Blankets: A Graphic Novel

Product Information

We strongly urge you to protect the rights of all readers to read and think freely, and to reject the notion that the choices made by any one reader may be imposed on any other. By keeping the books on the library shelves you will demonstrate respect for your readers and their choices, for the professionalism of the librarians who serve the reading public, and for the First Amendment and its importance to a pluralistic democratic society. Through his teen years, he continues to find it hard to fit in with his peers, but at Bible camp one winter, he comes to associate with a group of outcast teens which includes a girl named Raina, who develops an interest in Craig. The two become inseparable, and continue their relationship through letters and phone calls. They arrange to spend two weeks together at Raina's home in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. As you can imagine, this gorgeous science fantasy is rich in worldbuilding. Abode and its many elven civilizations — from the fierce Wolfriders to the peaceful Sun Folk — are all remarkably well-drawn... literally. With this treasure chest of a setting, it’s little wonder that Elfquest ran for forty years. Illustrated mainly in summer-camp greens and browns, this graphic novel brilliantly captures the isolation and desperate longing to fit in that colors so many of our childhoods, Russian or otherwise. Young readers will relate to and root for Vera all the way through to the end.

I first read about Blankets in an article on the history of graphic novels, where it was mentioned as one of the signature examples of the form - along famous works such as Art Spiegelman's Maus (Interestingly, Spiegelman liked the book, and sent the author a congratulatory letter after publication). Blankets was offered as an example of a serious and important work, which helped define the term and give it meaning and significance - by telling a mature and largely autobiographical story it helped distance the graphic novel from a stereotype of a comic book for children. I've never read anything by Craig Thomson before, so when the opportunity presented itself I chose to take it and dove right in.

On behalf of the National Coalition Against Censorship and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund we strongly urge you to keep Craig Thompson’s Blankets and Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home in the Marshall Public Library. The books have reportedly been challenged by a member of the community who claims they contain “pornographic” images and are inappropriate for the library. Removing these books because of objections to content is impermissible under the First Amendment. As the Supreme Court said in Board of Education v. Pico, the constitution does not permit “officially prescribed orthodoxy” which limits what people may read, think, speak, or say. The fact that we are confronted with images and not words does not make a difference – the courts have ruled that images, like words, constitute symbolic expression and are protected by the First Amendment.

In my opinion, a lot of what happens to Craig and the decisions he ultimately makes are a result of the religious fundamentalism that was a big part of his life. What impacted me the most was watching the change in this young man’s faith. I mean this literally too, as the graphics are so illuminating and emotive. Words were not always necessary to convey what was going on in Craig’s mind. When we do have the opportunity to read his thoughts, I found them quite powerful. Blankets essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Blankets by Craig Thompson. You might think that Tony Stark and Batman would be envious of him, but that’s actually not so. One-Punch Man’s creator, One, explained: "Punching is oftentimes pretty useless against life's problems. But inside One-Punch Man's universe, I made Saitama a sort of guy who was capable of adapting his life to the world that surrounded him, only armed with his immense power. The only obstacles he faces are mundane things, like running short of money." Graphic novels are basically non-existent in my literary diet, so it’s difficult for me to review this one. I really have no ‘gold standard’ against which to compare. However, I can say that I found this one impressive. As Craig leads us through his path from childhood to adulthood, many themes are examined. Tough themes. The things that happen to us and make us who we are today. Nothing is brushed over lightly, including religious fundamentalism, child abuse, bullying, divorce, disabilities, faith, and first love. Thank goodness for those special people in our lives who help us to make it through the torment of childhood and the teen years. But even those relationships have their trials and mistakes, and at some point good things may come to an end. ‘First love’ has a certain connotation to it, doesn’t it? It’s not something I’d want to live through again, that’s for sure. Despite the sweetness of the term, it can be confusing and agonizing whether it ends abruptly or fades away slowly. Craig can’t choose what he reads or sees on television. His father is a tyrant. He for a time willingly turns to his parents’ fundamentalist religion as a kind of escape from the world, with that promise of Heaven, and considers the encouragement from his pastor that he, a thoughtful, earnest boy, follow the ministerial calling. But it's a promise also filled with dark threats of Hell; at one point, led by a suggestion from his teachers that art is selfish, un-Christian, the darkly intense Craig burns all of his artwork.Perhaps the best-loved title from the most celebrated graphic novelist of all time (the comic industry’s biggest awards are named in his honor, after all). A Contract with God and Other Tenement Stories present a series of vignettes set around the New York tenements of Eisner’s Depression-era youth. Playing out like 20th-century updates of Jewish folktales, these stories delve into the myth of the American dream in ways that continue to resonate with readers.