I Read Comic Books discussion

This month, we're going a trip around the world! Choose any non-US comic (yes, including manga, bandes dessinees, manhwa, etc.) and tell us about it!

What did you choose? What country is it from? Would you recommend it?

Tell us about your pick and make recommendations in the thread below!

The podcast episode for this theme will be released on April 30th.

This is an excellent intro to comics from around the world if you'd like to branch out from the standard manga/bandes desinees!

https://libguides.usc.edu/c.php?g=131...

I'm still debating what I want to read, there are so many interesting options!

I have so many good things I could recommend to you, I don't even know where to start.

Maybe I'll suggest one of my greatest read of last month's theme that fits this one too, and that I know have an english version :
Contrapaso

Other great recommendations : The House, The Adoption, Aya of Yop City, The Arab of the Future: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1978-1984

I really liked The Adoption as well. And I've got a whole stack of Paco Raca books here from the library including The House.

I saw Return to Eden is available in english too now, I also recommend this one. His most recent one (which I think is one of his best, El abismo del olvido I don't think has been translated to english yet sadly).

I’m going to read a Tin Tin book. When I was little, most of the comics available to me were not in English for various reasons. All Tin Tin in French, Ajax was in German, and Donal Duck was in Spanish. This is going to be the first time I read a Tin Tin book I can understand, and I’m super stoked!

Have a few Judge Dredd in my collection so will probably read one or two of these:

Judge Dredd: America

Judge Dredd: Trifecta

Or possibly delve into my manga and read:

Steins;Gate, tomo 1

Shane wrote: "I’m going to read a Tin Tin book. When I was little, most of the comics available to me were not in English for various reasons. All Tin Tin in French, Ajax was in German, and Donal Duck was in Spa..."

I keep forgetting about Tin Tin. Good call, will need to seek some out from my library or ebay lol

Take care with Tintin, not all of them have aged gracefully, to say the least.

On my hand, I've used the occasion of the theme so far to catch up with the mangas I want to read. I started 2 series :
Hirayasumi, Vol. 1 (This one turns out to me a really cool slice of life, read 2 volumes so far)
The Summer Hikaru Died, Vol. 1 (I'm in the middle of the first volume and it's already intriguing AND very weird)

Yeah, @blacksheep a couple covers show off some problematic choices... I’ve got Tin Tin on the moon, so hopefully that will be safe.

I am American and I have been living in Germany for nearly 20 years now. I am new to comics and discovered German/European comics first, through my son, because I was not a comics kid growing up.

That said, here are a couple I would recommend:

- "Gunning for Ramirez" is a cool book by a French author/illustrator, which is available in English from Image Comics. It has two volumes and at last update, two days ago, the author was working on a third and final volume and regrets how long it has taken him to work on and deliver it. I recommend this one because it has what I have loved from European comics, which is generally speaking, longer page-counts. These books were delivered as 144 and 192 page volumes, respectively. The result has pluses and minuses, of course, but for example, in the second volume you have a fight scene that feels like it is 50-60 pages long (and may be, I haven't double-checked). Author is also a former video-game artist and that shines through in the work. What I also like is the satirical ads and newspaper clippings throughout the book, which show the U.S. action-movie, advertising and materialistic heavy (albeit narrow) view of the U.S. that the author grew up with and digested from France. So you get the external perspective of things that felt normal to us Americans, and he can poke some fun at them. I would say you have to be willing to go on a ride with an author/illustrator with extreme freedom to deliver a solo book on his own terms.

- "Largo Winch" is a Franco-Belgian series from the 90s that is like an action movie crossed with "The Big Short." Global business, greed, corruption and crimes are all part of the story. The wiki says that the English-translations (out of the UK) are censored, and a reddit search says this mainly applies to the teased love scenes that appear in nearly every volume. It is equivalent to a James Bond movie where the heroes also have a romantic interest 1-2 times each film or here, each volume, and in the French and German versions, there are romantic interests tanning topless on the beach, coming out of the shower, or shown half-way under the covers, something like that--in the English translation the women are then covered with bikini, lingerie, etc., according to reddit. The UK publisher seems to distribute to the former commonwealth, including India and Hong Kong, hence the censorship. I recommend this story mainly again, based on the longer volumes and action-movie/James Bond style of U.S. roaring 80s/90s through Belgian/French perspective.

