Memetic #1
Good times
Writer: James Tynion IV
Art: Eryk Donovan
Publisher: BOOM!
This comic is about a meme. A meme of a sloth. A meme of a sloth called good times sloth. A meme of a sloth called good times sloth that drives people into an insane zombie frenzy within twelve hours of seeing it and, I'm already bummed this is only going to be three issues.
Tynion, who created and wrote this comic, is probably a genius. I say that, because I really really thought this comic was going to be a pandering cash-in on our meme and social media culture but, it isn't. No, it's a raw, tense, and still hilarious commentary on the digital world we've created and its effects on our physical world. Trust me, I'm not unaware of the irony deeply instilled in me writing this review on a website which I'll then most likely tweet to both the creators and BOOM! itself. But, that's kind of the point of this comic isn't it? It's a wake up call but not a shaming one and, that's good writing. The way that this comic transitions from humour and lightness in the college environment to a horrifying portrayal of human violence is staggering. The balance of youthfulness and maturity is also well done. I never once thought I would see a real, deep and meaningful conversation about human ingenuity and culture and also...memetics in a comic but, it's there, and it's well done.
Donovan's art is depictive of the precise commentary and story in this book, too. I don't know if he himself came up with the sloth meme but, if he did, bravo because it's hilarious and creepy. Worthy of note, too, are the funny and still accurate portrayals of Reddit, Gawker and others. Including the texts and tweets between characters on the pages is an inspired and creative connection to the story itself that doesn't feel forced. Ultimately, the characters feel human, the scary parts are actually scary and I appreciate deeply that Donovan clearly knows his stuff when it comes to these websites and memes instead of just glazing over them in favor of the human characters. His art makes the internet feel alive, it's a character all in its own and that's a fantastic accomplishment.
I'm a Public Relations major at my university. I talk and learn about social media every single day. If you had told me, before I had a chance to read it, that this comic was coming out I would've scoffed at you. I would have also been wrong. This is a fun, scary and accurate interpretation of the world we live in, it's real and honest, what else can you ask for?
Writer: James Tynion IV
Art: Eryk Donovan
Publisher: BOOM!
This comic is about a meme. A meme of a sloth. A meme of a sloth called good times sloth. A meme of a sloth called good times sloth that drives people into an insane zombie frenzy within twelve hours of seeing it and, I'm already bummed this is only going to be three issues.
Tynion, who created and wrote this comic, is probably a genius. I say that, because I really really thought this comic was going to be a pandering cash-in on our meme and social media culture but, it isn't. No, it's a raw, tense, and still hilarious commentary on the digital world we've created and its effects on our physical world. Trust me, I'm not unaware of the irony deeply instilled in me writing this review on a website which I'll then most likely tweet to both the creators and BOOM! itself. But, that's kind of the point of this comic isn't it? It's a wake up call but not a shaming one and, that's good writing. The way that this comic transitions from humour and lightness in the college environment to a horrifying portrayal of human violence is staggering. The balance of youthfulness and maturity is also well done. I never once thought I would see a real, deep and meaningful conversation about human ingenuity and culture and also...memetics in a comic but, it's there, and it's well done.
Donovan's art is depictive of the precise commentary and story in this book, too. I don't know if he himself came up with the sloth meme but, if he did, bravo because it's hilarious and creepy. Worthy of note, too, are the funny and still accurate portrayals of Reddit, Gawker and others. Including the texts and tweets between characters on the pages is an inspired and creative connection to the story itself that doesn't feel forced. Ultimately, the characters feel human, the scary parts are actually scary and I appreciate deeply that Donovan clearly knows his stuff when it comes to these websites and memes instead of just glazing over them in favor of the human characters. His art makes the internet feel alive, it's a character all in its own and that's a fantastic accomplishment.
I'm a Public Relations major at my university. I talk and learn about social media every single day. If you had told me, before I had a chance to read it, that this comic was coming out I would've scoffed at you. I would have also been wrong. This is a fun, scary and accurate interpretation of the world we live in, it's real and honest, what else can you ask for?