GN Review -- Ghost World / Daniel Clowes

I’ve been staring at a blank word processor page, a library copy of Ghost World on my desk, for about half an hour now as I try to figure out what to say about this semi-classic, somewhat disconnected yet strangely involving story by Daniel Clowes.  

It’s certainly a memorable story, with a good deal of acclaim, though I find myself caring little for its overall tone and content.  It has a strong following among fans of alternative comics and post-adolescent drama; some have hailed it as a spiritual successor to Salinger’s The Catcher In the Rye.  It certainly has no self-esteem issues, with some of its summary and promotional materials calling it “a must for any self-respecting comic fan’s library.”

The story centers around two young women, Enid Coleslaw and Becky Doppelmeyer, and their mundane antics as they wander around their hometown, analysing and criticizing the people, the popular culture, and each other.  As they make fun of and interfere with the lives of others around them, they also wonder what they will end up doing with their own lives, now that they’ve graduated from high school.  Becky, the more normal-seeming of the two, seems intent on starting a “normal life” in some fashion, while Enid, an out-there and rebellious misfit, relates some designs on attending college.

Over time, the girls’ differing personalities and outlooks cause tension between them, and they eventually drift apart.  While Becky seems ready to start her normal life by dating Josh, a friend of theirs, Enid, who remains anything but normal and wouldn’t have it any other way, has failed to get into college.  She leaves town on a bus, presumably to start a new life for herself, after acknowledging Becky’s maturity from afar

I think one of the major problems I have with this story is precisely for what so many others praise it.  Passing off the inane, judgmental and often loudly crass proclamations of its main characters as some kind of exploration of post-adolescent drift and angst, lovers of Ghost World seem to conveniently forget that their heroines here are making no visible effort to right themselves or find their own place in this world, aside from the occasional vague questioning of the future, which is quickly discarded and forgotten.  In the meantime, they prank lonely men, wander into adult bookshops and loudly criticize the people there, and argue about what modern punk is vs. 1970s punk.  It all feels somewhat shallow--which I can handle in comics--but when you then also have to deal with their bluntness, it makes for spending time with people with whom I’d simply rather not have anything to do.

I will, however, praise Mr. Clowes very much for capturing a realistic narrative with these two, as Enid and Becky, whatever issues I may have with their attitudes and behaviors, are extremely well characterized.  They feel very genuine as young women on the drift, and their slow estrangement from one another is no less painful because of their own self-absorptions.  Enid’s own insecurities and self-doubts, when she displays them, stem from the very uncertainties she expresses about the future, and what will become of her life.  Her exit at the end of the narrative seems to symbolize a willingness to face that uncertainty and confront it head-on, and while you ache for her loss (Becky’s friendship) at the end, it’s also easy to cheer for her as she moves on.

The art style, like the writing, has its strengths and weaknesses for me.  Clowes definitely can capture expressions of emotion, and knows the right moments to do so, such as Enid’s plea to Josh near the end of the book, or her holding in laughter during her first sexual experience.  But the inconsistency sometimes seen between the chapters in the characters’ looks can be a little off-putting (Becky seems to suffer the most from this).  The overall style feels like something you’d see from comics in the 1960s--it has a vintage feel to it.  No real opinions about it, good or bad, just an observation.

Overall, it’s still hard for me to come to a firm conclusion about this book.  It has its flaws, and it has its strengths, and both seem to pull me in different directions at various times.  It’s certainly a memorable story, and a good slice of realistic fiction for comic books nerds, both the ones who are too pretentious (yes, I said it) for the mainstream, and those who like comics of all stripes.  If you haven’t read it yet, I would say to check it out.  It’s at least worth a look.  Recommended.

GN Review -- Zita the Spacegirl / Ben Hatke

Zita the Spacegirl is one of those titles that I’ll probably refer to if anyone ever makes a disparaging comment about children’s comics. It’s good storytelling that strikes an emotional chord in places, and in my opinion shows that stories with child protagonists are not necessarily juvenile in scope.

Zita and her friend Joseph are playing around in a field when they discover a crater containing a mysterious device. On a whim, Zita activates the device, triggering a freak surge of energy that grabs Joseph and pulls him through before quickly closing. Initially horrified at what’s happened, Zita resolves to activate the device again and go after Joseph, who wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for her.

Stepping through, she finds herself transported to a faraway planet, with a plethora of alien beings on it and no immediate way back home. After helping a man called Piper, he agrees to help her find Joseph, and soon begins her quest. Encountering hardships and obstacles on her way to the castle where her friend is being held, Zita also finds allies and friends who help her as she helps them.

I have to applaud Hatke’s writing in this story. Zita is a likable character, whose impetuous act of pushing a button sets into motion a chain of events that require her to face up to what she did and rescue her friend Joseph. The characters she encounters eventually form a ragtag group of underdogs whose attachment to the heroine, while brief, still packs an emotional resonance that creates some key moments near the end of the story. The relationships grow and evolve through the narrative, and the quest itself is both harrowing and entertaining.

Zita’s adventure is an entertaining caper that reminded me very strongly of the movie Labyrinth in terms of its structure and overall plot. There’s a girl rescuing someone who was taken away to a distant realm by her actions, she encounters people along the way who form a small but determined band of friends to help her, and there are several character types in this story who closely resemble the characters from Labyrinth. Zita is Sarah, Piper resembles Hoggle in his initial cowardice and eventual courageous redemption, Strong-Strong is like Ludo in his strength and simple gentleness, while One is much like Didymus in his bravado and hilarious general ineffectiveness at combat.

