Web Comics and Why you should read them

I think I mentioned a bit about how Web Comics can be similar to Underground comics in the way that the artist is in control of the comic. Webcomics are much easier to make now as there are free/cheaper sites that can host the comic. The main thing is trying to keep up with it as it takes time and the author must be committed to telling their story. And now these web comics are getting support from crowd funding sites such as Kickstarter and IndieGogo to get physical book copies and many other rewards for fans.

One of my favorite web comics is Ava's Demon.

It's something i've been following for over a year and had the honor to meet the artist/author behind it. It's an interesting concept with beautiful designs and characterization that is still running. In fact, the first book has just ended and a new book shall be starting now. Also, there are a few short animation sequences with simple movements that I love as it incorporates skills that I have learned and loved with a beautiful illustration style. I highly recommend for everyone to give it a look!

Another one to read is Cucumber Quest.

I haven't read it in a few months but the kickstarter campaign is ending soon for Book 3. It's adorable and clever from the get-go. It tells you exactly what's happening and what will happen in the first few pages and plays on the idea of a child becoming a hero and the journey they must go through. Characters are constantly telling the main character to become the hero when he just wanted to go to school for magic, while his sister is skilled in sword fighting but gets pushed away from the title of hero because she is a girl. It's also just filled with countless hilarious moments such as the bottom page.

"Superheroes"

Ok, this really isn't about the typical superheroes most people know. This isn't superman, the flash, captain america, or wonder woman.

This is Watchmen.

You probably have seen the... interesting movie version of the comic. I appreciate it way more now but I remember seeing it with my Dad when I was mid-teens and wouldn't watch anything with too much cursing, violence, and/or sex scenes. Rather, my dad didn't want me to see movies like that, but, I was uncomfortable with nudity and sex in film. Anyway, we were both so excited to see the movie to see a Man's "Blue Diddlies" as my father still likes to call it. Yes, my dad did cover my eyes during some of the scenes. But all that aside, we all know The Comedian made the movie.

Anyway, the creation of Doctor Manhattan was difficult at the time because he was fully nude. They felt it was helpful for his characterization as he has gone through a huge change in his life but still manages to keep some human habits and grow from them. But even in the comic it's not thrown in your face that he's nude.

It's just not your typical superheroes. They're all normal from the start that all have different looks on life and death. They aren't perfect. It's clear they aren't. Even the "perfect" Doctor Manhattan has his flaws, but, that's what makes it so compelling. The fact that we have these flawed heroes who bring different skills and ways of thinking together for what they feel is right. It's also clear what they stand for, even from the outside. Do you really think The Comedian takes things so seriously? (Who is much deeper than we actually see him as at first) Rorschach questions life but also sees it in multiple views. It's definitely a series those who love superheroes should read as it gives a different, more intelligent, look at the superhero trope.

Promethea #1

Promethea reminds me of Angela of Asgard, Xena, and Shera. All beautiful woman who can take care of themselves, have this mystical aura and fight for what's best in a sci-fi twist of a past. I say that mainly because of their locations have the feel of the past but I feel you can consider them still advanced for their time.

Which brings me to the point that I me having made these connections to other characters that I love, brought me back to a little girl playing pretend with myself in similar scenarios since, as an only child, was my escape from reality. So I felt a strong connection to the main character who wanted to write her term paper and was suddenly given the gift of becoming the next Promethea. I feel like as a cosplayer, it's something I deal with anytime I'm getting ready for a convention. The intense research I do on the costume of the character helps me prepare for the event of becoming a character I felt a connection to and love. There's the struggle, like the Smee, that tries to stop me from my work. I cry because my sewing machine gets jammed or when the bobbin runs out and I thought I sewed the whole section to only see an inch of it done. Oh and there are battle scars. The constant run ins with pins constantly scar my hands and legs with the slightest move.

So of course I would love to adapt Promethea tangibly. By that I mean it would be fun to do a stage performance as it required the use of costuming and still leaves interpretation to the audience. It's still visual but it would be fun to not give the background of Promethea so soon. In fact, I rather it show little Promethea wandering around before she meets Thoth-Hermes as an opening scene and go into the story of the next Prometha from there. Show the connection between the two so it's hinting that she will become her without giving too much of the backstory away. Then, when she transforms for the first time and fights the Smee, we start to learn the story of Promethea in pieces as we see her struggle with different obstacles in both lives.

