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.
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