Hatke’s art is a cartoon style that is ostensibly simple, yet surprisingly detailed and imaginative when applied to various characters. It leaves a lot of room for expressiveness and tone, effectively making some scenes very cute and amusing, and others more sinister and intense. He also displays great versatility in designing humans, aliens, and beings of all types to take the reader far away from Earth along with his heroine.

Overall, I found this to be a very charming work, full of action, adventure, and heart. It’s an excellent story for children, but I think anyone of any age who gives this story a try will find it surprisingly transcendent of its intended market. Highly recommended.

GN Review -- Pirate Penguin vs. Ninja Chicken: Troublems With Frenemies / Ray Friesen

As amusing fare for very young comic book fans goes, you can’t get much more promising than Ray Friesen’s creation of Pirate Penguin vs. Ninja Chicken: Troublems With Frenemies.  If the title sounds silly and the illustrations seem wild and cartoony, just wait til you open up the book.

Essentially a collection of many very small strips (1-3 pages apiece on average) and one much larger story, Troublems With Frenemies is about the constant shenanigans of its title characters, who are ostensibly the worst of enemies, but in actuality behave like the best of friends.  Together they fight, tussle, tease, scam, and even help out one another.  In the larger story, Ninja Chicken goes off to a ninja convention while Pirate Penguin stays behind at home, eventually hanging out with Astronaut Armadillo and coming to aid Ninja Chicken when the convention is attacked by a giant monster summoned by Kung-Fu Koala, who despises ninjas.

Quirky, silly, and occasionally clever, this perky pair of crazy characters display a fairly constant schtick, even if their antics may change from strip to strip.  There’s plenty of fun as they fight for often very little reason, prank each other, question each other’s dress and hound one another for favors, and try to obtain goodies like ice cream, gum, and shiny swords.  A short assortment of supporting characters, like Astronaut Armadillo, Kung-Fu Koala, and a pesky pair of pernicious pigeons, add some flavor and occasionally create obstacles for the main characters, always in good fun.

Art-wise, Friesen employs a simple, colorful style with bold lines and distinctive shapes that should easily intrigue young readers.  His animal characters look distinctive from one another, with the possible exception of Ninja Chicken when he’s among his other chicken ninja cousins.  He does a good job of conveying facial expressions with just a couple of lines or well placed shapes, lending his characters moods that support their dialog and keep the action and the hilarity coming.

Overall, this was a highly amusing read that targets its young intended market quite masterfully.  There’s a lot of action and interaction going on for the main characters, and it’s always on the silly side.  I’d recommend this for kids who enjoy humor, pranks, and mischief that isn’t very serious or risque.  Recommended.

GN Review -- Gabby & Gator / James Burks

James Burks puts forth a heartwarming story in Gabby & Gator, about two very different outsiders who come to be friends and must work together to help each other overcome their problems.  Along the way, lessons of loneliness and unconditional acceptance lend a strong moral to an otherwise cute and entertaining read.

We see an early glimpse into Gator’s life, where he is purchased by an impulsive boy whose mother makes him get rid of his new pet.  Ten years later, Gator spends the rest of his days in a sewer, feeding on small animals (including pets!) when he gets hungry.  He doesn’t like who he is or what he does, but with his day to day survival at stake, he has no choice but to live with himself.

Gabby, on the other hand, is an environmentally aware, shy girl who barely speaks.  She likes alternative energy, vegetarianism, and keeping out of direct sunlight.  This of course makes her a tempting target for the other kids, including an oafish bully, who continually taunts her.  When Gator sees him tormenting her, he intercedes, starting a friendship that will change them both by giving them what they crave: someone who accepts them for who they are.

This story is an extremely quick read--you’ll burn through the 192 pages in half an hour, tops--but its charm is undeniable, making for a memorable read for the young audience for which it’s intended.  Gabby is a character many readers will readily relate to, with her shy, bonnet-wearing exterior masking an intelligent, surprisingly well-spoken young lady.  Gator is no different, at least in the fact that he doesn’t understand or approve of some of his own natural urges.  They are in many ways very different people, but their ability to see each other as simply needing a friend sets up some amusing adventures for the unlikely duo.

Burks also keeps the pace going quickly, even as he explores the friendship between his two characters, making amusing quirks, situations, and dialog that will keep young readers interested in seeing what happens next.  There’s a sand castle contest, a daring rescue, an exploration of Gator’s fears about water and the toilet, and a memorable comeuppance as Gabby finally finds her voice at a critical moment.  It’s all done in a fun vein, and the action will endear the reader as much as the characters’ charming personalities.

Art-wise, Burks employs an appropriately simple style that is meant to grab the reader’s attention and reinforce that this is a story intended for children.  He uses vibrant colors, big poses and gestures, and expressive faces to accent the liveliness of his characters and their escapades.  It works well for the story he’s telling, and ensures a satisfied audience.

Overall, I’d say this is a fun, quick read for kids of all ages.  The story is simple for readers of traditional comic book, but there’s no arguing its simple appeal and strong theme of friendship.  Highly recommended.