Graphic Novels

Nearly 10,000 webcomics grace the virtual universe, and several recent how-tos could bump that even higher (see sidebar, p. 46). Webcomics' not-ready-for-prime-time quality attracts both creators and readers, and bound compilations can perk up collections as well as drive up a library's cool quotient.

Although most webcomics collections are self-published, comics publishers are snapping up fan faves. Dark Horse has an especially impressive line. On the lighter side of gaming and geekdom, its Penny Arcade and Megatokyo (see Graphic Novels, LJ 5/15/06) have been long-term favorites, while the more recent Applegeeks stars goof-geek Hawk and sweet-geek roomie Jayce, plus Alice, Gina, and robot Eve, in chibi-manga-esque art with a lovely stained-glass feel. From Blind Ferret this year comes gamester-slacker Ethan vs. the world in Ctrl+Alt+Del. (All older teens and up.)

Other amusing sitcoms include Kevin & Kell's wolf/rabbit lovematch (www.kevinandkell.com), romance with the proper superhero in Love and Capes (new from IDW), and the indestructible library farce Unshelved (www.unshelved.com). (All written for adults but fine for teens.)

Oddball and outrageous humor shines in Dark Horse's addictive trio of Sinfest (see review, p. 47), The Perry Bible Fellowship (LJ 9/15/08), and cult classic Achewood with its dryly raunchy absurdist melodramas staged by characters based on stuffed toys. Literary irony meets sometimes-subversive philosophy in Cat and Girl (www.catandgirl.com). In Goats (Del Rey), infamous among its many fans for catchphrases like "Republicans for Voldemort," humans argue existentialism and world domination with other-species drinking buddies in vignettes that lurch from one bizarre premise to the next. (All adults.)

Webcomics are ideal for topical nonfiction, for example, A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge (LJ 7/09), Mom's Cancer (LJ 5/15/06), and the ugly Philadelphia-based true-crime story Fishtown (IDW). Serious fiction includes Bayou (see review, p. 47), the Prohibition-based Lackadaisy with elegant felines (www.lackadaisycats.com), and the aboriginal/urbanite alternate universe drama Finder (www.lightspeedpress.com).

Most of these webcomics have won awards. Indeed, webcomics have their own Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards. For a webcomics sampler, browse the 2006 anthology Attitude 3: The New Subversive Web Cartoonists. For updates and articles, access webcomics news site ComixTALK (www.comixtalk.com).— M.C.

From the creators of Disney's teen series W.I.T.C.H., Sky Doll stars the bewitching android Noa, who breaks from her tyrannical master in a Disneyesque plot (Cinderella, anyone?) and learns that she has unrecognized resources and powers. But Sky Doll is for adults—Noa is delightfully sexy and minimally dressed, as are her fellow "dolls" on planet Papathea, swabbing spacecraft or working as prostitutes. The narrative context is also adult—and non-Disney: a cutting and very clever satire of religion. Instead of a male pope, Papathea has sexy Papess Lodovica, a manipulative vixen fronting a theocracy that sucks devotees of money and who killed (we think) her more humane co-Papess, Agape. After Noa stows away on the spaceship belonging to a pair of dopey papal emissaries, she and emissary Roy develop feelings for each other, and she unexpectedly discovers her hidden abilities amid a violent uprising of Agape followers. The series has done very well in Europe and will have additional volumes. VERDICT Highly recommended for its sophisticated, multilevel story, realized with gorgeously detailed art. With nudity and some sexual content; for adult collections.—M.C.

