Fantasy Graphic Novels

Okay, not to out myself as a complete nerd, but do any of you enjoy reading comi...err graphic novels?

There's the obvious Sandman by Neil Gaiman which is fabulous, but I just got given Seven Soldiers of Victory by Grant Morrison and it was AMAZING.

And there's always Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis although that's less fantasy and more... scathing social commentary set in the future.

Anyone else?

**Taps Microphone** Hello?

Sandman is fantastic, but after so many people here were disappointed with American Gods, I hesitate suggesting it.

The truth is, I think Neil Gaiman is better when the medium forces tight editing.

I also wonder (heresy) if he looked fantastic in comparison vs. by absolute standards.

All in all, I think his 4-issue original Books of Magic was better - and it predated Harry Potter and some of the ideas nicely. That is a fantastic book.

I've recently started reading the trade paperbacks of Bill Willingham's Fables. So far I'm really enjoying them. It's about the characters of various folk / fairy tales driven out of their homelands by a mysterious creature known as the Adversary and forced to take up residence in the modern world. I feared trying to combine characters from so many stories would lead to a jumbled mess, but so far it works. I like old fairy tales and their modern updates and the books are chock full of references to so many tales.

I also loved Sandman and Books of Magic, plus some of his other stuff like Black Orchid is pretty good (but I think that one works better if you're already into superhero comics).

<3 Superhero comics are what I cut my teeth on. Batman: The Animated Series? It ran from 1992 - 1995, and was a FABULOUS cartoon... okay, back on topic.)

I will have to check out both Fables and Black Orchid!

You know what else was really good? Preacher by Garth Ennis. It's about a man who was a preacher and then discovered he had a power called the Word of God. I don't think the art is quite as good as Transmetropolitan, but the story is amazing.

Oooh boy, this is gonna be long...

Sandman = Elfquest is also fantastic. I just started reading the series earlier this year, and was so impressed that I went and bought all the recently-issued compact editions. (They're manga sized and are fairly reasonably priced). It seems like such a simple, straight-forward fantasy story, but the authors do great things with their characters. Everyone has depth and dimmesion, and the art and the words work together perfectly.

Thieves & Kings is also very good. I've only read the first two volumes so far, but I'm probably going to be ordering the next two or three pretty soon. The series is a blend of traditional comic-style storytelling with prose narrative. It's very unique, and there are a lot of interesting things going on with it.

Jeff Smith's Bone is also great. It's about three cousins who are run out of their home and find themselves lost in a mysterious, fantastical valley. They get caught up in the wider political struggles there. The series is a great mix of comedy and epic adventure. I love it.

Okay, I guess that wasn't too long.

Anyone looking up my profile will notice that I have added som 127 comic books to my library ;-)
Some of them are "fantasy", some of them are "sf", but I guess most are just plain comic books a la Tintin or Blueberry...
One of my early favourites was Valerian Spatiotemporal Agent although in Sweden they go under the name Linda & Valentin. The album that got me hooked was Les Oiseaux du Maitre. I've never saw an english language edition of it, but it translates to something like The Birds of the Sovereign.
It takes place in a distant part of the galaxy where a sinister creature dominates the population, most of who happend upon the planet not by choice but when their space ships broke down in the vicinity...

Another favourite is Corto Maltese which, I'll argue, is a kind of border line fantasy, at least in some of the stories.

I got the Absolute Sandman as an early Christmas present. mmmmmm, it is a yummy book.
I have read most of Gaiman's graphic novels and love them. But then I also really enjoyed American Gods and Neverwhere too. Definitely a Gaiman fan, heh. His Marvel 1602 was an interesting take on the Marvel Universe.

I also really like Alan Moore's stuff - Watchmen in particular.

I tend to prefer the more literary graphic novels like Miller's Sin City and such, but everyonce in awhile I have to go back to my old comic book friends and read some Silver Surfer or X-Men

Apparently I could go on and on...hehe

>4 dressagegrrrl:

I've always heard great things about Preacher but have never gotten around to reading it. I guess it's time I fixed that.

P.S. If you're interested the vertigo website has the first issue of Fables (and several other series, including Preacher) available for download. It just the first issue, not the first collected volume, and it is not the highest quality scan, but it gives a taste.

http://www.dccomics.com/media/excerpts/1606_1.pdf

Great! Thanks for the tip!

