Stories
Without Words: A Bibliography with Annotations
(Comics
Stuff #7)
7/25/2003
A bunch of stories that are Wordless, Mute,
Silent, Dumb and Pantomime. In other
words... all comics!
compiled by
Mike Rhode
(mrhode@hotmail.com),
Tom Furtwangler
& David Wybenga
with the assistance of the
Comix@ list, the Comix-scholars list, Kristen L. Abbey, Andres Accorsi, Will
Allred, Ron Atkins, David Bachman, Jerry Bails, Neil Ballantyne, Bob Beerbohm,
Blake Bell, Steven M. Bergson, David Beronä, Steve Bolhafner, Desmond Brice,
Glenn Carnegy, Tom Devlin, Alfred Eichholtz, Mark Evanier, Ron Evry, Harry
Fluks and the I.N.D.U.C.K.S. Disney Comics database, Bob Ford, Jochen Garcke,
Michael T. Gilbert, Mike Gold, Paul Gravett, Thierry Guitard, R.C. Harvey, Charles Hatfield, Bob Heer,
Allan Holtz' Stripper's Guide Index to US Comic Strips and Cartoon Panels, Gene
Kannenberg, Jr., Michel Kempeneers, Andy Konky Kru, Roger Langridge, Tristan
Lapoussiere, Ken Lemons, Darko Macan, Matt Madden, Jean-Francois Masse, Albert
Monteys, Mark Nevins, Nick Nguyen, Rick Norwood, Igor Prassel, Joel Ricker,
Leonard Rifas, Trina Robbins, Steve Rowe, Jamie Salomon, Bill Schelly, Jared
Smith, Robin Snyder, Zack Soto, David Southwood, Rob Stolzer, Tim Stroup,
Juhani Tolvanen, Michael J. Vassallo, Brett Warnock, Doug Wheeler, Steve
Whitaker, Craig Yoe, Randy Scott and the Michican State University Comic Arts
Collection, and the Grand Comics Database.
This project was begun in 1997 by
Furtwangler, continued by Rhode, then Wybenga, and is currently by Rhode again.
Uncredited annotations are usually by Rhode, except for those of Wybenga in
section 3. This is a work in progress with some citations incomplete; therefore
additions and corrections are welcome and should be sent to Rhode at
mrhode@hotmail.com. Version has been
published in APA-I #88 and the International Journal of Comic Art 2:2. Updates
are online at http://www.lib.msu.edu/comics/rhode/wordless.htm. As of January
2001, Andy Konku Kru has a webpage Cartoonists Specialising in Silent Comics
at http://bugpowder.com/andy/silentcartoonists.html. In July 2003, Randy Scott
of Michigan State University's Comic Art Collection added a Stories without
Words genre heading to the index at http://www.lib.msu.edu/comics/rri/srri/storiesw.htm.
New additions made after the version
published in the International Journal of Comic Art 2:2 are marked with *.
Comics Stuff is an occasional publication showcasing aspects of comics
collecting and indexing beyond the comic book and toy price guides.
Table of Contents (each section arranged by
author);
1. Comic Books and Graphic Novels
*a. Marvel's 'Nuff Said (December 2001 silent
comic books)
2. Comic Strips (one-time and serialized
strips in newspaper and magazines)
3. Woodcut Novels (woodcuts, wood engravings
and linocuts)
4. Picture and Children's Books
5. Cartoons (one panel)
6. Mini Comics (usually self-published and
distributed)
7. Bibliography of secondary sources
+++
Comic
Books and Graphic Novels:
Andersson, Oskar. Mannen som gr vad som faller honom,
ca. 1902‑1906, reprinted in Oskar
Andersson's BSTA, Beyronds, 1976, (ISBN 91 500 0339 9).
"One of world's all
time greatest wordless comics" -- Juhani Tolvanen
Aragones, Sergio. Buzz and Bell, Space Cadets,
Platinum Comics.
Aragones, Sergio. "Early Uno Morning" in Groo
116, Marvel Comics.
Aragones frequently has
wordless strips starring Groo's dog Rufferto on the back cover of all the Groo
comic book series.
Aragones, Sergio. "The
Harpooner" in Oni Double Feature #12, Oni Comics, May 1999.
Aragones, Sergio. Louder Than Words #1-4 and collected
edition, Dark Horse Comics, 1998.
*Aragones, Sergio. Sergio Aragones Action Speaks #1-6,
Dark Horse Comics, January-June 2001.
Aragones, Sergio. Mad Pantomimes, New York: Warner Books, 1987 and More
Mad Pantomimes, New York: Warner Books, 1988.
