Here's Wednesday's video (19 min.) about reading style in comics, which will help you with questions #1 & 2 especially on your template:
RESPONSE QUESTION (post as comment or e-mail): basically, I want you to answer question #1 from your template here as well (you can double-dip, and use the same response twice if you like)...discuss the artistic style of ONE of the chapters/comics in Superman: American Alien. How does it make us feel about the story and the characters? How does it illustrate the type of story or genre we're reading about? Do you feel it went well with the story, or somehow contradicted it? Would you prefer one of the other styles in the book, or is this your favorite--and if so, why? Be specific and try to discuss a specific frame or passage in the book that helped you 'see' this. Try not to talk too generally about the entire chapter and challenge yourself to figure out why you either like/dislike the art, and how it makes you feel about the characters and story.
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The style of Hawk felt rough around the edges or even dirty. Lots of out of focus shadowy scenes where the subjects are off center. I could hear 90s Seattle grunge playing on a broken speaker. It definitely portrays a gritty nature I feel the artist was trying to get across. The artwork in the chapter feels like it's showing a more modern view of a small town as opposed to the “field of dreams-esque” version we got in Dove. I wouldn’t say this is my favorite style depicted in the novel, but I think for this story it is necessary to get the feel of some of the backstory we missed out on.
ReplyDeleteOne particular thing I noticed was the artist's choice of swapping out some of the colors for the scenes when “Owen’s gang” comes onto the panel. The jaundiced color pallet immediately lets you know they are the bad guys. As far as one panel goes, I can narrow it down to the first cell on The page when Clark is confronting the gang in the living room. In this scene we see Clark standing in the doorway surrounded by the soft blue hue of night, whereas the family held hostage, and the menacing arm of Owen brandishing a revolver are saturated in that same eerie orange glow from the gas station scene. The next few panels show the contrast back and forth between the two colors.
I also like the contrast between the first time we see Clark and Pete in the car, which I think is a Camaro, I'm not really a car guy, and the second time. The first time, one panel has them both off center, boarding on out of frame, and really lets you feel that they are relaxed and enjoying themselves. The second time they are in the car they are giving Pete’s Uncle a ride home after the shooting. We can see that the same elements are in use but we get an entirely different feel from the scene.
Yes, I completely agree with your description of "Hawk"--it's very gritty, and a lot like grunge! I can hear Soundgarden or Alice in Chains in the background...and how appropriate for this coming-of-age piece, where he realizes he can't hide behind childhood any longer. Evil has come to his doorstep, and even Smallville hides its own monsters (indeed, this comic is a lot like Capote's In Cold Blood, which is also about a home invasion in Kansas). The style sells the horror and grittiness of this piece, where his first outing as a superhero goes a little awry, becoming violent and bloody. He doesn't know how to do it yet, and it's not going to be easy. What a contrast to the "Field of Dreams" style of the first comic, which is about home and family and love. This is a great description of the two comics, and I think it also explains why they chose to switch artists from comic to comic...we get more of a sense of Clark growing up and inching toward his new identity as Superman, which only happens in the very last comic.
DeleteThis comic is very sharp. I would describe it as a tight more realistic type of artwork. I did not quite enjoy how small everything seemed and every chapter was like this. It made it hard to read the comic and look at what was happening. This type of tone for the reader is more chaotic and suspenseful. I also do feel that it is suited to the different stories within the book. Each chapter had a different villain or problem Clark had to face and with it each on was fairly overwhelming with the type of artwork. Johnathon Chase who wrote the last chapter of the book with Lobo, this might have been the most all over the place chapter there was. This part of the artwork almost swirled together. It also had many onomatopoeia`s shown all over the page during the fight between superman and Lobo. The reason I dislike this art type is because it is hard on the eyes. I have always preferred smooth lines and large spaces in the page rather than how this chapter has a lot of little details and just a lot going on in the artwork in general.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree--the last chapter is "all over the place," and yet it has pieces of all the other chapters, too. It's where he finally has to move forward and become Superman for the first time, or else the Earth is really toast. So it's funny at times, stark and gothic at times, and also occasionally heroic. Some images show him as THE Superman, while others show him as the scared teenager we've encountered before.
