"V for Vendetta"

In class on Mon, when Spencer separated us into groups, my group discussed several ideologies that were being criiqued in teh book that grabbed my attention. One of the institutions that I felt Alan Moore is crtiquing is marriage. The two marriage that are ainly focused on in the book is the marriages between the Almonds and Conrad and Helen. Both marriages are very dysfunctional because of abuse, both mental and physical. But these two marriages are very different. Mr. Almond, terrorizes and controls Mrs. Almond, even after death. It is the typical controling man and battered woman. Even though he beats her, humiliates her, and even threatens her by gun point, once he's dead, she does not feel free or rescued. She misses him, depends on him. While in the other marriage between Helen and Conrad, the dominant and submissive are switched. Helen controls Conrad, even in his job. The only reason Conrad hass made it as high up in his job and career is because of Helen's ambitions and manipulation. Conrad is completely dependent on his wife, and I like how Moore switched the gender roles around for the reader to see.

"V for Vendetta"

In my last post I commented on how I was hoping Alan Moore would prove me wrong again about the comic book genre thing, like he did for "Watchmen." Well, unfortunately, he did not. I was not a big fan of this book. I did like how it was faster to get through; there was not so much information, whether in the content or in the pictures, to get through as their was in "Watchmen." And I really liked the idea of the whole "Big Brother", government-all-powerful thing. (I'm a fan of Geourge Orwell's "1984," which this story line was slightly reminescent for me. But I felt like there were so many loose ends just not tied up. Maybe that is the way he wanted it to be, but I like my stories to finish full circle, in completion. I don't know, I'm left with a sense that maybe I jsut didnt get it completely? For example, I get that Evey took over as "Codename V" and that his complete identity was not revealed when he died because maybe it would have let us down as readers, but I wanted to see his face! I wanted to know his significance, and how did he get all that stuff, like his own version of FATE? I wanted to know why they out him in Larkhill. Was he gay, Jewish, or just did the wrong thing? I was jsut left with so many questions, not really understanding or getting the "whole picture" I guess. I guess, I was just left not satisfies, wanting more.

Calling All Watchmen fans.....

Ok....after reading the first book of "V for Vendetta", I couldn't help myself from missing "Watchmen." I know they are written by the same guy, so they have some of the same traits, but I guess I just go tinvolved with the characters of the book. When I first opened "Watchmen," I'll admitt, I judged it as a pure comic book, plain and simple. The vibrant colors and cliched superheroes were so predictable...I judged a book by it's cover. But it proved me wrong! I actually really enjoyed it, and it sucked me into the comic book world. Once, I opened "V for Vendetta," I was disappointed. I ACTUALLY miss the distracting, vibrant colors, the jolly blue giant, the people who took it upont hemselves to dress up as owls and kick semi-serious criminal butt. I think the colors of the illustrations are dull and boring, but then again maybe I'm judging this book by its cover too, like I did before. Hopefully, Alan Moore will prove me wrong again. Don't get me wrong, I don't think I'm gonna become an avid comic book reader hanging out at the local corner store, thumbing through the new edition of X-Men (which I don't even know if they are still coming out with new editions of that???....lol)....Sorry Spencer, but I have become a fan of Alan Moore, and maybe the comic book, superhero genre in general....Hopefully, Alan Moore does not disappoint again...

P.S...I promise next post will have more on the material of the story. This interested me and I fel like ranting for a bit...Sorry to whoever had to read this...lol

The Scott McCloud we see, and then the Other

So, just for the record are we done with Scott McCloud and understanding his comics? I know my following post isn't on the material, persay, but it is on images, and isn't that a large part of comic books? I decided to look up a picture of the "real" Scott McCloud, and I think he was pretty generous in the way he drew himself for our image. I realize that he was very minimal on the details of the drawing of himself, but it still wasn't at all how I would have pictured him. That's kinda the issue I have with comic books. I don't like how they give the pictures to you, I want to imagienthem for myself. It's kinda like when you see a movie after you read the book. The characters and the scenes and landscape aren't at all how yoiu imagine them, so it's kind of a let down. I understand that images and pictures are what makes comics unique from other forms of literature, but I enjoy the freedom of imagining things for myself.

P.S. I also found this image of Alan Moore who wrote "Watchmen." Doesn't he look like Charles Manson, the serial killer?.....lol

The Watchmen

So, I saw this on YouTube and I thought it was kinda creepy....lol. Especially the song they picked to use for background music in it....Yeesh! And I also thought that the one guy who's supposed to be playing Daniel (or the Nite Owl) kinda looks like Spencer (our professor, for those of you who don't attend class)...Enjoy! Ps....sorry if people have already seen this or I'm like way behind on the times and everyone's watched it already, lol!)

McCloud and "Understanding Comics"- or Should it be called "Comics: A Guide to Confuse you Even More"

I've never posted a blog on McCloud before, but since that's the only reading that's due in class tomorrow, I guess there's not another choice. As you can probably tell from my title of this particular blog, I'm not a very big fan of this book.
First of all, as most of you can probably tell by now, I'm not afraid to admitt that I'm a complete comic book "virigin." I've mentioned in class before that I have never read a comic book or graphic novel before this class, I have no idea how to go about reading them, and I'm basically trying to muddle my way through. Call me sheltered....But when I first picked up this bookand read the title, I was like, "Sweet! A guide to help me understand comics!" And so far, I dont think it's been very helpful. He's assuming that people who know the structures of comics and the such are reading this book, well, hi, that's not me. I feel as if he's throwing way too much information at the readers all at once. I get easily lost and distracted. Overall, it's a very good guide on how-to read and understand comics.
I do like, howver, how McCloud does relate comics back to everyday or even advanced things. For example, he relates comics, or the pictures in them, to photographs or to even famous paintings. I like how he's adding in history, giving the readers something to draw on and compare to. And the example of a famous painting, such as one by Edvard Munch (pg. 122) connects comics to history, literature,a nd the fine arts, which makes me go back to the discussion we had in class on Wednesday. Are comic books literature? Here, I think McClud is taking a subtle step in that direction, tactfully linking comics in readers' minds with art, which also encompasses literature.

Watchmen Chapters 1-4- "A Punch in the Face"

So, I'm gonna try this a little differently from my last several posts. Spencer, in class, said we can create a voice for a blogs and it can be informal or even short if we'd like. I was approaching these blogs as mini responses or essays....Here's to thinking a little differently or outside the box...

First off, as soon as I opened this book, it freaked me out. All the colors, the detailed images, there's so much going on. And it looks a little violent. I liked how "Blankets" was drawn. It seemed softer, not so much as this one, which is kinda like a punch in the face. The author just seems to want to make an explosive impression as soon as you see the front page. Especially with sentences such as, "The accumulated filth of all their sex and murder will faom about their waists and all the WHORES and POLITICIANS will look up and shout "save us!"" (pg. 1)

I Like That Sentence......