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Mini-Sulk Mosquito
Got a package from Top Shelf yesterday, containing OWLY 2, HEY THERE! (I think that's what it's called; haven't looked at it yet), and the following, which I read this morning:
MOSQUITO is the second graphic novel from Dan James, who previously offered THE OCTOPI AND THE OCEAN, a handsome if elusive pseudo-fable. Now he applies his woodcut art style to what's described as a South American folktale involving vampirism, and the results are, frankly, disastrous. Only James, commissioning Top Shelf co-publisher Brett Warnock, and a bull would think printing the entire book in red-and-white is an effective choice. Rather than heighten the tension with a constant reminder to readers of that red, red blood, it just makes the art stand out even less; it's overkill.
Honestly, though, the book would be only marginally improved in black-and-white (with or without red highlights) because James' storytelling is so flat and uninvolving. It's like using photos of paper dolls to tell a story. Folktales endure because they contain situations and characters and morals and even frights that never go out of style, but I'm hard-pressed to find the original elements in James' version. The vampires eat the hero? Really? It's not that I don't like some of James' style--it would make for some attractive stationery--but it's of poor service to the story here.
Jeffrey Brown's MINI-SULK is a better pick, though not really a step forward in any way. Brown keeps working his self-deprecating groove, though rather than focusing on his contemporary relationships he offers random day-to-day moments and a big chunk of strips looking back at his childhood. There seems to be genuine affection for Brown's brothers here, no long-simmering resentments, but neither does Brown find many moments of real triumph, discovery or regret in his past. Some pranks, some rough-housing, some embarrassment, all seen from a bemused vantage point. Actually, while it's mostly lightweight work here, the looking back strips, plus a couple fantasies of Brown being beaten and bloodied, might indicate either a burrowing in for a more serious upcoming work, or clinical depression. Let's hope if it's the latter, it can be used for the former.
MOSQUITO is the second graphic novel from Dan James, who previously offered THE OCTOPI AND THE OCEAN, a handsome if elusive pseudo-fable. Now he applies his woodcut art style to what's described as a South American folktale involving vampirism, and the results are, frankly, disastrous. Only James, commissioning Top Shelf co-publisher Brett Warnock, and a bull would think printing the entire book in red-and-white is an effective choice. Rather than heighten the tension with a constant reminder to readers of that red, red blood, it just makes the art stand out even less; it's overkill.
Honestly, though, the book would be only marginally improved in black-and-white (with or without red highlights) because James' storytelling is so flat and uninvolving. It's like using photos of paper dolls to tell a story. Folktales endure because they contain situations and characters and morals and even frights that never go out of style, but I'm hard-pressed to find the original elements in James' version. The vampires eat the hero? Really? It's not that I don't like some of James' style--it would make for some attractive stationery--but it's of poor service to the story here.
Jeffrey Brown's MINI-SULK is a better pick, though not really a step forward in any way. Brown keeps working his self-deprecating groove, though rather than focusing on his contemporary relationships he offers random day-to-day moments and a big chunk of strips looking back at his childhood. There seems to be genuine affection for Brown's brothers here, no long-simmering resentments, but neither does Brown find many moments of real triumph, discovery or regret in his past. Some pranks, some rough-housing, some embarrassment, all seen from a bemused vantage point. Actually, while it's mostly lightweight work here, the looking back strips, plus a couple fantasies of Brown being beaten and bloodied, might indicate either a burrowing in for a more serious upcoming work, or clinical depression. Let's hope if it's the latter, it can be used for the former.
Posted by ChristopherAllen at 10:57 PM [Link to this post]
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