Hope Jones challenged me to name 10 books that have influenced me. Because Im contrary, Im instead going to name 10 *graphic novels* that influenced me. EAT IT, JONES! In no particular order: 1. “Saga Of The Swamp Thing: Volume 1” by Alan Moore and Steve Bissette. This series was one of the first that reached a level of artistry that I would call “lyrical”. Set in the swamps of Louisiana, it also helped connect me to the genre in a way that your typical NYC-centric works never could. 2. “Marvels” by Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross. Ross’ gorgeous painted artwork applied to the Marvel universe from the point of view of ordinary people is a masterful combination of the super-heroic and the mundane. Its a whole new perspective on what it must be like to really live in a world where spandex-clad gods traverse the skies. 3. “All Star Superman” by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. In an era of grim dark and “gritty violence”, Morrison and Quitely reminded us all of how wonderful a Superman of epic proportions can be. He’s best when he’s both above us, impossibly powerful and primal, and among us as a bumbling, foolish mortal. This series brought a whimsical love of over-the-top comics back to us and I’m forever grateful for that. 4. “Ultimates: Volume 1” by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch combined the modern movie sensibility and classic Marvel comics into an incredibly satisfying whole. It also made “The Avengers” possible and, I would argue, the entire Marvel Studios movie revolution. I still chuckle when I think of Captain America pointing to his iconic cowl and saying “SURRENDER?! DO YOU THINK THIS ‘A’ ON MY FOREHEAD STANDS FOR FRANCE?!” 5. “Watchmen” by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. You’ve seen the movie, but the graphic novel is a hundred times denser, richer, better, and more satisfying. A redefinition and reinterpretation of what it means to be a super hero. 6. “Dark Knight Returns” by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson. Largely responsible for kicking off the “grim dark” era of comics, this towering achievement nonetheless deserves respect for the quintessential portrayal of one of the most epic characters in comics history. I actually copied a panel featuring Superman hurling a tank for an art project in college. This was the first graphic novel that made me think maybe comics weren’t just for kids and could be taken seriously. 7. “Bone: The Complete Cartoon Epic in One Volume” by Jeff Smith. A tour de force of simple black and white line work, you come to root for its hobbit-like underdog protagonists with more heart and fun than should be legal. 8. “Daredevil: Born Again” by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli. A wonderful blend of religion, violence, redemption, and super-heroics, all illustrated in Mazzucchelli’s trademark, clean, powerful style. The sequence when Kingpin realizes his best laid plans have gone astray with the repeated “There is no body. There is no body. There is no body.” sequence still bring me chills. 9. “Invincible Vol. 1” by Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley and Cory Walker. This super-hero series by the man perhaps best known as the creator of “The Walking Dead” brought me back to super-hero comics at a time when I thought I was done with them. Fun, clean, entertaining, and masterfully rendered, Invincible is everything super hero comics should be, all tied up in a nice modern bow without stuffing everyone into leather costumes. 10. “Understanding Comics” by Scott McCloud. More of a textbook in graphic novel form, this amazing tome made the academic in me giddy, bringing a depth of study and thought to the genre that resonates with me still. If you’re ever interested in a scholarly treatment of the subject, this is the book for you.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 03:29:08 +0000
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