Coloring/Art Styles

V for Vendetta [Color]

I'm about half way through V for Vendetta and I've just now pinned down what bothers me: the colors! Now don't get me wrong, I still love the plot of the book....but I'm not as engaged in this novel as I was when I first read through books like Blankets or The Walking Dead. I think it is because I am distracted by the colors/art. In V for Vendetta, each page set seems to have a coordinating water color scheme/tone, and as much as I love detailed pictures I kind of feel like it pulls my attention away from the skeleton of the novel.

It's not just the color that bothers me; the art of the novel is a little too sketchy for my tastes. Many of V for Vendetta's panels blend together as I read/view them and I feel as if I don't experience the novel to the same extent that I have with other graphic novels. Also, the speech bubbles kind of blend into each panel and don't stand out. As such, I occasionally find myself skipping over them...

American Born Chinese [Color]

I don't just have a boilerplate dislike of graphic novels in color; American Born Chinese is a graphic novel that I've enjoyed each time that I've read through it. In this novel, the colors are solid and the lines are uniform and definite. Also, the speech bubbles are clearly defined in thicker black lines. I believe that the simplicity of the colors makes my reading experience more clear and I am able to absorb the panel in its entirety.

Persepolis [Black & White]

Graphic novels such as Persepolis appeal to me because of how simple, yet effective, the art appears. The characters do not require immense detailing or shading to convey the necessary emotions and tone. Would it be interesting to experience the book in color? Yes, definitely! But, I feel the novel is much more 'readable' in its current format.

The Walking Dead: Days Gone Bye [Black & White

I'm also not saying that simpler is better as a rule. An artist, like Tony Moore, can draw a detailed panel/comic [in gray-scale or cyanotype or whatever] and still have it be incredibly 'readable'.  I guess the point I'm trying to make here is that I think art in graphic novels/comics needs to be effective and direct. In V for Vendetta I think I experience something like a sensory overload with each page I read/view. Unfortunately, I have just moved the towering pile of graphic novels off of my desk to discover that it is well past four in the morning. As such, I should probably stop blogging and get some sleep :)

Theories & Approaches

I'd have to say that this is one of the most interesting classes I've taken thus far in my career as a student. Not only am I able to read books that interest me, but I am also able to explore video games from a perspective other than 'mindless gaming'.....for credit :) What a lovely concept. Even more! I can blog as an assignment ^_^ and shamelessly use excessively nerdy pictures in my posts.

 If you're new to this particular blog, feel free to disregard any and all posts prior to this one as they were for a class from last semester.