Part 8: Alan, David, Joe and Lynda - The L.A.W. GraphicNarrativ Seminar Series

 

During the 8th lecture of the series we looked at the work of four legends of the form and some of my favourite creatives in the world of storytelling. My lecture showcases the various approaches to communication of these key creatives. 

Graphic Novels: Creatives

Alan Moore

Dave McKean

Joe Sacco

Lynda Barry 

References

Ayres, J. (2021) Alan Moore. London ; New York ; Oxford: Bloomsbury Academic.

Barry, L. (2021) Syllabus. La Vergne: Drawn & Quarterly.

Barry, L. (2019) Making comics. First edition edn. Montréal: Drawn & Quarterly.

Barry, L. (2009) What it is. London: Random House.

McKean, D. (2010) Cages. First softcover edition edn. Milwaukie, Oregon: Dark Horse Books.

Moore, A. and Berlatsky, E.L. (2012) Alan Moore. First printing edn. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.

Moore, A. and Campbell, E. (2009) From hell. new cover ed., 5. print. edn. Marietta, USA: Top Shelf Prod.

Moore, A. and Gibbons, D. (2009) Watchmen. Dt. Ausg. edn. Nettetal-Kaldenkirchen: Panini-Verl.

Morrison, G., McKean, D. and Heiss, C. (2005) Arkham Asylum. Nettetal-Kaldenkirchen: Panini.

Sacco, J. (2010) Footnotes in Gaza. 1. paperback ed. edn. New York, NY: Metropolitan Books.

Sacco, J. (2003a) Notes from a defeatist. Seattle, WA: Fantagraphics Books.

Sacco, J. (2003b) Palestine. London: Jonathan Cape.

Sacco, J. and Hochschild, A. (2013) The Great War. 1. ed. edn. New York, NY [u.a.]: Norton.

Proposition Time Part 7

9 Object Narrative Exercises

This a great technique for creative storytelling that requires artists to produce a narrative artwork using only 9 objects to tell a story (and nothing else, no speech bubbles, no additional objects, no humans, absolutely nothing else, just the nine objects). This is about discipline and imagination. Make your brain mossy so it will grow great outcomes. 

I decide the 9 objects and your have only 1 hour maximum to develop your visual story. This can be expressed as a single image or as multiple frames. Post your outcomes on your social media channels.

OPTION 1
Here is the list of the 9 Objects (pictured below also):

1. A Green wire In-Tray

2. A Box of CD-R80's

3. A Magnifying Glass

4. A Ball of String

5. A Black door hinge

6. A Yellow paperclip

7. A Green Spirit level

8. A Typographic Depth Scale

9. A Philippe Starck Lemon Squeezer

OPTION 2

For an alternative version of this exercise. 
Here is the list of the 9 Objects (pictured below also):

1. A Green Cardboard Box

2. A Black Hole Puncher

3. A Whiteboard Eraser

4. A Large Rubber Band

5. Two Lego Bricks

6. A Bulldog Clip

7. An Electronic Calculator

8. Pair of Scissors

9. Box of Red Round Stickers

Part 7: Artist Presentation with Q&A - Akhran Girmay. The L.A.W. GraphicNarrativ Seminar Series

 

During the 7th lecture of the series we looked at the work of Akhran Girmay. He discussed the origins of his process. His obsession with drawing and research as well as his keen sense of personal integrity. 

Akhran took us through his influences and elaborated on his ongoing Graphic Novel project that is based on historical fact shown as allegory. It is about how treasures are 'lost' and 'found' as his protagonist searches for meaning in post-imperial/ post-colonial eras. Thanks to Akhran for sharing your work with us over at the London College of Communication.

All work set out below is copyright of Illustrator Akhran Girmay.
© Akhran Girmay 2022.

References

Reynolds, J. (2015) When I was the greatest. First Atheneum Books for Young Readers paperback edition edn. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Reynolds, J., Girmay, A. and Kiely, B. (2021) All American Boys. Faber and Faber.

