BEST
BLACK & WHITE COMICS
Some stories need colour to come alive. Others prove that black and white can be just as powerful, sometimes even more so. This week, we present the top ten best black-and-white comics of all time, from historical adventures and autobiographical masterpieces to dark crime stories and dystopian science fiction. No colours, no distractions, just ink, shadows and unforgettable storytelling. Here they are...
10
Snowpiercer
Writer: Jacques Lob
Artist: Jean-Marc Rochette
First published: 1982
Original publisher: Casterman
After a climate catastrophe freezes the Earth, humanity's last survivors live aboard a gigantic train that must never stop. Society is brutally divided between the privileged passengers at the front and the starving population at the rear. The first volume, originally Le Transperceneige, was later published in English as Snowpiercer: The Escape.
9
Epileptic (L'Ascension du Haut Mal)
Writer / Artist: David B.
First published: 1996–2003
Original publisher: L'Association
This autobiographical work recounts David B.'s childhood and adolescence as his older brother suffers from severe epilepsy. The illness gradually dominates the entire family and drives the young David into increasingly elaborate worlds of fantasy, mythology and imagery. His highly stylised black-and-white drawings transform memories and fears into haunting symbolic landscapes.
8
Blue Pills: A Positive Love Story
Writer / Artist: Frederik Peeters
First published: 2001
Original publisher: Atrabile
Blue Pills is Peeters' autobiographical account of falling in love with Cati, a woman living with HIV, and becoming part of her family. The book deals with love, sexuality, parenthood, illness and fear without becoming either sentimental or purely medical. Peeters' expressive drawing combines humour, tenderness and anxiety with remarkable sensitivity.
7
Sin City
Writer / Artist: Frank Miller
First published: 1991
Original publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Set in the corrupt and violent Basin City, Sin City is a collection of interconnected neo-noir crime stories populated by criminals, prostitutes, corrupt cops and antiheroes. Miller uses an extraordinarily stark black-and-white style, often eliminating grey tones almost entirely. The extreme contrast between light and darkness becomes an integral part of the storytelling.
6
Love in Vain: Robert Johnson 1911–1938
Writer: Jean-Michel Dupont
Artist: Mezzo
First published: 2014
Original publisher: Glénat
This graphic biography explores the short and mysterious life of legendary blues musician Robert Johnson. It follows his music, relationships and struggles against the backdrop of the segregated American South. The famous legend of Johnson selling his soul to the Devil becomes part of a broader portrait of the musician. Mezzo's dense artwork gives the story a dark, almost mythological atmosphere.
5
Brodeck's Report
Writer / Artist: Manu Larcenet
First published: 2015–2016
Original publisher: Dargaud
Adapted from Philippe Claudel's acclaimed novel, Brodeck's Report follows a man ordered to write an account of the murder of a mysterious outsider in an isolated village. As Brodeck investigates, collective guilt, xenophobia and fear gradually emerge. Larcenet's extraordinary artwork creates a bleak, oppressive world of snow, forests and moral darkness.
4
From Hell
Writer: Alan Moore
Artist: Eddie Campbell
First published: 1989–1996
Original publisher: Taboo / Tundra Publishing / Kitchen Sink Press
From Hell is a sprawling reconstruction of the Jack the Ripper murders in Victorian London. Moore combines historical research with speculation, creating a disturbing meditation on violence, class, power and mythology. Campbell's rough, heavily textured black-and-white artwork gives Victorian London a nightmarish, almost documentary quality.
3
Persepolis
Writer / Artist: Marjane Satrapi
First published: 2000–2003
Original publisher: L'Association
Satrapi's autobiographical masterpiece follows her childhood in Iran during the Islamic Revolution and her later experiences in Europe. Through a remarkably simple style, she explores politics, religion, war, exile and growing up. Humour and tragedy coexist throughout the story, making the work both highly accessible and deeply personal.
2
Corto Maltese: In Siberia
Writer / Artist: Hugo Pratt
First published: 1979
Original publisher: Casterman
Corto Maltese travels through Siberia and Manchuria in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, becoming involved in a struggle for the Tsar's gold. Historical figures and fictional characters are woven together in Pratt's adventure. The book is particularly celebrated for its economical, expressive black-and-white artwork and its extraordinary atmosphere.
1
Maus: A Survivor's Tale
Writer / Artist: Art Spiegelman
First published: 1986–1991
Original publisher: Pantheon Books
Maus recounts Art Spiegelman's father's experiences as a Polish Jew during the Holocaust, while simultaneously depicting Art's complicated relationship with his father decades later. Jews are represented as mice and Nazis as cats. The deceptively simple artwork gives the story an extraordinary emotional and historical power. The work won a special Pulitzer Prize in 1992.
