Reading Suggestions: Graphic Novels Part 4

Here are some more of my suggestions for Graphic Novels and comix to read and reflect upon.

The Martian Chronicles (Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux)
written by Ray Bradbury and drawn by Dennis Calero. Man goes to Mars and finds out more about humanity by studying the Martians.


Everything We Miss (NoBrow Press)
Luke Pearson's wonderful fable of life, love and hidden majesty. This man will be a legend one day, trust me on this. NoBrow go from strength to strength. The shipment of this book came across Europe but was hijacked by some desperate men. The truck was eventually found and all the books were safe (is there a black market for mass produced books?).


Epileptic (Jonathan Cape)
David B.s biographic tale of family life and the challenge to find a cure for his older brothers epilepsy. Stunning drawings and a masterful imagination capture childhood's darkest fears and the creative spark that is on fire in all of us (if we but allow it to surface). I waited a while to tackle this book and now I can't put it down.


Cages (Dark Horse Books)
Cages is a ten-issue comic book limited series by Dave McKean between 1990 and 1996, later collected as a single volume. The book's plot is fairly rudimentary: a painter, a writer and a musician who live in the same apartment building find their lives intersecting. A storytellers storyteller McKean pushes the narrative in visual terms experimenting all the time. You must read this book before you die.


Celluloid (Fantagraphic Books)
Dave McKean's latest offering. Bringing to bear the astonishing range of illustrative and storytelling skills that have served him so well on his collaborations with Neil Gaiman and such solo projects as the (recently re-released) epic graphic novel Cages, Dave McKean forges into new territory with this unique work of erotica. It's all a little bit naughty.


Vignettes of Ystov (Jonathan Cape)
William Goldsmith has created a marvelous fictional Eastern European city and shows us the lives of its strange inhabitants. The characters are all focussed on their personal desires and needs. The pacing is excellent and efficient. The drawing style rough and ready but highly expressive. A simple joy to read and steal ideas from.


Criminal 'Last of the Innocent' 4 issues (Marvel/ Icon)
My mans Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips keep doing it from page 1 to the last. Multi-layered storytelling that confronts nostalgia head on. I can't wait to read the final issue and then re-read the whole story. Ed and Sean keep keeping on, I love you guys for real! Big shout going out to Val Staples for his colours.

I'll be back with some more suggestions soon.

Karl