woensdag 20 april 2011
vrijdag 15 april 2011
Superheroes
Okay. I'm actually not really into the superhero-stuff. But since I find it hard to find Watchmen, Sparks and Invincible (Because I don't want to pay for them to watch at the moment) I started to review some other comics.
The first I would like to discuss a little is 'Spider-Woman'.
From the first moment on I really liked the intro! Just like the start of a movie added with sinister music. Right after that it starts of in a dark environment and continues until the end. The design and drawings happen to be the style just how I like it! Dark and intense! As for the motion or animation: (Let's keep it animation ok? We're already having trouble defining 'graphic novel') I find it well balanced. It's a little on the edge, but just enough not to get me annoyed and saying this is a cartoon. The voices are well recorded as well as the rest of the sound design. Not like different layers placed on top of each other, but a right mix!
And not to forget the character and story. It stays a short period but I felt kinda fascinated with the main character. When she is thinking, a reverb is added to her voice. It gives way more draft. The conversations are not to fast and are much more easy to follow than N.
The second is 'Gifted' of X-Men.
To be honest, I watched it for only 4 or 5 minutes. This is just what i'm not looking for. For as far as I'm concerned, this is a cartoon, and I was not amused. The sound was quite good. But it's just that the animation was too much! No further marks.
I still hope to get Watchmen as soon as possible and post a review about it. As soon as I found what I'm looking for, I'll also give you some insights into the story I'm writing for my animated graphic novel.
Stay tuned again and have a nice weekend!
The first I would like to discuss a little is 'Spider-Woman'.
From the first moment on I really liked the intro! Just like the start of a movie added with sinister music. Right after that it starts of in a dark environment and continues until the end. The design and drawings happen to be the style just how I like it! Dark and intense! As for the motion or animation: (Let's keep it animation ok? We're already having trouble defining 'graphic novel') I find it well balanced. It's a little on the edge, but just enough not to get me annoyed and saying this is a cartoon. The voices are well recorded as well as the rest of the sound design. Not like different layers placed on top of each other, but a right mix!
And not to forget the character and story. It stays a short period but I felt kinda fascinated with the main character. When she is thinking, a reverb is added to her voice. It gives way more draft. The conversations are not to fast and are much more easy to follow than N.
The second is 'Gifted' of X-Men.
To be honest, I watched it for only 4 or 5 minutes. This is just what i'm not looking for. For as far as I'm concerned, this is a cartoon, and I was not amused. The sound was quite good. But it's just that the animation was too much! No further marks.
I still hope to get Watchmen as soon as possible and post a review about it. As soon as I found what I'm looking for, I'll also give you some insights into the story I'm writing for my animated graphic novel.
Stay tuned again and have a nice weekend!
zondag 10 april 2011
A graphic what?... ("Een graphic novel? Nee nog nooit van gehoord." )
Allright! Step back! I realized that I actually never gave a real definition of the term 'Graphic Novel'. So I owe you I guess! I'll try to get to a good definition as best as I can, since I've seen a lot of different definitions in the last years. And as the graphic novel is a rising medium in the Netherlands not everybody is yet acquainted with the term.
The graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format. (from the Oxford English Dictionary, I find this the best definition).
As much media do, the comic developed itself during the sixties and from there on. With the new millennium, the graphic novel rose in popularity in the Netherlands, and the term was adopted. But...! The term got adopted, as well as adapted. I find it very annoying when these situations occur in the Netherlands. It makes it hard to get to a well definition. Eddie Campbell also encountered this problem and formulated his Graphic Novel Manifesto (Thank you Eddie!). Because the term is now used to explain that comics are no longer just for kids but for the big audience. The graphic novel marked the adultery of the comic. And here's another definition that is used: "A graphic novel is a layered story, wrapped in compelling images." Themes vary from autobiography, humour, war, fantasy, love, music, philosophy and so on, and often in a literary style aimed at the adult reader.
Here are some interesting links as well (Dutch and English):
http://www.lambiek.net/aanvang/2000graphicnovel.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_novel
http://web.archive.org/web/20080603041720/http://www.graphicnovels.brodart.com/history.htm
For my research I'll also read the following literature and articles:
The graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format. (from the Oxford English Dictionary, I find this the best definition).
As much media do, the comic developed itself during the sixties and from there on. With the new millennium, the graphic novel rose in popularity in the Netherlands, and the term was adopted. But...! The term got adopted, as well as adapted. I find it very annoying when these situations occur in the Netherlands. It makes it hard to get to a well definition. Eddie Campbell also encountered this problem and formulated his Graphic Novel Manifesto (Thank you Eddie!). Because the term is now used to explain that comics are no longer just for kids but for the big audience. The graphic novel marked the adultery of the comic. And here's another definition that is used: "A graphic novel is a layered story, wrapped in compelling images." Themes vary from autobiography, humour, war, fantasy, love, music, philosophy and so on, and often in a literary style aimed at the adult reader.
