Le geek c\'est chic
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A girl\'s guide to comics and graphic novels
graphic novel
n. A novel whose narrative is related through a mix of text and art, often in comic-strip form.
If you thought graphic novels were all about bespectacled geeks sitting hunched in a corner reading the latest Incredible Hulk/Spider-Man/Superman* comic, it\'s time you thought again.
These days, graphic novels are no longer the proviso of the super-nerd. Today graphic novels influence everything from fashion to film and we say it\'s time to embrace these books and discover what they\'re all about.
Here we\'ve selected 12 graphic novels that we\'ve enjoyed. Next time you\'re in your local bookstore, pick one up and have a leaf through... You might find you like it!
(*delete as appropriate)
Watchmen
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Watchmen : Guide to graphic novels
Written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, Watchmen is the Godfather of graphic novels. Published in 1986, Watchmen remains one of the most critically acclaimed graphic novels of all time. It\'s the only comic book to appear in Time magazine\'s 100 Best English-Language Novels list. Set in an alternative version of mid ‘80s America, Watchmen tells the story of a rag-tag, disbanded gang of superheroes who - apart from being heroic and fighting crime - are just like everyone else: messed up. Although most of the heroes are no longer in ‘the biz\' the old gang are drawn back together following the murder of an old colleague, the discovery of which unearths a much more frightening conspiracy. Full of wit, pace and deeply involving, Watchmen is real work of art.
Go further: A film version of Watchmen is due to be released in 2009. Alan Moore also wrote the excellent V for Vendetta.
Buy Watchmen, £10.99
Buy V For Vendetta, £10.99
http://watchmenmovie.warnerbros.com/
Wanted
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Wanted : Guide to graphic novels
Written by Mark Millar and illustrated by J.G. Jones, Wanted was dubbed by The Times as "the Watchmen for super-villains." Published in 2003, Wanted tells the story of a world where superheroes have been wiped out by an elite group of super-villains called The Fraternity who now control everything imaginable. Enter Wesley, a bored, dead beat office worker who suddenly finds himself being recruited by The Fraternity thanks to his inherited and as-yet untapped skills as a super-accurate marksman. If this were a movie it would be rated 18 as there\'s violence and bad language a-plenty, but if you can live with that, you\'ll enjoy a highly entertaining read supported by some superb artwork.
Go further: A film adaptation of Wanted starring Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy was released this summer. Mark Millar also wrote the graphic novel Superman Red Son: a reimaging of the story of Superman - had he been born in the Soviet Union.
Buy Wanted, £5.99
Buy Superman: Red Son, £7.99
Pre-order Wanted on DVD, £9.99
http://www.wantedmovie.com/
http://www.millarworld.tv/
Fray
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Fray : Guide to graphic novels
Written by Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon and illustrated by Karl Moline, Fray is a comic spin-off of the Buffy TV series set hundreds of years in the future. Taking place in messed up version of New York City, now known as Hadyn, Fray follows the story of a Melaka Fray, a talented thief who discovers that she is the first slayer to be called since the 21st century. Super-sharp, gripping and totally unputdownable, Fray is just as much fun as Joss\'s various TV shows and an absolute must for Buffy fans.
Go further: Joss Whedon\'s current projects include comic versions of Buffy Season 8 and Angel Season 6 - both of which pick up from where the TV shows left off. Keep your eyes peeled in early 2009, when Joss\'s exciting new TV show Dollhouse, starring Eliza Dushku, is set to hit our screens. Joss Whedon is also responsible for the short-lived and highly underrated TV series Firefly and follow up film Serenity.
Buy Fray, £12.99
Buy Buffy: The Long Way Home, £7.99
Pre-order Angel: After The Fall, £9.99
Buy Firefly on DVD, £13.99
Watch the trailer for Dollhouse
http://www.darkhorse.com/Zones/Buffy
http://www.dollverse.com/
The Dark Knight Returns
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Batman: The Dark Knight Returns : Guide to graphic novels
Written and illustrated by Frank Miller, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns completely reinvigorated a flagging comic book industry by injecting some dark energy into one of the campest crusaders on the block. Lauded for its groundbreaking artwork and spellbinding storyline, The Dark Knight Returns is the number one Batman graphic novel to own. Set 10 years after Bruce Wayne decided to hang up his superhero tights, we find Gotham city in a big old mess. The super villains may have been put away, but the streets are still not safe thanks to a gang of criminals known as The Mutants. In bid to bring Gotham back from the brink of ruin, Batman (now 60-years-old) decides he must pull on his cape once more and save the day.
