Comic Book Intro

Chapter One

• single frame w/ no sequence is not comics unless it is included in a large sequence
• "Each successive frame of a movie is projected on exactly the same space--the screen--while each frame of comics must occupy a different space. Space does for comics what time does for film." p. 7
• comics - (noun) plural in form, used w/ singular verb. 1. juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer.
• comics - medium - "vessel"
• glyphs represent sounds instead of a subject being portrayed, and therefore, are not classified as inside our definition.
• Not a clue when comics originated, but they gained some sort of accessibility with the invention (or at least use) of printing
• The father or modern day comics is Rodolphe Topffer, but he thought it was just a silly hobby.
• "comics" has negative connotations and their low self-esteem is self-perpetuating
• May have a lack of conventional story, but there's no mistake of sequence (read instead of browse)
• cartoons are an approach to picture making while comics is a medium which often employs that approach
• the definition of comics is very broad and changing and encompasses many things

Chapter Two

• "icon" - any image used to represent a person, place, thing, or idea
• "symbols" - images we use to represent concepts, ideas, and philosophies
• "picture" - image designed to actually resemble their subject
• cartoon - simplified reality - form of amplification through simplification
• when you abstract an image in cartooning you are not eliminating, but focusing on specific details
• cartooning isn't just a way of drawing, it's a way of seeing
• when you talk to someone, you see their face in sharp detail, but you also have a vague image of your own face
• realistic = someone else
• cartoon = place yourself in story
• tells you to not be aware of messenger
• Two Worlds
• realm of concept - idea
• realm of senses - physical
• cross over (physical extension of yourself)
• can't be too realistic if you want to stay an idea/concept (character)
• backgrounds are more realistic because you don't identify with a brick wall
• "one set of lines to see (background), another set of lines to be (character)." pg. 43
• however, you can use realism to separate characters (show "otherness") as Japanese artists do
• COMPLEX-->SIMPLE
• REALISTIC-->ICONIC
• OBJECTIVE-->SUBJECTIVE
• SPECIFIC-->UNIVERSAL
• the boldness of words makes them easier/faster to read
• But pics abstracted from reality are more like words
• PICTURES = RECEIVED
• WRITING = PERCEIVED

Chapter Three

• "closure" - mentally completing that which is incomplete based on past experience
• "the gutter" - space between the panels (limbo). human imagination takes the two separate panels around it and transforms them into a single idea. 
• the reader decides how the act happens in the gutter. closure is similar to how books (words) work (decision made by reader).
• SIX TYPES
• moment-to-moment
• less interpretation
• action-to-action
• more
• subject-to-subject
• most interpretation
• scene-to-scene
• time and space
• aspect-to-aspect
• look around at place
• non-sequitar
• no relationship
• arrangement of panels is hard
• if the reader is particularly aware of art, closure is harder to come by

Chapter Four

• words introduce time by representing that which can only exist in time--sound
• however, alternatively, captions can let it be one moment
• panel acts as general indicator that time or space is being divided. the duration is defined by the content.
• however, panel shape does matter. whether it is long/short or borderless effect time.
• show motion in comics through lines moving in that direction
• "motion line" - "zip ribbons"
• path of motion imposed over scene
• Japanese artists adopted "subjective motion" which puts readers "in the driver's seat"
• the interaction of time and comics generally leads to one of two subjects: sound or motion
• sound: word balloons and sound effects
• motion: 
• panel-to-panel closure
• motion within panels
• multiple images
• streaking
• lines of motion (zip ribbons)
• moving with

JUXTAPOSED PICTORIAL AND OTHER IMAGES IN DELIBERATE SEQUENCE

Comic Book Readthrough

Title: Captain America: The First Avenger #1: First Vengeance

Writer: Fred Van Lente

Illustrator: Luke Ross

'cause why not

Characters

1. Steve Rogers - Steve is selfless and is always doing good things for others. He will always stand up to bullies, and he will never surrender. His dad fought in WWI, was reckless, and got killed. However, he did get a purple heart. Steve wants to be just like him. 
2. James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes - Bucky shows up about halfway through and takes on the bullies that are beating up Steve. He says that he'd never thought of standing up to them until Steve did it. He's always kind of sarcastic and messes with Steve. For example, when Steve says that "I woulda worn them down eventually" and Bucky says dryly "Yeah, when they died of old age."

Description

We begin with Captain America (Steve Rogers) about to jump out of plane to make an attack on Hydra. As he's falling, he has a flashback to his childhood. He played with little figurines and we learn a little about how his father fought in WWI and his mother is sick. She tells him that he could fight, but that he should be careful. We then see some more Nazi butt-kicking. Then another flashback to when Steve was a little older. This time he's being beaten up in Hell's Kitchen (NY). The rowdy kids are beating him up pretty bad and it seems like Steve doesn't know when he should quit. Out of nowhere, another kid shows up and fights off the attacking kids. He introduces himself to Steve as James Buchanan Barnes, but his friends call him Bucky. We then flash forward again. This time it is to Hydra members discussing Steve (Captain America). They say some ominous stuff and then we wait for the next issue to find out what it means. 

Visual vs. Text

I think if this had just had the text and none of the visual cues, it wouldn't have made sense. You wouldn't have caught many of the small details. For example, they never say that Steve's dad served in WWI or that he had a purple heart, but they do show us a picture of his dad and some army buddies and a purple heart beside it. Additionally, we wouldn't have known that Steve's mom was sick because we only see it, we don't hear anyone ever say specifically that she is. 

Also, if this was a book, it probably wouldn't have been able to switch back and forth so effectively between each time frame. It would have probably been confusing, while in the comic it didn't feel like it. 

Pages that Stood Out

I liked this set of pages the most. While the panel placement is a little uninteresting, I liked the art and the action that was expressed. The use of light/dark in these two pages in really nice. I liked the attention to shadowing and especially the silhouetted frame on the left. I thought it displayed the beginnings of a friendship really nicely. I also liked the closeup on Bucky's face at the bottom left because it was a little gimmicky but it was also nice to learn more. The action was also nice because you could really feel them performing the actions and the closure was easy between, and even in, panels. 

I think these pages further the story in a unique way because 1) we meet Bucky, and 2) they show more of Steve's characterization. We see that even as Steve keeps growing, he still realizes that being selfless and standing up for yourself is the right thing to do. We also meet Bucky who is later Steve's best friend. It's just a nice little origin story that every superhero/villain deserves. 

Other Thoughts

I thought that this comic was a nice way to display most of the things that we read earlier. The only thing I was kind of surprised about, being that it was a Marvel comic, was that there were only a few, if any at all, motion lines. I expected there to be a lot more. Maybe it's just because this was the first issue.

Otherwise, nothing was really confusing and it was an easy read. I figured it was appropriate given the recent Captain America: The Winter Soldier movie.