This is a Pulitzer-Prize winning graphic novel, written and drawn by Art Spiegelman, recounting the author’s father’s efforts to survive the Holocaust as a Polish Jew. It also tells the story of the author’s relationship with him. Spiegelman cast different groups of people as species of animals. He draws Jewish people as mice, French people as frogs, and Americans as dogs, just to name a few.
Liberty Meadows
At the Liberty Meadows Animal Sanctuary, veterinarian Frank deals with his unrequited love for Brandy, an animal psychologist. Frank is painfully shy and Brandy is unaware of her beauty and how much she affects him. These two are surrounded by animal characters like the midget bear Ralph; Dean, a chauvinist pig (literally); and other wild personalities, animal and human alike. They have many adventures, but the unique storylines are enhanced by diverse visual styles and references to artwork by famous artists like Michelangelo and well-known movies and commercials.
Sandman
There are other comic book characters bearing this name, but arguably, the most famous one is the protagonist from the wildly popular Neil Gaiman stories. Gaiman’s Sandman is also known as Dream or Morpheus (among other names), a member of the Endless, seven beings who personify areas of human experience. They exist on other planes of reality but are influential in the lives of humans. The others are Destiny, Death, Destruction, Desire, Despair and Delirium. Sandman stories are seen by many as literary and engaging. One of their recurring themes is how one can be affected by responsibility and apathy. Stories have elements of horror, fantasy, and mythology.
Sin City
These gritty Frank Miller tales, recently brought to life on the big screen, are darkly violent and sexual. They capture the essence of film noir onto the printed page, but they use gunplay, fisticuffs, and sexuality in ways the old 1950s movies never dared to, at least not so graphically. A typical Sin City story is reminiscent of a classic detective tale, but with more action and more exaggerated characters.
Ghost World
This is a coming-of-age story about two high-school graduates that was also made into a feature-length film. The main character, Enid, and her friend Rebecca are teenaged outcasts about to begin the next phase of their lives. The narration is often detached and the events understated, but the plot and characters are engaging, and the series of events in the girls’ lives build-up to a surreal ending.
As you can see, comic books are a diverse source of entertainment. Aside from the wild action they’re known for, they can encompass fiction and non-fiction with as much emotion, wit, and social relevance as a novel. But unlike a novel, they enhance their stories with jaw-dropping visuals that set a tone, please the eye, or both. Their influence on other entertainment media is profound. Many movies, television shows, video games, and novels are based on comic book characters and their adventures.