Ari Folman and David Polonsky's reworking of The Diary of a Young Girl is an exemplary case of adaptation done well. Polonsky's art is as expressive as it is meticulous; meanwhile Folman always knows when it's appropriate to break up and interpret Frank's writing and when to leave long passages intact, preserving their import and depth. Like its indispensable source material, this is a work to be studied and cherished in equal measure.
Talking to your younger self is an interesting thought exercise; thankfully, Carole Maurel transforms it into Art. Get lost in the story, stay for the artwork, and wake to the end.
The nonsensical wanderings of everyone's favorite Shaolin Cowboy. Darrow's art!!! Expansive and lonely, hyper detailed and washed out (with blood): Ever-faithful-foul-mouthed Donkey as traveling companion? Check. Use of a King Crab as a wrecking ball? Sure. Cowboy with Staff of Chainsaws against Katana wielding Great White Shark? I'll allow it. RIP Carradine, the legend must continue.
On a Sunbeam follows a girl named Mia and her crew-mates as they travel the stars, repairing the ruins of long-abandoned space colonies. This is the rare space opera that trades bombast for introspection, prizing quiet moments over flashy space battles (although there's a little of that, too). In both the story and the art, there's a warmth and humanity here that defies the coldness of its extra-atmospheric setting.
New York Times illustrator Nora Krug uses comics, collage, narrative and found documents to explore her ambivalent feelings of nostalgia and guilt for her German family's wartime past. A fascinating historical detective story!
Broadly speaking, I don't like Manga (sorry, not sorry), though Junji Ito has proven to be the exception, His tales are never dull, at times retch-inducing, and always ghastly. What more could a girl ask for??
Joyful and weird, this graphic novel is a delight. DeadEndia's eclectic and unique characters include a loyal and lovable pug, supportive and idiosyncratic friends, and plenty of mischievous creatures from reimagined angelic and demonic planes. Fans of Steven Universe and general supernatural mayhem will enjoy rooting for Barney, Norma, and Pugsley and yearn for future volumes of this refreshingly forward thinking tome.
Take:
- Cutthroat competion
- Heartthrob athletes in various states of (un)dress
- Painfully well-executed cliffhangers
- Rivalry rife with sexual tension
and you get this cheeky, enthralling, character-driven volume for those who wish the Rocky movies were a little gayer.
This gem of a graphic novel derails the imaginative escapades of a neighborhood of kids with serious creativity, major crafting skills, and and overwhelming capacity for dynamic supportiveness. Through ups and downs of relationships with family and friends, these characters give each other the emotional and creative encouragement they need to be their best, most authentic selves. A reminder to all that the more you connect with your community, the brighter you (and it) shine!
The first comic book to be nominated for the Booker Prize! The deadpan style of an in-flight safety pamphlet heightens the alienation and suppressed anxiety in this story of private tragedy hijacked by the Internet.
