When I started reading Maus, I quickly recognized that the artwork while adequate to tell its story was not on the same level as The Dark Knight Returns, or the Watchmen. At first this put me off but after a few pages the art grew on me a bit. While not as evocative as graphic novels and I did some interesting things like the different animals for the different ethnics and Vladek wearing the pig mask when he faked being a non Jewish Polish.
What I noticed above all else though is that Maus reads more like a novel than anything else we have read so far. When I think of the story I see more of my own mental images in my mind than Spiegelman’s art. At first I found this a bit unsual but I kept reading the story really pulled me. Soon I was at ease with the feel of Spiegelman’s work and the pages started to fly by.
The story itself is the strongest point of Maus so far. The dynamic between Art and Vladek as father recounts his story to his son is very relatable and familiar. I often see much of my own relationship with my father play out between the two with their simple family banter. I feel this really made the story more approachable which is important with such a grave plot.
Vladek’s tale is a bit slow at first but picks up when he goes off to war. I found the scene on page 50 to particularly chilling as Vladek shoots an enemy solider disguised as tree and continued to shoot him even after he surrendered. The story only grew more depressing from there, hopefully there will be some light at the end of this tunnel.