Go further: Frank Miller is also the man behind the brilliant Sin City comic book series which is currently being developed into a second film. His graphic novel 300 (also a film) is definitely worth a peek and look out for his directorial debut in early 2009 when he takes on Will Eisner\'s The Spirit. If you want more Batman, don\'t miss out on Tim Burton\'s favourite graphic novel, Batman: The Killing Joke written by Alan Moore.
Buy Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, £5.99
Buy 300, £13.99
Buy Sin City volume one, £7.99
Buy Batman: The Killing Joke, £5.99
http://wwws.warnerbros.co.uk/300/
http://video.movies.go.com/sincity/
Ghost World
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Ghost World : Guide to graphic novels
Written and illustrated by Daniel Clowes, Ghostworld follows two teenage girls, Enid Coleslaw and Rebecca Doppelmeyer, as they roam aimlessly around town wondering what to do with their lives. Set in the early ‘90s, Ghost World is a perfect introduction to graphic novels thanks to its cool familiarity. As soon as you begin you\'ll instantly find yourself ripped right out of your current reality and shoved rudely back in time to those painful, confusing, yet halcyon teenage days. Short, sweet, sombre, strange, sassy, brutal and beautiful, you\'ll want to read it over and over again.
Go further: Ghost World was skilfully adapted for the big screen in 2001 by Clowes himself and starred Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson. Daniel Clowes also wrote the marvellous David Boring - even if you hate Ghost World - you\'ll love this.
Buy Ghost World, £6.99
Buy Ghost World on DVD, £4.99
Buy David Boring, £7.99
http://www.ghostworld-themovie.com/
Maus
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Maus : Guide to graphic novels
Written and illustrated by Art Spiegelman, Maus is the only graphic novel to win a Pulitzer Prize. Maus is a memoir, laid out in comic book form. It depicts the real life drama of Spiegelman\'s family and their struggle to survive the Holocaust as Polish Jews and the repercussions that these horrific events undoubtedly affected. Powerful, moving and skilfully realised, Maus is a stunning piece of work that should be missed by no one.
Go further: Art Spiegelman has also written and illustrated several children\'s books including Open Me I\'m A Dog. More recently he published a new comic book style memoir of his experiences of 9/11 entitled In The Shadow Of No Towers.
Buy The Complete Maus, £10.99
Buy In The Shadow Of No Towers, £9.99
Buy Open Me I\'m A Dog, £8.99
The Spirit
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The Spirit : Guide to graphic novels
Written and illustrated by Will Eisner, The Spirit began life in 1940 as a Sunday newspaper comic-book insert. Not so much a graphic novel (the entire Spirit collection spans 23 volumes) but worthy of note because it was written by one of the most important and influential men in the cartooning world. The Spirit follows the adventures of a not quite dead, not quite alive, masked crime fighter. The Spirit comics had it all, crime, drama, horror, mystery, noir, comedy and a lorra lorra romance.
Go further: A film adaptation of The Spirit is due for release in January 2009 starring Gabriel Macht, Samuel L Jackson, Scarlett Johansson and Eva Mendes. Will Eisner also wrote the world\'s first graphic novel, the critically acclaimed A Contract With God. His final work, The Plot: The Secret Story Of The Protocols Of The Elders of Zion was completed just before he died in 2005.
Buy The Spirit volume one, £25.99
Buy The Plot: The Secret Story of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, £14.99
Buy A Contract with God, £10.99
http://www.mycityscreams.com/
http://www.willeisner.com/
Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid On Earth
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Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid On Earth : Guide to graphic novels
Written and illustrated by Chris Ware, Jimmy Corrigan was the first graphic novel to receive a British literary award (the Guardian First Book Award). The Smartest Kid On Earth tells the story of mid-30s space cadet Jimmy Corrigan and his relationship, or lack thereof, with his estranged father. Strikingly realised via a brain boggling visual feast of symbolism, dream-like images and splendidly sparse commentary, Jimmy Corrigan is moving, surprising and beautifully crafted.
