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| By Jake Weatherill From Lewisham Branch |
Howdy, it's me Jake, back again with another book I read.
This week I thought I would jump into the world of Graphic Novels. Comics have been my passion for years.
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| Iron Man comics in RB Digital |
Anyone who knows me will tell you I am a geek of the
highest order and that I will devour comics like there's no tomorrow. I
actually feel that a lot of credit for this needs to go to Forest Hill Library,
and it's heavily influenced today's pick.
I remember going into Forest Hill Library at around 16 with some friends from sixth-form. We wandered into the backroom which used to be the Teen area, and I browsed the Graphic Novels. Now I liked the idea of comics, but I never read that many.
I came across one of the most beautiful book covers I have ever seen. I picked it up, reading the title. Iron Man: Extremis.
I remember going into Forest Hill Library at around 16 with some friends from sixth-form. We wandered into the backroom which used to be the Teen area, and I browsed the Graphic Novels. Now I liked the idea of comics, but I never read that many.
I came across one of the most beautiful book covers I have ever seen. I picked it up, reading the title. Iron Man: Extremis.
All of a sudden I got memories of weekend mornings in the 90's, watching all the Marvel cartoons, X-Men, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Incredible Hulk, and Iron Man.
I know this is blasphemous to say but Iron Man was my favourite growing up.
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| From Jake's personal collection |
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| Don't you just hate when IronMan shows up when you are mid-robbery |
Given the rush of nostalgia I picked up Extremis, sat down at a table,
and accidentally ignored my friends while I read it from cover to cover.
I was struck by two things as I read. Firstly the artwork was gorgeous. Like breath taking.
I had expected something cartoony, and instead I was given beautifully detailed illustrations, as well as being introduced to one of my favourite artists.
If you want to check him out his name is Adi Granov and you can find his art work here.
I had expected something cartoony, and instead I was given beautifully detailed illustrations, as well as being introduced to one of my favourite artists.
If you want to check him out his name is Adi Granov and you can find his art work here.
Secondly the story being told had so much more depth than I thought it would. There's a general misconception that comics overall tell simple stories of good versus evil, except that undersells the medium.
Some of the most complex, well written stories I have read have been comic story arcs. Extremis for me sits on that pantheon.
Writer Warren Ellis is one of the greatest comic scribes of all time, and Extremis is one of his many masterpieces.
The Narrative of Extemis is one of the best demonstrations of this. The story he initially lays down is a classic Comic 'good guy vs bad guy', at least that's how it appears.
Some of the most complex, well written stories I have read have been comic story arcs. Extremis for me sits on that pantheon.
Writer Warren Ellis is one of the greatest comic scribes of all time, and Extremis is one of his many masterpieces.
The Narrative of Extemis is one of the best demonstrations of this. The story he initially lays down is a classic Comic 'good guy vs bad guy', at least that's how it appears.
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| http://www.oxfordartonline.com |
It's only when you reach the end you realise he has been writing a whodunit all along, as you re-read it everything falls into place making you kick yourself because it's actually pretty obvious, it's just the clues are well concealed.
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| IronMan and his nemesis Black Widow |
There's also the way he develops the character. At the start of it Tony Stark, the eponymous Iron Man, is a man who is struggling to deal with his legacy.
He has changed who he is, and what he does, but nothing he does helps him cope with the man who he was, and the repercussions of that.
By the end Tony may not like his legacy, but he accepts he is who he is, and that all who can do is attempt to make up for his past mistakes.
He can finally look himself in the mirror. The theme of transformation runs throughout Extremis, woven into every level of the comic in a way that is remarkably subtle.
He has changed who he is, and what he does, but nothing he does helps him cope with the man who he was, and the repercussions of that.
By the end Tony may not like his legacy, but he accepts he is who he is, and that all who can do is attempt to make up for his past mistakes.
He can finally look himself in the mirror. The theme of transformation runs throughout Extremis, woven into every level of the comic in a way that is remarkably subtle.
I adore this, and if you read any comic it should be this, the fact they update Tony's origins makes it an ideal jumping on point, but the story telling is why you should stay.
Fancy checking it out? You can find it here on our E-Library Iron Man - London Libraries Consortium - OverDrive
Fancy checking it out? You can find it here on our E-Library Iron Man - London Libraries Consortium - OverDrive
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| http://www.oxfordreference.com/n |
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