*Aragones, Sergio. Viva Mad!,
New York: Signet Books, 1968
Aragones, Sergio. Marginalia and The Shadow Knows
in Mad Magazine, EC Comics, 1963-present.
Marginalia are the
little cartoons in the margins of Mad. The Shadow Knows is the
cartoon showing people interacting while their shadows show how they really
feel. Many collections of Marginalia are
available.
"...Aragones' first
issue of MAD, #76 (Jan 1963) includes Marginals by Aragones, as well as his two
page 'A Mad Look at the U.S. Space Effort,' which is also wordless (except for
the title and the usual long‑winded Mad introduction which no one reads
anyway." -- Bob Heer
Aragones, Sergio. Pantomine in Dark Horse Extra,
Dark Horse Comics, 1998‑1999.
A strip in Dark Horse's
giveaway tabloid.
Aragones, Sergio. Smokehouse 5, Platinum Comics.
*Aragones, Sergio. "Space Circuits," Space
Circus #1, Dark Horse Comics, July 2000.
Back cover gag about alien
juggler.
*Arcudi, John, Simon Bisley and Chris
Chalenor. "Reapers," Dark Horse Presents: Aliens Platinum
Edition, Dark Horse Comics, 1992.
Reprinted from DHP Fifth
Anniversary Special.
Arnon, J. M. Buzz Buzz A Gogo, Stakhano, 199?
Ordering info: Stakhano;
Chemin du Moulin, la Pinette; F-13122 Ventabren, FRANCE
Avril and Petit-Roulet. Soirs de Paris, Les
Humanoides, 1989.
"A wordless journey through
a Paris evening through several short vignettes, drawn in an avante-garde,
slick cartoonish style. Visit the lovers' capital with the right dose of irony,
distance and intelligence." -- Bud Plant's Incredible Catalogue, Winter 1999-2000,
p. 240.
*Avril and Petit-Roulet. "63, Rue de la Grange aux
Belles," Drawn & Quarterly 2:1, Autumn 1994.
Reprint of a story from Soirs de Paris.
Ayroles, François. Jean qui rit et Jean qui pleure,
L'Association, 199?
*Azzarello, Brian and Brian Stelfreeze.
"Apple Read" in Wildstorm Summer Special, Wildstorm
Productions / DC Comics, 2001.
Berardi and Milazzo. "Il respiro e il sogno" in Ken
Parker #?, Italy: Bonelli, 19??
"There's a great book from the Ken Parker
series (if you are looking for the best Bonelli had to offer, my vote goes to
Ken Parker) by Berardi and Milazzo. It's 4 times 20 pages (4 seasons) in line
and watercolor called 'Il respiro e il sogno' and it's a great virus for
wanting more Parkers." -- Darko Macan
Blanquet, Stephane. Viande froide et Cie, L'Association,
199?
Blanquet, Stephane. Le Fantome des autres, Switzerland:
Drozophile.
"Sixth volume of the
Drozophile collection. A 20 page silkscreened silent masterpiece. Drozophile,
150 Rue de Geneve, CH-1226 Thonex, Suisse; http://www.drozophile.ch." --
Igor Prassel
*Blaylock, Josh and Mike Zeck. G.I. Joe #21, Image Comics, 2003.
Blutch. Mitchum #1
Boira, Paz. "Veuillex agreer mesdames..." in Cheval
sans Tete 1:2, 1996.
*Bosshart,
Daniel. Geteilter Traum, Edition Moderne, 2000, ISBN: 3907055330
"The comic won the Max‑und‑Moritz‑Award
for Best German‑language comic ‑ locally-produced." --Jochen
Garcke
Braun, Eric (ed.) 106 U #6, Montreal: Eric
Theriault Press, 2000.
" ...another anthology
with several of the same contributors as Cyclope (Swiz, D.Bilos, Siris, Domique
Galarneau, Billy Mavreas, Suicide), plus Rick Trembles, Olivier Morrissette,
Henriette Valium, Eric Braun (editor and publisher) and other Montrealers, plus
some Europeans (Killofer, Ott, Remi - all reprints though) Colour section in
the center with paintings by Valium (!!!!!!!!!!), Suicide, Braun, D. Bilos,
sculptures & more. Almost entirely wordless (except for Valium - in heavy
slangy Quebecois french). 80 pages." -- Jamie Salomon
"Writers and artists
names: Braun, Olivier Morisette, Rujiter, Henriette Valium, Siris, Killoffer,
Pouliot, Gummbah, Billy Mavreas, Alex Lafleur, Jean-Claude Amyot, Richard
Suicide, Matt Konture, Thomas Ott, Rick Trembles, Eric Theriault, Guim,
D.Bilos, Mr. Swiz, Frdrk, Quesnel, Juliette Prestone, Remi and Legron.
