Category Archives: graphic novels
Me and Daniel Clowes and BOMB
I’ve got a review of Daniel Clowes’ newly-reissued The Death Ray in the new issue of BOMB Magazine, and over on their site, an extensive, wide-ranging interview with him. Clowes is, without question, one of the masters we have … Continue reading
Filed under author's own, comics, graphic novels
On Asteroids, Stereoscopic Novels and Time
Tuesday night, as an asteroid was coming very close to striking Earth, I was re-reading a graphic novel I was teaching, Asterios Polyp, that concludes with an asteroid hurtling at the main character, who is, yes, on Earth. I thought about … Continue reading
On Teaching the Graphic Novel
About once a month, I get asked by a colleague or friend for the syllabus I used to teach my seminar on the Graphic Novel at Amherst. Included below is a list of the texts that I used to teach … Continue reading
Filed under comics, graphic novels
“What needs to be true in this world for this story to be true?”
While I was watching Manila Skies, I kept being reminded of a favorite comic, Battle Angel Alita. Battle Angel Alita is a Japanese Manga title featuring an assassin cyborg who looks like the average Japanese school girl fantasy—just built with … Continue reading
Filed under graphic novels, manga
Refresh, Refresh
During the semester I read approximately 250 pages a week, to as much as 600, if it’s thesis season–and that doesn’t even include my own writing or my email. But I also don’t notice it–I just do it, like breathing … Continue reading
Filed under author's own, blogs, books, comics, essay, fiction, fox demons, graphic novels, novels, writers, writing
Shaun Tan is one of the most interesting comics creators working now. Last year he broke through with his picture novel The Arrival, seen above. This is from an interview with the Guardian, in which he comments on fiction writing: … Continue reading
Filed under fiction, graphic novels
This Is Not The Superhero Film You Were Looking For
In retrospect, the sturm und drang over whether the Watchmen was any good or not (as a film based on the graphic novel) made us lose sight of what it actually was—a story that’s at least meant to satirize the … Continue reading
Filed under animal savagery, comics, film, gossip, graphic novels, manga, what is right with us, what is wrong with us
I Am Either Where You Think I Am, Or, Not
It snowed this morning. It’s the first snow of the year. I woke up and there was the beautiful light off the snow in the kitchen as I came downstairs. I felt released from the fall. I took a break … Continue reading
Filed under blogs, books, fiction, fiction prompts, graphic novels, letters to you, meme, politics, what I am working on, writers, writing, writing exercises
Irma Vep, The Next Generation
From Warren Ellis’s blog, the results of an open call to remake the character of Irma Vep. This one is my favorite, by an up and comer named Daniel Heard:
Filed under graphic novels
‘Foxes’ Preview, Page 1
Teddy O’Connor, my friend and collaborator, has finished page 1 of the graphic interconnected stories (comic?) that we’re doing, called Foxes. He sent this over to me. It’s blank as I’ll be adding the text in later, but this is … Continue reading
