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Annual Comics Plea

Last year, Donna helped me out big time with recommending a whole slew of trade paperbacks/graphic novels to check out. I picked up a pile of books in the following weeks, and I just finished the last book (a trade paperback that is incredibly thin, but it took me eight months to finish reading it). Now I'm at a point where I want to go back to the proverbial well.

As much as I like reading comics (and reading in general), I'm still not someone who regularly reads comics. Usually, if there's a movie connection, I'm more inclined. (You won't believe how much more of Watchmen I get now because of seeing the movie a few times.) I have an interest in reading the Scott Pilgrim Vs. books mainly because Edgar Wright's next film is based on the series. So there's an in right there. Plus, I want to finally read From Hell.

But as exciting as it is to get back into the swing of things with reading trade paperbacks and graphic novels, it seems without fail that steam will be lost in finding more books to read. Taking chances can be pricey, and there's only so many chances I can take before I get frustrated.

Once again, I'm fielding suggestions. I lean more towards the kinds of worlds that Alex Robinson, Craig Thompson, Andi Watson, and Guy Delisle write about, and I lean away from superheroes, gritty noir, and over-the-top fantasy. Maybe having that attitude will always relegate me to the ghetto of searching far and wide for indie comics, but there are things worth searching for. It's just going into one of the biggest and best comics stores in Dallas can be really daunting looking at their extensive trade paperback section. Any help would be appreciated!

Comments

donnadb said…
Asterios Polyp, which just came out, is a sublime piece of work. Have you started on Chris Ware yet? Jimmy Corrigan, The Smartest Kid On Earth is astounding. And what about Clowes? Caricature is about the best short-storyesque piece the medium has ever produced. Did I recommend Seth, It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken before? His latest, George Sprot is pretty extraordinary, too. Hope none of these are repeats -- I'm typing in a hurry and haven't gone back to the original post. :)
7:48 AM
Eric Grubbs said…
With the exception of Jimmy Corrigan, none of these are repeats. Thanks much for the recommendations! I'll keep you and Noel in the loop on what I end up picking up.
10:27 AM
Leor said…
The Scott Pilgrim series is fantastic... a friend recommended them a little while ago, but I only started reading them last week and was hooked after the first few pages. It's so intimately perceived and the down-to-earth aspects really transcend what evolves into quite an adventurous tale...

Not sure what to think of Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim in the upcoming film... I think the role really needs some versatility, though if Cera can do it, I'll be there opening night!
12:12 AM
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