July 12, 2004
The Smartest Book on Earth
Do you like graphic novels? When you hear names like Chris Ware, Robert Crumb, Daniel Clowes, Joe Sacco, and Art Spiegelman, do you think, "They sound familiar! Listen, friends: I recognize some of those names!"
If so, I highly recommend you purchase McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, Issue Number 13. Seriously.
If not, seriously anyway.
Posted by cradle at July 12, 2004 11:02 PMJesus, enough links in your posts!!!!! I GET IT!! OKAY?
I GET IT DAD!
Posted by: kan at July 13, 2004 12:12 AMAre you drunk?
Posted by: David at July 13, 2004 9:52 AMThere is a new term for this type of publication that you might consider using. The term is Comic Book. You can shorten this to "comics" and you will find that most English speakers understand that you are not referring to the funny pages or Dave Chappel, through the magic of language.
So next time you might say I am reading some fine new graphic novels I purchased from the Closet of Comics in College Park,
you can try: I am reading some awesome new comics I bought from the Closet of Comics in College Park.
Posted by: cliffy at July 15, 2004 7:56 AMI tend to think of comic books as shorter in length. Like The Amazing Spider Man Issue 190 is a comic book.
When I refer to something longer, like Maus, I like to use "graphic novel". For example, from the OED:
graphic, a. and n.
Add: [A.] 7. graphic novel, a full-length (esp. science fiction or fantasy) story published as a book in comic-strip format.
1978 W. EISNER (title) A contract with God: and other tenement stories... A graphic novel. 1983 N.Y. Times 5 Aug. C20/3 The second will focus on ‘graphic novels’, such as ‘Tintin’ and ‘Asterix’, which are selling up a storm throughout the world. 1986 Chicago Tribune 28 Aug. V. 1/5 One-shot ‘graphic novels’, printed on high-quality paper and retailing for, in some cases, upwards of $10. 1990 Rolling Stone 22 Mar. 76/4 Catalogs from America's finest comics publishers, featuring stunning European graphic novels.
There's a comic and graphic novel museum across from where I work. I walked in once, but didn't stay long. They had some Crumb in the room I saw. Maybe you'd like it. Maybe you'd visit. Gosh, I wish I were cooler.
And what's with all the posts? Geeze. Are you locked in a cubicle. If you can't say you are, because of your captors, update your bjournal with two really boring posts.
DAVID ARE YOU OKAY?!
Posted by: kan at July 16, 2004 2:02 PM