BlogHer - Where My Ladies At? Strong Women in Graphic Novels, Part One - Comments

ACK! Now I must go look at

Super Jive — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:10:12 -0500

ACK! Now I must go look at Inverloch! I got all busy with vacation and such.

Thanks for the additional titles!

Your Pop Culture Librarian also writes almost daily at I, Asshole.

Agatha and other strong women

nightgigjo — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 07:47:59 -0500

Girl Genius is one of my absolute favorites -- large mammaries notwithstanding, That was distracting for me too, at first, although the story has taken precedence by virtue of being fantastic. (LOVE Agatha in any argument, especially with Othar!)

More strong (and pretty darn realistic) women:

Thorn & Grandma Ben from BONE by Jeff Smith. Brave, determined, confident. These women make me proud.
Jo from SPARKS by Lawrence Marvit. A realistic figure, she asks the important questions, like "why?"
Nanashi, et al., from EARTHSONG by Lady Yates (volume 1 is in stores, the rest is online at http://earthsongsaga.com) Nanashi is a fierce warrior, and definitely an "I want to BE HER" character for me. ^^

Inverloch is good, although I'm a little disappointed with the ending (which is online already). I won't spoil it though,

More comics with strong female characters!

Liz Henry — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:47:33 -0500

Yay! I just went and bought some volumes of Inverloch! Thanks.

I also like Babymouse and the Akiko graphic novels, and the Nausicaa series -- both the black and white one and the color one based on the movie.

I think your daughter would like Birds of Prey but it would be a bit too intense for most kids her age. Same with Runaways!

-----------------
Liz Henry
lizzard@bookmaniac.net
Badgermama - personal & mommyblog
http://liz-henry.blogspot.com

Great recommendations!

Suzanne Reisman — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:10:55 -0500

When "Sin City" came out in theaters, Entertainment Weekly printed a letter I wrote in which I said that Frank Miller bores me to no end. Fans of Miller did not take this well, and accused me of not knowing anything about comix and graphic novels and blah blah blah. Sure, I'm no expert on the medium, but I do like me some stories not involving strippers, prostitutes, and rapists. After I read Diane Noomin's anthology "Twisted Sisters:A Collection of Bad Girl Art," it changed how I viewed women and comics forever. I just couldn't go back to the same old crap stereotypes. I'm always looking for new and interesting graphic novels and comix, so all these recommendations are great.

Suzanne, BlogHer Contributing Editor - Feminism & Gender
Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS)& Other Rants

I know...the boobs. I don't

Super Jive — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 23:15:20 -0500

I know...the boobs. I don't really understand why. In the first few issues she was a little smaller. I think it would have been okay to leave her that way. But obviously, it is the artist's choice and style, if you know his other work.

********
Your Pop Culture Librarian also writes almost daily at I, Asshole.

I let Girl Genius sit on my

Shannon Des Roches Rosa — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 21:18:34 -0500

I let Girl Genius sit on my shelf for almost a year because I just couldn't get past Agatha's huge knockers. Why for? Why why why? Eventually I broke it open and was glad that I did, but still find their size unnecessary and distracting. I will read it with my daughter so as to provide balanced commentary.

We very much enjoy Agnes Quill over at our house, thanks to our good friend Minnie.

Rumble Girls is tasty stuff, too.

Looking forward to next week's download.

More kickass girl graphic heroines

Zan — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 19:21:53 -0500

My son Sam loves Inverloch too... You should check out Courtney Crumrin and Polly and the PIrates: http://www.tednaifeh.com/ too, great stories, excellent illustration and rockin' girl power!

Thanks, you two! I will have

Super Jive — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 18:48:49 -0500

Thanks, you two! I will have blog and blogher links collected for next week, and I am really psyched to see titles I know, and titles I don't.

*****
Your Pop Culture Librarian also writes almost daily at I, Asshole.

we love Amelia rules in my house

laurie — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 13:16:57 -0500

And I love the fact that both my boys love the series.

For adults, there is also the Love and Rockets series: http://www.fantagraphics.com/artist/losbros/losbros.html,

Fun Home, A Family Tragiccomic, by Allison Bechdel (of Dykes to Watch out For):
http://www.dykestowatchoutfor.com/index.php

and, of course, Cancer Vixen, by Marisa Acocella Marchetto, which was reviewed here by Sassymonkey last year:
http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/cancervixen/

laurie
www.notjustaboutcancer.blogspot.com

Scholastic

sassymonkey — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:04:11 -0500

I've heard that a number of YA authors at Scholastic are breaking out into graphic novels. I believe the graphic novels are being done through TokyoPop. I know that Meg Cabot is one of the authors - the sequel to her novel Avalon High is being done in a series of graphic novels by the same name but with different subtitles (female main character in those).

Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

Where My Ladies At? Strong Women in Graphic Novels, Part One

Super Jive — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 10:24:03 -0500

Some of my favorite memories as a little girl involve stealthily (so I thought) sneaking across my room after lights out and flipping on my closet light, and pulling my Betty and Veronica comics out from under the bed. Would Betty or Veronica win Archie's heart this month? Who would wear the cuter dress to the prom? I enjoyed poring over every detail, from the outdated slang to their weird little triangle-noses.

As much as I enjoyed Betty and Veronica, their adventures were missing…something. It wasn't until I got older that I figured out that as adorable as they were, they weren't really doing anything but fighting over boys and competing with each other. With friends like that…right?

