Really entertaining story of a couple. The author took the time and space required to investigate this semi-autobiographical (?) tale of a newly-marriReally entertaining story of a couple. The author took the time and space required to investigate this semi-autobiographical (?) tale of a newly-married couple in unique circumstances in South Korea. It's a graphic novel about two graphic novelists - one of them writing what he knows! But the artwork and the honesty and the adversity are so compelling that the size of the book becomes its greatest strength, as you keep on wanting more of this story. ...more
Fascinating story of a larger than life literary figure from the early twentieth century, perfectly represented by Bagge's uber-expressive drawing styFascinating story of a larger than life literary figure from the early twentieth century, perfectly represented by Bagge's uber-expressive drawing style. Great cameos by such figures as Carl Van Vechten, great friend to Gertrude Stein as well, and Langston Hughes. Warning: contains disturbing voodoo weirdness and lots of racial conflict. Overall: amazing story about an amazing woman....more
Looks like a really accomplished artist's sketchbook and reads like a family keepsake or memory book. A huge cast of characters it was occasionally haLooks like a really accomplished artist's sketchbook and reads like a family keepsake or memory book. A huge cast of characters it was occasionally hard to tell apart, but some really nice people, it sounds like. Just not entirely sure why this is a book for public consumption. ...more
Other side of the The Complete Persepolis story. A childhood in Iraq and Paris. Odd twist - the author wrote the text and provided the colours, but noOther side of the The Complete Persepolis story. A childhood in Iraq and Paris. Odd twist - the author wrote the text and provided the colours, but not the artwork. Lots of great slice of life stuff....more
Nice trip around the big apple with Roz Chast, but I get that she wrote it for her kids first trips to NYC. I feel like it skews young. Great art and Nice trip around the big apple with Roz Chast, but I get that she wrote it for her kids first trips to NYC. I feel like it skews young. Great art and some fond recollections....more
A devastating and harrowing read, but technically brilliant, the artwork a perfect reflection of its subject matter. Many insights into the way the paA devastating and harrowing read, but technically brilliant, the artwork a perfect reflection of its subject matter. Many insights into the way the past Stalinist purges have informed present day difficulties in the Ukraine and casts Putin in a distinctly Stalinesque light. Steel yourself, potential readers of this difficult work....more
Sikoryak takes 48 classic comic covers and reinterprets them using Trump as the super-villain and features quotes taken from the campaign trail of theSikoryak takes 48 classic comic covers and reinterprets them using Trump as the super-villain and features quotes taken from the campaign trail of the 2016 elections and the period immediately following his inauguration. Brilliant, hilarious, and in re-reading all these actual things the current President of the United States said, also bewildering and depressing. Love this back cover blurb from the AV Club which really says it all:
"If you've ever wondered what it's like to recognize that something is funny and clever while also being horrifying and sad, it feels like this."
