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| Suspended Animation, April 16, 2004 |
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Winsor McCay: Early Works
$19.95
192 pgs.
From Checker Book Publishing
Art and story: Winsor McCay
Sold in comics and book shops and at www.checkerbpg.com
It is more difficult to blaze a trail than to follow one, and Winsor McCay was a trailblazer.
Winsor McCay: Early Works, the first volume in a collection of McCay's work as a comic strip pioneer, reprints four of his strips, Tales of the Jungle Imps (1903), Little Sammy Sneeze (1904), Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend (1905), and A Pilgrim's Progress (1905).
McCay's groundbreaking bird's-eye views, unusual perspectives, outstanding composition and inking, all added to the popularity of his incredible artwork. His background as an architect and the dreamlike quality in each of his comic strips seeded by his amazing imagination place him firmly as a giant in the pantheon of comics artists and writers. Because they were created at the turn of the 20th century, the visual history in his work adds an unintentional joy to these four marvelous comic strips.
McCay's dialog wasn't chopped liver either, but for those looking for character development and plot, prepare to be slightly disappointed. McCay's work focused on ideas, not story.
McCay was a genius, but not a faultless one.
Each of these strips was built around one idea that was reworked over and over. Because you wont be reading one strip a week as originally published, this redundancy of idea can become irritating.
Tales of the Jungle Imps was created for children, and recounts how animals received unique characteristics like a tiger's stripes. Little Sammy Sneeze is about a boy with a huge sneeze and the chaos it creates. Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend reveals the bizarre dreams brought about by eating fried cheese, and A Pilgrim's Progress focuses on a man's attempt to rid himself of "dull care".
Early Works is highly recommended for comic strip fans or students of the history of the most popular artform in the world.
Michael Vance
Shudder at Vance's Light's End horror short stories narrated by actor William Windom at www.plan9.org.
Questions? Comment? E-Mail Suspended Animation at vance@digitalwebbing.com
Any statements made, expressed or implied are solely those of columnists or persons interviewed and do not represent the editorial position of the administration, who does not accept responsibility of such statements. All characters and artwork shown are trademark and © of their respective owners.
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