# "It's a Bird" and other graphic novels **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 13, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197 "2008-03-13T00:55:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brendon\_small](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brendon_small/32/17101_2.png) [@brendon\_small](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brendon_small)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/1 "2008-03-13T00:55:46Z")
Just recently I finished “It’s a Bird” by Steven Seagle for a class, and although it was somewhat not what I expected, I really liked it. I am not the biggest fan of graphic novels, but I have enjoy the ones I have read (mostly) and think they are extremely interesting. Unfortunately, I have no time in my schedule for extra classes at the University, and a topics class in graphic novels was offered, but I can’t fit it in. I have also read and enjoyed “American Splendor” and “Our Cancer Year.” What graphic novels did dopers enjoy? Anything I should look at next? Brendon Small ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/2 "2008-03-13T02:09:30Z")
Just released is ‘Incognegro’. It’s about a black reporter passing for white in the 1930s South covering lynching. Good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/3 "2008-03-13T02:11:59Z")
**From Hell** by Alan Moore. The movie was crap, pretend it didn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![MerryMagdalen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@MerryMagdalen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MerryMagdalen)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/4 "2008-03-13T09:51:09Z")
Check out the work of Will Eisner. I don’t have any titles off the top of my head to recommend as best, but any comic book store will have several of his books. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/5 "2008-03-13T10:21:54Z")
_Watchmen_. Even if you’ve never read superhero books before, you should definitely read _Watchmen_. _Batman: The Long Halloween_ is the only Batman book I’ve ever read where the focus is on detective skills. It’s also wonderful noir. _Batman: The Dark Knight Returns_ and _Batman: Year One_ reintroduced Batman to the world after the cheesy 1960s Silver Age Bats. They’re both very good. ---
**Author:** ![pprgrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f6c823/32.png) [@pprgrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pprgrl)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/6 "2008-03-13T12:28:59Z")
_Top Ten_ and _Saga of the Swamp Thing_, both also by Alan Moore are excellent. Top Ten is much lighter in tone than most of the other stuff I’ve read by him. It’s about a police precinct in a city where everyone has superpowers, very funny stuff. _V for Vendetta_ is also an absolute must-read. Hell, just about anything by Moore is a must, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/7 "2008-03-13T12:31:41Z")
[QUOTE=brendon\_small] Just recently I finished “It’s a Bird” by Steven Seagle [/QUOTE] There’s no such thing as a ‘Seagle’. It’s just called a ‘Gle’ ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/8 "2008-03-13T13:31:58Z")
A _truly_ graphic novel is _The Arrival_ by [Shaun Tan](http://www.shauntan.net/books.html) - there’s not a word in it. It is simultaneously the most moving and most surreal thing I’ve read in the last year. A tale of immigration and displacement told with real magic and skill. If you believe in the American Dream (or Aussie Dream in Tan’s case) as embodied by the words on the Statue of Liberty, you owe it to yourself to read this. I can’t wait to get the rest of his books. ---
**Author:** ![Viridiana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Viridiana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Viridiana)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/9 "2008-03-13T17:22:31Z")
I more recently liked _Deogratias: A Tale of Rwanda_ by J.P. Stassen and _Glacial Period_ by Nicolas de Crecy. Both short but interesting. And of course there’s _Maus_. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/10 "2008-03-13T18:38:10Z")
I am a fan of Guy DeLisle - he has done _Pyongyang_ about his time in North Korea (absolutely fascinating) and _Shenzhen_ about his time in China. I hear he’s also got another one coming out about the time he spent…in a country I cannot recall…living with his wife who works for Medecins Sans Frontieres. _Persepolis_ by Marjane Satrapi also gets a mention. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/11 "2008-03-13T18:42:34Z")
So far I’ve enjoyed _Scott Pilgrim_ (series, starting with _Precious Little Life_) _Blue Monday_ _Blankets_ _Watchmen_ _Persepolis_ (I & II) and that really famous Neil Gaiman series, the name of which escapes my mind right now. Most of them, except Scott Pilgrim, were recommendations from two friends (waves hi to **mlerose** ) and I’ve greatly enjoyed them. ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/12 "2008-03-13T19:31:14Z")
A few reccomendations… [American Born Chinese](http://www.amazon.com/American-Born-Chinese-Gene-Luen/dp/1596433736/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205436051&sr=8-1) by Gene Luen Yang [Fun Home](http://www.amazon.com/Fun-Home-Tragicomic-Alison-Bechdel/dp/0618871713/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205436089&sr=1-1) by Alison Bechdel [Blankets](http://www.amazon.com/Blankets-Craig-Thompson/dp/1891830430/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205436127&sr=1-1) and [Goodbye, Chunky Rice](http://www.amazon.com/Good-bye-Chunky-Rice-Craig-Thompson/dp/0375714766/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205436127&sr=1-2) by Craig Thompson [Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth](http://www.amazon.com/Jimmy-Corrigan-Smartest-Kid-Earth/dp/0375714545/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205436181&sr=1-1) by Chris Ware I cannot possibly reccomend Jimmy Corrigan highly enough. It is a masterpiece, plain and simple. Several portions