The Graphic Classroom is a review project begun by Chris Wilson to supplement his master’s thesis, which stands behind comics as legitimate literature and reviews them in terms of instruction and librarianship. I used to write semi-regularly for it, pretty much as one seriously unselfish fan-boy.
CryptoZooey #1 by Steve & Sarah Troop
Steve Troop’s art is, IMHO, reminiscent of newspaper strips like Calvin & Hobbes. I say this because Zooey looks, well, like a transgendered Calvin. But the degree of detail he inks into the background, into newspaper clippings and wide-panel haunted scenery, is just great. The expressions are hilarious and the bubble-logue ingenious (or, at least, super cute [refer: Jackalope]).
Marvel Illustrated: Picture of Dorian Gray
Here’s the thing: the adapted Dorian Gray is really remarkable, but having the real horror of Dorian’s world brought from a monochromatic page to striking visuals – pertaining to suicide and murder (and the disposal of the body) – makes it awful poignant.
The Merchant of Venice by Gareth Hinds
Coupling facial expressions and generally modernized dialogue makes Bassanio’s anti-Semitism (or Jessica’s betrayal or Shylock’s rage) all the more poignant and the comedy — while sometimes super funny ha-ha — is almost disturbingly out of place like cracking open a beer at a funeral.