Fies's follow-up to his excellent first graphic novel, the Eisner-winning Mom's Cancer, explores the history of popular futurism. Opening with the gleaming 1939 World's Fair, Fies chronicles a young boy and his father as the boy grows super-slowly (in "comics time") to a rebellious college age by the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission. Between, Fies compellingly invokes the stories of Werner von Braun, Chesley Bonestell, Walt Disney, and the Gemini astronauts, often incorporating original photographs as he charts how 1950s American optimism about the future flourished and then faded in late 1960s and early 1970s turmoil. Inserted Commander Cap Crater comic books in period styles illustrate each decade's zeitgeist and provide many in-jokes for fans of older comics. Throughout most of the book, Fies wisely tempers wide-eyed wonder by acknowledging the dark side of scientific progress—but emotionally, he's clearly on the side of the optimists. His sometimes overearnest tone can awaken reader cynicism, however, and at points the weight of didactic narration risks overwhelming the story's emotional aspects. VERDICT Thought-provoking, this is recommended for fans of Jim Ottaviani's science GNs or Larry Gonick's Cartoon History books.—S.R.

The first graphic adaptation of the wildly popular Halo video-game series—a collection of short stories misleadingly titled The Halo Graphic Novel (2006)—topped best-sellers charts. Uprising brings us into the Halo narrative between the second and third games of the series, when the alien coalition called the Covenant is attacking Earth. While cyborg super-soldier Master Chief is fighting his way through Covenant troops off-world, Cleveland concierge Ruwan is just hiding under his desk. Then gutsy singer Myras comes in asking for guns—concierges know how to find everything, right? The pair teams up to escape the attacks and eventually connects with UN Space Command troops. The Covenant leader has been demanding a mysterious object, and it turns out that Ruwan actually knows what it is. VERDICT Master Chief's minimal role may disappoint hard-core Halo gamers, but casual fans and especially nongamers will be pulled into experiencing an alien invasion vicariously through "ordinary people" Ruwan and Myras, who share heroics and love. A compelling read with dark, grimy art that renders the aliens impressive but always ugly. Older teens and up.—M.C.

Originally announced for release in 2005 but delayed for over three years, this is an oversized companion to Fujishima's smile-inducing fantasy sitcom Oh My Goddess!, the longest-running manga in the United States (published by Dark Horse since 1994). Under a lavish embossed gold cover, it reprints four episodes of the series with gorgeous full color added, each one focusing on one of the main goddess characters: Belldandy (who came to Earth to grant college student Keiichi's wish and stayed to become the love of his life); her troublemaking sisters, Urd and Skuld; and her self-proclaimed rival, Peorth. Also included is an introductory parody manga by guest artist Yoshitoh Asari and a text section including chapter summaries and an extensive encyclopedia of the series that explains many details of its complicated English publication and translation history. VERDICT Because of the series' emphasis on female protagonists and its beautifully detailed renderings of their fashions, it may surprise some to discover that it's serialized in Japan in a magazine for young men. American readers of both genders have fallen under its spell, and for them this volume is more than worthwhile.—S.R.

This is the Bible that distressed 19th-century English philanthropist and man of letters Thomas Bowdler: not stories for sweet-faced kiddies, but sex and blood. Every verse in Genesis is here, unabridged, and treated—as Crumb puts it—to a straight illustration job. They're a conniving and licentious crew, these folk, and the Almighty had His hands full in weeding out the best of the lot as Future Fathers of the Covenant. It's all about seed and sons, and while the men squabble over flocks and wives and land, the women squabble over progeny and baby-daddies. Crumb folded in a good bit of domestic life as well as battles and blessings, working from the King James Version, Robert Alters's recent translation of the Five Books of Moses, museum collections in England and Europe, and swords-and-sandals epics. Zondervan's manga Genesis, pitched to children, is heavily expurgated, but Crumb's is the real deal and deserves its "adult supervision recommended for minors" label. VERDICT We could not expect less from the patriarch of underground comix—themselves notorious for sex and violence and deals gone sour. Indeed, Crumb's muscular, detailed black-and-white seems ideally suited to Old Testament scuffles and seaminess. Recommended for adult collections, especially in academic libraries.—M.C.

