What separates comics from graphic novels? Up until the late 1970s, early 1990s, the term graphic novel did not exist (“Graphic Novel”). Alan Moore took fame in this industry; in fact, many would say he had defined it. Moore is one of the first pioneers of the growing market for graphic novels. Moore’s life held many attributions to his most popular work. Events like his childhood issues, his struggles with finding his place, and most importantly his disposition to what he liked led Moore to push past his variance from traditional expectations. Moore’s childhood stories are a vastly observable part of his literature as it contains his darker times as well as his discovery of what would become his best talent to this day. Moore was born on …show more content…
This opportunity was precisely what Moore had spent his whole career looking for. DC was still quite hesitant despite Moore’s skills. DC put Moore to work on a comic series that had never worked for the company known as “Swamp Thing” (Pendergast). Moore reinvented the story and drastically improved it influencing a boom from 17,000 copies a month to a massive 100,000 copies a month (Pendergast). His revival brought the series a success that no one expected and set new standards for what a good comic was (“Alan Moore”). Moore now was on the road to fame. DC asked Moore to reproduce his “V for Vendetta” comics as a comic book for DC and to begin work on another brand new comic book. “V for Vendetta”s republishing now sold over 500,000 copies once again impressing DC’s president Paul Levitz (“B is for…”). Moore’s new comics would set an official new standard in his industry. In 1986, Moore released his best series to this day of which has come to be the best graphic novel ever written; “Watchmen” was the name of this masterpiece (Pendergast). “Watchmen” was a “what if” series in which after WWII, Nixon became a permanent president and forced all superheroes into retirement. The book features Dr. Manhattan as the villain and holds a very complex plot with twists and turns everywhere. The sheer complexity of the comic issues led to its cultivation into a graphic novel and defined …show more content…
Conflicts began to arise between Moore and this major comic industry. After agreeing to allow DC to create a movie to follow “V for Vendetta” Moore pushed for an extremely faithful adaptation (Wolf). This movie would come to be called the most faithful adaptation of a comic book ever (Wolf). The movie underwent production even after it was released in theaters and continued for months until the home DVD version was finally released (Wolf). Although, this success wasn’t necessarily great for Moore. DC Comics president Paul Levitz was quick to take credit for Moore’s comics as he described Moore’s success as none other than the product of the movie release of “V for Vendetta” by DC Comics (Wolf). Moore wasn’t happy with this and Levitz knew it as when Levitz was asked about how Moore felt the only comment Levitz had was “Life is better with a happy writer” (“B is for…”). Moore’s relationship with DC Comics continued to spiral downward faster and faster as DC began to force their ideas upon Moore and take all the proceeds from merchandise and other advertising methods (Pendergast). Although Moore wanted this position, it was almost unbearable. Moore had said that DC was constraining his creativity (Vollmar). He finally had enough and Moore broke from DC a decision that many say should have cost him his career (Pendergast). However, Moore was confident. He had his skills, he
In the memoir, The Other Wes Moore, the author Wes Moore compares his life with another man's, whose name was also Wes Moore, and shows how shockingly similar they were. Particular coincidences are certainly strange, like the fact that both of their fathers were not around, both mothers cared about their child's well being, they both lived in the Bronx at one point in their childhoods, and the obvious one, their names are the same. Not only were their home lives similar but they also had similar social experiences, including being caught breaking the law; however, this book also illustrates, through these social experiences, the subtle differences in their lives as well.
The story of two men growing up in the same neighborhood with similar backgrounds with the same name and eerily similar circumstances that leads and ultimately has each character ending up in very different places in life. Taking completely different paths to their futures is the setting of this story “The Other Wes Moore”. The way a person is shaped and guided in their developmental years does undoubtedly play a huge role in the type of person they will become in life. The author Wes does a good job of allowing you the ability to read this story and the circumstances surrounding the character his mother joy played such an important role in his success, while comparing the roll of Mary the other Wes’s mother. Both boys grew up with strong, hardworking black women in their lives and yet it still allowed for two completely different journeys. I think the lack of fathers and having not so good male role models was also a contributing factor.
Was Wes Moore really more successful than the other Wes Moore because of the choices they made, or was it because of the influences they had in their life that made them who they are today? The Other Wes Moore is a story about two boys with similar backgrounds and similar situations, growing up in similar neighborhoods. The two boys though, end up living two diverse and different lives. The question then becomes “what causes them to change so drastically?” because for all intent and purposes their fates could have been the same. The author gives credit throughout the novel of certain people who made him the man he is today. In the same manner, the author points out how easily his life wouldn’t have been what the people around him are, without the support. The novel does a magnificent job of showcasing the importance of a reliable and present role model in their life to be successful in life.
...or political artists. Obviously I did my share of creating a few comics and then explaining the ideas behind them but having said that, the comics I created were all meant for younger kids to be able to understand. Also, they didn’t necessarily show the reader that I had much more intelligence on the topic than most other people.
