Best Comics Of 2008

 

I dig the funny books (see previous blog posts) and as you all know there's more to the genre than X-ray vision and billowing capes. These tales seem to resonate and these deeper truths fire our imaginations. They wake us up, if only temporarily and vicariously, to something much greater than ourselves. And on that note…

Lets Go To Utah (www.letsgotoutah.com)
Dave Chisholm is living the dream. He is telling a story with Also, “Lets Go To Utah”. The book stars a young college student named Dave who begins to have horrible nightmares that push him towards Utah, of all places. Eventually, Dave resolves to head to Utah, but since he needs a ride to get there, a friend of a friend of a friend named Lief volunteers to drive, and hilarity ensues… as Lief is not exactly all right in the head, but his vices are not just “speeds” or “won’t chip in for gas” but rather “kills people”. Chisholm handles Dave’s reaction to what is going on quite nicely, especially when Dave escapes, only to find that he might be better off with the devil he knows. The story is very strong and the twists will have you guessing every issue. Also, the handling of the dialogue is top notch with very realistic back and forth between the characters. One of the best things about the art is the dynamic page layout. Each panel contributes to telling the story smoothly and supports the story well. The loose inks and fluid gestures create the atmosphere of a rollercoaster ride and as you turn every page, the ride and worse and worse and worse…until a complete halt at the end of each issue. Independent at it’s very best.

Invincible Iron Man (Marvel Comics/Matt Fraction/Salvador Larroca)
2008 year of the Iron Man! We all survived the summer onslaught of shell head. There were countless comic titles announced, crossovers, merchandise and oh yeah…a movie. We have seen Tony Stark go from beloved savior to pretty much on the bottom rung of the Marvel ladder. His company is in shambles, thanks both to the Skrull invasion and Ezekiel Stane's terror attacks. He's been ousted as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., and faced with the added indignity of having to hand the keys over to Norman Osborn. And if all that weren't bad enough, his Extremis powers have been eliminated, rendering his one functional suit near useless. “Invincible” seems to have it all…solid story arch’s, characterization, pacing, etc but Larocca can be inconsistent with the art at times (He draws the best looking suits but offers a lot wonky facial work). And…Marvel really needs an editor whose sole job is to monitor Osborn's hair style. It changes wildly from book to book.

What It Is (Lynda Barry)
This book is essential. It is the essence of the creative writing course. The book has a front section that is sort of an artistic, stream of consciousness, diaristic account of Lynda Barry's own creative life. Followed by a workbook…but it’s more like an inspiration guide. It's a great book about creativity, the imagination, self-expression, memoir…authentic and beautiful.