The Emergence of the Graphic Novel

            For the “Emergence of Graphic Novels” I read The Spirit #2 by Eisner. Not even halfway through the first page is a very racist depiction of an African American that is only made worse when he is named Ebony. I know that was kind of a product of the time, but it certainly is hard to look at and read now.

            Aside from the extremely racist depiction of an African American man, I do like the art style in this comic. I think they do a good job of pushing the caricature while still making them believable as people in the real world. The poses and movements are pushed, but not to the point of “rubber hose” style. All and all I can tell these are cartoons, but I know exactly what these characters would look like in real life. There is quite a bit of appeal to that.

            When I read the title for this week, I expected something closer to a graphic novel. The first section lasts 7 pages- about the length of a comic book, and then is immediately interrupted by an unrelated comic. I would not say that this is a graphic novel, since there aren’t really chapters. To me this seems more like a hodge-podge of comic books compiled together.

            It’s really unfortunate that the first character you see is just an extremely racist one. While they did caricature everyone, nobody’s features were pushed as far as Ebony’s and nobody spoke with a dialect except for Ebony. For a person alive in 2016 it is a major turn off to see that and I immediately lost all interest in the comic.

History of the Comic Book

             This was an interesting week looking at some early comic books. I looked at Ducktales and this was deeply contrasted by an action comic I read which I believe was The Punisher. The first was wholesome family fun with appealing Disney characters; the latter was realistic, gritty, and full of violence. Both types of stories have their place in society.

            As I was saying Ducktales is wholesome family fun. It was full of characters that were cartoony and far from reality. The conflicts in the stories were never anything huge  - in one McScrooge dreamt he gave away his money and woke up glad that he did not and could still go swimming in his piles of money. They were cartoons that did cartoony things. It was a goofy world that lived in the imaginations of it’s readers and brought joy and entertainment to it’s audiences.

            The more action-oriented comics were successful because of their “realism”. The characters looked more like they belonged in our world and the story lines were more relatable to real life. These comics began to include more adult topics and graphic violence. Because of the intensity of these stories, the cliffhangers raised anticipation and desire for the next issue. People who like drama or action were more drawn to these types of comic books.

            Both types of comic have their audience, which usually overlaps. I’m a fan of both and depending on what is going on in my life I will gravitate towards one or the other. I love intense storylines, but sometimes it is nice to read something light and fluffy. Other times I want content and I want to go on an emotional rollercoaster with fictional characters. I like both.

The Comic Strip

   

     For this week I chose to read Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson. For many people this is a comic they grew up on and look at quite fondly. For me, this was my first time reading it but I am not oblivious to the appeal. It is known for it’s whimsical nature and insight into the imagination of a child.

     Calvin and Hobbes is about the adventures of a young boy and his stuffed tiger. Often the panels are drawn from Calvin's imagination where his tiger, Hobbes, is a real anthropomorphic tiger. The situations he is in are common for a child - like having his father check for monsters under the bed. What I think makes this comic so charming is that it is shown from a parents perspective as well as the child's. The punchline is often when Hobbes is alive and makes a comment to Calvin or vice versa. 

   In class I read Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland. While I was blown away by the art style, designs, and color - I found the story to be lacking. That being said, I would still read more of it simply because it is a feast for the eyes. I see Calvin and Hobbes to be kind of the opposite of Nemo in this regard. Where Nemo was intricate and detailed, Calvin and Hobbes is clean and straightforward. This comic is simplistic in its art style and story structure, but that is what makes it ideal for comic strips.   Calvin and Hobbes is appealing to people of all ages and it is a comic that I wish I had read as a child.