Favorite Comics and Art books of 2007

ztoical

Nice post over at Drawn about the favorite comics and art books of 2007. I realised I'd read everything on the list with the exception of Scott Pilgrim 4 as I'm still waiting for that to arrive [stupid post office]. Thats prob a sign I should stop spending all my money on comics but anyhow I want to add a few more to the list and see what everyone here would list for '07 [remember to keep it to books published this year and not ones you just got round to reading this year, already have a big list for those]

firstly I want to second, from the drawn list, Garage band, Flight 4 and Exit wounds as must reads.

And add:

The Bolt by Tom Neely - i thought this was a great book, lovely character design, interesting story, wonderful inking and just the right length.

Awesome the indie spinner rack anthology Great collection of artists, something in here to suit everyones tastes and the profits will be helping a student at CCS next year.

Belladonne 2 by Pierre Alary I am sooooooooooooo in love with Alary's style and Belladonne is just amazing - I don't know if it will come out in english but I don't really care I could just look at the art all day. You can track down a great special print of issue 1 that has the thumbnails on one side of the book and the finished inked pages on the other - its listed on some sites at $125 but if you've enough french you can find it on amazon.fr or alapage for under 25 euros.

Trying to not look around my studio cus I know I'll end up listing a 100 books.

Fysh

I'm kind of surprised Exit Wounds made it in there, it wasn't a bad read by any means but didn't really do much that other indie/semi-autobiographical comics have done before. I much preferred Shortcomings, for example, because Tomine has a habit of using characters who are flawed enough to be unlikeable yet interesting. Haven't finished Flight 4 yet but given the precedent for the series, I'm guessing it'll be in my top 5 for the year.

the Shades

Oh my favourite comics are always lead by what makes my eyes groove. Or in other words pretty pretty pictures.

So I'd add:

American Virgin and anything by Becky Cloonan which won't surprise ztoical at all
Pirates of Coney Island so much fun but did the last 2 issues ever come out?
The Vinyl Underground: the story is intriguing and waiting to see where it goes but the art is scrummy!
Madman: Issue 3 of the new ongoing was a virtuoso performance by Allred as an artist and it's just the fun read it's always been, also no surprises here as I was recently dubbed as 'Allred's bitch'

bombidol

Immortal Iron Fist
Hellboy Darkness Calls
BPRD
MAX Punisher
Death comes to Dillenger

Its 9.13am though so gimme time

ztoical

Along the same lines as the drawn thread - the Angouleme festival has a list of the 50 titles published this year that are deserving of your attention URL="http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/?p=5914"]via the forbidden planet blog[/URL

the Shades

I just noticed that art books part, must have missed it before. Anyway, the answer to that is simple and comes in just one word. Favourite art book of the year:

pulphope

ztoical

the Shades wrote: »

I just noticed that art books part, must have missed it before. Anyway, the answer to that is simple and comes in just one word. Favourite art book of the year:

pulphope

That does seem to be the one popping up at the top of most peoples lists

ztoical

The Forbidden Planet blog posts their end of year top favs [as picked by Brian Talbot and Leo Baxendale] - another nod for exit wounds I'm afraid Fysh

ztoical

the Times top ten list for '07

Very interesting they put a webcomic at the top and the rest of the list is a decent enough mixture of books thou I wasn't to gone on the peanuts collection at number 10. While I love peanuts and have been collecting these really lovely collections, I don't think it should go on a list of best books of the year as its old work simply collected.

the Shades

Can't say I agree with much of the top books in the Time list, All Star Superman is fun but hardly outstanding, Jack of Fables is barely mentioned in their summary as they concentrate more on Fables itself and if one thing bugs me more than anything it's when the artist on comics is described as an 'illustrator.' Illustration is drawing a diagram for a book (or piece of writing), comic art is creating visuals that enhance the script and 'tell the story', in my opinion there's a massive difference.

ztoical

the Shades wrote: »

Illustration is drawing a diagram for a book (or piece of writing), comic art is creating visuals that enhance the script and 'tell the story', in my opinion there's a massive difference.

I will have to disagree with you on that point Shades - Illustration is most certainly not drawing a diagram for a book, if thats all its is why is my copy of the GAG guide to pricing 450 pages long. My BA degree is in illustration/cartooning, it was one department at SVA as the two art forums are considered very closely linked. SCAD no longer calls its cartooning programe that, the name was chanaged to sequential art and includes study of illustration. Illustration like cartooning is a commercial art forum illustrations are used to tell stories, to enhance a written idea, to sell products, combined with words or without. Look at the history of comics as an art forum and it is linked to illustration - manga comes from japanese prints, the spandax comics we get from marvel and DC trace back to the yellow kid, which started as a one page newspaper illustration.

the Shades

I don't disagree with you ztoical, in fact I totally agree. I disagree with the general public and sometimes critical use of the term illustration which often sees it as something lesser than other forms of art. Perhaps what I really want is a new term to seperate them both from the negative hang-ups of the past

