Top Graphic Novel Reviews

I will start off with one my favourite Graphic Novel of all time - Life Eaters. You might be unfamiliar with the writer David Brin and may not have even heard about him. It’s alright, you can read up a little on him here. The outline of the story on the back of the book goes like this :

“Roused by sorcery and a stench of holocaust, Norse gods have returned to the mortal plane, tilting the scales of World War II and cheating the Allies of victory. Near a generation later the war still rages, this time in the jungles of Southeast Asia. The tide has been set for a final battle as a few heroes gather their courage - and their most advanced technology - for a final stand against the Nazis and their Aesir partners. In the end, it will be an epic struggle to reclaim the sovereignty of the human race, one that will pit our basest instincts against…our own humanity.”

Life Eaters was THE first Graphic Novel I picked up and the one which got me started into reading them. I was greatly pleased when I got this book, this has all the elements of a blockbuster - exciting storyline, unexpected twists and turns, explosive action, great characters and ,of course, a climax to boot. It also incorporates science fiction and mysticism into this war based novel and does a brilliant job at that. It is also very much a ‘human’ story.

Many questions will be posed that will set you in a thinking trance about World Wars. What if Gods fought along men in war? What if they took sides? Which would emerge victorious - Sophisticated and highly advanced technology or million years old voodoo and mysticism? What if the holocaust happened because of something else Hitler was planning? Something much much more sinister…

This book is really quite something, it challenges and throws up some fantastic fanatical scenarios of ‘what ifs?’ during the warring periods. The artwork is nothing short of superb and is brought to life by Scott Hampton. One of the best in his field may I add. Some readers might not like the way or the style he portrayed certain religions but I for one, thoroughly enjoyed his book.

This book is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea! It certainly proved hard to swallow. Sex, violence, drugs and gore. Name any vice or evils they probably got it.

Entertainment Weekly says:

“Features more blood and blasphemy than any mainstream comic in memory. “

It shocks and probably to some readers would disgust them. The plot and story itself seems twisted enough. Here is the actual intro taken from the back of the book:

The story is written by Garth Ennis and ‘arted’ by Steve Dillon.

“At first glance, the Reverend Jesse Custer doesn’t look like anyone special - just another small-town minister slowly losing his flock and his faith. But he’s about to come face-to-face that God does indeed exist - and that He’s one mean son of a bitch. In one explosive instant. Jesse’s life is changed forever - and he aims to find out why….But these answers are going to be hard won - especially considering what Heaven has sent to stop them.”

Other characters here include a gun-toting ex lover Tulip and a hard working Irish vampire called Cassidy. There is a lot of strange shit in this book and some of the stuff are bordering on tasteless, probably offensive. Somewhat not surprisingly, it has quite a huge following in the US. Its artwork isn’t too shabby and its characters have well, character. Its plot is not too bad BUT having said that, I am definitely not going to get its 2nd volume. I unfortunately, (or fortunately) belong to the more conservative band of readers.

I first got my attention drawn to this book when I surfing around Vertigo’s website. Its very unique storyline piqued my curiosity. What would really happen to the last man on Earth? (Assuming all MAN have died) It could be someone’s worst nightmare OR someone fantasy come to true

The story goes like this:

“In the summer of 2002, a plague of unknown origin destroyed every last sperm, fetus, and fully developed mammal with a Y chromosome - with the apparent exception of one young man and his male pet. This “gendercide” instantaneously exterminated 48% of the global population, or approximately 2.9 billion men. 495 of Fortune 500 CEOs are dead, as are 99% of all land owners.

In the United States alone, more than 95% of all commercial pilots, truck drivers and ship captains died…as did 92% of violent felons. Internationally, 99% of all mechanics, electricians and construction workers are now deceased…though 51% of the world’s agricultural force is still alive.

14 nations including Spain and Germany, have women soldiers who have served in ground combat units. None of the United States nearly 200,000 female troops have participated in ground combat. (barring Iraq & Afghanistan) Australia, Norway and Sweden are the only countries with women serving on board submarines.

Worldwide 85% of all government representatives are now dead…as are 100% of all Catholic priests, Muslim imams and Orthodox Jewish rabbis.

