You Shall Die By Your Own Evil Creation! By Fletcher Hanks, edited by Paul Karasik. While many of the comic books of the period were being created by assembly-line studio processes, for a couple of years (1939 - 1942) Fletcher Hanks single-handedly created some of the damnedest stories ever drawn. His science-fantasy stories in particular are loaded with bizarre creations unique in all literature. His gelatinous semi-primitive style and unique conceptions, along with the brutal and garish coloring techniques of the time, make this the most artistically inspiring thing I have seen in ages. If I felt I could spare the few dollars, I would certainly buy a copy of my own. I am only reading one or two stories a day so I can keep this library copy as long as possible. The fact that he was personally a truly despicable character only adds to the mystique.
The Discworld Graphic Novels, based on the works of Terry Pratchett. Because his books are so popular I have made a couple of attempts to read one, but never got more than a few pages in before giving up. They seem to me to be Douglas Adams for Lord of the Rings Fans, only lamer. I might have liked it when I was fourteen, or maybe not. In contrast to the book just mentioned, this one was a real chore to get through - originally published in the mid-1990s, the art is slightly above mediocre at times, with lots of those "leering grin with a raised eyebrow" expressions inexplicably popular with young independent cartoonists. The stories and plot elements are a lot of cutesy tripe and "ain't I somethin?" wordplay that makes me want to kick the hell out of that Pratchett guy. I only read this out of a sense of social obligation so I could get some idea of what it is that so many people think is so darn great. It only confirms my feeling of not belonging in this world.
