January 2007 (PDF) - Antigravity Magazine

It’s that time of year... time for Top Ten/Best Of lists, andas resident comics columnist here at ANTIGRAVITY, thatmeans it falls to me to serve up a top ten of comics. Myformat of choice is the graphic novel, so I’ll be listing my tenfavorite graphic novels of the year. However, there were somany good graphic novels this year that I found it difficult tonarrow down to ten, and impossible to narrow down to tenif I included everyone. So I’m cheating a bit. My top ten willexclude the big two companies, Marvel and DC, as well asall their imprints, focusing instead on the books published bysmaller companies or by the mainstream book publishers.10. Wings (Purple Bear) Another strange, kind of sad butalso inspiring tale about afarmer who finds a puppywith wings, and whathappens over the course ofthat relationship. ShinsukeTanaka’s intricate pencilwork, not to mention hisendearingly cute puppycreation, gives the book asense of life and energy that is sweet and uplifting. This onemight turn into a bedtime favorite for those who have youngkids that like having comic stories read to them.9. Pizzeria Kamikaze (Alternative) This odd butbeautiful book by Asaf Hanuka is the story of a young manwho commits suicide, andfinds himself in a strangeafterlife where all suicideslive. He also discovers that hisgirlfriend, the reason he died,may have committed suicide,so he sets off on a post-deathroad trip to try and findher. Hanuka (along with hisbrother Tomer) does a lot ofcommercial artwork, and hasa style reminiscent in some ways of Fables cover artist JamesJean, and the book is amazing to look at, as well as featuring atrippy, melancholy story at its heart.8. Making Comics (Harper) Scott McCloud, author ofUnderstanding Comics, returns with a new volume, this timeall about what it takesto make comics. Avariety of analysis ofthe storytelling toolsof the medium, alongwith exercises in eachchapter for the wouldbecreator, makes thisthe ideal book forsomeone who wantsto improve their owncomic book art skillsor just learn the basics,and it’s also just a greatread for any comicsfan who wants to goa little deeper intothe hows and whysof storytelling. Asalways, McCloud takesa textbook type subject and presents it in comic book form,resulting in an engaging and fun read.7. The Surrogates (Top Shelf) Another science-fictionstory, The Surrogates is a speculative piece about a world where93% of humanity interact with one another using roboticsurrogates and telepresence,and the effects that has onsociety. The plot that drives itis about a fanatic who is goingaround destroying surrogates(amounting to murder), the twodetectives trying to catch himand the fanatical religious leaderwho runs a cult of anti-surrogatetechnology on the outskirtsof society. A thoughtful andimaginative future society, notto mention a good pot-boilerof a plot, are the contributionsof writer Robert Venditti, whileartist Brett Weldele provides moody, effective artwork.6. Grease Monkey (Tor)Tim Eldred writes and drawsthis all-ages science fictiontale, which takes place afteraliens have decimated Earthand another set of aliens has“uplifted” gorillas to humanintelligence to make up for thepopulation shortfall. The storyfollows a gorilla mechanic andhis new human apprentice asthey work as the mechanicsfor Barbarian Squadron, theall-female fighter squadron thatis tops aboard the station. Thestory runs the gamut from romance to pranks to starfightermaneuvers, and it’s a light, fun but never inconsequentialread.5. Supermarket (IDW) BrianWood, of Vertigo’s DMZ fame, teamsup with new talent Kristian to tell ahyper-fast, imaginative story of a girlon the run from the Yakuza and theSwedish Porno Mafia in a futuristicmega-city. Car chases, organizedcrime, hot girls, stylish guys, this is justa blast, and Kristian’s amazing stylizedart and unusual bright and luminescentcolors give visuals like no other comicthis year.4. 99 Ways To Tell AStory (ChamberlainBros.) Matt Madden’scomic book textbookmight just be for theprocess wonks, butas someone who hasno intention of evercreating a comic, I stillfound this endlesslyentertaining. Basically,it’s one very simple storytold in 99 different waysusing different comictechniques. It’s a funread, and Madden’s inventiveness is enjoyable to any comicsaficionado, but it’s must-reading for anyone who wants aninsight into the tools available to comic book storytellers.3. Adventures in Oz (IDW) Writer/artist Eric Shanower,who also does the exquisite Trojan War epic Age of Bronze,might just be single-handedly raising the bar for literatecomics with a sense ofhistory. This gorgeousoversized paperback,with IDW’s traditionallyexcellent (if slightly pricey)production values, reprintsShanower’s original storiesbased on the novels of L.Frank Baum. They’re highlyentertaining all-ages fantasy,and Shanower’s full-colorartwork is a perfect matchfor the whimsical, fantasticworld of Oz. If you’ve got themeans and a mind to scourEbay, you might find the deluxe hardcover version, weighingin at $75 but with tons of extra material, including story notesfrom Shanower.2. Action Philosophers Vol.1:Giant Sized Thing (Evil Twin)Written by Fred Van Lente andillustrated by Ryan Dunlavey, ActionPhilosophers is a series about reallife philosophers throughout theages, broken down into shortcomics stories that expound upontheir lives and their philosophies.Van Lente and Dunlavey serve upan idiosyncratic, cartoonish takeon these characters that is at oncedelightfully funny and clever andeducational about these thinkers.There’s plenty of material for this kind of thing, and a secondvolume was also published late in December. Both are mustreadingfor the philosophy major in your life, and just plain funfor anyone who enjoys good cartooning.1. Mom’s Cancer(Abrams) Writtenand drawn by Brian Fies,this book started life asthe winner of the Eisner(the comics’ equivalentof the Oscars) categoryfor Best Web Comic, andthis year it was picked upby Abrams for publication in a nice little hardcover edition.It’s an autobiographical tale, as the cartoonist struggles withhis mother’s battle with cancer. Sounds depressing, but it’sall in the execution. Fies leavens the heavy story of a familymember dealing with disease with hefty doses of humor andplenty of uplifting stories about how his mother and his sistersare coping. A fantastic example of what the medium is capableof, and very accessible to the mainstream reader as well as thecomic fan.OK, I can’t resist. Here are my top ten books from Marvel andDC, not counting Y: The Last Man or Fables:1. Absolute DC New Frontier (DC)2. Fables:1001 Nights Of Snowfall (Vertigo)3. Uncanny X-Men Omnibus Vol. 1 (Marvel)4. American Virgin Vol.1 (Vertigo)5. DMZ Vol 1: On The Ground (DC/Vertigo)6. Essential Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe Vol. 1-3(Marvel)7. Runaways Vol 2 HC (Marvel)8. Thing: Idol of Millions (Marvel)9. Essential Godzilla (Marvel)10. Batman and the Monster Men (DC)antigravity: your new orleans music and culture alternative_23