Spring! Sweet Jesus it’s finally fucking spring. We planted our seeds on the second decently warm afternoon in May in a 40mph gale but who cares: we planted seeds (sunflower, zinnia, sweetpea and echinacea). The dandelions are getting all leggy and knock-kneed and I’m realizing too late that I should have signed up for swim lessons. My brain is off to the races in sunshine mania and although I’ve started four or five books in the last month, I’ve finished zero. This is where graphic novels come in.
I’ve done the obvious action/adventure thing (V for Vendetta, Watchmen, Transmetropolitan — all excellent); the macabre (Walking Dead, which I hated); but my favorite graphic genre is memoir.
Stitches by David Small
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
I just finished Marbles by Ellen Forney, which was so good I will probably reread it very soon, and relevant to my life in about 100000000000 ways right now.
What is it about spring and graphic novels for me? I think I just crave more stimulation, something quicker, something more immediately engaging. I can zip through a graphic novel and have it linger for days. I start imagining drawings that could capture my own narratives. (Too bad my drawing is still cartoonish and amateur… but whatever!)
Robin has been very excited for me to read a picture book. Last night she squealed in glee when I pulled out Marbles and said it was her favorite book. We spent quite awhile discussing the drawings and speculating about the story. I kind of loved that. It got me wondering if there are any good comics for young girls that would be remotely age appropriate. Robin has also been into watching (age appropriate) anime shows, so maybe this is a good time to introduce her to a good series. I found this list on Amazon. I also found this one, which includes a comic about a girl named Robyn! Anyone else have suggestions? Zita the Space Girl looks pretty great. Where are the awesome feminist comics for young girls, world?
Here’s the thing I hate about graphic novels and/or comics: access. Our library is small and has a limited graphic novel/comics section, mostly focused on teen readers. That’s okayish for me, although I couldn’t find any of the above books in our catalog (but maybe I can finally read 100 Bullets?). But if there’s a series we are very excited to try, we’ll have to either borrow it (dicey) or buy it (pricey). Drag.
Nonetheless, I like the idea of lying around in a shaded bedroom on a summer afternoon reading comics with my girls.
