New Graphic Novels from Germany

The most famous album by the German rock band "Ton Steine Scherben" was released 50 years ago. To mark this...

The most famous album by the German rock band "Ton Steine Scherben" was released 50 years ago. To mark this anniversary, Ventil Verlag has produced a comic on the songs. The album, whose title already embraces anarchy, contains lyrics that call for resistance against the (capitalist) system and denounce disjointed political and social conditions. These texts have each been transformed into short episodes by twelve comic illustrators. Some of the interpretations are very free. Ulli Lust, for example, has grimly transposed the title song into the sick world of factory farming, while Reinhard Kleist plumbed the depths of modern capitalist consumer society for "Menschenjäger" (Hunter of Humans). Overall, it becomes clear what power and relevance these socially critical songs still have today.

The 70-year-old illustrator Dietmar Reinhard spent five years working on his graphic documentation of the largest of the German extermination...

The 70-year-old illustrator Dietmar Reinhard spent five years working on his graphic documentation of the largest of the German extermination camps. He studied relevant sources intensively, including Danuta Czech's A Calendar of the Most Important Events in the History of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp and the records kept by the camp commandant Rudolf Höß. Without artificial scene-setting, Reinhard faithfully reconstructs events, from the creation of the camp (spring 1940) to its liberation by the Red Army (January 1945). The gruesome everyday life, the merciless violence of the perpetrators, the suffering and death of the dehumanised victims: these are agonising images that the draughtsman presents soberly with crystal-clear, detailed strokes and pale colours, and which burn themselves inexorably into the memory. With his approach to the unimaginable, Reinhard has created a masterpiece of remembrance.

Patrick Spät and Sheree Domingo tell the biography of South Korean actress Choi Eun-hee, an icon of Asian cinema, who...

Patrick Spät and Sheree Domingo tell the biography of South Korean actress Choi Eun-hee, an icon of Asian cinema, who died in 2018. In 1978, together with her then husband, film director Shin Sang-ok, she was abducted to North Korea, where the film-loving dictator Kim-Jong-il forced them to make films for the regime modelled on international movies. In 1986, after a thrilling chase in Vienna, they managed to escape to the West. Choi's incredible story is repeatedly interrupted by a parallel film narrative. This is "Bulgasari", a hit monster film from 1962, in which a brave blacksmith's daughter and an iron-eating monster stand up to a tyrannical ruler. Spät’s complex account is rich in dramatic twists and turns, which Domingo illustrates with great sensitivity in bright colours and brush and ink. The work was awarded the Comic Book Prize of the Berthold Leibinger Stiftung 2022.

André Breinbauer's comic debut is an unusual reinterpretation of the Greek myth of Medusa. Unusual not least because of the...

André Breinbauer's comic debut is an unusual reinterpretation of the Greek myth of Medusa. Unusual not least because of the format: the reversible comic can be started from either the front or the back, from the respective perspective of each of the two protagonists. In the middle, their fates meet in a dramatic climax. Medusa's tale is at times oppressively wordless and kept in sombre shades of black and grey, while Perseus' story is colourful and chatty. Breinbauer explores the question of who is actually the monster and who the heroic figure. He deconstructs the cliché of the man-killing Gorgon and the famous Greek hero by reversing the roles of perpetrator and victim and adding a feminist perspective to the narrative.  

The Goethe-Institut Jakarta launched the Movements and Moments project in 2019. The aim is to raise the visibility of indigenous...

The Goethe-Institut Jakarta launched the Movements and Moments project in 2019. The aim is to raise the visibility of indigenous feminist activism from the Global South by presenting it in comics and drawing attention to people and places that rarely appear in mainstream narratives. For this volume, eight contributions have been chosen from hundreds of submissions worldwide. They feature diverse emancipatory approaches presented in artistically versatile ways. The emphasis on indigenous feminist perspectives – often linked to decolonising struggles and environmental sustainability – highlights issues such as the fight against environmental destruction, education and the rights of all sexual and gender identities. What all the stories have in common is a spirit of resistance against violence and cruelty.

This anthology was published on the initiative of the City of Darmstadt to mark celebrations for “1700 Years of Jewish...

This anthology was published on the initiative of the City of Darmstadt to mark celebrations for “1700 Years of Jewish Life in Germany”. The book’s complex objective is to depict Judaism in Germany in all its multifacetedness, as broadly as possible in historical terms. In eleven stories and over a period spanning the Middle Ages up to the present, it illuminates fundamental aspects of Jewish religion, art and culture and addresses topics that go far beyond persecution and National Socialism. The different approaches taken by the artists have produced a great aesthetic diversity. The comics are complemented by factual texts with additional background information. 

Daniela Heller, born in 1987, presents her autobiographically inspired submission for the final examination at the Kassel Art Academy, which...

