The Graphic Novel and Comic Books

Julien · 03-16-2011, 08:21 PM

Hello all,
While teaching at a university in the Great Lakes area, I offered a course on the Graphic Novel and Comic Books. I know what you might be thinking, how can a course use comic books as its focus. Well it works out very well actually. I see the Graphic Novel as well as its episodic companion as a measure of social construct and a gauge to discuss how we see our world. These works of fiction, non-fiction and even its artwork (and I call it art) is very compelling in its scope. I likened this graphic medium to be a close cousin to film, which I also teach courses in. The frame by frame construction can be translated to the frame by frame filmic patterns. Within each frame tells a story in and of itself as well as in the longer piece. We can "read" the frame with the perspective of our own background and see culture in the making. So I would like to offer a dialogue on the Graphic Novel and Comic Books. What is your favorite and why. Is there an image that speaks to you? I would like to know what you see.

One of my own likes is the horror genre. I am also interested in the comic books from the Cross Gen (now defunct), Image, and Dark Horse publishers. Another curious addition to the "graphic" novel is House of Leaves which uses the words to create images and meaning, not images to create meaning. So what do you think? Want to talk?

Julien · 03-17-2011, 05:40 PM

Is it possible for women to be portrayed in a tasteful manner in comic books, especially in the superhero genre? Do you have a favorite female character? why?

My favorite character is from Ruse. Emma Bishop is a strong woman, intelligent and adventurous. Her comic is set in the Victorian times, she is along side a Sherlock Holmes type male character. However she is not his "Ms." Watson, a second lead. She stands on her own and fights crime on her terms. The title comes from the CrossGen publishers and is being rereleased through Marvel Comics this year.

Is there any Graphic novel or comic you would like to discuss? I'm also interested in House of Leaves if anyone has read that book.

julieisafemme · 03-17-2011, 05:43 PM

My only experience with graphic novels is "Maus". It communicated the horror of the Holocaust in a way I had never heard or seen before. I will share it with my daughter when she is old enough. Before reading that series I would have scoffed at this genre. Now I can see what a compelling storytelling device it is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graphiteta2s

Is it possible for women to be portrayed in a tasteful manner in comic books, especially in the superhero genre? Do you have a favorite female character? why?

My favorite character is from Ruse. Emma Bishop is a strong woman, intelligent and adventurous. Her comic is set in the Victorian times, she is along side a Sherlock Holmes type male character. However she is not his "Ms." Watson, a second lead. She stands on her own and fights crime on her terms. The title comes from the CrossGen publishers and is being rereleased through Marvel Comics this year.

Is there any Graphic novel or comic you would like to discuss? I'm also interested in House of Leaves if anyone has read that book.

Julien · 03-17-2011, 05:52 PM

Maus is an excellent graphic novel. I've used it in my class before. I like it's use of symbolism and hard hitting content. It's use of mice to represent the Jewish people is interesting and a controversial move by the author/artist Art Spiegelman.

I entitled the course "Blood in the Gutter: This is Not Your Grandfather's Comic Book". As you may know the gutter is the seemingly empty space between the pictures.

wolfbittenpoet · 03-17-2011, 05:59 PM

I think Maus is the first book I did a report on in about third grade. I've read and reread it so many times. I found the whole way it was done impressive.

Comic books are the first books that I ever would read. Even with dyslexia I could work out things. Now unless if I'm tired or writing you'd never know.

Do you find simple black, white and grey art more powerful? Or color?

Is it true that the "Golden Age of Comics" is the pinnacle of the genre or truly a bygone age that allowed for further growth?

julieisafemme · 03-17-2011, 06:09 PM

Wow in third grade!!! I read it as a young adult before I had converted to Judaism. My child is in third grade and I think it is too sophisticated for her. We went to see Rango yesterday and she did not love it. The whole movie was full of references to Clint Eastwood westerns. It went totally over her head. I think Maus would be the same way for her. Although the impact of the cats, mice and pigs is pretty simple. I don't know. I think I'll wait a bit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfbittenpoet

I think Maus is the first book I did a report on in about third grade. I've read and reread it so many times. I found the whole way it was done impressive.

Comic books are the first books that I ever would read. Even with dyslexia I could work out things. Now unless if I'm tired or writing you'd never know.

Do you find simple black, white and grey art more powerful? Or color?

Is it true that the "Golden Age of Comics" is the pinnacle of the genre or truly a bygone age that allowed for further growth?

Julien · 03-18-2011, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfbittenpoet

I think Maus is the first book I did a report on in about third grade. I've read and reread it so many times. I found the whole way it was done impressive.

Comic books are the first books that I ever would read. Even with dyslexia I could work out things. Now unless if I'm tired or writing you'd never know.

Do you find simple black, white and grey art more powerful? Or color?

Is it true that the "Golden Age of Comics" is the pinnacle of the genre or truly a bygone age that allowed for further growth?

