I went out after work and had a nice meet-up and a drink with
I also got reading recommendations. Cecil‘s ‘Boyproof’. And -hurrah!- Mark’s very own shiny new graphic novel, ‘Silencers’, which I already know I will enjoy because a) Mark wrote it, b) I love R. G. Taylor’s art – he drew ‘Sandman Mystery Theater’, one of my favorite comics, c) I dig spy/espionage/thriller comics and there aren’t nearly enough of them [see: all of Greg Rucka’s ‘Queen & Country’ series, Matt Kindt’s ‘2 Sisters’, Jeff Parker’s ‘The Interman’, Warren Ellis’s ‘Desolation Jones’, Peter O’Donnell’s ‘Modesty Blaise’, Antonio Prohias’ eternal cold-war classic ‘Spy vs. Spy’, et ‘Trieze’ (XIII) par Jean Van Hamme]
I’ve succeded in getting Heather into comics in our time together huzah! I’ve been hinting that she should read Watchmen because it isn’t your regular run of the mill comic. She’s not one for the exploits of Peter Parker but is digging The amazing Spider-Girl. She also reads Fables, Deadman, Jack of Fables and Manhunter.
Neat thing about Manhunter is that I was on the Geoof Johsn board asking folks about a comic she may enjoy and that was one of them. Then the writer Marc Andreyko offers to send her some freebies. She eneded up netting 8 signed issues and hasn’t stopped since.
Basically what this extended comment is meant to say that the powers of comics are strong and once you are hooked on one you can’t get out. Oh and I’ve always wanted to work in a comic shop 🙁 heh.
It’s interesting, having been a woman working in a comic store that totally throws off the usual statistics of having an all-male crew by having 50% or more females on the floor, cash and in management, the topic of “how to get girls into comics” always seemed a little strange. Look around, there are plenty of girls here! But of course that’s a completely skewed view, as you quickly learn at any con.
I have always liked the marriage of words and art, but it took me a long time to work up the courage to brave the inside of my local comic shop because the one where I grew up was NOT female-friendly. You would not believe how many times I’ve had staff ask me “is that for your boyfriend?” and I’ve just put whatever was in my hand down and walked out.
For whatever reason, the first comic I bought was ‘Witchblade’ (I think I must have been 12 at the time) and it didn’t entice me to stick with comics for long. Later, I bought my first graphic novel, ‘Lazarus Churchyard’ -again, a very random choice- and that got me coming back for more.
Moore and Miller are always good classics to start someone with, but while there are good finds in the DC and Marvel section (I personally recommend ‘Batgirl: Year One’ as having good scripting and stunning art), I’d say to steer Heather away from the DC and Marvel and over to the indy section.
Depending on her tastes, there’s ‘Courtney Crumrin’ by Ted Naifeh, ‘Blacksad’ by Juan Diaz Canales & Guarnido, ‘Creature Tech’ or anything else by Doug Tenapel, ‘Shutterbug Follies’ by Jason Little, ‘Milk and Cheese’ by Evan Dorkin, ‘Soulwind’ or ‘Spaghetti Western’ by Scott Morse, ‘Bone’ by Jeff Smith, any of the ‘Maakies’ or ‘Sock Monkey’ books by Tony Millionaire, ‘Ruse’ if she likes mysteries, detectives or Victoriana (in which case, back to Moore for the infinitely-better-than-the-movie-would-suggest ‘League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’. ‘Sandman’ of course, ‘Twentieth-Century Eight Ball’ or ‘Art School Confidential’ or anything by Daniel Clowes. Chester Brown, Seth, Joe Sacco, Phoebe Gloeckner, Julie Doucet…
I’ll stop before this list gets wildly out of hand. 🙂
Now as a “seasoned vet” she has a pretty good eye for seeking out what she likes. As her boyfriend I’d much rather let her go off on her own and find what she wants. I only had to get her started and I don’t want to push anything on her, accept Watchmen! 😛 I’ll direct her to this thread/post though.
She was loving the last volume of Batgirl and unfortunaltely got into it when it was ending. She cursed the “man/DC” and the creators for a really shitty ending and total character change. Made Batgirl from this young girl finding herself to this psychotic assassin. Totally uncool in my books too.
Sandman has peaked her interest since a friend of hers from work has them all or at least a whole bunch that I saw. Sock monkey may be of interest since she is going to be making her own sock money!
And to end my post I would like to curse the shitty comic shop in Niagara Falls. It is the WORST shop I’ve ever been in but, all I have right now. Sad times in Comic-ville.