DeleteI love how each chapter in this book represents a different stage in Clark Kent's life and how the art so thoroughly represents that. From the beginning chapter you have a very round and innocent art style, the back of the book describes it as Pixar-like. By the time you get to the last chapter the lines are more angular the colors are darker and it portrays a much more mature perspective.
ReplyDeleteTh e chapter “The Hawk” has a very appealing aesthetic that adds to the overall tone of the chapter. This chapter focus’s on Clark Kent as a teenager. He is dealing with not only you typical teenage transition things but also his place in a world that was not his original home. The art in this chapter is much more sketchy. Everything feels like it is just one click out of clear focus. Which is a representation of Clark’s life at the moment. As a teenager you haven’t quite got your life in focus yet. You are still trying to determine what it is that you want to focus in on. As the chapter begins Clark is just trying to be a normal teenager, talking about girls, drinking in abandoned lots; minor deviances that adolescences participate in to establish their independence. The colors used in this chapter are generally soft but they are contrasted with heavy and dark line work. This is represents that while Clark is trying to be a normal American teenager because so many people know about his powers they hold a different expectation for him. This is seen when the sheriff picks Clark up for help on a crime investigation. Clark’s preserved adolescence is sharply contrasted with the abnormal dependence on Clark’s ability, just as the soft colors are contrasted with the dark lines. The colors shift as well when the focus changes from Clark the typical teenage boy to Owen the druggie. The colors become more saturated when Clark becomes more dependent on his super powers.
I love this observation: "he colors used in this chapter are generally soft but they are contrasted with heavy and dark line work. This is represents that while Clark is trying to be a normal American teenager because so many people know about his powers they hold a different expectation for him." That's well said--we see how people want to see him, as well as how he's trying to see himself. This comic is a lot about expectations of identity: is he an American teenager or an alien from Krypton? A responsible adult or a savior of mankind? Will he have friends or be forever isolated? The comic tells his story, and shows how you learn to fit into a world that isn't necessarily drawn in your style.
DeleteThis book is very interesting and I have only gotten 3 chapters so far. I like how each chapter has been different too. One thing I have noticed is the artwork is very sharp. Sharp lines and even the characters faces are drawn sharp. Some chapters have bright colors while chapters like the Hawk are dark and shaded.
ReplyDeleteThe chapter the Parrot gave the book an element we haven't experienced yet. It was very comical and lighthearted compared to Dove and Hawk. Clark Kent has a normal human moment when he acts like Bruce Wayne, this give us some comedy and fun while the illustrations are fun but still keep a sharp look. There is a transition to a darker stage during the panels when Clark was hinting at himself being alien. You can also see in these panels sadness that Clark knows there is more out there for him but he hasn't grown into the person he wants to be yet. It then transitions into being funny again when Clark is "drunk" or the alien try's to kill him. After that we get the same happiness from the beginning of the chapter when he is telling his girl bye, you can see the smile from Clark in the illustrations, which I take as if he is finally figuring some stuff out. I feel as if this chapter and the illustrations went well with the story, Clark Kent is still trying to learn what his purpose is, and this Bahamas trip is one step closer to revealing his true self.
Yes, great points...each comic is one step on his journey to self-discovery, and the inevitable process (for us, at least) of his becoming Superman. What makes it fun is believing that he might NOT become Superman. So the art has to make us believe this, otherwise, it seems like there's no drama or danger. I think we really feel it in the second chapter, and also when he encounters Lex Luther. Like any would-be superhero, he doesn't get it right the first time, and he doesn't know what kind of hero he should be...I love his initial outfit, with the aviator hat and goggles. It's silly, but endearing...he looks comic, but also a little sad. The artwork makes you care about him, while also realizing that this isn't where he's going to end up.
