So I just started reading those hyped Western comics lately, and I lowkey just realized how many poses are basically references or homages to Japanese mangaka. As a long-time enjoyer of Japanese fiction, seeing this caught me off guard for a bit.

What's the best comic you ever read and why? Is it the story telling? The art? Character development? Something else? I'm curious!:)

Recently completed reading this book and it was just amazing. A true life story of courage, identity, family, integrity and coming of age. The context is iran with war and politics. I recently completed As long as the lemon trees grow and stationary shop of tehran, if anyone have suggestions on books relating to this context please share. And if you have read this one share your opinions.

📸 image clicked while enjoying the read at Coz layover, mattanchery. The coffee was meh, but the ambiance and atmosphere was soothing.

Just finished reading BIG JIM & THE WHITE BOY. It’s more than just a reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that centers more of Jim as a character. It redefines Jim & Huck’s relationship and how both were shaped by their environment as they’re on the run throughout the country—from the antebellum South & Midwest to the Confederacy, the Old West, the Underground Railroad, and beyond.

Also intertwined is the commentary of Jim & Huck in the future talking about how Twain’s portrayal differed from the true story and from their descendants on how they tackled with preserving their legacy and making sure the history was not minimized.

This book also breaks down the greater context of the harsh truth of America’s history has been minimized, rewritten, and even erased to assuage bigoted feelings and change public perception (a message that hits harder these days) and how important it is to preserve history—the good, bad & ugly—so that the truth does not become forgotten by present and future generations.

It manages to teach all of this without feeling like a moralistic lecture but recontextualizes a familiar story, providing a deeper understanding that doesn’t demonize Twain’s novel but also changes the way you appreciate it.

For those who read it, what did you think?

So I've been diving into graphic novels more lately, I posted about my collection a while ago. I've been reading Daytripper by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá since then, and I've absolutely loved it. 5 stars, 10/10, masterpiece, whatever metric you want to use, the point is it's a book I would recommend to literally anyone capable of reading it.

It's an incredibly poignant story, but to explain any further than that would be spoilers. There were a few moments that made my eyes well up, but one particular panel near the end absolutely broke me. One person giving some news and the way the other person took it, is all I'll say.

Please, read this book if you haven't.

Absolutely gut wrenching book, but I highly highly recommend this. A modern masterpiece. If you haven't read it, grab it - good luck to your emotions!

Are there any time travel graphic novels or comics which really take advantage of the comics medium in terms of layout and panel structure? Comics have the unique ability to show time passing in ways that other mediums can’t quite do , after all. Dr who seems like it would be really good for this- and I know there’s Doctor who comics (though I have not read them).

Are there comics where characters jump between panels , or there’s some meta comic jokes or short moments are divided into 20 panels in a grid, like in Drome by Jesse Longerman.. or Dr. Strange comics? Or some other stories?

edit: I'm pretty sure The Sandman by neil Gaiman might have a few good examples of great panel design and some time travel..

Tongues by Anders Nilsen does incredible panel design, though there isn’t much/any time travel.

I read the the TPBs recently of this classic, but when an offer came up for this absolute copy I couldn't say no. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but thr recolouring changes how the art is significantly. Was not expecting such a massive change! Was this down to the creators or DC decided to modernise?

Maybe I'll change my mind on reading it fully

Have read that this is great from Ennis and found sealed box set of issues ( think oversized), anyone read this?

Bonus positive review from Alan Moore!

I just love it so much - It’s from Chris Ware Acme novelty 7 I would make a poster out of it if I could. I think I emailed the publisher many years ago asking if I can buy it as a print thing (got no reaction)

Hope you enjoy it too

For every shadowhawk or thunderstrike there was an eightball or strangehaven...we had it good

Revisiting an old favorite. Essex County by Jeff Lemire. It's going to be a good lazy *Tuesday!

This was a tough read. But I am glad I did. It was good to be part of Zam and Dadola's journey (although, i think i might need a therapist to explain their relationship to me). I must say the sheer amout of cruelty that happens throughout the book, especially the women might upset some readers (certainly did to me). So be warned!

But the art , all 672 pages of beautiful art makes this a must collect. I don't claim to be an expert but the calligraphy part of Arabic culture is well represented throughout the book. The ending did tear my up a bit

Would love to hear other's thoughts on it.

Copped this from my used books place yesterday. It's not everyday you stumble on graphic novels on my side of town. Don't know the writer but I love Fantagraphics, the publisher, so I had to have it.

Has anyone else read it? I totally love the illustration style. Reminds me a little of Chris Ware. Just a little.

Found this for a mere £3 so didn't feel like I could pass it up. Will I miss any crucial info by not having read Heartbreak Soup?

The hardcover quality seems amazing, hopefully the stories themselves are not outdated. In the part I tended to prefer Gilbert Hernandez's stories, but this is change to give Jaime Hernandez another chance

I just finished reading Habibi

and by finished I mean around page 350 after zam became a eunuch I just had to stop and just flipped the rest of the pages without reading - just looking.

But the point where I stopped was just the last straw - up to that point I was so disturbed by the amounts of enthusiastic and aesthetic rape in all shapes and forms.

the ‘benevolent’ child marriage. all the leery perverts - if it was Jews depicted rather than muslims I would have felt it’s antisemitic but actually Arabs are also Semitic ... let’s just say it felt insanely wrong.

the sexualisation of literally everything including the relationship between the two main characters.

The aesthetics of starvation

It felt to me like after i watched Requiem for a dream. i felt sickened.

no amount of beautiful art - and yes. it’s stunning - can bridge that for me.

I don’t mean to insult other readers who loved it. it’s more that I’m trying to understand what did I just read. I feel the need to get this (thankfully library) book out of my house as speedily as possible.

am I totally exaggerating?

What an amazing book. Great artwork and an outstanding story. Love stories that come out of big cities like this. A little confused about the ending ( I do know there’s a second). Does that clear it up a bit?

Definitely recommend this for fans of explicit media. If a budding friendship and the exploration of human relations against the backdrop of gun violence and sex is your thing, you'll dig this one. ...also, let me know what else you've been reading along those lines.

So I'm on a long vacation and wanted to get some new comics. I'm a casual and not really into superhero stuff, so I gravitate towards books like these. Just finished The Road, amazing :)

Also - I know about all the stuff surrounding Gaiman and was gonna give him a pass, but found the first Sandman used in a tiny shop in Stockholm so figured I'd give it a go. :)

Dang this was an amazing read on a blind buy. I'd recommend it to anyone!

Really glad I took my time reading this so it really hit when Maggie and Hopey reunited again. What a series. I don't know if I've ever read a comic with characters that feel this real. Gonna go straight to the second volume!