Cyberpunk Comics
comics. cyberpunk. What's not to love?

The staples:

EmptyZONE
Transmetropolitain

Some new stuff that's out this month or so:

Automatic Kafka (Ashley wood kids, good shizz)
Paul Pope's 100% (Neat stuff, CP but with a lighter edge, stories are not the shadow run stuff, but more human. Neat tale.)

Take a look and then form your opinion.

Hey, I like hard edges as much as the next guy - hell, Murphy's desc is partially based on some Tim Bradstreet covers, and Bradstreet is the hard-edge contrast master. But, there's just some things you *can't* do with edges - hell, to use a cinematic example, imagine Blade Runner without the atmospheric effects. Just sharp lighting and shadows. It'd look so damn german.

All the Judge Dredd comics.  Friend of mine has every one of them ever printed.  

I would kill for it, but he's my friend.  Hehe....

I have to agree with Johnny. The European syle of airbrush/water colour feels too...clean? I love the gritty nature of the stuff in Empy Zone, and Transmet, though bright and colourful, had amazing lines. I'm looking at this comic called 'The Victorian' right now, kinda skirts the edges of CP, but holy hot shit, the covers for some of these books are -amazing-.

If you are interested, check out http:\\www.opi8.com they have some sweet 'dark edged' comics and stuff.

(Edited by Nicadeamus at 5:56 pm on Dec. 30, 2002)

Akira is rather CPish in origin if you're unfamiliar with it (though most people probably should know of at least the movie). �Granted the movie was fucking badass as hell.. �it didn't exactly cover the entire story that the 6 graphic novels did. �Yes, that's right. �There's fucking six of these large-ass things. �It may get rather confusing at times, and you'll most likely have to read it a few times to get the whole picture, but its definately a good read if you're into CP comics.. �or any comics, really.

Can't forget Transmet, of course. �Its already been mentioned about a billion times everywhere in this BBS, as well as a few times in the game (Comic Shack, anyone?). �Does anyone know when the final trade paperback is going to be released?.. �Or is it already out?

Ah.. �Battle Angel Alita is rather CPish as well.. �though not really as well-written as I had hoped. �Wasn't there a character named Gally once (the name of the main character in its original japanese format)? �There are other novels in this series as well, but I haven't gotten ahold of them just yet.

---------------------------------------------

Oh, and I remember anim� was brought up somewhere.. �But I forget where on the boards. �Regardless, I'd like to bring up a few movies that may be of interest.. �Akira and Ghost in the Shell are given. �So's Bubble Gum Crisis 2040. �But there's one movie I've found rather recently that I believe is simply badass. �Osamu Tezuka's "Metropolis." �

Metropolis was originally based on a comic series written and illustrated by the same fellow who did such for "Astroboy," �which I personally think seems rather cutesy in its style, but.. �after watching this movie, I'm tempted to read it. �Metropolis, though indeed rather childish-looking with its bright colors, and childlike characters, is simply one of the best CP anim�s I've ever watched. �Not traditional CP, per se, but an original blend of futuristic goodness with a 1920s feel.  Kind of like Steampunk..

Even with the "ancient" clothing styles and similarly styled arcitecture and vehicles, there is a distinct feeling of "this is the future" to everything. �There is everything from street scum to corporate oppressors here. �People fighting for their own freedom. �Androids being mistreated and oppressed, lacking rights of any kind. �Hell, there are even different distinctive LEVELS to the city. �Sound familiar? �Yeah.. �so go check it out. �I'm done rambling.

Quote: from Johnny on 2:03 am on June 8, 2003[br]Bishop was fond of using Pat Labor as his example for 'Mechs' in SD.

It's all Bishop's fault.

Hrmm, yes. Metropolis is indeed good. So good, infact, that the video shop I used to work at no longer has a copy available for rental... *coughs*

Most of the CPish anime I'd feel inclined to mention has already been mentioned, tho I gotta disagree with Murphy on the 8-man series... personally I thought it was absolute pants.

Tank Police is just brilliant. Comedy and CP may not be obvious partners, but in this case it just works.

Pat Labor as inspiration for mechs in SD I could never go with. Consider, despite "the domes" vast size, it's still a confined space with very rigid boundaries, making all space a very valuable premium. That, in essence, would create a world that most Americans would find very alien and claustrophobic. I think the SD world -does- capture that claustrophobic essence already, if not to the degree that it could, and this state simply wouldn't lend itself to things as impractically space consuming mecha. Much like Europe and the UK, the dome would be an impractical home for vast American autos, wide open spaces, flambouyant use of real estate and the average concept of "personal space".

At the risk of getting this thread totally off topic in noting an obscurely related observation. Studies have indicated that the wearing of dark glasses (or closing ones eyes) significantly decreases the proximity in which personal space is considered violated, both by the subject wearing the glasses and individuals moving towards the subject. So, coincidence it may not be that in the traditionally over-populated and claustrophobic world of CP, dark glasses are the de-rigour fashion accessory.

And I still blame Bishop.

I've got almost all the graphic novels and they've just started a new series, Last Order, it's some years later.  Not completely sure of the story line between, but i think that'll be revealed.  Both series have some amazingly creative outlooks on social interaction and simply trying to survive in a CP world.

Lone Wolf 2010- Dark horse
based off of the old graphic novel Lone Wolf and Cub.  a cyborg kidnaps some predominant scientists daughter, so the corp hires a merc team to track him and bring him in with the girl.  supposedly they think the girl is infected with a war spore meant to kill all non-cyborgs (there's some racial tension), but in fact, she's the only cure...

Dark Minds: mecropolis - DreamWave?
Dunno if i really rcommend.  Not too impressed by the anime attempt. But the coloring in the dream wave books are always pretty sweet.  They do a LOT to salvage the artwork.
Dreamwave has a few CP/Post-apoc/SciFi books.  

that's all i got at the moment :P

-SM

Damned good comics.