Ursina's Shelf - Comics, comics, comics
Issue 73
Hi readers,
About three years ago, I rediscovered comics with Brian K Vaughn and Fiona Staples’ Saga series (see issue 12 on comics) and have been back to the genre steadily since (see issue 38 on comics are back).
I am deeply impressed by the medium’s possibility to treat critical topics from the real world too, such as Art Spiegelman’s Maus about his parents’ experience leading up to and during the holocaust.
In this issue, I’d like to share three comics and shout out the stores where I discovered them!
The Bomb: The Weapon That Changed The World written by Didier Alcante and Laurent-Frédéric Bolléee and illustrated Denis Rodier (2023)
Description: Belgians are well known for great comics from Asterix to Tin Tin, but Alcante’s telling of the development of the atomic bomb, including the politics, the race between international physics programs, the sabotage, and also the efforts of a group of scientists to halt the use of the bomb, is on another level.
My take: This read is eye-opening and riveting. I blasted through the 450 pages in two sittings and would recommend this to anyone—comic reader or not—who would like to go deeper into the history of the atomic bomb after seeing Oppenheimer. This may also be my favorite black-and-white illustration. (Buy here). Shout out to Grober Unfug comics in Berlin, where this caught Dominic’s eye (featured in the Berlin for Booklovers issue).
On a Sunbeam written and illustrated by Tillie Walden (2018)
Description: This space saga is written and illustrated by Walden, an up-and-coming voice in a mostly male-dominated genre. This coming-of-age story’s main motifs are love, friendship, and adventure with some very imaginative plot twists and world-building.
My take: This book feels more like an artwork than a story. The visuals with their distinct contrasts and color-coded plot lines are mesmerizing, often going several pages without the need for any text at all. I would suggest this for intermediary comic readers, who are already familiar with the genre. We also discovered this at Grober Unfug (Buy here).
Descender written by Jeff Lemire and illustrated by Dustin Nguyen (2015)
Description: This graphic novel is of the typical sci-fi story set in space with a band of heroes, at least one lovable droid, and good and bad guys… except it is not so clear after all who are the good and who are the bad guys.
My take: This novel is a great entry point into comics with a fun story that makes you ponder good and evil quite a bit as the story unfolds. It is also a pretty fast read and doesn’t require a big time commitment to get into. (Buy here). Thanks to the staff at the Gosh comic book store in London for the recommendation (featured in London for book lovers).
My comic TBR
I was recommended Palestine just last weekend by a business school friend. On the other hand, I have been meaning to read Persepolis for years. Finally, I also have Watchmen waiting for me on our shelf. I’d also like to try mangas and appreciate all suggestions on where to start.
Currently reading: a stack of books that have been lent to me by my mom and sister-in-law. At the moment, my eyes are being opened to the patriarchy in South Korea by Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Choo Nam-Joo (buy here).
Thanks as always for reading and following along. All feedback and book recommendations are welcome. Comments are also very useful. Thanks a lot and have a great weekend!