Graphic Novels Changed My Life

Ok, so I'm a big comic fan, standard I know, but just thought I'd share with you what I think are the three graphic novel which made me see the world differently. Not going to bother with the obvious stories or fables which I've already talked about (From Hell, Arkham Asylum etc.). This is about releases that redefined the genre and in turn, re defined how I saw my world.  Ok here goes:

The Nightly News



This one was caused a small revolution in the comic world. It's illustrated/constructed by a graphic artist, which means the artwork completely bucks the boxed in style you expect in a comic.

Ignoring the slick style - which believe me, makes it very intuitive to navigate  - the story itself is deeeeeep. I don't want to spoil it for you guys but I'll give a taster of what's to come. 

It revolves around a group of activists (or terrorists depending on how you want to look at) who've decided the self-serving media world we now take for granted is the cause of all societies degradation. Your Nan's philosophy that 'TV is the Devil" taken to the limits. An organized (and charismatic) group head on a revenge campaign to dismantle the media-machine and have no qualms about making it brutal. I won't say anymore.

The Nightly News sucks you in from the start. I read it one sitting, which for me is rare. I work in TV myself, so I guess it had a real resonance with me, but it triggers all sorts of thoughts about the industry and it's role. 

Expertly concieved and delivered in a fresh, fresh way. Check it.

Aquaman - Sword of Atlantis



Basically I get the piss taken out of me for liking Aquaman. A lot. But so what, I still think he smashes it. And although this didn't quite change my life like the others, it really made me aspire to dedicate more time to sketching and painting. 

This edition of Aquaman sort of updates his backstory, by returning to the moment when he first acepts his own royal lineage as king of Atlantis. Now if you're not into comics you're probably thinking, shut the fuck up, I don't give a shit about this fishman. But wait  ... The artwork is epic. 

Washes of greens and blues help create a rich underwater world, which is ultimately very believable. The artist's - Butch Guice -  attention to detail is admirable. The undersea empire he lays out has carefully thought out villages, warring races, wandering ascetics, queens, kings and rogues, all intricately drawn. 

Get this to see how a comic paints a world, one which can sometimes be more lucid and believable than a great novel. 

A Disease of Language




Just one Alan Moore this time. But this is no fable, like From Hell or Watchmen. This is a powerful book. In it, Moore and Eddie Campbell team up and use the medium to come to grips with deep issues, like philosophy, birth and creation itself. 

The leaves contain a deep and penetrating insight into Moore's life view. Poetry crosses with ghostly etchings, to summon a cryptic vision of how he sees the world. When I read this it was like one giant footnote to all of his works, revealing how his visions have informed his body of work. But it's also a lot more than that. It a real example of how the genre can mind-bend you into positions you never knew existed. Yes it's image, yes it's word. But together it ain't film. It's something very unique. 

 Art, history, convention-bashing, lucid gut-spilling. That's that. Plus, it feels like the whole thing was scribbled down in one epic LSD binge.