Understanding Comics

Understanding Comics by: Scott McCloud was an interesting read on the general subject of comics and how they relate to the various artistic mediums that exist today in our culture. The "book" was not actually a book at all, but rather a comic used to describe itself.

One of the more interesting successes of the book was the ability to communicate the information intended by the author/artist, in this case, Scott McCloud.  The information flowed extremely well and provided the reader with a new learning experience, yet to be attempted before this work.  Information was conveyed both in words and pictures: through the use of illustrations, graphs, charts, and other info-graphic representational imagery.

Another interesting section of the book deals with the different techniques used in eastern Manga to help the viewer discern the image visually. For example,  the artists would create highly realistic backgrounds for the simple characters to exist in. What does this do? This transports the reader into a highly imaginable world, ultimately taking them to the place where the character exists. The simple characters, as explained by McCloud, is a means for allowing the reader to relate more easily to the protagonist of the comic, thus becoming that character.

Over all, Understanding Comics is a highly valuable read for comic lovers or anyone just trying to better grasp what the comic is.  McCloud does an excellent job conveying his message and passion for the medium.

The Arrival

The Arrival by Shaun Tan was one of the more interesting pieces of storytelling I have experienced in comic format in a long time. The arrival is a great example of the power sequential imagery has in the realm of story telling. The general premise of the book is about the immigration of a man from his home land into a new and magical world. The book is divided into two important worlds: the one where the man is coming from and the world where he is going.

The second world is depicted with lots of fantastical imagery used to exaggerate the mysterious new land which the "foreigner" has traveled to.  Another powerful aspect of this comic is the artistic style and softness used in the images. It truly transports the viewer into the world and leaves one largely immersed in this fantastical experience.  Ultimately, the main success of this piece is the ability to tell a story through pure imagery. Most words have been removed from the book, which causes the viewer to really focus on the order and meaning of each panel.  This piece is something truly unique and more comics and film should truly try to capture the essence of the image, much like The Arrival did.

Literature of Comic and Graphic Novel

New Blog!