It’s an old reviewer’s standby to explain their subject as work that will stay with the visitor long after they have put it down. In the situation of the emotionally immersive experience of Over Under Sideways Down, though, this is not lazy cliché.
Over Under Sideways Down – our 2014 damaged Frontier awards champion in the classification of ‘Best One-Shot’ – was released in the UK in June of this year as part of refugee Week; an event developed to celebrate the contribution of refugees to the country as well as to promote a higher comprehending of why people seek sanctuary here. published by the Red Cross, as well as distributed for totally free in print as well as online, the comic tells the true story of teenager Ebrahim’s flight from persecution in Iran at the age of 15, given comic strip life by British developer Karrie Fransman (The home that Groaned).
Earlier this year I evaluated Over Under Sideways Down right here as well as it was likewise among my choices this month as one of my own personal top three comics of the year when, as damaged Frontier’s Managing Editor, I was asked by the prohibited world worldwide blog team to talk about my ‘Best of 2014’ choices for their conventional series of annual round-ups from creators as well as commentators across the industry.
It was there that I explained Fransman’s work on the job in the complying with terms: “There are few creators working in British comics at the moment with such a powerful comprehending of the distinct prospective of the type as Karrie Fransman, as well as Over Under Sideways Down brings together a amazing as well as courageous story with spectacular comics craftsmanship to underline the significance of comics as an available communication tool.”
That in itself is a important point to underline. nevertheless praiseworthy Over Under Sideways Down is as an academic tool as well as as a piece of engaging as well as insightful graphic journalism – both of which ought to be lauded as well as celebrated in their own best – this award is for the single finest utilize of comics as a medium in a total shorter type work. in that regard it’s Karrie Fransman’s subtle manipulation of the structure of the comic strip page in conveying Ebrahim’s unforgettable story in such a powerful as well as evocative way that made this an exceptional example of the graphic narrative as well as a deserving champion in this category.
When I originally evaluated Over Under Sideways Down I spoke of Fransman’s employment of “clever visual metaphors, inventive utilize of speech balloons, as well as remarkably imaginative as well as lively utilizes of the sequential foundation of the comics narrative” as well as talked about the comic “providing a masterclass in the storytelling techniques that only comics as a type can achieve.”
Those declares are not hyperbolic, as any type of visitor can see for themselves for totally free here. It’s an old reviewer’s standby to explain their subject as work that will stay with the visitor long after they have put it down. In the situation of the emotionally immersive experience of Over Under Sideways Down, though, this is not lazy cliché. It’s a really suitable description of a amazing piece of storytelling that stands as a testament to the potency of comics to communicate, share as well as inform.
Over Under Sideways Down has been distributed totally free as an academic publication however you can checked out the entire comic online. discover out much more about refugee Week here.
Broken Frontier awards 2014 overview