of the book had me in tears. It is one of the most affecting comics I have ever read. Chris Ware is a genius, and you may also want to check out [The Acme Novelty Library](http://www.amazon.com/Acme-Novelty-Library-Chris-Ware/dp/0375422951/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205436181&sr=1-3) if you ever come across it. [Persepolis](http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Persepolis-Major-Motion-Picture/dp/0375714839/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205436281&sr=1-3) was recently made into a really, really good movie, so you might want to see that instead if time is an issue. The movie follows the same plot as the book, but I found it to vary in atmosphere somewhat. They are both fantastic. > [@](#): > > Derleth Watchmen. Even if you’ve never read superhero books before, you should definitely read Watchmen. I generally don’t reccomend Watchmen to people who don’t read comics in general, and don’t read superhero comics in particular. Not only is it really, really dense, it can also be quite confusing, and I think it’s much richer when you do have some superhero reading under your belt. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/13 "2008-03-13T20:02:24Z")
[Maus, a Survivors Tale.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maus) by Art Spiegelman. Moving as hell. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/14 "2008-03-13T20:04:39Z")
[QUOTE=shy guy] I generally don’t reccomend Watchmen to people who don’t read comics in general, and don’t read superhero comics in particular. Not only is it really, really dense, it can also be quite confusing, and I think it’s much richer when you do have some superhero reading under your belt. [/QUOTE] I agree, and would go on to say it is wasted on people who aren’t familiar with superhero comics from the 80’s in particular. I would also like to second Maus and Jimmy Corrigan. Crap, and Will Eisner. Any and everything by Will Eisner. ---
**Author:** ![freekalette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@freekalette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freekalette)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/15 "2008-03-13T20:22:26Z")
Are GNs and TPBs not differentiated in this thread? I’m assuming the Neil Gaiman is Sandman, my favorite! (Not to be confused with the Spidey Villian Sandman.) Seconded Blue Monday, and it’s sorta estranged twin Scooter Girl. ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/16 "2008-03-13T21:29:29Z")
Speaking of Will Eisner, I just the other day saw some really nice (apparently new) editions of four of his graphic novels: [New York: The Big City](http://www.wwnorton.com/catalog/fall07/032805.htm), [The Building](http://www2.wwnorton.com/catalog/fall07/032816.htm), [Invisible people](http://www2.wwnorton.com/catalog/fall07/032809.htm), and [City People Notebook](http://www2.wwnorton.com/catalog/fall07/032806.htm). I haven’t read any of them, but they, like practically all of Eisner’s work, are supposed to be quite good, and the new editions are very nice looking. His other big project, the [Contract with God](http://www.amazon.com/Contract-God-Trilogy-Dropsie-Avenue/dp/0393061051/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205443356&sr=8-1) series deserves its reputation. [The Best of the Spirit](http://www.amazon.com/Best-Spirit-Will-Eisner/dp/1401207553/ref=pd_bbs_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205443356&sr=8-6) is a pretty good primer to his Spirit work. I purchased a big lot of magazine-sized, black and white Kitchen Sink Comics reprints of the Spirit from eBay, which is how I was introduced to the character. There’s such a wealth of Spirit material that it’s absurd, but the Spirit archives are pricey. The Spirit is really one of the only comics that revolves around crime fighting that I reccomend to people who don’t read or like superheroes. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/17 "2008-03-13T23:11:06Z")
_Girl Genius_ books, six in the series so far. Much raved over. Rick Geary’s _Treasury Of Victorian Murder_ series. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/18 "2008-03-13T23:27:36Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] _Girl Genius_ books, six in the series so far. Much raved over. [/QUOTE] Also available for free at [girlgeniusonline.com](http://girlgeniusonline.com), but well worth spending the cash for the dead-tree format. ---
**Author:** ![Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tool_of_the_Conspiracy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/19 "2008-03-14T00:57:26Z")
**Bone**! It starts out funny, gets funnier, then takes a left turn into High Fantasy without losing _all_ of the humor. It was originally in black & white. So far, seven of the nine volumes have been reprinted in color. (My whole family is reading it for the first time, as the color books come out.) If you aren’t turned off by the other Alan Moore stuff that people are recommending, **Miracleman** has its high points. Unfortunately, the early issues are uneven, in both story and art. IMHO, it improved immensely when the team of Neil Gaiman & Mark Buckingham took over. **Why I Hate Saturn** by Kyle Baker is an old favorite. According to an interview I read a long time ago, he pitched it to NBC as a series, but they told him that it was too NYC-centric and clever-dialog-heavy. So he sarcastically pitched another idea, designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator: Ghost Chimp M.D. (I think he may have made it up on the spot.) _That_ one, they were interested in. ---
**Author:** ![freekalette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@freekalette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freekalette)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197/20 "2008-03-14T16:16:03Z")
Hellz yeah, Bone!! How could I forget that one? _looks around_ Who’s got the Stupid Bat? I need to borrow it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-bird-and-other-graphic-novels/441197.md?page=2)