Synopsis: A 90 page wordless anthology featuring
cartoonists from around the world. 80 pages of black + white art and a 10 pages
full-color section created by Montreal's finest and world renowned talents from
Germany, France, Switzerland and Holland. Exploration of the medium through
silent sarcastic sequences and experimental graphic episodes. A wide stylistic
range unified by a thread of daring irreverence aimed at globalizing artistic
subversion in the landmark tradition of RAW and Comix 2000." -- Eric Braun
(http://veena.ctw.cc/site106U.html).
Breccia, Alberto. Dracula: Dracul, Vlad?, Bah... Les Humandoides, 1997.
"A wordless graphic
retelling of the classic story, with a twist. The author reflects the political
realities of the role played by the United States in the years of the South
American dictatorships (you'll find Superman here, and Edgar Allan Poe!). Fully
painted in a dark, humorous style like Gahan Wilson. Breccia died in 1993 but
not before leaving a distinct mark on many international comics artists." -- Bud Plant's Incredible Catalogue, Winter 1999-2000,
p. 239.
Brown, Patrick. "Communication," Superstate
Funnies - a sampler of UK and European comic art, UK: Caption, 1997.
Also available online at
http://www.geocities.com/patrickbrown40/; this story is about a possible office
romance.
Bruno. Mais Ques Fait La Police?, La Chose, 1999.
"In sum, it's a sort
of noirish story of prizefighting, two-timing, theft, revenge, murder, and
corruption. Two fighters square off in the ring; one wins, one loses; the
loser's lover defects to the winner; shots are fired; meanwhile, the winner's
manager runs afoul of an armed thief, etc... And someone gets away with all the
lettuce at the end.
I say 'noirish,' but the art is notable for its
near-absence of solid blacks: thin, stylized linework and open fields of white
are distinguishing qualities; features are stylized in a faintly cubistic kind
of way; the work is streamlined, diagrammatic, extreme. (Punches turn faces
into little bursts of lines; forced angles exaggerate characters; superfluous
details simply don't exist.) Lovely B&W linework w/in simple red matte
covers.
The most notable thing in the work is its use of
ideograms for dialogue, an experiment comparable to Cartier or Avril &
Petit-Roulet (as pervasive as either). Commonplace symbols, received bits of
"clip art," and even a few xeroxed bits of comics, end up in word
balloons. There are some real surprises in the way this technique is used (to
say anything else would spoil them)." - - Charles Hatfield
Byrne, John. "Critical Error," The Art of
John Byrne, Vol. 1, Brooklyn: S.Q. Productions, 1980, reprinted in color as
Critical Error, Dark Horse, July 1992.
"The only differences
are, 1) [the reprint's] in color, 2) the text piece about how the story came
about, and 3) the girl is wearing a loin cloth to cover up the lower half of
her body and in the original she is nude." -- Ron Atkins
Byrne, John (w), Jim Aparo (p) and Mike
DeCarlo (i). "Chapter One: Period of Mourning," Batman #433,
part 1 of "The Many Deaths of the Batman," DC Comics, May 1989.
"Almost wordless - has
one word in the last panel." -- Darko Macan
Byrne, John (w/p) and Andy Kubert (i).
"Silent Knight," Christmas with the Superheroes #2, DC Comics,
1989.
An Enemy Ace story.
Cartier, Eric. Flip in Paradise, Paris: Rackham, 1990.
Cartier, Eric. Flip - Mekong King, Stakhano, 1993.
Cartier, Eric. Flip - Sing Sing Song, Stakhano, 1994.
Cartier, Eric. Anagraphis, Stakhano, 199?
Castree, Fidele. Lait
Frappe, Montreal: Oie de Cravan, 2000.
"...new 40 page book by
Fidele Castree. Wordless. Amazing. This
kid is going far. Get this now as it will be highly sought after in years to
come." -- Jamie Salomon
Clement, Pierre. Les Souris.
"...format fetishists take
note: this is a story about mice (of course) told in three tall volumes with
stunning production values." -- Mark Nevins
Clement, Pierre. Tralalahaha.
"...more Clement imaginative
wanderings‑‑hard to describe the work overall, but there's an
Egyptian theme." -- Mark Nevins
Comix 2000, L'Association, 2000.
