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I like graphic novels. Do you like graphic novels? Graphic novels are cool. Let's talk about graphic novels.
Graphic novels are basically comic books that are structured and written similar to how books how - that is to say, with a beginning, middle, and end, conflict, resolution, etc. Taking a story and turning it into a visual medium.
The exact definition of a graphic novel has been debated and some are against even using the term 'graphic novel' at all. Personally I think there is a significant difference between a comic book and a graphic novel but others may disagree.
I like comics as a medium a lot and graphic novels are something I really enjoy reading. Quality varies a lot obviously but most graphic novels I see are usually decent, at least. They used to be somewhat rare but are becoming increasingly popular and better known.
Why don't we share some of our favourite graphic novels? Here are some of mine:
WATCHMEN
Arguably the best known graphic novel, Watchmen was published in a series from 1986 to 1987, written by Alan Moore and drawn by Dave Gibbons. It's set in an alternate 1980s America, in a world where real superheroes existed but are now outlawed. Features a diverse and complex cast of characters (some of the most iconic characters in all of comics to be honest) and was made into a movie in 2009 that Venetia really likes.
Was incredibly influential in the world of graphic novels. Although it has a definitive comic book art style the way it is written is definitely more reminiscent of a novel, one that could only have been done in a visual medium since it skips through time and space so often and without warning. Was the only graphic novel to be included on Time's list of the 100 Best Novels of All Time.
I picked this up a few years ago in the hype leading up the movie and found it incredibly interesting. I was never really a comic book guy - Marvel and DC superheroes never interested me much - but found the characters and plot to be so will written and structured that it drew me in immediately. I've never read anything like it before and haven't since. If you're going to read a graphic novel, Watchmen is probably one of the ones you're gonna want to go to.
BONE
One of the most critically acclaimed graphic novel series of all time, Bone is both written and drawn by Jeff Smith, and was published in 75 issues from 1991 - 2004. It tells the story of the three Bone cousins (Fone Bone, Smiley Bone and Phoney Bone) as they are run out of their hometown and end up in a mysterious valley. From there they are unwillingly swept up in an adventure that involves a large cast of characters and some surprisingly complex themes.
Bone, along with Watchmen, is one of the most popular graphic novels (technically a series but w/e) and has inspired a few spinoffs as well. I first stumbled across Bone in elementary school at our school library and was hooked from the very first page. I think it's the first graphic novel I started reading, actually, and spurred on a love of graphic novels and comics in me that has yet to die! Read it if you get the chance, it's quite lengthy but it's totally worth it.
ESSEX COUNTY
I made a thread for this graphic novel but nobody even saw it :I
Essex County chronicles the lives of a group of individuals living in southwestern Ontario sometime in the 1950s-ish. (the year is never specifically stated but implied many times) It tells the stories of people such as a retired professional hockey player, a boy who copes with the death of his parents by pretending to be a superhero, and a nurse who interacts with the many individuals in and around Essex county. It's both written and drawn by Jeff Lemire and is actually more of a trilogy than one unified graphic novel.
I'd be lying if I said one of the reasons I love this graphic novel so much is that it's set right next door to where I live. If you ever want to know what dadevster's county looks like, read Essex County and you'll get a clue. But it's so much more than that. The characters are so deep and well-written that this is almost like something you'd find being analyzed in English class, seriously. The art style is simplistic but emanates skill and precision, creating perfect mood and tone. Was in the top 5 for this year's Canada Reads contest, which is unheard of for a graphic novel. It's receiving critical acclaim everywhere it goes. It might not strike the same chord for somebody who's not from this area as it did for me but it's still a very worthy graphic novel and deserves more attention outside Canada.
FLIGHT
I'd be lying if I said that this was a graphic novel because it's really not. It's more of a collection of short stories that are written as comics, drawn by dozens of artists and complied as an anthology by Kazu Kibuishi.
