Top Graphic Novel Reviews

One of the best and widely read Manga in the market now has to be Naruto. There are other noteworthy mentions like Bleach, DeathNote, FMA and many others. I will put up information on them later.

Naruto is a manga by Masashi Kishimoto with an anime TV series adaptation about a loud, hyperactive adolescent ninja, Uzumaki Naruto, who constantly searches for approval and recognition.

The manga was first published by Shueisha in Japan in the 43rd issue in 1999 of the ShonenJump magazine. So far there have been 31 volumes of the manga series published in the country, with a total of 303 chapters written since its initial release in 1999. VIZ Media publishes a translated version in the American Shonen Jump, though there have been only 9 of the 31 volumes of manga released so far. It has become VIZ Media’s best-selling manga series.

The Naruto series has one of the most captivating storylines you will ever see in a manga series, in fact, most people are addicted after just a few chapters. The series creator Masashi Kishimoto added a modern flavor to the traditional ancient world of Japanese Ninja which has really made this story one of the most interesting.

Basically, the storyline revolves around 3 main characters. Namely, Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura. Naruto is the typica idiot and joker of the trio but he has the kyubi or nine fox tails in him. Sasuke is a prodigy and has an advanced bloodline limit called the sharingan. Sakura is the female of the trio, she was the weakest among them and STILL IS.

Because the anime is based on the manga, the story is a lot more ahead in the manga compared to the anime’s. The story in the anime is over halfway already when we take a look at the manga’s. The manga is still running, so who knows how long the series will continue?

The anime is a little more extensive then the manga. The Anime takes a little more time explaining things and viewing battles. In particular, it adds many of its own ‘filler’ episodes. And to tell you the truth, Masashi Kishimoto is a much better writer then the ones working at the anime. For more information on Naruto visit NarutoFan.

This is a weird one. It looks distinctly familiar to one Simpsons. No wonder about that, thecreator (Matt Groening) produced this too. The series begins with Philip J. Fry, a New York City slacker and pizza delivery guy, who cryogenically freezes himself by accident on New Year’s Eve, 1999. He is defrosted one thousand years later on New Year’s Eve, 2999, and finds himself in New New York City. Fry thinks he has a chance at a new life, only to get himself permanently assigned a career as a delivery boy.

Fry’s attempts to escape from his now-mandatory job assignment end at Planet Express, a small intergalactic package delivery company run by his distantly descended nephew, where he is hired on as a delivery boy. The series covers the adventures of Fry and his colleagues as they travel around the universe making deliveries on behalf of Planet Express.

The futuristic time frame allowed the show’s writers to be creative with their humor by introducing ideas and events from pulp science fiction of the mid 20th century into the series.

Sick, twisted, politcially incorrect and freakin’ sweet, the animated series features the adventures of the Griffin family. Peter and Lois have three kids - the youngest is a brilliant, sadistic baby bent on killing his mother and destroying the world. Their talking dog Brian keeps baby Stewie in check while sipping martinis and sorting through his own life issues. 

The show revolves around the adventures of Peter Griffin, a bumbling but well-intentioned blue-collar worker.Peter is Irish-American and is also directly descended from an African-American slave owned by his wife’s ancestors. His wife, Lois, a stay-at-home mom and piano teacher, is a member of the Pewterschmidts, a wealthy socialite family. Peter and Lois have three children: daughter Meg Griffin, who is frequently the butt of jokes for her apparent ugliness; teenage Chris Griffin, in many respects a younger version of his father; and a diabolically evil infant son, Stewie Griffin bent on world domination. The family lives with an intellectual talking dog, Brian Griffin, who has repeatedly expressed romantic interest in Lois.

 Even though Brian has been completely anthropomorphized by the show’s creators (he walks on two legs, drinks martinis, owns his own car, and engages in normal conversation with the Griffins), the Griffins still consider him a pet in many respects. Occasionally, Brian will act in a stereotypically canine matter, usually for comedic effect (such as his inability to stand up in the back of a car, or his need to chomp at the air coming from a blow-drier), but he objects to any overly submissive domestic behavior.

This story is very intriguing. It piqued my curiosity immensely when I learnt what the story was all about. Death Note is a darker and deeper manga than most, with a story that really grips you. The story really begins in the second chapter after 17-year old Yagami Raito (Light) ‘found’ a book called the “Death Note” from a God of Death. Upon writing a name in this book, that person will die when Raito has the person’s face in mind. It is a little complicating on how the person dies and how one MUST know the person’s name and his looks.

Questions of morality strikes the reader as Raito uses the Death Note to bring his own justice on the world’s criminals. He embarks on his sick little plan of ‘cleansing’ the world of all evil elements. It is not long before his actions catch the attention of the top governments, who call in the best detective there was then - “L”. L rises to the challenge to find and hunt down the one the world calls “Kira” (which is Light), but Raito has a brilliant mind too, and won’t be taken easily.