Here are some interesting links as well (Dutch and English):
http://www.lambiek.net/aanvang/2000graphicnovel.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_novel
http://web.archive.org/web/20080603041720/http://www.graphicnovels.brodart.com/history.htm
For my research I'll also read the following literature and articles:
- A Comic-Book World, Stephen E. Tabachnick, march-april 2007
- The rise and reason of comics and graphic literature, McFraland & Company, september 2010
- Understanding comics, Scott McCleod, 1994
- Using Graphic Novels, Anime, and the Internet in an Urban High School, Nancy Frey and Douglas Fisher, january 2004
zondag 3 april 2011
What works?
Stephen King's N, a digital graphic novel
This week I... well.. Ok. I watched the digital comic adaptation of Stephen King's N. I'm still more used to say: "read comics." This also occurs when I say that I listened a book instead of that I read a book, since I listen to audio-books. I get to that later.
I was under the impression of this graphic adaptation. I was partially dragged into the story. I did a quick analysis and summarized what I liked and disliked.
The story of a man obsessed about a creepy place and discusses it with his psychiatrist, who then inherits the obsession of his patient, fascinates me and is stimulated by the pace, the story is told. The drawings done by Alex Maleev, colored by José Villarrubia, really emit the atmosphere of the situation the antagonists find themselves placed in. There's not to much of animation, what could almost make it just another sort of short-animation.
It can be viewed on small screens like a mobile phone or on the website. Almost exactly the way that I can imagine the form of the digital/animated graphic novel. There are 25 episodes, of each 1.30 min.. Now they can all be found on the website, but in August 2008 you could download a new episode every week or so.
So let's get to the 'dislikes'. I wasn't very fond of the sound-design. It was overdone, which leads to separation in my experience: The images, and the sound. I find they should be merged. The voices where way to fast. In a way it contributes to the atmosphere of the entire story, but this is just what I mean with putting pressure on the audience. I favour to decide my own pace.
Because of dyslexia I have some trouble reading books. I tackle this by 'reading' audio-books or radio-dramas. Like with books I can decide my own pace and, depending on the reader, get dragged into the story most of the times.
Two of my favourites are: 'The Whole Truth, David Baldacci' (Hachette Audio) and 'De Moker, NTR' a radio-drama. The Whole Truth is very well read and some scenes are supported by music, playing softly on the background. I remember I rewind some scenes because they were so cool!
De Moker is a Dutch radio-drama about the battle of De Wallen, Amsterdam. The voices are done by well-known actors. It's like you're listening to a movie! Watch a small making-of down here!
So!? Well simply saying: combine the 'like'-elements of 'N', with the elements of the audio-books and radio-drama right? Not just yet! I hope to check out the digital graphic adaptation of Watchmen, The Dark Knight and Sparks.
I'm also working on a thriller set in Amsterdam. I'll post the designs of the main-characters very very soon! Stay tuned!
Might you just have a MUST SEE tip on a motion comic, let me know!
This week I... well.. Ok. I watched the digital comic adaptation of Stephen King's N. I'm still more used to say: "read comics." This also occurs when I say that I listened a book instead of that I read a book, since I listen to audio-books. I get to that later.
I was under the impression of this graphic adaptation. I was partially dragged into the story. I did a quick analysis and summarized what I liked and disliked.
The story of a man obsessed about a creepy place and discusses it with his psychiatrist, who then inherits the obsession of his patient, fascinates me and is stimulated by the pace, the story is told. The drawings done by Alex Maleev, colored by José Villarrubia, really emit the atmosphere of the situation the antagonists find themselves placed in. There's not to much of animation, what could almost make it just another sort of short-animation.
It can be viewed on small screens like a mobile phone or on the website. Almost exactly the way that I can imagine the form of the digital/animated graphic novel. There are 25 episodes, of each 1.30 min.. Now they can all be found on the website, but in August 2008 you could download a new episode every week or so.
So let's get to the 'dislikes'. I wasn't very fond of the sound-design. It was overdone, which leads to separation in my experience: The images, and the sound. I find they should be merged. The voices where way to fast. In a way it contributes to the atmosphere of the entire story, but this is just what I mean with putting pressure on the audience. I favour to decide my own pace.
Because of dyslexia I have some trouble reading books. I tackle this by 'reading' audio-books or radio-dramas. Like with books I can decide my own pace and, depending on the reader, get dragged into the story most of the times.
Two of my favourites are: 'The Whole Truth, David Baldacci' (Hachette Audio) and 'De Moker, NTR' a radio-drama. The Whole Truth is very well read and some scenes are supported by music, playing softly on the background. I remember I rewind some scenes because they were so cool!
