A friend of mine recently lent me 4 graphic novels. Each one was very different from the rest so I guess you could say I've had some nice variety in the books I've been reading lately.
Batman: Year One
I've been meaning to read this for a while now. Now that I have I think it's slightly overrated, albeit still a solid read. To me this book wasn't about Batman; it was about Gordon and the way he struggles to make a new life for his family. And boy does he ever struggle, working for a corrupt police force while still trying to do the right thing at all times. However, what I really liked about his character here is that despite the fact that he really is a "good guy", he's still human. That came accross really well when he began cheating on his wife and felt so much remorse for it. It just went to show that even a man with hardened values and ethics can become a little corrupted under the right circumstances. Gordon was my favourite part of the book because I actually felt sympathic towards him and his noble intentions. Even when he strayed I wanted to see him land on his feet again.
The way the book switches between narrators is done really well. I never felt lost and the writing itself was solid. You really got a sense that Batman wasn't fully prepared for his work early on, as he makes a few mistakes his first couple of nights out.
Anyways, I really would have liked to have seen more of Catwoman but what's here is already really good. 8.5/10
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume 1
I'll start off by saying that this was a joy to read. I loved the characters from the very beginning and the sense of mischief with guys like Griffin was golden. I didn't expect the book to be as humourous as it was, but was pleasantly surprised with the constant string of funny dialogue and situations. The artwork was completely stellar too. I loved the big splash pages, especially in the finale, as they were filled to the brim with detail. Really, I think that the art and colours really suit the time period that the story takes place in.
The concept of this book could have been done really badly. Instead, under the capable pen of Alan Moore, we got a truly memorable book filled with interesting characters you actually care about and can't wait to revisit. Captain Nemo is a badass. Bring on Volume 2. 9/10
30 Days of Night
I'm not terribly big into horror comics but this one was pretty cool. The art and colouring are stunning and really bring this creepy book to life. The only thing that really bothered me was the role of a couple of characters. Otherwise, this was a fun and grotesque read. It makes sense that it's being translated over to film since the story is already there and the events could make for a pretty gruesome slasher flick. Good stuff. 8/10
The Witching Hour
Well...this book has some really nice art. I was actually really impressed and a little surprised to see Chris Bachalo's name on a book that looks as beautiful as this. The splash pages in particular are eye-catching. But while the art is great, the story isn't all that interesting. At least it wasn't to me. The problem I had with it was that there were far too many characters and stories going on at once and you never really got to care for any of them. Well, maybe Blue because he never says anything and is a bit of an enigma, but otherwise I didn't find myself caring what happened to anyone in the book. Maybe because I'm just not big on Wiccan? I dunno. Regardless, it was forgettable to me, even though it's really nice to look at. 6.5/10
Graphic novels and trades I'd like to pick up (or just read) in the near future:
Batman: The Long Halloween
Top 10
Watchmen
The Walking Dead Volume 1
Batman: Year One
I've been meaning to read this for a while now. Now that I have I think it's slightly overrated, albeit still a solid read. To me this book wasn't about Batman; it was about Gordon and the way he struggles to make a new life for his family. And boy does he ever struggle, working for a corrupt police force while still trying to do the right thing at all times. However, what I really liked about his character here is that despite the fact that he really is a "good guy", he's still human. That came accross really well when he began cheating on his wife and felt so much remorse for it. It just went to show that even a man with hardened values and ethics can become a little corrupted under the right circumstances. Gordon was my favourite part of the book because I actually felt sympathic towards him and his noble intentions. Even when he strayed I wanted to see him land on his feet again.
The way the book switches between narrators is done really well. I never felt lost and the writing itself was solid. You really got a sense that Batman wasn't fully prepared for his work early on, as he makes a few mistakes his first couple of nights out.
Anyways, I really would have liked to have seen more of Catwoman but what's here is already really good. 8.5/10
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume 1
I'll start off by saying that this was a joy to read. I loved the characters from the very beginning and the sense of mischief with guys like Griffin was golden. I didn't expect the book to be as humourous as it was, but was pleasantly surprised with the constant string of funny dialogue and situations. The artwork was completely stellar too. I loved the big splash pages, especially in the finale, as they were filled to the brim with detail. Really, I think that the art and colours really suit the time period that the story takes place in.
The concept of this book could have been done really badly. Instead, under the capable pen of Alan Moore, we got a truly memorable book filled with interesting characters you actually care about and can't wait to revisit. Captain Nemo is a badass. Bring on Volume 2. 9/10
30 Days of Night
I'm not terribly big into horror comics but this one was pretty cool. The art and colouring are stunning and really bring this creepy book to life. The only thing that really bothered me was the role of a couple of characters. Otherwise, this was a fun and grotesque read. It makes sense that it's being translated over to film since the story is already there and the events could make for a pretty gruesome slasher flick. Good stuff. 8/10
The Witching Hour
Well...this book has some really nice art. I was actually really impressed and a little surprised to see Chris Bachalo's name on a book that looks as beautiful as this. The splash pages in particular are eye-catching. But while the art is great, the story isn't all that interesting. At least it wasn't to me. The problem I had with it was that there were far too many characters and stories going on at once and you never really got to care for any of them. Well, maybe Blue because he never says anything and is a bit of an enigma, but otherwise I didn't find myself caring what happened to anyone in the book. Maybe because I'm just not big on Wiccan? I dunno. Regardless, it was forgettable to me, even though it's really nice to look at. 6.5/10
Graphic novels and trades I'd like to pick up (or just read) in the near future:
Batman: The Long Halloween
Top 10
Watchmen
The Walking Dead Volume 1
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