Asterios Polyp

     This entry is coming from one's perspective who have spent most of his childhood with Marvel comics. Hell, I still read the adventures of men in tights all the time and I loooove them. I don't care what indie fans say about superhero comics, my opinion is storytelling in superhero stuff has progressed a lot. Look at "Requiem" by J.Michael Straczynski collaborating with Esad Ribic, or "the Joker" by Azarello and Lee Bermejo as recent examples.
     Before reading Asterios Polyp, I did a mini internet research about it and came across some positive feedback (like "best graphic novel of the year!!!"). So I set my expectations very high when I flipped the first page. Although I really really liked the way of story was told (like separation of the worlds of Asterios and his girlfriend with line and form, like very smart and effective use of typography with different speechbubles, each one having a unique character... All these stuff is pretty cool) I didn't enjoy the story. Well, to put in better words; I did not like the story. And I think this is the most crucial thing in a graphic novel. I remember enjoying graphic novels which had great stories but they had poor art. Or they had art that I didn't like.
     Maybe I didn't like the story because the ups and downs in it weren't enough for me. I wanted more tension. Especially the first half. The story's second half has more action in it, and I enjoyed it more.
But I feel like this piece needs multiple readings. It's one of those works which offers something else than just a good story. It has little details. It's been made cleverly and uniquely. Nobody can argue with that.

     It's just doesn't appeal to me.

Oryx and Crake

I don't know how healthy would it be to write about a book when you're only halfway through it but I still want to write a few words about this book - Oryx and Crake, by Margaret Atwood.

Okay now, I've never read any works of Atwood until now. The only thing I knew about the book was that it had a post apocalyptic setting. Thats all. So I was expecting a lot of "chaotic stuff" in it (oh how i love labeling and having prejudice!) and got the first surprise in the very first page. The page was describing a tropical beach scene, how lively things they are in that setting. After reading many chapters, and getting into the story, I started to think that the beach that was described in the first page was author's "chaotic stuff", same thing that we know but in a different package. But then I find myself doubtful about this thought. Which one was more chaotic? A world with full of people, their corruption, their rules, their words, terms, science, culture or the absence of all these?

When Snowman went back to his memories, as a reader, I always wanted book to continue in that time period and never go back to it's present time. The funny thing is though, Snowman's "Jimmy days" were much more darker. So why did I want the book to continue in that time period then ? While the present day was more peaceful? I guess it's because there was more action in Jimmy's world. And it's very similar to our world, so I didn't feel alien in there.


Note : This entry might be updated after I finish the novel.