There's no real set theme or plot for any of them but some have reoccurring characters. The real catch about Flight, though, is how incredibly diverse it is. There are dozens of these fantastic little mini-comics that are done in such unique styles that I've never seen before. For some the writing may be less than stellar but the sheer originality and talent that these volumes emit is stunning. There are seven volumes so far and I have every one. I can't really describe much more than that but you should definitely check out more info for a better idea of what Flight is. Criminally underappreciated, most people have never even heard of these things.
DUNGEON
Dungeon is actually the name for a large series of graphic novels that take place in a wide variety of times and places though star mostly the same characters. It's a satirical spoof of Dungeons and Dragons mostly but you don't have to have played D&D to find them very charming and funny. They're written by French artists Joann Sfar and Lewis Trondheim, and not all of them have been translated into English afaik. I have yet to read most of them but what I have read has really caught my eye!
They've got likable and memorable characters, art that does the job and then some, writing that's witty and concise, and there's a certain 'je ne sais quoi' about this series that really appeals to me. Again, tragically underappreciated for the most part, because they should be a lot more popular than they are.
I stumbled across one of these in our school library a few years ago. There's a surprising amount of profanity and violence in these things and it's a miracle the librarian never caught it. Check 'em out if you can, they may not appeal to everybody but I personally find them quite excellent.
AMULET
So these may be written and draw for kids but I still find them to be really great! There's currently three of them out right now with (hopefully) many more to come. They're both written and drawn by Kazu Kibuishi, the same guy that compiles the Flight anthologies. He's a pretty busy dude!
They're about a girl named Emily and her brother Navin and a bunch of other characters including robots and a fox dude. Emily finds an amulet at her dead grandfather's house one day that gives her magic powers and whisks her, Navin and their mother to a strange and mysterious fantasy world. The writing is really good (although fairly standard) for a graphic novel aimed for kids. And the art is drop dead gorgeous - Kibuishi is a master of colour and he's never afraid to show it. Some of the facial expressions he draws may be a little wooden but he more than makes up for it with some of the finest landscapes and panoramas I've ever seen on paper. Check it out if you can, they're definitely worth your time if you like light-hearted fantasy and giant house robots.
tl;dr: i like a lot of graphic novels OKAY START TALKING ABOUT GRAPHIC NOVELS GUYS (i am really passionate about graphic novels)
Graphic novels are basically comic books that are structured and written similar to how books how - that is to say, with a beginning, middle, and end, conflict, resolution, etc. Taking a story and turning it into a visual medium.
The exact definition of a graphic novel has been debated and some are against even using the term 'graphic novel' at all. Personally I think there is a significant difference between a comic book and a graphic novel but others may disagree.
I like comics as a medium a lot and graphic novels are something I really enjoy reading. Quality varies a lot obviously but most graphic novels I see are usually decent, at least. They used to be somewhat rare but are becoming increasingly popular and better known.
Why don't we share some of our favourite graphic novels? Here are some of mine:
Arguably the best known graphic novel, Watchmen was published in a series from 1986 to 1987, written by Alan Moore and drawn by Dave Gibbons. It's set in an alternate 1980s America, in a world where real superheroes existed but are now outlawed. Features a diverse and complex cast of characters (some of the most iconic characters in all of comics to be honest) and was made into a movie in 2009 that Venetia really likes.
Was incredibly influential in the world of graphic novels. Although it has a definitive comic book art style the way it is written is definitely more reminiscent of a novel, one that could only have been done in a visual medium since it skips through time and space so often and without warning. Was the only graphic novel to be included on Time's list of the 100 Best Novels of All Time.
I picked this up a few years ago in the hype leading up the movie and found it incredibly interesting. I was never really a comic book guy - Marvel and DC superheroes never interested me much - but found the characters and plot to be so will written and structured that it drew me in immediately. I've never read anything like it before and haven't since. If you're going to read a graphic novel, Watchmen is probably one of the ones you're gonna want to go to.
One of the most critically acclaimed graphic novel series of all time, Bone is both written and drawn by Jeff Smith, and was published in 75 issues from 1991 - 2004. It tells the story of the three Bone cousins (Fone Bone, Smiley Bone and Phoney Bone) as they are run out of their hometown and end up in a mysterious valley. From there they are unwillingly swept up in an adventure that involves a large cast of characters and some surprisingly complex themes.
