So it’s been a while, right? I’m still here, but things have been a whirlwind recently. I’ve got some really exciting stuff to share soon. I was bumped up to full-time Enterprise Systems Administrator back in February and that has kept me fairly busy. I’ll have some work-related projects to write about too. The big news will be coming at the end of May.
I’ve been reading and revisiting a lot of comics and manga recently, since I don’t have access to most of my tools and equipment right now. Gotta keep the imagination going somehow, right? I’ve got tons of projects planned and new food to cook–I can’t wait to get back in it!
Anyway, comics and manga. What a great medium, y’know? Sequential art. I believe there are ideas and feelings that can only be accurately captured in this form–the impact of visual art melding with the tension and juxtaposing serenity of literature. I’m just throwing words around, but in all seriousness, comics are really something else. They’re part of history at this point, subtly shaping the world since Action Comics #1. Superheroes found a home in monthly paperback releases, French detectives ran across the covers of their bandes dessinées, and lovable robots warmed our hearts in the black-and-white pages of tankōbon. Comics have only continued to mature and expand as an art form, eventually producing the graphic novel format that has become increasingly popular today.
But where to start? What’s good? Well, I can’t tell you that because art is a subjective medium and value is derived by the observer. However, I can tell you some of my favorites, and why they have left a lasting impression on me.
Comics
In no particular order, here are some comics that have stuck in my mind over the years.
Saga
Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
Saga is an epic modern sci-fi/fantasy adventure. Currently on hiatus. I won’t get too deep into the myriad themes this series tackles, but I will say that Saga deftly balances humor and adventure with some unbelievably heavy and oftentimes unsettling content. Complimented by a robust and vibrant art style, Saga grips you tight from the very beginning and ushers you through some of the most amazing worlds ever to be put on paper.
Bone
Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith both wrote and illustrated Bone–something not often seen in Western comics. Bone is legendary. Few other comics have won as many awards. Published from ’91 to ’04, Bone has firmly cemented itself as one of the defining contributions to comic history. Originally published in monochromatic form, full-color editions have since been released.
I first read Bone when I was around 9-10 years old–I remember the last volume hadn’t been released yet. I picked it up at our local library after I had finished every superhero comic on the shelf. Little did I know of the adventure I was soon to partake. What begins as a simple and almost goofy tale of the comically-drawn Bone cousins soon evolves into a medieval-esque plot to save the world from the Lord of the Locusts.
What stuck with me the most is Jeff Smith’s ability to maintain this almost child-like innocence and simplicity in the Bone characters, even as the world around them becomes more chaotic and forlorn during their quest.
Marvels
Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross
Not to overshadow Kurt Busiek’s impeccable writing, but the reason I keep this book on my shelf is because of Alex Ross’s sublime artwork. Every page is a masterpiece. The same could be said for any of Ross’s works, but Marvels is just my go-to example. The effort that goes into his panels in unreal. His understanding of lighting and color gives me goosebumps. His figures feel dynamic, weighty, and real. Alex Ross is without a doubt one of the greatest watercolorists of all time.
Thor: God of Thunder
Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic
Thor: God of Thunder was the title used for the 25-issue Thor series that ran from 2012 to 2014. While the whole run was exciting, the first 11 issues are the meatiest. Jason Aaron weaves a tale full of despair and anguish, with Esad Ribic’s enthralling artwork guiding us through each page. The story is fairly straightforward–a time traveler named Gorr the God Butcher has bonded with All-Black the Necrosword and has traversed the tapestry of time to slay various elder gods in an attempt to gain the power necessary to eliminate all gods across the multiverse simultaneously. Easy-peasy. So Thor (understandably) has to put a stop to all of this and teams up with his past and future selves to take down Gorr. The whole thing is just really great.
Invincible
Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, Ryan Ottley
I can honestly say there isn’t a single superhero comic quite like Invincible. It is perhaps the most superhero comic of any superhero comic. It might actually have everything you could possible want in a superhero comic–and more! Starting with a simple coming-of-age story, Invincible eventually develops into a mature tale of love, betrayal, time-travel, and all-out intergalactic warfare. The characters are relatable, believable, and well-developed. The art style matures with the story. I could go on about Invincible far longer than anyone cares, so just give it a chance yourself–you won’t be disappointed.
Manga
Manga gets it’s own list. Manga series tend to go on for years–decades in some cases–with hundreds of chapters, multiple story arcs, and meticulously spun plots peppered with a completely unique and engaging art style. Here are some manga that I often come back to for reference and inspiration. These are books that have influenced my own art, and my approach to art.
Peace Maker
Minagawa Ryouji
I love Westerns, and I love manga. Peace Maker fills that gap nicely. Beautiful backgrounds, mature character design, and a compelling story to boot. The series is finished now, but not every volume has been translated to English yet.
Berserk
Miura Kentaro
Berserk is easily one of the most brutal comics ever created. Gore and violence are an intense foil to a story of love, loss, and redemption. I can’t say for sure that I’ve read anything else that approaches some of the darker themes of Berserk. The story isn’t finished yet, but the existing 40 volumes that have been published since ’89 are a trip. Hands-down the most detailed manga I’ve read.
Eyeshield 21
Inagaki Riichiro and Murata Yusuke
Football? In my manga? If I’ve learned anything over the years about Japan, it’s that a manga can be written about literally anything. Sports manga are actually incredibly popular and typically well received (E.g. Prince of Tennis, Kuroko no Basuke, Haikyuu, Diamond no Ace, etc etc). My favorite part about Eyeshield 21 is seeing Murata Yusuke’s art style develop and mature into the style that has helped make Onepunch-Man so popular in recent years.
Death Note
Ohba Tsugumi and Obata Takeshi
Everyone knows Death Note. It’s easy to hate on for being the first anime/manga that people new to the genre are often recommended. But, in all fairness, it is recommended so frequently because it is actually that good. A lot of manga have this issue of beginning a great story and then not knowing how to wrap it up. Death Note is a good starting place because it is complete. It is clear that Tsugumi Ohba knew exactly which direction to take the series even during it’s time as a weekly publication. Death Note shows how it should be done.
Great Teacher Onizuka
Fujisawa Tohru
GTO is a comedy-drama series in which 22-year-old Eikichi Onizuka becomes a high school teacher for “reasons” but instead finds himself looking out for his students and teaching life lessons. Onizuka grows into a more fulfilled and mature person as he helps his students overcome their problems and tackles issues within the education system. The art style is goofy and fits the comical nature of the series.
So that’s about it. This was kind of a brain dump of some things I’ve been thinking about lately, but I hope you found at least some of it interesting as well. Comics are a huge part of who I am, and I am always ready to give recommendations to anyone looking for something new to read.
More technology, art, and cooking stuff soon!
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