Graphic Novel Top 10 (ish) Part 1

For my list, I am only considering ‘original graphic novels’ much like original screenplays in which there was not a book or movie in existence first…. For instance, the Matrix graphic novel, while beautiful and excellent, does not count as the movie preceded the graphic novel’s release. My one exception is Genesis because the origination has been in existence FOREVER and I would also like to encourage all books of the Bible to be turned into a graphic novel!  I tend to be really picky about visuals as well so you won't see the Sandman listed here (though it tops most lists) because, while complex, I HATE the graphics and can't get past them.  So these will all have reasonably 'pretty' graphics from my point of view.

In Order (Top rated first):

#1 (&2-3) Marjane Satrapi’s memoirs… I already mentioned Persepolis I & II, Chicken with Plums is my next favorite and Embroideries is in the top ten, so I’ll group them together for 1st-3rd place. Chicken with Plums tells Satrapi’s uncle’s history as a romantic, a musician and a family man surrounding the premise that he has chosen no longer to live after his wife breaks his favorite instrument in a fit of rage. It is soon to premier at the Venice Film Festival (Persepolis was made into a film as well). Embroideries is an Iranian version of the “Sex and the City” martini conversations… this time around tea with the Iranian matrons and daughters. It’s a great reminder that there is more alike than different between the Persian and Western cultures.

An added bonus:the graphics are delightful.

#4 Genesis as portrayed by R. Crumb.   This celebrated underground comix artist (depicted by James Urbaniak in “American Splendor” with Paul Giamatti) takes the entire book of Genesis, every chapter, and graphically portrays the stories, ‘begots’ and characters therein.  I’ve never cared much for his stylized humans (they’re usually somewhat grotesque and unlikable) but it works well to engage the reader here and remind one that the book of Genesis, far from being a morality tale, is about humanity and our hit-and-miss relationship with God.  I’m hoping he carries on with Exodus and the rest of the gang!
 

#5 Watchmen by Alan Moore (I know, I know… EVERYONE says this! (at least it wasn’t #1!!).  Considering that this is an incredibly familiar yet complex and fantastic world and that it was written during the age of Star Wars (the counter Mutually-Assured-Destruction Reagan program, not the space-cowboy trilogy), corrupt politicos, gang and drug problems on the rise and the dwindling of the comic-book genre, this story is a true coup.  Alan Moore has produced some other works (Promethea is often mentioned for example) and is a big hero in the graphic novel space but I haven't found anything as creative or rigorous as this in his repetoire.  Instead of the laziness of superheroes with unlimited powers, we're following fairly normal people who once took it upon themselves to become superheroes and are now obsolete and even marginalized.  It captures the sense of an era and people let down by their power structures and facing the real possibility of the end of their world.  The superheros struggle with whether they even want or should try to salvage humanity and the world.  Lovely. (or dark, whatever)
#6-8   These three sort of tie for me as they each have amazing graphics, amazing dialogue and amazing philosophies to contend with.  I'll start with the most familiar and end with the most foreign (to me). 

Blankets by Craig Thompson is the graphic novel answer to the film "Saved" which fundamentalists called 'meanspirited' and I saw as a revelatation for my friends who thought the film was a satire until I told them it was my adolescence.  It's essentially the author's memoir about growing up as a fundamentalist Christian striving to be worthy and faithful to his God, parents and faith and struggling in the face of ill-conceived small-town morality, peer Christian's horrendous behavior and the misunderstanding of his own poetic soul and artistic talents.  It would be the fundamentalist Christian version of Chaim Potok's The Chosen - drawn with beauty and artistry.  I saw myself, my other now-jaded friends and those we left behind in our home town(s) in this tale.  The particular struggle of trying to honor one's parents while rejecting their dogma especially hits close to home.  I'm not sure if mainstreamers are as touched by this story, but I would recommend it anyways and evangelize it to those who grew up in the far right.

The next is the Rabbi's Cat by Joann Sfar which I chose as less foreign than the third selection because it takes place in a foreign place so the strangeness feels right  ('right' not being the adequate word by any means but it'll do).  This book has it all: 1930's historical Algeria and Paris, Judiaism, Arabic-Jewish relations, anti-semetism, philosophy, struggles with faith, love and family tensions.  And the narration of the cat who learns briefly how to speak and uses his speech to take on the resident head rabbi in Talmudic debate is truly a delight.  The follow-on book (same name + "2") is beautifully drawn but more of a set of connected short-stories with an historical backdrop rather than the depth of the first book.  (Note: the third has yet to be translated to English from its original French)  I'm a fan of Joann Sfar's work anyways since whatever he writes tends to be beautifully drawn (either from his own hand or in collaboration) and full of a sense of whimsy.  His other works are worth checking out.

