Donna Barr (Stinz, the Desert Peach, etc). Donna Barr doesn't pencil before inking, because she doesn't need to. From the most bizarre and unlikely of premises (humans forcibly turned into centaurs, General Rommel's gay brother), she brilliantly extracts foibles and travesties and madcap, half-cynical humor. Her vivid characters have you cracking up one moment, and turning pale with concern the next. Her fluidity with the human form and her flawless bending of history and myth make you want to (a) learn German and (b) shake her hand. (Which I've done. Then she gave me a free book.) [HOMEPAGE]
Neil Gaiman (Sandman). Being one of the world's most radioactive Sandman fans, Neil couldn't possibly be left off this list. One of the most influential comics of the last twenty years, and thus far his biggest authorship project, Sandman is an addictive blend of fantasy, horror, and grand epic following the life and times of Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams. Once you get past the third book, he owns your soul. [HOMEPAGE]
Rachel Hartman (Amy Unbounded). In my opinion, one of the strongest writers in all-age comics, ever. Rachel's whimsical but far from weightless comic Amy Unbounded follows the adventures and trials in the life of Amy, a inimitably spunky ten year-old in an imaginary medieval country. The characters are endearing without being cutesy, the art is warm and human, and the stories have all the joys and disappointments of real life. Everybody I've loaned Amy to has fallen in love. [HOMEPAGE]
Jason Lutes (Berlin, Jar of Fools). One of the few artists who truly deserves the title of graphic novelist. Armed with a clean, quiet European style and a wonderful talent for understated dialogue, he creates some incredibly bittersweet, poignant, and wrenching stories. He's also a card-carrying eccentric and a lovely person, and the world would do well to give him the attention he deserves.
Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics, Reinventing Comics). If you haven't heard of Scott McCloud, it's because you don't read enough comics. The formalist guru of comics theory and advocate of that toddler medium we call the webcomic. His theory books are easy to read, fun, and absolutely essential, and his experimental online comics are always a mind-bend. Scott is also a Genuinely Great Guy. [HOMEPAGE]
Carla Speed McNeil (Finder, etc). Beautifully drawn, intricately conceived, and densely written. She does natural dialogue, male shoulders, real life, high sci-fi, and large predatorial cats perfectly. You never forget her stuff: it's sexy and smart and obscure and hits hard. Her comics are like good red meat: the sheer amount of protein you get from them well merits the chewing it takes to get through them.[HOMEPAGE]
Linda Medley
(Castle Waiting). Linda Medley is one of my great heroines. Her gorgeous, wacky, classic illustration style perfectly matches the off-kilter fairytale world her characters inhabit. Very mature stories are interwoven with brisk and lovely humor. She celebrates magic and human character and skewers the Brothers Grimm all at the same time. Some of the best and most appealing material in the industry. Thank god she exists. Linda is also as wonderful in person as you could possibly hope.
Terry Moore
(Strangers in Paradise). Terry's an industry figure, and it couldn't happen to a more lovable fellow. Sexily-inked art that portrays women realistically, a wrenching, operatic ten-years-and-still-going storyline, you know, the whole deal. I like the earlier books the best, but he's still one of the best in the business, and deserves the success he's gotten.
Alex Robinson
(Box Office Poison). Great stuff, managing to be a serious relationship novel, a laser-eyed spoof of comics culture and life in the city. Sad, hilarious, naughty, elegant, weird, and just plain GOOD at all intervals. I'm a big fan. (does it show?)
Bryan Talbot (Heart of Empire, Tale of One Bad Rat, etc). Bryan's solid, intricate linework and fist-in-the-face visual storytelling are wonderful. He'll throw out everything from real-world fiction tinged with themes of Beatrix Potter, recovery from abuse, and creative freedom to unquenchably twisted science fiction filled with nauseated psychics, immortal, debauched despots and leather-wearing socialists. It's all gorgeous, weird, and he gave me change from his own wallet. (it smelled like leather and British cigarettes.) [HOMEPAGE]
Chauvel & Pedrosa (FRANCAIS: Ring Circus). Absolutely spinning, snazzy line art with luminous colors that tells the story of a wandering circus and its two latest young recruits. Character designs to make you weep, a fun, Medley-esque touch to the writing, baby zebras...nothing's missing here.
Christophe Blaine (FRANCAIS: Isaac le Pirate). Elegant, raw drawings, incredibly good writing, multi-layered characters, and PIRATES! One of my favorite series of all time: beautiful and just stunningly done. It's won the French equivalent of the Eisner, and God only knows why it's not been translated yet (that I can tell). Francophones, buy now. Everybody else, wait anxiously.
Joann Sfar (FRANCAIS: Grand Vampire, Petit Vampire, Professeur Bell, Le Chat du Rabbin...). Sfar is a hard man (yes, man) to describe. Warm, sloppy-rich drawings applied to incredibly weird and diverse material: from a Nosferatu vampire who mourns over his break-up with his girlfriend (...who's an animated tree?) and searches for true love at night in the Louvre, to supernatural adventure-thrillers staring a steely English professor, to talking Jewish cats. This is the work of an inspired brain.
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