Revised on Peanuts with an establishing review on Calvin and Hobbes

Each character is bigger than life with their individual personalities, that spark great humor. These two pieces have so much charm that they continue to live on and on. What I think is so great about these characters are their childhood thinking is justified but are also relatable to older audiences with the cynicism on life and relationships, it's actually quite endearing. The punchline to the comics are always heartwarming with it's humor, and the characters progress with simplicity. A big difference in these pieces is that Hobbes, as much as he feels real, is imaginary, and him and Calvin go on many adventures together. Even though they use similar humor and setups, they way it's told is different. What I think is most fascinating is how neither of these scripts are visually simple, yet they are defined and different from one another in a way that they become iconic for their simplicity.

Scott Pilgrim

Scott Pilgrim is amazingly fast pace, and simply put, fun. I think O'Malley did something nearly impossible, which is have every single character be likeable. Scott Pilgrim is familiar. What I mean by that is that the dialogue shared between the characters is familiar to how I think a lot of us relate and converse with the people around us. Their is this youthfulness energy that I think also adds to the likeness for this work, as well as the pace and the overall tone. Everything about this book is sincere and genuine. I think the author combines the elements of a coming-of-age story and a fantastical action pack story together brilliantly. Another reason the characters, especially Scott, are likeable is because of the bit of selfish tendencies he has at first. It's because he makes mistakes, yet grows from them. Even though I don't really agree with some of Scott's actions at first, I do like him and empathize with him enough to follow him on his journey.

Daytripper

Daytripper was one of my favorite pieces that I read. Every single aspect of it is truly well thought out and detailed and unique. I love the way the story is told. It sets itself apart from other works and it grabbed me from the very beginning and I was hooked throughout. What I think shows the talents of the author is how each chapter ends the same, with the demise of Bras. Even though after the first couple of times it is to be expected, the story and illustrations are so interesting, that you are still somewhat surprised at the end. I love the overall energy of this story. Each chapter is a fragment of Bras's life, but always an important moment in his life. I feel like the "twist" at the end could get repetitive, but because of the theme that is stated through subtext, which is in my opinion....that even the tiniest decisions can lead to huge consequences.

Exit Wounds

I really enjoy the overall story and tone of Exit Wounds, even though I think that the characters could have been fleshed out more so. The things I enjoy is how personal this story is. As much as I appreciate fantastical and epic stories, I appreciate using the medium of comic books and graphic novels to tell a realistic depiction of heavy subject matter in a fantastical medium. I also enjoy that amount of knowledge I gain on other cultures, by just reading about these characters. It's extremely similar to observing people with different cultures in real life. It's rich and fascinating the way the author is able to convey so much through an overall tone, even though it does deal with a culture identity, it is more about the loss of strong personal connections. I think the way the author is able to create a character, the character of the father, without actually really ever seeing him is fascinating and really brilliant, and truly matches the authors talent at character development with Koby. The actual artwork is interesting for sure. It's not to detailed, especially in the faces, but the dynamic scale that is used is completely subjective, placing you both in the midst of everything, but also as an observer.

Persepolis

This is a story that could be read by a lot of people, but the way it was told and the techniques used to tell it made it extremely more visceral to connect to. One of the aspects that I found interesting, which is something I thought a lot about after I read it, but while reading, was the fact that she had to hide music under her coat out of fear. That is something I think American's cannot really grasp, and it was a great tool, even though it was her reality, to help readers really understand the massive importance and insanity that these people had to live through. This also made the rebellion seem much more dynamic, in terms of being a reader. I loved reading in the perspective of a young girl. Not only was it easy to follow, but also easy to relate to. I also love how the author thinks very detailedly about the use of text and the use of illustrations. At some points no words are needed, and the simple images does the story and the characters justice, and other times it is the complete opposite. It seemed very thought out, but also very in the moment.

Fun Home

I eat 'memoir's' up. I enjoy them as much as reading fiction, maybe even more some times. So I was extra excited to read a memoir in graphic novel form. As well as reading it from a female writer and a female protagonist point of view. I love graphic novels, don't get me wrong, but sometimes as a huge reader, I get thrown off by the straight-to-the-point mumbo jumbo dialogue sometimes used in graphic novel form, so I was in so much bliss that the way Bechdel wrote was with so much beautiful prose. I always love to read about families, because even though usually they are heart-wrenching stories, they always sort of make you feel extremely connected to something. At least if you have come from a broken home, or a dysfunctional family of sorts, which a lot of people do.

Another reason why I loved this was because of the perfect balance between humor and emotional ranges. I feel like the best stories, the best tones, are to have a really organic, but hilarious situation or moment come right after a completely devastating emotional moment. And that is what she did. It was structured rather interestingly that I think could have been disfigured, but because it was so precise in detail and character development, it worked perfectly.

Maus

I think a conscious choice that Art Spiegelman made was to depict the characters as animals. I think this is a brilliant choice because immersed in a story about the Holocaust can be tremendously difficult. Even though it was still difficult to read, it sort of created a barrier between the reader and the characters. I first read Maus in high school for my history class. I ate through the pages. I connected with the story, and could not stop reading. This was completely different from how I responded to a story like The Diary of Anne Frank. I connected with her story but it was extremely difficult to read, and I was constantly having to separate myself from it. I also love the way he starts the story. A simple story of a child asking their father about how they met their mother. It's a common question, and I think it starts such a huge and iconic story in a way that is simple and realistic. Some times these stories are so weighed down with facts that it loses the humanity from the time, and I think Spiegelman found a great way to write a story dealing with heavy subject matter in a way that is universally relatable, because at the end of the day it is a story about love and survival.

