Every week I would like to make a couple of accessible recommendations that will hopefully entertain, inform, and expose this dynamic storytelling medium to a wider audience.

Before I make my first picks I feel the need to review a few basic elements and characteristics and not assume a base of knowledge in a form that has been largely relegated to niche outlets and random spin racks.

The term “comic book” is an antiquated term that hardly describes the scope of material that is published today. A more appropriate term for the technique is “sequential art,” a form in which a series of pictures is presented, usually with corresponding text, to tell a story. This form is older than written language itself and relays a range of topics and genres that may include popular fiction, romance, fantasy, history, autobiography, and humor. A majority of American comics are read from left to right, top to bottom, but there are exceptions. As comics are predominantly a visual form, artistic license and interpretation are major components. Currently the most popular genre in American comics is the superhero which has had a long, controversial, and sometimes sordid history. The first comic books were created by magazine and newspaper publishers who put out material in the form of series. Contemporary comics predominately still follow this schedule and are released on a monthly basis. For example, Action Comics, which introduced Superman, has been published consistently every month since April 1938. Unlike magazines, however, most comics have a continuity of characters and storylines. The closest contemporary comparison that can be made is the soap opera or episodic television, and as actors and writers can change, artists and writers can also change, sometimes drastically. Uniquely, many comics and characters are regularly ret-conned or reinvented. Origins, names, settings and history may be radically changed, revised or just simply tweaked.

An erudite and vastly better treatise on this topic is both visually and expertly relayed in Scott McCloud’s 1993 book, Understanding Comics.

Now to the recommendations of the week (finally):

Collection of the Week:

Gotham Central Book One: In the Line of Fire reprints the award winning series’ first storyline set in comic’s most famous city from the street level cop’s point of view. Think of it as Law and Order with a little Heroes thrown into the mix. Writers Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka create an amazing ensemble work rich in real characters in crisis situations. Exceptional art by Michael Lark only adds to the realism, but at times fails at clearly distinguishing individuals. Overall, this book belongs on any crime or police procedural aficionado’s shelf.

Periodical of the Week:

Jonah Hex #35 features another single issue story of the adventures of the scarred bounty hunter with amazing art by the modern master J.H. Williams III. This series has enjoyed some of the most eclectic and skilled art of any series in memory, and personally, this issue only narrowly rates behind Darwyn Cooke’s issue two months previous. This series is consistently on the top of my read pile and is always well written and expertly drawn.

Next week: Hero's top five essential Graphic Novels.