The use of color vs black and white is an interesting question. For me, I believe that each medium has its strengths for conveying the message of the content. It is the same question about color film vs black and white film. While some may consider b/w "old" I see it as having a rich context to read. In terms of graphic novels and comic books. I feel the author makes a decision to what would aid in the telling of the story. It could be said that b/w or color may enhance the story in a way that the other could not. Have you ever read 30 Days of Night? Ben Templesmith's artwork compliments the story told by Steven Niles well. The edginess of the prose and the panels heighten the suspense in the episodic novel.

wolfbittenpoet · 03-17-2011, 05:46 PM

I am a fan of Liz Sherman in BRBD and Hellboy novels. But I am a Mike Mignola addict. I love graphic novels an comics. Dark Horse is my fave mainstream publisher right now. I am also a total geek for Sandman.

03-16-2011, 08:21 PM	#1
Julien Member How Do You Identify?: TG/GenderQueer Preferred Pronoun?: I'm flexible, but only up to a point. Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Alabama, Gulf Coast area Posts: 1,007 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,247 Thanked 2,702 Times in 737 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	The Graphic Novel and Comic Books Hello all, While teaching at a university in the Great Lakes area, I offered a course on the Graphic Novel and Comic Books. I know what you might be thinking, how can a course use comic books as its focus. Well it works out very well actually. I see the Graphic Novel as well as its episodic companion as a measure of social construct and a gauge to discuss how we see our world. These works of fiction, non-fiction and even its artwork (and I call it art) is very compelling in its scope. I likened this graphic medium to be a close cousin to film, which I also teach courses in. The frame by frame construction can be translated to the frame by frame filmic patterns. Within each frame tells a story in and of itself as well as in the longer piece. We can "read" the frame with the perspective of our own background and see culture in the making. So I would like to offer a dialogue on the Graphic Novel and Comic Books. What is your favorite and why. Is there an image that speaks to you? I would like to know what you see. One of my own likes is the horror genre. I am also interested in the comic books from the Cross Gen (now defunct), Image, and Dark Horse publishers. Another curious addition to the "graphic" novel is House of Leaves which uses the words to create images and meaning, not images to create meaning. So what do you think? Want to talk? __________________ Julien “Self-plagiarism is style.” Alfred Hitchcock Formerly known as Graphiteta2s

03-17-2011, 05:40 PM	#2
Julien Member How Do You Identify?: TG/GenderQueer Preferred Pronoun?: I'm flexible, but only up to a point. Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Alabama, Gulf Coast area Posts: 1,007 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,247 Thanked 2,702 Times in 737 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	Is it possible for women to be portrayed in a tasteful manner in comic books, especially in the superhero genre? Do you have a favorite female character? why? My favorite character is from Ruse. Emma Bishop is a strong woman, intelligent and adventurous. Her comic is set in the Victorian times, she is along side a Sherlock Holmes type male character. However she is not his "Ms." Watson, a second lead. She stands on her own and fights crime on her terms. The title comes from the CrossGen publishers and is being rereleased through Marvel Comics this year. Is there any Graphic novel or comic you would like to discuss? I'm also interested in House of Leaves if anyone has read that book. __________________ Julien “Self-plagiarism is style.” Alfred Hitchcock Formerly known as Graphiteta2s

03-17-2011, 05:52 PM	#4
Julien Member How Do You Identify?: TG/GenderQueer Preferred Pronoun?: I'm flexible, but only up to a point. Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Alabama, Gulf Coast area Posts: 1,007 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,247 Thanked 2,702 Times in 737 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	Maus Maus is an excellent graphic novel. I've used it in my class before. I like it's use of symbolism and hard hitting content. It's use of mice to represent the Jewish people is interesting and a controversial move by the author/artist Art Spiegelman. I entitled the course "Blood in the Gutter: This is Not Your Grandfather's Comic Book". As you may know the gutter is the seemingly empty space between the pictures. __________________ Julien “Self-plagiarism is style.” Alfred Hitchcock Formerly known as Graphiteta2s

03-17-2011, 05:59 PM	#5
wolfbittenpoet Member How Do You Identify?: Typewriter Boy Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: FL Posts: 534 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 891 Thanked 1,578 Times in 402 Posts Rep Power: 7303677	I think Maus is the first book I did a report on in about third grade. I've read and reread it so many times. I found the whole way it was done impressive. Comic books are the first books that I ever would read. Even with dyslexia I could work out things. Now unless if I'm tired or writing you'd never know. Do you find simple black, white and grey art more powerful? Or color? Is it true that the "Golden Age of Comics" is the pinnacle of the genre or truly a bygone age that allowed for further growth?

03-17-2011, 05:46 PM	#8
wolfbittenpoet Member How Do You Identify?: Typewriter Boy Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: FL Posts: 534 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 891 Thanked 1,578 Times in 402 Posts Rep Power: 7303677	I am a fan of Liz Sherman in BRBD and Hellboy novels. But I am a Mike Mignola addict. I love graphic novels an comics. Dark Horse is my fave mainstream publisher right now. I am also a total geek for Sandman.