Go further: The character Jimmy Corrigan first appeared in Chris Ware\'s Acme Novelty Library comic strips which have been assembled into several handsome volumes.
Buy Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid On Earth, £9.99
Buy The Acme Novelty Library, £11.99
Pride Of Baghdad
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Pride : Guide to graphic novels
Written by Brian K Vaughn and illustrated by Niko Henrichon, Pride Of Baghdad tells the
true story of a four starving lions who escaped from an abandoned Baghdad zoo after U.S. forces bombed the capital in 2003. Poignant, touching and exquisitely drawn, Pride Of Baghdad is right up there when it comes to classic graphic novels.
Go further: Brian K Vaughn is also responsible for the comic book series Runaways and Y: The Last Man. Recently he also wrote several Buffy Season 8 comics and is one of the principle writers for the TV series Lost.
Buy Pride Of Baghdad, £13.99
Buy Buffy Season 8 volume two, £6.99
Buy Runaways volume one, £23.99
Buy Lost season 3, £26.99
http://www.bkv.tv/
Y: The Last Man
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Y: The Last Man : Guide to graphic novels
Written by Brian K Vaughn and illustrated by Pia Guerra, Y: The Last Man tells the story of Yorick Brown, the only man to survive a plague that wiped out every male mammal on earth apart from him and his pet monkey Ampersand. Interesting for it\'s take on how society would cope in the wake of such a tragedy, Y: The Last Man is a riveting read brimming with smart dialogue and fantastic artwork.
Go further: The film rights for Y: The Last Man have been snapped up by New Line Cinema and there is already a screenplay floating around, so look out for that later next year.
Buy Y: The Last Man volume one, £6.99
http://www.bkv.tv/
Modesty Blaise
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Modesty Blaise : Guide to graphic novels
Written by Peter O\'Donnell and illustrated for the most part by Jim Holdaway and Enric Badia Romero, Modesty Blaise debuted in the Evening Standard in the ‘60s. The comic strip, which appeared regularly for nearly 40 years, followed the adventures of sexy super-spy Modesty Blaise and her side-kick Willie Garvin. Now collected in 14 books, Modesty\'s adventures are a treat for lovers of retro pop culture, full of ass-kicking action and glamorous high jinx.
Go further: Peter O\'Donnell also wrote 11 Modesty Blaise novels and two collections of short stories. On top of that he has published several historical romance novels under the pseudonym Madeleine Brent.
Buy Modesty Blaise volume one, £6.99
Buy Modesty Blaise the novel, £6.99
http://www.modestyblaiseltd.com/
Tank Girl
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Tank Girl : Guide to graphic novels
Written by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett (who also illustrates), Tank Girl follows the outlandish escapades of a crazy, tank-driving, bounty hunter. Described by her creators as Mad Max designed by Vivienne Westwood, Tank Girl is without doubt the most irreverent heroine of our time: rude, violent, stinky and gross but loveable all the same. Tank Girl\'s adventures are wholly surreal and for the most part make no real sense, but therein lies the joy of this comic book - so just sit back, prepare to be bamboozled and let the anarchy commence.
Go Further: Jamie Hewlett is also the co-creator of the band Gorillaz and co-creator of circus/opera Monkey: Journey To The West. Jamie was also responsible for the comic strip Get The Freebies which appeared in The Face magazine in the mid ‘90s. Get The Freebies is currently being adapted into a drama series for BBC Three called Phoo Action starring Jaime Winston.
Buy Tank Girl volume one, £5.99
Buy Tank Girl on DVD, £4.99
http://www.tank-girl.com/
http://www.gorillaz.com/
http://www.monkeyjourneytothewest.com/
http://profile.myspace.com/phooaction/
More inspiration
comic,comics,comic book,graphic novel,comic book novel,geek,introduction to graphic novels,introduction to comic books,graphic novels for beginners,what graphic novels should i read,read,reading,book,
A girl\'s guide to comics and graphic novels
If you\'ve read your way through this selection and want to sample some more comic book delights try these:
Heroes
More info
Persepolis
More info
Gemma Bovery
More info
Fun Home
More info
Fluffy
More info
God Save The Queen
More info
Check out our Top 50 summer reads
