|
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
I’m Mr. Brightside
Unlike most of my cartooning peers…I was a bit of a social butterfly who went out every night, and even had girlfriends! I still debate in my mind whether I was better or worse off for this in the long run.
-Peter Bagge
In his quick review of Spider-Man/Human Torch #1, Dorian explains his aversion to the character Spider-Man because “[h]e's a whiny neurotic and I really have no interest in reading about his pity parties.” In the comments section Isaac B2 points out that the neurosis Spidey goes through (and through and through and…) is the major appeal of the character. This makes me wonder about why comics seem to be filled with the likes of the neurotic and the low-self esteem sufferers.
Dorian has a point in his criticism. Why should anyone have to read about Peter Parker’s worries and anxieties? It can and often does come off as irritating when you’re reading about someone who can not get over their problems but certainly has no problem sharing them with everybody else. If that alone doesn’t display a lack of maturity than the refusal to get over those problems certainly does. After all, it is pretty narcissistic to go over your own problems, really your own self, over and over again.
When it comes to some of the major autobiographical cartoonists this is a phenomenon that gets even bigger. Robert Crumb is perhaps ground zero when it comes to illustrating oneself as the neurotic type in autobio comics as well as having that personality influence a cartoonist’s non-autobio work. It’s a tradition carried on by cartoonists like Chester Brown, Joe Matt, Ivan Brunetti (the first two issues of Schizo are particularly extreme examples), Evan Dorkin (in the fantastic Dork #7), Jeffery Brown and Chris Ware whose Jimmy Corrigan uses those themes and instills them into three generations of the Corrigan family to create one of the greatest works in the field of comics.
The fact that this is something that is all too present in comics just makes it more of a turn-off for people. Yet for others, although perhaps not as many, it is one thing that keeps bringing them back. I can count myself as one of the latter. I find that when reading Schizo #2 or Jimmy Corrigan I’m not thinking about how grating the mannerisms displayed are but instead I’m saying “I can relate” in my head. That is probably one the biggest reasons to go for this kind of content, be it in a Peanuts strip or low-run independent book. Art feels more satisfying when a person can relate to it easily. For many people having a comic (or movie or TV show or novel) starring a “sad sack” type makes it instantly relatable. There’s a certain comfort to be found when reading about those with the same problems you have and seeing how they do or don’t deal with them. Not to mention it gives that reader a chance to ponder his or her own hang-ups once again, an inviting prospect if there ever was one.
Ultimately, just because a comic features this type of character as its protagonist does not make it interesting on its own. On the other hand it is unfair to reject a comic just because it features this type of content. It is how that comic shows us that character, and the characters around him or her, that matters. The neurotic type is a fantastic creature to use in drama. To them, even the smallest events mean something (specifically something to worry about) and the big things in life are even bigger. There are many insights one can make into humanity with that situations, not to mention the comedic possibilities. Of course it is just as likely the comic ends up being a chore to read because its author doesn’t feel it necessary to say anything with the character. In fact two different readers might come away from the same comic having reached both those conclusions respectively. Therein lays one of the most beautiful things about the arts.
Permanent Link: 6:48 PM |
0 comments
Comments:
-- Home
|
