Aussie Readers discussion

It's June already and we are now smack in the middle of the year! Wow, where does that time fly? Maybe it flies around in a graphic novel!!

This months challenge is to find a graphic novel to read. There is good reason for this. Why, do you ask?

June celebrates Pop Culture in Australia with many different Expos held across Australia. These festivals help celebrate graphic novels among other things- comics, technology, books, fantasy, tv/movies, toys, console/pc gaming, cosplay,etc.

Here are four events taking place:
Supanova (Sydney): 17-19 June 2011 (The Dome, Olympic Park – Sydney Showground)
Supanova (Perth): 24-26 June 2011 (Claremont Showgrounds)

Sadly due to several natural disasters both these have been placed on hold.

Australian Comic Arts Festival (Brisbane): 4 June 2011 (The Edge Cultural Centre)- Maybe a chance it's still happening (?)
Armageddon (Tasmania): 11-12 June 2011 (Wrest Point, Hobart).



Still unsure what an actual graphic novel is? Peep at this from wiki.

A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format. The term is employed in a broad manner, encompassing non-fiction works and thematically linked short stories as well as fictional stories across a number of genres.

Graphic novels are typically bound in longer and more durable formats than familiar comic magazines, using the same materials and methods as printed books, and they are generally sold in bookstores and specialty comic book shops rather than at newsstands. Such books have gained increasing acceptance as desirable materials for libraries which once ignored comic books.



Where to start?
Great resource for Aussie graphic novels

Collection on Good Reads

Some of the well known ones are-

Watchmen
V for Vendetta
BONES
The Boys (You're warned not for the young)
Mouse Guard
Walking Dead



Don't forget Manga can be included into the whole 'graphic novel' world.
Bleach
Naruto
Full Metal Alchemist
Fruits Basket
Hikaru no Go

ENJOY!!

Hehehe..I never knew this was going to happen..not at all ;)

I've got mine all lined up...Actually, I have a few..The Boys (not sure which novel trade atm).

And these two-

Tiny Titans: Sidekickin' It!
Tiny Titans Vol. 01: Welcome to the Treehouse

Congratulations Laura! Quick off the mark with your favourite genre!! :)

Hehehe..Thankyou x) I have a whole shelf for graphic novels :D

Speaking of..One just arrived today Scrooge McDuck Companion but I haven't read the first one yet.

Pity we weren't closer, I could borrow something off you LOL..I read Scrooge McDuck when I was 'little' hhaha

Michael wrote: "Umm just to clarify do these ones qualify Simon's Cat: Beyond the Fence Simon's Cat

There's no writing as such just alot of funny pics just asking as i dont have mu..."

I'll be very honest with you Michael, and say I'm not sure! This is Laura's speciality, not mine, but I think they would pass...I just read up about it on Wiki...I think we can happily say 'go for it'!!! :)

OK Michael...:)

I very handily have three volumes of Madame Xanadu Vol. 1: Disenchanted sitting on my TBR shelf.

Gorgeous, gorgeous artwork, just sitting there, waiting for me...

A friend of mine leant me his whole collection of Preacher trade paperbacks. Might have to get stuck into them.

Andrea wrote: "I very handily have three volumes of Madame Xanadu Vol. 1: Disenchanted sitting on my TBR shelf.

Gorgeous, gorgeous artwork, just sitting there, waiting for me..."

Woohoo!!!! This challenge is made for you Andrea!!! ;)

Ljuke wrote: "A friend of mine leant me his whole collection of Preacher trade paperbacks. Might have to get stuck into them.

[bookcover:Preacher, Volume 2: ..."

That's awesome Ljuke!! :)

Michael wrote: "Cool unless Laura disagrees ill go with them two. :D

1.

2."

Ooooo..I didn't know there was books out by this guy :o!