Part 2: Spirits in the Material World - The L.A.W. GraphicNarrativ Seminar Series

 

During the 2nd lecture of the series we looked at the following sources of inspiration and storytelling devices:

We examined how Classic Texts (Western Cultural Bias) can be adapted to entice a new audience to engage with these heritage storylines. We reviewed the Manga Shakespeare (Hamlet and The Tempest), Heart of Darkness and At the Mountains of Madness. We then went on to look at how artists have taken heritage texts and re-imagined them as visual communication. Bryan Talbot's Alice in Sunderland, Watchmen and Maus have moved the graphic novel into the status of classic literature. Finally Julie Doucet's New York Diary brings the autobiography as unvarnished testimony of the life of a struggling immigrant trying to make it as an artist. How the personal can become the political.

Publishers of Graphic Novels 

Self Made Hero 

Draw & Quarterly 

Jonathan Cape 

Fantagraphics 

Titan Books 

Myriad Editions

Top Shelf

Graphic Novel Creatives

Alan Moore Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell

Dave Gibbons Watchmen & Kingsmen The Secret Service

Ian Cullbard At the Mountains of Madness

Art Spiegelmann Maus, Maus II and In the Shadow of No Towers

Bryan Talbot Alice In Sunderland and Dotter of Her Father's Eyes

Julie Doucet My New York Diary and Dirty Plotte

References

Doucet, J. (2018) Dirty Plotte. First edition edn. Montreal, Quebec: Drawn & Quarterly.

Moore, A. and Berlatsky, E.L. (2012) Alan Moore. First printing edn. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.

Moore, A., Gibbons, D. and Klinger, L.S. (2017) Watchmen annotated. Burbank, CA: DC Comics.

Prescott, T. (2013) 'Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes by Mary M. and Bryan Talbot (review)', James Joyce quarterly, 50(3), pp. 907-911. doi: 10.1353/jjq.2013.0041.

Spiegelman, A. (2011) Maus. 25. anniversary ed. edn. New York: Pantheon Books.

Talbot, B. (2007) Alice in Sunderland. 1. ed. edn. Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse Books.

Proposition Time Part 2

We looked at how you can use major storytelling themes to help you to add extra dimensions to your earliest memory story exercise from the last proposition. 

From classic storytelling structures here are the major themes interpret. 

• Select one theme only 

• How do they change your story? 

• Do they make the mundane and ordinary more interesting and appealing?

Connecting your earliest memory/ autobiography with a major narrative theme is a good way to help you to expand your story to open up new possibilities.

1.    Overcoming the Monster

2.    Rags to Riches 

3.    The Quest

4.    Comedy

5.    Tragedy

6.    Rebirth

Writing A Graphic Novel

Government Agency 100 DATES established for 6 years and endorsed by the UK State. The company matches genetically compatible people who wish to marry and produce offspring who will be fully immune to the SARs 10 VIRUS. I decided to create characters that were hiding aspects of their personalities and histories that made them untrustworthy and subject to changes in trajectory and motivation. 

When I started creating ideas for a graphic novel back in 2010 I knew that I had to use the characters in the story to help me to craft a realistic and believable world for them to 'live' within (World Building). The Dramatis Personae is a cast list and I tackled using character archetypes to assist me in the task. “In describing these common character types, symbols, and relationships the Swiss psychologist Carl G. Jung employed the term archetypes, meaning ancient patterns of personality that are the shared heritage of the human race.” Christopher Vogler

 

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES:

HERO

The word hero is Greek, from a root that means "to protect and to serve" (incidentally the motto of the Los Angeles Police Department). A Hero is someone who is willing to sacrifice his own needs on behalf of others, like a shepherd who will sacrifice to protect and serve his flock. At the root the idea of Hero is connected with self-sacrifice. (Note that I use the word Hero to describe a central character or protagonist of either sex.)

MENTOR
An archetype found frequently in dreams, myths, and stories is the Mentor, usually a positive figure who aids or trains the hero. A Wise Old Person. This archetype is expressed in all those characters who teach and protect heroes and give them gifts.

