Graphic Imagery, With Dan Kois: Three Comics to Make You Fall in Love with Comics
How do I convince you, most likely a non-reader of comics, to read not only this post about comics, but the actual comics themselves? Or any comics? How do I convince you to stop right now with the noogieing and start reading some comics? A certain editor of this site—this very site!—agreed to let me write about comics, but characterized his own reaction to the idea as "Ew, nerds." How do I convince him, much less you? An appeal to your shrinking free time? Maybe! HEY YOU THERE, once-avid reader! Remember how you used to read books all the time and then talk about them in person with people or on the Internet with quasi-people? Wasn't that great?
You used to have opinions! But now the idea of sitting down with 2666 or The Magicians or even that Gail Collins book is just brutally unfeasible. You haven't even finished the Lorrie Moore novel! You haven't even gotten far enough to get to the really terrible part, before it gets good again!
But what if I told you that you could read a book—that's right, an ENTIRE BOOK—in like twenty minutes? An hour, max. Call them comics, call them graphic novels, call them whatever you want. (Although seriously, just call them comics, it is easier.) With comics you can read something, with a beginning and an end, and stuff in the middle, in no time at all! And then sit back and revel in your accomplishment.
Did that work?
To get you started, here are some recent comics you would like. I picked them out because they are all action-packed and funny. Though they have some talking animals, they are definitely not Maus. (I will do depressing and navel-gazing comics in later installments, those are good too.)
A couple of years ago, Brandon Graham launched his sci-fi action-comedy comic King City with Tokyopop, the West Coast manga publisher, but after the first volume the company, in financial disarray, declined to publish more, despite how totally awesome the story of a spy and his genetic supercat was. Happily, Image Comics took up the slack, and is republishing the original King City in standard comic-book format, leading up to new King City material next year. They are stylish, deadpan, and packed with fun detail. Pretty much every panel has something surprising in it. Even the letters column, usually a gaping void of content-free backslapping, is great:
I'm pro-porn comics. For one thing, they remove from the equation the teenage girl with the rough childhood that you might find in regular porn, so all you get is the creep that wants to draw it and the creep that wants to read it.
Recommended for people who like: Graffiti, chainsaw-swords, Denis Johnson, cats, Spaced
Fred Chao's reluctant action hero, Johnny Hiro, is the busboy at a Japanese restaurant and a devoted boyfriend to Mayumi. In some ways, the couple lives an ordinary life in Brooklyn: they cohabitate in a tiny apartment; they worry about their jobs; they splurge on a trip to the Metropolitan Opera. But there are some surprises: Johnny gets attacked by ronin when he steals a lobster for his boss. Their apartment is destroyed by Godzilla. And they keep running into David Byrne and Grand Puba of Brand Nubian.
Chao's linework is precise and expressive — his characters have long, fluid bodies equally at home in giant-lizard fights and moments of social awkwardness. I really like the mix of New York-specific comedy and honest emotion; Johnny Hiro includes a scene of Jeffrey Steingarten receiving the Heimlich maneuver, but also a really touching phone call from Johnny's mom and dad that will make you wish your parents were half as supportive as his. The cover features a detailed, lovely image of a Brooklyn neighborhood (Chao's way with architecture is pretty impressive); on the back cover, Godzilla stalks the streets, and on the front Johnny and Mayumi embrace in a window. It's a great drawing that points to the mix of action-comedy and love story that Johnny Hiro juggles so adroitly.
Recommended for people who like: The Office UK's Christmas special, sushi, OutKast, Scott Pilgrim, Then We Came to the End, Angel more than Buffy, cats
If Johnny Hiro pairs a realistic relationship and fantastic adventure, the hilarious and totally dirty one-shot comic Carl, the Cat That Makes Peanut Butter Sandwiches is all fantasy, all the time. Written and feverishly drawn by Jim Mahfood, and published by Nerdcore, Carl is about a supertalented kitty who makes the best PB&Js on earth. The only problem? He makes them for the Mob. The only other problem? His hot nymphomaniac girlfriend can't stop fucking him long enough to let him DO HIS JOB. Carl features hack-and-slash action, sexy girls licking each other's tits, Eskimos, smart jokes, and inconvenient phone sex. It is so dirty it comes out the other side clean again. It made me laugh like a goddamn idiot.
Recommended for people who are: difficult to offend.
Dan Kois writes about movies and plays and non-comic books, too. Also, he has a book coming out, about that Hawaiian guy with the ukulele. For the love of God, please consider buying it.
SURE BUT WHAT ABOUT BATMAN.
But seriously, I've been having trouble finding new comics series to check out, so thanks for the recommendations.
Yes, I'd only heard of one of the three. Nice job.
YAY! I'm SO happy you made this for us. COMICS RULE. Make this often, kay? It's important. I am so buying this nerdcore jam.
Oh WOW. I just realized that David Choe should totally be illustrating your prose. Slow Jams. Bruised Fruit. Mary HK Choi. Make this happen pls.
That is a HUGE compliment. His oils are sometimes slept on and completely amazing.
Oh, you guys have no idea how pleasing this is!!! I can just print this out and hand it to people rather than trying to act out the lively action panels.
Oh, hey, indie comics. So best. Let me break out an old issue of Milk and Cheese. Yes, I am a dick about everything.
Aaaaaack I have a thing in common with you that I like that. Evan Dorkin and Sarah Dyer are my ultimate OTP
Blankets. That is all.
