The roundness and pug nose of RASL, the heavy eye brows, both remind me of early American Gangsters, with faces like James Cagney's
Or the man on the left from The Sting. I wish there were a profile image of him, but his nose is shaped very differently than anyone I see on the street these days, and its not just a difference in costume. RASL's long hair and clothes don't scream the 30's, but I can't get past the association of his face. I always associate that style mug with characters like the ones played by Cagney or Bogart, The Ellery Queen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellery_Queen) man. The character with unscrupulous morals, but not really a bad guy, and dispite his associations, usually has a big heart and keen sense of justice.
From the interviews we had listened to in class, I was expecting a character a little less stock, and a little more immoral.
I can't say this story grabbed me. The ideas are cool, and I like the machine's design, but I don't feel the space really exists, or that Smith is choosing the most interesting ways to tell the story.
(Insert page 31)
There is also a lack of shadows which is interesting for a noir comic. It feels like light is existing everywhere, as opposed to the desert where shadows are generally long or distorted.
I liked the references you used to compare Rasl's face. He definitely doesn't look like the typical good guy, his features are very particular and have a gritty sort of look. It bothered me how in some shots his facial features seemed to be squished compared to his face. Or (maybe this is just me) how his eyes look kind of East Asian in some instances? which is pretty weird considering his other features...haha.
ReplyDeleteChloe,
ReplyDeleteI too liked that you focused on Rasl's facial features. Good film references: Cagney, the sidekick in THE STING, etc.
Also, good point concerning the "lack of shadows" and the "highlight of "light."
I am a big believer in Jeff Smith as a storyteller. I have faith that he will make RASL or have RASL evolve into a much more interesting story in the future. He had years to plan RASL and a network of comic writer friends to give him feedback before he published RASL.
Cynthia