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The Whirling Spinner Rack
Review: The Yearning
By Kevin Agot
Published: 2008-04-29
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Dean Chiang is a creative newcomer in the comic book industry.
The Yearning is a silent
graphic novel that tells a story of a young man’s daydreams for
the affections of a woman he regularly sees outside through the window
of his workplace. We’ve all daydreamed at one time or another.
Our dreams can be simple or complex. Graphical dream sequences can be
difficult to interpret and the burden is squarely placed upon the
artist to convey the inner thoughts and struggles of the character.
However, this process becomes a bit more complicated given that there
is not one word written throughout the book. Hence, the fantastical
can be frustrating and the grandiose can be a grind as the reader
attempts to translate the sequence of events unfolding before him.
With no caption to clarify or direct our thoughts, the deciphering of
some of the artwork can lead to some guesswork. Given that
Chiang’s work hasn't been published as often over the years as
other artists who have had the luxury of serialized work that
undergoes greater scrutiny given its greater and more constant
exposure, his work in this book is a bit raw. Some of the daydream
sequences are powerfully depicted while other panels expose an
inconsistency in depth and proportions.
My favorite scenes were the ones where the nameless lead character
envisions thoughtful interactions with the lady of his dreams. There
are also some very good double-page spreads with huge landscapes that
are rather breathtaking even in black and white. All in all, this is a
good early attempt to tell a story implementing a very challenging
silent storytelling technique. My hat goes off to Dean Chiang for
having the guts to tell this story.
—CCdC— Read all of ComicCritique.Com’s columns, old and new,
at our columns archive!
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