An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories: Volume 2

An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories #2

by Ivan Brunetti (Editor)

Ivan Brunetti returns with a new selection of 20th and 21st-century comic creations by some of the most original artists in the medium

Comic art is a vital, highly personal art form in which change—rapid and unpredictable—is the norm. In this exciting new anthology, comic artist Ivan Brunetti focuses on very recent works by contemporary artists engaged in this world of change. These outstanding cartoonists, selected by Brunetti for their graphic sophistication and literary style, are both expanding and transforming the vocabulary of their genre.

The book presents contemporary art comics produced by 75 artists, along with some classic comic strips and other related fine art and historical materials. Brunetti arranges the book to reflect the creative process itself, connecting stories and art to each other in surprising ways: nonlinear, elliptical, sometimes whimsical, even poetic. He emphasizes continuity from piece to piece, weaving themes and motifs throughout the volume.

As gorgeously produced as Brunetti’s previous anthology of graphic fiction, this book does full justice to the creative work of Art Spiegelman, Chris Ware, Charles Burns, Gary Panter, and the other prominent or emerging comic artists who are currently at work at the cutting edge of their medium.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Anthologies, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction, Short Stories, Art

400 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2008

About the author

Known for his dark humor and simple, yet effective drawing style. Brunetti's best known work is his autobiographical comic series Schizo. Four issues have appeared between 1994 and 2006. Schizo #4 won the Ignatz Award for Outstanding Comic of the Year in 2006.


He has also done numerous covers of The New Yorker.

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the essential comics collections for students of comics or even those thinking they may want to see what is going on in the field. The first volume Brunetti did had more familiar names. This one is interesting because many of the artists are younger, and the work would be new to many readers outside of Comics conferences or those strolling the net for comics zines.

Faves: Sammy Harkham, Chris Ware, Kim Deitch, Milt Gross, Art Spiegelman, Winsor McKay, Vanessa Davis, John Porcellino, Joe Sacco, Frank Santoro, Adrina Tomine, Seth, Carol Tyler Kevin Huizenga, and so many others.

If you are just getting into comics, read this or one of Brunetti's collections or Sammy Markham's collections. Just to see the range of what has been done and IS being done! At least check it out of the library and see folks you find interesting so you can read more deeply into the ones you like! Some older comics for seeing the history, too.

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a few graphic fiction anthologies over the years. I don't always get a chance to follow all new releases so reading yearly anthologies give me a chance to find out about new artists.
This anthology though was a bit different as it dealt with older artists as well as more recent ones.

I tried giving it a good go, but I found most of it just unreadable, both in style and in a lot of cases due to its' size. Trying to squeeze panels that were originally sunday newspaper comics size into an 8 x 10 book did not work. The text became microscopic in many cases and the art practically indistinguishable.

I knew I wouldn't like everything, it was an anthology after all, but I found far too few artists I'd read again in it. There were a few little gems, besides a handful of favorite and well known artists, but in the end they weren't worth me reading almost 400 pages of not so great other artists. I'd recommend picking up McSweeney's Quarterly Concern instead :/

[Keith Kavanagh · Rating 3 out of 5]

solid selection which I'd recommend to anyone looking to get into the world of contemporary comics with such staples as crumb, clowes and burns, as well as the more fervid reader even administering myself with a new found appreciation of chris ware and gary panter

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is probably considered cheating to just read through graphic anthologies and think you really understand something about comics, so to avoid that, I will go ahead and say that although the format intrigues me greatly I am still something of a novice. I did, however, think that this was a pretty nice collection of a good range of work and artists. I had seen some of these in other anthologies, and I'd read Black Hole in its long form, so I don't know if I'd recommend this to those who really, really know their comics. But it's well worth reading if, like me, you've only scratched the surface of graphic fiction and are looking for a great jumping off point. One thing I absolutely loved that I felt was sort of different from other anthologies was the way this book was put together. Like A Mr. Show sketch or a really great mix-tape, the comics are connected to one another either stylistically or loosely by subject and the whole of the contents just flows without ever seeming monotonous. Even where the connection is a stretch I found this absolutely brilliant. Also, the anthology includes some really interesting vintage experimental stuff that I never really knew existed, and that blew my mind in a lot of ways. I really could not list my favorites because they'd be pretty numerous, but in almost 400 pages of work by well over fifty contributors, there's no reason that shouldn't be the case for any reader.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another hit or miss! Some gorgeous, absolute brilliance scattered among junk you'd think belongs on the back page of a local weekly.

