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Not Your Average Comic Books
BY: Matthew Hundley |
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They are usually shelved in the teen section at your local library, or near the comic books at your local book store; but these are not your usual tales of masked crusaders. These are real stories sharing all too real experiences in text and pictures.
PENNING A PULITZER WINNER
As a graphic artist Art Spiegelman turned to the pen to process the stories of his parent’s experiences in Nazi concentration camps. The artist uses cats and mice metaphorically to represent Nazi’s and Jews respectively.
But the furry faces quickly fade as the reader seeks to relate to the all too human and all too tragic tales that unfold. This tale, which was originally released as a serial in Raw Magazine, earned Spiegelman the Special Prize Pulitzer in 1992.
CONSTANT REVOLUTION
With Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi recounts her life growing up in Iran. Born in 1969, she walks us through major upheavals like the Iranian (a.k.a. Islamic) Revolution, life under the Ayatollah Khomeini, and the impact of religious and political shifts on her family.
Early in life Marjane must discern between what she is taught in school and the ideologies of her parents (who were against the regime). We see her grow more aware of her political and religious surroundings; along with their effects on her friends, neighbors and family members. Satrapi has written a companion volume which covers her studies in Vienna and move back to Iran.
Both graphic novels are encapsulated in the feature length animated film Persepolis (2007).
LIFE IN WARTIME
Notes for a War Story is purposely non-descript in its geography--for this could be any war torn region in the world today. Gipi (Gianni Pacinotti) is quoted as saying, “My intention was to make people think about the possibilities of a war suddenly arriving in their own home.” He succeeds.
Through pen and watercolor he weaves a tale of three young men trying to reframe their lives when all that was familiar has been destroyed.
There are a lot of questions: What did this fighting achieve? What do we do now? What is “normal” now that the life we knew prior to war has been exterminated? That is what the young men seek to resolve on this illustrated journey.
Questions:
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Matthew Hundley
Matthew worked in television and advertising for nearly 15 years in Iowa and Ohio. He studied music at Berklee College of Music in Boston and holds a B.S. in Broadcast Production & Management along with a B.A. in Critical Film Studies from the University of Colorado. At present he is working on his Masters of Divinity from Covenant Seminary.
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Learning Evangelism from Jesus (Jerram Barrs, 2009)
Souls in Transition (Christian Smith, 2009)
The Radical Disciple (John Stott, 2010)
A Guided Walk through The Institutes
Notes Gift List 2009
Hidden Worldviews: Eight Cultural Stories That Shape Our Lives (Steve Wilkins & Mark L. Sanford, 2009)
The Road (Cormac McCarthy, 2006)
Faith At The Edge: A Book for Doubters (Robert Wennberg, 2009)
A Deadly Misunderstanding, Mark Siljander (Harper One, 2008)
PRIDE of Baghdad, Brian K. Vaughan, Niko Henrichon (Vertigo, 2009)
Not Your Average Comic Books
No Place At Home
Out of Dark Africa...Light
Johnny Cash and the Great American Contradiction: Christianity and the Battle for the Soul of a Nation ( Rodney Clapp, 2008)
Engaging the New Atheists (III): Resources
The Reason for God: Questions for discussion (I)
Christmas 2008 Gift Suggestions from Toad Hall
Love and Loss Amidst the Dunes: a review of the novel The Maytrees by Annie Dillard
Resources for Understanding Scripture
Wearing Out on Purpose
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On my desk is a little vase of flowers cut from our yard, a little reminder of the beauty that is all around if we only have eyes to see. I've needed that reminder after reading the latest news of the horrific oil spill in the Gulf. Such glory in this world, such brokenness. Such hope, such deep need for redemption. These are the realities of life and death we seek to explore on this web site. Thank you for visiting.
Denis & Margie
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