Comments on: Hey, look over there – it’s a big pile of graphic novels! http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/ Comic Book Resources Presents... Comics Should Be Good! Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:17:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Hey, look over there it’s a big pile of g… — Biography. writers and their biography http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/comment-page-1/#comment-665120 Hey, look over there it’s a big pile of g… — Biography. writers and their biography Sat, 07 Jun 2008 02:24:49 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/#comment-665120 [...] of those is yes). But what about Narcoleptic Sunday? Ah-ha, thats why you come here! source: Hey, look over there its a big pile of g…, Comics Should Be [...] [...] of those is yes). But what about Narcoleptic Sunday? Ah-ha, thats why you come here! source: Hey, look over there its a big pile of g…, Comics Should Be [...]

]]> By: Comics Should Be Good! » My best comics of the year lists (I’m going to assume you care) http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/comment-page-1/#comment-466798 Comics Should Be Good! » My best comics of the year lists (I’m going to assume you care) Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:30:38 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/#comment-466798 [...] I could have flipped a coin, really, but in the end, Matt Kindt’s World War II espionage masterpiece is a bit deeper and richer than Rutu Modan’s excellent book.  Just a bit, though, and it probably has to do with the fact that I simply like spy stories a lot.  Kindt takes us deep inside the lonely lives of several agents who are just trying to survive in a shadowy world where no one can be trusted, and he not only makes these characters wonderfully real in very few pages, he continues to build tension throughout the book, despite each short “dossier” not necessarily linking to the one following it.  Kindt structures the book so that it’s out of sequence chronologically, and this allows him to play with the characters and confound our expectations.  As we move through the book, an overall theme emerges, and one character, Sharlink “the Shark,” comes to dominate the action.  The Shark is a brilliant assassin, moving like smoke through the ruins of Europe, never where we expect her, and striking like lightning before disappearing again.  She adds a sense of horror to the already topsy-turvy world of spying, because her arrival is so unexpected, yet we know she will complete her mission and someone will die.  Kindt’s magnificent art evokes not only the time period, but also the fluidity of the world in which spies live.  His people are bedraggled and almost ghost-like, and his backgrounds loom up around them, creating prisons out of alleys and tenements.  I really can’t recommend this book enough.  It’s a glorious achievement. My original review is at the bottom of this post, in case you’re interested. Other people liked it, too. [...] [...] I could have flipped a coin, really, but in the end, Matt Kindt’s World War II espionage masterpiece is a bit deeper and richer than Rutu Modan’s excellent book.  Just a bit, though, and it probably has to do with the fact that I simply like spy stories a lot.  Kindt takes us deep inside the lonely lives of several agents who are just trying to survive in a shadowy world where no one can be trusted, and he not only makes these characters wonderfully real in very few pages, he continues to build tension throughout the book, despite each short “dossier” not necessarily linking to the one following it.  Kindt structures the book so that it’s out of sequence chronologically, and this allows him to play with the characters and confound our expectations.  As we move through the book, an overall theme emerges, and one character, Sharlink “the Shark,” comes to dominate the action.  The Shark is a brilliant assassin, moving like smoke through the ruins of Europe, never where we expect her, and striking like lightning before disappearing again.  She adds a sense of horror to the already topsy-turvy world of spying, because her arrival is so unexpected, yet we know she will complete her mission and someone will die.  Kindt’s magnificent art evokes not only the time period, but also the fluidity of the world in which spies live.  His people are bedraggled and almost ghost-like, and his backgrounds loom up around them, creating prisons out of alleys and tenements.  I really can’t recommend this book enough.  It’s a glorious achievement. My original review is at the bottom of this post, in case you’re interested. Other people liked it, too. [...]

