For the final post of Georgian History month, I’d like to introduce the talented writer and comic artist Laura Neubert, the creator of “The Light Eater” webcomic, a lovely and atmospheric Gothic paranormal fantasy set during the time of the French Revolution. She’s here to discuss her favorite 18th century set comics– focusing mainly on ones set during the American and French revolutions. These comics by groundbreaking comic artists like Lora Innes, Ryoko Ikeda, and Dylan Meconis are all revolutionary comics, in both senses of the word.
Ahh the 1700’s. What a romanticized point in Western history. Certainly, this is due in no small part to the two revolutions that capped off that century. Is it any wonder that so many artists, authors and artistic types have turned their attentions toward the latter end of that 100 year period? The drama of revolution is inescapable, hell, the word itself means to change, or to turn. Place nearly any sort of character in the context of such turmoil and the drama is just about inherent. In some ways, it seems even terribly fitting that creators of comics would take on this period in time, since William Hogarth’s prints, which are considered an early precursor to sequential art appeared during this time, and often commented on many of the conditions and social misconceptions that helped lead to some of the revolutionary fervor in France. With that in mind, let’s take a step back in time and give the works of a few talented authors a closer look.
First off, let’s handle things a bit chronologically. So let’s turn our attention to “The Dreamer”, arguably one of the most well-known web-comics in America. Written by Lora Innes, the story concerns a young modern-day lass named Bea who seems to travel back in time to the American Revolution when she sleeps. Perhaps it’s only a dream, a vivid, intense dream, but, Bea seems to have an established life in the past, she even has a paramour there, the dashing, charming Alan. It is not only Bea, but also the reader who must wonder which time frame is real and which is the dream. Is our heroine merely imagining this complex story of such an important point in American history, or is she actually rushing back and forth through time? Is she only one person, or two? How can one person exist in two places at once? Continue reading “Revolutionary Comics” »
