#I'd do a fully my favorite thing is Monsters but Vol 2 was... Disappointing

[kaithonks]

So I’ve had some Thoughts about Folklore and Wifwulf

I ended up reading Wifwulf this week, and it got me thinking about how much of a natural fit folklore and comics are. Hell, Wonder Woman, Thor, and Shazam have roots in mythology. And in a lot of ways it makes sense, as Scott McCloud points out in his Understanding Comics, The Codex Zouche-Nuttall and the Bayeux Tapestry is a proto-comic. And while those are more historical records, the point I'm making is art has always been a way to capture the culture of the time. I know people make jokes about historians of the future thinking Spider-man is a deity, but it feels not too far off the mark. Though future historians will likely have more context around Spider-man and more detailed records of his history. But comics are a more traditional medium than they're often given credit for.

Wifwulf is original but in some ways feels very classic. It's very much a werewolf story, but it's not a "man" wolf; it's about a "woman" wolf. And what I like about Wifwulf is its subversion. Typical werewolf stories are about losing control and becoming a monster; Wifwulf is about becoming free. It makes a lot of sense since our society is patriarchal. So the "man" benefits more from fitting in, so losing that and becoming a "wolf" is a loss for them. But the "woman" only gains. In someways it reminds me of My Favorite Thing Is Monsters (particularly the first volume) where Karen is always drawn as a werewolf and connects to people through 'monstrosity' which ultimately is just humanity and kindness.

Now there is even a bit of subversion in the art. Mostly the panel structured. All of the panels with Charity in the wood are not really squares; the outside of the panels actually looks like a tree. But when in the city, it takes the more rigid structure, which again fits with the Wifwulf gaining freedom and connecting not only to nature, but her nature through the art. The only place where this diverges a bit is at the end when the panels become more fluid-looking but keep the free feeling.

Ogden's art in general is a highlight of Wifwulf, as it's just really a treat to look at. And while I find the story a little short, it does a lot with that short read. And what is nice with the paperback is all the guest art and extra little treats at the end. I know I don't talk about those much, but I do always enjoy them, and I think they are a little extra special, especially here, especially for the plant guide it gives at the ends because it motivates second reads to look for where the plants are placed.

Sometimes what I enjoy most about comics is when they get me thinking about comics as a whole. Wifwulf is a nice twist on a traditional folktale and uses that format to talk about the current world.