De Moker is a Dutch radio-drama about the battle of De Wallen, Amsterdam. The voices are done by well-known actors. It's like you're listening to a movie! Watch a small making-of down here!
So!? Well simply saying: combine the 'like'-elements of 'N', with the elements of the audio-books and radio-drama right? Not just yet! I hope to check out the digital graphic adaptation of Watchmen, The Dark Knight and Sparks.
I'm also working on a thriller set in Amsterdam. I'll post the designs of the main-characters very very soon! Stay tuned!
Might you just have a MUST SEE tip on a motion comic, let me know!
zondag 20 maart 2011
New research planned
The Animated Graphic Novel
Thesis:
The Graphic Novel is a medium that's rising in popularity and is more and more accepted as literature. In The Netherlands the medium is quite new and also rising in popularity as more and more graphic novels are being translated, and to be found in more and more bookstores.
But just as soon, this medium is gaining popularity, a sub-genre is developping. The Animated Graphic Novel.
Like in normal literature, graphic novel-readers can be dragged into the story, identify themselves with the characters etc. etc.. Propably due to the story's quality and the quality of the drawings.
The Animated Graphic Novel might be achieving the same effect with readers and I'm sure some allready are. I'm referring to Metal Gear Solid (video above). The reader determines it's own pace. But not all of these animated graphic novels allow the reader to determine it's own pace.
This immediately approaches my thesis: These animated graphic novels are well developed. But in my opinion they can put too much pressure on the reader and it becomes difficult to be dragged into the story and have the reader, or in this case viewer, identify itself with the main-character in such a short time (3 min. / 10 min.). Besides, I find these formats more animation instead of animated graphic novel, and in that case almost an infringement on the medium. Once again, the ideal form for the reader would be to determine it's own pace.
Why this research?
New forms of media allow ideal opportunities for the animated graphic novel. Imagine the format like an e-book. Minimal animation and pace of reading determined by the reader. I hope to find out how the animated graphic novel could be applied at it's best! It's an upcoming market and I believe it can grow much more popular.
I'll try and publish for the minor sound and image, an animated graphic novel myself based on this research, for I love to write and draw.
The research includes the comic-, graphic novel, literature and the gadget universe. In this case it would be very interesting for, publishers, writers, screenwriters, graphic novelists, animators, audio-engineers, students, teachers, genre-interested public, perhaps even autodidacts. Graphic Novels and comics are already being applied as teaching methods!
As for myself, as I already explained, I love to draw and write, and hope to publish a graphic novel someday as well. Be it animated or in book-form.
Via this blog I'll keep you updated about the research. Don't be confused if you might find sketches, drawings, short graphic novels or reviews I posted. As a matter of fact, I recommend you read "GodDAMN mother fucking BULLshitfuck shitFUCK! GodDAMN mother fucking BULLshitfuck shitFUCK!" A review I wrote about DMZ #4 Friendly Fire. It's about how the book managed to get me dragged into the story. How about you click the link above and start reading?
vrijdag 11 maart 2011
GodDAMN motherfucking BULLshitfuck shitFUCK! GodDAMN motherfucking BULLshitfuck shitFUCK!
What happens when ‘Black Hawk Down’ meets comics? You’ll get DMZ! The worst nightmare of the United States if it got caught in a second civil war. How bad can it get? Just really hard and ugly! Like every war off course. As the reader you get a glimpse of how it got started, and life in a city under siege that just can’t get- and be occupied by the main aggressors.
I'll tell you, it won’t happen very often, that I just get blown away by a comic. At least, I cannot remember the last time that I closed the book and sat down for at least 10 minutes and think about what I had just read. This happened after I had read ‘DMZ #4 Friendly Fire’. I bought the book at the local comic store, as I try to keep up with the series, settled in a chair in the Rotterdam Library on the third floor and entered the war. After one-and-a-half hour I closed the book and I couldn’t bring out any word for at least 10 minutes.
In the near future, New York City is the plaything of two entities during a second civil war. The United States of America and the Free States of America. Anti-establishment militias in the 50 states rise up as they are fed up with the wars fought overseas and push their way to the coasts. Eventually it comes to a standstill on a piece of land, that just none of both parties are able to occupy – Manhattan, better known as, the DMZ.
Wikipedia describes the term DMZ as follows: In military terms, a demilitarized zone (DMZ) is an area, usually the frontier or boundary between two or more military powers (or alliances), where military activity is not permitted, usually by peace treaty, armistice, or other bilateral or multilateral agreement. Often the demilitarized zone lies upon a line of control and forms a de-facto international border.
I’d give the following description for the DMZ in Manhattan, as I’m following this series: A demilitarized zone (DMZ) is an area, usually the frontier or boundary between two or more military powers (or alliances), where military activity is just… not… possible.
