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Aspyrus
The Halahala world is being threatened by a dragon like creature from another world and realm. The creature is a symbol for everything that crushes the dreams of the people. The images and the writing in this book intends to show readers the threat of consumerism and how it has affected individuals. We are always giving in to our longings and desires; not thinking how this has a direct effect on the way we live and think today. Desires come with a compulsion to do things that could be a threat to the world we live in. Our desperation to achieve the things we desire has made us fickle-minded with our ideas. This is done in order to find a quicker way to accomplish our desires and, therefore, our world is deteriorating that much faster. The book also explores the power of beliefs and opinions. Aspyrus, in this book, is a creature that feeds on the minds of people. It is much in relation to advertising and other consumer products that look good, tempt us, and take over our minds.
- GenresGraphic NovelsComics
216 pages, Paperback
First published July 3, 2014
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 30, 2024
3.75
Among Indian artists, I feel only Appupen can incept abstract ideas with brilliant image frames and minimal text.
Not sure if I understood this completely (like all his other works!) but I'm sure it was a fun ride.
I'd love reading a commentary on it. Thought provoking on the ideas of reality, corporates and corruption, power dynamics in the current world.
Overall:
Immersive. Deceptive minimalism. Heavy ideas in simple frames.
Appupen rocks!!
Among Indian artists, I feel only Appupen can incept abstract ideas with brilliant image frames and minimal text.
Not sure if I understood this completely (like all his other works!) but I'm sure it was a fun ride.
I'd love reading a commentary on it. Thought provoking on the ideas of reality, corporates and corruption, power dynamics in the current world.
Overall:
Immersive. Deceptive minimalism. Heavy ideas in simple frames.
Appupen rocks!!
September 2, 2017
Aspyrus is a silent comic about this monster who makes people run all their lives in search of the next elusive goal. It's the creator of consumerism and unhealthy obsession. And as a comic, it's pretty facile. For me it read like a boring cautionary tale on the fruitlessness of desire. Quite preachy. The artwork is good.
December 20, 2019
This graphic novel is a comment on rampant consumerism and running after illusions of wellbeing driven by it. The narrative follows a man who aspires for a better lifestyle (hence the name Aspyrus). This desire becomes all-consuming till he dies due to it and then the mantle is taken by his offspring who kills the mythical monster. Some specific elements of Halahala universe such as Supa Cola do make their appearances and they are subtle hidden references (Easter eggs) to some classics such as "Pan's Labyrinth" by Guillermo Del Toro.
The artwork by Appupen (George Mathen) is brilliant as usual with mostly two-color panes and the panels are well-drawn. Hence it gets 3 stars despite a weak story and narrative.
The artwork by Appupen (George Mathen) is brilliant as usual with mostly two-color panes and the panels are well-drawn. Hence it gets 3 stars despite a weak story and narrative.
June 11, 2022
Almost wordless graphic narrative
October 16, 2018
Desire has domino effect, who knows it better than the inhabitants of Halahala. The second based based in the Halahala universe has more greed and less grim, but it is scary none the less.
As the blurb reads; the mercurial terrain of Halahala faces the ultimate threat: a dream creature from another realm that spreads its tentacles across the world. Indeed we question what will happen now?
Divided into three parts, with creatures of odd imagination and anatomy spread across the pages. The land and it's dwellers are ravaged by a newborn dream, a dream so large that consumes the dreamer. Eventually the the dream outgrows the first dreamer and becomes so big that it engulfs everyone both in low and high places.
On the suburbs of Dream City, a young boy falls for the dream creature's apparition and it's neverending chase that we see through the pages. We see erosion of his nativity to that of man who is forever stuck in the loop of desire, aspiring something he can't have.
My favourite panel was explosion of the television labyrinth where this man is overwhelmed by his desire for white-skinned beauty from fairness cream ads. There are Stories within story that critique on consumption, fickle nature of attraction and relationships, advertisment driven consumerism that sets high standards of beauty and lifestyle.
What I loved was the story of our little heroine. The warrior that goes to school, where worshiping the dream without imagination is taught, but she breaks free from manipulation, fights temptation to save Halahala. Her features were mangaesque, but she got the most amazing fighting panels. Each panel and page so detailed that you have to stare at them for a while.
There is lack of breathing space in later part of the book, would have loved more use of blank space and soft colours. For a silent graphic novel there is enough use elemental noise in its background. Art wise this is my favourite Halahala book, we can call it an album with so many things and styles happening in the pages.
As the blurb reads; the mercurial terrain of Halahala faces the ultimate threat: a dream creature from another realm that spreads its tentacles across the world. Indeed we question what will happen now?
Divided into three parts, with creatures of odd imagination and anatomy spread across the pages. The land and it's dwellers are ravaged by a newborn dream, a dream so large that consumes the dreamer. Eventually the the dream outgrows the first dreamer and becomes so big that it engulfs everyone both in low and high places.
On the suburbs of Dream City, a young boy falls for the dream creature's apparition and it's neverending chase that we see through the pages. We see erosion of his nativity to that of man who is forever stuck in the loop of desire, aspiring something he can't have.
My favourite panel was explosion of the television labyrinth where this man is overwhelmed by his desire for white-skinned beauty from fairness cream ads. There are Stories within story that critique on consumption, fickle nature of attraction and relationships, advertisment driven consumerism that sets high standards of beauty and lifestyle.
What I loved was the story of our little heroine. The warrior that goes to school, where worshiping the dream without imagination is taught, but she breaks free from manipulation, fights temptation to save Halahala. Her features were mangaesque, but she got the most amazing fighting panels. Each panel and page so detailed that you have to stare at them for a while.
There is lack of breathing space in later part of the book, would have loved more use of blank space and soft colours. For a silent graphic novel there is enough use elemental noise in its background. Art wise this is my favourite Halahala book, we can call it an album with so many things and styles happening in the pages.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews