| | Sasq
Registered: Apr 2004
Posts: 156 |
Comics
I was reading the emu-thread and happily discovered that several people here are interested in comics, and good ones at that :) I thought I'd start a new thread instead of commenting there since there where already several complaints about staying on topic.
Anyway, Grant Morrison is one of the best Writers around, together with the other three big "M":s; Frank Miller, Peter Milligan and Alan Moore.
Someone mentioned his old DC-stuff and then I have to say that his early Animal Issues are among the best he's ever written, especially the story "The Coyote Gospel" which is incredible.
I also have all issues of Invisibles which is good but actually becomes a bit _too_ weird after a while.
S:t Switching Day has been re-released quite recently, I have it - I didn't enjoy it that much though.
I have almost everything Frank Miller has done, except "Give Me Liberty" which I only have in Swedish (2000+) - anyone wants to sell english issues or paperback? :)
Other great stuff: Strangers In Paradise, Concrete, Grendel Tales, Skreemer (Milligan)
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| | TDJ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 1879 |
But please be aware that some 'superhero' comics can be quite deep as well. I guess about half the tpb's I own are superhero-related, and yes, some of those are just 'fun', but everybody who has ever read "Watchmen", "Doom Patrol", "Animal Man" (Coyote Gospel, Sasq already mentioned it) or "Top Ten" knows that a lot can be done with them. |
| | _V_
Account closed
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 124 |
Yeah, I've started with them, too. Ahh, to be 8 again. Those were the days. Suske en Wiske, De Rode Ridder (them were some sexy babes for that time, man! ;), Robert en Bertrand, Jommeke, Kuifje, Robbedoes, de Blauwbloezen and so many more. The cool thing about these comics is their deceptive simplicity... they look easy to draw, but to create an entire, believable world in that style is quite hard. That's why I really respect Herge, Nys and van der Steen.
A few years later, a comics library openened in my neighbourhood, and I got to read the entire series of each of these strips. Wee. Then I discovered my first 'big people' comics, most notably Storm (Helloooooo hyperrealistic drawing :), Blueberry and Blake and Mortimer by Jacobs, which became my new personal benchmark (at the time). Although often, I wondered where the drawings were in between all that text ;).
Then, another couple of years later, adolescence struck and guess what - manga manga! :) Despite the fact that it's not on my favorite list anymore, it influenced me greatly and even today, it's still rearing its head in my drawings.
And I have to admit, there are some good series out there, especially the cyberpunk stuff. Akira is a classic, and so is Ghost in the Shell. Lesser known, but also really good is Battle Angel Alita. And for some inane reason, I like Spirited Away. There are so many more titles, but these were the highlights. This period would later transgress into video games (Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Final Fantasy, Fatal Frame, Onimusha...).
Eventually, I entered the university and there was a comics library as well. I've read through the entire thing, and that has made me return to the Eurotrash. It's there that I discovered the authors I mentioned in my first post and they brought me back to our little continent :).
So no, I don't have any big comics libraries (I do have complete Suske en Wiske, Blake and Mortimer, Jommeke and De Rode Ridder from a long time ago), I just borrowed most books from libraries. Anyway, sorry for bothering you with my trip down memory lane - I just thought it might be interesting to illustrate how one's taste in comics can change over time... and you never know, in 10 years I might be all over the US comics :) |
| | Sasq
Registered: Apr 2004
Posts: 156 |
I'm as confused as anyone about the popularity of Manga. The ones I've read tend to be very boring and similar.
Anyway, since I grew up with Marvel before they turned to shite I seem to really like non-standard/good super-hero comics like;
Watchmen (Of course!)
Batman (Year One & Dark Knight Returns by Miller, Killing Joke by Moore)
Animal Man (Grant Morrison)
Daredevil (The reborn story by Miller)
Paul Chadwick's Concrete (I can't recommend this one enough!)
I read comics mostly for the writing/stories so when it comes to artwork I tend to like the more "minimalistic" approach - thats why I don't like most Image comics (and Todd McFairlane in particular - The guy who killed Spider-man!). I'm also no fan of Bisely allthough I can see why others like him. The ones I like are artist like Teddy Kristiansen & Paul Grist - and of course Paul Chadwick, Frank Miller & Terry Moore (who works mostly in Black & White and both write & draw)...
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| | goldfish
Account closed
Registered: Jan 2003
Posts: 18 |
Two weeks ago, we were on a weekend out with a bunch of friends and someone prepared a little quiz.
One of the questions was: name 5 album titles of 5 different comic series.
I go, yeah OK this is my cup of tea... Until you really try to remember...
So this frustrated me enormously.
I blamed my failing memory on excessive alcohol abuse. And this got me so depressed I needed a drink...
Ghost in a Shell: good manga, but a bit too cyberpunkish.
Metabarons is written by Jodorovski, fav scenarist for Moebius.
