The Will Eisner Award Nominations for 2017 were recently released.
If you are a comic book fan, you know what this means. If you are not a big fan but like some comic books or want to give them a try, this is the list for you. Wikipedia tells me that they are sometimes referred to as the Comics Industry’s equivalent to the Oscar Awards.
I consider myself a recent graphic novels (somewhat less, comic books) convert. (There is a difference, but the terms are often used interchangeably). I recently took a class about graphic novels/comic books. The class began with reading Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud. McCloud, in his comic book about comic books, explains techniques and how important reader participation is. Readers’ brains work to fill in the gaps between frames, words that aren’t written, images not seen. The thickness and sharpness of lines, the gentleness of curves, and color all contribute to our reaction to the story. Reading Understanding Comics, for me, was equivalent to taking a Comics Appreciation course.
Authors and illustrators have their own styles that a reader might come to love or hate. Just like traditional books (or other media such as movies or music), they vary in style and encompass many genres. I encourage you to not give up on graphic novels just because you had a bad first experience or before you’ve given them a fair chance.
Here is a brief recommendation list:
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant by Roz Chast
Ethel and Ernest by Raymond Briggs
Killing and Dying by Adrian Tomine
Maus, A Survivor’s Tale, 1 by Art Spiegelman
Ms. Marvel Volume 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson
P.S. For the comics fans (including comics, comic art, pop culture, science fiction, fantasy, anime, manga, books, graphic novels, movies and more), be sure to mark your calendars for the second annual Mesa County Libraries Comic Con.
