From Roman battles to New York City street life to fantasy, author and illustrator Beccy Blake’s top 5 graphic novels show the range of the format.
Fat Freddy’s Cat Omnibus by Gilbert Shelton
Shelton was part of the American underground comics scene, and Fat Freddy’s Cat chronicles a cat’s viewpoint living in a hippy house share alongside an army of disgruntled cockroaches. Absolute comic dynamite.
Asterix the Gaul by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo
The spirit of a plucky bunch of village inhabitants vs occupying Roman legions is irresistible to any young mind. The drawings are beautiful, and depictions of characters so inspiring for any young comic artist or animator.
New York: The Big City by Will Eisner
Highly respected US comic artist Eisner perfectly captures the spirit of the pre-gentrification Lower East Side. There’s a steely feel to his drawings and gritty tales of street life. An evocative must-buy for any fans of the Big Apple.
A Guest in The House by EM Carroll
This beautiful and thought provoking graphic novel, has strange and haunting elements within. It’s about a young woman living in a house by a lake, while her husband harbours a dark secret. Carroll interweaves film noir elements with gorgeous illustration.
Boss of the Underworld: Shirley vs The Green Menace by Tor Freeman
A rip-roaringly hilarious graphic novel featuring Shirley and her pal George (a giant cockroach) on their many adventures through the underworld. There’s something so relatable about Freeman’s characters.
