Think Aloud... with a Comic.

So I was reading the chapter on vocabulary in Beer's book, When Kids Can't Read, and I came across a very interesting statement:

"Hayes and Athens (1988) explain that we encounter more of these rare words in printed text than we do in oral speech. In fact, adults, when talking to other adults, will use about 17 rare words for every 1000 words. ... a comic book ... uses about 53 rare words for every 1000..."

Really? Seriously? Naw, you must be joking.

So I pulled some of my old comic books off the shelf and started flipping through the cherished (ahem) memories of my teenage years.
Okay, yeah, there might be something to that. But you know what, it's not just the advanced level of vocabulary that you have to comprehend in these stories; you're reading these pictures too, you know. Why else do you think kids love comic books so much? An illustration can lend so much more to the mood, action, setting and character development of a story.

But back to my teenage years. Back then, Jhonen Vasquez had really made a name for himself with the launch of Invader Zim... yes, that wildly popular cartoon that aired on Nickelodeon before that channel really went down the shitter.... but that addictive cartoon was really a gateway drug for his comics, which are far more surreal, disturbing, sordid, disgusting, gory, violent, and need I say, hilarious.

I do believe Vasquez's Johnny the Homicidal Maniac was his master work, for the simple fact that it touches upon a question that so many of us have wondered, "What if I had done something about that douche that cut me off on the on ramp? What if I had turned around and punched that ugly asshole in the face for cat-calling? What if I had the opportunity to take a chainsaw to all the registered sex offenders in my neighborhood?" And surely the one question that follows all of these, "What if I were to enjoy it?"

Jungian psychology for the day: Johnny really is an archetype for the Shadow Self, because he represents a more reptilian nature that really desire to dominate without regard for others' wellbeing. This is how he takes control in his world: people piss him off, and he kills them. Well, in some cases, it gets a little more complex. And his interaction with others plays out in this frank yet all-to-true satire of the condition of our society.

This scene is from volume 2, which is probably my favorite volume out of the entire series, because it really focuses more on Johnny's deeper motivations for killing. It begins to hint at some of his insanities, which are rather convoluted, but how Jhonen left much up to interpretation was an excellent plot device. This scene in particular has a real tragedy that I think was played out masterfully. Just read.



Notice how the heading at the top has this really sinister version of that comedy/tragedy motif. So... expect to visualize this as a play while you're reading. Johnny in the first frame looks rather contemplative, considering he just asked a very loaded question to... apparently his next murder victim. This guy in the death-contraption is set back in space a bit, making him appear more insignificant.



Rare words: fundamental, ravaging, existence, defy, trivial, amusement, incessant, mistreatment. Is Johnny back-lit? Having our main character blacked out is a typical comic device to give a character an air of mystery. Showing his teeth is kind of creepy; I think it further alludes to his murderous nature.



Rare words: general (?), horrendous, inperceptible. You might have figured out by now that our main character isn't stupid. He's rather eloquent. But does that mean he possesses any real insight into the nature of things, as he would claim? This guy is acting pretty calm, considering his position. Johnny is just very frank - I think the final panel reinforces this. Circle among squares... it's a little jarring.



Rare words: sensation, reassurance, deprive, awareness. Maybe restraints (common word in our house; zing!). Middle panel: what look is the author talking about? Oh, that look of assuredness. Johnny feels very strongly that he's doing his victim a great service. This is how screwed he is in the head. It doesn't appear our victim is replying with sarcasm, but is instead trying to be as understanding as possible.



Rare words: effigy, infuse, detestable, self-loathing, damper. Do you think it's worth noting how this guy is restrained in this apparatus? That, coupled with Johnny's intention of making him into an "effigy," definately carries some religious connotations. But it takes on a double-meaning here. Effigy can refer to the sculpture of a noteworthy person (religious figure). It could also mean a mock up of a hated noteworthy person, created simply to be destroyed (George Bush Jr.?).



Ah, this is where it gets a little hairy. We have a name for the guy, Edgar. This is actually a rarity in this series; most of Johnny's victims aren't named, because they aren't worth naming. They're dumb characters, the "goblins" that these two keep talking about. The author chose to introduce this character. And now that Johnny knows this guy, he's starting to feel a little regret. The fact that Edgar is hoisted up, and Johnny keeps looking up..  really bothers me.



Intimate moment. Does Johnny look like he's considering Edgar's request?



Rare words: dire, circumstance, specifically, particularly, curiousity (?). In every single panel, Johnny has some look of reluctance, hiding, regret. Indeed, there is an actual plot to this whole series, if you were wondering. Spoiler: yes, there actually is something behind the wall. It's not just the fears of a paranoid schizophrenic.



Large panel = drama! Then we have these harsh diagonals, and a character who is desperately trying to reconcile the inner conflict he is now experiencing. It looks like he's trying to revert back to treating Edgar the same way he'd treat any other victim, but I don't think its working.



Have you noticed how in several of these panels where we're forward facing with Edgar, the background is blacked out? I think it lends a great sense of isolation and futulity to the scene. Good question: where is this man's fear?



Ah, it's all out now. There's Edgar's simple, yet profound explanation. It's not self-righteous, just... frank. Notice the shift: Edgar is set in real space, everything clear. Then it's Johnny who's standing in this isolating black space, completely dumbfounded. And he looks pained by the reality of the situation. "KLIK" so far has been our only sound effect in this entire scene. I think it's resolute, kind of reaffirming the nature of things: this man dies, and Johnny is completely damned.



Yeah, for this scene, you don't get the privilege of seeing a man get disembowled, or his limbs torn off, or his head exploded like you do in other parts of the story. So why the glasses? Edgar was not "clouded." He had a clear and unwavering perspective of the world and his place in it. And he accepted that. He had the vision that others would so desperately claim to want, but would be horrified if they even remotely understood their own realities. Johnny is remorseful. He's not entirely a monster, buy you can definately tell some external force is compelling him to be.

 Was that too long? Terribly sorry if it was. If I need to add another disclaimer: this is Jhonen Vasquez's work, I just supply the commentary. =P For educational purposes, you see. I found these images on Google docs, which I was grateful for, because it saved me the trouble of scanning them in myself. =D