My Comics Reading List #12

Last time I covered most of my UK reading, this time out it's the rest of the world...

113. LASTMAN VOLUME ONE (Public Library) 

Bastien Vives is a French cartoonist subject to much controversy, although a lot of his work has been translated into English. This is the unfinished First Second version of a series currently being re-released by Image. Here is a good interview with the three creators explaining who does what on the manga-influenced series. Despite Vives' more transgressive work, this is a good deal of fun and I'll probably read more of the series.

114. THE HOUSE ON THE BORDERLAND (Public Library)

This adapts the William Hope Hodgson novel from 1908, it's Gothic atmosphere and otherwordly horror are right up Richard Corben's alley (as are the frequently naked Brother and Sister). Highly recommended for Corben fans.

115. 116. 117. THE HERO COMICS #37; THE RETURN OF GORGO #31; KONGA #25 (Kickstarter)

The best way to keep up with Robin Snyder's Steve Ditko publications is through subscribing to THE COMICS. The second best place is kickstarter, several new books come out on there every year. The newest being HERO COMICS #37, which includes classic Ditko Captain Atom and Blue Beetle, Robert Kanigher The Bouncer, and more recent Ditko creations. I got the bundle with the reprints of the Joe Gill/Steve Ditko Charlton monster comics. The Gill writing is poignant in places, the mother/child Gorgo are particularly heart-breaking.

118. TOKAIMURA - 99

This is the only comic J Webster Sharp had in her shop, so I ordered direct from the UK. It's a harrowing graphic medicine story, the art is very realistic unlike her more famous fantastic art. It's still available from the link, if you are curious. 

119. VOICES THAT COUNT (Hoopla app)

image from IDW shop

An anthology pairing women Spanish authors and artists, in a collection of uniquely female perspectives. Loading the Canon used to call these NPR graphic novels, but this is saved by some good choices of artists.

120. THE JUNCTION (Hoopla app)

image from Previews World

What the hell? I feel like a complete idiot waiting so long to read this one. UK artist Norm Konyu put this out himself when I first started on twitter in 2020, I believe. I was vaguely put off by the geometrical animation-type style he employed, and it seemed to be a story about kids or childhood. Titan, having a good run of graphic novels with MOTHER NATURE also covered around here, re-released this fairly recently. And, upon a recommendation from LahRasa on her and ComicKkrakK's Sunday Chat livestream, I finally checked it out. This is such a well-written (and structured) horror story, and the art style ends up supporting the story perfectly.  

121. VAMPIRELLA ARCHIVES #15 (Hoopla app)

This is, I think, the archive collecting the final Warren issues. Jose Gonzalez is the main draw here, as the Vampirella stories were not as strong as the art. Just look at this wide range of techniques in just three panels...

122. VALERIAN AND LAURELINE: BIRDS OF THE MASTER VOLUME FIVE (Libby app)

The art by Jean-Claude Mezieres gets better with each volume, the temple below was a real standout. The story was pretty complex as well...

123. COMICS FOR CHOICE (Hoopla app)

There are points made in here that pissed me off, but overall I think this is a successful argument for women's reproductive rights. Here is the list of contributors from the Silver Sprocket site:

124. BLACK IS THE COLOR (Hoopla app)

125. LAID TO WASTE (Hoopla app)

Julia Gfrorer is a master of horror with real depth and originality. The tired cliches of mermaids and plague are ripped apart and rearranged to suit Gfrorer's ends.

126. MOUNTEBANK: A PSYCHEDOOLIC  SKETCHBOOK (Hoopla app)

This was an intense visual experience, printed according to D.W.'s intentions it forms a unique kind of narrative. One of the only digital books I've read that have retained the tactile sense and rhythm of a physical book. (Shout out to D.W. for being the only artist to remind me of the ID-spillage of Steve Willis)

127. MAN AND SUPERMAN AND OTHER STORIES (Hoopla app)

A companion book to the earlier Fantagraphics collection, CORPSE ON THE IMJIN AND OTHER STORIES. This volume collects most of the non-war stories drawn (and sometimes written) by Harvey Kurtzman. Includes his first effort at non-humor work "Lucky Fights it Through".

129. LAND OF THE SONS (Comixology Unlimited)

This is the first book by Italian cartoonist Gipi I've managed to read. Gipi is one of those European greats equally adept at writing as he is at drawing. And the drawing is freaking insane. He is able to slow the narrative or speed it up just by how he puts pen lines on the page. Just a masterclass in comics storytelling.

130. SUBLIFE VOLUME #1 (Comixology Unlimited)

John Pham (J&K) solo comic anthology from the 00s. Not much to say, as it's from an era I don't know a lot about. Of it's time, but that's definitely not a negative.

131. YO, MISS: A GRAPHIC LOOK AT HIGH SCHOOL (Public Library)

I'm a sucker for a pro-teacher story, and this a fairly well-done account of a year in a NY high school program for students at high risk of not graduating. Lisa Wilde's art gets the job done, although I do love these occasional unconventional pages...

132. ISLANDIA VOLUME #2 (Libby app)

A historical supernatural story with many twists and turns. French artist Marc Vedrines isn't someone I'm familiar with, but will keep an eye out for more than these two volumes of ISLANDIA.

The art is so great, wide open or claustrophobic when needed.

133. ESTEBAN VOLUME TWO (Libby app)

French artist Matthieu Bonhomme (Lucky Luke) spins a wild adventure story with a very depressing ending. Some of these Europe Comics digital releases have stunning art, but I think their failing is simply the genre stories that don't have a built in audience in the US. Though, I certainly enjoy them.

135. 136. 137. ALCYON I II and III (Libby app)

This is a decent action story,  by prolific French author Richard Marazono, of three groups of people chasing each other through ancient Greece, with scheming Greek gods and other mythical creatures along for the ride. Some comic relief, some horror elements, mixed with Manga-influenced art are a few positive elements in this series.