 

THRESHOLD GUARDIAN
All heroes encounter obstacles on the road to adventure. At each gateway to a new world there are powerful guardians at the threshold, placed to keep the unworthy from entering. They present a menacing face to the hero, but if properly understood, they can be overcome, bypassed, or even turned into allies. Man y heroes encounter Threshold Guardians and understanding their nature can help determine how to handle them.

HERALD
Often a new force will appear in Act One to bring a challenge to the hero. This is the energy of the Herald archetype. Like the heralds of medieval chivalry, Herald characters issue challenges and announce the coming of significant change. At the commencement of war a herald might be called upon to recite the causes of the conflict; in effect, to provide the motivation.

 
SHADOW
The archetype known as the Shadow represents the energy of the dark side, the unexpressed, unrealised, or rejected aspects of something. Often, it's the home of the suppressed monsters of our inner world. Shadows can be all the things we don't like about ourselves, all the dark secrets we can't admit, even to ourselves. The qualities we have renounced and tried to root out still lurk within, operating in the Shadow world of the unconscious. The Shadow can also shelter positive qualities that are in hiding or that we have rejected for some reason. The negative face of the Shadow in stories is projected onto characters called villains, antagonists, or enemies.

SHAPESHIFTER
People often have trouble grasping the elusive archetype of the Shapeshifter, perhaps because its very nature is to be shifting and unstable. Its appearance and characteristics change as soon as you examine it closely. Nonetheless, the Shapeshifter is a powerful archetype and understanding its ways can be helpful in storytelling and in life. Heroes frequently encounter figures, often of the opposite sex, whose primary characteristic is that they appear to change constantly from the hero's point of view.

ALLY
Heroes on their journeys may need someone to travel with them, an Ally who can serve a variety of necessary functions, such as companion, sparring partner, conscience, or comic relief Its useful to have someone to send on errands, to carry messages, to scout locations. It's convenient to have someone for the hero to talk to, to bring out human feelings or reveal important questions in the plot. Allies do many mundane tasks but also serve the important function of humanising the heroes, adding extra dimensions to their personalities, or challenging them to be more open and balanced. From the dawn of storytelling, heroes have been paired with friendly figures who fight at their sides, advise and warn them, and sometimes challenge them.

TRICKSTER
The Trickster archetype embodies the energies of mischief and desire for change. All the characters in stories who are primarily clowns or comical sidekicks express this archetype. The specialised form called the Trickster Hero is the leading figure in many myths and is very popular in folklore and fairy tales.

100 DATES Dramatis Personae (revised 2022)

 

London/ New London (ORDINARY WORLD/ SPECIAL WORLD)

Very old capital city of England. It is a main character and the atmosphere of the city should sparkle on every page. It is alive and has a supernatural effect on some of its population. It is the inspiration for most of the story. This city and it landmarks will be responsible for the look of the story and the dynamism within.

Parts of city are no go areas (as the mass burial grounds are toxic) and the Thames has flooded 12 swallowing up most of East London. Land is at a premium and new buildings must be at least 38 storeys tall.
There is a scheme to build a wall around the city (linked to fear of the strain SARs 10 VIRUS)  

 

 

William Frank (nom de plume Frank Hinds) (HERO 1/ MAIN PROTAGONIST)

Age in his 30’s

Height 6’5”

Born in August

Dark Brown eyes, Shaved head, Heavy build, Smartly dressed

Tattoo of a heart on their left breast     

Co-Director of Government Agency 100 DATES

Secretly writing online mystery “Ill Met by Moonlight” under name of Frank Hinds for Virtual Glass Publishing       

Passionate about music

Lives in a flat in the Barbican’s Shakespeare Tower

Originally comes from St. Albans

No parents (Died because of the Genetic War)

Has 1 Sister who has 2 young children (The children are unofficial)

He has headaches and there appears to be no cure   

He has a terrible secret from his childhood this is the cause of his headaches

These headaches cause delusions and he has invented an alter ego ‘Detective Francis’. He consults a psychiatrist at Bart’s Hospital for help and uses counseling sessions to help him to recover

He falls in love with Kathleen Tilbury and tries to romance her with special dates (their love is forbidden)

He does not trust the UK Security Services despite working for one of them.

