Other Graphic Novels By Famous Graphic Novelists

I’m a big graphic novel/comic fan from way back. And when I say way back I mean ever since Raymond Briggs’s Father Christmas, which was probably the first comicish book I was ever exposed to (it’s still a classic by the way – Brigg’s version of Father Christmas is the perfect antidote to any Scroogey feelings you may be having during the festive season). Then came Tintin and Asterix, and other odd little comics along the way – does anyone remember that comic edition of Round The Twist about 15 years ago?

By the time young adulthood had set in I was still reading the Tintins and Edward Goreys of the world (I have begun to read The Unstrung Harp on a monthly basis to put my ‘writers nerves’ at ease) but there were other classics requiring my attention too: Persepolis, Maus and Ghost World, to name three of many.

Such classics are often pointed out and applauded. And while most of these works are classics and deserve the praise, these authors have other works that I believe are worthy of the same amount of (if not more) praise. I will now mention a few such works in My Guide to the ‘Other’ Graphic Novels By Famous Graphic Novelists.

‘Building Stories’ by Chris Ware

‘Building Stories’ is one of a few narrative streams that have run through Chris Ware’s ACME Novelty Library books over time (others include 'Jimmy Corrigan' and 'Rusty Brown'). Parts of ‘Building Stories’ first appeared in the New York Times in 2007 and in the thirteenth McSweeneys anthology – a special comics edition edited by Ware himself.

But ACME Novelty Library Vol. 18 is the place where ‘Building Stories’ currently exists as a whole. It is the story of a girl with a prosthetic leg who lives in an apartment block along with a few other interesting tenants. The story is – like Ware’s ‘masterpiece’ Jimmy Corrgian: The Smartest Kid on Earth – bleak and depressing and insightfully beautiful. It tells the story through different visual means including What’s Inside A Whale-style dissections of the apartment block that all the building’s tenant live in. I think that ‘Building Stories’ is Ware’s most successful attempt at experimental storytelling he’s done thus far.

Fray by Joss Whedon, Karl Moline and Andy Owens

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Yes, the new ‘Season 8′ Buffy comics are pretty good. Yes, they’re worth having a look at if you’re forever mourning the end of Buffy on your TV screen. And yes, they’re a smash hit and have sold really well everywhere. But by far Joss Whedon’s best work in the comics world has been Fray. An eight-issue series published in 2001 and officially canon (aka Joss Whedon says this is a real part of the Buffyverse, unlike those Buffy Omnibuses you see around the place), Fray takes the slayer mythology, sets it in the future slums of New York City and tells one heck of a story. If you’ve watched all of Buffy and you have never read Fray then I give you leave to stop reading this blog post and secure yourself a copy immediately.

Batman: Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli

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Everyone raves about Frank Miller’s Dark Knight graphic novels - and they’re worth the hype - but so is Batman: Year One. This is the comic book that inspired Batman Begins. It tells the story of Bruce Wayne becoming Batman and Jim Gordon becoming a Gotham City cop. The stories of both men are played out perfectly - especially Gordon’s - and the commish-to-be enjoys one of his best ever portrayals. He’s a great character too often relegated to being The Guy Who Turns The Bat Signal On. Oh, and the art by David Mazzucchelli (who wrote and illustrated last year’s excellent graphic novel Asterios Polyp) suits the story to a par - gritty and dark with light used sparingly, but perfectly placed when used .

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

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Tales From Outer Suburbia is his most critically-acclaimed work but The Arrival is Tan’s truest and most rewarding graphic novel. Tan’s illustrations are always a delight but here they all work toward the wordless horror/beauty/atmosphere of the book as a whole. Or maybe I should say ‘the novel as a whole’ as it is certainly something more than a picture book.

It’s a Good Life, If You Don’t Weaken by Seth

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You may be familiar with Canadian artist Seth’s more recent work George Sprott, but his 1996 graphic novel It’s A Good Life, If You Don’t Weaken is not only wonderfully titled but it’s also a truly fantastic book of philosophical discussions, poignant character study and subtle, yet addictive, illustrations. It follows a fictional version of ‘Seth’ as he tries to track down an old cartoonist called Kalo who was once published in the New Yorker (although don’t go looking for Kalo yourself as he doesn’t really exist). The scenic illustrations of Ontario are particularly enchanting.

Cross-posted from the Centre for Youth Literature's Inside A Dog blog where Andrew McDonald is currently the resident blogger. Andrew McDonald is a children's author and graphic novel lover.

In support of the Wheeler Centre's Drawing Out, Drawing In: Spotlight on Graphic Novels events happening this weekend, Readings has guest bloggers talking about Comics and Graphic Novels online every day this week. So far we've heard from:

Tomorrow: Freelance writer and graphic novel commentator George Dunford.