Review: Tintin and Alph-Art

Tintin and Alph-Art by Hergé
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hooter: Tintin - the Unfinished Adventure

This is not the book you want to start your Tintin journey with. It's not even complete for starters. But as a Tintinologist, this is a must read as it's the first look at the process through which Herge used to go to make his Tintin drafts. Filled with incomplete sketches, raw squibbles and scribbles that litter the landscape give you a front seat view of the thought process Herge was probably going through. As a collector's edition, this would sit pretty on your coffee table but if you are in here to read a story, I'd recommend 23 other Tintin titles that are worth your attention. The estate has translated the works for English readers to understand the dialogues on the original drafts.

This is that Behind the scenes documentary that never got made.

For me, this title adds closure as a Tintinologist finally finishing the series that has kept me engaged with rapt attention from the first time a 6 year old picked up Red Rackham's treasure from a roadside stall in the bylanes of Vashi, Navi Mumbai.


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Review: The Four Encounters

The Four Encounters by Osamu Tezuka
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hooter: A graphic novel representation of the journey of Buddha with creative license

Heads up! this is 8 volumes so you can imagine the pace in each volume. Osamu is a genius in the graphic novel world of Japan and this retelling of a historical event is way out of his comfort zone. That said he makes it a fun read, like you are reading a comic book ( graphic novelists are seeing red with that term) as he tries to incorporate childish humour and pranks in a story that motivates and inspires people around the world. Siddhartha makes his presence in this volume and a lot of fictional events come into play as he comes face to face with reality his parents have been hiding from him.

This still deals with chronological timeline of Buddha but guess he will play around with philosophies going forward. I think how he gets creative with the storyline is what keeps me going with this series.

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Review: Buddha Volume 1: Kapilavastu

Buddha Volume 1: Kapilavastu by Osamu Tezuka
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hooter: A graphic novel representation of the journey of Buddha

Heads up! this is 8 volumes so you can imagine the pace in each volume. Osamu is a genius in the graphic novel world of Japan and this retelling of a historical event is way out of his comfort zone. That said he makes it a fun read, like you are reading a comic book ( graphic novelists are seeing red with that term) as he tries to incorporate childish humour and pranks in a story that motivates and inspires people around the world. I feel it is too early for me to comment on how he has treated this as the main protagonist doesn't even make an appearance on the planet yet. He touches the prevalence of social evils in the community ( laying the ground for a new school of life) in this volume.

Stand alone, this book doesn't hold much value so I'll reserve my comments once I get through a few more volumes to see how it all pieces together. That said if you enjoy Osamu's illustrations, you will not be disappointed.

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Review: Art Matters: Because Your Imagination Can Change the World

Art Matters: Because Your Imagination Can Change the World by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hooter: "Make Good Art!"

A series of short essays with illustrations would make you think this is a children's book at first glance. But the content is applicable to all ages. All Neil Gaiman asks of you is to "make good art". Also keep our libraries alive for our future generations. Just some honest and passionate thoughts of Neil urging artists to not sell out and do what they feel right. He also talks about the importance of agreeing to differ which brings diversity and better learning. The book is filled with quotable quotes:

"The world always seems brighter when you've just made something that wasn't there before."

"Fiction is the lie that tells the truth."

A breezy read and thought provoking down to earth concepts to ponder on.

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Review: Nawabs, Nudes, Noodles

Nawabs, Nudes, Noodles by Ambi Parameswaran
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hooter: A look into the history of Indian Advertising over the past 50 years with stories of what transpired behind the scenes for some of the most iconic ads we remember.

A cocktail conversation with Ambi Parameswaran is what this book is. He shares insights and anecdotes of how advertising has evolved in India leveraging some of the most iconic ads that I remember and a lot more way before my memory. He bunches them together by product type, services to give you a nutshell on how each category, brand grew in comparison and the extrinsic factors as they try to mould public opinion.

A 30 second clip could have a 30 months back story to it as he dabbles with how ads are a mirror of the past, the present and the utopian future society aims to be at especially using examples of the evolution of depiction of Indian women over the years from the default saree clad home maker to an independent women living by her choices and decisions.

Overall a wonderful nostalgia packed light read of the Indian advertising world for the layman.

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