Chris Ware's Jimmy Corrigan, The Smartest Kid On Earth

Chris Ware's Jimmy Corrigan, The Smartest Kid On Earth was a quite interesting take on the layout and use of the graphic novel story format.  I chose this book based solely upon it's cover.  I know you are not supposed to judge a book by it's cover but this cover was just too neat.  It had to be an interesting graphic novel just based upon it's shape and cover design nothing bad could start off so interestingly.  I was not wrong.  The story was great.  My heart felt for each of the characters and I stressed when they did.  This I feel is a sign that a graphic novel has success.  The drawings and colors of the comic are beautiful as well which keeps you engrossed in the story and makes you slow down while you read.  The layout throughout the comic reflected that of the cover.  Everything about this comic was a unique fun read and the attachment the reader feels for the characters really makes this an extremely successful graphic novel. 

Blacksad

Blacksad was one of the most visually pleasing and stimulating comics I have ever read. Not only was it done in watercolor which is already ridiculous the standard to which they rendered every panel was mind blowing. The attention to detail and the simplicity of the panel layout made this graphic novel a very fast read. Most people discount anything that smells of even the slightest amount of furry culture. Although this comic could be put into that category it really breaks the stereotype of anything furry (talking, walking, animal) related being automatically lame. Every page was packed with dynamic action and powerful character design. It's impossible not to think this comic is awesome. The story is a riveting mystery which keeps the reader on his toes. I can't wait to get a hold of volume two and finish the series. The care the artist took with this graphic novel is really a feat in and of itself. I was reading an article about the making of the graphic novel and it said that if the artist made even the slightest screw up on the page (yes they did every panel on the same sheet) they would scrap the page and start again. This comic is a gorgeous riveting read that everyone should experience.

Mermaid Forest

I started Mermaid Forest thinking it would be a fun up beat Manga with pretty mermaids and fun and games, like the content of most mermaid stories that you associate with young people.  As I read more of Mermaid Forest I found out just how wrong I was.  This Manga is extremely creepy and has an odd undertone that made me slightly uncomfortable.  The idea of the pursuit for everlasting health is a cliché idea that has been passed down from myth to myth for ages.  The thing I liked about Mermaid Forest was how interesting a take they developed upon that common myth.  To gain everlasting health one has to eat the flesh of a mermaid.  This might sound easy but it is absolutely not.  Only a small majority people manage to survive the toxins in the mermaid’s skin and obtain their goal of everlasting youth.  Most people either die, become “Lost Souls” , or become terrible fish monsters.  This Manga was a fun read but very strange at the same time.  Manga reads very quickly with a lot of fun action sequences.  Didn’t take long to finish this one but I’m still formulating my opinion as to whether I would recommend it to people.  

The Jew of New York

The Jew of New York was a fun read.  Being Jewish and having some experience dealing with the stereotypes that go along with following that religion, I found this graphic novel to be a fun take on those clichés.  So many Jewish stereotypes exist in America and around the world and over the years of being affected and included within these ideas I have grown to find them quite funny.  For some reason I find the nonsensical nature of the character traits that go along with the Jewish religion so outrageous it just makes me crack up.  This caused me to have a lot of fun with The Jew of New York.  Every time a new generalization came up I laughed.  Most of the time when I read comics I pick a comic based on my mood.   A lot of the time I just like to sit and read comical graphic novels.  So The Jew of New York, whether meant to be funny or not, fit right into that mood.   The interesting look into cultural generalizations and America’s values made The Jew of New York easy to read, not just on a fun “oh I can’t wait for the next action sequence” level, but on a deep almost philosophical level.