Michael Zulli TMNT

Eastman and Laird’s Ninja Turtles are back; this time in a new hit movie. It’s not their first time on film but this is the best version to date; a solid entertainment. Since their 1980’s inception they have appeared in every incarnation; form and genre imaginable. Their cross-over success from film to animation to graphic novel and merchandising has varied greatly from medium to medium and from style to style. There is no definitive look or genesis of The Turtles. Their importance also remains largely to the degree ascribed by any viewer or selective non-participant in the phenomenon.  To date my personal favorite TMNT look and effort is by artist Michael Zulli and writer Stephen Murphy. Their first work as scribes was a single issue short story featured in Volume One Book 31 July 1990 “Souls Winter.” It ranks among the great works of comic book art. It is in form and fashion possibly the most unique and amazing work created by any artists working in the field of graphic story-telling. In particular it is Zulli’s drawing that takes the tale beyond illustration into the company of the world’s great art; high or low.

Zulli was first noted and responsible for a graphic series “The Puma Blues.” It was a post-apocalyptic vision of man kind’s obligation and place in the natural world. This experience gave Zulli a unique and distinctive vision to apply to the Eastman/Laird project. Zulli excelled, as he took the series to an unexpected place beyond the comic, beyond anything expected or seen before in any graphic book. “Souls Winter’ remains a bench mark. 

Nominated three times for Eisner’s Zulli is respected and admired by his peers and followers. He has worked on DC Comic’s Swamp Thing and Sandman with Neil Gaiman. He is current working on a personal project; “Fracture of the Universal Boy: Right Here and Now.”  “Fracture” consists of Zulli’s thoughts on life, love and art. What is essentially survival in our misanthropic times is a large part of the theme of the book. Click on the graphic below to see Michael Zulli’s own blog as his artistic life’s journey continues.

The Arrival

These are easily some of the most fascinating and beautiful illustrations you are going to see at any time; at any place. Shaun Tan’s handsome set piece; this graphic novel, his master work of art is of a singular charm and truth of imagination.

Tan used photographs and paintings from the early twentieth century of immigration and immigrants as inspiration along with accounts and stories to inform his book. Tan encompasses family, ideology, freedom, alienation as well as acceptance and the journey of the human spirit in this epic tale. The effect is that of a silent film as the work is totally without narration, text or dialogue. Tan is in a very small fraternity with this work devoid of language that speaks eloquently with is content of image. 

The arrival is by definition a picture book. It is one best suited for adults and young readers just past the age that regular picture books begin to lose their charm. It is a work certainly sophisticated that very young readers still can enjoy; but will need some guidance with the themes; in-depth precision and spirit that the novel exhibits.

Tan has written and illustrated at least two other books of his own; The Red Tree and The Lost Thing. His self- developed animation short of The Lost Thing was impressive enough to win an Oscar for Tan in 2011. His books have won numerous awards and he has been an educator as well as a much sought after artist and illustrator by other writers and publishers. He brings a special part of himself to all of his efforts.

The Arrival is a book to be read through it’s pictures, as all images are to be read. Every picture does tell a unique story. I would also suggest playing instrumental music; something with a sound-track diversity of themes and nuance as an accompanying background. The “extra something” music brings adds to the pleasure and allure of the book. It makes for a thing uncanny and creates an even greater cinematic experience. Your understanding of the journey of this tale’s nameless protagonist as universal immigrant will ultimately be a personal reflection of insight and joy. Tan’s “Arrival” gives us something to treasure and revisit from time to time as we journey and arrive ourselves.