The Exile – a graphic novel by Diana Gabaldon

Do Graphic Novels count as real books?  Its come up in conversation recently as my husband has included quite a number of Graphic Novels in his list of books read this year, while his mother claims they don’t count.  Even in Neighbour’s recently, the character Callum won the school’s readathon by including quite a few graphic novels. It was allowed in the rules, but his best friend didn’t seem to agree.

I’ve discussed before about the genre of Comic Books and Graphic novels, and the interest in them seems to be gaining worldwide.  As seen in something like Maus, by Art Speigalman, something in a graphic novel form, can’t be instantly dismissed as light hearted.

With the movie, Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, I think even more attention is being given to this sort of format. Lots of popular TV shows, have developed a graphic novel or comic book that goes with the show, like Chuck.  Also, alot of author’s, are recreating parts of their stories with a graphic novel version.

One of my favourite authors is Diana Gabaldon.  I am madly in love with the relationship of Jamie and Claire in the Outlander series, and every book just keeps me yearning for more.  I’m very excited about discovering that Diana Gabaldon has release a graphic novel retelling the events of the first book, from the point of view of Jamie Fraser, gorgeously rendered by artist Hoang Nguyen.  I hope I’m able to track down a copy locally at some point in the near future.

You can check out the book trailer here:

Do you know of any other graphic novel adaptations worth checking out?

Comic Book Confidential

Comic books and graphic novels have always seemed to be something that was relegated to nerds and geeks.  It was always easy to dismiss such things as childish and immature and for people who don’t really have a life or haven’t grown up.  I have discovered that such a view point is for the ignorant, as comic books can contain some amazing stories.  It is so much more than Archie or various super heroes.

My sister introduced me to comics through Terry Moore’s Stranger’s in Paradise.  Such a fantastic story.

Its about two high school friends who went seperate ways but found each other again.  Its full of sexual chemistry, and love triangles, and secret pasts, and deadly assassins.  It will make you laugh, and cry, and at times, break your heart.

I’m glad i got into it late in the series, because waiting for my sister to show up with the latest edition was torture.  A bit like waiting for the next episode of The Guild to come out.

Having experienced such beauty in comic form, it has made me alot more open to the concept.  During the Christmas break, I read a copy of Maus, by Art Spiegelman.  In comic form, Art tells the story of his father, a Polish Jew who survived the Holocaust.  The story is so intense, that you barely notice that the characters are mice, cats, or another form of animal.

This is a unique form of story-telling, that its a shame that so many people aren’t aware of it, and are missing out.

And with The Guild comic, being produced by Dark Horse, coming out in March, it provides so much more to get excited about in this genre.  I’m sure there is so much more out there for me to discover.