The Novel Life of Jane Austen: A Graphic Biography

The Novel Life of Jane Austen is a fascinating and informative look at the life of one of British literature's most enduring authors. Most of her works were published during her short lifetime, though none of them under her name, and she never got the chance to enjoy their eventual popularity. This book makes clear where many of her inspirations came from, with a look at three distinct periods of her life: first when she was aspiring to become an author, second when her family moved to Bath and suffered some financial austerity, and third when they moved to Chawton and had some measure of security. That was when Jane published most of her works, before illness claimed her at age 41.

What I liked most of this book is how well it captures the time period in terms of scenery, dress, and social structures. It also features lively dialogue that draws on Austen's works and displays its own sense of witty wordplay. The artwork is expressive and two-tone (blue and yellow), appropriate for depicting the mannered life of Austen's times. There are a few colorful moments, full of vibrant reds, when Austen's imagination and characters spring from her mind. There is much here for fans of Austen, but it is also very approachable for those unfamiliar with her books. And I appreciated the endnotes that illuminate some of the details of this biography. The Novel Life of Jane Austen is engaging and effervescent.

This book was a collaboration between two experts: writer Janine Barchas and artist Isabel Greenberg. Barchas is Chancellor's Council Centennial Professor in the Book Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, and she has written three scholarly books about Austen. Greenberg is an accomplished graphic novelist who is known for The One Hundred Nights of Hero, The Encyclopedia of Early Earth, and Glass Town. Together, they tell a detailed tale full of allusions to Austen's books and letters and with deft visual pacing and characterization.

All of the reviews I have read praise this book. Wendy Marshall wrote, "This graphic biography is a smart, stylish, and affectionate tribute to one of literature’s giants." Kirkus Reviews noted, "There’s nothing terribly new in this low-key portrait, but the focus on selected episodes gives a nice sense of the texture of Austen’s daily life." Kerrie Davies called it "a delightful reading experience."

The Novel Life of Jane Austen was published by Black Dog & Leventhal and they offer a preview and more information about it here.

Spectators

Spectators uses afterlife and science fiction future tropes to examine our contemporary lives and relationships with sex and violence. It is a wild book to read, one that will stick in my mind for a while to come. The story begins in 2022, when a woman named Val is stood up for a date at a movie theater, watches porn on her phone to pass some time, then gets gunned down by a maniac who is obsessed with a competition called #leaderboard. Her story does not end there however, as she becomes a spirit who haunts the Earth. She is unable to interact or affect any living beings, but there are plenty of other dead folk she can talk to. In an interesting stylistic choice, the living world is depicted in black and white while the ghosts are in full color.

Val spends the next few hundred years roaming around New York City, spying on people having sex (or using their personal masturbatory devices) and going to particularly violent happenings, some pretty popular pursuits among the other ghosts. Eventually, she runs into another ghost named Sam, and the two loners find an affinity with one another and begin to travel together. First they go looking for people engaged in a threesome but later getting drawn up in the increasing escalation of #leaderboard killers that kick off a series of international attacks that may just be the end of times for humanity. Clearly, this tale is an epic one with a grand scope, but it is also a commentary on people's obsessions with sex and violence, particularly in these times when both are digitally accessible within seconds. 

This book is about the end of humanity in the sense of extinction but also in terms of the desensitization that comes with our access to all sorts of experiences with the touch of a button. Sam's history especially brings this notion into focus, as he is old enough to have lived through Teddy Roosevelt's presidency and the early days of motion pictures. These ghosts are the ultimate lurkers, getting to experience people's most intimate and terrible moments, much like many of us can also via the internet and social media. 