Fysh

Not sure I quite get the thinking behind that Time list. For a start, while I've seen some great Achewood strips it's by no means the most artistically impressive webcomic I've ever seen. And I'm not sure Black Dossier is the 2nd-best comic out this year (again, it was good but I don't know if it was that good, particularly given its narrative structure). And, well, Jack of Fables & Marvel Zombies feel like they're there to prove that the author isn't some indy-shmindy comics snob, despite the fact that neither is a particularly good representative of its genre (Walking Dead is a better zombie comic and the main Fables series overshadows the spin-off, imo at least).

ztoical

the Shades wrote: »

I don't disagree with you ztoical, in fact I totally agree. I disagree with the general public and sometimes critical use of the term illustration which often sees it as something lesser than other forms of art. Perhaps what I really want is a new term to seperate them both from the negative hang-ups of the past

I must meet the people you hang out with shades cus I've never had anyone react critical or negative towards illustration or illustrators. France and new york have very high regard for illustrators - look at how Al hirschfeld was treated in his lifetime. Have you checked some of the online illustration portfolio sites like the IGI website? look a the range of work Theres a number of galleries, like the blackbird gallery, that only show illustrators work. The most I've heard illustrators say here is that Ireland doesn't pay the same rates they'd get in england, europe or the states but thats true of ever area of the arts in this county.

I've had negative reaction to saying I'm an animator but not an illustrator and I've had confusion with the term cartoonists as people think it means your either an animator or caricature artist. I like the term Illustrator and wouldn't want it chanaged.

ztoical

not really a fav list but the Beats annual end o year survey is a good read. Great mix of people from artists, writers, webcartoonists, manga etc etc

Fysh

A nice mix of people in that list alright. It would be nice if Heidi Whatsername had filtered out some of the more blatant bits of self-promotion, but there again comics journalism would be roughly halved if we could get the writers to filter that out.

(On that note, am I the only person to be sh*t-sick of being told that every comic released between September & December in any given year "would make a great stocking filler"?)

As for the Big Story Of 2007, I reckon it's Vertigo's Continuing Cancellation Of Decent Comics. I mean fair enough, if they're not selling they're not selling, but at the same time maybe this is just the logical conclusion of releasing creator-owned long-form stories that are inherently better-suited to TPB format - people *gasp* wait for the trade.

ztoical

Fysh wrote: »

A nice mix of people in that list alright. It would be nice if Heidi Whatsername had filtered out some of the more blatant bits of self-promotion, but there again comics journalism would be roughly halved if we could get the writers to filter that out.

if you check out the comments on the piece that is brought up and Heidi does say she did ask people to not just plug their next projects but points out she couldn't really edit their stuff as they were writing it as a favour for her.

Fysh

ztoical wrote: »

if you check out the comments on the piece that is brought up and Heidi does say she did ask people to not just plug their next projects but points out she couldn't really edit their stuff as they were writing it as a favour for her.

I guess it's not really the fault of any one writer so much as the industry as it stands now - I mean, I can understand people wanting to promote things they're working on, it's obvious. But a much higher level of shilling is tolerated in comics than in other media, which bugs me - take Millar for example, I've enjoyed some of his work but can't stand to read any commentary from him or interviews with him because I swear that every time he opens his mouth it's to flap on about something he's working on and how it's going to be AMAZING.

It's just a shame that it's so damn hard to get people to shut up about what they're working on, even if it's just for a minute, and talk about what might be important in the wider view of the medium as a whole.

ztoical

Fysh wrote: »

I guess it's not really the fault of any one writer so much as the industry as it stands now - I mean, I can understand people wanting to promote things they're working on, it's obvious. But a much higher level of shilling is tolerated in comics than in other media, which bugs me - take Millar for example, I've enjoyed some of his work but can't stand to read any commentary from him or interviews with him because I swear that every time he opens his mouth it's to flap on about something he's working on and how it's going to be AMAZING.

It's just a shame that it's so damn hard to get people to shut up about what they're working on, even if it's just for a minute, and talk about what might be important in the wider view of the medium as a whole.

The piece is starting alot of discussion around the place thats for sure. I thought Dave Romans comment on LJ was very interesting:

It wasn't that any one came across as self absorbed (especially in the sections intended for project plugging) But when asked about the state of the industry or the affect of a newstory most people had no answer, or said what they thought was the correct answer or mentioned something connected to themselves (or a close friend). So reading the piece as a whole you get the sense that nothing very specific happened last year. But I don't think that's the fault of any one person being interviewed.

I went back and reread the beat again and I thought he had a really good point.

With regardes to the self promotion aspect I know it can be annoying, and yes Millar is def high up on the "hey look at me" tree, but it is an industry that you really do need to self-promote. Even if your well published, having books coming out with a major publisher, listed in diamond etc etc you've still no guarantee of getting any sales. Anyone who was at the recent David Lyod talk will remember the whole first half of it being on why he had to self promote his book cus dark horse had dropped the ball. The general veiw by alot of freelance artists is that you can't trust the publisher to look after you so make sure you look after yourself.

