There are a number of Irish comics out at the moment. Are any of them any good?
I have skimmed issues of Freakshow in the shop, and would like to check it out, but it is written by the guy who owns my comic shop, and I fear that if it was rubbish I would never be able to look him in the eye again. It also has really bad lettering, which serves to remind of how good lettering normally is.
In Dublin's City (or whatever it is called) is pretty lame. The art looks like Crumb pastiche (big thighed women who don't seem to wear bras), while the story is inconsequential.
And then there are one-offs... what about the comic adaptation of that popular tale of Celtic lunacy Toraiocht Diarmada agus Grainne?
What do you think?
― DV (dirtyvicar), Friday, 28 July 2006 11:14 (nineteen years ago)
DV
I found this review at Childrens Books Ireland, if that helps any:
"Colmán Ó Raghallaigh (Paul Young and Michael McGrath illus)
An Tóraíocht
Cló Maigh Eo 2002 40pp €9 (pbk) 1899922180
This is an interpretation in comic-strip form of Tóraíocht Dhiarmada agus Gráinne, the great epic of the Fenian cycle. Gráinne, the daughter of the high king of Ireland, is betrothed to an ageing Fionn Mac Cumhaill, but, on seeing Diarmaid’s ball seirce, falls head over heels in love, and casts a spell on Diarmaid that obliges him to flee with her. What follows is a tale of jealousy, magic, loyalty, heroism and romance, while Diarmaid and Gráinne are pursued around the country by Fionn and his followers.
From the very first page, the interplay of graphics and typography creates a sense of great expectation and excitement. The use of colour, in particular, is to be commended. The frames of the narrative overlap in an irregular fashion, producing an energetic and dazzling result. The cartoon brings this story to life with a passion and zest that should appeal to adult readers as well as older children. However, there are some combat scenes that are quite graphic in the brutality depicted in them, although this is true to the text on which the book is based. A criticism of this work would be that it seems to assume that the reader is already familiar with the story, as it swiftly moves through the various episodes without much explanation or description – dynamic to the detriment of clarity perhaps?
All in all, though, An Tóraíocht is a real gem, a ‘must-have’ that can be accessed and enjoyed by readers of all levels of Irish."
DAS
― David Simpson (David Simpson), Friday, 28 July 2006 12:35 (nineteen years ago)
There is an English language version of it coming out, or has come out. I read that they had to put more dialogue in for the English language version.
― DV (dirtyvicar), Friday, 28 July 2006 14:25 (nineteen years ago)
See if you can get hold of Mbleh! by Bob Byrne - highly chucklesome...
― Eyemelt (Eyemelt), Saturday, 29 July 2006 12:06 (nineteen years ago)
The City of a Billion Stories thing that appears in one of those free magazines is pretty good, in a somewhat depressing manner. I think yer man from the Chalets does it.
― DV (dirtyvicar), Saturday, 29 July 2006 15:12 (nineteen years ago)