None of this grand enterprise/social critique would work if not for the synergy of two superb comics creators, the writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Niko Henrichon. The plotting and characterization are as detailed and vivid as the artwork, which is well suited to grand vistas, dynamic action sequences, and private emotional moments. Both collaborated in the past of the graphic novel Pride of Baghdad, and they originally published Spectators over a two year period as part of their Substack newsletter.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. Zack Quaintance wrote about the original newsletter publication (and I feel it still applies to this book version), "With Spectators, Vaughan and Henrichon really thought through what sort of story would be perfect for this format, and delivered a memorable story along with a rewarding reading experience." Rory Wilding wrote that it is "a multi-faceted epic that ranges from sci-fi to the afterlife and an examination of humanity at its most self-destructive and raunchiest." Justin Soderberg called it "a truly spectacular graphic novel."

Spectators was published in collected form by Image Comics, and they offer more information about it here. This book features sex and violence on an intense scale and is intended for mature readers.

Absolute Wonder Woman, Volume 1: The Last Amazon

DC Comics made a big splash last year with the launch of their Absolute series, which feature re-imaginings of some of their most prominent characters. I recently read this first volume of Absolute Wonder Woman, published this year and collecting the first seven issues, and it is fantastic. Here, the Amazon princess's origin is transformed so that she is the last Amazon, brought as a child to Hell by Apollo and left in the care of the witch Circe. From this unlikely start, Diana grows up to become strong and well-versed in magical arts and eventually goes to the surface world. Arriving in Gateway City, she takes on the vanguard of a series of monsters determined to destroy humanity. Armed with her magic lasso and a giant sword, riding a resurrected, skeletal Pegasus, she cuts an impressive figure.

This book depicts her heroism in many different ways, and I love how it comes from a very different place than the original character but still captures the spirit of her strength, valor, and compassion in a fresh and powerful way. The intricate storytelling is perfectly matched by incredible artwork, which depicts the infernal realms, gruesome monsters, and emotional moments with equal finesse and impact. The action and the stakes here are epic, and the artwork amplifies this aspect of the story with its pacing and grad storytelling. Also, I very much enjoyed these versions of WW's supporting cast, such as Etta Candy, Steve Trevor, and Barbara Minerva. I am very excited to see where this series goes from here.

The main creators in this volume are writer Kelly Thompson, artist Hayden Sherman, and colorist Jordie Bellaire, with the last two chapters drawn by guest artist Mattia De Iulis. Thompson has become a comics veteran with impressive runs on Jem, Marvel Comics' Captain Marvel and Hawkeye, and DC Comics' Birds of Prey. Sherman has drawn a wide range of titles from a variety of publishers. Bellaire has won Eisner and Ringo Awards for her coloring work on a number of books. De Iulis has drawn a few books for Marvel Comics and also collaborated with Thompson on the series The Cull from Image Comics. Thompson and Sherman speak about their work on Absolute Wonder Woman in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. Tegan O'Neil called it "a miracle of a book." The reviewer at Short Boxes and Slabs wrote, "What works, I believe, is this: the creative team didn’t just pick up the familiar character and tweak a detail — they re-imagined the foundation, then built a story on that new foundation." You can also read a range of reviews of this book at the League of Comic Geeks.

Absolute Wonder Woman, Volume 1 was published by DC Comics, and they offer more information about it here.

Justice Warriors

Justice Warriors is a series set in a near future where citizens live in a "perfect," domed city called "The Bubble" and are surrounded by the "Uninhabited Zone," which is populated by mutants who live in squalor. The Justice Warriors are police who enforce the laws of The Bubble in the UZ, one officer a monster with a goldfish head named Swamp, the other a walking poop emoji named Cadet Schitt. Swamp is not a great officer, and in the course of the first few pages, his partner is killed in action while he waits for his breakfast burrito to be cooked. Those in charge are perhaps even worse: The mayor is a musician who is more interested in album sales than governing, the chief of police a robot obsessed with social media and not justice. And overall, the entire system promotes capitalism over any sense of morality.

Exhibit A.

This future comments on our present day in darkly funny ways, parodying our contemporary consumption as vapid and in service of maintaining a power structure of media and soft drink companies while shilling cheap goods at the general populace. It is a darkly funny book, full of extreme, slapstick violence and a Judge Dredd-level of social commentary where it is way too easy to find yourself rooting for the wrong side (if there is one). The adversary in this book is a band of Zodiac-driven terrorists, they are Libras, who are exacting justice by taking over social medial popularity and invading the Bubble. They wreak havoc and disturb album sales, but what is disturbing is how most folks are easily swayed to their side and a "new" social order where the new boss will be just like the old one. 