Underground Comix

There is nothing wrong with wholesome comics, but underground comix came at the perfect time, during the counter-culture movement. I can totally see why these comics were so popular among this group of people. The comics are a bit shocking, and sort of challenge society's norms at the time. In terms of the broad point of underground comix, they certainly in my opinion reached their goal. They were able to create dynamic and rich characters for the 'superhero' characters, as well as depicting a reality that was lacking in the comics of this time. I read Whiteman by Robert Crumb, and even today, in this generation, we have been so desensitized but it was still shocking to read. I think if you are to become more familiar with Robert Crumb and his work, it might not take you as such a surprise. I had no idea what kind of work he did. Whiteman started out rather "boring" and "normal". This was sort of surprising to me because I knew he was a part of the underground comix, obviously, and was not really getting a sense why. That is until those panels came up. Oh you know the ones. It was rather interesting  because I am sure this was a direct and conscious choice that Robert Crumb made to start the comic as a normal-getting-to-know-your-family type of comic, and then completely transforms in to a more edgy and daring comic, right before your eyes. This is sort of the perfect example of the underground comix. Even though some of them directly correlate to the counter-culture movement, some of them are there to just challenge what people saw in the medium.

Contract with God and Other Tenement Stories

There are many elements to a Contract with God, that I love. I love the way Eisner not only used the rain to reflect how Frimme Hershe's inner emotions, but also how he let the text smear like the rain. It was a great way to instantly be absorbed in to the story, the atmosphere, and Hershe's feelings. I also find it interesting how the illustrations are in black and white but he incorporates light in almost every page, and it always casts a shadow realistically. Eisner also set up the conflict within Hershe's quickly, by giving us how worn down and sad he seems in his present contrasted with what type of person he was when he was young.  Even though Contract with God is a graphic novel it reads very much like a unique literary novel. Each story is a testament to a non-fiction story within the confines of history. I can see this as an influence on Michael Chabon's The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay.

Krazy Kat and Little Nemo

What I love about Krazy Kat by George Herriman is the simplicity in the comic and the illustration, but used such witty and intelligent dialogue for both external and internal use. There is a continuity between Krazy and Ignatz's relationship, which is part of the 'skit', and part of the weekly humor. The dialect is something that I can see being a first in this medium and really sets it apart from other comics of the time. Creating a completely diverse and unique dialogue for the world and these characters.

Peanuts 1960's Collection

I thoroughly enjoyed reading through the Peanut's 1960 collection. The characters and the way the artist creates such strong and rich personalities in  these children is just purely entertaining and sweet. We have Linus, who is very much the kid brother. He is a bit naive and ignorant but sweet and means well. Then we have Lucy, who is very much the older sister. She has the strongest, and loudest personality. She's tough, and can be a bit sassy. We have Snoopy, the lovable and silly dog of Charlie Brown, and then of course, Charlie Brown himself. Charlie Brown is the cynical, introverted one. I think the reason why I was so amused by Peanuts, is because of the individuality each character had. In each strip, you got more personality and development of these characters. I was really brought in o the story by the unique voices of these characters. It definitely has more of an adult tone to it. It is witty and sarcastic. I really liked how this is a world of children, and it does have a sense of a children world, especially since no adults are ever seen, but the dialogue for each character is just so rich and funny, that it is tremendously difficult to not eat the strips up.

Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud

I learned a lot of interesting elements in to understanding comics. What I found the most compelling was the different way the Japanese comics are not only made, but how they are read, and what they are focused on. In the East, comics are considered much more of an art form, rather than just a form of entertainment or amusement. They focus more on a moment or a present that does not have a specific goal or even push the story forward, yet it is a moment that makes you feel. I find this interesting because over here in the West, comics are best known for being solely a form of entertainment. I am not saying that comics used solely as entertainment is a negative thing, but it could be used much more abstractly if wanted. This to me is a key element in the purpose of comics to begin with. The writer talks about how comics simplify pieces to focus more in detail. This is most likely one of the reasons why the medium of comics is so popular and why, even though the Japanese create their comics differently, focus more on the meaning versus the goal of the characters. Although, the Japanese view these "simple" comics as beneath the "art" that they categorize comics as. I think this is interesting because ultimately the point of comics mean the same to both the West and the East. Most comics are created for a point, not to just entertain. It is for the same reason that any other medium of story is created.

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

What is really great about reading a piece of work without any words is that there is no confused perspectives or worn down plots. Everything is straight to the point. It's simple, but more beautiful and honest in a way. It was interesting that a running theme throughout the story was that this man who migrated to this new place with a new culture and language could not communicate. Yet, we were not given this information through words but simply character expression and juxtaposition. There was a sincerity in the comparison of the story itself and also how it was told. There were a lot of simple, yet clever transitions in The Arrival. The story starts with these 'clips' of items that seem random but also important. Then, we receive the bigger picture...literally, and see all of these small items that could be in a photo book or scrap books, sit unscaled in this beautiful yet sad look of a family. The man puts these belongings in to a trunk and rests his hands on top of it. The next illustration is of the wife's hand resting on the man's. Not only are these transitions smooth, and carry the story seamlessly, but they also are great tools used to show the emotion and story behind these characters.

Another element to think about how Shaun Tan was able to tell such a delightful story using no words is what he choses to focus on. This is a book that pulls you in, and you are unable to hesitate because you are immediately going on this somewhat heartbreaking journey with this man. You cannot get lost within mumbo jumbo like some books. You are living this life alongside him. There are some stories where people are unable to attach to because they do not feel immediately connected to the character. Sometimes that is not necessarily the author's fault but the reader themselves, but using The Arrival as an example...I have been to two foreign countries in my life, but I was just a visitor. I could not imagine, using my own mind, what it would feel like to have to uproot your life, be away from your family, and live and work in a foreign country and culture, but The Arrival made me know exactly what it is like. At least through his own perspective, which in my opinion seems to be a universal feeling.