The artwork is Amazing! Huge! Tremendous! Fake News! :)...more
This book is written as a graphic history of Singapore, told allegorically from the point of view of a cartoonist, while stylistically it also functioThis book is written as a graphic history of Singapore, told allegorically from the point of view of a cartoonist, while stylistically it also functions as a visual history of comics. Bravo! It is truly virtuoso work which I read with admiration and interest. But some of these devices tended to distance me from the story, so I never really became engrossed in it. Still awesome, but I wish either the story or the history was a bit more compelling. Liew can't help the latter, but maybe more could've been done with the former. Still recommend to fans of the medium or those interested in the history....more
It is us, the readers, who are the voyeurs, peering in through this window into the mind of Bell in this graphic memoir version of her daily comic jouIt is us, the readers, who are the voyeurs, peering in through this window into the mind of Bell in this graphic memoir version of her daily comic journal. Very angsty and conflicted, but well traveled. I enjoyed her weird point of view on things and liked the behind the scenes at comic-cons and bookstore events where she rubbed shoulders with other comic creators. Picked this up because another of hers was on a Ten Best list, but this is the only book by her at our local library. Would love to read more....more
Really excellent memoir - story of multiple generations of a Vietnamese family told as oral history and captured in comics. The trauma of war and the Really excellent memoir - story of multiple generations of a Vietnamese family told as oral history and captured in comics. The trauma of war and the way its echoes pass from parent to child. First person refugee experience of one of the "boat people" who left Vietnam and ended up in America with her family, looking back on the occasion of the birth of her first child years later. Very emotional and impactful stuff....more
Needed an escape from depressing reality and heard about this on a Ten Best Graphic Novels in 2017 list, so thought I would give it a try. Can Batman Needed an escape from depressing reality and heard about this on a Ten Best Graphic Novels in 2017 list, so thought I would give it a try. Can Batman save us from thoughts of climate change destruction, animal cruelty, and wealth disparity? Sadly, no. But it was pretty good. Been a long while since I indulged (?) in a superhero comic. Maybe I'm just over the whole superhero myth system. My willing suspension of disbelief in the plot and characters is stretching thinner and thinner, maybe. I'm willing to believe that the right story could turn this around, however. I'll keep searching. Not closed off towards this genre altogether, but I'm getting pickier, it seems....more
Loved it! Fantastic, beautiful artwork and subtle, insightful plotlines. Characters that meander in and out of one another's lives. Great slice of lifLoved it! Fantastic, beautiful artwork and subtle, insightful plotlines. Characters that meander in and out of one another's lives. Great slice of life from Ivory Coast in Africa and also Ivorian ex-Pat lives in Paris. Translated from the original French into English, but with some flavour of local expressions retained (with helpful glossary at the back). Highly recommend....more
Graphic not-novel biography of the artist himself with brilliant artwork. A collection of vignettes featuring various figures in Picasso's life, told Graphic not-novel biography of the artist himself with brilliant artwork. A collection of vignettes featuring various figures in Picasso's life, told from two points of view: Pablo and Fernande, his lady love in Paris. Just loved all the eccentric artist and expat crowd stories from Montmartre and side trips to Spain. Didn't feel "ended," so I'm hoping for the artist to cover the next important scenes in this amazing life in future volumes....more
Just an amazing, gripping, non-fiction work of comics brilliance. Hello, awards season! Read this graphic (not)novel, the story of a kidnapping and a Just an amazing, gripping, non-fiction work of comics brilliance. Hello, awards season! Read this graphic (not)novel, the story of a kidnapping and a long, mind-breaking incarceration....more
Solid outing from Lemire, but maybe too much familiar ground. Great artwork with this thematic and artistic return to his Essex County roots. Lots to Solid outing from Lemire, but maybe too much familiar ground. Great artwork with this thematic and artistic return to his Essex County roots. Lots to admire here, but maybe not enough new and a story that feels predictable. Or maybe forced. Without spoilerizing, a character makes an unlikely, unnecessary, and annoyingly noble choice that makes everything fall apart at the end. But that being said, I liked the dog motif and thought it strong, but misplaced in this story....more
I can't believe I've never heard of this fascinating, but truly abominable historical figure. He was a writer who experienced some fame in the early tI can't believe I've never heard of this fascinating, but truly abominable historical figure. He was a writer who experienced some fame in the early twentieth century and an American expat in Paris in the twenties. I've read a lot about both types of people, but his name never stuck with me. This "cradle to grave" biography of the enigmatic author was by all accounts a labour of love for this artist. He kept coming back to it over ten years and finally got it done. The art is perfect for the subject: stark and dark. Here is the four word biography that Ollmann offers near the end of the book: alcoholic, masochist, cannibal, suicide. He was also the first to popularize the word "zombie." If that doesn't pique your interest, I'm not sure you've read this far. :)...more
