Between us we get through several graphic novels a month. Some of them probably merit a post but don’t make the cut. That’s mainly because sticking to ‘the best of the best’ helps to showcase the entertainment (and skills) delivered by good graphic novels. Another reason is to avoid disappointing fans of graphic novels who are looking for excellent line work, inking and colouring, alongside a good variety of panel perspectives and a complex narrative.
We’ve skipped some really good titles like Persopolis, Logicomix and Coraline, because they momentarily loosened their grip for just long enough to have to be picked up twice. Today’s selection didn’t leave my hands until they were read through.
Charley’s War: Underground and Over the Top
‘Underground and Over the Top’ is the sixth title in the unmissable Charley’s War series. The familiar grim, ‘founded on World War I fact’ stories place Charley at the horrific Third Battle of Ypres fought at Passchendaele in 1917. This time round the dense B&W line work takes readers below ground to the landmine tunnels dug beneath the Messines Ridge between 1915 and 1917.
Charley’s unit is under the command of Charley’s longstanding enemy the despicable Captain Snell. As usual, Snell is so unpleasant that regular readers will feel themselves wanting to throttle Snell almost as soon as he appears.
Charley’s War Underground and Over the Top
The Dream Hunters
The Dream Hunters came out a while ago but I first caught sight of it when I unwrapped it as a birthday present. The remarkable brush work is more than enough reason to grab a copy in a heartbeat. Throw in a Neil Gaiman scripted Japanese fable, Oriental styling, excellent inking and a clean colour palette for a real treat.
The Dream Hunters is a late addition to Gaiman’s Sandman comic series but The Sandman hardly features. A fox, a badger and a monk are the main characters. You’ll be tempted to go for the hardback with this one.
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