Heart of the City by Steenz for May 08, 2014
May 07, 2014
May 09, 2014
Transcript:
Mom: Did you find a book? Heart: Yeah, and it's pretty cool! Mom: "Smile"? What's this? This isn't a book. It's a comic book! Heart: It's a graphic novel! Mom: What is it that manga smut with all the violence and girls in provocative clothing?! Heart: Seriously. Mom. You're a lot older than you think.
nailer Premium Member almost 10 years ago
Thumbs up for violence and girls in provocative clothing!
Zero-Gabriel almost 10 years ago
If I didn’t know any better… I’d say this strip is trying to SHAME people who read (English Translated) Japanese Manga Graphic Novels by cerry-picking the exaggerated ones only…
Alexander Batey almost 10 years ago
Smile can be read by all ages. The author has drawn The Baby Sitter Club series and some self published things.
locuravamp almost 10 years ago
Graphic Novels is an expanding medium. There are books for ALL ages.
nboady almost 10 years ago
I recently finished the Bamboo Blade manga series (English translation). A great series, even if it didn’t contain huge amounts of violence and smutty girl outfits.
Comic Minister Premium Member almost 10 years ago
That is a great Graphic novel.
Clobbered by Science Premium Member almost 10 years ago
Yes! Yes! Hearty endorsement for Smile! (By Raina Telgemeier if you’re having trouble making that out.)
Short summary: One night after Girl Scouts, 11-year-old Raina accidentally trips and knocks out her two front teeth. For the next few years, various dentists try to fix things, and Raina has to deal with that, plus the usual problems of growing up, changing schools, having crushes, coping with friends who don’t always treat you right, and finding solace in things the aforementioned “friends” dismiss as kids’ stuff. (Memoir, not fiction.)
Hey Heart’s Mom: Heart will love the book, and I bet if you give it a chance you will too. I can’t read most graphic novels because the visual jumble confuses my dyslexic brain and keeps me from absorbing the text, but this one was really wonderful.
Katsuro Premium Member almost 10 years ago
Ugh. I know this is meant to show how ignorant Heart’s mom is, but it’s still annoying for me as a manga fan to hear all that prejudice.
Katsuro Premium Member almost 10 years ago
@JennyJenkins: There is no manga visible in the second panel, or anywhere else in the strip. Maybe you’re talking about “Smile,” but that’s no manga. It’s American, and not drawn in what anybody would call stereotypical “manga style.”
Decepticomic almost 3 years ago
Nice shout out to Raina Telgemeier, but the comment on manga was lousy. I fully acknowledge that that could be the point, Addy being out of touch and Heart pointing that out. However, 7 years later, you still do have bad takes that act like anime and manga are a monolith. Anyway, go pick out some classic books written by racists, misogynists, and/ or homophobes.