Week 5 - The Graphic Novel
I didn't have a whole lot of time on my hands to read as much comics as I could this week as compared to weeks past. But I did have the pleasure of reading Will Eisner's graphic novel Life on Another Planet. With this story, Eisner succeeds in showcasing a wide range of unconventional techniques.
One thing that really stands out to me about this novel, and all of Eisner's work for that matter is that there is a highly creative departure from the traditional comic layout. Eisner plays with the space on his page and gives the drawings freedom to express themselves. Sometimes Eisner would have no panels at all and showcase a series of drawings clashing into each other all on the same page, perhaps to represent the chaotic nature of the story.
The story itself is very interesting and actually quite human in a way. A lot of the comics I've read so far have been pretty over the top and exaggerated in some areas like Uncle Scrooge, Calvin and Hobbes, and definitely Little Nemo. Even though the story centers around contact with aliens, it feels like I'm reading a mature science fiction novel in the form of a comic book. It doesn't aim for a campy, goofy tone but instead focuses on real human perspective throughout.
On a personal level, what really appealed to me about this piece is it reminded me of the very first time I saw the film Blade Runner. Both are stories of different mediums, but both managed to diverge my expectations of thinking they were pure science fiction fun. Both stories are really mature and focus on the human aspect of things.
Overall a great read, and I feel a little bad that I wasn't able to read as much Eisner as I could. Based on this novel and his interview with Stan Lee from last class, I'm excited to see his insanely creative style applied to other pieces.
One thing that really stands out to me about this novel, and all of Eisner's work for that matter is that there is a highly creative departure from the traditional comic layout. Eisner plays with the space on his page and gives the drawings freedom to express themselves. Sometimes Eisner would have no panels at all and showcase a series of drawings clashing into each other all on the same page, perhaps to represent the chaotic nature of the story.
The story itself is very interesting and actually quite human in a way. A lot of the comics I've read so far have been pretty over the top and exaggerated in some areas like Uncle Scrooge, Calvin and Hobbes, and definitely Little Nemo. Even though the story centers around contact with aliens, it feels like I'm reading a mature science fiction novel in the form of a comic book. It doesn't aim for a campy, goofy tone but instead focuses on real human perspective throughout.
On a personal level, what really appealed to me about this piece is it reminded me of the very first time I saw the film Blade Runner. Both are stories of different mediums, but both managed to diverge my expectations of thinking they were pure science fiction fun. Both stories are really mature and focus on the human aspect of things.
Overall a great read, and I feel a little bad that I wasn't able to read as much Eisner as I could. Based on this novel and his interview with Stan Lee from last class, I'm excited to see his insanely creative style applied to other pieces.
Comments
Post a Comment