Reading is a nice way to nourish your brain and skills. For starters, it can improve your critical thinking, vocabulary and communication skills. You might also like to read for fun or to pass the time. The pandemic has especially thrown us into a situation where we spend most of our time with ourselves, not to mention that we have been left with more than enough time in our hands with a significant decrease in outdoor activities.
So if you are a fan of comic books, then this guide covers some of the novels you should add to your bucket list.
“Nimona” by Noelle Stevenson
This graphic novel is quite a thrill. It follows Nimona, a known shapeshifter, and Ballister Blackheart, the villain in with a vendetta. Both characters are swift in their partnership as sidekick and supervillain, respectively, and are about to wreak some serious havoc as the story’s conflict unfolds. Their underlying goal is to demonstrate to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his friends at the Institution of Law Enforcement are not the heroes who everyone believes they are.
Reading “Nimona” will put you on a realistic path. You will be tempted to believe that you are on the same exhilarating journey with Blackheart and Nimona on their mission. The novel is an example of well-thought-out characters and a deep plot. One more thing: the dialogue will leave you wanting to join the conversation!
“Watchmen” by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
This Hugo Award-winning graphic novel was first published in 1986 and 1987 as a series of twelve parts. It came out and proved to be a game-changer in graphic novels, no wonder it became so popular with its readers.
The famous graphic novel chronicles the fall from grace of a group of superheroes who human failings have plagued. Alan Moore makes it his business to present an alternative image of superheroes, as an unknown assassin stakes them along the way. David Gibbon’s art makes the novel feel more apt in detail as he presents the relatable emotions throughout the book. If you have been thinking of becoming a superhero, think again. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons will tell you why in “Watchmen.”
“This One Summer” by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki
The comic novel written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki is a new entry. How so? Well, there are, agreeably, myriad comics about awkward young men struggling with adolescence and dealing with anxiety, self-consciousness, and the emotions that come with transitioning into adulthood. But there aren’t many about girls transitioning into womanhood, which is probably why “This One Summer” stands out.
The story is about two girls whose families have been spending summers at the same lake for years. The novel captured the transformation when expressed, and unexpressed feelings begin to color and distort childhood friendship. Other emotions such as jealousy, fear, and rage take center stage, and everything changes. If you want to feel the transition that happens with most girls, “This One Summer” will do justice.
“The Joker” by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson
The trio created the character The Joker, who appears in the comic published by DC Comics. The comic is named after a playing card and with a calling card from a deck of 54. It is then hardly a surprise that the joker is recognized as a bit of a gambling man. It is one of the top books for gamers in this list. The book became an instant thrill and hit since its release. It has also been recognized as one of the Injustice Society founding members; the antithesis of the Justice Society of America. No wonder it is one of the most popular comic books to date!
“Sweet Tooth” by Jeff Lemire
Jeff Lemire is considered one of the most creative and straightforward cartoonists. In “Sweet Tooth,” the comic that was agreed upon as the judges’ choice, Lemire tells an apocalyptic tale of a naïve young human-deer hybrid and his taciturn protector who is harboring a secret. The comic represents every creative energy that makes Lemire a sought-after creator, including his expressive artwork and dialogue in his characters. Besides, the tight plotting filled with shocking revelations and plot moving back and forth makes the comic a great choice.
“Through the Woods” by Emily Carrol
Like most strange things come from the wood, you would say that Carroll’s comic, which also passes as horror, came from the woods. That probably explains the motivation of the title. But no, Carroll’s collection of short stories will leave you disturbed, embarrassed, and likely unsettled. But you will also be delighted because Carroll proves to be in control of the creative process. Besides, her captions and the character dialogue draw the reader to the page and into the plot’s intricacies.
“Jimmy Corrigan: he Smartest Kid on Earth” by Chris Ware
Chris Ware’s comic book comes across as inviting on the page. Bright colors, clean lines, and simple shapes will get you glued all day long, a probable reminder of your earliest childhood. Ware has his unique ability to create tension between words and images and to leave you entertained. However, the stories he tells cannot be said to be as optimistic. For example, the poor Jimmy Corrigan is a sad and feckless young boy whose adulthood does not change things for the better. Instead, he grows into a tragic and feckless adult. While we would say he is consistent with characters, he also creates a contrast between words and the bright illustrations on the page.
“How to Be Happy” by Eleanor Davis
Davis is an enthusiastic writer and draws surreal and deeply funky comics about people who find themselves in a funk. She uses the characters to bring forth the important ideas on life in the comic book. For example, one of the characters urges the reader to find stories that will help one comprehend the incomprehensible. At another point, the character advises that one should find stories that make them stronger. These ideas reveal raw emotion in the craft, which draws the reader in a more personal sense. Read “How to Be Happy” if you wish to be happy and find deep meaning in life.
“A Contract with God” by Will Eisner
Eisner’s collection of comic short stories was published in 1978 and has been widely regarded as the first graphic novel. It remains one of the most beloved of all time. Eisner sets his stories in and around a Lower East Side tenement building, and this has drawn suspicions that it could be the building in which he grew up. The moody and profoundly moving work made the world realize that comics could tell any story, and the depths of imagination depended on the creator.
In a nutshell
Graphic novels and modern fantasy comics are always fun and entertaining in the way they reflect fantasy and real life. Our quick list might just be a snapshot of the huge selection in the market but it has some of the most exciting and popular comic and fantasy reads you should try.
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