Two Fantasy Comics of Interest

[espanolbot]

Miyazaki's Concepts of Good vs. Evil, and Matt Rhode's 'My Hero'

Though not strictly actual comics in the sense that they'd be okay in of themselves to be posted here, I thought that these are relevant enough to our community that people might think that they're cool in their own right.

First off, a comic based on various interviews of Hayao Miyazaki, and his ideas behind storytelling, female characters and his opinions on the natures of good and evil.





From here,
http://sapphiresky1410.deviantart.com/

On a related note, if you haven't seen Princess Mononoke go! Do it now! It's one of those rare films that involve "environmental" issues that doesn't paint the non-nature side as villains. In fact, no one really is a "villain" in this movie, just different sorts of people. Go watch it.

And on a similar fantasy scale, here's My Hero, by Matt Rhodes, who did some of the concept artwork for Mass Effect, as well as the Disney Apocalypse painting from a FanArt Thursday way, Wayyy back when,

http://mattrhodes.deviantart.com/

For the legalities, a cover from the Wildstorm remake of the Thunderbolt Jaxon comicbook series, which is itself something of an underrated fantasy comic (the remake, the original British version I haven't seen),

Comments

[eyz]

This was truly fantastic!
Both comics!

[peur-evol.blogspot.com]

That second one:
Did that guy really waste several years of his life over a girl that didn't even like him?
Wow.

[shadowpsykie]

but then he was like "I'm hot as hell, screw this shit!"

[espanolbot]

I think it was more of a "I've gone through so much to find her, but was she actually worth it in the end? NOPE!", because with each of his adventures he got a new scar (the circles on his arms from when he was enslaved) or tattoo, each symbolising something he had to bypass on his way to "save" her.

[shadowpsykie]

hmmm that's entirely possible... but he IS hot... and if i suddenly just realized that i was hot, and the person i loved was being a douche to me after all the shit i went through, i would be be SCREW this!"

compromise: Realizing he went through all this horror to "save" the woman he loved, only to realize she was a....not nice person and didn't like him in the least. then realizing he was really smoking hot now, and has cool scars, he realizes he is now free to find someone who truely will love him?"

[cainofdreaming]

Well, interpretations are always subjective but I thought it was more like he got a revelation moment about what the quest to find her had made him grow into - cool heroic dude with biceps to kill for. He'd led a slave revolt, worked on a pirate ship, trained with the Maori. So, in short, by following her he'd gained a life of adventure.

[biod]

My interpetation was "Waaaaait a second, I'm fucking awesome! KTHXBYE!"

[dejadrew]

I don't think HE considered it a waste. Look at the grin on his face. I mean, the girl turned out to be a fantasy in his head that had nothing to do with the real woman, but look what that fantasy led him to.

He's seen burning deserts and arctic ice floes. He's been the hero of a slave rebellion, a sailor, an honoured member of a tribe he probably never even heard of growing up. He realizes he doesn't get to get the girl, but that he got to BE the man. And he is. He is totally The Man. Look at that grin AGAIN. That is totally "I am da MAN" face. Hot on the heels of his "holy fucking shit I am actually kind of awesome when did that happen" face when he catches himself in the mirror.

[biod]

Exactly.
And, if the "start" is any indication, he's going to continue being quite manlish and hopefully find a woman who can appreciate and complement his badassery.

[shadowpsykie]

one, Miyazaki (whom i love) some how feels like Joseph Campbell... he has that... feel... i don't know... like he understands texts...

secondly i LOVE that Matt Rhodes strip, especially the part where he's like... "Wait... I am REALLY hot... screw this! she could have had a nice guy! AWAAAAAY!"

[glprime]

Definitely. Miyazaki's vision of classics and Campbell's really go hand-in-hand, or rather, Miyazaki is a good example of a progression or reconstruction of classic myth structure under more modern or realistic paradigms.

[shadowpsykie]

Definitely. Miyazaki's vision of classics and Campbell's really go hand-in-hand, or rather, Miyazaki is a good example of a progression or reconstruction of classic myth structure under more modern or realistic paradigms.

Take me! take me RIGHT NOW!...

forgive me... you spoke my language and there a scant few who can do that :D

[glprime]

*Shh, shh* Ours must be the love that dare not speak its name. If that even applies here :P Geek Love is indecent, right?

I got to write a Miyazaki paper in college once, and there's a lot I have to say on the subject.

But for both my personal writing and film theory, female protagonists and subverting the traditional Good vs Evil structure is a big part of that (morally, it's mostly Grey vs Grey, but also a very classical Creation vs Destruction dichotomy, even within individuals, much like Miyazaki says).

[biod]

I saw this on Deviantart this morning. Didn't realize the credentials untill you brought them up. Didn't see the king dicking around in the background untill now either. From the look on his face you would think this happens every Tuesday.

