The Graphic Novel and Comic Books

wolfbittenpoet · 03-19-2011, 03:32 PM

Teacherlike hmm no never. I will get more into it after a bit of thought. I have similar feelings about film. But then I was going to be an English major until I realized that most of the stuff you read is rubbish and things that are called classics are quite frankly dribble with few exception. Give me Vonnegut, Kerouac and comic books anyday.

Julien · 03-19-2011, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfbittenpoet

Teacherlike hmm no never. I will get more into it after a bit of thought. I have similar feelings about film. But then I was going to be an English major until I realized that most of the stuff you read is rubbish and things that are called classics are quite frankly dribble with few exception. Give me Vonnegut, Kerouac and comic books anyday.

So you were going to be an English major. My background is in Film Studies, Women's/Gender Studies, and LGBT Studies all under the umbrella term of "Modern Studies". What other graphic novel or comic book to you enjoy? Have you ever read I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, either in graphic novel form or its original novel? I didn't care for the film of the same name, it strayed too far away from the source. The graphic novel is in black/white. It was adapted by Steven Niles of 30 Days of Night fame.

wolfbittenpoet · 03-19-2011, 04:11 PM

I like I am Legend both the original book and the adaptation. It is a book about the soul of humanity being terrorized by the masses in many ways. I also find that in trying to preserve humanity he dehumanizes himself. I like most continuities of Xmen and Wolverine. And I am a sucker for anything Neil Gaiman.

I think going back to the black and white and color debate that color is for me live and vividness of life because in so many of the comics it is explosive.With black and white the storyline and emotions it evokes move the story on as much as the art. In a way comics are like the movie The Wizard of Oz in Kansas you are dealing with the people and in Oz you are dealing with emotional quandries made real on an exorbirant scale. What else is a superhero fight but an outward showing on emotional conflicts.

Julien · 03-19-2011, 08:45 PM

I think going back to the black and white and color debate that color is for me live and vividness of life because in so many of the comics it is explosive.With black and white the storyline and emotions it evokes move the story on as much as the art. In a way comics are like the movie The Wizard of Oz in Kansas you are dealing with the people and in Oz you are dealing with emotional quandries made real on an exorbirant scale. What else is a superhero fight but an outward showing on emotional conflicts.[/QUOTE]

I like your reading of a classic film. The use of b/w and then color does show the "dreamlike" quality of Dorothy's nightmare. In that I mean the explosion of the color spectrum enhances her feelings and her own understanding for each of the people in her life. The life in b/w with the dustbowl atmosphere. Dusty and use of shadows and light also show emotions such as desire and fear. I believe that the emotions are apparent in the b/w sequences, but they are not "colored" by the turmoil of the storms on her horizon, if you let me combine the elements of her situation. The color representation in film such as this expands our understanding of the b/w sequence and also gets inside Dorothy's head and how she feels about the people around her.

Why do you think that graphic novels or comic books are popular for all ages? It is curious that a fantasy such as The Wizard of Oz continues to be shown in primetime for those young and old to discover or rediscover. I think that comic books or graphic novels offer us some of the same core values that is ours to explore.

wolfbittenpoet · 03-20-2011, 03:43 PM

I think the popularity of comic books among different age groups is because there are so many different overtones in most of the comics. Like all literature they are very subject to interpretation and different age groups see different things. Take the Xmen comics. Older people see them as revolutionaries and fighters of social injustice. Younger people see them as outcasts going through changes society doesn't understand. Even the glbt community can look at them as people not quite understood but seeking acceptance.

Julien · 03-20-2011, 09:28 PM

Poet, I agree with the idea that whoever you are you "read" a comic book through your own particular lens or point of view. I can see all of the perspectives being valid in reading the X-Men comic books.

To those of you reading these posts, please feel free to comment or add on to the discussion. What comic book really impressed you, how old were you when you read it, and what is it about that comic book or graphic novel you found so compelling. Maus was brought in to the discussion a good book, but there are so many more out there.

wolfbittenpoet · 03-21-2011, 09:19 AM

I know there must be other comics geeks out there.

