This One Summer Review

The artwork is stunning, and I really like the linework. The story and the characters are also beautifully done. The format seems light and fun, and it's incredibly easy to love and read. 


In the beginning, I thought it was another story like Spirited Away, but I was wrong. It's a summer of secrets and sorrow and growing up. I do love the friendship that went on between Rose and Windy. They loved each other like sisters and spent all of their time together. They had meaningful conversations and they talked about real stuff. It's the kind of friendship you can't help but love. It remained of my best friend, we grew up together, and always share secret together. We talked a lot of things, even the distance between us is far right now, but we are still close. Another thing I like about this comic is parental issues and how it looks to a child. It might not seem like a big thing, but for me who have experienced it, it helped me to feel not quite as alone when dealing with the problem. 

The Black Incal Review

The story is very much a tale of a man getting incredibly lucky while also being terribly unlucky.  Lots of colorful images at the service of a story with metaphysical overtones. It doesn't seem to have coalesced into a coherent narrative whole as of yet, but certainly strange enough to keep me interested.

I really like the opening scene, I think it depicted a really strange world, stunning and beautiful. The plot is about the character’s thrown off a bridge known for its suicides and saved by the same people that threw him.

Personally, I think the world it's pretty cool. This comic reminded me a lot of the movie, in that the movie was trying to make a complex and diverse world like the one that’s created here.

Batman The Killing Joker Review In Class Writing

what's the reaction when you first read?
I feel like I am watching a film, and the dialogue and cut back scene are short and sweet. The story is appealing, the Joker looks creepy and intelligent, and I really like the moment I get to know his background story.

What connection did you make with the story?
Discuss the elements of the story with which you added to connect.
I barely read any DC comics, and I only watched the suicide squad before. In the movie, I quite like the Joker, and also like the combo of him and Harley Quinn, but I never had a chance to get to know his background story.

What changes would you make to adapt this story into another medium?
What medium would you use? What changes would you make?
I think I will choose a film or novel. As for the film, I don't think it needs too many changes for the overall storyline, but I will add more action or visual interests. As for the novel, I will choose to write in the first person and depict his inner feelings more, because I feel he actually under the high living pressure every day, and he has strong emotion reaction after his wife died, but I didn't see that much in the comic book.

Wonder Woman Spirit of Truth Review

The story was compelling and a great look into the workings of Wonder Woman's mind. However, the thing that stands out the most is the art. 


The art is astounding and remarkable, every page is truly beautifully rendered. The paintings are done in as realistic a fashion as I’ve ever seen, offering details the common comic book would miss and making the scenes seem all the more possible in a real-world setting. I am not a big fan of superhero comics, but wonder woman is so different. The first time when I started to know her is because of the movie Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice. By the way, she looks stunning and gorgeous in the film as the comic book.

Stereotype in Comics, Animation and Gaming Narrative

What is your opinion about the use of stereotype in comics, animation and gaming narrative? Is stereotyping ultimately a necessary strategy in character design and representation?  Do you think you have personally been affected by stereotypical representations?

Personally, I don't mind the use of stereotype in comics if that's the best way to tell the story. Furthermore, in comic books, the publishers tend to use over the top ideas and concepts to sell their comics, this usually comes in conflict with the comics' actual stories. As for the character, I think people always have some different personality in real life, but not that obvious like in comics or animation.  However, to make the character stand out, they have to exaggerate some part of the personality of the character, I guess that a small reason causes the stereotype. Therefore, I think it's still a strategy in character design and representation. I have been affected by stereotypical representations, like when I read a hero character achieves God-like powers, usually after some disaster or twist of fate happens to him/her in their personal life, and then I will think the character might go mad and go on a rampage on the planet; leaving the hero's friends having a hard time by choosing either saving their friend from him/herself or just kill him/her.

Art Spiegelman's Complete Maus Review

This comic is not a graphic novel but a work of memoir and history. The linework is not that great, looks a little bit messy, but somehow, I feel it's more powerful and more distressed. I feel like it was an experience, not just a "read". It was one of the most powerful stories I've ever experienced.

Some works of art change their medium forever, and this graphic memoir is a sterling example of a book that upended all expectations about what comics could accomplish. It's a story of two time periods, each rendered with powerful emotion. Even though they wear the heads of mice, cats, dogs, and pigs, the characters are all recognizably human in their struggles to survive in the midst of war and terror. 

The Bus by Paul Kirchner Review

The story is marvelously surreal, thought-provoking and philosophical. The artwork is fantastic, each comic with a unique and often humorous storyline. Each ride on the bus truly a wonderful experience.

I really enjoy this comic, it reminded me of the experience when I was young. The school always ends early on Friday, so I always take the bus home because my mother is still working at that time. I always like to observe different people on the bus, they all have different stories, it's like a small epitome of the city. In real life, we always see this kind of person, they are mostly wordless, portly, or a balding man in glasses and a trench coat who is the most frequent commuter. Time past fast, but life goes on, every day is a brand new day, maybe something strange or interesting things will happen in a casual place.

Buddha by Tezuka Osamu Review

Buddha is the last epic comic work by Tezuka Osamu. The story is about the young prince Siddhartha, who embarks on a spiritual journey and becomes Gautama Buddha in ancient India. It chronicles the life of Siddartha, from beginning to end. Meanwhile, it spans multiple kingdoms and generations of characters. The long term effects of these characters and stories often cascade unpredictably, highlighting the interconnectedness of life. Similarly, characters go through numerous ups and downs, with many dying, emphasizing impermanence. Personally, I really don't like the caste system in India, and I think that's the reason why so many tragedies happened. It's a desperate age, constant warfare and injustices in the caste system, people want to get redemption.