Incredible mind games and clever detective work from both L ensues as they try to discover each others’ identity in order to bring their own sense of justice. Twisted, convoluted, confusing but entertaining at the same time.

This is one very unique book by Gaiman. This is actually an adaptation of a popular folklore tale in Japan. He stumbled upon this story while researching his translation of Hayao Miyazaki’s film Princess Mononoke. It does not follow the traditional comic kind of story telling. It is more of one page of story, one page of graphics and they don’t mix. Neil Gaiman morphs the story into the world of Dreaming

The story begins with a wager between two jealous animals, a fox and a badger: which of them can drive a young monk from his solitary temple? The central characters are the Fox and the Monk, and the Sandman only plays a peripheral role. But an excellent peripheral role at that.

So the story goes that the fox tries to temp and seduce the monk by turning into the form of a woman. Gradually, she falls for him. Meanwhile over in Kyoto, an evil rich master of Yin-Yang is haunted by fears and nightmares (mainly through his own insecurities). He tries to find solace in his command of sorcery. He finds out of the inner peace the monk has and sends monsters and demons to capture and kill him to bring peace to himself. The fox learns of this and begins her mission to save the man she secretly loves and whom she so admired.

It is also the first time Gaiman works with Yoshitaka Amano and full credit to the Japanese for the wonderful illustrations that can tell a story by themselves. These paintings make the story come alive on the page and create a sense of past and wonder that could only be hinted at with words alone. It is unlike anything done before in Sandman or anything I’ve seen in Japanese Manga. A beautiful work of art.

He also does his best in retaining the original story whilst weaving some Sandman elements inside. Kudos to him for that.

Midnight days is really more of a mish mash collection of Neil Gaiman’s previous works. These are 5 never seen before tales. These were works when Gaiman was young, in every sense of that word.

In Sandman Midnight Theatre, the golden age Sandman investigates an age-old mystery - and, for the only time, comes face to face with his namesake, Dream of the Endless.

In Hold Me, trench coated mystic John Constantine faces a ghost haunted by a very modern kind of loneliness. In Brothers, the Swamp Thing’s extended family meets a flower-power loving geek and the decidedly unamused U.S. government. In SHAGGY GOD STORIES, a half sane plant-man plumbs the mystery of existence. And finally, in the never-before-published JACK-IN-THE-GREEN, the Swamp Thing of another time confronts the horrors of his world - large and small.

“Sandman Midnight Theatre,” is a masterpiece. Gaiman proves his ability to seamlessly incorporate other DC characters within his milieu while retaining there inherent characteristics. Truly inspired stuff, if you don’t mind wading through the rest. Jack-In-The-Green was quite complicated and fans with no prior Swamp Thing background would most likely be left scratching their heads.

Oh what a fantastic book this is! One of my favourite amongst all my collections of graphic novels. This is Neil’s vision of the Marvel Universe in the year 1602.( The book has a nice smell to it, literally)

“1602 is a triumph. The Marvel universe hasn’t been this engrossing in ages.” - Entertainment Weekly

Strange things are stirring in England. In the service of Queen Elizabeth, court magician Dr. Strange senses the bizarre weather plaguing the skies above is not of natural origin. Her majesty’s premier spy, Sir Nicholas Fury, fends off an assassination attempt on the Queen by wing warriors rumored to be in service to a mad despot named Doom. News is spreading of “witchbreed” sightings - young men bearing fantastic superhuman powers and abilities…

Andy Kubert does a fantastic job on the artwork and the stunning graphics more then compliments the story line. Only Gaiman’s mind would have thought of matching the superheroes power into 1602’s setting. There are 2 versions to this book, the hard cover one and the non hard cover. I got the hardcover one, the woodcut cover is to die for.

The story’s pace is excellent and makes for an interesting, intellectual and exciting read. All contributors to this story complement each other quite well, making 1602 an essential part of any comic library. It is a little pricey though but cost conscious reader can always opt for non hard cover edition.

Has to be one of the best among the library.( although that would present some debate) Not that is was easy to choose from so many outstanding works. They are all masterpieces in their own right.

Ten thousand years ago, the Dream King banished his lover into the abyss of hell. Now, his siblings are convinced that this was a travesty and would do will to persuade him to correct this injustice. He must go through the fiery gates of hell to rescue his condemned lover. Several major obstacles stand in the way, most notably Lucifer who has sworn to devastate and destroy Morpheus. Inside the calm and cool mind of Morpheus, a daring, cunning and brilliant plan is hatched.

Morpheus would receive a key to hell. Chaos and fun ensued when various underlings and

mongers try to wrest, cajole and put forward their argument as to why they should be the owner of hell. Their reasons for wanting it and plans for it, were as varied and entertaining as they are. As always, the characters drawn up leaves a lasting impression. I really do dream of them sometimes. It seems the Dream King does visit.