Hey! I totally own this but forgot about it. It just looked like such a commitment also sorta sad. So it's amazing???
YES. But maybe not for coastal non-whites.
Amazing AND not as long as it looks. There are some BIG illustrations in that book (which are beautiful, also).
Amazingness confirmed.
Loverly. It's the only comic book I own. Oh, apart from some Julie Doucet… and Crumb…Tintin… guess I do have a few. And I seriously plan to check out these titles too. Thanks!
"It is so dirty it comes out the other side clean again. It made me laugh like a goddamn idiot."
This is the same rationale that I use to defend the later/contemporary work of Frank Miller to anyone who will listen and mostly those who won't.
OH MAN. THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. ELEKTRA LIVES AGAIN. But man, what contemporary work? As in DK2? BARF but definitely LOL on the announcement of a 300 sequel.
LOLS FOR DAYYSSSS
I disdained at first, but eventually came to enjoy All Star Batman. It has its moments, as in MOMENTS. You kind of have to put aside all politics when reading Miller, especially contemporary Miller, and then you are in for a goddamn treat.
DK2 was the shit.
as in real honest to goodness poop i wish i had never seen.
Totally talking DK2 and All Star. They are HILARIOUS and they are meant to be. And DK2 was doing glo-fi when Pitchfork was still into, like, math-metal.
^^gets it.
Can I find the last comic mentioned at B&N?
This is definitely unrelated, but does anyone know of a quiet, private and mostly unexposed nook at the Union Square B&N?
Needs more Sandman.
I thought we were past all the nerd anxiety already? No? Only in Toronto? Anyways. Comics! Yay. I hope Wolverine/Supes in the header wasn't totally ironic. All kinds of comics are all kinds of good.
what about mid 80s watercolor weirdo classic Moonshadow?
dude: FABLES
The only comic I've ever read that has been either good or great every single issue. Artwork is beautiful, the set up really clever and the stories quite engaging.
also, WALKING DEAD
Best zombie comic.
and the now finished Y: the last man.
All available as trade paperbacks, so reading them is REALLY like reading a book!
DUDE. FABLES. OH MY GOD. I got the hardback of all the collected James Jean covers and extra sketches and SWOOOOOOON it is SO beautiful. So sick. Also, agreed. Kinda can't deal with single issues and LOVE when they're a good long run so you can hunker down for a real spell. HELLO bendis x maleev run of daredevil. Also, I strangely don't like Y: the last man OR ex machina. When they were all, "SO NOW WE HAVE TO GO TO AUSTRALIA…" I just thought 'man, this is gonna take FOREVER.'
yeah ex machina sucks. it was decent at first but then it was like "the adventures of… the mayor of new york!" thanks no, i get enough of that already from our self-anointed king who probably believes he has super powers.
i'm surprised you didn't like Y. i would really recommend giving it another go, if you didn't get too far in it. i remember it kind of sucking for a bit but then it got better and was awesome at the end. but yo it's being adapted so you can maybe wait until it's on the tv or big screen.
If you don't mind reading backwards,
Oishinburo is kinda awesome, especially if you're into food.
Thank you for that delightful read. This from an old who has lost touch with his inner underground comic. Fuck that stack of Vanity Fairs, I'll try on one of these.
Please oh please will you cover the underground sex/drug comiCS of the '60s-'80s? My world changed forever when I (at 7) discovered my dad's ZAP Comix and Cherry Poptart stash tucked behind the Frank Millers…
No Grant Morrison love? Y'all are emo bitches.
UM. All Star Superman. We3. Basically ANYTIME your man gets with Frank Quitely I lose my mind.
My favorites are V for Vendetta, Sandman, Preacher, Jimmy Corrigan the Smartest Boy in the World, Watchmen and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but I am a beginner. This is a great feature, thank you!
OMG. Edith, are you JKing? Cause, I love Vertigo comics too. I dressed up like Death from Sandman 2 years in a row. Are you kidding? Please tell me that you are not because otherwise this would be a rather embarrassing comment.
(PREACHER IS MY FAVORITE!!!!!!)
I am not kidding!!!!!!!
Yay for mentioning "Johnny Hiro"! I just got the collected edition and it's great.
Also, hooray for comics at The Awl. "Ew, nerds" indeed!
Y'all are IMPATIENT. I promise I will mention everyone else's favorites soon. Actually probably only Oishinbo. I just read the one about rice on the train today!
Oh no, I am such a humiliating novice. How do all you people know so much? The only graphic novel I have ever read was the aforementioned Maus and that was because I took a class about the Holocaust :(
I did see the opening midnight show of Watchmen with Natasha though, so maybe that counts for something?
…no, no it doesn't. (hums Hallelujah wistfully)
I didn't know shit about the winter olympics, Katie. That is why The Awl is so valuable.
Finally! And now I am 2 for 2, vertical wish-wise! (Columnists, not comics and ice hockey. Must wish harder…)
* loves Achewood?
GREAT post and choices. Don't listen to these nerds… except rod_townsend and only if he means All Star Superman.
Brandon Graham has been a favorite for a while. I was really surprised to see Carl, the Cat That Makes Peanut Butter Sandwiches on here, but really great choice. Blew me away when I read it in Heavy Metal a couple months ago.
Keep fighting the good fight.
Hel-lo!
Hellboy? Mike Mignola? Anyone? Anyone? Especially great to read in the dark under the influence.