Historical comics

[numberONE]

I recently read Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography by Chester Brown, and really enjoyed it. A very good graphic novel. I was wondering if any of you know of any other good historical comics and/or graphic novels? This is one question you can't just Google, becuase when I Google 'historical comics' all I get is articles about the history of comics. I need your help!

[the4thpip]

I reviewed the excellent Bourbon Island 1730 a couple of years ago:
http://the4thpip.blogspot.com/2008/10/review-bourbon-island-1730.html

[rick]

I'd suggest any of Jack Jacksons historical comics about early Texas.

They are nothing less than brilliant.

[king mob]

Charley's War by Pat Mills & Joe Colquhon is simply the best strip about WW1 ever made.

[DonC]

Are you looking for fiction, non-fiction or both? Garth Ennis has done quite a few World War II comics. First at DC, now at Dynamite.

[the4thpip]

The MLK bio-comic, KING by Ho Che Anderson.

[numberONE]

Thanks all! Any more suggestions?


Charley's War by Pat Mills & Joe Colquhon is simply the best strip about WW1 ever made.

I might check this out.


Are you looking for fiction, non-fiction or both? Garth Ennis has done quite a few World War II comics. First at DC, now at Dynamite.

Both. But I am bit more interested in non-fiction.

[zryson]

i remember reading a comic about the rise and fall of pompeii but that was years ago so i dont remember the publisher or anything. but it was beautifully illustrated.

[zryson]

i had a quick google for you and found this - sounds like it could be an excellent read if you are interested in the history of comics

http://goldenagecomics.org/wordpress/2010/07/22/the-comics-an-illustrated-history-of-comic-strip-art/

[Estrecca]

Strictly fiction, but the Adventures of Alix (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Alix) series does a fine job of portraying Roman society in the final years of the Republic. How easy it'd be to find it in English, now that's something completely different.

[dupersuper]

Most of Roy Thomas' stuff...

[Pól Rua]

Eric Shanower's 'Age of Bronze' is a re-telling of 'The Iliad'. It's bloody swell, and, again, it's fictionalized history, but William Messner-Loebs' 'Journey: The Adventures of Wolverine McAllister' is essential reading.

I'm also gonna second Rick's recommendation of Jack Jackson's stuff.

[numberONE]

okay, thanks.

[Pól Rua]

Also, if you're not looking at Kate Beaton's stuff, you're robbing yourself blind.
http://harkavagrant.com/index.php

She's the cat's pyjamas.

[Adam C]

Also, if you're not looking at Kate Beaton's stuff, you're robbing yourself blind.
http://harkavagrant.com/index.php

She's the cat's pyjamas.

Indeedily. It's hard for me to pick a favourite out of them all.

That said I am very, very, very disappointed in all of you. No mention of James Sturm's work or Jason Lutes' brilliant Berlin which is among the best drawn, best written comics ever.

[Iangould]

Barefoot Gen is both as literary masterpiece and a highly accurate historical document about the lead up to, and the consequences of, the use of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

EC published a series of short stories based on the civil war which in toto represent an excellent history of that war.

Sam Glanzman 's "U.S.S. Stevens" stories, are an outstanding personal memoir of world War II.

As is Will Eisner's "the Dreamer' and "To The Heart of the Storm", a diptych which explores both the social history of world War II and the early history of the comic book industry.

Eisner's "Last Day in Vietnam" is a valuable historic document regarding the US war in Vietnam but takes on added poignancy when read in conjunction with bis early works regarding World War II.

Don Lomax's Vietnam Journal is also worth of note, as is his follow-up Desert Stor4m journal.

I'd also argue that quite a lot of Lomax's porn work has interesting historical and sociological aspects, but that's just me.


And it's just occurred to me that I've been ignoring the 800-pound gorilla in the room, Larry Gonick's Cartoon History of the Universe/Cartoon History of the Modern World. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cartoon_History_of_the_Universe)

[Iangould]

Indeedily. It's hard for me to pick a favourite out of them all.

