Christmas comic list (fantagraphics, topshelf, drawn&quarterly, suggestions welcome)

[andrew french]

some web comics:

Natasha Allegri http://normallife.livejournal.com/ i will buy anything this girl does

Dan Hernandez http://www.pennydreadfull.net/ great autobiographical comics

Todd Bot http://www.toddbot.com/journalindex.html thanks for showing us this, Sarah Morean

[twigglet]

I'm gonna get Black Hole for Christmas, I also want to try out that one where the main characters Mum has cancer or something? It sounded pretty good when it got decribed to me

[andrew french]

true dat on Box Office Poison

everyone should try something from the Ignatz Line, published by Fantahraphics, Drawn & Quarterly, and possible other publishers, in which everyone should find something they like.

Babel by David B

Baobab by Igort

Insomnia by Matt Broersma

The Innocents by Gipi

Interiorae Gabriella Giandelli

Ganges by Kevin Huizenga

Chimera by Lorenzo Mattotti

Crickets by Sammy Harkham

Niger by Leila Marzocchi

Reflections by Marco Corona

i don't know if the last two are out, but basically, these are international comics being made available to us (though not all are foreign). they're beautifully formatted, and definitely worth checking out. My favorites have been Babel 1 and 2, Ganges, and the Innocents. Here is how Fantagraphics describes them.

THE IGNATZ SERIES
A brand new collection of internationally-produced comics designed midway between comic book "pamphlets" and graphic novels, at a very reasonable price, the "Ignatz" series will offer a rotating collection of exciting new series, all produced in a deluxe, oversize two-color format of jacketed saddle-stitched comics on thick, deluxe stock.

[andrew french]

I'm gonna get Black Hole for Christmas, I also want to try out that one where the main characters Mum has cancer or something? It sounded pretty good when it got decribed to me

nice. I really enjoyed Black Hole. It's staggering when considering how long Charles Burns took to do it... though it read very well altogether for the first time.

Mom's Cancer is something i've been planning to get. I've heard good things.

[andrew french]

other suggestions

Will You Still Love Me if i Wet the Bed? by Liz Prince. a really sweet relationship book.

Cry Yourself to Sleep by Jeremy Tinder. pretty hilarious, and i love his art.

and Jeffrey Brown book. i recommend reading the relationship books in order:

Clumsy
Unlikely
AEIOU
Every Girl is the End of the World for Me

then there's his gag stuff

Miniature Sulk
I Am Going to be Small

his superhero book
BIGHEAD

Conversations 2 with Craig Thompson

those are the main ones. he's had many things in anthologies.

Spiralbound by Aaron Renier. a great, great all ages comic.

and, i suppose, Blankets by Craig Thompson. the only reason i hesitate is because most people know about this by now. It is still a solid comic, though.

[Corwin: Bear Fighter]

I lucked out at the shop this week and got the SPX anthologies from 2002-2005 and volume 3 of Flight, all purchased with my vast supply of store credit!

And I think I've re-read Cry Yourself to Sleep at least 3 times in the past month. Something about that little book clicks with me.

[Adam Witt]

I'm looking to read some good autobiographical comics. Suggestions, anyone?

[andrew french]

Grey Horses by Hope Larson. just beautiful.

HATE by Peter Bagge. I hope that everyone has gotten to read some Peter Bagge by now, and this nifty little book collects quite a chunk of the first stuff, for a good price.

Nightfisher by R Kikuo Johnson. i think everyone needs to read these. one could argue his art is Gaydos-esque. he gives me hope for the future of comics.

Project: Superior a FANTASTIC superhero anthology, by a diverse group of alternative comics. if you can find it, buy it immediately.

Poor Sailor by Sammy Harkham. Included in The Best NonRequired Reading 2005. a great story.

[andrew french]

I lucked out at the shop this week and got the SPX anthologies from 2002-2005 and volume 3 of Flight, all purchased with my vast supply of store credit!

And I think I've re-read Cry Yourself to Sleep at least 3 times in the past month. Something about that little book clicks with me.

very nice on SPX. i really need to pick those up.

agreed on Cry Yourself to Sleep. Jeremy Tinder is a great cartoonist, and also a really great guy. everyone needs to check out his web site.

[andrew french]

I'm looking to read some good autobiographical comics. Suggestions, anyone?

James Kochalka, the three web comics i provided otherwise, Jeffrey Brown.

Epileptic by David B is autobiographical, too.