This book is biting and weirdly fun, pointing out many of the foibles of ourselves and our current times. And perhaps best of all, it features phenomenally good artwork. The wide variety of mutants are cartoonish, highly detailed, and quite distinct from each other. There are intricate backgrounds that belay a vast amount of world-building. And the action sequences and comedic timing are both on point. I found myself poring over this book, reading and rereading sections to drink in all the mayhem, hilarity, and detail.

Justice Warriors is a collaboration between writer Matt Bors and artist Ben Clarkson. Bors is a long time political cartoonist who also founded and edited The Nib. He has won multiple Eisner Awards, was twice nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and also writes the recent Toxic Avenger series. Clarkson works in animation, illustration, fine art, theater and comics, and his work has appeared internationally in many venues. Bors and Clarkson both speak more about their work on this book in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. Zack Quaintance called it "a dense, surprising, and often-hilarious read." Ryan Zickgraf wrote, "Part of what makes Justice Warriors feel fresh is that it finds new ways to depict totalitarian regimes. Instead of the predictable censorship-focused Big Brother of the endless 1984 knockoffs, everyone in Bubble City is free to speak their mind online — but the algorithm is tweaked to favor the rich and powerful and ads promoting conspicuous consumption."

Justice Warriors was published by Ahoy Comics, and they offer more information about the series here. It features violence, gore, and profanity, and is advised for readers mature enough to handle those things. For those who enjoyed this book, a second volume, Vote Harder, has also been published.

Out of Alcatraz

Originally published as a 5-issue series, Out of Alcatraz is a fictional account of what happened to the three men, Frank Morris and brothers Clarence and John Anglin, who engineered an audacious plan to escape from the penitentiary in 1962. It has largely been believed that all three perished in the treacherous waters of San Francisco Bay, but technically all three are still listed as wanted fugitives by the FBI. This graphic novel could have also been titled Out of the Frying Pan, because every chapter ends with a surprising escalation of their situation. Their quest for freedom is marked by people who try to profit from these outlaws, by getting them to perform forced labor or assassination. It is a wonderfully crafted narrative that ramps up suspense until the very last pages.

The artwork and pacing in this book are exceptional. I liked the use of watercolors to add ambience and tone, and it does a great job of portraying character's emotions as well as emphasizing explosive action sequences. The way that the plot unfolds leads the reader through multiple reveals while providing a good sense of mystery, the hallmark of a great thriller tale. 

I also very much appreciated the drama involving the two investigators, one FBI agent and the other an ex-federal marshal, who are trailing these fugitives. Their love story adds a different dimension to the fugitive narrative, exploring what it meant to try to exist as a homosexual during this time period, with many prohibitions against coming out and being able to live their lives in a free way. This book is not just a great piece of suspense, but also a moving story that will sit with you for a bit.

Out of Alcatraz was a collaboration between writer/producer Christopher Cantwell and artist Tyler Crook. Cantwell has written a number of series for Marvel Comics and also created and produced the TV series Halt and Catch Fire. Crook has drawn many comics series, notably the Eisner Award-nominated Harrow County and The Lonesome Hunters, which he also wrote. Cantwell and Crook speak about their work on Out of Alcatraz in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been glowing. In a starred review from Library Journal Thomas Batten summed up, "Atmospheric, beautifully rendered, and psychologically rich, this is a standout thriller." Justin Munday called it "a phenomenal fictionalized take on a true event." The reviewer at Turn & Work wrote, "The story is taut and compelling, tackling the social prejudices of its time with more nuance and depth than I expected from a five-issue series."

Out of Alcatraz was published by Oni Press, and they offer a preview and more information here. You can also read the entire first chapter of the story here. This book features profanity, violence, and some sexual situations so it is suggested for readers mature enough to handle those things.