2000 pages of silent comics
from around the world for the millennium at $75.
*Crosa, Riccardo. No Words #2: Kira, Bologna, Italy:
Phoenix, 1999
*Crosa, Riccardo. No Words #6: Kira #2, Bologna, Italy:
Phoenix, 2000
*Czekaj, Jef and Brian Ralph. "Aquaman: The Man Who Cried
Fish," Bizarro Comics, New York: DC Comics, 2001.
Davis, Jack. [untitled Frankenstein strip], Panic,
EC Comics, May 1959.
Delgado, Ricardo. Age of Reptiles #1-4, Dark Horse
Comics, 1993-1994.
Delgado, Ricardo. Age of Reptiles: The Hunt #1-5, Dark Horse Comics, 1996.
Delisle, Guy. Aline et les autres, L'Association,
1999.
Dieck, Martin Tom. L'oud silencieux, L'Association,
199?
Dieck, Martin Tom. Hundert Ansichten der Speicherstadt,
Arrache Coeur.
*Ditko, Steve. "The Silver‑Tip Outlaw," Rocky
Lane's Black Jack #27, Charlton Comics, May 1959.
*Ditko, Steve. "Death Vs. Love‑Song," Comic
Crusader Storybook, reprinted in Ditko Collection #2, August 1986.
Mr. A story.
*Dixon, Chuck and Russ Heath. "A Christmas Carol," DCU
Holiday Bash II, New York: DC Comics, 1998.
Sgt. Rock story.
*Doherty, Catherine. Can of Worms, Fantagraphics, 2000.
Dorgathen, Hendrik. Spacedog, UK: Andre Deutsch;
Germany: Rowohlt.
Edith and Riff. My Name is Dog, Stakhano, 199?
*Eisner, Will.
"Moment of Glory," Dark Horse Maverick 2001, July 2001.
*Eisner, Will. "The Casualty," Last Day in
Vietnam: A Memory, Dark Horse Comics, 2000.
Eisner, Will. story in The Spirit #?
*Eisner, Will. story in Will Eisner's Quarterly.
"It contrasts 2
pursuit stories told simultaneously - 1 involving cavemen & a dinosaur, the
other involving 2 crooks and a cop.Naturallly, the cavemen are more
civilized." -- Steven M. Bergson
Emerson, Hunt. Original Hot Jazz, Stakhano, 199?
Fabio. Du plomb dans l'aile, Seuil.
Fabio. L'oeil du chat, Seuil.
Fabio. Morte saison pour les poissons, Seuil.
Fabio. Au Coeur Du Monde, L'Association, 199?
Faraci, Tito and Siulvia Ziche. No
Words #3: Inferno!, Bologna,
Italy: Phoenix, 1999.
*Follender, Greg-Michael and Rick J. Bryant (inks). "The
Pugilist," Heavy Metal, May 2001.
Fortemps, Vincent. Cimes.
*Foss, Langdon. "War," Heavy Metal, May
2001.
*Fowler, Tom.
"Adventure #206," Oni Press Color Special, June 2001.
Fraipont, C. and P. Bially. Lea,
Brussels: Enigma, 1998.
“A 22 pages dumb love
story" (as in silent).... A mini roughly the size of the Patte de Mouches,
its 22 pages present the story of a man given an ugly gift plant by his girl,
and the sequence of events through which the gift ultimately brings them closer
together. It's a cute little romp... in a numbered edition of 450." -- Tom
Furtwangler
Gerner, Jochen. Boîte de vitesse et viande en boîte,
L'Association, 199?
Ghermandi, Francesca. No Words #1: Pastil, Bologna,
Italy: Phoenix, 1998.
"...the first in a new
series from the Italian Phoenix featuring wordless comic albums in B&W.
This is just lovely - some gorgeous pencil shading from Francesca ([1998]'s
Lucca Festival starlet)." -- Paul Gravett
Ghermandi, Francesca. No Words #4: Pastil #2, Bologna, Italy:
Phoenix, 1999.
Gilbert, Michael T. "Tiny Terror Tales #2," Cerebus
#43, Oct. 1982.
Gilbert, Michael T. and Raoul Vezina. "Tiny Terror
Tales #1," Cerebus #42, Sept. 1982.
*Guitard, Thierry. Concubins, France: Esprit Livre,
2003.
Information online at
http://celm.free.fr/
*Gold Key Club Minicomics
Half‑page silent gag
strips run in Gold Key comics in the late 1960s. An example can be seen in
Tarzan 185. Another of a chicken eating cement and turning into a statue is in
Mickey Mouse #119, Gold Key, November 1968. Fairly uninteresting.