]]> By: Comics Should Be Good! » Why review comics? or, the Fight Club syndrome http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/comment-page-1/#comment-429751 Comics Should Be Good! » Why review comics? or, the Fight Club syndrome Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:03:48 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/#comment-429751 [...] However, I recognize that, as misguided as they are, there are people who don’t like Fight Club.  I may pity them because they don’t recognize true greatness, but I have to admit they exist.  I also recognize that good reviews of the movie will probably not change their minds.  The only way I can imagine people not liking Fight Club is because they haven’t seen it yet.  Maybe they don’t know of it, and must be told about it!  It’s the same way with comics.  There are plenty of comics that I like but realize why others might not.  Some people just aren’t into superheroes, so no matter how good a superhero comic is, they just aren’t interested.  Others don’t like certain genre types, like science fiction, so they just won’t like that.  I get it.  Most serial comics can be hit-or-miss, even the ones I like a lot.  Every writer or artist might simply have a bad issue or be bound by the terms of the bigger company crossover or just general editorial constraint.  So I’m usually not to baffled if someone dislikes a monthly comic I like.  When some people don’t like certain graphic novels, however, I’m stymied.  Three books this year are so good I can’t believe people would read them and not enjoy them: Alice in Sunderland (review here), Exit Wounds (review here, way at the bottom of the post), and Super Spy (review here).  I know those are the trendy picks of a lot of people for best graphic novels of the year, and there’s a reason: they’re excellent.  I get that Alice in Sunderland is a bit didactic, which might put people off, but the art is so spectacular that it makes up for it, and Talbot’s “story,” while more of a lecture, is so interesting and conspiratorial (in that everything ties back into the north-east of England somehow) that we can forgive the lack of a traditional narrative plot.  It is 30 dollars, which is steep, but you can probably find it cheaper on-line.  Exit Wounds and Super Spy are also brilliant, in their own ways, and are much cheaper than Talbot’s epic.  As with Fight Club, the only reason I can think of that people wouldn’t love these comics is that they haven’t read them.  And if they haven’t read them, it’s possible they haven’t heard of them.  All we’re doing here at the blog is bringing stuff to your attention.  It’s terribly fun to open up a discussion of “One More Day,” but it doesn’t give you any reason to seek out new comics.  I do like reviewing stuff that everyone reads, because then the opinions come fast and furious and more people chime in.  It’s fun, because the more people who read something, the more opinions they have.  However, the most gratifying comments are when someone writes that they had never heard of something and they want to check it out now.  We here at the blog have all gotten those comments, and I hope I’m speaking for everyone when I say those are really cool.  Similarly, I have heard of some comics from commenters here or reviewers at other sites that I have sought.  And everyone is happier for it! [...] [...] However, I recognize that, as misguided as they are, there are people who don’t like Fight Club.  I may pity them because they don’t recognize true greatness, but I have to admit they exist.  I also recognize that good reviews of the movie will probably not change their minds.  The only way I can imagine people not liking Fight Club is because they haven’t seen it yet.  Maybe they don’t know of it, and must be told about it!  It’s the same way with comics.  There are plenty of comics that I like but realize why others might not.  Some people just aren’t into superheroes, so no matter how good a superhero comic is, they just aren’t interested.  Others don’t like certain genre types, like science fiction, so they just won’t like that.  I get it.  Most serial comics can be hit-or-miss, even the ones I like a lot.  Every writer or artist might simply have a bad issue or be bound by the terms of the bigger company crossover or just general editorial constraint.  So I’m usually not to baffled if someone dislikes a monthly comic I like.  When some people don’t like certain graphic novels, however, I’m stymied.  Three books this year are so good I can’t believe people would read them and not enjoy them: Alice in Sunderland (review here), Exit Wounds (review here, way at the bottom of the post), and Super Spy (review here).  I know those are the trendy picks of a lot of people for best graphic novels of the year, and there’s a reason: they’re excellent.  I get that Alice in Sunderland is a bit didactic, which might put people off, but the art is so spectacular that it makes up for it, and Talbot’s “story,” while more of a lecture, is so interesting and conspiratorial (in that everything ties back into the north-east of England somehow) that we can forgive the lack of a traditional narrative plot.  It is 30 dollars, which is steep, but you can probably find it cheaper on-line.  Exit Wounds and Super Spy are also brilliant, in their own ways, and are much cheaper than Talbot’s epic.  As with Fight Club, the only reason I can think of that people wouldn’t love these comics is that they haven’t read them.  And if they haven’t read them, it’s possible they haven’t heard of them.  All we’re doing here at the blog is bringing stuff to your attention.  It’s terribly fun to open up a discussion of “One More Day,” but it doesn’t give you any reason to seek out new comics.  I do like reviewing stuff that everyone reads, because then the opinions come fast and furious and more people chime in.  It’s fun, because the more people who read something, the more opinions they have.  However, the most gratifying comments are when someone writes that they had never heard of something and they want to check it out now.  We here at the blog have all gotten those comments, and I hope I’m speaking for everyone when I say those are really cool.  Similarly, I have heard of some comics from commenters here or reviewers at other sites that I have sought.  And everyone is happier for it! [...]