I feel there is some cultural barrier at work here? My library of graphic novels aka comic books mainly consists of works that are originally french lanugage, and those you english language people mentions is ...well... english language ;-)
I wonder if this is because you have read and dismissed authors like Moebius (who also do some movie related work, as the aestethic approach in Fifth Element) and Bilal or because they haven't traveled your way?
Or maybe they're too "80's" style?

I just read the first issue of Fables (I love it when my boss is out before big holidays) downloaded thanks to your tip about Vertigo, and I really liked it! I'll have to get the rest of them. Definitely a good tip.

*Gives an enthusiastic thumbs up*

I also checked it out, and now I think I know why I'm the close to only one who likes Bilal... Too dark, too gritty, and too apocalyptic... Maybe?

I just read the first issue of Fables and just purchased the full set on Amazon - they’ll be coming to my house tomorrow so I’ll have something fun to read (in addition to The Stupidest Angel).

I forgot about Elfquest - I have the first 8 volumes in full color original size collection (large) from the 1980s, and I do have the complete series of Bone. But with that last one - I’ll say the first third was better than the latter two thirds.

No way, man! Transmetropolitan and Preacher are both VERY gritty and dark. Transmet is downright dystopian. http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=1719

I'm a little sad that this is the one they have for download because it's very preachy and not at all like the rest of the series because 70% of it takes place on a mountain. The name of the graphic novel is "TransMETROpolitan." It takes place in the city and is so larger than life and gritty and detailed and... just WRONG that it's really the main character. Plus the art is just amazing and detailed.

And Preacher is just effed up. I'm normally not really into things that are so dark, but it's compellingly told.

Fables does seem a bit lighter, though.

Now we're talking... time to let the inner-geek out (or is that the inner-nerd, I can never tell?)

Fables!! I've been spouting on about this series to anyone who'll listen, it's fantastic! Bill Willingham, I owe you a big thanks!

Preacher Dark, violent, sweary, and just damned good! Garth Ennis, another great graphic novel writer.

Alan Moore - Ok, so he's pretty much accepted as some kind of Graphic Novel God, and largely he is very, very good, though I don't like to harp on about him too much, as I think he gets enough fanboy press as it is... particular highlights of his, for me, are Watchmen (of course), Promethea - loved that series of graphic novels, though it really was quite "out there", but a lot of fun, and educational (but not as dull as that sounds), I didn't enjoy V for Vendetta that much (though I think the movie is very good), um I also have his collected DC works, there's some good things in there particularly the Superman story What To Get The Man Who Has Everything (I think that's what it's called).

Sin City, I'm a fan of noir movies and for me Frank Miller has captured that bleak, sparse style very well with these books.

Pride of Baghdad - another graphic novel that I really enjoyed, this one by Mr Brian K. "Y the Last Man" Vaughan - all about a small pride of lions that escapes from the zoo in war-torn Baghdad, and the fleeting beauty of freedom..

If you're into more Superhero-spandex stuff, then I recommend:

Spider-Man: The Other - a good jumping on point for people who know a bit about Spidey, it's just an interesting story about a man and his inner-spider.

Wonder Woman: Gods and Mortals is George Perez's mid-80s retelling of Wonder Woman's origin, but if you want to bring it up to more modern times Greg Rucka's recent run was pretty good, starting with Eyes of the Gorgon, Land of the Dead, and Mission's End being a good set.

Batman: Dark Knight Returns is another good Frank Miller story.

Wolverine's Origin & Endings and his Origin (or is that Origins, I get confused with all of the different Wolverine stories going on right now with the word Origin in them) are pretty good (tags not working for them right now)

But one of my favourite (if not my very favourite) superhero graphic novels is - Marvel: 1602 by Neil Gaiman (who of course wrote some excellent Sandman books, too) - but please avoid the 1602 sequel as it is truly one of the worst things I've read, it's called Marvel: 1602 A New World by Greg Pak and honestly, it gives comics a bad, bad name.

I'll confess to not being a Superman fan, he just doesn't do anything for me... hence the lack of Supes around here.

You know, I've just looked back at that long winded passage, and I still don't consider myself a comics afficionado... but then I didn't mention the rather excellent New Avengers run that's going on right now, or Powers both by the excellent Brian Michael Bendis, or the newer She-Hulk stuff by Dan Slott that'll convince even the biggest cynic that She-Hulk has a character all of her own... and, and, and... I'll stop now before this gets too crazy...

But one more thing, Xicanti, I'm reading The Complete Bone right now, it's excellent, and for a 1300 page graphic novel, it simply flies by.