I need to buy them sometime! I'd include them in graphic novels :)

Brenda wrote: "Pity we weren't closer, I could borrow something off you LOL..I read Scrooge McDuck when I was 'little' hhaha"

You'd have a wide variety of disney to read then..haha..Scrooge is so cool! I love him ^^

Ljuke wrote: "A friend of mine leant me his whole collection of Preacher trade paperbacks. Might have to get stuck into them.

[bookcover:Preacher, Volume 2: ..."

Been wanting to read Preacher for ages! Have you read any of The Boys? By the same guy.

Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "A friend of mine leant me his whole collection of Preacher trade paperbacks. Might have to get stuck into them.

[bookcover:Preach..."

No, but I have read the first Preacher book. Pretty wild stuff. There's a character that has an anus for a face, for example. Is The Boys good?

Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "A friend of mine leant me his whole collection of Preacher trade paperbacks. Might have to get stuck into them.

[bo..."

Yeah, Preacher has a very interesting rep! lol Certainly not for younger kids!

I really enjoy the boys...It's a different spin on the whole 'super heroes' with a gritty feel to it. Worth picking up i think or getting someone to lend you the first trade.

Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "A friend of mine leant me his whole collection of Preacher trade paperbacks. Might have to get stuck into them.

[bookcover:Preacher, Volume 1: Gone To Te..."

This is the problem with graphic novels; they're so expensive. I'd read heaps more of them if they were a little cheaper. From Hell set me back about $60. Totally worth it, but still...

Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "A friend of mine leant me his whole collection of Preacher trade paperbacks. Might have to get stuck into them.

[bookcover:Preacher, Volume..."

Really?? That's expensive!!! :(

Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "A friend of mine leant me his whole collection of Preacher trade paperbacks. Might have to get stuck into them.

[bookcover:Preacher, Volume..."

Do you buy within Australia only? I don't and never will anymore.But I know what you mean I bought WANTED for a friends chirstmas present few years ago..It was about $40/50. But had i bought it online it wouldn't have been so expensive.

Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "A friend of mine leant me his whole collection of Preacher trade paperbacks. Might have to get stuck into them.

[bookcover:Pr..."

You should let me know who your supplier is ;)

Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "A friend of mine leant me his whole collection of Preacher trade paperbacks. Might have to get stuck into them.
..."

Amazon (sometimes but very rarely due to shipping costs)
Mycomicshop.com
Bookdepository.co.uk

I usually go with mycomicshop.com though and have been shopping there for years now.

I guess this will give me a chance to read The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 2

Yes, looks like it will Knowledge ;)

Prefer excuse :D

Laura wrote: "Prefer excuse :D"

Did you mean 'perfect' excuse, Laura ;)

Maybe!

Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "A friend of mine leant me his whole collection of Preacher trade paperbacks. Might have to get stuc..."

Yeah, shipping is the problem. The UK Amazon site is great, because their delivery is often faster than Australian sites, but the shipping costs on books are ridiculous.

Laura wrote: "Maybe! "

HAHAHA!!!!!

Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "Laura wrote: "Ljuke wrote: "A friend of mine leant me his whole collection of Preacher trade paperbacks. Might ha..."
Never bought from the UK amazon..Just US and i think the Japanese one.

When Amazon wasn't huge like it is now I swear the shipping was cheaper?

Go with mycomicshop.com or bookdepository then :) You will need to pay for shipping with mcs but it's never as bad as Amazon. Then of course BD is free shipping so that's a score :)

It's not in June but soon after there is "a weekend of graphic storytelling, animation and music this August."
It's at the Sydney Opera House and last year featured Neil Gaiman & Shaun Tan.
Guests this time include Scott McCloud, Eddie Campbell and others.

http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/about...

Kate wrote: "It's not in June but soon after there is "a weekend of graphic storytelling, animation and music this August."
It's at the Sydney Opera House and last year featured Neil Gaiman & Shaun Tan.
Guests ..."