-The last one I recommend is a manwha, "The Hellhound," which is also a Korean series that released on Netflix, and was one of the first comics I bought a few years ago, mainly due to the cover. I think there is better manga/manwha, but I recommend this one, mainly from the perspective of the glimpses of modern Korean life, and because it showed me how much Christianity is a part of Korean culture, which I had not realised, but obviously, there has been a big Christian movement in Korea and Japan that has infiltrated politics, as well. The story itself is quite violent and if it was only about the story, I am not sure I would recommend it, or recommend the second volume. It is important to note that this was originally published as a webtoon, and so it does have the serial influence and I think it has received criticism for the artwork, based on how quick the webtoon release schedule was, originally.

I would like to add, that my "Largo Winch" rec is, like other recs here, of its time and the James Bond/action movie influence, including misogyny, is present. Outside of that, the book itself is set in different locations around the world, so that part of it is also something fun worth mentioning.

Along with the "Tin Tin" recs, if you find any English translations of Asterix or Lucky Luke, this month, given the theme, it could be the time to try them, given the relative lack of popularity of these books in the U.S.

Again though, one of the themes used for humor is how different people are across Europe and beyond, including offensive depictions of Africans, Egyptians, and others that were seen then as, not necessarily over the line for publishing, but which are clearly offensive, in much the same way as the stereotypes presented in old Looney Tunes cartoons. This humor is largely not part of the modern volumes released by newer authors and illustrators and instead they poke fun at the majority audience groups (Germans and French) in the newer volumes.

I've found some of the Lucky Luke books on Hoopla and thought they were terrible.

I remember when Gunning for Ramirez came out at Image. I didn't realize it was a French comic first.

I'll throw Blacksad out there as well. They were originally produced in Spain and Dark Horse translated them to English a couple of years ago. Dark Horse put these out in a bunch of different editions so it's easy to get the same stories in multiple volumes. The latest one collects the first 5 volumes and then they translated the latest 2 part story, "They All Fall Down". It's all really good. Blacksad is a traditional noir except everyone is anthropomorphic animals. They can all be found on Hoopla so they are easy to find.

https://www.hoopladigital.com/comic/b...

https://www.hoopladigital.com/comic/b...

https://www.hoopladigital.com/comic/b...

Hi Chad, yeah, I am not surprised you did not like Lucky Luke. My young kids like them and I would generally only recommend them if you wanted to feel a little bit of the history of comics, including the illustration style, in Europe. They are books sold at newspaper stands, given to kids on report card day, before a train ride to grandma's, etc. And then like an animated film for kids, they also occasionally have some jokes for adults meant to go over the heads of the kids, but they are more similar to comics from the cartoon pages of a U.S. newspaper than any book from a comic shop or a graphic novel from the bookstore!

Chad wrote: "I've found some of the Lucky Luke books on Hoopla and thought they were terrible. ..."

The only Lucky Luke's I've seen on Hoopla were from the series "Lucky Luke vu par ..." in which various modern comics artists did their versions of the characters. For example, in Lucky Luke Saddles Up. artist Mawil puts Luke in a bicycle race across the old west. And in Swiss Bliss, Ralf Konig, who is most known for explicit gay German comics, Luke deals with homophobes. (Luke's sexuality wasn't directly addressed, but there was a gay couple, and an Indian character, unfortunately named "Sitting Butch", who was in love with Calamity Jane. Luke only has eyes for his horse.)

I moderately enjoyed both of those even though I've never read any of the originals.

I remember seeing your review of "Saddle's Up" and it wasn't clear to me whether you realized this was a parody (or pastiche, or whatever.)

Right now these are no longer on Hoopla. The only Luky Luke's on there now are German audiobooks.

