Webcomics

I read a few webcomics here and there but overall I've read many. The most notable and obvious one would be Homestuck. As a Tumblr user, it was inevitable hearing about it and how it created a mini-renaissance is cool as hell. The music, flash games, gifs, unique readability, characterization, and how all types of conflict and elements that make an epic being present is even cooler. It's even better when Andrew Hussie had Toby Fox do the music, so much of Homestuck's fanbase helped Undertale's unexpected popularity to the point of overexposure effect. I could go on and on with how much research was put into Homestuck and how masterful the entire story is written from subtle foreshadowing to all these hints where you'd realllly need to know what to look for to have some chance in hell to actually find it. A lot of these things may just be an accident, but what were the odds of them happening regardless? Especially when the comic updated regularly and erratically where it would parallel or reference real-world events that happened that day. Another webcomic I read was hyperbole and a Half where there was a lot of dark, cynical humor. Similarly to Cyanide and Happiness, another comic I like to read occasionally. Another one I read is Problem Sleuth, the comic Hussie wrote before Homestuck, being Homestuck's prototype. 

Superheroes Reconsidered

Of three comics I read, I liked "Saga" the most because of the art was superior, writing tight, and character design well drawn. Due to little time, I couldn't read all that much of it, and could only skim the other two, "Manhatten Project" and "Dr. Who Star Death". Art-wise, "Dr. Who Star Death" isn't stylized and made it hard to get into and "Manhatten Project's" stylized art isn't too appealing for me, though I would have tried harder if not for the last of the semester becoming hectic and not knowing what to say a lot of in general being difficult as it is.

Women's Comics

The best part about the women's comics is how humanized the characters are and how interesting the most mundane thing can be. "This one Summer" has excellent characterization and the whole thing can easily be binged. "Lumberjanes" has a nice aesthetic, interesting setup, and the setting has that sense of familiarity but kept fresh enough to feel boring. "Pretty Deadly" has a great female lead for the type of story and the overall dynamic with her master is unique to say the least.

Assessment : Killing Joke

What is your reaction to the text you just read?

I love the framing, writing, and smooth transitions from scenes. How there's a natural flow and progression to the story, complimented by proper use of shading to convey the tone of the scene. Everything's well drawn, particularly the facial expressions and perspective.

What connections did you make with the story? Discuss the elements of the work in which you were able to connect.

I connected the Killing Joke with psychology, because despite whether it's accurate or not, the story could be an interesting case study given how three dimensional the Joker is. From smooth transitions from past to present, the natural progression of pacing and build up adds a layer of strength to the storytelling. I also connected the Killing Joke with film language, because as mentioned before, the shot composition, shot transition, and writing are masterfully executed.

What changes would you make to adapt this story into another medium. What medium would you use and what changes would you make?

I'd adapt the Killing Joke to a videogame, in a Fallout sense of lore exploration and Pokemon Red sense of story. This done through similar shot transitions and story telling elements, though Batman would be a silent protagonist, because the player would have the motivation to go against the Joker given the sort of franchise this is. The player would then play as the Joker when the backstory parts are revealed as the game goes on.

Contemporary Comics in Literature

Defining Traits and Characteristics:
Alice in Sunderland
-Mixed Media
-Philosophical
-Strong Characterization
Strangers in Paradise
-Nice storyline
-Descent art
-Overarching plotline and character development
The Fountain
-Implied lines
-Nice use of shading and color
-Sketch drawings for background characters
Blood on the Moon
-Has old aesthetic
-Interesting mix of words and visuals

What're the assumptions that govern the work:
The Dream Hunters
-Reads like a novel with portraits between the pages
-Inspired by Japanese mythology
-Vocabulary and writing style simple enough for a 1st grader but won't patronize the audience
Bones
-Entertaining for all ages including humor and style
-Meant for kids but not condescending
-Tells a story it wants to say, doesn't pander to the audience

Thoughts on the work:
Channel Zero
-Silhouettes remind me of 2D class with composition
-Text doesn't intrude on visuals
-Striking aesthetic
-Part of interest stems from propaganda feel of the narrative

Common Elements:
-Passionate Work by all artists and authors
-Visuals used to the aesthetic's advantage
-Text and Visuals compliment each other
-Thought provoking
-Subtle messages underlying the more prominent ones
-Narrative respects the audience regardless of demographic

Manga and Osamu Tezuka

     It's always a fun time when manga is specifically brought up. Considering how unique the history is for manga and subsequently anime, such as comics are with animation in the west, a lot of dynamics are involved. The first one being Osamu Tezuka, the grandfather of manga, with his best known work, "Astro Boy". Tezuka was influenced by animations over in the west, such as Betty Boop, and Bambi. Laying various foundations of how people perceive manga, he did so not only through genius work, but inspired other artists, such as Akira Toriyama, creator of "Dr. Slump" and "Dragon Ball", essentially innovating a sort of renaissance with manga. Considering how distinct Tezuka's artstyle is, the framing and action works to his advantage when telling a story. The pacing is well done, so his work is easy to binge. The continuity between chapters also supports the entertainment value, so it's easy to see why "Astro Boy" was and is still influential for all of manga and comics.
   

Wide World of Comics

     After reading quite a few comics from around the world, despite the short span of a week, it was unexpected and interesting. The comic I read the most of was Vink's "The Mad Monk", where the desaturation of the color pallet was striking and facial expressions emphasized the situations. One of the most interesting details about this comic and what I've noticed with other series, was how the dialogue boxes were literal boxes as opposed to ovals or circles. The pacing and framing were unique, where the artist has a clear style on how to write and draw their story. Unfortunately, I was unable to finish the full story, I thoroughly enjoyed what I could read. Other pieces I read was Hugo Pratt's Watercolors. It was interesting to see so many different styles and poses by various artists in the 60's and all in water color in their own style. It's particularly interesting how some pieces such as "L'ile au Tresor" and "L'ile au Tresor, portrait de John Silver" have two or three colors of choice, work in progress, and mixed media consisting of pencil, pen, and watercolor. Other pieces by David Balfour have a monochromatic pallet, more finished, and also used pen to outline the detail of his work. My favorite piece is Miyazaki/Moebius: A joint Exhibition Catalogue, a collaboration between two animation directors, showcasing their work. It's interesting how the text in the book has French and English, yet there will inevitably have a hint of Japanese considering Miyazaki's notes. It's always fun to see concept art and key frames of iconic movies, especially with a joint effort between two directors, so there's an easier time to compare their styles and quirks.