Egg Story is a comic book by J. Marc Schmidt.Imagine my surprise when I opened up my daily infusion of comics (delivered via priority mail every Weds. thanks to Jim!) to find not only the regular weeklies, but four graphic novels! Needless to say, I was very excited. One of these books was a strange little tale called Egg Story.
The back of this book gives a very intriguing description:
Growing up. Leaving home. Falling in love.
Witnessing madness and murder. Becoming a ninja.
This could be a story about any of us.
But it isn't. It's a story about eggs.
I can already tell I'm going to like this story!
This is a black and white comic, but somehow the simplicity of the art makes it more accessible. In some ways the art reminds me of Jeff Smith's earlier work. It complements the story very nicely. Overall this is a story about a brother and sister (both chicken eggs) who escape the prison of the refrigerator to explore the world.
Early on we see that while possessing a certain child-like quality, it is not a simplistic tale. The eggs are taken from their mother early on after witnessing the gruesome death of their brother only to find themselves in a grocery store trapped in a carton with other orphan eggs. During their first rebellious effort they are submitted to more horror within the grocery cart!
Having been taken home and trapped in prison on "death row" (the broccoli's description of the refrigerator), the eggs plan their escape!
As they continue to observe the atrocities humans heap upon their kind the eggs must stuggle to find meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. Schmidt provides us with several different viewpoints. Cloud, a friend to Feather and Five Spots (the siblings), learns to see the world through his art - drawing the beautiful things he sees around him - including the lovely Five Spots. Five Spots finds meaning in love, both romantically for Cloud and platonically for her brother. Feather has a difficult time finding meaning in all the horror he sees and fins ways to fight back (and becoming a ninja).
I also love the eggs' interactions with the real world.
In general this is a wonderful all ages story with fantastic characters, approachable art, and a story that everyone can relate to - even ninjas.
Grade: A+
This is a black and white comic, but somehow the simplicity of the art makes it more accessible. In some ways the art reminds me of Jeff Smith's earlier work. It complements the story very nicely. Overall this is a story about a brother and sister (both chicken eggs) who escape the prison of the refrigerator to explore the world.
Early on we see that while possessing a certain child-like quality, it is not a simplistic tale. The eggs are taken from their mother early on after witnessing the gruesome death of their brother only to find themselves in a grocery store trapped in a carton with other orphan eggs. During their first rebellious effort they are submitted to more horror within the grocery cart!
Having been taken home and trapped in prison on "death row" (the broccoli's description of the refrigerator), the eggs plan their escape!
As they continue to observe the atrocities humans heap upon their kind the eggs must stuggle to find meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. Schmidt provides us with several different viewpoints. Cloud, a friend to Feather and Five Spots (the siblings), learns to see the world through his art - drawing the beautiful things he sees around him - including the lovely Five Spots. Five Spots finds meaning in love, both romantically for Cloud and platonically for her brother. Feather has a difficult time finding meaning in all the horror he sees and fins ways to fight back (and becoming a ninja).
I also love the eggs' interactions with the real world.
In general this is a wonderful all ages story with fantastic characters, approachable art, and a story that everyone can relate to - even ninjas.Grade: A+
I agree, this was a egg-cellent!
ReplyDeleteI'd ask to borrow it, but I assume you'll be wanting me to get Mouseguard back to you first. =D
ReplyDeleteYou can borrow it... I would like MouseGuard back one day though
ReplyDelete