Get ready for some more geeky goodness…
Like sci-fi, video games, cosplay or anime? Then you most definitely cannot miss the MCM Comic Con which is coming to the RDS in Dublin on 12th and 13th April.
Any comic book fan, video game aficionado or chic geek worth their salt will know all about MCM Comic Con, but what you might not know is that the world famous convention is coming to Irish shores in April, bringing with it some unmissable experiences for anyone who has even a passing interest in the travails of Superman and his super friends.
To prepare you for what the weekend will have in store, JOE has compiled this list of some of our favourite graphic novelists, as well as some of their most iconic pieces of work…
Art Spiegelman
The Swedish-born, New York-based Art Spiegelman is best known for his masterpiece Maus; a graphic novel which beautifully and poignantly explored the experiences and memories of a Holocaust survivor.
Spiegelman began working on experimental strips in the 70’s and edited comic collections before focusing on Maus. Maus, the result of interviews with the novelist’s father, was well received in comic book circles and the broader literary community and, in 1992, Maus became the first graphic novel to win the Pulitzer prize.
For Maus alone, JOE absolutely loves Art Spiegelman. Call us Art!
Alan Moore
The English writer is responsible for many of the greatest graphic novels ever written and, as a result, Hollywood have been knocking down his door for years, adapting Watchmen, V For Vendetta and From Hell for the big screen. The less said about The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen the better though…
For JOE though, our favourite Moore masterpiece has to be Watchmen, a limited series that depicted an alternate history where superheroes began to emerge in the 1940s, eventually helping the United States to win the Vietnam War. The novel was, rightly so, a commercial and critically-acclaimed success and, to this day, remains one of the most influential graphic novels ever written.
Plus we kind of fancied Silk Spectre II, perfectly portrayed by Malin Åkerman in the 2009 film adaptation…
Frank Miller
Another great graphic novelist, Miller was born in the States and made his name working for Marvel in the 1980s. The dark and stylish genius was both a brilliant writer and artist, and was responsible for the evolution of lots of JOE’s favourite characters including Batman and Daredevil, as well as being the brilliant brain behind 300 and Sin City.
Here at JOE though, it’s Miller’s work with the hard-to-beat Batman that remains our most-loved piece of his magnificent output, with his 1986 release, The Dark Knight Returns, a particular stand out.
Bryan Lee O’Malley
O’Malley gets the JOE vote for his fantastic Scott Pilgrim character; the hero who was the star of a series of six graphic stories. JOE could obviously relate to Scott seeing as he was a slacker and part-time musician who was in love with a gorgeous girl but, in order to win her hand, HAD TO DEFEAT HER SEVEN EVIL EXES.
What a nightmare. We know that some people have baggage alright, but baggage that tries to kill you every five minutes? That’s not a great start to any relationship.
The talented O’Malley is also a musician in real life but at the MCM Ireland Comic Con JOE’s going to be all about the story-writing, not the song-writing.
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