Grist, Paul. Kane #5?
One word in story.
*Gross, Milt. He Done Her Wrong, New York:
Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc, 1930; reprinted as Hearts of Gold,
New York: Abbeville, 1983.
"It's a melodrama
about love, the wintry wilderness, a cunning villain, and a hero." --
Denise Voskuil.
"Hearts of Gold does
indeed reprint He Done Her Wrong. I have a copy of each, but never
bothered to compare the two to see if anything had been edited out.... Why it
would be necessary to edit anything out is beyond me, but I don't have a
corporate mind. I did notice that it had been reformatted to place more panels
per page, thus cutting down on the printing bill. He Done Her Wrong is a
hard book to find (especially, I would imagine, in Europe). In several years of
(successful) searching for pre-1935 comics, the copy I own is the only one I've
ever seen." -- Doug Wheeler
Gursel. Grin and Bare It, Vol. 4, NBM, 1999.
European sex cartoons.
Hama, Larry (w). G.I. Joe #22, Marvel Comics,
April 1984.
*Haspiel, Dean. "Volcano Girl," Boy in my
Pocket: The Billy Dogma Experience, Top Shelf Productions, 2000.
*Henderson, Sam. "Eyes Capades," Measles #7,
Fantagraphics Books, New Year 2001.
*Holstrop, Bernhard (Willem). "Jerusalem," in The New Comix
Anthology ed. by Bob Callahan, New York: Collier Books, 1991.
"The story is only 6
pages (which reduced to 3 81/2 X 11
pages). Personally and as a comix scholar, I found this comic story troubling.
It does have a chronological order, but I am not really sure what message(s)
Holstrop was trying to send. Maybe I'm supposed to feel that way. ;)
The first image is a view of a
silhouetted concentration camp (front view) from the railroad tracks. The final
panel looks like a scientific institute with a smiling(?), hands on the sides
of her face female Israeli soldier inset. In between are lots of images ‑‑
like a Middle East slideshow: the Israelis are good, the Israelis are bad, the
Arabs are good and the Arabs are bad." -- Steven M. Bergson
Ilic, Mirko and Les Lilley. Survival.
"A lot of strips done
by the Croatian Novi Kvadrat in the late 1970s were silent one or multi‑pagers.
The most famous at the time was Mirko Ilic's "Survival" written by
Les Lilley (of Searchers and Tinseltown... Fame?). Some of the Novi Kvadrat
members continued doing silents from time to time so Igor Kordey's Wall was
recently (last couple of years) published in Heavy Metal." -- Darko Macan.
*Jason. Mjau Mjau #5-10, Oslo: Jippi Vorlag,
1999-2002.
"These Norwegian comic
books are almost entirely wordless, and terrific examples of pantomime storytelling.
At slightly larger than US comic book size, and 48 pp. per, each issue is
filling... The featured characters appear to be anthropomorphic birds and dogs.
They're really people, though, in the sense that they are seldom treated as
animals. There are other character types too: horror movie monsters, a certain
Lucasfilm character, angels and devils, and skeletons.
This may sound merely cute, but
Jason has wit and style and a gift for stinging irony. The work is generally
high-spirited, not mean or satiric, yet it can be ribald and, better yet,
touching. Stories range from single-page gags to (in issue 6) a complex 20-page
fable. Some of the pieces are Quiet Observations; others, Silly Gags. A few are
genuine Stories and merit rereading. Both issues offer a pleasing variety of
stuff.
Jason's style is wonderfully
spare, and he knows how to wring an emotional payoff from really minimal,
low-affect drawings. His characters do not visibly "emote" (at least
not very often), but he can still tackle subjects like love, death, and
grieving very effectively. The circuitous approach to feeling reminds me of
Spiegelman's cartoon minimalism, but Jason's drawings are more facile, more
fluid, and the work depends less on words (obviously) and more on juggling comic
stereotypes. It isn't necessarily "deep" work, in the sense that it
lacks the dimensions that words could bring, but it is charming
and memorable and occasionally wickedly funny.
For people who enjoy, say,
Trondheim's mute gags, or Woodring's, or something like Dorgathen's Space Dog, I think
Jason's work will be very welcome." -- Charles Hatfield
*Jason. Sshhhh!,
Fantagraphics, 2002.
"Jason's follow‑up
to the acclaimed "Hey Wait," a cycle of short stories that delineate an entire lifetime. And not a single
word is spoken!" --
Joan. La Petite Lucy - Road Movie, Stakhano, 1993.
