphic novels, while still appealing to him and remaining in this vein? I am thinking Maus may be a good start...but not Anime enough...

Manga Suggestions

LeeJay — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 16:14:57 -0800

Inspired by grumblebee's recent question about graphic novels, I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions about worthwhile manga. I've just recently begun to read manga and although I never thought I'd lke it I've been sucked right in. A friend got me started with Death Note and Battle Royale, both of which I really enjoyed, and Blade Of The Immortal, which I've only just begun.

I like darker stuff, intelligently written with stylish artwork. The darker the better really although a little comic relief here and there doesn't hurt as long as it's smart. I'd love to read more but there are so many to choose from and I'm not familiar enough with the genre yet to be able to discern what's worth reading/buying and what's not. Any manga fans have any suggestions?

I have a question about the Jaime Hernandez comic Love and Rockets.

drezdn — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 19:48:28 -0800

Love and Rockets question (the comic, not the band)...[mi] I just finished Locas, which collects most of the Hopey and Maggie stories up to 1996. Unfortunately, it seems it doesn't collect all their stories up to 96. One that's supposed to be called "Flies on the Ceiling" is supposed to be particularly important. Does anyone know what stories are missing, and what collections they're available in?

Comic books for a seven-year-old?

mecran01 — Thu, 16 Sep 2004 12:18:34 -0800

I'm looking for comic books that would appeal to my seven-year old son, who needs a little motivation to practice his reading. He's into the usual stuff: killer robots, yu-gi-oh, explosions. I'm wondering if there is a good graphic novel written at his level. The only thing I've found is a weird, simplified photo-novel of Star Wars. And Captain Underpants, of course.

Graphic novel shopping in the Bay Area

kk — Mon, 13 Sep 2004 09:03:02 -0800

What store in the Bay Area has the best selection of graphic novels? I've done the Borders thing.

Graphic Novel Recommendations (Superhero Genre Preferred)

Tallguy — Tue, 13 Apr 2004 10:59:53 -0800

I am looking for recommendations for some good graphic novels. More inside...