Alan Moore’s “Watchmen” focuses on several characters throughout the novel making the idea of a main character moot. However, one character can be described as the most influential to the plot of the graphic novel. Rorschach can be seen as such due to the fact that he narrates a large portion of the novel, and his heroic code that he follows. Not only does he influence the plot by those two reasons, but also by uniting the characters after a long silence. The Comedian is the only character that almost perfectly fits as the character with the most influence on the plot of “Watchmen.” The death of his character allows for the plot to be set in motion. He has not only has he shaped every other character in the novel, but the symbol that represents his character can be found throughout the graphic novel. Although Rorschach can be interpreted as the most influential character of “Watchmen,” The Comedian influenced more aspects of the plot than any other character of the graphic novel.
Watchmen is not just a graphic novel, but also a unique representation of American idealism as expressed through character image. Although the characters are portrayed as "superheroes," each is psychologically complex in that they become symbols for the flaws of American culture. Together, the characters of Watchmen reflect an unflattering image of American identity. We sacrifice morals to defend principles, rather than saving people. We sacrifice ourselves for commercial gain and for the fame that comes from the worship of strangers.
In 1941, Stan Lee, the creator of the Marvel universe, released his firs comic book about the patriotic hero Captain America. This comic was released during World War 2 to give the Americans a sense of hope and to let people know that we’re not alone. Marvel does a good job with its comics because they want to show you that even when times get tough, as long as you have hope things will get better. A good example of this would be Spiderman. When his Uncle Ben died, his last words to Peter were, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” Spiderman goes on to
In the book “The Other Wes Moore,” Intrinsic factors play a significant role in determining the Wes Moore’s success. This narrative explains the intrinsic challenges that both Wes Moore’s had to overcome in order to succeed and it explains how the people surrounding them, the was main reason that the author was led to a successful life and the other Wes Moore was led to failure.
Moore quotes including saying, "It was an alternate mental environment, where my typical desires reversed, where the initiative was respected and class comedians alienated." (96). The quote the (creator) Wes Moore found in his Military School that the lower first year recruits were regards the higher positioning. The (creator) Wes Moore were the exceptionally stunned that in his military school the understudies were admiration their unrivaled and taken over their charge and their honor code rules to obey by. At the Military School instructs (creator) Wes Moore is going to take in the order, authority, and collaboration. The military do think about the (Author) Wes Moore victories. The (creator) Wes Moore have, the more grounded guide giving him the obligation of their trust on him to oblige him to change his terrible conduct that affects his high school and adulthood
McCloud, Scott. “Time Frames”, Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. New York : HarperCollins Publishers, 1993.
Every child in the United States has heard or read the Marvel and DC comics books. If you have not then you have probably have heard of their characters like the famous star spangled hero, Captain America, or the Dark Knight himself, Batman. Both Marvel and DC has influenced the children and adults of American in its darkest times. The great wars affected many by its poisonous grasps, and its victims sought comfort with the antidote provided by the marvelous illustrators and writers of comic books. Now their cinematic counterparts are here to inspire the 21st century. The Marvel and DC cinematic universes have similar content, they both have unique characteristics that set them apart.
He describes comics as “juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer” (McCloud 9). He uses the words “information” and “aesthetic response” to make his definition unique because they allow this definition to cover a broad range of comic works. This concept is interesting because it makes McCloud unique and different from other works. He is different from the other theorists who instead use the word “narrative” (Batinic 8). His definition of comic books is exact and wide, presenting a broad definition of comic books and works.
Mouse, a Parody of Paddington bear, Maxwell The Magic Cat and Detective Roscoe Moscow. Alan later settled for simply making comic strips on Maxwell, but due to the papers he was working for releasing a negative editorial on Homosexual, he left and went onto other things no longer wanting to be associated with them anymore. Alan started focusing on writing comics, rather than drawing due to not being a good drawer or a relatively fast as well. Ironically Alan Moore was friends with a Comic book writer that went by the name Steve Moore. Thanks to Steve Alan was able to work with 2000 AD, one of britain's most prominent comic magazine, they are also known for writing and illustrating judge dredd.
“The Golden Age of Comics” PBS. PBS, 2011 Web. Retrieved on February 11 2014 from http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/the-golden-age-of-comics/
Most people believe that graphic novels are just an art book with minimal text. They believe it is just for entertainment for kids or young adults. They think that graphic novels are just like comics. But to get to the point, graphic novels are just like all the other novels. They are a piece of literature that tells a story and pulls out the reader’s imagination, so that they feel that they are a part of the story or can even relate to the story. Graphic novels have changed and developed into such remarkable pieces of literature and should be accepted by all scholars to be placed in that category. According to John Ridley, “There are still some people out there who believe comic books are nothing more than, well, comic books. But the true cognoscenti know graphic novels are-at their best-an amazing blend of art, literature and the theater of the mind”.