WP2: second post

After I conducted research for my comic, I was able to see it in a whole new light. Since my comic is an excerpt from a graphic novel, I decided that it would be wise to read the whole novel itself. After reading it, I got a lot of insight about the story as a whole, and what exactly it was trying to portray. The historical context of this novel is almost that of communist Russia under Stalin. The setting of a futuristic London under a dictatorship rule definitely changed the way I perceive this comic and how I am going to analyze it.

One of the biggest misconceptions I had with my comic was that the main character was some sort of vigilante. That he was more of a terrorist with anarchy on the brain. I couldn’t have been more far off. V (the main character) is more of a fighter of freedom. He is one who fights against the dictatorship, because he believes that the people should live in a world where they can speak freely and think for themselves.

I think that this is the perfect type of medium to fight out against oppression and tyranny. I believe that the written word is a great way to get across ones opinion to many different types of people. I think that he chose a comic book hero to do this for obvious reasons. I think people look up to comic book heroes. They embody ourselves in a way that we wish we could be. People will listen to the author’s ideas, when they are spoken through that of a hero.

When I first started to talk and think through this comic, I was thinking of the concept of killing an “idea” as killing an idea like communism. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It wasn’t about killing some type of tyrannical idea; it was more about promoting ideals that we as humans all share. It was about promoting that idea of freedom. That we cannot kill our undeniable rights that we as humans where given when we were born.

Another thing I have reexamined my comic another thing stood out to me, the way certain words where bolded and italicized. At first I really didn’t know what to think about this. I thought it was more of an emphasis on key words with no real background to them. Once I read the novel itself, I learned more about the relationship between these two characters. V thinks that this man is no more than a monster. These words are emphasized because he hates this man. The man in the comic has caused him much pain, and now he is exacting his revenge that he has sought out so long ago.

In the end I think that this comic is the final result of a struggle of vengeance and freedom. The main character has been wronged, and he is now exacting his revenge. He has also been oppressed by a tyrannical government and is a victim. He no longer wants to see others suffer the same fate that he has seen others and himself face.
Works cited:
"Communist Party of the Soviet Union"Oct 28. 20010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_the_Soviet_Union>
Moore, Alan, and David Lloyd.V for Vendetta.Us:Dc Comics, 1982

WP2: First Post

The comic that I chose is from graphic novel V for vendetta. The comic itself is about a masked vigilante, who decides that he isn’t going to take the unfair actions of his government anymore, and is going to rise and up inspire hope and anarchy in this alternate world. The panels I chose depicts the hero of the comic named V. In the two panels he is explained some of his philosophy that he has about people and an oppressive government. As I think through some of the content in chapter 15 in compose design advocate, it makes me think a lot about the content that is in the comic.

I think the aspect that we can understand a comic because of where we live, and what we have seen is extremely apparent in this comic. Because of history and what we have seen, what V is saying in this comic is very true. One example is the idea of communism. One might try and destroy the structure that has put the idea of communism into practice, but they can never really kill the idea itself. That idea will always live on the people who believe in it.

I think that the multiple panels of the comic are put together in a stereotypical, but effective way. With most comics I have seen, there are a lot of reoccurring themes. One that I have noticed is the dramatic statement made by a hero in a comic. There is always a buildup in one panel of the comic. Then in the next panel the hero drops a memorable line that sticks with the reader. A lot of times is will zoom in or make the hero the center of that panel.

This comic is no exception. We see V make is set up in the first panel, then drive it home with the memorable line “Ideas are bullet proof”. This really helps the flow between the two panels; you have the set up and the finisher. I also notice how idea in the first panel is in all capitals, and italicized. I think this emphasis on the word makes the comic flow. It makes you as an audience to read on and finish the comic.

The interactions between the characters in the comic are developed right off the bat of the comic. At first glance you can notice a gun, and V says “Did you think you can kill me.” Right off the bat you can tell that these two are not friends and are in fact enemies. If you look at the face of the other character, you can see what looks like shock, or fear. This leads you to believe that the man is scared or even intimidated by V. Finally the interaction is established with the closing statements of not being able to kill an idea. You might be able to kill a person, but the idea that he has inspired in people will be able to live on forever.