Megg, Mogg, and Owl-Simon Hanselman

I feel like this web comic was totally suitable for the web medium. It totally fits the format of the screen minimizing the number of swipes needed to take. I also think that this comic was really whimsical and playful. I really enjoyed how lighthearted. I can honestly say that I didn't expect the characters to be so trippy, but unique. I also noticed that all of the main characters had red eyes also, suggesting that they got high a lot. I appreciate the hand done quality of the paint. It worked pretty well with the looseness of the character personalities. The content was pretty down to earth. It was just a couple of guys having a good time. This comic was a fun read.

Astro City-Kurt Busiek

I really enjoyed reading this comic because the storyline was so unconventional and very grounded. For example, Samaritan seems to live an escapist's life because he doesn't seem to truly enjoy what he does. Although he sees the value of his job it seems like he would rather be in his dreams flying. I really enjoyed how disconnected and uncomfortable he was in his own life which is apparent from the opening shot of him living happily through his dream. I really related to this hero because I feel like sometimes it's easy to escape in my dreams. I felt that volume one of this comic was filled with so much emotion and mood in which the viewer can relate. This is probably one of the most powerful comics that I have read. I definitely recommend.

Review of Diary of a Dominatrix-Molly Kiely

Wow! This comic totally took me by surprise because of the content, but as I continued to read, I started to notice some really interesting qualities. The page layouts are really unique because they were composed of juxtapositions of objects and text, which didn't seem to bother me at all. Also, the pen quality was really delicate and it is very apparent that a lot of work was put into the comic. I also found it interesting that the comic almost seemed like a borderline step-by-step tutorial of being a dominatrix. As I got deeper into the comic, I got a little tickled by the whimsicality of the mood of the comic. The storyline seemed non linear and it didn't seem like any of the storylines connected apart from the subject matter. Although this is not my cup of tea, this comic has a lot of good things going for it.

Blacksad Comics-Juan Diaz Canales

I really enjoyed the stories and the content in the Blacksad comics. It felt a lot like film noire but with really saturated colors. At first, it was really hard to get into the story because it was illustrated so beautifully. As far as content goes, the panels transitioned so smoothly and the information was so clear. Also, the point of view and the use of perspective were really effective. One of the greatest things about this comic is that the world building was intense. This comic is definitely a must read.

Naruto-Masashi Kishimoto

I decided to read some Naruto this week for the Manga week because it has been a manga that I enjoyed since I was a kid. It is based on a boy named Naruto who has big dreams of becoming the city's leader (Hokage) one day. Although the story is based on such a simple plot, this story is composed of 700 manga volumes. I think that the text is really relatable and the content is very immersive because of the relationships that are developed through the story. I also noticed that the content was heavily emotionally driven and I couldn't help but become so attached and wearied by the characters. 

One element that I really appreciated about this manga was the multitude of quiet moments that appear throughout the manga. It reminds me of the point the Scott McCloud made about panel-to-panel transitions. He mentioned that in more Eastern comics, the storytellers use more aspect-to-aspect transitions to represent reflection. I think that this quality is probably one of my favorites because it really lets the mood of the previous moments just resonate. 

I also really enjoy how the gestures and emotions of the characters are really exaggerated. I think that this quality is more accurate to the emotions that we feel.

Overall, I think that this manga is great!!

Review of March-John Lewis

The plot of March is based around the first hand account of Congressman John Lewis and his participation in the Civil Rights Movement. It's a great autobiography that is told at such a great pace. I really enjoyed how the timeline of the story transitions from past to present. I feel like this works really well. I also really enjoyed the gritty style of the art. The rough pen textures exaggerated the emotional distress and struggles of that era while the textures are knocked back on the more quiet moments. The writing also exuded a great sense of mood and really allowed me to be totally invested in the story. It's filled with highs and lows and takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. I think that this is a great medium to adapt such a powerful story.

Review of Asterios Polyp-David Mazzucchelli

Overall, I thought that Asterios Polyp has really good visual vocabulary. The way that the scenes cut is very seamless and acts as a nice rest and transition. As far as content goes, everyone in this story has a different point of view, which is expressed in the different styles that they are drawn in. I feel that the story is highly conceptual. For example, this can be seen in the relationship between the Asterios, the architect and his love interest, the fine artist. Both of there drawing styles and color reflect their personalities and point of view and how they eventually merge. The page layout was really good too. The story is really interesting also. It's like the story revolves around the main character trying to adjust to life around him. And the point of view is by far the coolest part. Asterios’ dead twin brother is narrating the story. Also, the writing style and the way that the panels are positioned are really playful. The limited color works pretty well too. I especially enjoyed the continual theme of Asterios becoming who he is and his constant struggle with the duality of his personality and his twin brother's. The parallel of Apollos and Dionysius is used a lot. I thought that Asterios Polyp is a great read.