The love of Comics

If you haven't opened the pages of a graphic novel you're really missing out. For someone like me who loves art and loves book it is the perfect marriage. This photo is of my most recent graphic novel find "Mouse Guard" by David Petersen. Think Star Wars theme but the Jedi are mice. The art is fantastic and this little mouse world the author takes you into is crazy creative.

I spent a good portion of my summers at my grandparents cottage on Chippewa Lake in Michigan. After I finished my list of chores that my grandfather ALWAYS had waiting for me (washing and waxing their huge cargo van was the most dreaded) I would head to the lake. We had a paddle boat and a German Shepherd named Skippy who thought riding in the passenger side was how every dog spent his summer. We would paddle across the lake to the country store and buy comic books and candy. The rest of the day would be spent floating around the lake with me reading, soaking up the sun and trying to prevent the boat from tipping as Skippy leaned over to see what was going on down below. Now at the risk of aging myself I must mention that I think at the time comics were about .25 cents or maybe .50 cents. A comic book today is about $5.00! That is a lot of cash for a 20 minute read with mediocre art! This is why graphic novels are so exciting!

My first graphic novel was Eric Drooker's "Blood Song". The book has no words just fantastic art to carry you through the story. There is even a graphic novel version of Henry David Thoreau's' Walden! Now I will add a word of caution. Many, if not most, graphic novels are....well, GRAPHIC! Buxom babes in metal thongs, blood splatters across panel after panel. Sadly man's lust for violence and sex has even crept in to the world of comics. But great work is out there and it's worth searching for. The few I have mentioned are very G rated and thoroughly enjoyable.

Next time you're in a book store just stroll through the graphic novel section. There are some amazing artists out there ready to take you on quite a entertaining journey