Amazing Heroes Issue #191 Representative Page

Amazing Heroes Issue #191 Representative Page

Periodical
Comic Strips

This page contains some of the fifteen greatest comics from the past ten years as listed in the article, “Eccentricities & Attitudes: 15 Great Comics…” by Ace. The fifth greatest graphic novel on the list is Watchmen by Alan Moore. The next is Elektra by Frank Miller followed by Maus by Art Spiegelman. The eighth on the list is American Splendor by Harvey Pekar. Followed by Gumby Summer Fun Special by Bob Burden and Arthur Adams then any book by Lynda Barry. Number eleven is Fires by Lorenzo Mattotti, twelve is Church & State by Dave Sim and thirteen is The Sage of Ed the Happy Clown – Yummy Fur #1-18 by Chester Brown. Finally, number fourteen is Epicurus the Sage #1 by William Messner-Loebs and Sam Kieth and Why I hate Saturn by Kyle Baker at number fifteen. A final note of the article adds a few honorable mentions. It also describes how there are very few super-hero titles on the list and the author notes how he greatly dislikes superheroes in general. Therefore, very few of them showed up on this list. Above the writing of this article are two panels from the graphic novel Maus by Art Spiegelman, which is the seventh listed work on Ace’s list.
The featured work in the fifth through fifteenth greatest comics in the past ten years is Maus by Art Spiegelman. Maus is a graphic novel by American cartoonist, Art Spiegelman. This graphic novel was published in 1991. However, parts of it were published in an avant-garde comics magazine, Raw, from the years 1980 through 1991. Maus is about Spiegelman’s interviews with his father, Vladek, about his experience in the Holocaust. In the novel, Spiegelman portrays Jewish people as mice, Nazis as cats, Polish people as pigs, and Americans as dogs. The use of these animals versus people emphasizes the power differences that existed during the Holocaust. This graphic novel was so legendary because it was one of the first that illustrated a story about the Holocaust. It was one of the first graphic novels to receive academic attention as well. Prior to Maus, graphic novels and comics were often portrayed as works solely for children and strongly associated with superheroes. Maus changed the public’s perception of what comic books could be. Eventually, Spiegelman even won a Pulitzer Prize for his work and the Museum of Modern Art staged an exhibition on the making of Maus. In addition, Maus is taught in many schools because of its connection to the Holocaust and the fact that it is a graphic novel. There is a lot to discuss in the classroom including the time period, the graphic novel as a form of literacy, the portrayal of the Jews, Nazis, and other people as animals, and much more. However, it is amazing that many years later this masterpiece maintains its success. While most of the works on this list are not as popular today, there are some that still remain incredibly successful and are read by many.

Editor: Thomas "Tin" Harrington
Executive Director: Kim "Nein" Thompson
Art Director: Mark "Ain't" Thompson
News Correspondents: Marcus "Sven" Tsong & Harry "Sicks" Kujava
Production Assistants: Roberta "Fife" Gregory & Stefan "Far" Dinter
Typesetting/Proofreading: Craig "Tree" Maynard
Circulation: Sharon "To" Kingsford

MSU Special Collection Comic Art, PN6725.A47

Fantagraphics, Inc.

June, 1991

Madeline Alpert

Rights Restriction Apply

Cover
http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/47

Table of Contents
http://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/73

Comic, 6 and 5/8 x 10 and 1/4 inches, black & white

English

Periodical

1981-1992