Joan. Lucie Horror Picture Show, Stakhano, 1994.
"Jughead Dipsy
Doodles," reprinted in Betty & Veronica Double Digest Magazine #1,
Archie Comics, June 1987.
In the late 1960s and early
1970s, one page wordless strips starring Jughead as a painter who's work comes
to life were published in Pep Comics.
Kalberkamp, Peter. Mea Culpa: Murder The American Way,
New York: Four Wall Eight Windows, 1990.
"...a fine pen and ink
wordless novel in 1990, prior to Eric Drooker..." -- David Beronä.
"...isn't strictly
wordless, but except for two place-setting captions, all the words are inside
the pictures (like the cover of "Crime and Punishment" or a close-up
of a note). I liked it." -- Steve Bolhafner
Kanigher, Robert and Joe Kubert. [untitled], Ragman
#4, DC Comics, February-March, 1977.
Killofer. La clef des champs, L'Association,
199?
*Kobayashi, Makoto. "The Ribbon," What's Michael?
Vol. VI: A Hard Day's Life, Dark Horse Comics, 2002.
Koch, Alain. Poilala, Stakhano, 199?
Koch, Edith, Riff, Joan and Eric Cartier. All Different
All Equal, Stakhano, 199?
Anti-racism book for
Council of Europe with stories by each creator.
Kordey, Igor. “Wall,” Heavy Metal, 199?
Kolyer, John. Both Ends CD-rom.
"One notable artist is John
Kolyer who has done a number of unusual black and white wordless books that he
has on a CD as well called BOTH ENDS." -- David Beronä.
*Kriek, Erik. Gutsman #2-4, Amsterdam: Oog &
Blick, 1998-2000.
#1 was self-published in
1994 in an edition of 2000 copies. See
www.gutsman.nl.
"...these are wordless
comics from Oog en Blik, featuring a cartoonist, and two superheroes he draws.
The cartoonist loves his female creation, but she only has eyes for the
mindless musclebound clod. It's very funny stuff." -- Bart Beaty.
Kubert, Joe. "Foodchain," Tor #1, New
York: Epic Comics, 1993.
*Kundig, Andreas. La
Parthenogeneige, Switzerland, 2001
Kuper, Peter. Eye of the Beholder, New York: NBM,
1996.
Kuper, Peter. Mind's Eye: An Eye of the Beholder
Collection, New York: NBM, 2000.
Kuper, Peter. "Chains," Gangland #1, New
York: DC Comics, June 1998, reprinted in Gangland collection, 2000.
Kuper, Peter. Spy vs. Spy, in Mad Magazine #356-present,
New York: DC Comics, 1997‑
Kuper took over the strip
shortly before Prohias' death.
Kuper, Peter. The System #1-4, and collected
edition, DC Comics, 199?
"...it's 'silent' save
for 'in context' words, a newspaper headline, signage, a missing person notice,
etc. I liked it a lot, mostly for color and cinematic narrative." -
Kristen L. Abbey
*Kuper, Peter. [story], Bleeding Heart #2.
Kuper, Peter. Speechless, Top Shelf Productions,
2000.
"From Peter Kuper,
creator of the critically acclaimed DC/Vertigo graphic novel THE SYSTEM and
illustrator of Mad
Magazine's SPY VS. SPY, comes a FULL-COLOR collection of over a dozen
wordless strips that stare into the underbelly of our world and occasionally
cough out a belly laugh. Punctuating each tale will be an array of award-winning
illustrations that have found their way onto the covers of Time,Newsweek
and the Village Voice, among others, and will include sketches tracking
the development of the covers with commentary by the artist.
A 96-Page, Full-Color,
Deluxe-Format Graphic Novel SPEECHLESS -- Coming from Top Shelf Productions in
August 2000." -- Top Shelf Productions press
release.
Kurtzman, Harvey and Wally Wood. "Sound
Effects," Mad #20, EC Comics, February 1955.
"If you can include
'sound effects' as wordless, then I recommend reading the MAD masterpiece,
"Sound Effects," which contained no dialogue, but many sound effects
in every single panel." -- Ron Evry
"There was a short
story by Kurtzman and Wood, IIRC again, about a private eye on the case that
was done with the emphasis on sound effects. It's not technically a silent
story but it's a speechless one." -- Darko Macan
Lambe, Eric. "Nature morte aux poissons," in Cheval
sans Tete 1:2, 1996.
Lambe, Eric. Ophelie et les directeurs des resources
humaines, Brussels: Freon, 2000.