DeleteCallie Farley: I really loved the first volume and it's art style! I think that when I think of action comics that is the art style i think of! But I also liked how the lines were very clean cut and it was easy to see, in my opinion. I also really loved the colors used, especially since it was set in a more rural area. I think that I also like it because even though it's still cartoonish, it feels more realistic. However, I really didn't enjoy the art style of the second volume. I will admit that it does really fit the story line of that volume and I think that it works really well for it because it takes it that much further in the overall tone of the story. I think that I don't enjoy that art style because it seems of gritty and grimy and overall more messy than the first style. However, again, I think that it works because of the story line and, I will say, I like that the art style changes because it separates the two stories and they become very distinct from one another.
ReplyDeleteYes, the style of this chapter is more emotional but also more realistic than many of the other chapters (especially the next two). I think we need that emotional anchor to get invested in Superman's story before we move on. After all, many people find him a very boring character, very two-dimensional, so this comic is trying to show his humanity and depth. So we couldn't start out with the sketchy artwork of the next chapter...we need something soft and powerful and deep. And as you say, it's very distinct from the world he soon finds himself in when he has to make his own decisions.
DeleteI wanted to discuss the art in chapter one because it was much more aesthetically pleasing than the second chapter that I had read. However, the second chapter immediately made me scrunch up my nose when I turned the page so I felt that was sign that I should probably choose. They style that was sued within chapter two is a much rougher approach than that of the first. The frames gave an appearance of rough sketches, rather than pieces that took a lot of work. They gave me an ominous feeling right away. I honestly felt I disliked it, which made sense once I got into the actual story line that went with it. I obviously was not meant to like the character of Owen and his gang, that was the area of focus within. The artwork clearly illustrated the dark tone that went along with the heinous deeds that they were doing place within the story, such as the gruesome murders within the gas station. I feel the art went well with the action that was taking place but would much rather have the light airy feeling of the first chapter with the blue skies and the flying lessons taking place in cornfield. However, I personally prefer a more upbeat type of story.
ReplyDeleteYes, I like the idea that the artwork looks like 'rough sketches,' since he hasn't really figured out his life yet. Where does he fit into this world, which he thought was so simple (rural Kansas) but is actually filled with murder and violence? Should he hide his powers or be the savior of humanity? Can he kill people in the name of justice? It's all a sketch for him, and this chapter shows his sketchy his understanding of the world still is...and how not even a superhero can live in a black and white world.
DeleteI really loved the art work in chapter 2. The artwork really explains the situation that is going on. The girl Clark meets on the yacht tells him that it is okay to pretend to be Bruce Wayne and so he does and he is having fun. He is finally fitting in.Every one is bright colored and just seems fun. When him and the girl are alone the background is pinkish purple and the girl is wearing a green shirt. For me, I focused first on the background and then I noticed the girl. I think the artist wanted us to see how pretty this girl is and how she is always smiling. She really seems like a genuine person. Then I notice Clark and he really seems intrigued by her. Then, when him and the girl say "see you again someday" the art work shows that it is not a sad goodbye. It is a goodbye full of hope that one day they will see each other again and the colors used really show that. In the background the skies are a pretty blue with white clouds. It really seems like a nice day. I feel like this chapter showed a side of Clark that we haven't seen. He seemed happy and not worried about his superpowers. But then again he was pretending to be someone he was not so that is probably why he was not worried.
ReplyDeleteYes--this is a side of him we haven't seen yet, because in a way, it's NOT him at all! And yet, that's what's so fun about this chapter--he's play acting, just as Bruce Wayne 'pretends' to be a rich billionaire playboy (he's really a revenge-obsessed superhero). So it suggests the unreality of having an alter ego, when you're true self is actually the superhero we see in other chapters (and styles of art). Interestingly, the girl he meets here becomes an important character later on in the DC universe...
DeleteJordyn Moore: The section I am choosing to discuss from Superman: American alien is “Parrot”. The art for Parrot is done by Joëlle Jones and color done by Rico Renzi. I would describe this style of comic as artistic and almost cartoony because of the bright and fun colors bouncing off the page. The artwork has a feeling of high spirits and happiness to it that creates a tone of happy energy for the reader. The bright colors and almost cartoonish looking characters make this chapter stand out from the rest which I really enjoyed. I also believe that this chapter did a great job at representing this part of his Clarks life. The art was different, but this was also a time in Clarks life where he was finally figuring out who he wanted to be, and I think that maybe the theme change was necessary. I feel this section of the story is unique to Clarks story because it is very different from all the other types of styles in the book. While some other sections do have bright colors and happy faces, they just don’t have the same energy that the section Parrot does.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love "Parrot" since it's so cartoony and light-hearted; it's like a Romantic Comedy, where nothing major is at stake, though it takes a surprisingly 'deep' turn toward the end. After all, he's not really being himself, so it's easy not to take yourself seriously when you're wearing a mask. But sooner or later you have to take it off, which is why the style is so different from the chapter before and after it. It's not really his world.
