Legitimization of Comics - Maus

     Art Spiegleman's "Maus" have notable aspects that makes it stand out from other competing stories. With the amount of Holocaust stories that's been written since the ending of World War II, "Maus" is unique. "Maus" is a comic book that respects not only Holocaust as its subject matter, but also the medium as a whole. Superhero comics gave the general populace the impression comics were for kids and made out to be a waste of time. Then Underground comics emerged as rebellion, so the reputation for comics split people who wouldn't fit society too easily and by those who looked down on said people who such comics. When "Maus" was published, it gave hope to what the medium could provide if enough care and common sense were given while making them. Given how "Maus" is an autobiography in disguise, it features the main character, Arthur Spiegleman interviewing his father about his experiences during the war. This premise has a lot to play around with not only by direction of the writing, but by execution of the art.  

     The art in "Maus" takes full advantage of being a graphic novel. There are two volumes, giving as the time needed to flesh out every character, story, and environment. The panel layout makes interesting liberties, as the story goes on, trying new things so nothing becomes monotonous. Some panels are drawn around the characters, so it's a matter of framing rather than acting as a window for the background. There were others times where there would be landscape oriented shots broken up into smaller panels to give a sense of movement. The art style itself is interesting, because everybody is portrayed as anthropomorphic animals to emphasize the metaphors presented. Sometimes they'll wear a mask of another animal to blend in during certain situations and rarely will they be presented as humans wearing the mask of their animal while the story is after World War II. The Spiegelman family are presented as mice and their survival against the cats of Germany. Other animals are presented as well, pigs being the secondary animal, and a few others here and there like frogs and dogs. I like how this metaphor is handled, Nazis after Jews like Cats are with mice. Even more interesting how the other animals would have a neutral relationship with cats and mice if ever given the chance to interact with each other in real life. 

     The story is taken in an interesting direction and becomes more meta as the story goes on. The story takes place in the 80's, as the main character, Arthur Spiegelman is interviewing his father, Vladek, about his life during the second World War for a comic book. The story jumps from present day to the past, starting with Vladek's life before meeting his wife and his trivial troubles all the to his time while at Auschwitz. The present day storyline also presents interesting insight and contrast to both Vladek and Arthur's life and relationship. The story goes in detail not only the impact of World War II for Vladek and other fellow Jews, but also his wife and their family. While exploring the relationship between Vladek and Arthur, it shows the kind of person they are and how Vladek and other survivors turned out after the war and concentration camps. The story gets considerable meta in the second volume, where the Arthur is drawing his comics and all these interviewers come in, bombarding him with series of questions on where his story will go next, like adaptations and merchandising. This understandably overwhelms him, and during the ordeal does he revert to a child and is later shown growing up from panel to panel as he feels better telling all this to his psychologist.