[dejadrew]

I love the disgruntled king. Not-Actually-Distressed-Damsel is really kinda equal in awesomeness to Would-Be-Rescuer-Guy, when you think about it. I mean, this completely random peasant babe picked up on a whim by a king looking to score some commoner tail, and she is now SUPREME DICTATOR OF THE COUNTRY with the actual King relegated to sulking behind her throne. Girl is GOOD. I mean, she's kinda evil, but she's GOOD.

Alas, she has enough charisma and political savvy to take over a kingdom, but not enough to convince her old boyfriend to be her hot barbarian boy-concubine on the side. (I assume that's what she's asking near the end there. It's what I'd ask. I mean, LOOK at him.)

[biod]

Aaand now I can't stop picturing her singing "Poor Unfortunate Souls". Not quite sure why, just happened.

[biod]

I love those two panels where he's picking Not-Actually-Distressed-Damsel up. From "Hey baby, wanna ride in my palace" to "Booze and bling!"

[dejadrew]

I keep seeing new details in the My Hero story. It's amazing how much you can get into a silent strip. The middle panel of the pirate page is pretty much an entire story all on it's own.

Look at the pirate captain and the lady he's with. Look at their hands. Specifically, look at their wedding ring fingers. That's the captain and his WIFE. Now look at where the wife is looking. And her expression. And her husband's OH HELL NO bugged out evil eye reaction.

All that plot in one single still image. DAYUMN.

[skitster]

All of the above and I do like his "...the fuck?" face just after the girl raises the curtain.

Miyazaki is the man too.

[baihu]

So in the process he basically went through Aang's training regime and the different elemental kingdoms? And ends up kinda like a super hot grown-up Sokka?

[mastiff]

That Matt Rhodes story is brilliant. Love the attention to detail, with the "whipped", regretful king and the wilted flower falling in the end.

[skemono]

Also love how Rule of Cool is in full effect. He can't just exit the palace, he HAS to jump out the window which is "x" stories off the ground. A-freaking-mazing.

Given how he was throwing the guards/soldiers threw windows as he ascended the tower, I'm pretty sure his thought process was "Imma bust up every window in this place."

[mrstatham]

I think I prefer Totoro, Porco Rosso and even Kiki's Delivery Service to Mononoke, somehow, but that's just me. Porco Rosso is just especially fun given it was just meant to be something Ghibli threw together for an in-flight film.

[icon_uk]

Never just you, Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbour Totoro remain my favourites of his work.

[glprime]

One of the few films I've seen detailing that period AND location of the world, so it's really something unique just for that. And those planes are gorgeous too. I'm a little bit miffed the idea of a sequel "The Last Sortie" hasn't gone beyond a "hobby" for Miyazaki. Aw, well.

[atom_punk]

I am biased I suppose, since Mononoke was the first I saw of Miyazaki's works.

And you never forget your first, for better or "worst". (yay for improper grammar)

I just loved the idea of a world inhabited by demons/spirits and humans are trying to eke out their existence. Some humans begin to use metalworking, industry and technology to improve their lives and yet they also end up losing their connection to nature and start coming into conflict with it. Obviously very relevant to modern world issues.

Also I had a crush on San.

[atom_punk]

i seem to have accidentally deleted my first comment, so to make sure this all makes sense, I'll just repost here.

"Love how he managed to keep that flower he picked at the start all throughout his journey. Then appropriately disposes of it once he realizes he can do better than this lady.

Also love how Rule of Cool is in full effect. He can't just exit the palace, he HAS to jump out the window which is "x" stories off the ground. A-freaking-mazing.

And for what it's worth, I will second espanolbot's recommendation to see Princess Mononoke. Definitely my favorite of Miyazaki's works."

[terabient]

I think Spirited Away illustrates Miyazaki's approach to storytelling the best...but really, all of Miyazaki's work is worth watching.

[atom_punk]

Spirited Away was definitely an interesting one. A protagonist very much out of her depth, stuck in a world she can't comprehend, gradually maturing and growing as she overcomes obstacles and challenges.

[marco]

Those were so awesome, and that second one is incredibly fun. >u<

I admire and adore Miyazaki, and ever since reading Nausicaa, I feel that I understand and agree with his views. In general, but especially about heroes, as well as good and evil. (Is it bad that I want Miyazaki to be the one writing Wondy now? Because I think it's a perfect fit...)

Maybe I'll just have to go and rewatch all of his movies now, for the heck of it. And while it seems silly, I think Whispers of the Heart and Ponyo are my favorite Miyazaki movies. Spirited Away is up there too. Princess Mononoke is way up there though~. (The manga for Nausicaa will probably be a favorite work of his for all eternity though.)

[nezchan]

Miyazaki Gets It.

Personally, my favourite of his remains Laputa, and my favourite film in general is Whisper of the Heart, which he had a hand in. But Mononoke was great all the same.

[glprime]

"This is what hate does to you when it takes hold! It's eating me alive and very soon now it will kill me!"

Chills.

Nausicaa and Mononoke are pretty much almost tied for top place, mostly for that classical fantasy adventure style they have. So much action versus some of the more cerebral/emotional moments of his later films.