Selections From Manu Larcenet’s Adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road”

"The Road" cover

Today, we’re pleased to present an excerpt from Manu Larcenet’s graphic novel adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road.  Its path to publication was somewhat unorthodox: Larcenet, a winner of multiple awards at the Angoulême International Comics Festival over the years, wrote to McCarthy seeking his approval for the project. (It worked.)

“I loved The Road for the atmosphere it creates. Most likely because I enjoy drawing the snow, the chilling winds, the dark clouds, the sizzling rain, tangles and snags, rust, and the damp and the humidity,” Larcenet wrote. I draw violence and kindness, wild animals, dirty skin, pits, and stagnant water. I enjoy the contrast between the characters and their environment, and as conceited as it may sound, I feel like I’m up to the task.”

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An Excerpt From “The Golem of Venice Beach, Book 2”

We’re pleased to present an excerpt from the second volume of The Golem of Venice Beach, a graphic novel from writer Chanan Beizer and artist Vanessa Cardinali. There’s a Kickstarter campaign up and running as of now for the graphic novel; besides Cardinali, a host of other writers is also contributing to the volume, including Frank Quitely, Nick Dragotta, Dean Haspiel, Stan Sakai, Howard Chaykin, and Juan José Ryp.

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A Generational Mystery: Matt Kindt and Margie Kraft Kindt on “Gilt Frame”

"Gilt Frame" cover

I’ve been an admirer of Matt Kindt’s comics work ever since I read the 2001 graphic novel Pistolwhip, his collaboration with Jason Hall. Since then, his career has seen him take on a host of genres, including working with some other high-profile collaborators. (Notably, Keanu Reeves on BRZRKR.) Kindt’s latest collaboration finds him working in the mystery genre, collaborating with his mother Margie Kraft Kindt on the series Gilt Frame. The first issue is due out this Wednesday, and I spoke with the two collaborators on the making of their new series.

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Reimagining “Dororo”: An Excerpt From “Search and Destroy Vol. 1”

"Search and Destroy" volume 1 cover art

In the beginning there was Dororo, a series of graphic novels by Osamu Tezuka that its publisher describes as following “adventures of a young swordsman and his rogue sidekick.” What happens when another acclaimed creator takes the same basic premise and transplants it into another genre entirely? That’s what Atsushi Kaneko has done with Search and Destroy, a book that adds a heady dose of cyberpunk into the mix.

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Presenting an Excerpt From Steven S. DeKnight and Leno Carvalho’s “Hard Bargain”

"Hard Bargain" cover

We’re pleased to present an excerpt from the supernatural noir graphic novel Hard Bargain from writer Steven S. DeKnight and artist Leno Carvalho. Publisher Humanoids is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for the book, featuring contributions from the likes of Pete Woods and Michael Gaydos. The novel follows a private detective crossing paths with the magical underworld of 1940s Los Angeles.

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Writer/Artist Caza on the Genesis of “Arkadi and the Lost Tribe”

"Arkadi and the Lost Titan"

An ongoing Kickstarter campaign seeks to collect the full scope of a stunning work of science fiction comics.Beginning in 1989, writer/artist Caza has been telling the story of Arkadi and the Lost Titan. Publisher Humanoids describes it as “a visually stunning tableaux that blends imaginative landscapes with intricate detail, and classic sci-fi adventure with spiritual and metaphysical exploration.” Regarding the book, Mark Russell called it “the sort of imagination-bending science fiction comic you rarely see.”

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Adaptations With Added Dread: David Small’s “The Werewolf at Dusk and Other Stories”

"The Werewolf at Dusk"

Somehow it’s been 15 years since the publication of David Small’s graphic memoir Stitches. To call it a debut would be inaccurate; at that point, Small had already amassed a storied career as an illustrator of books for younger readers, including multiple collaborations with his wife, the writer Sarah Stewart. Stitches, the harrowing story of Small’s experience with cancer treatment and unexpected surgery during his teenage years, was a haunting work, one that immersed the reader in its creator’s body and mind during a turbulent period.

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An Excerpt From Samir Dahmani’s “Seoul Before Sunrise”

"Seoul Before Sunrise"

Today, we’re pleased to present an excerpt from Samir Dahmani’s graphic novel Seoul Before Sunrise, out soon from Humanoids. The graphic novel follows a young woman, Seong-ji, who finds herself adrift after a close friendship begins to implode. From the publisher’s description: “It’s during her overnight shifts that she encounters an enigmatic young woman who spends her nights entering the empty homes of other people to paint and photograph these places. Now, the normally rational Seong-ji finds herself swept up in a dreamlike otherworld, made up of freedom and creativity.”

Read on for a glimpse inside Seoul Before Sunrise:

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