Sunday, November 14, 2010

Genre: Graphic Novels

Sameer Rahim is tickled by four graphic novels, including Peanuts and a version of Allen Ginsberg's Howl. Daily Telegraph,12 Nov 2010

The Complete Peanuts: 1963-1964 and 1965-1966
by Charles M Schulz
314pp, Canongate, £15 each

Canongate continues its handsome reprint of the adventures of Charlie Brown, Snoopy et al. All human life is here: childhood sadness, youthful romance, sarcastic dogs. Most impressive is the amount of expression Charles M Schulz was able to get into his characters’ faces – notably the lips. That slight wobble in Charlie Brown’s smile is utterly charming.


Howl: a Graphic Novel
by Allen Ginsberg and Eric Drooker
223pp, Penguin Classics, £12.99

While we wait for the Allen Ginsberg biopic Howl (released in spring), Penguin Classics has brought out Eric Drooker’s animated interpretation of Ginsberg’s most famous work – included in the film – as a graphic novel. Re-reading the poem you are struck by its earnestness and its silliness (all that waving of genitals and manuscripts). Drooker’s visuals seem rather blocky and weightless as an accompaniment but one can imagine them working much better on screen.

More at The Telegraph 

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