Now aided by the mysterious Agent 355, the last human male Yorick Brown must contend with dangerous extremists, a hoped-for reunion with a girlfriend on the other side of the glode, and the search for exactly why he’s the only man to survive.”

I enjoyed this first installment tremendously and would definitely go get the second. I am so looking forward to it. Probably will do a mini section just for this series.

“A terrific debut to a fascinating new series” - Comics Worth Reading

“This book blew us away” - Wizard

“Complete and utter comic gold” - Publishers Weekly

“Has steadily proved to be one of the best examples of its art form…Fascinating” - The Chicago Tribune

I do not know if this can even be classified as a Graphic Novel. But anyhow, I found it in the ‘Graphic Novel’ section of the book store, so here is it.

“A Real Guilty Pleasure” - NY Daily News

When I first picked up this book, It was because I was drawn to its unique cover. Thereafter reading the synopsis of the novel, I decided to get it. It seemed like the ‘mystery kinda’ book. You know? Everybody loves a good mystery.

Truth to be told, I was let down. It disappointed. It seems more like a illustrated story book then a good graphic novel. Sadly, it musters a feeble attempt at trying to recreate a very real true story.

This book is about serial killer H.H. Holmes (one of his many identities). He was the world’s first serial killer and he existed in the late 9th century, operating around Chicago World’s Fair, building literal house of horrors, replete with chute for dead bodies, gas chambers and surgical rooms. He methodically murdered up to 200(I call that massacre already) people, mostly young women.

This is part of an ongoing series ‘A Treasury of Victorian Murder’ by writer Rick Geary. I personally would not recommend this book unless you are a die hard Rick Geary fan or into Victorian murders and that kind of thing. It is done up in black and white, the artwork is actually quite nice and the storyline is FINE. The style of writing just does not suit me.

This is the first original Swamp Thing Novel I picked up and will probably remain that way. You know, I love Alan Moore’s style of writing, very thoughtful, sometimes very poetic and mostly beautiful. But this Swamp Thing story confuses me somewhat. Maybe it is something that I cannot grasp, but I find the storyline and plot a little incredulous. Not that graphic novels should not be that way, but I find myself lost in the smorgasbord of characters. Trying to flip back to remember names and going forward and keeping up with the plot.

I am sure many readers and fans will disagree with me. Don’t get m wrong, it has nothing to do with his work, it is just me, I failed to grasp the story.

The artwork is not the best I have seen from Stephen Bissete and John Totleben.

“…Large and slow, its movement solemn and inevitable, heavy with clotted, sodden weed that forms its flesh, its skeleton of tortured root creaks with each funereal pace, protesting at the damp and sullen weight. Within their sockets its eyes float like blood-poppies in puddles of ink. You can inhale through flared nostrils, drinking in its musk, green and pungent. There is the delicate scent of mosses and lichens adorning its flanks. There is the dry and acrid aftertaste of the pin mold that spreads across its shoulders, fanning out in a dull grey rash…”

Very beautiful prose and a vivid description. But it does nothing to give an insight into the Saga of the Swamp Thing. Something which I really do not understand.

Alan Moore remains one of my favourite writers and his League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen has to be on of the best Graphic Novels around but I find it hard to appreciate this particular Graphic Novel. It is just me really.

“Graham Wilson’s Brain is one I’d be afraid to look into, but the hilarious visions that spew from it have been entertaining me for decades. No one can do macabre like he can do macabre”- Ellen Datlow 

“Genuine weirdness combined with wit and intelligence” - Stephen King

This book is a mish-mash of all his weird and funny cartoons. Weird seems to be an understatement here. Some of his drawings is really hilarious and in others, lie a more somber underlying meaning.

Many of this works has to do with dark humor, macabre , monstors and everything strange. There will not be a shortage of ghouls, aliens and weird looking animals either.

Certainly this book will not appeal to everyone but it makes for an entertaining, dark perhaps, read.

Graham Wilson depicts a world that is almost same as ours: Almost, but not quite. In Wilson’s world, Dick Tracy unwisely takes an undercover assignment. Museums post feeding times in front of multi-armed idols. Frankenstein’s creature has a few ’stiff’ ones and becomes a real party monster. There are stories behind all of them - perhaps wisely left to the imagination of readers.

Graham Wilson is a national treasure” -  Erica Jong