Novel to Graphic

In lieu of the popularity of Japanese manga, the need to expand their audience, and also to further a product line, book publishing companies are starting to adapt young adult novels into graphic novels.There is already a large economy based on the production of manga and anime, so some American publishers tried their hand at […]

Different paces and stages

A theme that often occurs in the graphic novel “This One Summer” is the tug of friendship between Rose and Windy as they both face adolescence at different paces and stages throughout their lives. This theme can be seen multiple times throughout the novel, including: when they are at the beach and Windy is obviously […]

This One Summer: Depression and Families.

  “The One Summer” by Mariko Tamaki was one of my favorite comics that we have read this semester. The comic had one theme that stood out to me and was consistent throughout the book and affected all of the characters and that was depression. The mom of Rose, Alice, was going through a lot […]

Auto-graphy: A New Story to Tell

Allison Bechdel’s tragicomic Fun Home pushes the boundaries of what it means to be an autobiography so much so that it has coined a new term for itself: autography. In her article titled “The Space Between: A Narrative Approach to Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home,” Robyn Warhol explains why Bechdel’s breakthrough memoir is deserving of a new […]

Reinforcing Gender in Baby Blues

In a post entitled Sweet, Sweet Baby Blues, blogger Livesay discusses just what it is that makes this 26 year-old comic so lovable. The consensus, it seems, is that the strip is honest, realistic, and relatable. It’s no doubt true that many parents can identify with Darryl and Wanda MacPherson, especially given that the show is […]

Flipping the Script on Romance

If you’re looking for proof that you can publish a comic disassembly project, look no further than Jeanne Martinet’s book, Truer than True Romance: Classic Love Comics Retold. The compilation, published in 2001, parodies classic romance comics of the 1940s-70s by replacing the old dialogue with a new, satiric take. While the images are pure, […]

Urasawa: Shadow From the Window

Japanese comic writer and artist, Naoki Urasawa, is widely regarded as one of the most influential creators in Japanese comics alive today due to his various successful comics, prowess in visual storytelling, and stunning art. Pluto, his 2003 re-imagining of the iconic Osama Tezuka work, Mighty Atom (Astro Boy), displays his art at its finest. In […]

Hero or Villain?

While reading Watchmen, I thought that Rorschach was a really interesting character. Although, while reading some of the panels I couldn’t help but think, “What if it happened differently?” So, I decided to pick out my favorite panel and make a few changes to it. I actually only made one. In these panels Rorschach is […]