Batman: The Killing Joke - Alan Moore

       My reaction to the text of the Killing Joke is that I loved it. It is so intellectual and asks so many questions. Does it really just take one bad day to turn person mad? I believe that is true in certain people's situations, but in others there are people who can overcome tragedy. In the novel, Gordon still was sane and had his mind focused on abiding the law, even though Joker tortured him beyond believe. I love Batman's speech at the beginning and at the end. It shows how connected these two characters are, the Joker and him. It also shows how he still is a hero, because in the end he still just wants to help him. The end joke is also a sweet moment with Batman laughing at Joker's joke. Very climatic and symbolic.
        Connections may seem hard to make in a Batman graphic novel, but there is a lot to be made. I can connect with the fact that I've had really bad days and thought to myself I may be crazy at the end of it. Joker went crazy because his wife was killed then that very night he fell into acid and his face was disfigured. I've had days of tragedies where loved ones have passed and even days where physically I was hurt by a car accident or even jumping of a golf cart. We've all had bad days and it is what we do after them that defines our character, even sanity.
          I really enjoy the medium this story is in, but if I had to adapt it into another medium it would be a live-action movie. I believe an animated movie would be too similar and not add enough to enhance this story. I have fortunately seen the animated movie attempt of this story and it didn't enhance it enough. Seeing this story in live-action in itself would be a big thing to enhance and change the story. I would add little more details here and there maybe how Batman locked Joker up in the first place. Either way I really enjoy the story the way it is, in the medium selected.      
     

Ms. Marvel - G. Willow Wilson

   
       For this weeks blog I read, amongst a lot of things, Ms. Marvel. I'm a huge superhero fan and so this immediately drew to me. I have been really curious about this character for awhile now. She is a new character that has been very popular recently. I found out a lot of things I didn't know for one I now know her powers and that she is an inhuman. Her origin story is very interesting and definitely resembles youth in this day. Reminded me of Spider-Man a little bit. Her powers are very interesting as well. She can be anybody she wants. She has the ability to transform her body into almost anything. It bring sup an interesting point. She is a Muslim teenage girl and she just wants to be like everyone else and now she can. she first starts out just mimicking the original Ms. Marvel, not until later does she expect who she is and become her own superhero. I think this story can really speak to teenage girls and even buys to truly expect who they are. It also highlights the idea that everyone is a hero in their own way. I also want to mention that the comics deal with her Muslim heritage in a respectful way that benefits the story. It may not be the way I would have gone with, but it works well in the story's context. Overall I went into this comic not knowing much, and came out enjoying what I read.

Asterios Polyp -David Mazzucchelli

          This week I will be talking about Asterios Polyp, which is now one of my favorite graphic novels. David Mazzuchelli tells a unique and very emotional story that is truly amazing. He uses the the medium to full effect. Every character has his/her own dialogue font and speech bubble. In a scene towards the end of the novel Asterios is arguing with his wife and there speech bubbles show that very well. Even later they are rekindling and their speech bubbles combine and wrap around each other in a very scene. Another thing to note is the color scheme it typically sticks to primary and soft colors which is a trend it follows through on. The graphic novel helps in times where Asterios twin takes over as the narrative and even when the two of them talk to each other. I also really like when Asterios just becomes shapes and looks like not finished being drawn in the book. The novel itself is very funny. It uses dark comedy to a positive effect. The novel starts off joking about how his house burnt down again. The novel is also very smart in how it deals with a lot of astronomy metaphors. The book even ends with you presumingly thinking an asteroid killed the earth. You would think that is a sour note to end the book, but it honestly isn't in this case. It is sorta left open, but it did't bother me. Asterios's name kind of foreshadows it so it didn't come out of left field. I really enjoyed this book with it's use of the graphic medium and the creativity it brings.

