While I wish I could say that I have finished reading the graphic novel, I must unfortunately say that I haven't. It's strange--usually, when I find something to be truly great and fascinating, I have a hard time trying to finish them. This is the same case with the comic, Asterios Polyp, because while I love reading it, I don't want to finish reading it. Or, in this case, I don't want it to end.
So, I'll delve into what I love about the comic, which is the art style. It's different than most comics, since it uses such abstract shapes and concepts in the panels. Some panels are even two pages long--some pages will even contain just one tiny panel. But, the pages themselves also contain different color schemes and styles. While viewing the past, the main character (Asterios) is a shadeless, light blue line drawing. But, when the reader catches up to him in the present, he's the same purple and yellow shade and line combo as the other characters. This helps distinguish himself from his past and present self. The comic also depicts different styles to compare Asterios to his lover, Hana, a Japanese fine artist. She's usually depicted as having a pink outline. And when the two argue, both of them demonstrate different looks--she is a shaded, pink figure while Asterios becomes a constructed, hollow geometric figure. This shows that both of them are really different people, and makes the reader question whether they'll be able to stay together in their relationship or not.
Overall, while some may be off-put by the style, I really enjoy it. Now, if only I could overcome my fears and actually finish it...
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Notes on Blacksad Vol. 1
Okay, so first off--I love this comic. No wait, scratch that...I LOVE this comic (see what I did there...I put that word in bold and uppercase). Because I've loved this comic since high school, I thought it was high time to read it again. In particular, the second issue. Which while it may not be as great as the first, has a lot more symbolism and talks a lot more about politics during the sixties.
Overall, the comic is about a detective named Blacksad, a black cat featured as the noir character of the story. In the second issue, he is tasked with finding out the disappearance of a young girl. He is also given the job of finding out more about the leader of Artic Nation--the equivalent of the Ku Klux Klan--featuring animals with pure, white fur/skin. It is said that the leader is a pastor and head of the police in the town Blacksad needs to check out--because of this, he uses his power to even threaten Blacksad to keep him from getting his nose into trouble. Of course, Blacksad doesn't back down, and eventually goes to the Mother to look for more information, while his assistant trails one of the leader's confidants. At the same time Blacksad meets the extremes of the Klan, we're also introduced to the equivalent of the Black Panthars (known as the Black Claws Gang). These guys even try to get Blacksad recruited into the group, but he denies.
In the end, the comic discusses the idea about sticking with your beliefs, while not going so far as to hurt others or force your ideals upon any race, gender, etc. In the comic, the leader of the KKK ends up going as far as killing other animals to get what he wants. He even bullies his confidant, an Artic Fox, to the point where the leader's friend successfully dispatches him via hanging. A similar situation occurs with the Black Claws Gang, where their leader attempts to rob a store of its goods and paint Blacksad's face black. Among all this, Blacksad keeps his composure and manages to focus on the real problem at hand--the disappearance of a little girl from her mother. In a world that seems so clearly black and white, he manages to stay neutral, and never gives in.
Overall, the comic is about a detective named Blacksad, a black cat featured as the noir character of the story. In the second issue, he is tasked with finding out the disappearance of a young girl. He is also given the job of finding out more about the leader of Artic Nation--the equivalent of the Ku Klux Klan--featuring animals with pure, white fur/skin. It is said that the leader is a pastor and head of the police in the town Blacksad needs to check out--because of this, he uses his power to even threaten Blacksad to keep him from getting his nose into trouble. Of course, Blacksad doesn't back down, and eventually goes to the Mother to look for more information, while his assistant trails one of the leader's confidants. At the same time Blacksad meets the extremes of the Klan, we're also introduced to the equivalent of the Black Panthars (known as the Black Claws Gang). These guys even try to get Blacksad recruited into the group, but he denies.