DeleteMayra Munoz: The chapter I want to discuss is chapter one, it has a comedy style/feel that brings out the color and the fun to the story. It made me feel like a child myself, waiting for something funny to occur,and even though many parts of the story are actually sad, it gives it a sense of peace and comedy at the same time. I think that for this part it went well with the story, since Kent hasn’t figured out what all is happening to him. So the fun in all of his adventures is just beginning even though he thinks it is just devastating and weird, but, what kid doesn’t have that weird period in his/her life? I have not finished the book, so I cannot tell if this is my favorite or not, I still have several more to read, but so far this has been one of the most interesting, and I do feel like it portrayed the feeling of the story in a fabulous way.
ReplyDeleteYes, the first one is a great opening for the book, since it begins with a sense of adventure and possibility. The artwork is naive yet wise--it seems to hint at great things to come. The piece reminds me of a sunrise, a little quiet, a little sentimental, but also promising great things to come. You would never guess what the next chapter would be from this!
DeleteThe art style in "Hawk" is moody, gloomy, and sometimes slightly indistinct. This was the section in which I had the hardest time telling the characters apart - this is probably due to the heavy action (in which everyone is human, unlike other chapters), the style in which the faces are drawn (more shading, softer lines, more realistic) and, frankly, all the shadows. Like Jonathan said, it seems gritty, dirty.
ReplyDeleteThis suits the action in this chapter - Clark hasn't yet made up his mind on using his powers to protect humanity, and the moodiness of the art reflects his indecision and conflict.
The first few pages, in which Clark is alone with Lana, create a sense of the intimacy and immediacy of adolescent romantic chemistry with all the close-ups of their faces. In combination with the gritty palette, this gives me a sense of the ill-fated-ness of this relationship - and the deal is sealed with the close-up of Lana's face when Clark leaves. It is almost unrecognizable in all the shadow.
Yes, great responses--I like the point of how the artwork matches his own inner turmoil, the 'moodiness' of his teenage confusion. I think if it was done in a clearer, more direct way, we would lose the impact of the chapter. It's supposed to be jarring and disturbing--indeed, it's the chapter/comic I remember most from the entire book, and the one that I keep coming back to. I think this is a great collaboration and a beautiful way to show how art and words can work together to create a story.
DeleteI enjoyed the first couple chapters that were more lighthearted and a little sitcom-y about Clark growing up, but the chapter that made me really feel was "Hawk" illustrated by Tommy Lee Edwards. While Clark is still growing up he's hit teen years and has become a little rebellious and moody. This is translated well in the comic, the entire artistry changes with the comic compared to the lightheartedness of the previous two chapters. His teen "angst" mixed with the severity of the contents of the chapter, would not have been fitting with the "bubbly" nature of the first two chapters. Hawk needed to be gritty and rough.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the contrast in the scene where Clark goes to the house to stop the criminals and it's very dark, almost hard to make out who is who. Clark doesn't even seem to know what he's doing there, only that he wants to stop people from dying. Again, the strips are mostly dark and muted colors, then when one of the criminals goes to shoot him with a shot gun a larger panel is all brightly orange colored and her is shooting lasers out of his eyes to stop the man. This is a very powerful scene to me. The coloring compared to all the rest makes it stand out and feel very powerful.
-Brittany Davis
I almost didn't see this response--sorry! Great response and analysis of this comic...the colors do indeed tell the story, and make us feel Clark's conflict much more powerfully! I'm not sure this would translate as well to a traditional novel or even a film, where it might seem more cliched. Great reading!
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