That said I am very, very, very disappointed in all of you. No mention of James Sturm's work or Jason Lutes' brilliant Berlin which is among the best drawn, best written comics ever.

Can I recommend Sturm's The Golem's Mighty Swing in particular?

[Iangould]

Ricky Geary's A Treasury of Victorian murder/A Treasury of 20th Century Murder needs to be recognized here.

I'd also recommend Mister Geary's stand-alone biographies, Cravan and Trotsky.

[Adam C]

Can I recommend Sturm's The Golem's Mighty Swing in particular?

YES! That was a great book one of my big early reads when I was getting into independent comics. I have virtually no interest in sports, but I enjoyed it just for the quality of Sturm's writing and his portrayal of the historical setting. The simplicity of his line work, ink wash shading, and storytelling was really striking in in terms of considering how comics are constructed and having been raised on superheroes. (Specifically I didn't realize how crap some comics were in terms of intelligently laying out and depicting the flow of action.) I particularly like this page (http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2007/06/comics_sturm_3.html) which illustrates the aspects of the visuals and the story I appreciated where Sturm cleverly illustrates one commonality of the African American and Jewish historical experience in America...but I'm coming at it as a music geek and a bit more awareness about Jewish American involvement in show business, particularly in vaudeville and early blues. (It was striking finding out how many female Jewish singers were part of the blues of the 1920s alongside black singers like Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey.)

The only reason I don't have it anymore is because I needed to clear off my bookshelves a bit and I found out it has been reprinted inJames Sturm's America: God, Gold, and Golems (http://www.drawnandquarterly.com/shopCatalogLong.php?item=a45d38c68413e1) alongside two other stories, which as far as I know aren't published alone.

[Adam C]

Ricky Geary's A Treasury of Victorian murder/A Treasury of 20th Century Murder needs to be recognized here.

Id also recommend Mister Geary's stand-alone biographies,s Cravan and Trotsky.

Interesting. He did a biography about Trotsky?

[Iangould]

Yes. It was published by a company other than Dark Horse so it didn't get the same level of exposure in the direct market as most of his other work.

[rick]

And it's just occurred to me that I've been ignoring the 800-pound gorilla in the room, Larry Gonick's Cartoon History of the Universe/Cartoon History of the Modern World. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cartoon_History_of_the_Universe)


Agreed.

This is the absolute gold standard for historical comics.

[Paradox]

I really do have to get the rest of those some time. I got the first six individual issues when they were coming out and never got the rest. Definitely agree with the others that this is great stuff. Hilarious as well as informative.

[Pictopian]

Well, surely Alan Moore's From Hell is the historical comic book to end all historical comic books :biggrin:

[rick]

Well, surely Alan Moore's From Hell is the historical comic book to end all historical comic books :biggrin:

From Hell does make great use of actual history while telling its story, but still, fiction is fiction.

Also, welcome to the boards.

[DubipR]

I like the underrated Union Station by Ande Parks & Eduardo Barreto.
This GN from Oni Press is a retelling of the Kansas City Massacre. If you're a fan of true crime and depression age gangsters, this is worth reading.

[Pictopian]

Thank you.


From Hell does make great use of actual history while telling its story, but still, fiction is fiction.

Well, using historical novels as an analogy, that seems like a worthy candidate; a fictional story in the middle of a true story is what many historical novels are all about.

What would your definition be?

[jessecuster3]

I am awful surprised noone has mentioned Maus, yet. Also, Tezuka's Buddha.

[rick]

Thank you.



Well, using historical novels as an analogy, that seems like a worthy candidate; a fictional story in the middle of a true story is what many historical novels are all about.

What would your definition be?


It's certainly one of the best historical novels I've ever read, but the OP was asking about non-fiction historical works.

Edit: although if I'm to go by some of the other posts, maybe it's me who isn't getting the question.