graphic novels & comics

[tribal girl]

There was a thread on this before, but I think it got lost in the archives or something. So away we go again.

Over the years I've accumulated various graphic novels. Nothing bordering on obsessive collecting or anything particularly rare, just random things I like the look of or various concepts I find intriguing. Such as my newest additions. A couple of old issues of ElfQuest from the 80s.

I've only just discovered it really, and whilst I'm not so taken with it visually, I love the ideas behind the stories. Particularly the way sexuality is depicted within them.

Sexuality

The attitude of the elves towards sex differs greatly from that of human cultures because of their biological differences. Intercourse for the elves is not an act of reproduction, which usually only happens as the result of Recognition. Some elves take more than one lifemate or lovemate, and having sex with someone besides your lifemate or lovemate is acceptable, though not something that would happen all the time. Sexuality and nudity among the elves are seen as natural. There are no sexually transmitted diseases, no rape, no unwanted pregnancies, or any other negative aspects of the generally libertine attitude.

To survive and multiply despite their low numbers, both the elves and the trolls have had to sometimes breed with close relatives. The troll Picknose and his mate Oddbit founded their own endogamous kingdom by themselves, causing their children to breed with each other and result in a new society of trolls. According to Elfquest creators Wendy and Richard Pini, all the Elfquest elves are omnisexual and lack a well-defined concept of inbreeding, because of their very long lifespans and because Recognition makes it irrelevant to them. While the story has elements of implied incest, it and the elves' overall attitudes toward sex are used to illustrate the facts that the elves aren't human, reinforcing one of the appeals of the series, namely the portrayal of a species that is truly alien in some ways.

The first five issues of the original Elfquest comic ("The Quest Begins") have some battle violence and no explicit sexuality. In addition to some intense battle scenes in issue #17 of the original "Grand Quest", there is a controversial orgy scene: controversial because many children had been following the comics and parents were not happy with the more explicit/adult content introduced later in the series.

I have more I'd like to share, but what are you guys into?.

 

[alasdairm]

i've never really been into the form to any great extent but, one xmas, a friend bought me a few issues of milk & cheese and i loved it:

alasdair

 

[justsomeguy]

Oh man Bad Bob is freaking great!

 

[axl blaze]

currently re-reading Ronin. obviously, anything by Frank Miller is going to be great

 

[ChemicalOne]

Ahhh...Elfquest. I had three or four graphic novels of the series when i was young. Don't know what happened to them though. Been meaning to track down some to give them a look again.

The most recent one I've checked out was Elephantmen:Wounded Animals Vol. 1. I definately want to check out more of the series. Awesome art and an interesting vision.

 

[Dave]

Oh man, I went through a burst of graphic lit a few years ago. Transpetropolitan, Y: The Last Man, The Watchmen, Maus, Persepolis, the entire Flight series (I've got vol 8 on order; can't wait!) and a few indie/webcomic print collections: American Elf (read it from the start) and Templar, Arizona (ditto).

 

[justsomeguy]

I only ever read The Maxx and some of sam kieth's other stuff. Mtv's oddities did a reslly fantastic animated adaptation to that series in the 90's. For many scenese they did this grest sort of cutout like style, where they used the original comic art.

 

[nekointheclouds]

Comics I could read over and over and over.

Y: The last man.

Scott Pilgram Graphic Novels

And my Pride and Joy. I own the whole originally printed english manga set.
Sailor Moon.

 

[nekointheclouds]

Comics need more love here people.

I posta few of my alll time fave heroins!

Rogue
x-men

Karolina Dean
Runnaways

Michonne
walking Dead