Bone, along with Watchmen, is one of the most popular graphic novels (technically a series but w/e) and has inspired a few spinoffs as well. I first stumbled across Bone in elementary school at our school library and was hooked from the very first page. I think it's the first graphic novel I started reading, actually, and spurred on a love of graphic novels and comics in me that has yet to die! Read it if you get the chance, it's quite lengthy but it's totally worth it.
I made a thread for this graphic novel but nobody even saw it :I
Essex County chronicles the lives of a group of individuals living in southwestern Ontario sometime in the 1950s-ish. (the year is never specifically stated but implied many times) It tells the stories of people such as a retired professional hockey player, a boy who copes with the death of his parents by pretending to be a superhero, and a nurse who interacts with the many individuals in and around Essex county. It's both written and drawn by Jeff Lemire and is actually more of a trilogy than one unified graphic novel.
I'd be lying if I said one of the reasons I love this graphic novel so much is that it's set right next door to where I live. If you ever want to know what dadevster's county looks like, read Essex County and you'll get a clue. But it's so much more than that. The characters are so deep and well-written that this is almost like something you'd find being analyzed in English class, seriously. The art style is simplistic but emanates skill and precision, creating perfect mood and tone. Was in the top 5 for this year's Canada Reads contest, which is unheard of for a graphic novel. It's receiving critical acclaim everywhere it goes. It might not strike the same chord for somebody who's not from this area as it did for me but it's still a very worthy graphic novel and deserves more attention outside Canada.
I'd be lying if I said that this was a graphic novel because it's really not. It's more of a collection of short stories that are written as comics, drawn by dozens of artists and complied as an anthology by Kazu Kibuishi.
There's no real set theme or plot for any of them but some have reoccurring characters. The real catch about Flight, though, is how incredibly diverse it is. There are dozens of these fantastic little mini-comics that are done in such unique styles that I've never seen before. For some the writing may be less than stellar but the sheer originality and talent that these volumes emit is stunning. There are seven volumes so far and I have every one. I can't really describe much more than that but you should definitely check out more info for a better idea of what Flight is. Criminally underappreciated, most people have never even heard of these things.
Dungeon is actually the name for a large series of graphic novels that take place in a wide variety of times and places though star mostly the same characters. It's a satirical spoof of Dungeons and Dragons mostly but you don't have to have played D&D to find them very charming and funny. They're written by French artists Joann Sfar and Lewis Trondheim, and not all of them have been translated into English afaik. I have yet to read most of them but what I have read has really caught my eye!
They've got likable and memorable characters, art that does the job and then some, writing that's witty and concise, and there's a certain 'je ne sais quoi' about this series that really appeals to me. Again, tragically underappreciated for the most part, because they should be a lot more popular than they are.
I stumbled across one of these in our school library a few years ago. There's a surprising amount of profanity and violence in these things and it's a miracle the librarian never caught it. Check 'em out if you can, they may not appeal to everybody but I personally find them quite excellent.
So these may be written and draw for kids but I still find them to be really great! There's currently three of them out right now with (hopefully) many more to come. They're both written and drawn by Kazu Kibuishi, the same guy that compiles the Flight anthologies. He's a pretty busy dude!
They're about a girl named Emily and her brother Navin and a bunch of other characters including robots and a fox dude. Emily finds an amulet at her dead grandfather's house one day that gives her magic powers and whisks her, Navin and their mother to a strange and mysterious fantasy world. The writing is really good (although fairly standard) for a graphic novel aimed for kids. And the art is drop dead gorgeous - Kibuishi is a master of colour and he's never afraid to show it. Some of the facial expressions he draws may be a little wooden but he more than makes up for it with some of the finest landscapes and panoramas I've ever seen on paper. Check it out if you can, they're definitely worth your time if you like light-hearted fantasy and giant house robots.
tl;dr: i like a lot of graphic novels OKAY START TALKING ABOUT GRAPHIC NOVELS GUYS (i am really passionate about graphic novels)
