Review: Blankets by Craig Thompson
Blankets
by Craig Thompson
In the nineties, the graphic novel gained prominence, helped on by some great works like Alan Moore’s Watchmen (which I hope to do a review soon), Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series (I’m still financially miles away from buying them…) and some of Batman’s books, like Dark Knight, Dark Knight Returns and Year One.
Graphic novels were a different sort of cool from regular comics, the latter were usually associated with pimply boys obsessed with spandex-clad muscle bound flying superheroes or superbabes, but even though some graphic novels were basically a collection of a series of comics, what elevated the medium of graphic novels was the mature and serious subject matter they often focused on, like social issues that rose above the usual tripe.
But Blankets is a different sort of graphic novel. One online review said that it was a book you could get your girlfriend to read, and I don’t entirely disagree with it. Blankets is a black and white graphic novel by Craig Thompson, in parts based on events of his own life. It tells of a boy Craig, a social outcast boy in small town school somewhere in America. The only companion he has is little brother Phil, who despite the many petty arguments and pranks between them, they both share a love for drawing and a fertile imagination.
Through the abuse he faces from school bullies, and his strict father, Craig becomes increasingly alienated from the world, slowly withdrawing into his sketches and fantasy world. He also becomes more and more confused with his own spirituality, coming from a conservative Christian family.
The second part of the book is what makes it special. Craig grows into a teenager, grows apart from his brother and even more disillusioned by school and almost everything around him. Until he meets Raina, a girl seemingly just like him. The story then slowly explores the growing yet enigmatic relationship between the two, introducing the complicated members of Raina’s family, and her friends.
The final part of the book deals with Craig at the throes of adulthood, and the few decisions that stare him at his face. While the ending is decidedly timed well, I felt it was a little unresolved, but it is just a small complaint.
The first thing that strikes you the enormity of the book, almost 600 pages in all. But it is neatly divided in chapters according to the stages of Craig’s life.
Blankets is in its whole, a coming of age story, and in part, a tale of falling in love, and also a journey of self discovery. Some of these issues are briefly touched upon but not fully expounded by the author, by I think as a story in its whole, it doesn’t distract from the continuity. The art is pleasing, with clean lines, and a little intentional rough edges.
Blankets refers to two things in this story, a painstaking quilt made by Raina for Craig, and also in a symbolic sense which you’ll discover in this graphic novel.
For mature readers, with some sexual themes.
by Craig Thompson
In the nineties, the graphic novel gained prominence, helped on by some great works like Alan Moore’s Watchmen (which I hope to do a review soon), Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series (I’m still financially miles away from buying them…) and some of Batman’s books, like Dark Knight, Dark Knight Returns and Year One.
Graphic novels were a different sort of cool from regular comics, the latter were usually associated with pimply boys obsessed with spandex-clad muscle bound flying superheroes or superbabes, but even though some graphic novels were basically a collection of a series of comics, what elevated the medium of graphic novels was the mature and serious subject matter they often focused on, like social issues that rose above the usual tripe.
But Blankets is a different sort of graphic novel. One online review said that it was a book you could get your girlfriend to read, and I don’t entirely disagree with it. Blankets is a black and white graphic novel by Craig Thompson, in parts based on events of his own life. It tells of a boy Craig, a social outcast boy in small town school somewhere in America. The only companion he has is little brother Phil, who despite the many petty arguments and pranks between them, they both share a love for drawing and a fertile imagination.
Through the abuse he faces from school bullies, and his strict father, Craig becomes increasingly alienated from the world, slowly withdrawing into his sketches and fantasy world. He also becomes more and more confused with his own spirituality, coming from a conservative Christian family.
The second part of the book is what makes it special. Craig grows into a teenager, grows apart from his brother and even more disillusioned by school and almost everything around him. Until he meets Raina, a girl seemingly just like him. The story then slowly explores the growing yet enigmatic relationship between the two, introducing the complicated members of Raina’s family, and her friends.
The final part of the book deals with Craig at the throes of adulthood, and the few decisions that stare him at his face. While the ending is decidedly timed well, I felt it was a little unresolved, but it is just a small complaint.
The first thing that strikes you the enormity of the book, almost 600 pages in all. But it is neatly divided in chapters according to the stages of Craig’s life.
Blankets is in its whole, a coming of age story, and in part, a tale of falling in love, and also a journey of self discovery. Some of these issues are briefly touched upon but not fully expounded by the author, by I think as a story in its whole, it doesn’t distract from the continuity. The art is pleasing, with clean lines, and a little intentional rough edges.
Blankets refers to two things in this story, a painstaking quilt made by Raina for Craig, and also in a symbolic sense which you’ll discover in this graphic novel.
For mature readers, with some sexual themes.
posted by Yoong Family at 7:05 pm
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