Week 14 The Future of Comics

I read Ducks by Kate Beaton. Its a B&W sketch comics in 5 parts. It's about her time living in a mining camp. Its a strange look at who mining does to the environment including wildlife. A bunch of ducks gets suck in crude oil and it becomes an environmental story. It's cool how the internet gives a way for anyone to publish a comic. However, I think this one would be easier to read if it was more finished

Week 13 Reconsidering the Superhero

I read The Killing Joke by Alan Moore. This is the origin story of the Joker. It was very sad because he was just an ordinary guy who became a supervillain by things he couldn't control. Losing this wife and the unborn baby would drive anyone insane. The fact that he was forced to help rob the chemical plant which is even sadder because he wasn't even the criminal. Batman wants to help the Joker but the Joker thinks he's already too far gone.

In superhero stories, it doesn't seem possible to have to villain have a change of heart otherwise we wouldn't have the good vs. evil stories. The end is confusing not just for me but also for everyone else because no one knows what really happened? He is an unreliable narrator so we are not sure if we can believe any of the story

Week 12 Women's Comics

I read Fun Home by Alison Bechdel. This comic reminded me of My Favorite Thing is Monsters. The main character in both stories is a girl struggling to grow up in a difficult family situation. Both girls are also dealing with the idea that they're gay. In Fun Home, life with her father is very difficult. We find out that a big part of the problem is that he is also gay but refuses to do anything about it. They both love reading and art but never able to build a strong bond. When she finally works up the courage to come out, her father is not supportive. She and her mother wonder if this news and his unwillingness to be honest with himself are what cause him to commit suicide by getting hit by a truck. This complicated relationship is the main focus of the story but her openness about her sexuality and the struggles of her being different are also the main focus. I think that a graphic novel with issues like this will open up to a large audience that feels the same way as she does.

Week 11 Comics As Contemporary Literature

My favorite thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris is the graphic novel I read for Comics As Contemporary Literature. I can see why thing book is considered literature because the narrative has many layers and is told by multiple points of view. The Primary point of view is from Karen a 10 year old girl who seems to be based on the author. It's a story within a story because its a story about a little girl who draws her life as a comic. She is a fan of monsters so it's no surprise that she draws herself as a little werewolf. Possibly she draws herself as a werewolf because she might have something to hide about herself just like werewolves do when they are humans. I think the mystery element helps the novel seem more like literature. The author uses Karen's process of being a detective to reveal things about the other characters. I wasn't too satisfied by the end because the mystery was not solved.