]]> By: Sex animations in secondlife » Hey, look over there it’s a big pile of g… http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/comment-page-1/#comment-226352 Sex animations in secondlife » Hey, look over there it’s a big pile of g… Sat, 13 Oct 2007 11:15:13 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/#comment-226352 [...] Ive been buying a bunch of trade paperbacks, but Im not really inclined to review them, … here to find out what weird things Cronin can turn up and what Bill loves about comics today and probably to mock me, but I will forge on! Yesterdays Tomorrows: Rian Hughes Collected Comics source: Hey, look over there its a big pile of g…, Comics Should Be Good! [...] [...] Ive been buying a bunch of trade paperbacks, but Im not really inclined to review them, … here to find out what weird things Cronin can turn up and what Bill loves about comics today and probably to mock me, but I will forge on! Yesterdays Tomorrows: Rian Hughes Collected Comics source: Hey, look over there its a big pile of g…, Comics Should Be Good! [...]

]]> By: Dwight L. MacPherson http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/comment-page-1/#comment-226096 Dwight L. MacPherson Sat, 13 Oct 2007 05:18:14 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/#comment-226096 Greg, Thanks for including The Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo Volume 1! Volume 2 is in production now and many of your questions will be answered. Sorry you didn't care for the ending, but after you read the second book you will have an "Oh, sheiss" moment. Bet on it. :-) Thanks again, Dwight L. MacPherson Creator/Writer Edgar Allan Poo Greg,

Thanks for including The Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo Volume 1! Volume 2 is in production now and many of your questions will be answered. Sorry you didn’t care for the ending, but after you read the second book you will have an “Oh, sheiss” moment. Bet on it. :-)

Thanks again,
Dwight L. MacPherson
Creator/Writer Edgar Allan Poo

]]> By: Sex animations in secondlife » Heroes For Hire #13 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/comment-page-1/#comment-220993 Sex animations in secondlife » Heroes For Hire #13 Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:29:25 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/#comment-220993 [...] Ive been buying a bunch of trade paperbacks, but Im not really inclined to review them, … here to find out what weird things Cronin can turn up and what Bill loves about comics today and probably to mock me, but I will forge on! Yesterdays Tomorrows: Rian Hughes Collected Comics source: Hey, look over there its a big pile of g…, Comics Should Be Good! [...] [...] Ive been buying a bunch of trade paperbacks, but Im not really inclined to review them, … here to find out what weird things Cronin can turn up and what Bill loves about comics today and probably to mock me, but I will forge on! Yesterdays Tomorrows: Rian Hughes Collected Comics source: Hey, look over there its a big pile of g…, Comics Should Be Good! [...]

]]> By: FunkyGreenJerusalem http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/comment-page-1/#comment-209944 FunkyGreenJerusalem Wed, 26 Sep 2007 02:44:21 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/#comment-209944 Greg, you totally need to review GrimJack, because the more people who here it's awesome, the more people will buy it, and the more chance of new Grimjack coming out and the more likely the Ostrander revival will continue! Greg, you totally need to review GrimJack, because the more people who here it’s awesome, the more people will buy it, and the more chance of new Grimjack coming out and the more likely the Ostrander revival will continue!

]]> By: Greg Burgas http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/comment-page-1/#comment-207977 Greg Burgas Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:41:34 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/#comment-207977 Jaap - Warn us before you link to that! The art does look similar, but I don't know if Hughes was influenced by it. It wouldn't surprise me, though. s1rude - I can see your disappointment, but for me, it will only be disappointing if Lolos doesn't get a chance to continue. If we know that this kind of thing will come out twice or three times a year, guaranteed, then I think it would be better. I'm sure Lolos wants to continue this (and might be working on it now, for all I know), but we've seen plenty of times where it doesn't work out. That's why I'd like to see this kind of thing succeed - so it becomes more normal in the industry. Jaap – Warn us before you link to that! The art does look similar, but I don’t know if Hughes was influenced by it. It wouldn’t surprise me, though.

s1rude – I can see your disappointment, but for me, it will only be disappointing if Lolos doesn’t get a chance to continue. If we know that this kind of thing will come out twice or three times a year, guaranteed, then I think it would be better. I’m sure Lolos wants to continue this (and might be working on it now, for all I know), but we’ve seen plenty of times where it doesn’t work out. That’s why I’d like to see this kind of thing succeed – so it becomes more normal in the industry.

]]> By: DubipR http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/comment-page-1/#comment-207966 DubipR Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:34:50 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/#comment-207966 Super Spy,in which I agree with you, is one the best TPBs of the year. Like most of Kindt's work, his love for the 1940s shines with each story. When I first heard about this trade, I thought it was the third chapter of his Pistolwhip series, but its so much more. Kindt really knows how to write solid characterization. Glad someone else, aside from myself loved this trade. Super Spy,in which I agree with you, is one the best TPBs of the year. Like most of Kindt’s work, his love for the 1940s shines with each story. When I first heard about this trade, I thought it was the third chapter of his Pistolwhip series, but its so much more. Kindt really knows how to write solid characterization.

