Today, I went to the Northeast Comic Con in Wilmington, MA. I had a great time interviewing authors and puppeteers (my kind of people!), and meeting pirates.
Unfortunately, when I got home, I learned that one of my dear theatre friends lost his battle with cancer this morning. My heart goes out to his precious husband and family.
I first met Daniel ten years ago as his dresser for Arlington Friends of the Drama’s production of Kiss of the Spider Woman. Over the years, I have made sure he didn’t go out on stage naked, in the dark, or unable to be heard. I even got to share a stage with him in 2012. I last saw him last year when he debuted songs from the musical he was writing on the AFD stage after a member meeting.
A talented actor, fabulous tenor, fellow graphic artist, and beautiful man. It has been an honor to have known you. Farewell, Daniel.
What is a review of Asian graphic novels without manga? Library Wars, a shojo manga serial illustrated by Kiiro Yumi, based on the novel by Hiro Arikawa, is actually the first manga I have ever read.
I had avoided the genre because, quite frankly, I was unfamiliar with the iconography and with all the shelves and shelves of manga at the library, the thought of finding something I would like was overwhelming. Fortunately, I came across Library Wars and thought the subject of fighting censorship would be appropriate.
The illustrations and iconography are typical mainstream manga: doe-eyed girls, handsome men; with the amount of realism varying with the purpose of each panel.
Library Wars takes place in the near future. There is a battle escalating between the Media Betterment Committee (MBC), which seeks to censor material deemed unsuitable for society, and the libraries that want to ensure the public has unfettered access to their collections.
Iku Kasahara joins the library defense force because she wants to be just like her “prince,” the Library Defense Force Sergeant who saved her and her favorite book from an MBC raid when she was in high school. She has no idea who this mystery man is, but it is pretty obvious to the reader that he is Instructor Dojo, who is making basic training a living hell for her.
In one sense, she hates him for all the special attention she gets; in another, she respects him for his dedication and professionalism. The more he pushes her, the more she proves her mettle. As a result, she becomes the first woman recruited for the elite Library Task Force.
It is not unexpected that her hatred for Dojo becomes love over the course of the series (I’ve read through volume 12); however, the evolution of that love sends a disturbing mixed message to young women.
In later volumes, Iku stops holding her own against the boys and starts doing everything to impress Instructor Dojo, and he’s always there to catch her when she falls, literally–down stairs, off ladders, etc. Furthermore, all the heroic acts she performs are under-minded by her running off for a cry.
This may be a cultural clash with my Western sensibilities, but I put it out there for readers’ awareness.
That said, the first volume of Library Wars is a cute story, full of girl power and teenage fantasy, which has a number of good moments.
I wanted to find something other than Manga, so I was pleased to find the graphic novel version of The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, who was born in Afghanistan. The illustrations are by Italians, Fabio Celoni and Mirka Andolfo.
Amir, a boy of privilege growing up in Shah-era Afghanistan, witnesses the rape of his best friend, Hassan, who is the son of his family’s servant. Racked with guilt for not having stopped it, Amir can’t even stand to be around Hassan. Soon afterwards, the Soviets take Kabul and Amir and his father flee to the US. Many years later, Amir returns to Afghanistan to rescue Hassan’s orphaned son.
The abridged nature of the graphic novel (128 pages vs 372 for the paperback), truncates time-lines and skips important insights into characters’ personalities and motivations. For example, Assef, the rapist, comes across as just a bully; not the neo-Nazi, sociopath he really is.
While the dialogue follows the book (for the most part) for some strange reason a key foreshadowing line is omitted. Without it, a climactic scene loses much of its significance.
Ultimately, the graphic novel version of The Kite Runner suffers from the same problems as “comic book” versions of classic literature: being little more than a detailed synopsis with emphasis on the dramatic moments.
I will say it is beautifully drawn. Celoni and Andolfo transition from vibrant colors of pre-Soviet Afghanistan to a bleaker palette when Amir returns to a country ravaged by war and Taliban-rule.
To experience what makes The Kite Runner a remarkable story, read the book. But for those who only want to know what happens, this graphic novel is a luscious way to do just that.
I discovered this gem while researching “Europe month.” Originally published in French in 2013, the English translation, Girl in Dior by Annie Goetzinger came out earlier this year. I finally got a hold of a copy three weeks ago. Trust me, it was worth the wait!
Girl in Dior offers a fascinating look into the process of designing and showing a clothing collection. This docudrama begins on the eve of Christian Dior’s first show, the birth of his “New Look.”
From fashion reporter to model to client, the fictitious Clara provides a first-person narrative as an insider. She interacts with the real-life people and events at the House of Dior while Christian was at the helm from 1947 until his sudden death ten years later.
The realistic illustrations are as glamorous as the world of haute couture; the colors are subdued, like faded photographs from the time.
Working with Christian Dior Couture and their archives, Madame Goetzinger’s use of perspective and attention to detail beautifully spotlights some of Dior’s most iconic dresses. Additionally, she used period references to “dress the men” as well.
Girl in Dior is the first English translation of Annie Goetzinger’s work. She has a feminist approach. Christian Dior had men working for him, most recognizably Yves St Laurent, but this story focuses on the women: models, pattern makers, seamstresses, magazine editors, and clients. In an era when women rarely had power, this is a peek into a world in which they did.
One need not be a fashion aficionado to appreciate this beautiful book.
A. Book's Review 
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