03-19-2011, 08:45 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: 21474854	I think going back to the black and white and color debate that color is for me live and vividness of life because in so many of the comics it is explosive.With black and white the storyline and emotions it evokes move the story on as much as the art. In a way comics are like the movie The Wizard of Oz in Kansas you are dealing with the people and in Oz you are dealing with emotional quandries made real on an exorbirant scale. What else is a superhero fight but an outward showing on emotional conflicts.[/QUOTE] I like your reading of a classic film. The use of b/w and then color does show the "dreamlike" quality of Dorothy's nightmare. In that I mean the explosion of the color spectrum enhances her feelings and her own understanding for each of the people in her life. The life in b/w with the dustbowl atmosphere. Dusty and use of shadows and light also show emotions such as desire and fear. I believe that the emotions are apparent in the b/w sequences, but they are not "colored" by the turmoil of the storms on her horizon, if you let me combine the elements of her situation. The color representation in film such as this expands our understanding of the b/w sequence and also gets inside Dorothy's head and how she feels about the people around her. Why do you think that graphic novels or comic books are popular for all ages? It is curious that a fantasy such as The Wizard of Oz continues to be shown in primetime for those young and old to discover or rediscover. I think that comic books or graphic novels offer us some of the same core values that is ours to explore. __________________ Julien “Self-plagiarism is style.” Alfred Hitchcock Formerly known as Graphiteta2s

03-20-2011, 09:28 PM	#6
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: 21474854	Poet, I agree with the idea that whoever you are you "read" a comic book through your own particular lens or point of view. I can see all of the perspectives being valid in reading the X-Men comic books. To those of you reading these posts, please feel free to comment or add on to the discussion. What comic book really impressed you, how old were you when you read it, and what is it about that comic book or graphic novel you found so compelling. Maus was brought in to the discussion a good book, but there are so many more out there. __________________ Julien “Self-plagiarism is style.” Alfred Hitchcock Formerly known as Graphiteta2s

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03-19-2011, 03:32 PM	#1
wolfbittenpoet Member How Do You Identify?: Typewriter Boy Preferred Pronoun?: He/They Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: FL where cows go mooooo Posts: 535 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 893 Thanked 1,579 Times in 403 Posts Rep Power: 7518427	Teacherlike hmm no never. I will get more into it after a bit of thought. I have similar feelings about film. But then I was going to be an English major until I realized that most of the stuff you read is rubbish and things that are called classics are quite frankly dribble with few exception. Give me Vonnegut, Kerouac and comic books anyday.

03-19-2011, 04:11 PM	#3
wolfbittenpoet Member How Do You Identify?: Typewriter Boy Preferred Pronoun?: He/They Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: FL where cows go mooooo Posts: 535 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 893 Thanked 1,579 Times in 403 Posts Rep Power: 7518427	I like I am Legend both the original book and the adaptation. It is a book about the soul of humanity being terrorized by the masses in many ways. I also find that in trying to preserve humanity he dehumanizes himself. I like most continuities of Xmen and Wolverine. And I am a sucker for anything Neil Gaiman. I think going back to the black and white and color debate that color is for me live and vividness of life because in so many of the comics it is explosive.With black and white the storyline and emotions it evokes move the story on as much as the art. In a way comics are like the movie The Wizard of Oz in Kansas you are dealing with the people and in Oz you are dealing with emotional quandries made real on an exorbirant scale. What else is a superhero fight but an outward showing on emotional conflicts.

03-20-2011, 03:43 PM	#5
wolfbittenpoet Member How Do You Identify?: Typewriter Boy Preferred Pronoun?: He/They Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: FL where cows go mooooo Posts: 535 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 893 Thanked 1,579 Times in 403 Posts Rep Power: 7518427	I think the popularity of comic books among different age groups is because there are so many different overtones in most of the comics. Like all literature they are very subject to interpretation and different age groups see different things. Take the Xmen comics. Older people see them as revolutionaries and fighters of social injustice. Younger people see them as outcasts going through changes society doesn't understand. Even the glbt community can look at them as people not quite understood but seeking acceptance.

03-21-2011, 09:19 AM	#7
wolfbittenpoet Member How Do You Identify?: Typewriter Boy Preferred Pronoun?: He/They Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: FL where cows go mooooo Posts: 535 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 893 Thanked 1,579 Times in 403 Posts Rep Power: 7518427	I know there must be other comics geeks out there.