We’re naming turtles in this week’s “So You Want To Read Comics”.  This is our weekly feature where we take a look at a single topic or genre, then give you two comic book recommendations, perfect for new readers, based on that topic or genre.  This week we’re taking a look at the historical era known as The Renaissance.

While there has been some recent discussion about the validity of using this term to describe a defined set of years, for now, The Renaissance is still commonly applied to a section of European history between the 15th century all the way to the early years of the 17th century.  During this time large societal changes began to take place across Europe, starting in Italy and then making their way through a good portion of European countries.  Perhaps the most well-known area that saw major changes is in the arts.  During this period a focus on the human form emerged. Well known sculptures like Michelangelo’s David and drawings like Da Vinci’s The Vitruvian Man, put the body in the forefront, while artwork with religious iconography still existed it was done so often with the perspective of humanity in mind.  Other areas like philosophy, theology, and politics also saw massive changes in the thinking behind them that persist to this day.  Beyond being the source of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles names, The Renaissance has also been used as a setting for modern entertainment such as Assassin’s Creed II, A Man For All Seasons, and a large selection of Shakespearean plays.

So if you’re a fan of The Renaissance, here are a couple of graphic novels you can jump into to start your comics reading journey.

MARVEL 1602

Writer: Neil Gaiman
Artist: Andy Kubert
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Written by Neil Gaiman, who, in the wake of 9/11, wanted to write a series that didn’t feature any sort of modern depictions of war or weaponry.  This led him to take the Marvel Universe and toss it back to the year, you guessed it, 1602.  In this series, characters like Spider-Man, Daredevil, Nick Fury, and Doctor Strange are re-imagined as period-appropriate versions of themselves.  These characters are then thrown into a royal murder conspiracy that soon unveils a much larger threat, not only to themselves but to the universe as a whole.  What’s so fun about this series is that there isn’t much attempt to do away with the superheroic fun of the Marvel Universe by grounding things in realism, instead it gives you all the same fantastical nature, but drapes it in Renaissance-era clothes and sensibilities.  Instead of X-Men, you get Witchbreed, instead of The Fantastic Four you get four survivors from a ship called The Fantastick.

CHIAROSCURO: THE PRIVATE LIVES OF LEONARDO DA VINCI

Writers: Pat McGreal and David Rawson
Artist: Chaz Truog
Publisher: DC Comics

Perhaps the most well-known figure from The Renaissance is the jack-of-all-trades known as Leonardo Da Vinci.  While best known for his art, he also dabbled in science, philosophy, and engineering.  It has also become commonly known that Da Vinci had his fair share of lovers of many genders.  What might not be known is that Da Vinci had a live-in companion for decades known as Salai.  In this graphic novel, we get to see the life of Da Vinci, including his various relationships through the eyes of Salai, while also seeing their relationship change and grow.  These are often shown in contrast to Salai’s life and the various romances he embarked upon.  What this results in is a complex examination of a man considered a genius by many and by extension the increasingly complicated society that existed in renaissance era Italy. Fun fact: Chiaroscuro is the term used to define a trendy painting style of the time which relies heavily on the contrast between lights and darks.

What are some of your favorite pieces of art either from or about The Renaissance? What did you think of these recommendations?  Let us know in the comments section below.

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