 

 

Detective Frank (William Franks ALTER EGO)

We never see Detective Frank directly only his shadow or reflection (distorted)

His actions are those of a Super detective

This fantasy that appears when William has his headaches   

Has been an escape for William since his troubled upbringing and the death of Maxi Patrick.

This fantasy begins to take over his mind. William’s fantasy life threatens his sanity.

 

 

Kathleen Tilbury (HERO 2)

Age in her 30’s

Height 5’7”

Born in May

Light brown eyes

Hourglass figure

Long red hair extensions

Glasses

Wears sports gear  

Freelance photographer/ writer. Major client: The People Planet Guides Works as photographer and video tech for Agency 100 DATES         

Passionate about music

Lives in rented flat in Finsbury Park

Originally comes from Norwich

Split up from long term boyfriend 18 months previously

No parents (Died because of the Genetic War)

No siblings

Has been reading Frank Hinds online novel     

Childhood friend of Desta Finn

She falls in love with William Frank (their love is forbidden)

Commissioned to produce photos for the New London city guide, which puts her life in danger

Suspects Desta Finn is hiding an awful secret

Has no idea her colleague Nat O’Brien is attracted to her

 

 

Jon Doe (ANTAGONIST then ALLY)

Age in his 50’s

Height 6’

Born in April

Dark brown eyes,

Short grey hair

Heavy build dresses like Lt. Columbo    

Detective Inspector in the London Metropolitan Police 25 years on the job

Lives in police station house in EC2

Originally comes from Bermondsey

Divorced 5 years ago

Ex wife does not speak to him

Has also been reading Frank Hinds online novel

A Martial arts expert        

He becomes obsessed with Desta Finn and has a secret affair with her

He knows William does not like him and this makes him angry

He thinks William requires surveillance

 

 

Desta Finn (THRESHOLD GUARDIAN/ SHAPESHIFTER)

Age in her 30’s

Height 5’6”

Born in June

Cropped Black hair light brown eyes

Business suits

Slight build

Tattoo Scar on left breast 

Co-director of 100 DATES Company set up (sanctioned by the State) 6 years ago after graduation from MBA course

She inherited a fortune from her ‘Uncle’ Bruce Wilkinson     

Went to school with Kathleen and Jacqui Chance

Lives in flat in Barbican Shakespeare Tower

Originally comes from Norwich

Adopted but trying to trace her birth mother

Aggressive and jealous of others

Reads murder mysteries

Jealous of Kathleen and William’s secret relationship

Romantic partner is James Bent

Has secret affair with Jon Doe

Her childhood friends are concerned that she has untreated mental health issues

 

 

Natalie (Nat) O’Brien (HERALD)

Age in her 30’s

Height 5’6”

Born in January

Brown eyes

Long brown hair extensions

Spangly earrings

Wears business suits

Slight build with withered legs

Uses a wheelchair  

Publisher of The People Planet Guides   

Lost use of legs in car crash with police van 10 years ago

Has an asthmatic symptom

Lives with husband John in Berkhamsted, Herts

Originally comes from Tring

Brother is a journalist who disappeared in South Africa 5 years ago

Always giving unwanted advice to Kathleen

Suspects that Kathleen knows more about what happened to her brother when he disappeared

Secretly in love with Kathleen

 

 

Hugh Wycombe (ALLY)

Age in his 30’s but looks like he’s in his 50’s

Height 5’9”

Born in January

Brown eyes

Flat top afro

Slight build

Scruffy wears baseball cap that promotes live music ‘Keep Music Live’     

Blues musician

Writes songs and plays Electric Bass and Keyboards  

Best friend of William Frank

Married to Claire Wycombe

1 son Charles with his wife expecting a girl

Once toured US and met Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis

Successfully beat addiction to Heroin

Used to write comic strips with William when they were boys

Former member of the Messian Cult     

Introduces William and Kathleen to other musicians and special gigs

Knows William’s secret but has not revealed this to anyone

 

 

