I’m a big sucker for reality-based graphic novels. While there’s nothing wrong with the opposite side of the spectrum, I just find a really simple beauty in being able to portray the subtleties in human relationship, emotions, or self conflict as your main subject. A really solid example coming from this genre is Rutu Modan’s Exit Wounds. I first read Exit Wounds when it was released in 2007- I picked it up off my shelf a few days ago and ended up reading it all in one sitting. I was impressed all over again by the quiet set of events and simple illustration that all come together to deal a heavy punch. There’s something so believable and pure about the way the story is told and the frustrations of family, that you can’t help but identifying in some way or another. It received a lot of great press and was listed by several sources as being among the best of the year.
From May to October in 2007, Rutu also had several graphic stories featured on a webblog over at the New York Times titled Mixed Emotions. I hadn’t seen these until recently, but they are right on par with her longer graphic novel. The stories featured in each short column actually relate back to her own family- even featuring Rutu herself. The simple story lines have such a refreshing notion of honesty. Rutu’s use of material from the ‘mundane’ activities and qualities in life ends empowering both the artist and audience in such a successful mix of happiness, loneliness, and frustration.
