Barefoot Gen

Wow. What to say about Barefoot Gen. It's definitely something I didn't want to watch at 8.30 in the morning. It's a very strong, heavy story. An autobiography of Keiji Nakazawa, a survivor of the Hiroshima bombings. The story starts out innocently enough, and to be honest I didn't get hooked until the bomb was dropped. It was like watching a car crash, it's horrible but you can't look away. I feel like this could be a useful tool in teaching people about the bombings because its an interesting way to show it, and it's very attention grabbing.

Underground Comix

These are absolutely hilarious. I read a lot of the Tijuana Bible comic strips, and I couldn't stop. They're obviously directed towards an older audience, as they're all preeetttty pornographic.
These comics combine sexuality and humor in a really easy to understand, humorous way. They made me giggle, but there really wasn't much depth to them at all. They were all very straightforward, so although they gave me a laugh, they're not something I would read again, at least not very soon. The idea of an underground comic is very appealing to me, much like Ringling's underground zine, ZigZag. They're a fun way to get out ideas and stories that would otherwise be overlooked or remain unpublished by a lot of other papers, and companies. They're fun, rebellious, and give the youth a sense of their own. They're really humorous, and fun.

A Contract with God

This graphic novel, in my opinion, was really really compelling. It sunk it's hooks into me, and I couldn't stop reading. I really enjoyed the gritty, dark nature of it, although it does get a little too intense for my tastes at some points. The way the panels are laid out with the white space, and the art style really lend to the mood of the novel. The ink work definitely sets a dark, mysterious tone throughout. It's definitely a different turn from other things we've been looking at, which have been fun and whimsical. Contract is definite proof that comics are NOT just for children, and can deal with some pretty heavy subject matter suitable only for adults.

Tin Tin, The Shooting Star

To be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about the Tin Tin comic books. They're fun and have interesting stories, but I had a hard time concentrating on them.

It's hard to tell whether or not Tintin is an adult or not, especially considering his baby face. This caused some confusion for me.

I feel like the stories are really interesting, but there's just something that wasn't clicking for me with the Tin Tin comics. I can't really put my finger on it.

The Adventures of Prince Achmed

The first thing I have to say about this is that it is incredibly beautiful. It was almost entrancing. Being a huge fan of paper craft, I really appreciate all the intricate scenery, and little details put into it.

I believe that technically, this would be the first animated film, as opposed to Snow White. This film really doesn't get all the credit it deserves.
I feel like its definitely under appreciated, but it's something I think everyone should see.

Comic Strips

I am a huge fan of comic strips, specifically Calvin and Hobbes. I've loved them since I was young, and I still even have some of the books sitting at home. They're simple, fun and easy to enjoy at any age. This gives them a wide age range of people who can enjoy them. They have an easy to get sense of humor, but can tackle subject matter that can be fairly touchy or complex.
The Peanuts comics definitely have a lot of complex themes and stories in them. The stories are fun and and timeless, considering some youth today still enjoy them. The characters are full of personality, and have even jumped from the comic book page to the television. I don't know about you, but I know that even Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, whatever holiday, me and my family watch the Peanuts specials. It's something that I still hold dear to me.

These comics are fun for a wide range of people, and are incredibly relatable, which I believe contributes to their greatness. They are timeless and I think they will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come