A Contract With God

This is the first graphic novel I have read.  I prefer this to most comic books.  A fully fleshed out story with a message in the end.  The way the different stories are woven around each other creates a cohesive overall story.  The saying, "Its a small world" comes in mind.  It reminds me that all things are connected.  The first story is very interesting, including religion as a center focus.  The story is relatable in the sense that such a tramatic experience can change a person and distort their perseptions of the world.  I have seen such things from personal experience.  The whole concept of making a contract with God is true but not in such a concrete form.  The act of writing out the details of a contract sounds a little upsurd.  Although, it does reflect how many religious people follow religion.  They make a contract and do good things, God makes a challenge to test your faith, some stay strong, while others abandon their faith completely.  Over time they might come back or as the story illustrates, try to bargain for a new contract, one not made with your intentions but based on others.  Corresponding to the bible, it says,"Not to test God".  The consequenses wont be as seavre but it is something that is not done.  The book as a whole flows with ease and makes it fast to read.  This is now one of my favorite books

Peanuts

The Peanuts comic strip is the most entertaining to read.  The humor is simple yet complex in the underlying themes such as politics or ethics.  The Journey Through the Tribune is one such comic.  Filled with facts and information while adding some humorous comments here and there.  I find that comics like these are enjoyable to read.  Step by step tour without having to go there yourself.  The use of having characters that are in the newspaper talk about being in the news paper is clever.  This comic seemed to be longer than most Peanuts that I've read.  It would be categorized as a movie compared to the other strips which would be closer to t.v shows.  The style and dialogue clearly reflect the era.  Retro in intent and full of one liners.  The 50's dialogue comes off as corny and very salesman-like.  Propaganda filled saying and the sense that the characters talk short and fast is an unappealing aspect.  Despite my personal preference, Peanuts are a classic and gives a warm feeling of the old days when I was a kid watching Charlie Brown. 

Krazy Kat

The transitions are kind of standard.  Some have awkward jumps, more movement between panels.  The style is gestural, not much regard for reference but focused on expression and action.  The relationship between the pictures and the words are remotely balanced.  The words fit the pictures and even strong emotion like anger.  They are easy to read.   Action is expected in these strips are at least a sense of movement. These strips are about a satire of sorts or conflict between the two main characters.

Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend

The transitions are fluid and easy to understand.  They move mostly from action to action or moment to moment.  Almost every single strip ends with the dreamer in the bed.  The style is very controlled, each mark is made with a purpose.  Some strips are more controlled than others, specifically the line quality.   Some would have strong line, with definite line.  Others have broken lines.  The word bubbles are simple but jam-packed with words.  It makes it hard to read at times.  Most of the time, the picture/word relationship work nicely but some of the bigger panels have word bubbles that take up too much of the space.  The strips seem like they are about open creativity of the mind.  While dreaming, anyone can be anything or anyone that want to be.