Oglaf is an adult webcomic created by Trudy Cooper and Doug Bayne. It's really raunchy and sometime can be grotesque at times and very weird. The universe Oglaf is set is very sex focused and centered around the absurdities of it's world. The strips are mostly episodic in nature but still maintaining continuity and plot lines with reoccurring characters like Oglaf and the Mistress.
It's extremely funny with some unexpected punchline. Once in a while it would even parody tropes found in fantasy setting like in the strips like The Glamazon Ways, Dimorphism, or Oriel.
I like the humor and the characters in it, even one shots that bearly has anything to do the main character I find amusing.
I don't read much web comics mostly because in the past I would get invested in a web comic only for the creator discontinue. One of my favorite web comics was Hanna's not a Boy's Name. I found it funny, creative and compelling. However it stopped updating and slowed until it stopped.
Oglaf on the other had continues to update regularly for years. It make it easier to track and keep my interests in the comic.
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Pretty Deadly (Assessment)
1) After reading the first issue of Pretty Deadly I felt mostly confused. I really didn't know what was going on with the story or the premise of the comic. I didn't know if I was just not paying attention or if the comic needed to flesh out it self a bit more. It could be because there were poetic verses in the thought brackets and I misinterpreted it as being a literal description of what was happening in the story and as a result I lost track of what was being told/shown. I know that it's set in the Wild West, it's about a girl with two toned eyes and she has a blind man as her companion and there's possibly a man after her, then there is the man in the brothel who was shot for unknown reasons. I am intrigued in how it would all unfold, but for now I'm more frustrated after reading it than I am eager.
2) In the opener of the first issue it shows a flashback of a girl (possibly "Bunny") running through the fields as "Butterfly" asked her if she was afraid, in which she replied with yes before shooting a rabbit in the head. I feel like it was very symbolic (possibly meaning on that day she became a new person?) but either way it is effective in making a connection, at least with me. Even though I didn't understood the events well I still knew what the mood and the atmosphere was because of the excellent art.
3) I would adapt this into live action movie possible make the metaphors more clear.
2) In the opener of the first issue it shows a flashback of a girl (possibly "Bunny") running through the fields as "Butterfly" asked her if she was afraid, in which she replied with yes before shooting a rabbit in the head. I feel like it was very symbolic (possibly meaning on that day she became a new person?) but either way it is effective in making a connection, at least with me. Even though I didn't understood the events well I still knew what the mood and the atmosphere was because of the excellent art.
3) I would adapt this into live action movie possible make the metaphors more clear.
Diary of a Dominatrix
Diary of a Dominatrix by Molly Kiely is interesting in that it wasn't what I expected. The thought of pain and humiliation squeaks me out and while there's part that succeeded in getting that reaction out of me, I was mostly engaged in Zelda's work. Her character is peculiar in that she talks about her work as a dominatrix, her clients, outfits, what she does during sessions, and even where she does it, but you also see her outside of her role. You see that she's actually self conscious about what would her clients think once they realize she wasn't imposing in real life, she used to look like a stereotypical geek, she has a boyfriend, she has vanilla sex with him, and she enjoys cutsy things, and cut in between panels talking about her job. She talks about it so bluntly like she was analyzing a comic book rather than going through the steps of doing a vasectomy.
While I have some ideas of the types of things that goes on in BDSM like teacher fetish and bondage, I didn't really know how far it could go, and in the area where it did go that far were the one that I bailed out on quickly and went to the next page.
At the beginning of the comic when Zelda described the various outfit she puts on it was presented as if it was one of those old school paper doll cut outs. Zelda is dressing up to whatever her clients desire be it a solid black outfit or a clown costume. Funny enough she said that there was only one client that wanted latex, but several wanted her to be in the teacher outfit. Seeing the ins and outs of BDSM through Zelda's eyes is pretty fascinating.
Acme Novelty Library #1
Acme Novelty Library by Chris Ware is a strange comic about a man(boy?) named Jimmy Corrigan with a strained relationship with his mother. The way it's presented and utilize color throughout the issues changes. An example would be how the first strip was made to look like newspaper comic strip with similar colors and panel layout, but in later strips the panels become more dynamic and varied. My favorite page would be were Jimmy calling his mother and the panels deconstructs parts of the characters like the mother's hand or the telephone poll in smaller panels that would reconnect to the main panel creating a circle.
Jimmy's relationship with his mother is strange and mostly hostile. I could never tell if he loves her, if he hates her, or if he has a strange Oedipus complex. I thought the the comic was going to go on the route of "boy genius", but was surprised that it wasn't like that at all. Then I thought it was going to be more like "washed up kid actor", but that wasn't the case either. I still don't know what exactly is going on with Jimmy Corrigan. Sometime it bounces between young Jimmy and old, and genius Jimmy and normal kid Jimmy. All that is known is that Jimmy's father left him and his mother. It is worth noting that in the first strip you can clearly see the mother's face but in latter panels her face is obscured.