In this uproarious parody manga, aspiring musician Soichi Negishi loves Swedish pop and the movie Amélie, writes innocent songs about girls and food—and he's a virgin. But to pay the bills, he dons a caped costume, wig, and makeup and becomes Lord Johannes Krauser II, frontman for the "evil-core" death metal band Detroit Metal City. That he proves to have real talent for wild stage antics, punishing lead guitar, and obscenity-filled lyrics about rape and murder embarrasses him to no end, and he keeps his alter ego secret—especially from sweet potential girlfriend Aikawa, who's virtually the only fan of his personal songs. As the band's profile rises, Soichi can't escape humiliation by Krauser: a manager-mandated publicity stunt requires him to smash the instruments of a friend's pop band; he visits home to find that DMC's music has turned his younger brother into a delinquent; and worst of all, he repeatedly (and comically) finds himself slipping into Krauser mode around Aikawa. VERDICT Wakasugi's art has a goofy, awkward, American alt-comics look. Hilarious; much sick sex-related content limits the audience to adults.—S.R.

From A-boy (Akiba-boy, or wimpy geek) to zettai ryoiki (that stretch of feminine thigh between miniskirt and high stockings), these 600-plus entries focus on names of prominent people and terms relating to anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture. Copiously illustrated with photos and drawings, the encyclopedia also features a dozen interviews with Big Names across the spectrum of fandom: idol star, gamer, cosplayer, Comiket convention producer, "maid" role player, and sculptor of pretty-girl-type model figures. However, broader cultural expressions such as jigoku (hell) that may appear in English releases of anime and manga are not included. Journalist Galbraith is based in Tokyo, and Japanese publisher Kodansha has been known for decades of quality manga (e.g., some of CLAMP's original editions). VERDICT This inexpensive, attractive, and useful reference should have wide appeal for both otaku patrons and librarians working with manga and anime. Fine for high school-aged children and up.—M.C.

God and the Devil tussling over souls drives the overall "plot" of this irrepressible webcomic, but that's only a cover for satiric riffs on just about everything. Any cultural trope or point of view can be in for a figurative pie (or something smellier) in the face, like the Bible in blaxplotation-lingo, the Garden of Eden à la Beat poetry, politicians reconceived as musicians, or sportscasting porn. Slick, the main character more or less, is a hedonistic and wily scamp who confounds Satan by demanding a long list of outrageous goodies—like a "supermodel sandwich"—in return for his soul. As for God, He taunts His rival with hand puppets (yes, hand puppets) in the sky. There's lots of over-the-top sexual humor, including parodies of other comics characters ("Dilbert Does Dallas"), although no serious nudity or real sex. Slick, based on Watterson's Calvin, together with sidekick "It-Girl" Monique and their supporting cast are all drawn with considerable finesse in an American chibi style. VERDICT With pyrotechnic, politically incorrect humor wrapped around sometimes serious social commentary, this addictive strip is recommended for street-smart adult collections.—M.C.

In 1930s Mississippi, the swamps house an alternate world of bad juju, strange forces, and stranger critters—like giant Cotton-Eyed Joe, who gobbles up Lee's best friend, Lily, Miss Westmoreland's daughter. When the sheriff hauls in Lee's sharecropper daddy for Lily's murder and a lynching party is on the move, Lee's only hope to rescue both daddy and Lily is the equally gigantic Bayou, another swamp critter and Joe's opposite number. But Bayou operates under the thumb, er, paw of bossman Jubal, a bloodhound gotten up as a Civil War general with Klan-type sidekicks. Love's Southern gothic magical realism infuses the plot with seductive frisson, even if the symbolism gets a bit heavy-handed. Certainly, Lee's no cringing little girlie, and she kicks and shoots like the best manga heroines. The graceful and semirealistic drawings are enhanced by Patrick Morgan's lush coloring, in a muted earth-toned palette. VERDICT Bayou swept the 2009 Glyph Awards, and its blend of history, racial issues, beautifully drawn fantasy, and appealing story will attract fans in high school and public libraries. Teens and up.—M.C.