You may have me confused. These are my first comments ever in the group and I don't know that I've ever reviewed a Lucky Luke book anywhere in my life, but at any rate, enjoyed the responses and may finally try "Blacksad." It is popular in France, for sure, as it was always in the newsstands when I was there on holiday in the last few years.

Matthew wrote: "You may have me confused. ..."

I was replying to Chad. I've followed his reviews for a while.

Yeah, Some of the Lucky Luke stuff used to be on hoopla. It looks like it was removed. Maybe due to the demise of Europe Comics? I can't remember if that was the stateside publisher or if it was someone else. Regardless I do miss Europe Comics. That's how I discovered a lot of European comics.

Chad wrote: "Yeah, Some of the Lucky Luke stuff used to be on hoopla. ..."

I think it was only the recent parody stuff, though.

What happened to Europe Comics?

I noticed today that there is very little French content left on Hoopla. (Untranslated, I mean. I like to read in French sometimes.)

They quit selling digital books themselves. And their presence has at the least been scaled back if not outright went under.

The last thing I heard from them was when they made the announcement in January 2023. It's real shame because they were probably the biggest company translating bande dessinées to English and I discovered a lot of great comics from them.

https://www.comicsbeat.com/europe-com...

Ed wrote: "I noticed today that there is very little French content left on Hoopla. (Untranslated, I mean. I like to read in French sometimes.)"

Not sure if they still there but Humanoids used to have a lot of comics in French up on Hoopla. They even had the French ones listed as a different publisher so you could find them easily.

Yes, there are still French comics on Hoopla from "Les Humanoïdes Associés" and "La Boîte à Bulles". But there used to be more publishers available there.

I just read Soma by Fernando Llor. This is a cutesy sci-fi war-of-the-worlds type story where tentacled aliens try to destroy the Earth in metal tripods that shoot death rays. The story is told from the point of view of a youngish female cartoonist who is reluctantly pulled into being an action hero.

It was fine. Too cutesy for me at my age. And I had a hard time seeing the main characters as adults: they just looked so young, even though dealing with bill-paying and smoking a lot.

A better take on war of the worlds is the British Wild's End. It is more adult, even though using anthropomorphic animals.

I've been working on Aya: Life in Yop City by Marguerite Abouet, from Ivory Coast! I'm loving it so far - there is such a carefree, breezy quality to the book even when heavier topics are discussed.

I've always been interested in what normal daily life is like in other countries, so this little slice-of-life peek into 70s/80s Ivory Coast has been deeply enjoyable. :)

Currently reading:


Just finished my hero academia, Vol. 4 SOOOO good, i love my hero, its just so fun, i hate that its ending:<

Erin wrote: "I've been working on Aya: Life in Yop City by Marguerite Abouet, from Ivory Coast! I'm loving it so far - there is such a carefree, breezy quality to the book even when heavier topi..."

Aya is SO GOOD! Im so glad you're enjoying it (and that it got more exposure being translated)

Evilblacksheep wrote: "Erin wrote: "I've been working on Aya: Life in Yop City by Marguerite Abouet, from Ivory Coast! I'm loving it so far - there is such a carefree, breezy quality to the book even when..."

I'm loving it! Finished the first collected edition (which I think is vol. 1-3?) and immediately started on the next!

Erin wrote: "I've been working on Aya: Life in Yop City by Marguerite Abouet, from Ivory Coast! I'm loving it so far - there is such a carefree, breezy quality to the book even when heavier topi..."


I just read the latest book in the series last night.

Erin wrote: "Evilblacksheep wrote: "Erin wrote: "I've been working on Aya: Life in Yop City by Marguerite Abouet, from Ivory Coast! I'm loving it so far - there is such a carefree, breezy qualit..."

Yeah if it's the same than the original "collected" version it's 1-3, 4-6 and then 7 and 8 are only available as individuals (i guess they're waiting for a volume 9 to make collected 3)

I read the first book in the Aya series a long time ago. Didn't know it was still going.

Just found out that there was a 12-year gap between volumes 6 and 7.

