Maus & Maus 2

Maus is a memoir of the complex true story. It is written by the American Art Spiegelman. The story is set in the 1970s. It begins as a discussion with the author's father, Vladek, and his experiences during the Holocaust. Art is writing a book about his father's memories. While Spiegelman talks with his father, we get an account of his life, but also the relationship between father and son.
The book opens with Vladek's life as a young adult. His marriage to Anja Zylberberg, their first chlid, and their experiences during the World War 2 era. They begin to notice the Nazi influence, lose their factory/business and son, and finally get taken into concentration camps. At the end of the first book, Vladek and Anja reunite and flee to Sweden and later the United States.
In the second book, the story delves more into the father-son relationship. It shows the anger Art has toward's his father for destroying Anja's diaries. The conflicted feelings and memories add a new dimension to the memoir. It shows the relationship between Mala (Vladek's new wife after Anja's suicide) and Vladek. Then finally the illness that Vladek faces.

In summary, Maus is a complicated and accomplished graphic novel which is a huge step in the history of Graphic Novels. Part of the underground comics scene, Maus is widely respected and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1992. It represents the second generation of Holocaust survivors and their families. It shows more than just the stories at the time of the Holocaust, but also the repercussions to the survivors.  It preserves the stories of those who faced such horrors while also expressing the ongoing struggle. The topic is addressed in the graphic novel format through simple black and white illustrations. The framing and arrangements are unique and intriguing. The depictions of the characters were strongly influenced by Nazi propaganda. This is a striking element.
Additionally, the comic is mostly text-driven. The panels are mostly wordless. The arrangement of the comic makes it feel like a diary. The style feels inspired by german expressionism with dark shapes and contrasted linear designs.

Underground Comix

This was the first time I sat down and read underground comix. Underground comix we were small, self-published comics in the 1960s.  I found it very dark and satirical.  They were a huge contrast to some of the first comics ever made - which were more family-friendly. These comics dealt with violence, sexuality, drug-use, alcohol, and other mature themes. The drawings themselves were also very strange and crude. It seems heavily influenced by punk and alternative culture.

Robert Crumb's comics were particularly wild. Mr. Natural was an underground comix made in the 1960s by Robert Crumb. It was extremely popular and merchandized. It is a depiction of a guru. He has strange powers and unique insights. Mr. Natural was published in Zap comix. Zap comix were revolutionary. Nothing like it has been seen or done before. This appealed to the rapidly alternative culture of this time. While they are not my personal taste in graphic novel, I feel they were very important to the history of graphic novels because they drew a new audience to the art form. Suddenly, comics could discuss and engage darker, more serious topics in new ways. This was never done before and paved a way for diverse novels in the future. The audience grew for the art form.