So you’re not into superheroes?
MANILA, Philippines - Superheroes aren’t for everyone. We get it. We understand that some people are just too cool for Batman. Some people don’t believe the “with great power, comes great responsibility” hype. It’s not your fault. It’s not our fault. Maybe it’s some other guy’s fault. But that shouldn’t mean that you’ll never ever like comics. If that’s the case, then stop reading this and never talk to us again. If you’ve wanted to read comics but just not superhero comics, may we interest you in some of our highest recommendations?
Blankets by Craig Thompson
Acclaimed writer and illustrator Craig Thompson wonderfully makes his autobiography in the form of a graphic novel–yes, on this rare occasion, you can actually call Blankets a “graphic novel.” Blankets boasts a coming-of-age masterpiece. Thompson more than reflects on how he grew up in a Christian household along with the struggles of sibling rivalry and one’s first love, all told in 592 pages of glorious ink-brushed art. The book is probably one of the thickest graphic novels out there but is extremely worth that little arm pain you get from carrying it. Thompson’s art is inspiring with a variety of textures used through his ink brush. Apart from the art, Blankets is a touching true story and is one of the finest coming-of-age stories in comics. Thompson knows how to give that heart a pinch and hits your soft spot. An autobiographical account in comic book form is something you don’t see everyday and Blankets is even that rare example of one that transcends the medium. If you ever wanted your girlfriend to read comics, give her Blankets.
Criminal by Ed Brubaker and Sean Philips
Dark and gritty violence is what you get in the crime-noir series of Ed Brubaker and Sean Philips. In Criminal, a pickpocket, an army veteran, a criminal prodigy, and an expert forger are just some of the characters that exist in the fictional world of Center City. Each volume of Criminal is self-contained but when read together offer a deeper world wherein the characters from one story intersect with the other. Writer Ed Brubaker is always at his best when he works on Criminal. The stories hearken back to the old noir pulp comics but given a modern take with some of the most fleshed-out character development stories in comics. Most people are used to seeing the good guys saving the day and getting the girl but Criminal shows the other side of that coin in a world with no happy endings. Sean Philips does for the art what Brubaker does for the script, which is make it absolutely perfect. Philips is a master of playing with shadows and mood so that each scene makes the comic truly standout from the colorful spandex comics. Criminal currently has six volumes and does not have to be read in chronological order but if you were to ask us, better start with Criminal: The Last of the Innocent.
Summer Blonde by Adrian Tomine
If you’re looking for a fun-time comic, you won’t get it from Summer Blonde. What you will get from Adrian Tomine’s seminal book of four short stories is one heaping pile of woe. And what a brilliant heaping pile of woe it is. What we love most about Tomine is his ability to know where to start a story and when exactly to end it. This, for us, is no better shown than in Summer Blonde. From a young male writer in his sophomore slump getting eerily close to a 16-year-old girl, to a just-fired call-center girl with EQ-issues figuring out what to do next, all the stories in Summer Blonde are clear examples of Tomine’s excellence in balancing a simple story with so much weight. It never gets too sappy or too dark. As both the writer and the artist, the words and art reflect each other effortlessly, with Tomine knowing when to draw close-ups to go with the words and when to switch the angle for that one-two punch of a last line. The stories in Summer Blonde are far from happy. Like most of his work, Tomine’s tales are often of loneliness and disconnection. But it is that same loneliness that the characters are able to share with the readers. And in that disconnection—as cheesy as it sounds—is where Tomine let’s us connect with the story. If the adage of “write what you know” is true, then Tomine has brought forth what he knows as misery into one remarkable comic. Adrian Tomine forgoes the explosions and shouting matches and with Summer Blonde favors the struggle in every quiet moment.
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Want more recommendations? How ‘bout a hug? Email us at jiggyandjonty@gmail.com for all your comic book concerns.