Eric Lambe's "mostly
silent" new book has one or two word balloons (that say "on vous
ecrira" = "we will write you") along with some panels that have
diagetic text (journal entries by some characters, and newspaper clips). In
total, there are probably 5 panels that have French text. The rest is
mute." -- Nick Nguyen
Lanier, Chris. Combustion: A Story Without Words, Fantagraphics, 1999.
Lapin #25, 2000.
*Lash, Batton. "Words Don't Do It Justice" in Supernatural
Law #35, Exhibit A Press, July 2002.
*Laugh Comics Digest Magazine
#58, "Pat the Brat: Cuttin' Up" and "Jughead in Cap
Flap," Archie Comics, January 1985.
Pat the Brat cuts the
sports section of the newspaper up before his father reads it. Jughead's hat blows onto the grass which has
a "Keep Off" sign so he climbs a tree to get it.
Lécroart, Etienne. Et C'est Comme Ça Que Je Me Suis Enruhmé, Seuil.
*Lee, Paul. "The Lone Gunmen: Generations" in
Dark Horse Extra #34, Dark Horse Comics, April 2001.
The Gunmen (from the
X-Files television show) argue over Kirk Vs. Picard from Star Trek and the
story told by using pictures of characters in the word balloons.
*Lethcoe, Jason. "The
Apocalypse" in Zoom: The Academy for the Supergifted #2, Astonish
Comics, 2001.
Six pages of 3-panel
wordless gag strips featuring death as a character.
*Lish, Dan. "Child Story" in Heavy Metal,
May 2002.
Three strips about a
child's world views.
*Loriot. Wahre
Geschichten erlogen von Loriot, Diogenes, 1959.
Lunacek, Izar. "Without title," Stripburger
#21, pp. 72-74.
Ordering info: Stripburger,
Forum Ljubljana, Metelkova 6/I, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia, tel.: +386 61
319662, 1344094, fax: +386 61 1338074, http://www.ljudmila.org/stripcore/com.htm.
*Madden, Matt. [untitled
story about buying beer and meeting a girl in Mexico], Alternative Comics #1,
2003.
Maester. Raven, Stakhano, 199?
Marchesi and Tacconi. No
Words #5: Hollywood Bau,
Bologna, Italy: Phoenix, 1998.
*Matticchio, Franco. "The Pillow," Drawn &
Quarterly 3:1, 2000.
Mattioli, Lorenzo. Squeak the Mouse vol 1 and 2 New
York: Catalan.
"Two volumes of
Mattioli's Squeak the Mouse were published in the US by Catalan, and you
can still find them occasionally. Squeak is trippy stuff, not for the
faint of heart, weak of stomach, or prudish of sensibility, but it's great fun
and executed in a brilliant cartoony style. I think it's a blast. You'll never
watch Tom and Jerry the same again after reading this." -- Mark
Nevins
Mattotti, Lorenzo. L'Arbre du penseur.
Matulay, Laszlo. Then and Now: A Novel as Told in 112
Original Drawings.
Matsumoto Taiyo. 100.
Mavreas, Billy. [story in], Cyclope, Montreal: Zone
Covective/Mille Iles, 2000.
Mayer, Sheldon. "Write your own," Sugar &
Spike #1, 9, 11‑15, 17‑47, 49, 51‑54, 56‑78, 87, 91‑98,
DC Comics, 1956-?
"In Sugar & Spike
Sheldon Mayer used to do a write‑your‑own comic feature in almost
every issue, where the word balloons were empty. The gags made perfect sense
without any words, of course. The 'write your own' pages in Sugar &
Spike usually featured two unnamed characters who didn't appear in other
stories, though I recall at least one with Bernie the Brain and Little Arthur,
and the ones for the Rudolph books featured Rudolph or the supporting
characters." -- ??
Mayer, Sheldon. "Write your own," Rudolph the
Red-nosed Reindeer (Limited Collectors' Edition C‑42), DC Comics,
197?
Mayer, Sheldon. "Write your own," The Comics,
Robin Snyder, December 1994.
Previously unpublished
story starring Winky and Blinky (intended for Rudolph the Red‑nosed
Reindeer, 1978)
*Menu, J.C. Omelette, L'Association, 199?. Reprinted by Reprodukt, 2000.
Menu, J.C., Lewis Trondheim,
David B., Killofer, Stanislas
and Matt Konture. Le Rab 2000, L'Association, 2000.