In DMZ #4 the main-protagonist, Matthew Roth a photojournalist for Liberty News, gets an interview with an enlisted U.S. Army soldier who is prosecuted for a massacre on day 204 of the war, in the DMZ. Roth searches answers for question’s as: Who gave the order? How far up does it go up the chain of command? Who is eventually really to blame? More questions arise and more shit and dirt is find as Roth digs in the story and the events of that day.
As with all the volumes, the story is written by Brian Wood and the drawings are done by Riccardo Burchielli. They get joined by guest artists, and in this edition by Nathan Fox, Viktor Kalvachev and Kristian Donaldson.
The story of the soldier that’s found guilty of the massacre is done by Fox. I’m not surprised if Fox was inspired by stories and pictures of the First World War. Because the first thing I noticed, and partly due to my history teacher-education and my interest of the latest century, was the mix of first world war – and modern uniforms of the U.S. Army soldiers. Add to it the brutal illustrations and design of the chapter. It digs up the tension and feeling of trench war and takes the reader into a nightmare.
Then follows the story about the massacre told by a platoon sergeant. Illustrated by Burchielli, Fox and Kalvachev. The nightmare is then confronted with the hardened and experienced background of the platoon commander.
A more neutral, but loaded like the other illustrators, style by Donaldson guides the story of the civilian survivors. Make no mistake, every artist applies his qualities at the best to carry the reader into the story and feel sympathy for the protagonists.
‘Friendly Fire is An Oxymoron’ is the title of the foreword by sergeant John G. Ford. Those are mild, but loaded and true words to start this volume of DMZ.
I'll tell you, it won’t happen very often, that I just get blown away by a comic. At least, I cannot remember the last time that I closed the book and sat down for at least 10 minutes and think about what I had just read. This happened after I had read ‘DMZ #4 Friendly Fire’. I bought the book at the local comic store, as I try to keep up with the series, settled in a chair in the Rotterdam Library on the third floor and entered the war. After one-and-a-half hour I closed the book and I couldn’t bring out any word for at least 10 minutes.
In the near future, New York City is the plaything of two entities during a second civil war. The United States of America and the Free States of America. Anti-establishment militias in the 50 states rise up as they are fed up with the wars fought overseas and push their way to the coasts. Eventually it comes to a standstill on a piece of land, that just none of both parties are able to occupy – Manhattan, better known as, the DMZ.
Wikipedia describes the term DMZ as follows: In military terms, a demilitarized zone (DMZ) is an area, usually the frontier or boundary between two or more military powers (or alliances), where military activity is not permitted, usually by peace treaty, armistice, or other bilateral or multilateral agreement. Often the demilitarized zone lies upon a line of control and forms a de-facto international border.
I’d give the following description for the DMZ in Manhattan, as I’m following this series: A demilitarized zone (DMZ) is an area, usually the frontier or boundary between two or more military powers (or alliances), where military activity is just… not… possible.
In DMZ #4 the main-protagonist, Matthew Roth a photojournalist for Liberty News, gets an interview with an enlisted U.S. Army soldier who is prosecuted for a massacre on day 204 of the war, in the DMZ. Roth searches answers for question’s as: Who gave the order? How far up does it go up the chain of command? Who is eventually really to blame? More questions arise and more shit and dirt is find as Roth digs in the story and the events of that day.
As with all the volumes, the story is written by Brian Wood and the drawings are done by Riccardo Burchielli. They get joined by guest artists, and in this edition by Nathan Fox, Viktor Kalvachev and Kristian Donaldson.
The story of the soldier that’s found guilty of the massacre is done by Fox. I’m not surprised if Fox was inspired by stories and pictures of the First World War. Because the first thing I noticed, and partly due to my history teacher-education and my interest of the latest century, was the mix of first world war – and modern uniforms of the U.S. Army soldiers. Add to it the brutal illustrations and design of the chapter. It digs up the tension and feeling of trench war and takes the reader into a nightmare.
Then follows the story about the massacre told by a platoon sergeant. Illustrated by Burchielli, Fox and Kalvachev. The nightmare is then confronted with the hardened and experienced background of the platoon commander.
A more neutral, but loaded like the other illustrators, style by Donaldson guides the story of the civilian survivors. Make no mistake, every artist applies his qualities at the best to carry the reader into the story and feel sympathy for the protagonists.
‘Friendly Fire is An Oxymoron’ is the title of the foreword by sergeant John G. Ford. Those are mild, but loaded and true words to start this volume of DMZ.
zaterdag 8 januari 2011
WWW
WWW or WhoWhatWhere. Who: People that are happy, people that suffer, people that don't care, people who never read, people will never learn. What: Suffering, misery, war, uprising, things we rather don't think about, things that are about to happen, the future, the past, Where: Could be anywhere, the world is big
Jules Calis, third year student, Free Arts Willem de Kooning Rotterdam
Jules Calis, third year student, Free Arts Willem de Kooning Rotterdam
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