I read NON-US comics all the time. Another I read recently was Soft City by Norwegian author Pushwagner. While the book was mildly interesting, it is more interesting to me to know that the author lost the manuscript which he created in 1970 and it wasn't found again until 2002.

Finished the second collected edition of Aya (so I guess Vol. 4-6?) ugh I just love it so much! Debating if I want to wait for a third collected edition to keep going...

You're probably going to be waiting for several years for a collected edition of 7-9. I don't think work on volume 9 has even begun yet.

Chad wrote: "You're probably going to be waiting for several years for a collected edition of 7-9. I don't think work on volume 9 has even begun yet."

*tears streaming down face emoji*

Two months later, I finally finished "Mort Cinder" (3 stars) by Alberto Breccia and Hector German Oesterheld.

I found the stories somewhat tedious in the vein of older horror stories trying to be Poe or Lovecraft or even Conan Doyle. I imagine some of that is due to translation, but also being from the early '60s. You will tire of reading "Mort Cinder" before the main story introducing the character is finished; thankfully they shorten it to "Mort" as the stories continue, but then the stories turn more to historical fiction (including one that has to be an influence on Frank Miller for "300").

I would have given it only 2 stars but the art is stunning. An amazing range of black and white from quick sketches, to highly detailed panels, to amazing chiaroscuro.

It's not this one Paul?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

There are 2 Fantagraphic/English versions listed. If it's not one of those and you have the info from the one you read, I can add it. I'm a GR librarian. Just send me a message with the info or a Amazon link or the like if it's all on another webpage and it just needs to be scraped into GR. I'm constantly fixing the graphic novels on GR. They get screwed up all the time from their imports from Amazon.

Chad wrote: "It's not this one Paul?"

That looks like it! Or at least close enough. It was most definitely not coming up in my searches, even when I looked for “Breccia Library” it only showed the 4 other books.

Thank you.

It’s been two month but wanted to share/recommend three gn and manga:
- Ocultos by Laura Pérez (Spain)
These is a collection of short stories
- Heartbreak Hotel by Micol Beltramini & Agnese Innocente (Italy)
Just started reading it. So far good.
Love the artwork in both 🫶
And the third one is a manga I haven’t been able to finish. Got a little sad when I was starting to read it. It’s about the love and bond we share with our pets 🥹
- *Stargazing Dog by Takashi Murakami* (Japan)
He has a couple more about this topic.

Haven't read Ocultos but did read Totem and Castaways from Laura Perez. Plus, she did the title sequence for Only Murders in the Building.

It doesn't look like the English translation of Heartbreak Hotel comes out until September.

Oh, where do you read about gn being translated? That’s interesting😀 I’m currently reading it in Italian so I wouldn’t know if they plan on translating it. There are a couple of interesting italian gn’s that I haven’t seen promoted at the US. I got one that haven’t found it here at Goodread.

Another that are translated is the thrilogy of Borja Gonzalez, Las Tres Noches.

hey Chad I do my therapy sessions and stuff I'm staying on vacation always you guys's books more often but just let me get help first at 6:19 I am and then I will do 410 with you guys just look at after somewhere p.m.

I meant to write another that are interesting and could recommend, are the trilogy* written by Borja González.

About Laura yeees! I read an article about Murders in the Building love her artwork. Would love to have a chance to get her autographed in my book. Did you liked the ones you read? A friend is bringing me Nocturnos from Spain.

de Compostela wrote: "Oh, where do you read about gn being translated?"

You can see all the editions of a book on its book page as long as they have been merged together. There's an area that says "More Editions". I saw there was an edition for Maverick which is an American publisher. That page says the expected publication date is September 30th. That's not always 100% accurate though as it's typically a one time scrape from Amazon and it won't get updated if that date changes.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

de Compostela wrote: "About Laura yeees! I read an article about Murders in the Building love her artwork. Would love to have a chance to get her autographed in my book. Did you liked the ones you read? A friend is bringing me Nocturnos from Spain."

I gave both of them that I read 3 stars. They were solid reads.

Jayden, I'm not at all sure of what you're asking me.