Nikki Azzopardi - Lit. of Comics & The Graphic Narrative

Week 13: Batman The Killing Joke This week we read one of the comics from the selection in class. This was actually the first DC comic i have ever read. I really enjoyed this one. There were some parts that i found a little strange, for instance the back story of the Joker. I was really into his back story and liked how it was being told bit by bit through the flash backs. I was moved by his devotion to his wife and how we began as a good man, but i found his transformation from sane to insane too sudden and without much reason. Other than than, I loved the comic. I really liked the harsh linear art style of this comic. It was probably my second favorite from all the comics after BlackSad. I also have to say, that i prefer this darker take on Batman and the character in his universe a lot more than the cheesy pop culture depiction.

Week 12: Persepolis, the story of a child hood This was actually my second time reading Persepolis. The first time i read it was in my german class in middle school, and the only thing i remembered was the unique art style. What i found striking as i was reading this comic for a second time was how the author describes her life and the very real challenges she faced from the perspective of a child. Her innocence to what is happening around her is something that all people can relate to. The juxtaposition of her being a simple minded child, with all the conflict surrounding her makes this comic a really interesting read, and provided a different perspective to what was happening in that part of the world. We are so used to seeing these event covered in the news, seeing it in teh form of a comic from the first hand perspective of a child was really fascinating. I really enjoyed reading this comic again. 

Week 11: Every girl is the end of the world for me This week we had the chance to read multiple comics from the list and talk about them with a partner in class. I read a few but my favorite by far was the 'Every girl is the end of the world for me'. I just feel as though i really connected with the simple everyday struggles that the main character went through. The experiences were so personal, honest and simple. Even though it was from the perspective of a young man, most of us have struggles through starting a new relationship, and i could find some simple amusement by reading them through a comic. I actually continued reading the rest of what i couldn't finish during class at home. The art style was rough and stylized, but i actually really liked it. It was still easy to follow, and added to the honest raw experiences that the main character was gong through. Really enjoyed this one!

Week 10: Yaoi Cinderella Boy Chapter 1. This week i read Yaoi Cinderella Boy Chapter 1. This comic amused me. I have heard of yaoi before but never read any. I thought it was rather funny when my roommates walked by and caught me reading it, and as i tried to begin explaining that it was for class, i realized how much of a made up excuse that sounded like. The story was very far fetched on honestly really hard to follow. There was so much going on visually that i wasn't quit sure what order the panels flowed in at some points. And no matter how hard i tried to understand the main character and her secret life, i just kept being pulled out of the story because couldn't stand the art style. This is just my personal taste, but i find it really hard to enjoy mangas (and anime) as I'm not that much of a fan of the art style. I love old fashioned manga like ghost in the shell, but i honestly thought this was hideous. Still an entertaining read though!

Week 9: BlackSad Wow! this has been by far my favorite comic so far. I had actually heard of this comic before but if I am being completely honest, was always a little put off because I assumed it was associated with the furry fandom. I was so wrong however. It was well written with really interesting characters and story, and by far my favorite art style so far. I absolutely loved the character design. Combined with the mature themes, it creates a really interesting comic. Although i haven't followed the comic and i sort of jumped into the middle of a plot that i didn't understand, I still found myself really interested and invested in the characters. Again, i thing the drawings did an awesome job in selling the characters and immersing the readers in this world. I hope to continue reading BlackSad once i find the time.

Week 8: Thoreau A Sublime Life This week i read Thoreau A Sublime life. Although i found the story to be rather slow, it was a relaxing read. What made me enjoy this comic in particular was the art style. I loved the line work and rather desaturated colours. The panel lay out was also really smooth, with far more images than text, which made it very easy to read though. I simply found myself really enjoying the way it flowed in comparison to other comics i read, for instance Maus, which sometimes was a little more challenging to make out. I really liked the larger panels with pretty scenes that offered occasional breaks. There was even a point where the images switched to some rougher pencil sketches which i really loved. The story was a little too simple for me, but the art stye was enough for me to enjoy this comic.