Daniela Heller, born in 1987, presents her autobiographically inspired submission for the final examination at the Kassel Art Academy, which won her the "Max and Moritz Prize" in the category "Best German-language Comic Debut" in 2022. She studied archaeology initially, and followed that with comics and illustration. In her story, young archaeologists are working at a dig one summer. The characters’ worries and fears for the future, their ambitions and conflicts, unfold against the backdrop of their strenuous daily life in the heat and dust, with porta-loos and mosquitoes in their tents. Heller presents her figures in a gripping contrast between graphic alienation and extremely realistic dialogue.  

One day, all around the world, the ghosts of the dead start to appear. At first there are only a...

One day, all around the world, the ghosts of the dead start to appear. At first there are only a few, but things quickly take on apocalyptic proportions. Two sisters want to say a last goodbye to their parents, who died in a plane crash years ago. At the crash site, events get out of hand and the young women unexpectedly find themselves fleeing evil forces that have triggered the end of the world while carrying out secret experiments on human beings. For the adaptation of his gripping ghost horror story, bestselling author Kai Meyer has once again collaborated with comic artist Jurek Malottke. Malottke's sophisticated style – composite bold colour areas, lack of contours, atmospheric lighting effects – takes some getting used to at first, but develops a dynamic pull that is hard to resist.  

In the second part of this series, the android prince is now in exile, in empty space between dimensions, from...

In the second part of this series, the android prince is now in exile, in empty space between dimensions, from where he contemplates his own past. Flashbacks show his life in two parallel universes: in one he is a love-bot for an unhappy couple in a dystopian society; in the other, the brave hero of a warrior princess in a fantasy world. Lukas Kummer explores his character’s soul and deals with topics such as relationships, love and fate. In the process, he creates an impressive universe that combines high fantasy with retro computer game aesthetics and post-apocalyptic themes, while including plenty of popular references ("Star Wars", "Blade Runner"). Kummer's grandiose artwork impresses with its geometrically reduced style and its stunning, neon colouring, which adds depth to the protagonist's emotional and mental state.

Birgit Weyhe has tackled the stories of black people in many of her comics. During an exchange programme in the...

Birgit Weyhe has tackled the stories of black people in many of her comics. During an exchange programme in the USA she, a white author, faced the accusation of cultural appropriation for the first. In Rude Girl Weyhe takes a self-critical look at this accusation. This is not simply a fictionalisation of the multifaceted life story of Priscilla Layne, a US professor of German studies with Caribbean roots and a rebellious attitude; Weyhe also engages in a critical dialogue with her main character in the comic, transforming her from an object into a narratively self-effective subject. This narrative construct gives the story a meta-level that provides space for reflection on the meaning of prejudice, social origin and skin colour, and as such makes an important contribution to the debate around racism.  

Rietzl's post-apocalyptic story follows scrap collector Oishi, a samurai from the Asano clan, who is fighting for the survival of...

Rietzl's post-apocalyptic story follows scrap collector Oishi, a samurai from the Asano clan, who is fighting for the survival of his clan in a galaxy that has been almost completely destroyed. As wars rage over the sharing of limited resources, Oishi comes into conflict with the powerful shogun and begins to question the destructive structures of society. Rietzl successfully mixes genres by transporting a classic plot of intrigue from feudal Japan to a dark and distant galaxy. The 15 metre-long scrolling comic offers an exceptional reading experience. Space spreads out endlessly and readers can decide for themselves how much is visible at a give moment. Rietzl applies creative solutions with great skill to change scenes and perspectives. Using tracking shots and before an unendingly white cosmos, he stages detailed space battles and depicts colourful panoramas. Paul Rietzl, born in 1986, lives and works in Munich.

After an anthology on Elvis Presley and biographies of Johnny Cash and Nick Cave, the multi-award-winning author devotes himself here...

After an anthology on Elvis Presley and biographies of Johnny Cash and Nick Cave, the multi-award-winning author devotes himself here to the life of another important pop musician. He deals with David Bowie's early years, above all with the question of how Bowie created the gaudy alien figure Ziggy Stardust and what influence it had on his life. Kleist not only collects facts and anecdotes, but also allows his own vision to flow into the biographical narrative. This time, his elegant black-and-white drawings have been coloured in, whereby Kleist had the support of Thomas Gilke, who rendered the scenes from the 1970s in the raucous, brightly coloured colouring of comics at that time. Kleist creates a captivating graphic memorial to David Bowie. A second volume about Bowie's years in New York and Berlin is to follow.

In collaboration with David von Bassewitz, author Thomas von Steinaecker, born in 1977, has produced a moving biography of Karlheinz...

In collaboration with David von Bassewitz, author Thomas von Steinaecker, born in 1977, has produced a moving biography of Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928 to 2007), whose avant-garde works and pioneering electro music made him one of the most important composers of the 20th century. As a child in 1989, the author discovered Stockhausen's sounds for the first time. Fascination led to admiration and later to a long-standing friendship with the musician, which adds a very personal dimension to this story. Steinaecker's experience as a filmmaker is evident in the clever dramaturgy. Special mention must be made of the miraculous way in which illustrator Bassewitz achieves a graphical representation of Stockhausen's music. In ingenious visuals, he lets images merge with sounds, making the abstract sounds visible in an inspiring way. It took seven years to produce this ambitious labour of love. Having stopped in 1989, a sequel is planned to continue the story.

