True North Country Comics presents the top 10 go-to comic book and graphic novel list from Ronn Sutton.
Ronn is a freelance artist from Ottawa, who’s worked in comic, animation, illustration, and other related fields. Having drawn several hundred comic books over the past four decades, Ronn’s work also includes a nine year stint illustrating nearly 50 issues of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark for Claypool Comics. More recently, Ronn has taken on the illustration duties for the online Edgar Rice Burroughs project Carson of Venus.
Here’s Ronn Sutton’s top 10 go-to comic book and graphic novel list:
1. Gunsmoke #16 to 25 (DELL, 1959-’61) illustrated by Alberto Giolitti
“Stunningly accurate no-nonsense drawings of the old West. Nobody researches and draws like Alberto Giolitti. You can read some online at the Alberto Giolitti website: http://www.albertogiolitti.com/index.php?cPath=117_135“
2. Al Williamson’s Flash Gordon: A Lifelong Vision of the Heroic (Flesk)
“He didn’t create Flash Gordon, but nobody owned him like Williamson did (over a period of decades). Over-sized B&W book shot from the original art (mostly).”
3. Tarzan: The Beckoning (Dark Horse, 208 p.) drawn by Thomas Yeates
“It begins as Tarzan tracks down ivory poachers but evolves into a tale of Tarzan’s spiritual growth. Yeates also currently draws the newspaper “Prince Valiant” comic strip, which you can read weekly here at the King Features website: https://www.comicskingdom.com/prince-valiant”
4. “Buck Rogers/Barbara Cartland Romances” are two newspaper strips that Gray Morrow (and assistants) drew simultaneously in 1980/’81/’82
“There are three book collections, the most recent Buck Rogers in the 25th Century hardcover (Hermes, 2013). Morrow abruptly left both strips to draw “Tarzan” for nearly 20 years, or approximately 1,000 pages. You can read every one of them for free at the official Edgar Rice Burroughs website: https://www.erbzine.com/mag35/3502.html“
5. Jungle Jim Sunday newspaper strip by Alex Reymond
“Alex Raymond is better known for his magnificently drawn “Rip Kirby” and his heroic creation “Flash Gordon” (both collected in numerous books) but Jungle Jim was a special inspiration to me while drawing my weekly Edgar Rice Burroughs comic strip “The Man-Eater”, and ANYTHING drawn by Raymond is worth seeing.”
6. Ghita of Alizarr by Frank Thorne
“Ghita of Alizarr is Frank Thorne’s energetic, titillating fantasy erotic adventure queen.
I like Thorne’s 1950s DELL comics work best, but his very popular “Red Sonja”(for Marvel Comics) have been reprinted several times in several formats. “Ghita” was Thorne’s own no-holds-barred re-invention of Sonja.”
7. The House on the Borderland (2000, Vertigo) illustrated by Richard Corben
“A couple of back-packing students run afoul of the occult in Ireland in this adaptation of William Hope Hodson’s novel, drawn by Richard Corben. I’ve been following Corben’s career for 50 years, love everything he’s worked on, but I re-read Borderland about once per year.”
8. Weird Science and Weird Fantasy (EC Comics, 1950s) illustrated by Al Williamson and Wallace Wood
“EC Comics were famous for their anthologies of 8-page stories with “twist endings”, and their outstanding artists that included Wallace Wood, who’s stunningly detailed art shone particularly in EC’s sci-fi comics. Wood set an art standard nearly 70 years ago that still awe fans and pros alike today. Plus, the stories are terrific reads and Al Williamson appears pretty much every issue too! There are reprints galore available in various sizes, formats and prices.”
9. Jew Gangster (ibooks, 2005) by Joe Kubert
“Jew Gangster (ibooks, 2005) where Joe Kubert tells the Depression-era story of growing up Jewish, surrounded in a world of thugs and mobsters. Written and drawn by the man who knew so much about how to create excellent comics that he had to open his own comics school. Or there is “Tarzan” (DC) by Kubert, or “Tor”, or “Enemy Ace” and so many more. Every one is a gem.”
10. Swamp Thing (1972) by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson
“Finally, how could I not include the original ten issues (1972) of Swamp Thing by its co-creators Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson? These are terrific tales, wonderfully drawn. I am still thrilled decades later to remember that I was in Bernie’s studio as some were being drawn. Do yourself a favour and find them.”
You can discover more about Ronn on ronnsutton.com
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