Finally: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang blew me away as one of the best works out there addressing second-generation Americans searching for their identity in the only country they've ever known as home while straddling parental and familial expectations of respect and duty to where their ancestor's originated.  Honestly, it would probably be at the top of my list (after Persepolis) if not for the sometimes comical graphics which annoy me.  Granted, when they're used, the PURPOSE is to annoy -- they usually crop up when the central character is showing his view of his 'backward' origins that cause the wanna-be-cool Chinese youngster to cringe.  Ultimately the narrator comes to terms with his Chinese-ness as a critical component of his identity and embraces it as part of his coming-of-age as yet another awkward teenage American.  Everyone can identify with these feelings and yet the specific struggles of non WASP-raised adolescents are unknown to WASPs which makes the book terribly relevant and eye-opening.  I think I'm unable to really read memoirs anymore unless they're in this type of format now!

#9 Robot Dreams by Sara Varon.  I'm perhaps cheating a bit here by including this one because there are actually no accompanying words in this book.  However, I think words would take away from the emotion and depth the 'reader' attributes to the story from their own interpretation.  This is not a child's picture-book.  It is a tale of love and loss that happens when one party outgrows another despite one's belief in a committed, unending relationship contract.  Spielberg/Kubrick's "A.I" doesn't even come close to the depth (and tears wrought) of this story. 
While I'm at it, I'd like to sneak in another no-words special-mention here which is sort of a child's book.  If you ever have the opportunity to see The Arrival, check it out as it really brings home a picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words by telling the tale of immigrants looking with fresh eyes at a foreign world (food, plants, people, signs).  It's incredible and incredibly drawn.  Sorry, I digress.

Finally - #10 - Whiteout by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber.  The artist mention is critical here because the story wouldn't make it without the amazing use of negative space by the artist to depict Antartica as it's own character.  (Actually, it went through a different artist for each edition for awhile and they were each amazing - Lieber was just the final one & the one who continued on Whiteout 2 which is also great).  Once feels notes of familiarity with the recently popular Scandinavian mysteries that are flooding the English market now and introducing their bare, cold, unforgiving Scandinavian landscapes as the vehicle for mood, foreshadowing and characters' internalizations.  I've heard the movie doesn't even come close. 

The last one on my list points out a theme to me about why each of these hit the top 10... I felt like I learned something or changed somehow with each example.  Either it helped me understand an era, place or demographic better, or it helped me get in touch with pieces of my own past and growth.  And this is perhaps what further separates graphic novels from serialized stories or comics for me... they can achieve as much as any literary masterpiece in the library.
Honorable Mentions coming soon....  (I just can't stop at 10!)

Graphic Novels Discussion

There isn’t a definitive requirements list for establishing what a graphic novel is, and isn’t and I’m sure to offend die-hard fans of the genre so I’ll preempt this description with the declaration that I’m explaining for those who aren’t yet fans…

My Definition: A Graphic Novel is a complete story told through pictures with dialogue and narration in which the character or characters progress through plot points similar to a literary novel. It falls somewhere between an illustrated novel and a serialized comic.

My Graphic Novel Experience:

Great Illustrated Classics introduced me to Ben Hur, Captains Courageous, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, Sherlock Holmes, The War of the Worlds and other classics before I ever read the literary originals. These had one black and white drawing per page of writing in the abridged books and kept the tales moving along well. These hooked me on classics (especially adventure classics like Ben Hur and Captains Courageous).

I wasn’t reading superhero comics at the time (I was allowed Archie comics and Sunday comics but that was about it!) so these were my first experience of a story told through words and pictures. I never did become a comic book reader (though I love comic book movies!) likely because I felt too old for the medium once I was allowed to read it. Also, the comic book tales were serialized and not necessarily continued with the same authors or artists so they told short stories with new gimmicks every time rather than one complete story arc. The mythology of the characters becomes well developed (see any of the “[Insert Superhero] Men: The Ultimate Guide” books for references) but the stories themselves aren’t compelling or educational. We get to identify with the characters (teenage angst, isolation, etc) but not grow as a result of their stories.

Then along comes a graphic novel…. Propelled by graphics, yet full of beginning, middle & end story arc(s) that shows uses both the literary media and the graphic one to tell a tale that we take away a great deal more of. Whether memoir or fiction, these stories can move one as much as a book, or inform one where the printed word alone would be ignored.

I don’t remember my first graphic novel, but the one that hooked me on the genre (and made me take it seriously) was The Complete Persepolis , a compendium of Persepolis I & II which chronicled the author’s childhood and teens as a young Iranian woman (In Iran and France). I was blown away… not only did Iranians seem so relatable, but it put the last 30 years of political engagements with the U.S. into a completely different context. This was both the easiest and most engaging way to learn history ever! The author does a great job telling (true) stories as evidenced by her other works as well.

I’ve even discovered a favorite publisher: First Second (now owned by Macmillan) – they seem to have the right combo of story & good graphics for me. Eddie Campbell, Joann Sfar, Gene Luen Yang & others favs of mine are published with them.

So now, I’m a fan, and bound to add my own “Top 10”-ish List to the plethora out there.

Bibliophiles Alternative to Cosmo Relationship Quiz

I came across this link from the Not Martha blog and it tickled me.  Ladies, if any of your chosen or sought-after mates name one of these books as their favorite, BEWARE!

Favorite Books of the Secretly Jerky

If your man doesn't fall into one of these, congrats!  However, we've all men that guy who's favorite paperback was Salinger's Catcher in the Rye - so we can all enjoy the breakdown of his issues here!