The Graphic Novel and Comic Books

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.

turasultana · 03-21-2011, 09:25 AM

Sandman. Neil gaiman. he rocks. (in all his writing).

Julien · 03-21-2011, 07:45 PM

Thanks for the input of The Sandman by Gaiman. What do you like about this series?

I've been rereading Midnight Nation by J. Michael Straczynski a very good visionary. Midnight Nation is the story of a police detective who has lost his soul and is in search of redemption through various trials as he travels to find a God-like being. Through sacrifice he learns to love and become whole again. The artwork is wonderful as is the story line. It seems that this type of conflict is a staple to other comic book titles. The outcast from society in search of his or her own humanity or sense of self worth.

Julien · 10-29-2011, 08:27 PM

Read any good graphic novels or comic books lately?

Recently I read Batwoman Elegy by Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III. It is a great read. Wonderful and imaginative graphics and Batwoman is out and proud. Recently DC comics came out with issue no. 1 in comic book form that continues from where the graphic novel ends.

Are there any other graphic novel/comic readers out there?

03-19-2011, 08:45 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	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	#3
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	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

03-21-2011, 07:45 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: 21474853	Thanks for the input of The Sandman by Gaiman. What do you like about this series? I've been rereading Midnight Nation by J. Michael Straczynski a very good visionary. Midnight Nation is the story of a police detective who has lost his soul and is in search of redemption through various trials as he travels to find a God-like being. Through sacrifice he learns to love and become whole again. The artwork is wonderful as is the story line. It seems that this type of conflict is a staple to other comic book titles. The outcast from society in search of his or her own humanity or sense of self worth. __________________ Julien “Self-plagiarism is style.” Alfred Hitchcock Formerly known as Graphiteta2s

10-29-2011, 08:27 PM	#7
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	Read any good graphic novels or comic books lately? Recently I read Batwoman Elegy by Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III. It is a great read. Wonderful and imaginative graphics and Batwoman is out and proud. Recently DC comics came out with issue no. 1 in comic book form that continues from where the graphic novel ends. Are there any other graphic novel/comic readers out there? __________________ Julien “Self-plagiarism is style.” Alfred Hitchcock Formerly known as Graphiteta2s

03-20-2011, 03:43 PM	#2
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 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	#4
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 know there must be other comics geeks out there.

03-21-2011, 09:25 AM	#5
turasultana Member How Do You Identify?: Queer Femme Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: spoken for Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: brooklyn Posts: 432 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 226 Thanked 713 Times in 249 Posts Rep Power: 2043785	Sandman. Neil gaiman. he rocks. (in all his writing).