I put down comics for a few years as I got busier and older, but I am happy to say that when I went to library school about four years ago I came back to that world with a vengeance. And fortunately, there is a treasure trove of comics about women who work together, have a purpose in life besides looking cute, and have compelling adventures.

Here is the first part of a short guide to some of my favorite comics and graphic novels that feature women and girls who are strong leads, written and drawn by both women and men. These characters don't scream for help from the highest tower; they rescue themselves, and a few other people along the way.

Title: Blue Monday (four volumes)
Artist: Chynna Clugston
Age range: Teen-Adult
Available through: Oni Press
Artist's Blog: Far Gone and Out

Chynna Clugston typically draws comics about young people that have a punk or mod flavor to them, with a nod to Japanese manga style. She winds song lyrics and titles through her work, giving the panels a "soundtrack" or mood. One thing that is consistent throughout her work is her hilarious writing and the visual humor present in the art.

Blue Monday is set in the 1980s and revolves around the life of high-schooler Bleu Finnigan. There is a strong emphasis on her close friendship with two other girls, and how friendships can evolve in unexpected ways. Of course there are boys and the confusion that surrounds them, the thrill of seeing your very favorite band live, and social awkwardness. Clugston writes very frankly about what life in high school can be like and skates the line between funny and raunchy. I remember in particular a subplot about being addicted to masturbation, as well as a series of over-the-top pranks the kids play on each other.

Title: Inverloch (five volumes)
Artist: Sarah Ellerton
Age range: Young teens-Adult
Available through: Seven Seas or read online at Seraph Inn (artist's website)
Artist's Blog: Artsangel

Australian artist Sarah Ellerton's webcomic Inverloch is a newer discovery for me, and I am somewhat sad to say she has just ended it, though the final strips haven't gone online yet. Inverloch is a fantasy story set in a world where humans, elves, and a race of wolfy-goatlike creatures called "Da'kor" tensely co-exist. The main character is a sensitive young Da'kor named Acheron who sets forth to solve a mysterious kidnapping for an elven friend.

At the end of Volume One, the story gets really interesting as Acheron is joined on his journey by a mysterious elven thief-hunter named Lei'ella. She has a fierce exterior and a complicated past, and her street smarts and toughness go a long way to keep the main character alive, which I feel makes her one of the most interesting characters in the series. Inverloch is a good mix of fantasy adventure and sweetly written moments between the main characters, who grow to care for each other over the course of the series. I recommend this for young teens on up, but I also read it in print form to my six-year-old daughter, who got a huge bang out of it. There is a some fighting and wounds, but it is certainly not gory. I can't wait to see how it ends!

Title: Girl Genius (six volumes and counting)
Artist: Kaja and Phil Foglio
Age range: Teens-Adults
Available through: Airship Entertainment/Studio Foglio (also updates as a webcomic MWF)
Artist's blog: Diary of a Cartoon Girl
Bonus: Othar Tryggvassen's Twitter (Othar is a recurring character in Girl Genius)

Hoo boy. How to describe Girl Genius to a potential reader? Broadly speaking, it falls under the category of "alternative history." The Foglios bill it as a "gaslamp fantasy," which is similar to steampunk, but not right on the nose. It takes place in Europe during the Industrial Revolution. Mad scientists, or "sparks" are very powerful players in this comic, and have a good deal of control over Europe's (and the world's) fate.

The main character, Agatha Heterodyne, is the daughter of two famous and powerful people. Agatha's parents, before they disappeared, decided to hide her so that no evil person would try to control her and her powers, and also so she wouldn't destroy herself as she was coming into her own as a mad scientist. The story begins as her peaceful life as a university student ends as she discovers she is a spark. Agatha gets "adopted" by a traveling circus of bizarre characters, acquires a talking cat sidekick with a Napoleon complex, and tries to solve the mystery of her parents' disappearances.

My favorite thing about Girl Genius is watching Agatha develop her powers and learn to control her own fate. Despite the endless numbers of people who plot to control, use, kill, or even marry her, Agatha stands on her own. This is another book I enjoy with my daughter. You may wish to screen it for younger readers; Phil Foglio's style has always leaned toward extremely busty/voluptuous female characters and there is the occasional ribald innuendo. Personally, I think this is part of the fun and the uniqueness of the story absolutely amazes me.

Title: Amelia Rules!
Artist: Jimmy Gownley
Age range: Any, as long as you enjoy the story
Available through: The Amelia Rules! site
Artist's Homepage: Amelia Rules!

If you have young readers in your life, or enjoy comics, you may have heard of Amelia Rules! already, because it's been nominated for and won a few comic awards. Amelia McBride is an ordinary kid who must adjust to life after her parents divorce and she moves to a new city with her mother and her super-cool Aunt Tanner.

Amelia faces some typical kid problems: fitting in, negotiating friendships, and trying to adjust to a new relationship with her father now that they are living apart. There is a fun kidworld fantasy element throughout the comic as Amelia joins secret ninja clubs in her new neighborhood and falls in with the nerdy outcasts at her new school. Amelia makes mistakes and feels conflicted about the complicated relationships in her life, which makes her very relatable. Gownley captures equally well the sweetness of and the horrors of childhood. Additionally, the adults in Amelia's family are written richly and as strong and loving leaders, and not just as buffoons or foils (as in many sitcoms, for example). Amelia Rules! is not available as a webcomic, but you can get a sneak peak of it here.

Since I'm passionate about this genre, I'll be back with the second part of the list next week. In the meantime, I'd love to hear about graphic novels or comics you love, especially if they star women...but men, robots, and/or wombats are welcome too.