Let’s Talk about: Graphic Novels

When we last checked in, I mentioned that I tend to read different things to getup of my reading slump. One of them is Graphic Novels. 

I didn’t grow up reading comics. 

My friend Thuy over at Nite Lite Book Reviews got me into them many years ago. We met at work when I first moved out to Los Angeles. I don’t even remember how we started talking about it, but I found myself at a comic book store one day (House of Secrets) and a year later, Comic Con.

I’m still exploring the vast world of graphic novels, and while I do enjoy some of the more traditional ones (such as Batman, Watchmen etc.) I tend to look for something different.

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan (Writer), Fiona Staples Artist)

Speak to anyone and they will know/have heard of Saga. This series is still going on. I’m one trade behind (I JUST got #6) and I can’t wait to find the time to sit down and read it uninterrupted. Because that’s how good it is. Saga has it all. War, love, revenge, family, the clashing of cultures and murder.
It’s my favorite series right now.

GloomCookie by Serena Valentino and Ted Naifeh

GloomCookie was a comic I picked up at one of my earliest Comic Cons because I liked the artwork and the blurb. I stayed with GloomCookie because the writing was good, intriguing and it filled that goth angsty teenager in me. I haven’t read it in a few years but I’m looking forward to going back and reading them all again.

They are also hard to find now. I think they may be out of print.

Fables by Bill Willingham and a variety of talented artists

What’s not to love about this series?

The long standing beloved series Fables finally ended. It spawned shoot off series (including Cinderella and Fairest) and I think helped launch the career of the very talented cover artist James Jean. (He has his own book of Fables covers he did.)

Overall, Fables is for the kid in you at heart who never grew up. Who liked fairy tales and love and romance. And war and evil and twisted, twisted fairy tale stories.  Right up my alley.

Death Note by Tsunami Ohba (Writer), Yuki Kowalski (Translator), Takeshi Obata (Illustrator)

I’m still in the middle of reading the ever popular series Death Note. I’ve seen parts of the animation film and it looked pretty good (and stayed true to what I have read so far.) But there is nothing quite like reading Death Note. The cat and mouse game between L and Light Yagami is fun to watch as they try to outwit each other at every turn. It’s dark and haunting and clever.

A movie is in the works with Nat Wolffe as the lead (Don’t get me started. I like Nat Wolffe fine, hey. This story is set in Japan with a Japanese boy as the lead. Thanks White Washing Hollywood.)

Y The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan (Writer), Pia Guerra (Illustrator), Jose Marzan Jr. (Illustrator)

I’m still in the middle of this acclaimed series (Another by Vaughan. See a pattern?) My husband read it and he LOVED IT, which says a lot considering he doesn’t read a lot of graphic novels. Y is usually the top on most people’s lists and while I have enjoyed it so far, I should really go back and re-read it so I can power through. It is also one of Thuy’s favorites, so I am confident it’s one to put on the list even though I haven’t gotten that far.

Alex + Ada by Jonathan Luna, Sarah Vaughn

Sadly, Alex + Ada is over. Three trade paperbacks strong, the story is a beautiful and moving tale of loving someone/something different and what makes us capable of love and being human. I don’t want to give too much away but this is series is very close to my heart.

The story is told with contemplative silences and hesitations, with quiet looks and some fast action sequences.

I adore it.

Kabuki by David Mack

And I can’t mention graphic novels without Kabuki, which is one of the first series I began reading all those years ago. David Mack’s creation is alluring and beautiful as well as sad and violent. The artwork is stunning and the story is chilling. This is a great series to start with if you’re looking for some dark poetic story.

I can’t not mention Batman: The Long Halloween, which I adored. Or Alias. Or.. I could go on.

Do you read Graphic Novels? If so, what are your favorites?