Graphic Novels

From Shakespeare to SpongeBob, there is, apparently, nothing John Rhys-Davies can't or won't do. The plummy-voiced, English-born Welsh actor is best known here for his roles in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy -- he played Gimli and gave voice to Treebeard -- and as Indiana Jones' faithful, portly companion Sallah. Indeed, Rhys-Davies is such a democratic actor that he appears in the film clip designed to entertain those waiting in line for the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland.

In one of the 19 dreams re-created in David B.'s "Nocturnal Conspiracies," the French comic book artist's dream persona is a living shadow who can morph into the shapes of things around him. At one point, he takes the precise shape of a several-story building, matching it window to window so he can permeate the facade. This image captures perfectly the experience of the book: We permeate David B.'s nocturnal world through drawings that feel like shadows cast by dreams. Although David B.

The trailer for the highly anticipated superhero movie "Watchmen" promises intense on-screen action, larger-than-life characters and scathing social commentary. But lately the movie has become better known for its courtroom drama, with 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. continuing to clash over interests in the film. Fox is trying to block Warner's scheduled March 6 release, claiming that it controls the rights to the movie through a series of deals it made with the producer, Lawrence Gordon.

At FIRST glance, Skylight Books 1814 in Los Feliz might not seem all that family-friendly. On a recent afternoon, the window display featured "There's a Riot Going On: Revolutionaries, Rock Stars and the Rise and Fall of '60s Counter-Culture" and "Richard Avedon: Photographs 1946-2004," among other adult-sounding titles. But it turns out that Skylight Books' new art-themed space benefits kids in more ways than one. Among its avant-garde selection, there are a few youth-oriented picks -- "The Complete Peanuts," for example.

OK, it's time to take the plunge and actually read a graphic novel. But where to start? Gerard Way, the lead singer of My Chemical Romance and writer of the acclaimed "The Umbrella Academy" comic, has 10 suggestions. "Watchmen," by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (DC, $19.99). Graphic novel that changed the way I thought about superheroes and mainstream comics. I often refer to "Watchmen" as a gateway drug. "The Dark Knight Returns," by Frank Miller (DC, $14.99). A total deconstruction . . . this is Batman at 50 years old, at his grittiest, his darkest, and it paved the way for a whole generation of "darker heroes."

Want some screenwriting advice? Add drawings to your script. And then put your dialogue in bubbles. If recent studio acquisitions are any evidence, then the fastest way to get a movie deal these days may just be to turn your next Big Idea into a graphic novel. In a faddish frenzy, no fewer than 22 film projects born of graphic novels or comics have been announced in the last six weeks.

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will expand this year to include comic books, graphic novels and manga. There will be three panels featuring authors and artists who work in the field, and others will be making appearances to talk with fans and sign autographs. One of the panel discussions, "Comics: Superheroes of the Page & Screen," will feature Mike Mignola, creator of "Hellboy"; Steve Niles, creator of the "30 Days of Night" graphic novel franchise; and Jeph Loeb, who has written for numerous super-hero comic books and is co-executive producer of NBC's "Heroes."