Sunday, February 15, 2009

Free Soulin'

How was everyone's Valentine's Day? Hope it went well...
Oh, mine? It went great!
Moving along then...
I am really, really particular about the comics I read. It's not that im a snob about what I read, but more the fact that I need the book to resonate something deep within me. The art can't be amazing, but the story crap. Or vice versa. It doesn't have to be epic, just something that makes it real for me. Adding to the fact that most of the stuff that inspires me is either a) not from America or b) is from America but was done 40 years or older, my list is pretty damn specific.

Ebine Yamaji is a female Japanese Manga-ka (comic artist) that is known for her lesbian themed stories that touch on how fragile all of us really are. To be honest, the first thing that drew me to her work wasn't the subject matter--which, to be sure is great--but her use of wide panels and very minimal detail in them. It can be argued that minimalism is just inherent to the manga style, which is true; it really makes no since to draw what is not needed-- but Yamaji-sensei seems to have a real grasp on putting juuust enough to make it work.
Plus, in my opinion, she happens to be one of the best manga artist who actually depict people of color well. And by well, I mean normal. Gay and normal. Wait--can I say "people of color?!"

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Quit teasin us and just tell her to get naked LOL...
The mix is ill. JBeez w/ tha Remedy will always have a special place in my heart (Not really sure if that's a good thing)

Plex Lowery said...

true to both statments! Its really a shame that JBeez w/t Remedy didnt get more embrace in the hip hop community. yes, it was super jarring and all over the place, but damn--at least they were taking CHANCES for chrissake. 'lil weezy doing a rock record is NOT taking chances!...