Overall, I really like the story Osamu depicted. I think it's a journey of self-redemption, also brings hopeless people rebirth. This is a kind of book you can read it again and again, I think you will have different feelings and thoughts in different ages or period.

The Book of Mr. Natural Review

Mr. Natural seems like a crazy saint, but the author actually wants to tell more deep meanings behind the story and the world. There are some interesting passages, for example, where Mr. Nature points out that our problems and society have become irrelevant over time, or some absurd and funny scenes.

From my perspective, because I am from China, so when I was young I read a slimier comic book called Old Master Q. It also has pretty funny content but also reflects changing social trends, particularly from the 1960s to the 1980s. Sometimes It presents social problems such as poverty, theft, suicide, and gangs, or taunts such pop cultures as ladyboys, trendy clothes and rock music (the old master often lectured those who were "neither fish nor fish"). 




The overall theme of the comics centers around humor, with characters usually portrayed in a variety of social statuses, professions and time periods, ranging from beggars and office workers to actors and ancient warriors, which allows for a wide variety of scenarios to explore.

A Contract With God by Will Eisner Review

I like the way he drew the character and story, the line work is really powerful. The story is about a religious man gives up his faith after the death of his young adopted daughter. 

Will Eisner dramatizing Hersh's trudge home through a downpour, an element of graphic-novel grammar Eisner manipulates better than anyone else ever has — stagger the imagination. The viewer can truly feel the main character seemingly reaches his breaking point. Overall, it gives me a feeling of isolation and despair. 

TinTin in Tibet (1960) by Herge Review

The story of Tin Tin in Tibet is adventurous and intriguing. It's all start with Tin Tin's nightmare, and he finally found the one he dreamt of in the cave, a Chinese guy, named Chang.

I really like the moment they meet together, it's so emotional and touching. Herge expresses a lot of the story through facial expression, therefore, we can feel the character's emotion precisely. The line work as always is crisp and clean, and a delight to look at. The color also did a good job, it gives the viewer the overall environment feelings.

Personally, I traveled so many places and countries, and I really enjoy traveling and adventure. Tibet, what a holy and unique place to visit. Unfortunately, due to the time schedule, I couldn't find a chance to go there. I hope one day I can be TinTin, to go on a trip without a plan.

Winsor McCay's Little Nemo Review

I really like the art style and the story. It's like an adventure but never ends, and when you feel fear you will wake up.
I used to have a lot of dreams like that, I was sailing on the boat, but in the street of the big city, there was no water, but the boat was still moving, then there was an abandoned train tunnel, I went through the little door behind it, suddenly, I was on the beach, then I found the golden crate. I was so happy and ready to open it, then I woke up because my mom was shouting at me saying, "wake up, you little lazy bones".

Understanding Comics Review

Chapter II's idea seems pretty interesting to me. It is about what we see in comic books, and how images translate to us. He mentioned that the artist can choose any different type of way to make realistic, unrealistic, surreal, cartoon images of people and objects, to express their emotions of the character or story. Moreover, the more simplistic a comic, the more personality it has. Then I found normally we see a lot of icons around us in more simplistic terms, such as a flag or traffic sign. That's what exactly comic book needs, to catch the viewer's eyes. However, after I read The Arrival by Shaun Tan, I feel comic could be realistic, as well. If he drew the comic in a simplistic way, then it will lose lots of emotions and cinematic feelings.

Scott McCloud said, when pictures are more abstracted from “reality”, they required greater levels of perception, more like words. When words are bolder, more direct, they require lower levels of perception and are received faster more like pictures. But I think it's hard to decide who is faster because it depends on the artist. A good comic artist knows when is the right time to use the picture, and when is the right time to use a simple word.

By the way, I do like these four principles are from 17 minute talk by Scott McCloud in the TED conference. The first one and second one are my favorite. From my perspective, Learn from Everyone means that we can get all the useful parts from others and discard what is not, Follow No One means that you have to develop your own unique stuff. 

The Arrival by Shaun Tan Review

“The Arrival”, tells a story about the journey and reunion. The young father leaves his home to create a better life for his family in a new big city of opportunity, then they finally got together and the new city became the new home.

I really like the photorealistic human figures, it evokes the intimate feelings of my overseas experience. I am from China, and this is my third year in the United States at Ringling College. I went back home once a year during summer, but the summer is really short while missing is very long. It's really hard for me in the first year, I am like the young father in the comic book, I go to the new land alone, I have to speak the new language, and I have to meet the new people. Meanwhile, It's really hard to talk with my family about what is happening to me or What's new in school, because of two different cultures. But, I am glad that I made this decision. It enriched my knowledge and my experience, enlarged my vision, and I am not regret everything I did.

Max Ernst Une Semaine de Bonte Image Translation

My Personal Review

The first picture seems like a woman is dancing in front of a cock, there are some bees on the basket, looks like a religious rite, or she is marrying a cock.

The second picture shows her old cock husband and a young cock surrounding by her in the church. The young cock might be her child, and I feel she is really sick on the bed or already died.

The third one shows her cock husband buried her, at the same time, it seems like he is talking to another cock guy aggressively.

The fourth one shows the cock husband is talking to a businessman.

The fifth one seems like someone killed his human wife, and his two baby cocks were around his wife’s body.

The sixth one seems like a human woman is dancing with a human man, a cock man is peeking behind the door.

The seventh one seems like two young ladies were hanging out with the cock man, and one girl seems like she is tired, or talking some bad things to the cock man happened in her life.

The final one looks like two girls and an animal is hiding behind the door, and there is a cock monster near the door.