Jack Cole and Plastic Man

Reading Jack Cole and Plastic Man the 1988 issue #4 “Bagatelle, I can’t help but feel like this comic series is more making fun of superhero comics rather than telling a true-blue superhero story. The comic style is actually portrayed very well. Unlike Winsor McCay’s Little nemo where he plays with the size of the panels and incorporates background designs with his main story, Plastic Man has even panels and doesn’t really stray off the abstract panels form of the comic stip. Granted that the Comic book is a little different than a comic strip where it is actually following a story line, stretching out to get more of a story out of it. This also gives room for the Author/Illustrator to create an environment and give personality to his characters. Given that Plastic Man is a low tier superhero, even the style of storytelling is different from other superhero comic books. It’s more comedic and it focuses on more slapstick comedy rather than the grittier comics or even the standard super hero comics. It completely makes fun of itself over and over again to the point where you really can’t take anything seriously in the comic, which does help the comic because that’s the theme its going for. It strives to be so absurd and outlandish that it’s enjoyable to the point where you really don’t have to think about it to read the comic book. The color temperature of the comics vary from panel to panel that helps with the stylistic wacky ness that is Jack Cole and Plastic Man.

Winsor McCay- Little Nemo in Slumber Land

Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo by itself is already an interesting comic series within itself. The concept of Nemo going on adventures in his dreams is a pattern throughout the comic strips. Not to mention that it’s enhanced furthermore by playing with the panels to make the reading more fluid and more exciting. Varying the sized of each panel but somehow keeping the story connected through its illustrated background. And the comics always start and end similarly with each instillation. He starts in bed asleep, then is transported to a world with his narration of what is going on, when the adventure is resolved or some sort of resolution is reached Nemo wakes up in his bed safe. Personally, I feel like Little Nemo is tormented by his dreams as part of a chronic illness that is developed at his young age.  Or in a way he was gifted with an extraordinary hyperactive imagination that bleeds over into his dreams and take him into these weird and random scenarios. The reason I say he is tormented is due to the fact that every night he wakes up with a start that in some point he falls off his bed and lands on the floor in a bundled mess. His mind is taking control of his dreams and takes him to the Alice in Wonderland like places and it is totally out of his control until he falls back to reality, always ending in some sly remark that wraps up the comic pretty well. I can absolutely see why this comic was so popular and pretty enjoyable.