Characteristically, there are the usual short stories. These little gems managed to be weaved into the main story without appearing obtrusive. In fact, they complement to the overall mood and feel of the main theme. The artwork is good and adds even more life to the characters in the ‘movie’. With the ending of each chapter, comes an innate urge to quickly read the next one. It is an excelling compelling read. Oh and the conclusion to a marvelous volume was fantastic. You would have to find it out yourself. Borrow from a friend lf you really have to. You will not regret.

“To absent friends, lost loves, old gods, and the season of mists; and may each and every one of us always give the devil his due.” –Jim Pascoe (From the 2nd chapter of Seasons of Mist)

I always like to include nice words from other people. The San Francisco Examiner:

“A singularly literate comic rife with subtext, humor, run-away archetypes and a healthy does of perversity.”

First of I would like to say, in this 2nd installment of the series, the artwork is not as beautiful as the others. But its the stories that really count in this book. It is in this book that the character Hob Galding is born in “Men of Good Fortune”. He goes on to make several appearances in other books. I enjoyed this particular entry a great deal as it slowly unfolds and tells the story of the man who cant die. It also sets in place a century old pact with the Dream King - To meet every 100 years. It also shows the more human and soft side of Lord Morpheus (as he is also known) I am afraid I am giving away too much now.

The first chapter “Tales In The Sand” makes a very good start to a exceptional book. Somewhere in a desert land, a man and an elder one are walking around. And a tale is told. This one has the classic story within a story format (like in World’s End). I shall not go into detail on what the tale was about but it is a tale the man must carry on and tell it to his generation like it was told to the elder. There are different versions of the tale, in which the talk amongst themselves But then, it is the women’s tale and it is never told to men. I must say this few words alone will not do that chapter any justice. It simply absorbs you and bring you to that dimension and place and setting - And then it totally enchants you.

The other parts of the stories deals plenty with the main story of Morpheus, his family and his domain. For those reading this as a stand alone, some parts might be pretty confusing and weird. But then again, what is a fantasy novel without a little weirdness? Many important characters are introduced here. One of them is Rose Walker. She enters into a fantasy kind of world, from long lost relatives to a serial killer convention.

To end off this review, a word from Clive Barker in his intro :

“Forget what is written in the title page. Hero and author are here synonymous. Mr. Gaiman is the Sandman…he just brought you a dream.”

I will be randomly jumping about the volumes and they follow no particular order. The first GN that I am reviewing is World’s End.

This books is a wonderful collection of short stories ala Canterbury’s Tales. It is easily one of my top 3 favourite books in this series. It is a rather short one, with just 7 chapters but each of those chapters are, in their own right, a trove full of treasures. I shall not spoil the fun by giving away too much but several characters and stories stand out. Not like a sore thumb stand out but like a rich diamond kind of stand out. Basically, travelers of different dimensions, time and space got caught in a storm and were gather in this little inn. Here, they share their stories and pass their time as they hope the storm would.

The first tale, “A Tale of 2 Two Cities” by one Mister Gaheris. It is a story about a man who lived in the city and had lived in the city all his life. He goes about his routine daily work life and is quite the loner. The spends his lunch time and after work hours touring his city. Admiring and absorbing the sights and sounds of this marvel of a city. You can almost feel for him. He ends up inside the dream of city and meets many brilliant characters along the way. How he struggles to get out and how the city should never wake…

This story is superb because you can draw many parallels from the story and your own life. You can see a little of yourself in him and its the way that these bits appear, so sublime and well craft that you can really appreciate the genius that is Gaiman.

The other tale that I would like bring up is “Hob’s Leviathan”. The story is told by the young “boy” who was in that story itself. His sea-lust and dream of sailing was spawned from his early years. You build up feelings for the characters very quickly even though their appearance is rather brief. Old character reappear in the form of one certain Mr. Galdings. He makes more then a cameo here. The people they meet, the thing they saw and how he dealt with it. Of course what is a good ending without a few surprises?

More then anything, the interactions and on-goings in the inn itself between the colorful characters is an interesting tale to watch and behold. The ending ends with a BANG and it is only a prelude to bigger events to come.

An accolade I might add by UK Online:

“World’s End Demonstrates that there is much more to the modern comic than costumed superheroes. In these pages you will find real emotion, stunning artwork…and most Important of all, spellbinding stories…it’s one of the most richly rewarding experiences the graphic novel has to offer”

I would have definitely go on rambling more if not for his other reviews. Go get it from your local bookstore, through my Amazon links or something. It really makes up a enriching read.

To sum it up, I quote what Stephen King’s wrote in his pretty little introduction for World’s End :

“It is a classic format,, but in several of them there are stories within stories, like eggs within eggs, or more properly, nested chinese boxes.”