Cheshil.com -- "Graphic Language"

Graphic Language
By Tim
Edited by Devon

Graphic Language is a column on Cheshil.com written by forum member Tim and nothing else and is about comics as literature. His articles are edited by forum member superblyme. The views expressed in the article do not reflect the beliefs of Cheshil.com or any of its staff.

August 11, 2009

Today in the very second edition of Graphic Language, I’m going to write a big ol’ recommendation article because discussion only happens when other people have actually read what you’re talking about. Here I go!

If you like:

Video games in general

Ridiculous Street Fighter-style fight scenes

Manga style art

You are going to seriously love: Scott Pilgrim. Scott Pilgrim is the story of a post-college Canadian guy named Scott Pilgrim who meets Ramona Flowers, the girl of his dreams, at a party. Eventually they begin dating, but Ramona informs Scott that in order to keep her, he must defeat her 7 Evil Exes in combat. This comic does everything right. The basic plot set up is wonderfully ludicrous, the art is iconically simple and incredibly dynamic, and every single character in the book is well developed, which is pretty impressive given that there’s a cast of around 10 secondary players. Video game references abound in this book; there’s a Space Channel 5 dance/rap battle/fight sequence, a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater challenge, Scott dreams in Zelda, and every time an evil ex is defeated, they turn into an item. I cannot say enough about how awesome Scott Pilgrim is.

Scott Pilgrim is currently on its fifth book out of six. The sixth is going to be released in early 2010, as well as the movie and video game based on the books. They come in manga-sized digest books, and they’re relatively inexpensive, so buy them already.

If you like:

70s Kung Fu movies

Superheroes that aren’t as ridiculously powerful as Wolverine and Superman are

Special fighting techniques that have awesome names like Gouge of the Forlorn

You are going to seriously love: The Immortal Iron Fist. Danny Rand is one of several in a long line of champion warriors of the heavenly city of K’un Lun known as the Iron Fist. This book has it all. The first arc is a good introduction to the mythology of the Iron Fists and the Heavenly Cities, but things really get going on the second arc. It revolves around one of the coolest tropes Kung-Fu movies ever gave us, The Tournament. Powerful warriors from each of the Heavenly Cities are assembled to battle each other for the right to appear in physical world for the next 10 years, and it is awesome. Fat Cobra, the massive and massively powerful giant, Dog Brother #1, the samurai who runs with wolves, The Prince of Orphans, really spooky guy who can turn into deadly green mist, Bride of Nine Spiders, who commands arachnids to battle, and Tiger’s Beautiful Daughter, who is really hot and fights I guess.

Immortal Iron Fist is one of the coolest things I’ve read in a while - lots of action, beautiful art by David Aja, and awesome pulp Kung Fu style. Along with the great main story are in-between one-shots about former Iron Fists throughout history and the future. These are all really cool, especially the ones about Wu Ao-Shi, the Pirate Queen Iron Fist and the Iron Fist of 3099, Wah-Sing Rand.

If you like:

Street-level detective stories

The Marvel Universe

Badass female characters who don’t wear skimpy clothing or exist purely as a counterpart to male character

You are going to seriously love: Alias by Brian Michael Bendis. This has nothing to do with the TV show Alias. It’s about Jessica Jones, Private Investigator. She was a superhero by the name of Jewel and even used to be in the Avengers, but decided it wasn’t for her. Jessica is one of the best characters in recent memory; she’s intelligent, has a bit of a drinking problem, and is a serious badass. Over the course of the story she solves several superperson-involved cases, bilks J. Jonah Jameson out of a lot of money and gives it to charity, and faces down the Purple Man, a minor Daredevil villain, but a major Alias one. This was published under Marvel’s MAX imprint, which means it will contain naughty words and the occasional sex scene, so if these things offend you, grow up.

If you like:

Scary visuals

The disturbing Joker (as opposed to the whimsical Joker)
Very unorthodox takes on superheroes

You are going to seriously love: Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean. I couldn’t very well recommend nothing but Marvel books. I know at this point I should be paying 10 cents to charity every time I say or write Grant Morrison’s name, but that’s how good he is. However, in this book, even Morrison’s brilliance is overshadowed by McKean’s relentlessly creepy and occasionally terrifying art. The setup is that everyone in Arkham (meaning Batman’s whole rogues gallery, led by the Joker) has taken over the place, and they’re going to kill the whole staff if Batman doesn’t come in. This book shows an interpretation of Batman that is much different from the endlessly determined, almost monomaniacal crime fighter he is usually made to be.It’s a good examination of what proximity to insanity does to someone who is normal, or was at least. Oh and it’s gorgeous. The book is beautiful to look at.

So get out there, read some things, and I’ll see you the next time I write something.

Discuss this article at the Forums

<< Back