Not a graphic novel, but graphic short stories a la Adrian Tomine's latest, reminded me of George Saunders light paired with multiple artists working Not a graphic novel, but graphic short stories a la Adrian Tomine's latest, reminded me of George Saunders light paired with multiple artists working in different styles, but it's all just one person, which is pretty amazing. Some stories were more effective than others, but overall good....more
Short piece, reflection on the artist's teen years maybe, effective artwork, but thin plot, mostly about the atmospherics, something here about the diShort piece, reflection on the artist's teen years maybe, effective artwork, but thin plot, mostly about the atmospherics, something here about the differences between European graphic novel tastes and North American ones... not bad....more
Lots of good stuff here - a mish-mash of graphic narratives, graphic descriptions, and girl power throughout. Some text some comics. Many different crLots of good stuff here - a mish-mash of graphic narratives, graphic descriptions, and girl power throughout. Some text some comics. Many different creators including a comic strip by Margaret Atwood (!) and an illustrated memoir by Mariko Tamaki. LGBTQ friendly overall. ...more
Not a fan of the artwork in this bio-graphical piece. Not terrible, but just seemed vague and New Yorker cartoonish. The visual storytelling was well Not a fan of the artwork in this bio-graphical piece. Not terrible, but just seemed vague and New Yorker cartoonish. The visual storytelling was well crafted and the scene setting and transitions well executed. Dialogue good. Sense of time and place mostly good. I guess my main objection was to the man himself. He doesn't come off as sympathetic as the author intended, I don't think. Not at all likeable, which surprised me. Mostly a greedy, selfish little poser....more
So much good stuff here! Great artwork, funny dialogue (even the Shakespearean stuff), talking crabs... but the story felt wrapped up rather than finiSo much good stuff here! Great artwork, funny dialogue (even the Shakespearean stuff), talking crabs... but the story felt wrapped up rather than finished. Look forward to other work by this artist. Read this one entirely on the strength of the intro by Craig Thompson. He was right about the art and the creativity. Just wish it had a more satisfying ending....more
Brilliant. Like a storyboard version of an avant garde film of Glenn Gould's life, in the form of a graphic novel. Really evocative imagery and artworBrilliant. Like a storyboard version of an avant garde film of Glenn Gould's life, in the form of a graphic novel. Really evocative imagery and artwork told his biography in a fragmented narrative which bounced all around in time. I feel I know him better for having read this. Highly recommend....more
Such a great homage to a century of great comics from around the world! The use of the iTunes agreement as a pseudo textual commentary was funny, but Such a great homage to a century of great comics from around the world! The use of the iTunes agreement as a pseudo textual commentary was funny, but I have to admit I bailed on reading the actual words after about 30 pages. Even with all the great illustrations, I couldn't bring myself to actually read the thing that millions of people around the world have also never read, but still clicked "I agree" at the end. Very creative and ironic treatment of one of the most ignored texts out there. ...more
An introspective travelogue slash memoir from a traveling cartoonist. Also slash sketchbook. Really accomplished artwork combines with some very honesAn introspective travelogue slash memoir from a traveling cartoonist. Also slash sketchbook. Really accomplished artwork combines with some very honest self-reflection at a pivotal time in the author's life. Also featuring Europe! And a tall vegan! #respect...more
I enjoyed the graphics of this work and some of the opinions about the place of games in our popular culture. But the bulk of the "story" (I should meI enjoyed the graphics of this work and some of the opinions about the place of games in our popular culture. But the bulk of the "story" (I should mention it is non-fiction and reads like it is based on a Newsweek feature story) is a tale of corporate meetings, misunderstandings, product launches, and lawsuits. It's fairly boring and reminds me of stuff I have to read for work. If this was written for an employee meeting at Nintendo headquarters as a cautionary tale regarding how deals can go wrong, I'm sure it was a breath of fresh air for them compared with the usual deal memo. But for this member of the disinterested general public, it became uninteresting in a hurry....more
A light but warm treatment of Joyce's biography that captures the genius, the pain, the darkness, and also the spirit of fun that infused his life andA light but warm treatment of Joyce's biography that captures the genius, the pain, the darkness, and also the spirit of fun that infused his life and works. Recommended....more
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