*crosses fingers and hopes that LT doesn't destroy this post*

EDIT - Having edited this post, I suspect some of my tags may not work correctly, sorry 'bout that.

>10 Busifer:, 12

For me, it's just a lack of exposure. I haven't heard of either Bilal or Moebius. I usually just browse the section of large bookstore chains, so I miss out on a lot of the less popular works.

The art by Bilal intriges me, looks like there could be an interesting story behind the first 3 especially.

Is there a particular Bilal work you'd recommend a fantasy fan to search out and try? (or any other genre, I'm just trying to stick to the group's topic).

edited because I don't think it was clear I was refering to Busifer's posts about Bilal, sorry.

I think Tane sounds more like the resident expert than me. I'd be interested in hearing what he offered. And I tried to get an idea of the books you'd be into by looking at your catalogue, and wow, no books in common.

Fables sounds great (although I haven't read it), but I see its already on your list?

Neil Gaimen's Stardust! its pretty!

I've been impressed lately that the local libraries around here are expanding their comic collections. Their aquisitions aren't great, plus they have a strange pension for buying only the middle volumes of short series, but they do have The Complete Bone, which caught my eye. With the good reviews it got here, I think I'll have to give it a try. If nothing else, I'll get some exercise lugging it around.

I was curious what those who've recommended it thought the target age group was. I enjoy some YA stuff, so a story intended for a younger audience is by no means a turn-off. I was just curious, particulary about the humor.

OK, I'll probably give Transmetropolitan a try next time I visit the comicbook store!

As for Bilal I recommend The Hunting Party or anything else written by Pierre Christin like Ranks of the Black order or The town that didn't exist.

Well, I'll add that these three is not per definition fantasy, even if the Bilal/Christin collaborations always has a fantastical edge. For fantasy, try Nikopol!

Dressagegrrrl, I've only gotten into the whole comic thing in the last couple of years, but I have a friend who's really into it - he gave me lots of recommendations, as for resident expert, I'll gladly pass the crown to Groo, I'm looking forward to hearing what he has to say on the subject...

and yes, Fables is great, it gets better and better - I'd recommend 1001 nights of Snowfall as a good starting point for the uninitiated.

Okay. I'll read that one first tonight, Tane. :)

Busifer - the problem with Bilal or Moebius is not the product, it is the fact they are a translation. The English-speaking world is incredibly poor in picking up work in translation. You would think that this would matter less with graphic novels with the text being less important than a novel but it doesn't seem to be the case. Allied to this is the fact that the European and Anglo-American comic worlds have traditionally been very different. While European artists were dealing with adult themes most AA creators was stuck with superheroes. Artists also didn't own their creations so it was harder to discern an individual voice. While the AA world has caught up with the European approach, it doesn't seem to have made any difference to the success of graphic novels from Europe. Perhaps it comes down to tone and outlook, although I still think the superhero/fantasy domination of the market plays a part.

Thanks Jargoneer, you added the analysis I've missed. Instinctively I feel you're right on target, as what I am having difficulties with regarding to american comic books is this "superhero" thing/style (please forgive my language, my english stumbles in areas where I am not used to wander...) but I didn't dare to mention it as I lacked the structured insights - it was more of a gut feeling... Also I felt it would mark me as an eurosnobb ;-)

Well... if it walks like a duck and quacks like a... I'm just kidding. You're absolutely right, but it's even more pervasive than that. In America it's still seen that cartoons are exclusively for kids (in whatever medium - comics, graphic novels, movies), and that's really a shame because we miss out on so many wonderful things.

My favorite movies are Hayao Miyasaki's flicks - Spirited Away, Princess Monoke, Nausicca... They're animated, and yet I'd really hesitate to let my seven year old niece watch Monoke. It's just too adult for her. I think it's only now that they are starting to be recognized for the wonderful films that they are. It's a terrible thing about which to be so blind. We really miss out sometimes with such an arbitrary rule!

And you're English is VERY good. Much better than my French. TRUST me.

Dress (I'm too lazy to type it all out, ;-) Spirited Away is a visual treat, I really enjoyed it in all of it's odd glory, though I've not seen either Princess Monoke or Nausicca, I'm sure they're equally glorious. Did Miyasaki do Howl's Moving Castle?

