I want to be "Wow-ed"

When I read a book, regardless of the style, I want my brain to be titalated.

It can come in the form of prose, pictures, design, ideas, confrontation, emotive, and the endless ways that it can impact you mentally, spiritually, emotionally, physiologically, metaphorically, religiously, culturally, relationally and all of the weird, and wonderful ways, that we operate as a human being.

I have found over the last couple of years a deep appreciation of comics and pop culture.

I was contemplating about what I look for in a comic book to spend my time to read one.
I peruse the shelves of the library, and I noticed that I look for certain aspects that it must contain in order for me to spend my time reading it.

I'll use the recent read of, The Walking Dead, to demonstrate some of the features of this saga that I don't mind reading.

These are a few of my favourite things...

Compelling Theme

As I scan through the different comic books, there are certain genres that my brain has a relationship with.

There are childhood rememberings, such as, Batman, Dr Who, Star Wars, Alien, Blade Runner and Star Trek, for examples, that bring back fond childhood memories.

Then there are stories like, The Walking Dead, that bring back the moment I watch the first 2 Seasons of the TV Series. I recall enjoying them, before TV ethics destroyed the raw, in your face, unapologetic style that was true to the creators story.

I see, The Walking Dead, as a gory, pulp fiction style of, potentially endless stories - something which I really don't want to invest so much time into.

However, I found that the idea of zombies, the challenge of human interactions, and personal struggles to be compelling enough for me to read one randomly, and still be able to piece together the story.

Also, it is not only the story that compells me to read it - it is also the style of artwork.

Artwork

I find myself attracted more to the gritty style of artwork.
I enjoy the dark, shadowy Batman, although I can also enjoy the TV Series colourized style of Batman too - it all depends on the artists ability.

Here, a page from the Walking Dead, this 2 page spread contains alot that was crafted by the artist.

You wee the distraught character in the Right Bottom part. He is anguished, he is missing a hand, he is mentally, emotionally, disconnected from everything that is going on.

The three kneeling figures are all prostrate in their own way. Succumbed to outcome of some event.

The big guy holding the barbed wire club is obviously in command.
He is surrounded by armed minions, and yet, he would be mennacing on his own as well.

The use of light and shadow makes for an impactful scene.

However, it is not just the artwork that brings this moment to life. It has to be designed and crafted to have it make sense.

Just being gory not maketh the zombie comic!

It helps, but it has to be a vehicle to add depth to characters, events, and open us up to moral and ethical delimmas.

Life and Death decisions. What is Right and Wrong? Do the Ends justify the Means?

Crafted beyond just Comic Panes

The other outstanding quality that top level comics have - is the use of the comic panes to add a variety of styles.

Full page, Double Page, 3 pane, muli pane - all of these can be used to add the necessary outcome to the story.

This one Pane I love, as it shares the same picture over 2 panes. I felt it focused the tension between the two "alpha" characters.

Here I love how in the series of panes, the middle one where the club is drawn across the left to the right pane.

The shadows, the emotions, and the constant threat of violence stands out.

But, not only capturing emotion, or describing an event, but the ability to convey action, movement, the kind of character that you are seeing.

In this next picture you see that the character is athletic, nimble and acrobatic...

Human Dialogue

I also look out for pages that are dedicated to the interactions between different characters within the story.
What are their motivations? How strong is their allegiances? What would it take for adversaries to work together?

Alot can be uncovered from the dialogue of characters. Even if not much is said, alot can come to light from what is not said as well. The posturing, the stand offs, the body language and so on.

There are also suprising twists and turns that can become unveiled. Things you didn't necessarily expects - or provides an insight as to the motivations of characters.

For example, in this gory exchange, we get to see the rationale of the antagonist with the barbed wire club as to why he keeps the protagonist alive, and under his thumb, whereas, this unfortunate traitor had thought his betrayal woul be rewarded - but ended up being the butt of a gory joke.

Keeps me "Wow-ed"

As I turn the pages, I am constantly, "WOW-ed".
The story, the art work, the comic design, the characters, and on and on - it titilated my brain on a level that is different from reading general novels.

I don't read comics often - I want them to keep giving me surprises.