With "Stones", Nadine Redlich has created a true masterpiece of consistent minimalism. For eighty pages we watch a stone –...

With "Stones", Nadine Redlich has created a true masterpiece of consistent minimalism. For eighty pages we watch a stone – in its various emotional states, at different moments, undergoing different experiences. With fascination, we follow tiny changes in the image and we realise how this transports feelings and thoughts. Time and space recede to the background. We listen spellbound to the thoughts of the stone, whose limited self-perception develops a tragicomic character. Breaking the fourth wall, the story draws us into the action, makes us turn the pages again and again, strangely touched.  

Swiss artist Jared Muralt has been working since 2016 on his gripping post-apocalyptic scenario that describes a society in a...

Swiss artist Jared Muralt has been working since 2016 on his gripping post-apocalyptic scenario that describes a society in a state of emergency. Now the third anthology of the internationally award-winning comic series has arrived. Civilisation has collapsed due to a deadly flu virus and a global crisis of resources caused by climate change. Family man Liam has fled to the Alps from the city of Bern with his two children to escape starvation. There, they encounter marauding fascist gangs. When they shoot at Liam, the children flee back down the valley. Muralt packs classic genre material into realistic and detailed drawings. His exciting tale has gained added piquancy after real events such as the Corona pandemic.

The story begins in the forest, at a hospital for animals, where a shy rabbit with cancer and a daring...

The story begins in the forest, at a hospital for animals, where a shy rabbit with cancer and a daring but injured wolf are surprised by the hunter and his dog and have to take flight. In the process, the rabbit accidentally saves the wolf's life, so the wolf feels obliged to take care of the timid creature. During their escape, an unusual friendship develops between the unequal pair. For "Trip with a Drip", Josephine Mark has drawn on her own experience with chemotherapy. She succeeds in turning the difficult subject into a fun-loving road trip full of slapstick, sarcasm and brilliant dialogue. The engaging and reassuring story about illness and friendship was awarded the Max und Moritz Prize as "Best Comic for Children" in 2022.  

In the years since he first visited the Australian desert settlement of Yuendumu, Jan Bauer has returned several times, familiarising...

In the years since he first visited the Australian desert settlement of Yuendumu, Jan Bauer has returned several times, familiarising himself much more closely with the local people, their culture and history. In the process, he has made friends who have helped him gain valuable insights into the world of the Warlpiri, a culture entirely foreign to him before. In a series of episodes, using poetic, fairy-tale images, Bauer explores the unfathomable, timeless myths of the Aborigines, whose stories are inextricably linked to the natural world around them. Alongside this, he documents their contemporary living conditions in realistic black-and-white drawings, lucidly depicting a complex history of oppression and violence that still has dramatic consequences today. The result is an impressive reportage that magically opens up a foreign world to us.

This second anthology contains over 50 newspaper strips that Schwartz has published in the weekly newspaper "Der Freitag" (half-page format)...

This second anthology contains over 50 newspaper strips that Schwartz has published in the weekly newspaper "Der Freitag" (half-page format) until 2016 and the FAZ magazine (full-page) since 2019. It is a kaleidoscope of extraordinary life stories of rather unknown personalities that can best be described as "unbelievable but true". Schwartz delivers a decidedly eclectic compilation of bizarre short portraits of people whose lives were outside the norm or marked by particular drama. The choice of subjects is excellent and the artistic realisation remarkable, because each page is a small work of art in its own right.  

The friendship of the three teenagers Charlie, Hamid and Benny begins to falter when Benny starts wearing a Star of...

The friendship of the three teenagers Charlie, Hamid and Benny begins to falter when Benny starts wearing a Star of David, revealing his Jewish identity. Hamid, a Syrian refugee with an Arab-Muslim background, feels unsettled by Benny's new identity, while Charlie, standing between her two best friends, tries to prevent their clique from breaking apart. The three of them sink more and more deeply into swamp of prejudice and hatred that threatens to overwhelm their friendship. This adaptation of the TV series of the same name, drawn with a wonderfully light touch, approaches heavy topics such as racism and anti-Semitism in a discerning and exciting way. The story can touch and frighten younger and older readers alike, and it shows impressively how quickly prejudice can turn into agitation, bullying and violence. The work was awarded the 2023 Catholic Prize for Children's and Young People's Books.

As early as 2009, Jeff Chi discovered an extraordinary artist on the internet. Eventually, after much additional research, Chi's first...

As early as 2009, Jeff Chi discovered an extraordinary artist on the internet. Eventually, after much additional research, Chi's first long comic came into being, an original biography that traces the touching story of stuttering jazz musician John Larkin who, just a few years before his death from cancer, became an international pop music phenomenon in the 90s as "Scatman John". John's life story and his path from drug addiction toward the "sunny side of life" unfolds in quirky but striking drawings. It was always his wish to give people courage and he became a role model for many stutterers around the world. Chi received the Max und Moritz Prize for "Best German-language Comic Debut" for his work in 2022.