The Cage

author: Martin Vaughn-James

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.47

book published: 1975

rating: 4

read at: 2014/02/21

date added: 2014/02/21

shelves: graphic-novels

review:

The Cage is a strange and unique book. It has been called the first graphic novel, and while there are pictures on every page, the story it tells defies easy description. There is text that goes along with the story. Sometimes it describes what the viewer is seeing, and sometimes not.



The whole thing takes place in what seems to be an abandoned building with a cage in it. Objects float in the space, bricks are decaying, objects appear and disappear between frames. It appears to be a prison or interrogation room of sorts. Rags are tied in the approximation of the human figure. There are no living things in any of the pictures. Time seems to move in both directions. Descriptions are descriptive and vague. No explanation is given as to what happened here. Everything is left for the reader to interpret.



It's an interesting experiment that still works 40 years later. It still puzzles and intrigues. It has an avant-garde quality that pulls the reader in. I really liked it.



I was given a review copy of this unique graphic novel by Coach House Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/1ddt0bK