Pompas Glass (SHADOW)

Age in his 30’s

Height 6’

Born in February

black eyes

black hair with blond hi-lights

Well built

Glasses

Trench coat with bright red belt  

Guardian media reporter/ owns online publishing house that Frank Hinds works for    

Eton School educated

Oxford graduate expert in hi-tech surveillance

Lifelong friend of Sleaze Jones

Having affair with Sleaze Jones’ wife

Uses technical knowledge to fabricate stories and cause cyber catastrophes

        

 

Jobsworth (ANTAGONIST/ HERO 3)

Branson/Musk Series 1010001 Robot/ becomes an android

Robots carry out most of the menial tasks in a city depleted of it human inhabitants during the early stages of the Genetics War

Height 8’

Plastic polymer chassis

Human like face but has 4 arms and wheels instead of feet

Can levitate for short periods     

Caretaker robot in Barbican flats where Desta and William live       

A machine that was given an extra conscience chip and starts to form a human type self awareness 

Used to show the moral depravity of the characters and human society

Part of a sub-plot on surveillance and civil rights

Might be able to time travel

Worked at Temple of Michael Messian

 

 

Augustus Winter (MENTOR)

Age in his 40’s

Height 5’11” Eyes dark brown

Well dressed Plays sax clarinet and flute

Composer

Has own online jazz music site.   
Gigs around London and New London

Becomes a friend with William through Hugh Wycombe

Loves to drink bourbon neat      

Williams and Kathleen’s passion for music leads to this friendship

 

 

Annie Jones (SHAPESHIFTER)

Age in their 20’s

Height 5’5”

Born in May

Pink eyes

Bright white hair

Agile and insatiable sexual desires       

Trophy bride         

Former underwear model

Wants to have babies with Sleaze but is drawn to other more powerful men

Dreams of being worshipped by men

In secret joins 100 DATES agency to meet extreme sexual partners

Part of the sub-plot on secret identity ID chips in skin

 

 

Sleaze Jones (HERALD)

Age in their 30’s

Height 5’11”

Born in February

Brown eyes

Short brown hair

Thin moustache

Well built

Beltless trench coat

Sun Media reporter/ secret police informer     

Eton School educated

Oxford and MIT graduate expert in hi-tech surveillance

Is the handler of Jobsworth and several other android operatives?

Incidental character that forms part of a sub-plot on surveillance and civil rights

He likes androids and thinks they promise a great future for humanity

 

 

Anil Singh (TRICKSTER/ ALLY)

Age 30 -35

Height 5’9”

Very long brown hair

Stout but powerful 

Doctor of Psychiatry at St. Bart’s 

From Wembley

World authority on Psychotherapy

Met William at Comic convention at the Barbican and became they friends.

He lives in Barbican Lauderdale Tower

Tries to help William recover from his mental delusions – suggests surgery

Part of the sub-plot on identity ID chips in skin

 

 

Maxi Patrick (ORDEAL)

Age 8 (deceased)

Height 5’

Blue eyes

Blond hair

Very skinny

Shorts and T-shirt  

Was a school boy and attended Moonfleet Middle School     

Adopted when small child

Had unknown sister

Heart shaped birthmark on left shoulder

Lived in St. Albans

Bullied at school

Died aged 8  Maxi Patrick’s death is the reason why William Frank has a secret

 

 

Michael Messian (HERALD/ SHADOW/ CLIMAX)

Age Unknown

Height approx 6’ 6”

Black eyes

Long chestnut coloured hair

Wears floating robes and head band

Body very hairy

Voice is enhanced by special implant    

Prophet for the people – Charismatic leader of the Temple of Eternal Redemption

Private donations and drug dealing in 3HC keep this organisation going  

Unknown he appeared in Bad Lands 10 years ago and set up his Cult

Works with the establishment and outside the law

Has previous business relationship with Hugh Wycombe during Hugh’s Heroin addiction

He has connection with Jobsworth and other androids who spy for him    

He causes problems for many characters in the story

He has deadly battle with Jobsworth
HE IS THE CAUSE OF EVERYTHING