What I found really interesting was the character Thoth-Hermes. Seeing their characters surprised me but when they introduced themselves I knew there was something intriguing about them. I did some research quickly to read about these mythical gods and found that Thoth is the Egyptian God of Hieroglyphics, knowledge, and wisdom. Also, Hermes is the greek god of trade,  travelers, sports, and the messenger of the gods. Eventually, two connected and became Hermes Trismegistus, or Thoth-Hermes as said in Promethea. So what is this connection? Both are gods of writing and magic. Similar to how so many writers adapted her into their literature and how when the main character reaches out and wants to know more about Promethea, eventually becomes the next incarnation by writing "I am Promethea".

Overall I think I could really get into the series and am interested in reading the a few more passages and maybe my next blog post will be on it.

Women in Comics

I decided to read Persepolis since I missed out on it a few weeks ago.

I found it interesting from the beginning. Simple black and white with a simplistic design. It was also full of information but didn't clutter the boxes as some comics tend to do. What I love are the titles of each section, which give a deeper understanding of the piece. Like the Bicycle section talks about revolution. What she means is that a revolution is like a bicycle in which it will stop if momentum isn't maintained.

As a biography, I enjoyed it. I don't care much for non-fiction work but it felt like I wasn't reading a biography as I connected to the story. Of course, I haven't been through everything she's been through but it still had elements that I could put myself into.

Comics as Contemporary Literature

I really enjoyed reading Asterios Polyp. I think most of my love came from the style of it. It felt well designed and went hand in hand with the story of an architecture professor. I especially enjoyed the page that broke down his figure into simple shapes. In fact, I noticed many of the characters seemed like different styles depending on their background and/or personality, such as the scene above. It really tells the story of the characters without bashing you over the head with it like many comics do to any "background" character.

Let's talk more about the above scene. We are drawn to the main characters in the middle but all the other characters aren't interested in them. As such a focus that clearly marks a change of moment, the reader is the only one to notice. Also, notice how they are in a similar style. It's the scene when they meet for the first time and the female character talks about how he intrigued her from the moment. His style has influenced her.

She is believing in him that she starts to gain a new look on life from him. That's what I found so interesting about it. There are more visual cues in the panels that really bring the story to life.

Intro to Manga: How amazing FLCL is

Besides being introduced to comics, I found love in manga. I can't quite remember what first brought me into the world of Manga but I was hooked. That's all I read for about 10 years. I read them occasionally now but with school I barely have time to keep up. I'm very picky, as I put the style/art before the story. I must feel attracted to it at first before wondering what the story is. Also, I like specific genres such as slice of life, action, comedy, and sometimes horror stories. It really just depends on my mood.

I re-watched FLCL as it is one of my favorite anime. Definitely something I shouldn't have watched when I was 9; but all I knew back then was Cartoon Network and Toonami. I even bought the manga when I saw it one time in Borders. Both volumes. I remember buying another series because of the mangaka. Anyway, I have to say the style of the manga is lovely quick pen sketches and even the story differs in a more mature but also very confusing and needs to be re-read a few times to uncover the story. There's a lot of deep thoughts and metaphors in the manga so I definitely say anyone who watched the anime should read the manga. Also, they leave the ending open. Not saying I hate the ending but it leaves you in a spot that makes you wonder what the future holds for the characters.

Haruko's character is practically the same but the whole ending I found way better than the anime. However, I still love the ending to the anime and the song in it. Instead of her fighting Atomsk and kissing Naota at the end before leaving, which she still does in the manga, the town is being destroyed by a robot controlled by Haruko. Things happen, "Rahal Haru-Hara" shows up and she makes out with Naota before leaving him with the vespa, in which he tries to ride it. Then it ends.

Eurocomics

Here's a short blog on what I read this week.

I immediately gravitated to Tank Girl. A punk story of a girl who lives in a Tank and dates a kangaroo man? For those of you who haven't heard of her: It's full of sex, violence, and humor. Also, the art is fantastic! I read Apocalypse, which can be taken as more of a spin off as it deals with the story of Tank Girl being pregnant.

Tank Girl, the person who seems the most unlikely to raise a child, is having a baby. If you want to know, she does have it in the end. Any guesses to what it looks like? I'll give you a hint: It's in her name. Yes, she gives birth to a glorious baby with a tank body from it's stomach down. If that doesn't make you curious on who Tank Girl is, just remember that there was a live action movie about her.