I apologize for the long delay and I hope to update at least on a weekly basis. I was trying to start off introducing a fun, colorful graphic novel I read months ago, but I realized trying to write about it was very tricky for me and yes, writing a thoughtful review will take a while to learn. So rather than to procrastinate, I thought I should move on to another topic for now.
I should begin about myself. Since high school, I wanted to be an established writer. I imagined myself having my articles, short stories, and books published. It must be exhilarating to watch stories unfold and ideas click. It sounds nice, but sounds so…familiar and typical.
It is difficult to set myself apart from other writers. I have something to say, but I didn’t feel very convinced it would be effective in words. The reader would have to get a couple of sentences to get a sense of my rhythm, pacing and style. Yes, this goal still remains, to write and be published, but not as my primary ambition.
I always enjoyed reading comics. When I was young, I began with the ones from the newspapers, getting my Garfields and the Peanuts every day. Then when I discovered webcomics in college, I realized that comics can be so much more when not burdened by the format and censorship requirements that the newspapers impose. And while reading one, I thought to myself, “I wish I could draw comics well as this guy.” But I never persisted in that wish and just continued reading.
Last April, I came across a Christian devotional booklet at a bakery. As I was flipping through the pages, I admired the cartoons that accompanied a few devotionals and I wished I could see more of this dealing with other topics. But this time, the wish did not go unnoticed. The next day, I made a trip to the store, brought an Popsicle that was sold there (so to appease the clerk and it was the cheapest, $1.50), took a seat at a booth and began copying the cartoons from the book to my sketchbook as a starting point. It was then I realized that not only I loved comics, but I was capable of creating them myself. Of course at the moment, it’s not the most stunning, but I hope with practice and discipline and patience, it could be something I’m proud of.
And come to think about it, comics was always in my blood up to now. Not only did I began reading comics when I was little, I always drew cartoons and comics at an after-school art center when I was supposed to be drawing still life. I also drew some other comic strips and gag ideas into my college years. And I always was envious of those who could draw beautiful landscapes while I told myself that my hand was “crooked with this cartoony defect.” But now I view my hand in a different light.
Comics are not defined in four panels with the last one being the punchline. Not defined in a book when the superhero prevails over the mad scientist. And definitely not defined as only for children and those who do not know how to read well. It is much more than that. And I have much to learn about it.
Panel Diet 