The Six Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton

I am a huge fan of both Kyle Starks and Chris Schweizer's comics, having read pretty much all of the books they've made (click on their names in the labels, you'll see!). They are friends in real life and frequent collaborators, and in The Six Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton they once again make an enjoyable and well-plotted action/murder mystery. The titular Trigger Keaton is an actor in adventure shows, a horribly behaved Chuck Norris type and grade A jerk, leaving a path of verbal abuse, wounded egos, and broken noses in his wake. He's got a long-term studio contract so that he appears in many different series, only his cantankerous disposition, hard drinking, and penchant for wounding stuntmen means that they are short-lived despite their popularity.

Someone has finally had enough, and they take Trigger out to pasture, but staged it as a suicide. The six actors who played his sidekicks are some of the only people who come to his funeral, and when some of them question his death, they all end up involved in a disjointed and haphazard investigation.  

These unlikely sleuths have a difficult time gelling as a squad, and their bickering is one of the bright spots of this book. The book also features lots of snappy dialogue, several carefully constructed combat scenes, and myriad pop culture references to fictional shows, including ads, movie posters, interviews, and previews. Also, the mystery plots features lots of red herrings to keep the reader guessing. This series is a real labor of love and a joy to read, especially as a child of the 1980s where many of the pop culture references come from. 

Trigger being Trigger.

All of the reviews I have read about it have praised this critically under-rated series. I agree with Sean Kleefeld who wrote, "On top of being a fun set of characters and an interesting concept, the story is told very well." Aussiemoose gushed that "the 6 Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton has everything you could possibly want in a graphic novel." Joe concluded that there is "so much packed into each issue, none of the characters or ideas feel underbaked, it all feels so fleshed out and has made for an incredibly fufilling reading experience that everyone should check out!"

The Six Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton was published by Image Comics, and they offer previews and more info about it here. This book features copious amounts of profanity and violence, so it is suggested for folks who can handle that.

Abbott 1973

Sometimes when I read a book, I am struck by how much some things change and how much other things stay about the same, especially regarding how some social groups are treated and mistreated. Abbott 1973 is the second entry in the series, and I have to admit that I have not read the first book but still was able to jump right in and enjoy this one. The main character is Elena Abbott, a Black, lesbian reporter who works for a Black-run newspaper in Detroit. Because of the times, she and her partner have to stay closeted. In this book, she has a new editor, and he treats her condescendingly because she is a woman, which creates friction. Also, she is covering the tense mayoral race that would result in the first Black mayor of Detroit being elected, though there are some sinister forces working against that happening. 

The twist in this realistic fiction is that those forces draw from the occult. However, Abbott has access to power called the Lightbringer, and she is able to combat those supernatural villains on her own terms. What I feel this book does best is traverse two genres, urban historical fiction and supernatural fantasy, in a way that both work. This book is a great piece of suspense and the fantastical elements add a different, satisfying twist to the proceedings. The character work is also strong, and I really liked the detail and care to depict a time period from about 50 years ago, warts and all. 

This series is a collaboration between writer Saladin Ahmed, artist Sami Kivelä, and colorist Mattia Lacono. Ahmed is an author whose novel Throne of the Crescent Moon was nominated for a Hugo Award, and he has also done several runs for Marvel Comics on characters such as Miles Morales, Daredevil, and Ms. Marvel. Finnish artist Kivelä is known for several series, most notably Undone by Blood and Machine Gun Wizards. Italian artist Lacono has done extensive work coloring comics, mostly for Marvel Comics.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Zack Quaintance wrote that it does "a great job of building upon its established premise to begin a story that feels intriguing, timely, and important as ever." Marion Deeds called the first series "an immersive read and a look at an important time period in the USA, and one we are being encouraged to forget." Publishers Weekly summed up, "Pulp and politics mix in this relatively straightforward supernatural tale; though it doesn’t elevate the genre, it satisfies its goals and does so with a refreshingly diverse cast."

Abbott 1973 was published by Boom! Studios, and they offer more info about it here.