Mr. Big Little Foot Publishing |
Mr. Big is a snapping turtle. It's also the name of a great little 160 page black and white (digest-sized) graphic novel by Carol and Matt Dembicki from Little Foot Publishing. I found this book at the recent Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo where it took that convention's coveted Howard E. Day Memorial Prize, a bit of an annual "best in show" award for work submitted previously at the event.
Before I take a look at Mr. Big, I'd like to share a bit about Little Foot Publishing. They are a small press studio that focuses on all ages' material with an educational value. Producing two to three books a year, Little Foot's creators are active in promoting their work through library and school appearances all the while delivering stories of a universal moral and educational value that target a smooth translation into other media.
Okay, now back to the review... As I mentioned earlier, Mr. Big is a snapping turtle and we quickly learn that, through power and strength, he silently rules the pond in which he lives. As the tale unfolds, a couple young fish disappear and the inhabitants of the pond think Mr. Big must clearly be responsible. From these small seeds of fear grows a plot to have Mr. Big killed. The contract is taken up by a murder of crows all the while a wise crawfish warns that eliminating Mr. Big might upset the balance of the pond and make room for something far worse to enter their lives. Ignoring those warnings, the plot goes forward, the crows unveil their own agenda, new threats arise and the politic of this small pond resonates with themes well beyond the initial story of a simple snapping turtle.
Roughly the first 40 pages of this tale is told in a series of single panel pages (about half the height of a normal comic page) and serve to introduce the pond, it's inhabitants and the initial elements of the story. The art here is simply amazing. The naturalistic approach to both the primary characters and the setting is relaxing, beautiful and, as the sun sets, wistfully erie. There is one scene as night falls where an owl is presented in silhouette that is so visually impressive that I found myself returning to it again and again. This story feels fresh, vibrant and alive with every page turn. The art is perfect for the story and is a defining part of the overall experience as nature is much a character in this tale as the inhabitants of the pond.
Part of the beauty of this story is seeing the world that exists in this small microcosm. In the forward to the story, Jay Hosler paints a narrative picture that sets the stage nicely showing how, even the smallest water spots just on the edge of civilization, can be teaming with life and mystery. It's that feeling of finding the unexpected in a place you might not normally look that permeates this story.
This is by no means a story without a moral. The larger social and ecological overtones to the narrative make this a very satisfying read and quite relevant in today's world. It has something for everyone. It tells an all ages story while remaining complex enough to be enjoyable at a variety of age levels. Well done!
Learn more about the series at www.littlefootcomics.com.
Page last updated on March 22, 2008