Barefoot Gen ✿ By: Keiji Nakazawa

                               

BAREFOOT GEN

Keiji Nakazawa

After watching the anime in class, I couldn't help but try and read some of the manga for my own well being. The topic of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing is one of histories topics that peaks my interests. Growing up, I was taught that if those bombs never were dropped America never would have ended the war. Whether that is true or not is under debate but knowing that Ken lived to create what he saw for the purpose of influencing people to not use nuclear arms just really tugs at my heart strings. It is so sad, I wish people knew more about this comic, it really opened my eyes. Talk about creating for a purpose, he inspired me to always create for a purpose. The story takes place in Hiroshima where Gen Nakaoka has to deal with his family struggling through poverty. Gen's mother is carrying her fourth child and it is already hard enough to feed the children they already had. People have created movies, comics, or tv shows about people who suffer from poverty. Even though it is an issue that is talked about a lot through media, I don't think any of them really hit home for me more than this one. What really stands out to me, why this story touched me is because that Nakazawa had a mission. He had a mission to teach people what it was like living on the other side of those bombings. I never knew what it was like and never gave it much thought when I was learning about it in school. I was taught it had to happen, that what came out of those bombings were good. Whether you want to believe that or not, all I know is that this man had a purpose to stop nuclear warfare. He created so people can become aware of how destructive and tragic it really is. I just think that is so powerful that he dedicated his life and art to this mission. Honestly, this comic really opened my eyes. The anime is especially powerful and can probably impact more people since I feel most people rather visually take something in than having to read it but I guess that just depends on the person. 

Dairy of a Teenaged Girl

  Dairy of A Teenaged Girl 

The first page is a whirlwind of teenage angst and sexual frustration. I'm not even so sure what I would call this illustrative read. It is a comic/novel/illustrated book/wow this is based on a true story book, all in one. This one of a kind comic changed, for me, the definition of comics themselves. When you think of a comic you don't think "oh! I'm going to read a comic in a novel form and then comic form". I feel that if you aren't into comics or maybe you're not into novels this will give you the best of both worlds. I just find it really interesting this comic can easily satisfy to all types of readers. First getting into the story you find out that Minnie Goetze has not only a ton of insecurity issues but she is also having an affair with her mother's boyfriend. Yes, the man who her mother has slept with took her daughters virginity. If that doesn't disgust you but also peak your interest I don't know what else could possibly. And by peaked interest, I mean by I wanted to know more about her. I wanted to know why Minnie would make the decision to do that. I know she hates her mother and doesn't get along with her and that Monroe is apparently gorgeous. But I guess maybe her hatred for her mother is severe it just didn't bother her. Her mother does seem to be the stem of her insecurity issues so maybe sleeping with Monroe meant to her that she was just as pretty as her mother? How weird. How ballsy. On a side note, Minnie has a thing for blonde men with blue eyes, not sure if that is supposed to stem from something (maybe her dad since he is out of the picture) or if that's just what turns her on but I highly doubt that. I read the whole comic and it ends with a date with Monroe. She ends up acting like such a child the whole date, I just don't understand what Monroe would see in Minnie or even her mother. They both are kind of annoying. Anyways, from what I read about Monroe's personality I really didn't have a problem with him. He seemed like a genuine guy, expect for the fact that he cheated on his girlfriend with her daughter, he is pretty ok. I guess what I'm trying to say is that he is the only character I enjoyed reading about. When Minnie went on her sexual adventures they were interesting to read about but her character, in general, can be extremely annoying. Maybe I'm just over the highly angsty teenaged bull crap. 10/10 I would recommend this to someone. The story was so interesting and just kept drawing me in. The parts when Pascal wrote to Minnie were kind of boring since he really didn't fully understand him since he would just make an appearance through letters. Other than that, her story is raw and powerful. I'm pretty sure I didn't have the chance to read all of the comic since the PDF only had 49 pages and ended abruptly. I still enjoyed what I read, I'll probably just look up the ending. Seriously reader, give it a read. It's pretty interesting. 

P.S apparently there is a movie so check that out too? if you want. I've never seen it but it sounds cool. 

P.S.S if you don't like imagery like this (bottom picture) don't read it. Also, I'm including this scene that I never got to in the PDF because it basically describes the whole comic in a nutshell. 1) Minnie is confused and wants to be loved and also has a lot of psychological issues 2) she gets into drugs 3) she finds out she is bi 4) she lost her virginity to her mother's boyfriend 5) etc. etc. etc....

Snot Girl ✾ Volume One

      

SNOT GIRL

Would you read a comic girl called Snot Girl? Strange name for a comic right? I couldn't help but read this comic since it is written and illustrated by two of my favorite artist; Leslie Hung and Bryan Lee O'Malley. Is it wrong to be to only read a comic just because of the illustrations? Well, this is what drew me to this comic. The illustrations are simply beautiful. I only got my hands on volume one, I expected some of the comic to be illustrated by Bryan, but the whole volume was illustrated by Hung. 

The comic starts off questioning who Lottie Peron is, a social media socialite. Lottie is a fashion blogger who keeps up her perfect appearance online. Her blog defines who she is, it is who she want's to become. Her insecurity disappears when she posts to her blog. Lottie has an allergy issue and when they start acting up snot tends to drip from her nose. She becomes unperfect in her eyes and by taking her new allergy pills she feels that they will make her perfect. In the real world, she is unperfect so she tries anything she can to make herself a "fresh start" on being perfect. It is almost like New Years for everyone, we always say we will do something and when we don't we say we will do it, at this day, at this time. We never end up doing it anyway but in Lottie's case, these allergy pills seem to be doing more harm than good.

Lottie's problems that pertain to the issues surrounding her ex-boyfriend, her abnormal anger issues, and the stunning new fashion blogger, all stem from these new pills the new doctor has prescribed for her. Since I am already on volume one, I can't say whether or not my hypothesis is correct. On a personal level, I can understand Lottie's desire to be the perfect self. Isn't that what we all are striving to attain? To one day look at our life and say, "I finally reached (insert your name here) 2.0".  

The transitions in the comic are not my favorite, sometimes it can be a little confusing but that is all made up for by re-reading and the art style. Other than dealing with Lottie's personal problems, she has to deal with living in a fake fantasy world these fashion blogger put on for themselves, having artificial friends, and yearning for on person to truly accept her. Oh, and that she almost murdered one of thew new fashion bloggers who gave her this embarrassing nickname, Snottie Lottie. I want to see her prevail, from being Snottie Lottie to being just Lottie. I'll have to get my hands on volume two and find out.

to be continued...

                                 

The Arrival⌇week one⌇Shaun Tan

❝ The Arrival❞

☞  week one ☜

The Arrival is so visually appealing and captivates the audience because it is so relatable to people during that time. The Arrival is relatable and that is why people are so easily drawn into the comic. Analyzing each picture, you can tell that the comic is about immigration, people traveling to a new world.  Immigration at the time was difficult for families, leaving your home and uprooting somewhere across the world. People start to feel isolated and afraid of the future. Each picture tells a story about what these people experienced and their raw emotion. The author, Shaun Tan, uses vivid use of characters and surrealism to bring the everyday story of immigration to life. Creating more of a feeling of alienation, Tan creates unique little creatures and mystical settings to symbolize a new world. The Arrival is mostly upbeat with serious tones sprinkled throughout the comic. 

The Arrival is a whimsical story of a man who leaves his family to discover a new world with new opportunities. Throughout his journey, he discovers new creatures and beautiful locations. Even though he does not speak the language and he is in a new world. The man meets other immigrants and finds work. This simple story is told beautifully without the need of words. Just the use of elegant illustrations.