Jimmy's relationship with his mother is strange and mostly hostile. I could never tell if he loves her, if he hates her, or if he has a strange Oedipus complex. I thought the the comic was going to go on the route of "boy genius", but was surprised that it wasn't like that at all. Then I thought it was going to be more like "washed up kid actor", but that wasn't the case either. I still don't know what exactly is going on with Jimmy Corrigan. Sometime it bounces between young Jimmy and old, and genius Jimmy and normal kid Jimmy. All that is known is that Jimmy's father left him and his mother. It is worth noting that in the first strip you can clearly see the mother's face but in latter panels her face is obscured.
Junji Ito's work
The work of Junji Ito could be summed up in a handful of words: surreal, outrageous, fantastical, morbid, and most notable scary.
In terms of horror in comics very few, if any body could top Junji Ito. His first well known manga that cemented his reputation in horror was Tomie, but reading the manga I can tell he was in the growing pain stage of his career. The art was wonky, the story while interesting was surprisingly bland, and it lacked atmosphere, but even in his early work is sowed the seeds of what he would produced later in his works. As the series went on it becomes more twisted with more creative visuals and becoming more psychological. In the later chapter his style begins to develop.
His most well known manga "Uzumaki" would became a good representation of Ito as a creator. The story is literally about a town becoming obsessed with spirals to the point that it would envelop the town and lead to it's demise. It is such a far fetch idea, yet it works so well. You see the madness unfold and we don't know why. Why did the spiral curse happened? We don't know and quiet frankly it doesn't matter.
Ito's bibliography consists mainly of one shot that begins, takes us on a wild ride, and then ends without bothering to answer some questions. He takes ludicrous concepts like spirals, or head shaped balloon, or land walking sharks and somehow gives it weight. Some of my favorite stories would have to be "The Whispering Woman", "Scarecrows", "The Enigma of Amigara Fault", My Dear Ancestors", "Falling", and "The Red Turtleneck". I remember hearing someone once describing Ito's stories as ones that never have a happy ending, there are only people who never survived or survivors who are doomed to misery. It's depressing, strange, and can be too much for a lot of people, but anyone who is interested in horror should take a look at Ito.
There is a video created by Youtuber Eyepatchwolf who went over Junji Ito amazingly well and I highly recommend watching his analysis.
In terms of horror in comics very few, if any body could top Junji Ito. His first well known manga that cemented his reputation in horror was Tomie, but reading the manga I can tell he was in the growing pain stage of his career. The art was wonky, the story while interesting was surprisingly bland, and it lacked atmosphere, but even in his early work is sowed the seeds of what he would produced later in his works. As the series went on it becomes more twisted with more creative visuals and becoming more psychological. In the later chapter his style begins to develop.
His most well known manga "Uzumaki" would became a good representation of Ito as a creator. The story is literally about a town becoming obsessed with spirals to the point that it would envelop the town and lead to it's demise. It is such a far fetch idea, yet it works so well. You see the madness unfold and we don't know why. Why did the spiral curse happened? We don't know and quiet frankly it doesn't matter.
Ito's bibliography consists mainly of one shot that begins, takes us on a wild ride, and then ends without bothering to answer some questions. He takes ludicrous concepts like spirals, or head shaped balloon, or land walking sharks and somehow gives it weight. Some of my favorite stories would have to be "The Whispering Woman", "Scarecrows", "The Enigma of Amigara Fault", My Dear Ancestors", "Falling", and "The Red Turtleneck". I remember hearing someone once describing Ito's stories as ones that never have a happy ending, there are only people who never survived or survivors who are doomed to misery. It's depressing, strange, and can be too much for a lot of people, but anyone who is interested in horror should take a look at Ito.
There is a video created by Youtuber Eyepatchwolf who went over Junji Ito amazingly well and I highly recommend watching his analysis.
Stories from Heavy Metal-Moebius
This week I read Moebius' Heavy Metal. My first exposure to Heavy Metal was Nostalgia Critic's review of the film back in 2012. The majority of the criticism he had with it was the incomplete plots that starts and ends, lack of logic, and how little each story connects with one another. He had stated he like the range of style each story has and the creativity the film has.
Coming into the comic his review was in the back of my mind while I read it. After reading it I was given understanding about what it was trying to achieve.
Heavy Metal is very surreal and sporadic jumping shifts from story to story. In the first story the two characters were gunned down without explanation and the story ends. Another has two naked women smoking something, one of them gets ill, the other leaves just when she grew, then ends. Then there was a story of a messenger for the gods witnessing the gods brutally murdering a man traumatizing the messenger and causing him to vow to stop the gods, then ends. The final story is about a guy making a sex robot then it turns on him-end.
Heavy Metal is definitely not a comic meant for stories but fleeting experiences, and surreal universes. and I feel like the film was trying to mimic that. The story bits seem to reflect that as well as it's emphasize on strange locations and visual aesthetics that different each story. Moebius style changed heavily from each story.
I never really watch Heavy Metal in it entirety apart from segments with the taxi driver, the robot, and the zombie plane, however seeing Nostalgia Critic's review and other who share similar thoughts may be watching movie expecting it to be like a normal movie, rather than something that was entirely experimental.
