comic books

  • Comics Before Cinema! Part Two

    This is the second of three posts featuring graphic novels and comics as the original source material. If you liked what you’ve seen on screen, try reading it…because sometimes the comic book is better. I admit that I have not watched or read most of what I’ve listed (though not for a lack of trying!)… Continue reading

  • Comics Before Cinema, Part One

    Like many stuck at home, I have been looking forward to warm days that could coax me outdoors and read a good comic while basking in the sun. However, us Washingtonians do expect a spat of rain every now and again to water our Evergreen state and it is a given that most of us… Continue reading

  • Comic Cuisine

    Before social-distancing, I thought I was a pretty decent home cook. Now, after eating nothing but my own cooking for two weeks, I’ve discovered that I only know about five recipes. For anyone in a similar boat, the library has nearly 2,000 digital cookbooks to inspire your cooking adventures. Personally though, most of those cookbooks… Continue reading

  • Wordless Comics

    In the influential graphic novel Understanding Comics, creator Scott McCloud defines comics as: “Juxtaposed pictorial and other images in a deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or produce an aesthetic response in the viewer.” Notice that this definition does not include any specific mention of comics requiring words in order to be considered comics. Words,… Continue reading

  • Kickstarter Comics at the Library

    Kickstarter Comics at the Library

    Generally comic book collections or original graphic novels are purchased by the Library from a book distributor. The titles offered by these companies typically include materials from major publishing companies. But many wonderful titles are produced by smaller presses or individuals, and funded through crowdsourcing sites such as Kickstarter. Many of these titles, after their… Continue reading

  • Worldbuilding in Comics

    Worldbuilding in Comics

    Emerald City Comicon is coming up March 1 – 4, and also coming to The Seattle Public Library for a day aimed at educators and librarians! To celebrate, let’s take a look at the idea of worldbuilding in comics and graphic novels. Worldbuilding is the process by which the writer and the artist (in the case… Continue reading

  • A Tale of Two Comix Celebrations: ICAF and Short Run Comix

    During the first weekend in November, Seattle will be hosting both the International Comic Arts Forum Conference, and the Short Run Comix & Arts Festival, both free to attend! Continue reading

  • Comedy in Comics Spotlight: Chip Zdarsky

    Rose City Comic Con is coming up, the weekend of September 8-10, in Portland, OR. Comic book artist and writer Chip Zdarsky will attend as a guest. As he rarely travels south from the wilderlands of Canada (urban Toronto), this is a unique opportunity for fans to meet him in person. Chip Zdarsky is the pseudonym… Continue reading

  • The Comic Book Mignola-verse

    When I’m asked for comics recommendations, people often bring up “The Big Two”, Marvel Comics or DC, as a starting point. We’re talking Iron Man or Superman. Thor or Batman. Sometimes that’s the right route to take, but other times, a suggestion outside of this much focused-upon segment of the comics medium is the more… Continue reading

  • Book Bingo: Graphic Novels

        – posted by Sven This summer The Seattle Public Library in partnership with Seattle Arts & Lectures is excited to offer a summer reading program for adults called Beach Blanket Book Bingo! In order to help you along on your quest to complete your bingo sheet, we’ve pulled together some reading suggestions based on each… Continue reading

  • Science Fiction Fridays: Bulletproof Fiction Part II

    Here is part two of my suggestions for the growing number of authors who are writing stories with superheroes in more realist settings, or as I like to call it, bulletproof fiction! Check out Part I for more suggestions. The Ghosts of Manhattan by George Mann The Ghost is the haunted vigilante of an alternate history… Continue reading

  • Science Fiction Friday: Bulletproof fiction Part I

    I’ve written before about the joys of graphic novels and the great crossover appeal with science fiction and fantasy tropes. But what about that crossover working the other way? A growing number of authors are writing stories with superheroes in more realist settings, or as I like to call it, bulletproof fiction. This subgenre is… Continue reading