[F. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best graphic anthology I've seen, but decent.

[Paolo Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[cheeseblab · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second collection is as rich and warped and wonderful as the first, my only complaint being that the book is really too heavy and bulky to be ideal in the function I asked it to serve, as looterature.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is as close to a text book on the subject of Graphic Fiction as there is. Granted, it's not filled with commentary. But it really covers everybody and then some save for comic book hero stuff. For adults. Not for those easily offended. Graphic fiction, like any content for the mature read, contains a wild slice of just about anything and everything. It's real.

So wide reaching that it's hard to not give it 5 stars.

[Mariah · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are contributions by some fantastic comic writers and artists in this anthology. Perhaps my main issue with this book is that some of the older comics, such as the ones written in the early 20th century, were very difficult to read and could have used higher resolution, or even more page room. Otherwise, a fairly comprehensive and entertaining guide to have in your library.

[Janet Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some very good stories here, though I would have preferred less headache-inducing formatting (I actually had to read several stories with a magnifying glass) and some explanation of what the hell I was looking at. Mostly male writers, artists and characters, though this could be a fault of the genre and not this book in particular.

[Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

massive compilation with lots of gross stuff. Among the non-gross; chris ware, michael kupperman, archer prewitt, matthew thurber, cole johnson, leif goldberg, david mazzucchelli, dan zettwoch, r. crumb, seth, heatley, burns. But the best of the bunch; paper rad and c f, absolutely amazing

[angrykitty · Rating 2 out of 5]

i'm hoping that i'll like this anthology better than volume 1, but i'm not really holding my breath.....fingers crossed just in case....

...this one was worse.....guess mr. brunetti and i just have different tastes...

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book collects every sort of comic strip imaginable, so you’re bound to find something you enjoy.

The downside is it’s a bit like a K-Tel sampler: you’re only seeing snippets of full graphic novels, so the format wears thin after a while.

[Drew Canole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised by the number of artists presented here that I was new to. Of course a good chunk of it was by people I'm aware of and works I've read in the past.

I had both this and the first volume out, but for some reason I ended up reading through this one first.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is plenty good stuff in here and plenty that is ho-hum. A lot of the comics are printed so small it causes some real problems with readability.

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book represents the 4 -5 anthologies lying around my house, ready to be picked up at a moments notice in the event I am holding a sleeping baby.

[bARRY]

i like ivan, he likes richard mcguire

[Whiskeyb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good reading for a newbie like me, I figgered.

My favourite was, hands down, the ISLAND OF SILK AND ECTOPLASM by Matthew Thurber. Oh my!

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the first edition, I think. I enjoyed the free-association curatorial style. It was like a well put together mix.

[Ero · Rating 5 out of 5]

A humongous book filled with brilliance. And some really tedious stuff too. But the brilliant stuff is worth wading through the rest for.

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great representation of toonists. Great historical Crumb chronicling early blues... better than volume I.

[Silvia]

Descubriendo autores norteamericanos de novela gráfica, intrigantes y geniales, clásicos y no tan clásicos.

[David Melbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow. There is some crazy shit in between the covers of this book. Loved it. --From A Reader's Journal, by d r melbie

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit of everything (and I mean everything). Volume 3, come soon :)

[Mitch Donaberger]

some tripe, some incredible works of art. great anthology.

[Carlo Mayer]

Da consultazione

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like its predecessor: must-read for comix aficionados..

[Bryanzk · Rating 4 out of 5]

getting to know better what kind of comics suits me, some of them in the book are not..

[Oleksandr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book to discover different US cartoon styles.
Unfortunately, some strips almost unreadable in this format.