Novel Graphic Novels

Hi friends. I’ve a couple of Graphic Novel recommendations for you this time round.

One of the many things I love about comics as a medium is the sheer range of books out there. It infuriates me that when people think of comics they invariably think of superheroes.

And before you attack- I love superhero books just as much as the next geek- it’s just that they’re not all there is to comics, as we’ll see here.



First up is Razorjack.

Written, drawn and coloured by the wonderful John Higgins himself, this is a bizarre beast!

We start off with an incredibly realised chase through an alien jungle before being introduced to our more human cast members. They include a pair of maverick cops. They’re always mavericks, aren’t they?

I suppose a couple of boring by the book cops wouldn’t end up in the situation this pair do. There are a pair of mob heavies who manage to be a dark comedy double act and absolutely terrifying at the same time.

Then we’ve got a group of teenagers who do a very silly thing, which leads to the titular Razorjack gaining entrance to our dimension. And what a villain she is!

Higgins obviously has a great love for this character, at it comes through clearly in the writing and art.


The story itself is strong and moves at a fine pace. There are a few moments where I couldn’t help thinking it would have benefited from some tighter editing, as a couple of scenes are unclear.

As for the art... come on- it’s John Higgins! Do you need me to tell you how good it is. For my money, he’s a master of drawing the human form and is pretty much untouchable at figure drawing (maybe Bolland or Steve Dillon can match him). The colouring is lovely- perfectly suiting the mood.

The author and Razorjack Hit The Town!

For me though my most favourite thing about Higgins’ work are his layouts. I don’t know how he does it, but he has an incredible eye for them and has layouts have an ability to draw the eye across the page like none other.

There are a few bonus bits and pieces at the end, including a fascinating peek into the artist’s sketchbook. Best of all though is a short extra story that is just brilliant and leaves the reader not only seeing just how big a world Higgins has created with this book, but also desperate to read more from it.


The second book couldn’t be more different. Well, it could- it could be a My Little Pony comic or something...

Burke and Hare by writer Martin Conaghan and artist Will Pickering is the true life story of the notorious Edinburgh serial killers of the title.

Yes- serial killers!

Conaghan points out eloquently and many times that the pair never did any ‘bodysnatching’ and that this was an invention later fiction.

Conaghan has assembled a through and intensely thoughtful script- and the detailed and fascinating notes at the end demonstrate the considerable work that has went into making the writing as close to the facts of the case as possible. I guarantee that the phrase ‘And disposed of her in the same manner’ will stay with you and bring chills long after you’ve finished reading.

Perfectly complementing Conaghan’s script is Pickering’s precise and detailed art. Pickering too did his research for this book- going above and beyond the call of duty in even drawing inspiration from the death mask of Burke!


The book is rounded off by a mostly impressive art gallery which includes new original pieces from artists like Gary Erskine and Frank Quietly.

This book is a fascinating mediation on murder, on motive and on consequence. Highly recommended- this is one you can shove under the nose of the folks I was railing against at the beginning who think comics are just about big men in tights punching each other.