In the end, the comic discusses the idea about sticking with your beliefs, while not going so far as to hurt others or force your ideals upon any race, gender, etc. In the comic, the leader of the KKK ends up going as far as killing other animals to get what he wants. He even bullies his confidant, an Artic Fox, to the point where the leader's friend successfully dispatches him via hanging. A similar situation occurs with the Black Claws Gang, where their leader attempts to rob a store of its goods and paint Blacksad's face black. Among all this, Blacksad keeps his composure and manages to focus on the real problem at hand--the disappearance of a little girl from her mother. In a world that seems so clearly black and white, he manages to stay neutral, and never gives in.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Notes on Promethea
Promenient symbols in Promethea include the balance between light and darkness. The shadow that chase after the interviewer is named Twee--he is a living shadow, a creature that is the very definition of darkness. He cannot be killed, and therefore is able to live on in the umbras of N.Y.C. Then, as his opposite, are the gods and stories. Whenever they are around, they are radiating with light. Even Promethea stops Twee using flames and fire--much like how Prometheus brought fire and knowledge to the Greeks. Another symbol is that of Caduceus, the staff wielded by Thoth-Hermes and by Promethea herself. It is also mistaken as the Rod of Asclepius, but because it has two snakes, I believe it to be the before. It is a symbol held by the messenger--which makes sense for Promethea to own it. She is a living embodiment of a story, which means that she brings messages and heralds ideas to writers, comics, artists, etc.
I really connected with the comic when the gods brought in Promethea as an idea. It was an interesting notion--rather than the girl dying in the desert, the gods brought her in and cared for her during a time when they knew they would become endangered. It was a cool idea, and one that's always fascinated me: is there another way to live on? And could that way still allow us a chance to live on Earth and influence it? I also really liked the element of darkness in a neon city. In most cases, I suspect it must be difficult for something like Twee to live a city so open and alight. In fact, even the Police are constantly showing a light on the city in their saucers. It is impossible to hide in so much light, and yet darkness still continues to thrive. It just goes to show that you can't have on without the other.
For this story, I think I'd use animation as the medium. Something that's great with animation is that you can basically do anything--everything is made from scratch, and therefore becomes its own world. I also think 2D animation might be best to use instead of 3D, since Twee is a two-dimensional character built to run along walls and darkness. And because it would be in 2D, the style can still retain it's comic-book look. I do think some things in the comic would need to be streamlined, but it can still keep it's original look rather than modifying it to suit the technology. A prime example of this would be the adaption of Batman in Batman: Gotham Knight, especially the last animation in that series. It's modified but without straying from the original look.
Overall, I was generally confused in the beginning about Promethea, but was delighted after sticking with it for a while. I think this would be a great story to bring to a new audience, as long as it is remade in a proper way. And, as long as the beginning is made clearer.
I really connected with the comic when the gods brought in Promethea as an idea. It was an interesting notion--rather than the girl dying in the desert, the gods brought her in and cared for her during a time when they knew they would become endangered. It was a cool idea, and one that's always fascinated me: is there another way to live on? And could that way still allow us a chance to live on Earth and influence it? I also really liked the element of darkness in a neon city. In most cases, I suspect it must be difficult for something like Twee to live a city so open and alight. In fact, even the Police are constantly showing a light on the city in their saucers. It is impossible to hide in so much light, and yet darkness still continues to thrive. It just goes to show that you can't have on without the other.
For this story, I think I'd use animation as the medium. Something that's great with animation is that you can basically do anything--everything is made from scratch, and therefore becomes its own world. I also think 2D animation might be best to use instead of 3D, since Twee is a two-dimensional character built to run along walls and darkness. And because it would be in 2D, the style can still retain it's comic-book look. I do think some things in the comic would need to be streamlined, but it can still keep it's original look rather than modifying it to suit the technology. A prime example of this would be the adaption of Batman in Batman: Gotham Knight, especially the last animation in that series. It's modified but without straying from the original look.
Overall, I was generally confused in the beginning about Promethea, but was delighted after sticking with it for a while. I think this would be a great story to bring to a new audience, as long as it is remade in a proper way. And, as long as the beginning is made clearer.
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