Utterly surreal and slightly abstract with elements of Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz, Gulliver's Travels and much from the world of manga, Ojingogo is a not your average graphic novel tale. The story is about a young girl, her pet chibi-octopus and her sentient camera, which is stolen by a malevolent octopus/humanoid creature. At least, that's what I think happened as the book had very little to no text and is presented with a surrealist bent. As a fan of David Lynch and Jodorowsky, I'm used to art that challenged and confounds but even this didn't help in understanding the story too well. I think, author and illustrator Matthew Forsythe, like Lynch, is all about creating a mood and evoking feelings of wonder and bewilderment so you strap in and enjoy the absurdist journey.
The illustrations are beautifully drawn with fine lines and lots of use of blank space to let the characters pop. The drawings seemed to be inspired by South Korean and manga art; cute big eyes and some interesting creature designs. There were a couple I thought that could be turned in plushie toys so you get an idea of the aesthetic.
With a confusing story, this comic might not appeal to everyone but for those looking for a fabulous, fantastical story with a surrealist bent this might be just the ticket.
LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East
LINK- The Future Starts Here: An Optimistic Guide to What Comes Next- Book Review
LINK: Let’s All Create a ‘New Normal’.
LINK- An English Geek in Saudi
LINK- Ulysses 31 Retro Soundtrack Review