It’s been a good year for graphic novels.
According to a recent report by Publishers Weekly, sales of adult graphic novels rose almost 30 per cent in 2020 compared to 2019.
And, in the last week of January 2021, sales more than doubled when juxtaposed with the same period last year, increasing by a whopping 110 per cent.
Maybe the seismic events of 2020 had something to do with the medium’s rise in popularity – or maybe it didn’t, who knows. But what’s certain is that people are more eager than ever to leap into the panelled world of graphic novels.
And what a wide and wonderful world it is, encompassing provocative horror and memoirs that shine a new light on a specific pocket of history to works that dismantle the concept of a superhero.
If you’ve been skirting around the graphic novel aisles of your favourite bookstore but are unsure where to begin, here’s our pick of 10 graphic novels to try first.
‘Uzumaki’ by Junji Ito
This spine-chilling page turner comes from the mind of Japanese mangaka Junji Ito.
The three-volume work, which was released between 1998 and 1999, tells the story of a town suffering from a supernatural curse, causing its citizens to fear and obsess over all things spiral-shaped. Ito’s genius is clear in the way he takes a simple shape and unpacks it in all kinds of eerie and thought-provoking ways. The work has been described as one of the most terrifying graphic novels around and has been compared to the works of US horror mastermind HP Lovecraft.
‘Maus’ by Art Spiegelman
Few graphic novels have been as influential as Maus, so we would be remiss not to include it high up on this list.
The work, serialised between 1980 and 1991, depicts US cartoonist Art Spiegelman interviewing his father about his experiences as a Holocaust survivor. The work represents the Jewish community as mice, Germans as cats and Polish citizens as pigs. Maus has been famously difficult to categorise with critics classifying it as fiction, biography, memoir and autobiography all at the same time.
The work is the only graphic novel to nab the coveted Pulitzer Prize, which it won in 1992.
‘Lighter Than My Shadow’ by Katie Green
Written and illustrated by Katie Green, Lighter Than My Shadow is a touching account of life with an eating disorder.
With its hand-drawn illustrations, sombre colour palette and measured storytelling, the 2013 work delves into Green’s struggle with anorexia, showing how the English author recovered from the disorder.
‘The Incal’ by Alejandro Jodorowsky
From French-Chilean surrealist filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky comes an epic space opera fusing science fiction, mysticism, political suspense and satire.
Originally illustrated by French artist Jean Giraud, The Incal graphic novel series, which debuted in 1983, is set in the dystopian capital of a small planet within a human galactic empire at war with an alien race. It follows a private detective, John DiFool, who comes into contact with the Luminous Incal, a mysterious power-granting object sought after by a number of warring factions.
If you're a fan of the films by the The Holy Mountain director, this title is for you.
‘Persepolis’ by Marjane Satrapi
This autobiographical series by Iranian-French graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi portrays her childhood experiences during the Islamic Revolution in Iran, as well as her early adult years in Austria, where she goes to start a new life.
Persepolis was listed in Time magazine's Best Comics of 2003 and was praised by one of its literary critics as "sometimes funny and sometimes sad but always sincere and revealing".
‘The Sandman’ by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman’s take on the mythical character in north European folklore is as spooky as it is life-affirming.
The series revolves around the capture and subsequent imprisonment of the Sandman – an anthropomorphic personification of dreams. After 70 years, he manages to escape during the present time and, after taking his vengeance on his captors, sets about to rebuild his empire.
Like with most of his other work, Gaiman brings the mythology of the Lord of Dreams closer to everyday human life.
‘Through the Woods’ by Emily Carroll
This is not your Disney fairy tale.
Through The Woods by Canadian author Emily Carroll is a delightfully terrifying anthology featuring five fairytales with beautiful illustrations and nail-biting storylines.
A not-to-be-missed title for any horror fan.
‘They Called Us Enemy’
Based on the childhood experiences of George Takei, They Called Us Enemy depicts the period when the Star Trek actor was imprisoned in a US internment camp at the height of the Second World War.
Takei and his family were among the 100,000 Japanese Americans who were relocated and incarcerated by the US government shortly after Imperial Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour.
The graphic novel depicts Takei’s experiences at the camp in a riveting story that confronts legalised racism.
‘Watchmen’
One of the most acclaimed graphic novels of all time, Watchmen upends the superhero narrative, deconstructing and even ridiculing the concept of the benevolent hero.
The series, created by legendary comic book writer Alan Moore, is set in an alternate timeline in which superheroes emerged in the 1960s and helped the US win the war in Vietnam. The 1986 work shows a world on the brink of a third World War as tensions between the US and the Soviet Union are at an all-time high.
The work marks a turning point in the graphic novel and in a 2016 retrospective by the BBC, it was described as “the moment comic books grew up".
‘Miles Morales: Straight out of Brooklyn’ by Saladin Ahmed
A more traditional take on the superhero genre, this 2019 graphic novel by Arab-American writer Saladin Ahmed has Miles Morales swinging back to the limelight as Spider-Man.
The story starts with Morales doing his best to juggle his school and social life with his role as a crime-fighting vigilante. Soon, supervillain Rhino and his lackeys start sacking Morales’s beloved Brooklyn. It initially seems like just another day for Spidey but things soon take a dark turn.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
TEST SQUADS
Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Shafiul Islam, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed.
Australia: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson and Jackson Bird.
What is Diwali?
The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.
According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.
In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Allardyce's management career
Clubs (10) - Limerick (1991-1992), Perston North End (1992), Blackpool (1994-1996), Notts County (1997-1999), Bolton Wanderers (1999-2007), Newcastle United (2007-2008), Blackburn Rovers (2008-2010), West Ham United (2011-2015), Sunderland (2016), Crystal Palace (2016-2017)
Countries (1) - England (2016)
If you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals. A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com. Good guidebooks include the Lonely Planet guides to Northern California and Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest.
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The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
England v South Africa schedule:
- First Test: At Lord's, England won by 219 runs
- Second Test: July 14-18, Trent Bridge, Nottingham, 2pm
- Third Test: The Oval, London, July 27-31, 2pm
- Fourth Test: Old Trafford, Manchester, August 4-8
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
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Profile Periscope Media
Founder: Smeetha Ghosh, one co-founder (anonymous)
Launch year: 2020
Employees: four – plans to add another 10 by July 2021
Financing stage: $250,000 bootstrap funding, approaching VC firms this year
Investors: Co-founders
The Travel Diaries of Albert Einstein The Far East, Palestine, and Spain, 1922 – 1923
Editor Ze’ev Rosenkranz
Princeton
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Crazy Rich Asians
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan
Four stars
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Kerb weight: 1580kg
Price: From Dh750k
On sale: via special order
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Brief scores:
Everton 2
Walcott 21', Sigurdsson 51'
Tottenham 6
Son 27', 61', Alli 35', Kane 42', 74', Eriksen 48'
Man of the Match: Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)
More from our neighbourhood series:
Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