Glad someone else, aside from myself loved this trade.

]]> By: s1rude http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/comment-page-1/#comment-207940 s1rude Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:22:01 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/#comment-207940 Great post! Sounds like I need to look for Narcoleptic Sunday and Edgar Allen Poo at the library, but Super Spy sounds great and very purchase-worthy. I already own Last Call - having purchased it on several recommendations. I need to re-read it, because I found it quite disappointing. A large part of my dissatisfaction with it, though, stems from the "slice of story" delivery that you're so fond of, Greg. I was really frustrated with not receiving any answers in the course of the book. I've no problem with an ongoing mystery, but nothing about this felt like I was getting a real chunk of story for my 12 bones, just intrigue and atmosphere. Which are both good things (and well done here by Lolos), but aren't enough for me to feel justified in laying out my hard-earned cash. I'd like to see the trend move to a hybrid of this and the kind of storytelling applied to TV like Buffy or Veronica Mars where the overarching mystery is served by several smaller, self-contained stories. Great post! Sounds like I need to look for Narcoleptic Sunday and Edgar Allen Poo at the library, but Super Spy sounds great and very purchase-worthy.

I already own Last Call – having purchased it on several recommendations. I need to re-read it, because I found it quite disappointing. A large part of my dissatisfaction with it, though, stems from the “slice of story” delivery that you’re so fond of, Greg. I was really frustrated with not receiving any answers in the course of the book. I’ve no problem with an ongoing mystery, but nothing about this felt like I was getting a real chunk of story for my 12 bones, just intrigue and atmosphere. Which are both good things (and well done here by Lolos), but aren’t enough for me to feel justified in laying out my hard-earned cash. I’d like to see the trend move to a hybrid of this and the kind of storytelling applied to TV like Buffy or Veronica Mars where the overarching mystery is served by several smaller, self-contained stories.

]]> By: Daily POP http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/comment-page-1/#comment-207746 Daily POP Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:43:22 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/#comment-207746 Wasn't Barbie: Super Spy great, though? The Rian Hughes book look incredible... and expensive. I have the Dan Dare books which are very well done in an early era of Grant's writing style. I met Vasilis Lolos at MoCCA. He's a really nice guy and destined to grow into the role of comic book legend (I just hope he stays away from the big two's franchise projects). This book looks fantastic. I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the recommendations! Wasn’t Barbie: Super Spy great, though?

The Rian Hughes book look incredible… and expensive. I have the Dan Dare books which are very well done in an early era of Grant’s writing style.

I met Vasilis Lolos at MoCCA. He’s a really nice guy and destined to grow into the role of comic book legend (I just hope he stays away from the big two’s franchise projects). This book looks fantastic. I’ll have to check it out.

Thanks for the recommendations!

]]> By: Da Fug http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/comment-page-1/#comment-207067 Da Fug Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:33:42 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/#comment-207067 Dang it! The closest thing my library has to any of this stuff is Barbie: Super Spy and I don't think that's quite the same thing :) Thanks for the gn reviews, though. I'll keep a look out. Dang it! The closest thing my library has to any of this stuff is Barbie: Super Spy and I don’t think that’s quite the same thing :)

Thanks for the gn reviews, though. I’ll keep a look out.

]]> By: Jaap http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/comment-page-1/#comment-207049 Jaap Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:16:43 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/#comment-207049 Oh wow, it all looks so very, very good. The first one reminds me of Meccano, did you ever hear of that? http://lambiek.net/artists/k/kolk1.htm Oh wow, it all looks so very, very good.

The first one reminds me of Meccano, did you ever hear of that?
http://lambiek.net/artists/k/kolk1.htm

]]> By: Bill Reed http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/comment-page-1/#comment-207022 Bill Reed Mon, 24 Sep 2007 03:51:30 +0000 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/09/23/hey-look-over-there-its-a-big-pile-of-graphic-novels/#comment-207022 I wish I wasn't too cheap to get that Rian Hughes book, because it looks so damn awesome. And Dare is the most cynical, depressing thing Grant Morrison has ever written. Hmm... Also, Edgar Allan Poo looks like the shit. Ha ha! Puns! Anyway, yeah, it looks awesome and I want it. I love Lolos' art. I wish I wasn’t too cheap to get that Rian Hughes book, because it looks so damn awesome. And Dare is the most cynical, depressing thing Grant Morrison has ever written. Hmm…

Also, Edgar Allan Poo looks like the shit. Ha ha! Puns! Anyway, yeah, it looks awesome and I want it.

I love Lolos’ art.

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