And really giving a bunch of freelancers a question like What will be the biggest story in comics in 2008? you know everyones going to answer with MY STUFF!

Fysh

Yeah, I totally understand that comics is a niche industry. It's just a bit of a sad reflection that even the big names didn't seem to have much awareness of the industry as a whole outside of what directly involved or affected them. I picked out the 5 people on the list who I reckon are the biggest names or in most influenctial positions in the industry:

Ben Templesmith

2007 : Comic movies that incorporate the original art & artists (but that was more newsworthy in 2005 with Sin City - it's only news to Templesmith because this time it was him that was involved)
2008 : Comics industry weathering the US recession

Mark Millar

2007 : Starting to read indies like Walking Dead & Invincible (which everyone else was raving about, what, 3 or 4 years ago?)
2008 : Some Mark Millar project

Jimmy Palmiotti

2007 : Comic book movies continue to be made (...what an insight)
2008 : Fans following creators, not companies

Ted Adams

2007 : Dark Tower/the Big 2's digital comic efforts and how they're not very good (At last, someone talks about a genuine big issue - even if it is still self-interest since Adams is a publisher)
2008 : iTunes-For-Comics (eg Wowio) and Amazon's eBook reader (again, valid points)

Todd Klein

2007 : Black Dossier (self-promotion again, though it's strangely less grating when coming from a letterer)
2008 : San Diego? (i.e "I have no freakin' clue, and don't really care")

The sad thing I get is an overall impression of "I don't care unless it directly affects me". More people should be talking about digital comic publishing than just publishers, since otherwise in 5 years time comic writers/artists might find themselves in the same spot the WGA members are in now. More people should care about comic-adaptation-films incorporating the original artist than just artists on comics that have been optioned for film. More people should care about sexism and related issues in comics than a section of female fans & creators.

MarkHall

"I don't care unless it directly affects me".
Dude that an atittude that goes accross the entire human animal. We can't help it. We all do it some less than others but it's done.

Fysh

MarkHall wrote: »

"I don't care unless it directly affects me".
Dude that an atittude that goes accross the entire human animal. We can't help it. We all do it some less than others but it's done.

I get where you're coming from, but it's not as prevalent in the likes of music and film as it is in comics. Perhaps that's because journalists writing about film & music know that their target audience wants more than just shilling when it comes to Q&A sessions with people in the industry, but I'm not sure.

Look at what Ted Adams brought up - downloading comics. He mentioned the two rather crappy services launched by Marvel & DC, and omitted to mention the real reason this is an important issue - that comics piracy has reached the point where a book might be read by fifteen thousand people, but only sell two thousand issues, and thus get cancelled. Obviously Adams is interested in this as a publisher - he wants to both find a way to make money out of the larger market that digital sales will give him access to, and also find a way of avoiding getting screwed over by the illegal distribution of copies of his company's products.

But the issue is bigger than that. The issue affects every single person involved in comics, from the consumer (who may or may not want to switch from paper comics every month to a downloaded file which lacks the traditional tactile aspects but doesn't require storage space) through the store owners (who are suddenly facing a paradigm shift that might well render them obsolete) through to creators (who should really be looking very hard at contracts they sign, lest they end up in a similar position to that of the writers currently striking in the WGA) all the way to publishers (who now have the nightmare of trying to figure out a viable business model and what's required for a digital comics reader to be popular).

And this is at the top of the food chain, so to speak. People further down talked about it - hell, Steven Grant's column for Comic Book Resources has mentioned the topic repeatedly throughout 2007 and has been a really useful source of information on the topic. But people who stand to be affected by this don't mention it or bring it up, because it hasn't yet affected them. I really like Ben Templesmith's artwork, but the various issues surrounding downloading comics are far, far more important to the medium as a whole than whether Hollywood has finally realised that part of the appeal of comics is their visual style and that thus, the film adaptations will probably benefit from getting the original artistic team involved in developing the film's visual aesthetic. And it's not like the downloading issue is the only important one (though arguably it's the most important financial one). The ongoing issue of institutional sexism in comics hasn't gone away and isn't going to, no matter how many apologists rush to their message boards to defend that Mary Jane Cheesecake statue or the Heroes for Hentai cover.

I just find it really frustrating that the comic industry seems to foster this "look out for number one and don't bother caring what's going on in the wider industry" mentality in so many people, when it's the direct source of so many problems. Issues don't get dealt with if people aren't aware of them, and if comics journalism mostly aspires to be hype, shilling, or fanboy rage, that's not going to change.

ztoical

I wrote a big ass reply to this earlier this morning that now seems to have gone walkies.................sill boards. I'm to cold to remember what i wrote now, might come to my later after I've warmed up