In the many realms of storytelling, folks often find their core nerdoms early on. Growing up, I was captivated by long form prose in the fuzzy boundaries of science fiction and fantasy. From Arthur C. Clarke to Ursula K. Le Guinn to Brian Jacques to Tamora Pierce, I knew from the first pages that I would be swept away by the deep currents of imagination, guided only by the author’s words into universes hitherto unknown.
Recently, I stepped out of my comfort zone and took a chance on a medium that swept me away with as much force as the Foundation Trilogy. I know I’m late to the party. I couldn’t tell you exactly what kept me from this land of graphic story telling but I shall be held back no more. (Cue trumpeters and crumbling city walls.)
And so, in the hopes that another holdout may give them a shot, I will document my foray into the world of comic books and graphic novels.
Green Arrow: Year One written by Andy Diggle; Illustrated by Jock ISBN 9781401217433
Queen has been a faithful member of the Justice League of America and defended Star City with his trusty bow and an arsenal of deadly arrows for years. Green Arrow: Year One brings us back to the beginning of Oliver Queen’s transformation into the Green Arrow. A wealthy playboy with little care of anyone or anything, Queen finds a new purpose in life after he is double-crossed and marooned on a jungle island.
This is a perfect entry point for anyone new to the Green Arrow storyline and was my very first comic book.
Unwritten Vol. 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity written by Mike Carey; Illustrated by Peter Gross ISBN 9781401225650
Tom Taylor’s life was screwed from the word go. His father created the Tommy Taylor fantasy series, boy-wizard novels with popularity on par with Harry Potter. The problem is Dad modeled the fictional epic so closely to Tom’s real life, that fans are constantly comparing him to his Tommy Taylor counterpart. In the final novel, it’s even implied that the fictional Tommy will crossover into the real world, giving delusional fans more excuses to harass Tom.
When an enormous adoption scandal gone bizarre reveals that Tom might really be a boy-wizard made flesh, Tom comes into contact with a very mysterious, very deadly group that’s secretly kept tabs on him all his life. Now, to protect his own life and discover the truth behind his origins, Tom will travel the world. And in the process of figuring out what all this means, Tom will face a huge conspiracy that involves literary icons such as Rudyard Kipling and Mark Twain and spans the entirety of the history of fiction.
Not your traditional superhero comic, Unwritten is perfect for folks who enjoy fantasy and alternate history.