June Graphic Novel Recommendations

Wilson by Daniel Clowes

Drawn and compiled in one page strips, Daniel Clowes's first original graphic novel, Wilson, begins in an illusive and fragmentary fashion. At first, I didn’t recognize that it was a connected story at all. But several pages into the book, the reader understands that these Wilson “episodes” connect; and though filled with pauses and digressive commentary, they certainly comprise a complete life-story, which includes every sad, regrettable, and annoying bit that might fit into the often boring, pessimistic, and opinionated Wilson’s life. There is a variety of cartooning styles dsiplayed throughout the book—from Schultz-like to the more detailed realism familiar to Clowes fans; and his technique exhibits his nuanced intellect, which fans of the medium will enjoy dissecting and discussing.

King of the Flies Vol 1: Hallorave, by Pirus and Mezzo

Pirus and Mezzo’s King of the Flies is a dark romp through the strange, drug filled, sex crazed world of small town Europe. The book is split into several different sections, each dedicated to a particular character, whose story often is not at first so easily connected. These characters are angry, lonely, and totally confused (a strange malaise seems to fill each of their lives) to the point that violence, any and all forms of debauchery, and abuse, seems normal. Pirus and Mezzo aren’t afraid to tell a story full of our darkest desires and needs, but they’re also startlingly poetic (for a taste, check out the story, “Stoned,” on page 48, for a wonderful love story to the Rolling Stones). Mezzo’s art is similar in stroke to Charles Burn, but has an increasingly hypnotic cast to it (as if the frames and the characters within them are aware of the exhibition of their actions—strange, I know, but you’ve just got to read it to understand). For the mature reader only!

Batman and Robin Vol 1: Batman Reborn by Grant Morrison

Any book by Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly (All-Star Superman, WE3) is bound to be one of my favorites. I can’t help loving Grant Morrison’s twisted way of telling a story—often starting at the end and filling in the reader with the details - or not - as he goes. Frank Quietly astonishes me every time I see his art. His hyper-realistic pencils in no way detract from the fantasy base of the story. Combined with beautiful coloring, every panel of every page is delicious eye candy.

This time the creative duo have taken on a pretty tough premise: Batman is dead. Nightwing (Dick Grayson, one time Robin) must take up the mask and cape of Batman alongside a new Robin (Damian Wayne, raised and trained by the League of Assassins) to quell a growing criminal elite which sees the disappearance of Batman as a sign that Gotham is theirs. This is a great continuation of Morrison’s work on one of the best characters in the industry.