Summer Wars (2009)

   

     I did not care for any of the Manga comic selections I read. I think it is just honestly not my taste or genre of comics. In this weeks blog I much rather talk about the animation we watched in class, Summer Wars. It was directed by Mamoru Hosoda. I've never heard of this film, but fell in love with it instantly. I thought the characters were great and heartwarming. I story started off as a sweet romantic comedy, but then the story added this whole action computer hero element. They created this whole internet world and it is so fascinating when the story transitions into it. Every character has his/her own avatar with a specific look to it. The designs are very inspired by Japanese culture, which I like a lot. Each avatar character is colorful and unique and represents the person playing him or not when used in a comedic way. Even with the action element I still found myself really enjoying the romantic plot. I really wanted the two main characters to get together. They had a fake romance, but I really wanted it to become real. I wish I had the chance to finish the movie. I know any chance I get soon I will finish the movie on my own. This movie definitely turned me into a fan of this style. If this is what manga is then I'll have to give it another chance.

Papyrus - De Gieter

     

   
     This week for my Wide World of Comics entry I read Papyrus. It is written by De Gieter and the story takes place in Egypt. First thing I'd like to mention is I really enjoyed the color palette. The artist really highlights the use of primary colors palette and it enhances the playfulness to the comic. The story already centers on younger characters, so the two work well together to the benefit of the comic. I like the whole vibe the comic brings. It reminds me some what of the adventures of tin tin. Young adventure story with a global vibe. It is only global to me because I don't live in Egypt. I think overall Gieter did a great job.

March - John Lewis

       
       After last week's Maus, I thought we would be on to a lighter subject this week. I was wrong. This week I read March by John Lewis. Both March and Maus are graphic novels about very darker subjects. Maus is about the author's father during the Holocaust and March is about the author himself's journey through segregation. While Maus had the benefit of using it's graphic medium to lighten the subject, March does not follow that. It is a biography and shows all the nitty, gritty in full detail. It does stay focusing on Lewis's quest for peace over violence. He talks about his times meeting Martin Luther King Jr., memory of Rosa Parks arrest, and his participation in sit ins. I don't necessarily agree the graphic novel medium enhances the story o the degree I'm grateful for it, but it still is an enjoyable read. It is always interesting yet sad to read about another person's journey through tragic events. In this case it shaped Lewis into a fascinating writer and artist. He uses this novel to inform a new generation.

Maus - Art Spiegelman

           Maus is the graphic novel telling the horrific story of the holocaust through the use of comics as a medium. Art Spiegelman tell's the story of how his father survived the holocaust while also telling a modern day story of his and his father's relationship now. The one thing to note is that Spiegelman tells this story in a very creative and powerful way. He depicts the Jews as mice and nazis as cats. This formula is never broken even when the fourth wall is broken or with the modern day story. The cat/mouse depiction is such a powerful way to depict race in this graphic novel. This is thrown in your face with a quote from Hitler, before you read the first chapter. The quote is "The Jews are undoubtedly a race, but they are not human". This really sells you the cat/mouse idea. Another reason I think this convention was used to bring this novel to a larger audience, that's the same reason it is in comic form. Teens will read this and be informed, not just adults. I also believe the cat/mouse depiction is a method of changing the memory of the reader. By now, we have all heard of the horrors of the holocaust, but there is something about making all the characters animals that give the story new impact. Your seriousness changes when you are seeing cats and mice, but then you read more and see that there is no holding back by the artist. It gives a familiar event in history a new view point, that is highly effective. 

          Another creative and unique thing Spiegelman does is make this novel two stories going on at the same point that are decades apart, but the same main character. You have the Holocaust going on in Poland then the modern day story going on in New York. The New York story is actually Spiegelman preparing for to write this novel by writing down and hearing the story from his father who is an elderly man now. We see how this story has affected him now right in the beginning of the story. His wife and Spiegelman's mother has committed suicide and he has gone through two heart attacks. He doesn't even want Art writing about the personal stories, like how he met Spiegelman's mother. I really liked how Spiegelman initially transitions to the Poland story then how he continues to transition. He first shows his father's younger self in a circular panel, then when he would want to go back to the modern day story there was no panel. Mostly dialogue, but still an effective way to help the reader with the back and forth. Spiegelman shows he can be very effective in creativeness and storytelling. Spiegelman brings a new twist to an important event in history. He doesn't try to make this awful time in history light, but tries to bring in a larger audience and change perspective.