So Moebius does rule supreme (when he publishes a new album, this makes headlines on French television news!).
GDF [L] |
| | Mermaid
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 338 |
Some of the aritsts/writers/comics I love most are...
Argentina:
Quino (Mafalda etc. etc. etc. etc.)
USA:
Wallace Wood (EC horror stories, MAD Magazine etc.)
Robert Crumb (too many to list)
Carl Barks (numerous Disney comics)
Jeff Smith (Bone)
Bill Sienkiewicz (Elektra: Assassin etc.)
Frank Miller (lots...)
Jim Woodring (Frank)
Mike Mignola (Hellboy)
Will Eisner (Spirit etc.)
Piraro (Bizarro)
UK:
Brian Bolland (Judge Dredd, Camelot 3000, The Killing Joke)
Simon Bisley (Slaine: The Horned God)
Alan Moore (Watchmen, The Killing Joke, Tom Strong etc.)
Neil Gaiman (Sandman, Books of Magic etc.)
Norway/Sweden/Denmark:
Knut Nærum (lots...)
Jason (lots...)
Frode Øverli (Pondus)
Karine Haaland (Streng men urettferdig)
Martin Kellerman (Rocky)
Charlie Christensen (Arne Anka)
Peter Madsen (Valhall)
France/Belgium:
F'Murr (Le Génie des Alpages etc.)
Franquin (Idées Noires, Gaston Lagaffe, Spirou et Fantasio)
Tome & Janry (Le Petit Spirou, Spirou et Fantasio)
Goscinny (Asterix, Lucky Luke, Oumpah-Pah etc.)
Uderzo (Asterix, Oumpah-Pah etc.) |
| | jailbird
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 1578 |
Just like _V_ and Matt, I'm not a huge fan of commercial comics. I had numerous Marvel/DC books in my hand, but I never enjoyed in them so much as you seem to. I have read 'Watchmen' and 'Animal Man', but no... I have objections toward the scenery, the characters and, sometimes the storyline manages to wake up my aversion. Well, just not my kind... I often run into unknown script writers/artists in punk fanzines, which beat the hell out of the comic-scene, but they left unnoticed by the masses. That's a shame. You should see practices of the comic-class in Belgrade's Art School. Simply amazing. European and alternative (not underground).
IMHO, the god of alternative comics is Robert Crumb. I recently bought my third album - which was unfortunately, translated to Serbian, so I couldn't enjoy it fully... Anyhow, hardly any other alt comic-books combine original drawing style and sarcastic story-line in such an extraordinary way.
Story-wise, I prefer Italian writers, especially Tiziano Sclavi and his fabulous Dylan Dog. My father was buying the books from the first one, later I continued collecting. After 100-150 issues and several extras and doubles, in the early '90s, the distributions stopped due to the economic situation in the country.
Dylan Dog is a character based on Rupert Everett (yep, the famous gay actor; Dylan is, as far as I'm awared, not a homosexual - at least if I refer to his short relations with females). His side-kick is "Groucho Marx" (a crazy idea, just like Martin Mystere's neanderthal sidekick, Java), who's providing a healthy dose of very interesting and fine humour (Dylan doesn't likes it, though). These horror (or/and science fiction) stories are mostly happening in London. They're creepy, dark, full of tensions, drastic, yet humorous, non-predictable, mature and intelligent. However, I can't describe the atmosphere by words, you have to feel it yourself.
Not to forget two masterworks by Matt Groening. Life in Hell and Jeff & Akbar. Commercial, short, funny, but still dealing with serious social problems. MG might be a pioneer of digging in very delicate themes with the help of his characters, BUT, on a much much higher level of comprehensible humour (not dirty, pervert, forced, underground-absurd) than his "competition". One of the smartest cartoonist with an original style, who managed to utilize his acquaintance for showing up in global public with minimalism in works and still being accepted as the one who could affect the audience the most, even those who do not know his previous works...
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| | Crossfire
Account closed
Registered: Mar 2003
Posts: 221 |
Peter Madsen is awesome.. |
| | _V_
Account closed
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 124 |
I love Holland. Cheese, tulips, windmills, great people, although with a weird Dutch accent and www.comics.nl/cutie/
Did I say I love Holland yet?´ |
| | Hein
Registered: Apr 2004
Posts: 946 |
For Bilal fans: http://www.immortel-lefilm.com
Personally I think French comics are cooler than any other.
Moebius is my favourite comic artist, in collaboration with Jodorowsky as writer. |
| | cba
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 935 |
Quote: For Bilal fans: http://www.immortel-lefilm.com
Personally I think French comics are cooler than any other.
Moebius is my favourite comic artist, in collaboration with Jodorowsky as writer.
Yeah I saw the film IMMORTEL !, it's cool.. , here in Switzerland I can find an overdosis of Comics... (or BD in French :) )
Niels |
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