Transmetrolopolitan!!

1) Are there any prominent symbols in the story? If so what are they and how are they used?

There are various symbols of consumerism in the story. They come in the forms of huge advertisement billboards and fashion accessories. It is easy to spot those things the moment Spider returned to the city. In contrast to his home up the mountain, the city is crammed with advertisements that encourage people to spend their money on sex, drugs, or beauty. On the other hand, the city inhabitants are mostly dressed in very loud outfits and tons of fashion accessories such as headphones, piercings, etc. In short, they are dressed in excess. By placing these symbols everywhere; in the cars, in the office, on the streets, we get a sense that everyone in the city is at the mercy of those things. The strange gadget that most people wear on their ears, and are connected to their neck, hints that they are at the mercy of an external force.

2) What connections did you make with the story? Discuss the elements of the work with which you are able to connect.

Honestly, the story and characters did not appeal too much to me, but I can definitely connect with the need to consume. Surprisingly, I connect with the man who works in the toll gate. In that cramped toll room, we can see miniature car figurines on top of his computer screen. The first thing I thought was, "Hey, I used to spend my hard-earned money on overpriced anime plastic figurines!" Those plastic figurines are pretty useless, mostly meant to please the eyes (or for some other people, for self pleasure). They are very expensive and collect dust overtime. Yet, the moment my favorite characters are made into pretty figurines, my heart skips a beat and I immediately reach for my wallet. It's like an addiction!

3) What changes would you make to adapt the story to other medium? What medium would you use, what changes would you make.

I can see this working out as a movie, especially because of how much information are crammed within each frames. The chaotic nature of the city can be amplified through the use of sound and quick succession of cuts. I will definitely keep the graphic colors and grittiness of the comic intact. However, I will change the characters' clothing, just to keep them more up to date and relatable. 

Week 13: Fables

 

The Super Hero genre is something I don't read a lot, mostly because of my lack of interest in fighting-centric comics. On top of that, it's pretty hard to relate to those super buff superheroes performing those superhuman feats. Well, at least that's my impression of a stereotypical superhero anyway.

So this week, it's nice to see more variety in the superhero genre.... and I decided to read Fables because they have beautiful covers that are illustrated by James Jeans (and later by João Ruas)! Anyway, Fables is really cool as it reimagines what fairy tale characters will be like if they are to live among us. Who would have thought that Snow White can govern an entire town so well? And who would have thought that Bigby, the Big Bad Wolf, makes for a fine detective? It is very rewarding to spot familiar and beloved fairytale characters interact and solve their problems in a witty and satisfying way.

However, the most important thing is how different they are from the stereotypical superhero. Most, if not all of the Fables characters have some kind of power. Their powers are unique to their backstories, and it is just so cool to see Bigby transform into a giant wolf at will. The fact that we are already familiar with most of those characters' origins makes it easier to accept their super powers. Moreover, they also have issues like marriage, money and love, all while juggling their jobs and hiding their true identities. All in all, most of the human characters look just like any normal people. Unlike the stereotypical superheros that dress in spandex bodysuit and wears a cape, they dress like everyone, depending on which time period they live in. They are very easy to relate to.

I was invested in the story too, so I decided to go ahead and read all the way till volume 14 (Fables:Witches). And my, so many things happened!! Characters died, fell in love, had offsprings, betrayed one another, and became big damn heroes. The foreshadowing is done well too by slowly building us up towards the epic battle with The Adversaries. It's just so cool to see characters that I thought was good turn evil!

So, to sum up this rather messy blog entry, I just want to say that Fables is a cool twist of the typical superhero genre. It has familiar characters that I actually care about, and their evolution throughout the story excites me. The plot is imaginative and does a good job highlighting the characters powers and abilities. Yup, it's cool!