Assessment: Killing Joke Review

What is your reaction to the text you just read?
While not a personal fan of certain superhero comics, I can say the dialogue I've read so far can certainly draw you in from time to time. Most people are used to the Joker as a sort of goofball villain that literally can't be taken seriously. The Killing Joke on the other hand shines a new light on the Joker, going layer by layer into his past, motivations and psychological mindset. That to me is something I certainly enjoyed the most.

What connections did you make to the story you just read?
Don't worry, I'm no psychopath. No I'm not risking mine or anybody's life at the moment. However, that doesn't mean I can't be troubled in my mind. As I said, The Killing Joke explores the history and mindset of the Joker. It's in this history that we see his once normal life, his tragedy and eventual molding into what he is today. Clearly he's a man who's life has hit him far beyond coming back from insanity. I think I can safely say that I, as well as a few others, often feel this way from time to time. Life tries to tear us apart sometimes. Sometimes to a point of no return. Sometimes to the point of losing our minds. The only difference is I still have my sanity at the moment.

What changes would you make to adapt this story into another medium?
Gotta say, I'm not too sure. The Killing Joke has already been adapted into an animated film, so there's that. Maybe if there was a chance to do it all again, perhaps tweak up the dialogue in terms of tone and/or certain wording. Based on what I read so far, explore a little more into how and why everybody is where and whom they are today. Other than that, I'm cool with how everything is as it stands. I mean, this is Tim Burton's favorite Batman comic this far, why bother changing almost anything?

Blog Review: Kenji Gil

In regards to Kenji Gil's response on week 4's subject, I can understand why he feels the way he does. many comics from way back when were full of detailed dialogues in almost every panel ,maybe do to traditional ways of storytelling or if something important needs information.

Aside from that, my guess is that due to the colors, they to are what were able to help them come ,from out of the underground and into the mainstream.

Little Nemo Review

Today’s class had us reading classic Sunday comics of old and write what we thought about one of them. For me, I decided to give my take on Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo in Slumberland.

As a pioneer in animation and major influence for the upcoming Walt Disney himself, Winsor McCay’s marvelous illustrations of Little Nemo already demonstrates what’s next for the future of animation and storytelling. Example; Despite some characters’ movements and talk, a background will almost always stay the same. This often reminds me of classic cell animation, whereas someone paints a large landscape, someone animates a character/object’s movement separately, places it on top, then a camera follows our subject around the scene. Basically a continuation shot. Very much so like cartoons then and even now.

Another example is a sense of whimsy and imagination. Every little thing, from color to characters to story; many comics come together to give the aura of childlike wonder and joy to any reader. Vibrant colors, lovable characters, a feeling of dreams becoming reality; all of it’s really here. All in every stroke of ink. I mean without that sort of wonder or imagination in his animation/comics, it’s possible there’d been no Walt Disney stories to this day.

What do I think?Well, sure the structure and detailed wording may be hard to follow for someone like me, but I’ll certainly give credit where it’s due. I’d say be glad and thankful for Little Nemo. Without him or his ‘father’, Winsor McCay, it’s highly possible animation and storytelling as we know them wouldn’t be here today.

Understanding Comics(Sorry if this is late)

Frankly, I was a bit surprised at the depth the author went into when writing this comic.  And I was struck by a number of things while reading through it.  I was struck by how the things that I’ve always taken for granted when reading through comics can have such deep meaning when evaluated for their purpose, like icons and gutters and wording and time passage.  As a manga fan, I’ve always appreciated the attention to detail in their comics and I always chalked it up to a difference in cultures as well.  And I have to say the end of the comic reminded me of my instructor’s tales of growing up in the business and how being critiqued along the way was both heart breaking and essential to him succeeding in the business.  In fact, I’d go as far as saying it’s always pretty intimidating when I hear it.
All these points aside, I was most struck by the topics covered in the beginning of the comic.  As a person on the Autism Spectrum, dealing with Asperger’s on a daily basis, it’s always been hard for me to read people.  Quite often it leads to me misunderstanding the intent behind a person’s words and, just as often, it can lead to me coming across the wrong way when all I had were the best of intentions.  In a way, I think that is what drew me to manga, anime, animation and art in general, as I was growing up.  It was a world where I could indulge in feelings and emotions on a much simpler level.  And when I read about comics and icons and how a simple face allows us to see ourselves within the strip, it really rang home with me.  I have to say I agree completely.  More so than that, comics have always been a way for me to see human behavior and expression and emotion in a way that was easy for me to understand.  So, it’s no wonder this part of the comic jumped out at me.

The Arrival

They always say, a picture speaks louder than words. Shaun Tan's The Arrival takes a simple story of a man in search of a new life and twists it around with no words whatsoever, creating something brand new in the form of various whimsical and dream-like illustrations. To quote the author/artist himself;  "I realize that I have a recurring interest in notions of ‘belonging’, particularly the finding or losing of it. Whether this has anything to do with my own life, I’m not sure, it seems to be more of a subconscious than conscious concern."

Given being half-Chinese, the idea of migrant experience seems all too personal and common for people like him. After all, we aren't born in one single place. Every time we cross borders, our eyes are assaulted with the realization that each country has it's own life, giving the appearance of something otherworldly or fantastic.

As someone who's gone to places like South America or Europe, I know all too well the sudden realization of a different life in another country. From the everyday life of locals, to the foreign relations, to the landscape around it, I know for a fact that countries are like people, every shade of color and every kind of personality there is.

I think that's why visual stories like The Arrival work wonders; really a story of travel, discovery, adaptation and connection. Really, more stories ought to learn from such an example.

Thanks for reading.

Source:
http://www.shauntan.net/books/the-arrival.html