"...this year's 'free gift'
to subscribers is the Rab 2000, a little 16 page hardback, in the same format and
finish as Comix 2000, with a 12-page silent story, told two pages each
by all six founders." -- Paul Gravett
Metzger, George. Beyond Time and Again, Kyle &
Wheary, 1976.
"Beyond Time and Again
had only sound effects. This book keeps coming up as an answer to a lot of questions:
first graphic novel, first hardback comic book, and now silent comic
book." -- Rick Norwood
*MGM's Spike and Tyke #24,
"Homing Pup" and "Hide 'n' Seek," Dell, Dec-Feb 1961.
2 silent strips.
Miller, Frank. Sin City: Silent Night, Dark Horse
Comics, 1995.
One word in story.
Moebius (Jean Giraud). Arzach, New
York: Heavy Metal, 1977; Paris: Humanoides Associes, 1976; Copenhagen: Carlsen,
1989; Dark Horse, 1996.
Arzach was first published
in Métal
hurlant in #1-5 (1975). Album version was published in 1976. Les humanoïdes
associés was the publisher in both cases." -- Jean-Francois Masse
Moebius (Jean Giraud). "Harzack," Moebius
0, Milwaukie, OR: Dark Dark Horse Comics, 1990.
Moebius (Jean Giraud).
"Metamorphosis," Moebius 0, Milwaukie, OR: Dark Dark Horse
Comics, 1990.
*Moebius (Jean Giraud). "Les Reparateurs
(The Repairmen)," Frank Frazetta Fantasy Illustrated #1:2, Summer
1998.
*Moebius (Jean Giraud). 40 Days dans le
desert B, Paris: Stardom, 1999,
ISBN: 2‑908766‑40‑x
Moore, Alan et. al. The Worm, London:
Slab-o-Concrete and the Cartoon Art Trust, 2000.
"Somewhat like Spiegelman
and Sikoryak's Narrative
Corpse, this jam (completed in 1991 to benefit the London Cartoon Centre)
collects the work of a ton of cartoonists, most doing one panel of a
"script" by Alan Moore. It tells the story of, let's see, a worm, a
cartoonist, and the human race, up through a fanciful utopia in which comics is
accorded the status of not simply Art (as we all know it Should Be) but Life
Itself. Ultimately, it's all a bit over the top, but then, the concept
itself--to create the World's Longest Comic Strip--is over the top anyway.
There are a lot of familiar
names in the credits, as well as a great many I do not recognise; given that
the work itself was done in 1991, who knows how many of these folks are still
even practicing cartoonists. Art styles and abilities shift rapidly from panel
to panel, but as I knew the nature of the project going in, this hodge-podge
nature only added to the book's charm.
The story is itself primarily
(though not exclusively) worldess... and the main character a hapless
cartoonist with aspirations and talent (a cipher with whom I'm sure the
cartoonists who worked on this project were able to identify much moreso than
the Narrative
Corpse's match man). The plot moves across time in a deliberate if neblous
fashion; I enjoyed seeing what visual cues would be chosen to represent various
cultures and times. The Bayeaux Tapestry and other proto/pseudo/pre-comics crop
up as the history of the (comic) (art) world
unfolds over
the book's first three (of five) chapters.
The packaging of the book makes
it a keeper, as well as an intelligent publishing decision. All of the textual
material in the book is presented in English, French, and Swedish (the book
project received assistance from The Swedish Council for Cultural
Affairs)--that includes the (obligatory?) Neil Gaiman preface, Steve Merchant's
contextual introduction, and the afterword which contains Alan Moore's initial overview
of what he envisioned the story to be, dictated into a tape recorder and
transcribed here. What text there is in the comic proper is included in English
(visibly pasted down onto the artwork) and again in added French and Swedish
captions which, while they do break up the panel compositions a bit, usually
add more than they (necessarily) obscure.
To open up a book like this to
three language markets is a smart move, especially since the comic's mostly
wordless nature makes it a natural for international distribution. Note the
similar, though much more exhaustive, treatment of the textual material in Comix 2000...
All in all, I like The Worm quite a lot.
It's a clever experiment, not really a grand statement; that it strives for,
and even succeeds a bit, in making any sort of Statements at all is a testament
to the work which can be done by a large group of people all dedicated to a
common cause." -- Gene Kannenberg, Jr.
*Moore, Alan and Jaime
Hernandez. "Tesla
Time," Tom Strong's Terrific Tales #1, America's Best Comics,
January 2002.
Moran, George. Fresh Eggs, Lake Isle Press, 1997.
A funny wordless comic
strip about eggs.
Otomo, Katsuhiro. Flower.