Yes, he did. But I feel like he lifted me up, up, up, up, only to drop me in the last ten minutes with a pat and trite resolution. Still blows a lot of directors out of the water, but it was a terrible ending for a Miyasaki flick. That's based on a Diana Wynne Jones book of the same title.

I'm glad you liked it, Tane. :)

I suppose I am one of those folks who are just a Neil Gaiman fan with few, if any exceptions--so you'll get a strong thumbs up from me regarding his graphic novels, collections of short stories, novels, and children's books (I'm tempted to say go for anything he has a hand in involving film, too, but I've only seen MirrorMask and Princess Mononoke, the others have yet to be judged by moi.).

Sin City is fantastic on a lot of levels, and if you can appreciate pulp fiction (the genre not the film--but that is a whole new discussion topic *chuckles*), noir, and gritty detectives, then you'll love it.

On a less fantasy based issue, Persepolis is an amazing graphic novel, but the material is more worldly.

Rocketo. Trust me on this.

5 xicanti> I haven't read Elfquest, primarily because I have not heard good things about it. Those I know who have read it recommended not wasting my time.

Dressagegrrrl > Well, I imagine ANY french is better than mine, as I am from Sweden. Here we have a long tradition of translating french language literature, be it novels or comic books... 1818 we even imported a general or such from the french army and made him our king ;-)

Oh. *Puts hand to mouth* Now, I'm embarrassed.

I made an assumption there, huh?

I was friends with a boy from Sweden in high school, and it was only in the last six months of our senior year that I realized he was Swedish. His English was so perfect that I thought he was from the midwest.

They really need to start teaching foreign languages earlier here.

re: message 30>> well, as with any creative work, it's all a matter of personal preference, but personally I find the books to be excellent. They were well worth both my time and my money. As I said above, the authors are adept at using both the pictures and the text to optimal effect, and they imbue even the most minor characters with a lot of life. There are some great things going on with the characters' motivations, too. Everyone is multi-dimmensional, even the villains. You get a sense for why they act the way they do. *shrug* It is personal preference, though, and I've heard a couple of people say that they found it flat and uninteresting. I'm definitely not one of them, though.

Dressagegrrl > Maybe you should, but in a way it is logical the way it is - we over here speaks a language that only a small percentage speaks and so we have to learn other languages if we want to be understod elsewhere; I imagine that in english language countries to learn another language is more of a curiosity; not a necessity as to me...
:-)

#25 I loved the original Japanese version of Princess Mononoke, it is a beautiful anime movie. A lot of things and pictures I think were lost in translation when it was made for America. Still an overall powerful story.

I love comic books, always have. While i especially love the superheroes of DC Comics, I love the Marvel characters as well. Dark Horse has some WONDERFUL stuff, like Usagi Yojimbo, The Goon and Hellboy.

My ALL-TIME fave is of course Sergio Aragones wonderfully silly Groo The Wanderer series, with my favorite cheesedip-loving mendicant! SUCh a wonderful, offbeat character!

#3. Fables is so wonderfully written and drawn, it is easily one of my favorite series ever!

Gotta love that Bigby Wolf!

#7. My favorite all-time Graphic Novels/Collected TPBs are, in this order:

Crisis on Infinite Earths by Marv Wolfman/George Perez

Watchmen by Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons

Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller/Klaus Janson/Lynn Varley

I'll back up all the positive comments on Fables...it is a smart series that just keeps getting better and better.

For those of you who liked Transmetropolitan, there is a relatively new series out by Vertigo called DMZ.

DMZ explores the nature of "terrorism" in a what-if world of the United States embroiled in another civil war. The Jersey Shore is the Free States of America; Long Island belongs to the US - and Manhattan is the Demilitarized Zone in the middle. Awesome stories; awesome artwork. Strongly recommended!

Castle Waiting is a great collection of fantasy graphic novels by Linda Medley. Simple and nicely drawn, it follows the inhabitants of an abandoned castle. Quick read.

Whedon has been writing the X-Men for a while now, and they're so ... him. Astonishing X-Men, volumes 1&2 are in print now if you don't want to chase down individual issues at your local comics shop.

and he's moved on to the Runaways now, or so I believe - I don't know if this means he's writing Astonishing X-Men at the same time?

He's certainly keeping himself busy after the end of his TV shows, with several comics to write, and a couple of movies in the works (Wonder Woman, and Goners).

All the same, I'd quite like to see him work in TV land again someday...

...ok here endeth the Joss Whedon Appreciation Post.

~*Seconds Tane's Appreciation post*~