Thanks for that Kate...I just posted it in the NSW thread too :)

Brenda wrote: "Laura wrote: "Maybe! "

HAHAHA!!!!!"

lol! Nice one.

@Kate- Cheers for that..Good to know :)

hmmm...not sure weather I'll do this or not. I prefer novels over graphic novels :/
We'll see...

★ Jessica ★ wrote: "hmmm...not sure weather I'll do this or not. I prefer novels over graphic novels :/
We'll see..."

You don't have to decide straight away Jessica:)

*Jessica* - when I was a young thing, many decades ago, there used to be the Classics Illustrated Comics. Only cost a little more than regular comics.

Er, being a critical grammar grandma here, but the word you're after is "whether". "Weather" is that stuff that either rains or gives us a sunny day. End of lecture.

Me too! Prefer novels, that is.

Laura, Brenda, I still have a Scrooge McDuck comic. In fact I have a small bookcase full of Charlie Brown, Snake, Garfield, Footrot Flats etc. etc. I bought them for the kids in the 1970s and, like all my books, never threw them away. Now, wouldn't you have fun if you lived just around the corner from me?

Monya (aka Mary)

I'd have a freakin' ball!

Awesome challenge. Be aware that many libraries also have graphic novels and trade paperbacks, if you are worried about cost, or just want to have a browse. You may have to look in the YA section, though my local library has two shelves in the genre fiction area for manga and graphic novels. Here are some of my recommendations:
Pride of Baghdad (about a pride of lions that escapes from Baghdad zoo)
Storm Front (Harry Dresden as graphic novel)
FreakAngels (this is a web comic, free to read - google it)
Cheers!

Monya wrote: "*Jessica* - when I was a young thing, many decades ago, there used to be the Classics Illustrated Comics. Only cost a little more than regular comics.

Er, being a critical grammar grandma here, b..."

Awesome, oh how much fun would that be...:D

Nathan wrote: "Awesome challenge. Be aware that many libraries also have graphic novels and trade paperbacks, if you are worried about cost, or just want to have a browse. You may have to look in the YA section, ..."

Thanks Nathan, I'll be checking these out too...LOL

Pride of Baghdad
The Dresden Files: Storm Front, Volume 1 - The Gathering Storm
FreakAngels: Volume 1...looks like there's a few volumes of this one!

Thanks for putting those links in Brenda, I was "between jobs" and only had a few moments to punch out that reply. People really should check out Pride of Baghdad, it was beautiful. FreakAngels is five or six volumes long and about to finish up completely. Every page is available for free on the website.

Cheers.

Nathan wrote: "Thanks for putting those links in Brenda, I was "between jobs" and only had a few moments to punch out that reply. People really should check out Pride of Baghdad, it was beautiful. FreakAngels is ..."

No worries Nathan. I loved the look of Pride of Baghdad too, but my library doesn't have it:( I'll be investigating further!

I asked in Borders today if they had any Graphic Novels left...the girl told me a man had bought them ALL this morning, for his shop! He's going to make a good profit, 70% off at Borders!! I missed out by a couple of hours:(

Awe,poop! that is a shame :(
Wow, that guy must be a reseller then :/

Yes, it wouldn't be a second hand book shop, cos they are all new....

Michael wrote: "Brenda wrote: "I asked in Borders today if they had any Graphic Novels left...the girl told me a man had bought them ALL this morning, for his shop! He's going to make a good profit, 70% off at Bor..."

Hahaha!!! You wish Michael!! ;)

Brenda wrote: "Yes, it wouldn't be a second hand book shop, cos they are all new...."

*Keeps eye on eBay*

Laura wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Yes, it wouldn't be a second hand book shop, cos they are all new...."

*Keeps eye on eBay*"

I didn't think of that!!! You are probably right Laura! :(

For this challenge I'll read through the two volumes of Storm Front available as graphic novels, following on from my March and April reading where I read through the Harry Dresden novels...

cheers :)

Nice Visible :)

Good choices Visible!!