Andrew McGinn and David Neitzke have published their first graphic novel, “The Legacy – a Graphic Novel.” For those who are sensitive to critique of the American newspaper comic strip, this book probably best be avoided. John Hogan over at Graphic Novel Reporter describes it as, “about a young man named Chas who inherits a comic strip from his father?and does his level best to lose it as fast as he can. Try as he might, though (and he certainly tries), he just can?t seem to get rid of it, which makes for some very entertaining reading and a biting satire of the world of comic strips.” (Check out Graphicnovelreporter.com for an interview with the creators)
I can’t find any links to any samples of their work. The Springfield News-Sun also interviews them and lists some launching events in Springfield IL, and Columbus OH.
Want rid of a comic strip–GIVE IT TO MEEEEE! Please . . .I mean, why try to kill it when you can give it to someone who cares. If there are a lot of these, I think we should set up a sort of adoption center for these sad little comic strips that their owners don’t want.
Why the hate? The graphic novel wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for comic strips.
Looks like a neat project to me.
There’s a sample of the book here:
http://www.molechpress.com/pageflip/sample.html
I agree with the “Why the hate?” comment. It took 60 years for comics writers and artists to get enough respect to have their work considered art or as the “new mythology.” Before that, some parents forbad their children to read the “funny books” because they weren’t Moby Dick. They almost disappeared due to Congreesional hearings in the 1940’s. Great artists like Will Eisner, Bernie Wrightson and Nestor Redondo and great writers like Len Wein are starting to get the respect they deserve. Geeks unite!
This is idea is actually very similar to the real life events that happened with Entertainment Comics, back in the 30’s and 40’s. A son who had no interest in his dad’s comic book company inherits it after the father dies in a tragic boating accident. The son then changes the focus from kid-friendly books and stories from the Bible, and with artists and writers (such talents as Harvey Kurtzman, Basil Wolverton and Wally Wood to name a few) creates the EC comics we know today, with titles like Tales From the Crypt and other horror and suspense books. Some of the best fiction comes from real life.
The idea of a son inheriting a strip from his father, one that he may be at odds with is an interesting one. Poking fun at some of the out-dated art and themes of these legacy strips would be an interesting read as well. The son realizing why some age-old conventions still work and understanding his father’s life long work would make for an interesting read too. I doubt much of this is in this graphic novel. But criticizing it before anyone reads it seems a bit wrong as well.
On the general terms of creating satire at the expense of comic strips, if it is well-done, thoughtful satire that actually has an informed point of view I don’t see much wrong with that. But, if this is in fact, created by a couple of people that couldn’t get syndicated and think it is because the funny pages is too out-dated and this is their response, well that i might take issue with.
But someone should actually read it before we attack it, right?
I’m on board with that. Almost anything can be satirized well placed in the right hands, and if some fanboys worship toward Krypton (or any other comic book location) so much that they can’t take a joke, they’ve got a problem. I am a fundamentalist Christian and I feel that if some inconsistency in what I believe and practice is satirized with a wink and without hate, I can take it and learn from it. If you make me laugh and garnish it with truth, it goes down better.
When Bill Watterson roasted the comics, instead of “God Save the King,” they sang “Bye, Bye, Miss American Pie.” And to further quote Don McClean, “They did not listen; they did not know how.”
http://ignatz.brinkster.net/cheapening.html
Thin skinned bunch, eh Hobbs?