Coming into the comic his review was in the back of my mind while I read it. After reading it I was given understanding about what it was trying to achieve.
Heavy Metal is very surreal and sporadic jumping shifts from story to story. In the first story the two characters were gunned down without explanation and the story ends. Another has two naked women smoking something, one of them gets ill, the other leaves just when she grew, then ends. Then there was a story of a messenger for the gods witnessing the gods brutally murdering a man traumatizing the messenger and causing him to vow to stop the gods, then ends. The final story is about a guy making a sex robot then it turns on him-end.
Heavy Metal is definitely not a comic meant for stories but fleeting experiences, and surreal universes. and I feel like the film was trying to mimic that. The story bits seem to reflect that as well as it's emphasize on strange locations and visual aesthetics that different each story. Moebius style changed heavily from each story.
I never really watch Heavy Metal in it entirety apart from segments with the taxi driver, the robot, and the zombie plane, however seeing Nostalgia Critic's review and other who share similar thoughts may be watching movie expecting it to be like a normal movie, rather than something that was entirely experimental.
Sterotypes
I believe that for the most part stereotypes are outdated and mostly inaccurate. They are not made by observation but misconception and laziness. While I do understand the use as a visual short cut it could cause huge problems with the groups being stereotyped (like the "smart asian", "sassy black lady", "the greedy jew"). Not only being plain racist it causes the character to be one diminutional because all they will be is that stereotype. While there are real life people who fit the stereotype of their group, Art Spiegelman's father from Maus was described as such, they're usually people who happen to have some stereotypical aspect rather than being the stereotype.
It might be okay for inanimate objects or ideas to convey a message but it still might pose a problem with limiting what could be told. Sticking to stereotypes can limit creativity and could cause clichés to happen. There were times where stereotype did work well, but it's usually because it's a subversion or deconstruction of stereotypes or clichés.
As someone who is deeply invested in the safety and well being of animals it pains me whenever I see animals in cartoons or movies in awful conditions or see animals portrayed in in a bad light for the sake of making an easy and recognizable villain. Last year there was a huge debate surrounding "Secret Life of Pets" and it's use of stereotypes. You see fishes in fishbowls, birds in small cages, and other unsafe living conditions that could kill the pets in real life. While yes it is just a movie, the movie promotes the message that these living conditions are okay for pet. It's reinforced time and time again in every medium. People see these stereotypes and are shown that it's okay. It does not help that Petsmart heavily promoted Secret Life of Pets and slapped the logo everywhere.
Then there is the issue of stereotyping animals. There are several shorthand involving animals like the wise owl, childish monkey, honorable lion, or the immoral vulture. When 101 Dalmatian came out people went out and bought dalmatian dog because they wanted a dog just like in the movie not realizing dalmatians are not good family pets and need training, leaving many of them abandoned. While not an example of stereotyping it does show the power of media and how it could condition us to feel a certain way. In Will Eisner's "Contract with God" one of the characters has a vicious pitbull to show that the guy is tough. Pitbulls are heavily affected by these types of portrayals making them less desirable and even made the target of groups who wants to ban the breed and euthanize any in a shelter. Such portrayals are unfair. Snakes are not evil, they're snakes with no concepts of morality. Chimpanzee do not act like toddlers and will kill you if given the chance. Dogs do not live by who's "alpha"
It might be okay for inanimate objects or ideas to convey a message but it still might pose a problem with limiting what could be told. Sticking to stereotypes can limit creativity and could cause clichés to happen. There were times where stereotype did work well, but it's usually because it's a subversion or deconstruction of stereotypes or clichés.
As someone who is deeply invested in the safety and well being of animals it pains me whenever I see animals in cartoons or movies in awful conditions or see animals portrayed in in a bad light for the sake of making an easy and recognizable villain. Last year there was a huge debate surrounding "Secret Life of Pets" and it's use of stereotypes. You see fishes in fishbowls, birds in small cages, and other unsafe living conditions that could kill the pets in real life. While yes it is just a movie, the movie promotes the message that these living conditions are okay for pet. It's reinforced time and time again in every medium. People see these stereotypes and are shown that it's okay. It does not help that Petsmart heavily promoted Secret Life of Pets and slapped the logo everywhere.
Then there is the issue of stereotyping animals. There are several shorthand involving animals like the wise owl, childish monkey, honorable lion, or the immoral vulture. When 101 Dalmatian came out people went out and bought dalmatian dog because they wanted a dog just like in the movie not realizing dalmatians are not good family pets and need training, leaving many of them abandoned. While not an example of stereotyping it does show the power of media and how it could condition us to feel a certain way. In Will Eisner's "Contract with God" one of the characters has a vicious pitbull to show that the guy is tough. Pitbulls are heavily affected by these types of portrayals making them less desirable and even made the target of groups who wants to ban the breed and euthanize any in a shelter. Such portrayals are unfair. Snakes are not evil, they're snakes with no concepts of morality. Chimpanzee do not act like toddlers and will kill you if given the chance. Dogs do not live by who's "alpha"
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