As far as Fun Home goes I’ve decided not to give to tuff of a time. By far it is not my favorite or one I would choose to read again, but I can’t deny that it was “necessary” in the context of the class. I was by far one of the more narrative comic books.  Literature and words are so important to the author and that is reflected in this novel. The word are so important and sometimes I would say more important than the pictures that they narrate. While I would attempt to say this, having learned more about her drawing process and seeing the intricate detail of the finished product I can’t in good conscious negate the importance of the illustrations. So I think it was a worthy addition in that it explored the more narrative side of comic books and was a very interesting depiction of the “literary” world fusing with and influencing the graphic novel world (not to separate graphic novels from the literary)

For my order of preference:

1.) Jimmy C: This surprises even me because it beat out DKR for first. I just love what Ware has accomplished in this novel. The artwork is superb; the story line complex, and the characters reflect a darker/sadder side of human nature that many can relate to. It has a grace about it, and also a sarcasm that I love. I could, have, and probably will(again) read this again. Which is saying a lot as the book is falling apart at the seams quite literally (which is infuriating)

2.) DKR: Aside from home field advantage (home field being my heart and Batman being my FAV) There was really innovative panel work in this novel. Because of its familiar content it is a great transition for baby graphic novel readers, because however familiar Batman is he comes from a very rich universe and there is a lot to be discovered there. As aforementioned it was a treasure trove of varying panels and panel transitions while the artwork is messier than I usually like it suited the content…good stuff all around

3.) American Born Chinese comes in third or 2a. I loved the brightness of this graphic novel…except its not that bright…and it was kind of flawed and lacking in the message it tried to deliver…but it was still approachable…so I don’t bear it ill will for what it lacks. I thought the illustrations were great and I loved some of the border breaking aspects of the panels. The three stories connecting was golden and the laugh track for Chin-Kee was innovative (at least I’ve never read a laugh track) Despite its shortcomings it had a great story of self discovery and self acceptance and all it lacks (in acknowledging other sides of the racial acceptance struggle)  makes it a great piece to talk about.

4.) Maus for a black and white piece this is really powerful. I don’t have much to say about this one but as a historical document I find it to be innovative and effective. As a story I find it to be engaging. This also had a lot of great panel work and the subtlety of repeating images (the swastika) in varied/unexpected forms i.e. the smoke from the chimneys.

5.) The Complete Persepolis is more of a historical document than Maus. Maus depicts one persons story from the Holocaust but there is a lot that is common knowledge concerning that horrific event. Strapoli takes the time to break down the history of Iran that most people (at least I) didn’t know. In all of her careful honest detail Strapolki successfully makes herself and her people easier to relate to. This was one of her goals and she did it successfully. This was also a novel where the words were chief in conveying the story and the emotion. It is interesting to see how Bechdel and Strapoli both focus on words but Bechdel’s pictures trump Strapoli’s in detail but both of the complete works pack a lot of emotion.

6.) Watchmen: It’s odd that this is so low on my list because I really like this novel. Plan on reading it again. I think I just like the other stories more because they were more real to me and slightly less jarring in an apocalyptic way.

7.) Uzumaki: I think I would have appreciated this more if we’d read the trilogy. I don’t like scaring/disturbing myself to no effect and I couldn’t help but feel that I was subjecting myself to horror for no reason. Aside from the experience of reading right to left and back to front I wasn’t afforded anything else especially enlightening about graphic novel technique. This is not me discrediting  it because as a graphic novel and a horror manga it was working well in a lot of way (there are some horrific images in this book) but it was essentially me scaring myself and not learning anything from it

8.) Fun Home and IMDH(slightly below Fun Home): I’ve already give my shpeal(?) for FH at the beginning of this post. It definitely served its function and accomplished its goals I personally just wouldn’t read it again. IMDH I read squinting honestly it was hard for me to look long and hard at the distorted images and get everything that I could from it. It  definitely stands out as the most visually challenging of all the novels. However I hated the illustrations and cared little for the main character. Honestly I’ll probably be returning these last three novels to the book store.

While I understand the natural tendency to have more sympathy for one person vs another it is really hard for me to look at the stories/histories of Jimmy and James in these terms. 

When I consider the way Ware has constructed this story what with its stream of conscious and interconnecting panels that more often than not flow seamlessly from present to past to imagination/dream to present again, I consider this and can’t help but think that Ware does not really want us to look at these men separately (not entirely). I think the entire structure of the work points to how connected these men are.

In my mind I see them as two sides of the same coin. They are almost like the same raw product/raw material placed under different circumstances and the entire novel unfolds the results.

In childhood they are very similar both largely live in a fantasy world to escape the circumstances that surround them. I would say Jimmy and James equally fantasize about women James just happens to have recurring fantasies on the same woman that doesn’t want him. Now of course we aren’t shown Jimmy’s childhood fantasies, excluding Superman, but one could argue that Jimmy is stuck in a perpetual state of childhood, thus we can still compare the sexual fantasies Jimmy has as an adult child to the sexual fantasies James has as an actual child.

Another thing that connects them is violence. All of the violence in James’ life is based in reality. He is physically abused and physically attacks the people (the red-head girl) around him. Jimmy is also physically violent but it is all rooted in his imagination. Jimmy’s life in reality is emotionally violent (for lack of a better term) abandoned as a child, coddled all his life by his mother rather than raised to be independent, largely unwanted by the opposite sex, used by the males in his life (Superman and his male co-worker). I see the violence as mental/emotional as well as passive thus it manifests in the subconscious/imaginary world.

Circumstance dictates that James take care of himself. Jimmy has never been on his own; this is where their tales drift. Their fathers(and lack thereof) directly influence the course of their sons lives. (The resemblance of  James’ s father to Jimmy’s father is another parallel in the story)

James, though he has his issues, has become in many ways a whole person. We see in his old age the complete person with a full life that Jimmy can become. And that we are possibly led to believe he will become with the entrance of his new co-worker.

I see James and Jimmy as the past and future of each other.  I have equal pity for both of them. I feel sorry for a child that’s been forced to fight all his life; the same way I feel sorry for a child who has been rendered incapable of defending himself. I think of his outburst at his grandfather’s kitchen table–“I just want people to like me!” How could I not feel sorry for such a person. Jimmy has gotten a lot of flak for his weakness but I think that is why Jimmy is relatable he is just the magnification/exaggeration of the small desire that is in all of—a desire to be liked. Perhaps we dislike the magnification of that dark/weak/human part of ourselves—a desire for acceptance—whatever the reason is