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Staying Cold and Comics Have Never Been So Hot

By Anonymous
So what do global warming and global graphic novels have to do with one another? More than you might think. For example, they both have become more prevalent over time, there is evidence of the effects they can have on climate… political or otherwise, and together they can go hand in hand to make a statement. As the World Burns by Derrick Jensen and Stephanie McMillan is proof of graphic novels taking a stance in social activism. The stinging satire begins immediately on the front cover where a subtitle reads: "50 Things You Can Do to Stay in Denial." Simplistic cartoons, earth-eating aliens, and a one-eyed bunny might first appear to be something to dismiss with a good eye-roll, but stay with me here. It is the unembellished design and hyperbolic story in As the World Burns that makes this graphic novel so effective.

Satire through Simplicity

As the World Burns does not sugar coat or hide behind incredibly artistic or detailed images. It takes simple black and white pictures and cartoons to get an important message across. Much like the images used, the concept of this graphic novel are simply black and white. There are no grey areas when it comes to climate change and the negative effect that humans have on the environment.  It is humans who have created and caused these problems, and it is up to humans to help make a change for the better. That change is not going to happen by just turning off a light once in awhile or occasionally "recycling" a plastic bottle that may or may not actually get recycled. As the World Burns calls out the common misconceptions about "going green" using humor, irony, and exaggeration to point out the stupidity of society. The combination of satire and simplicity make it to where there is absolutely no denying the message and honesty behind this graphic novel that exposes the environmental flaws and faults of the world.

Words and Pictures: A Perfect Combination

Like most graphic novels, As the World Burns uses both pictures and words to help convey its meaning and message. This perfect duo of images and words is a combo as great as peanut butter and jelly, or peanut butter and chocolate… whichever you prefer. The point is that they are better together. Images or words alone are not as effective as what they are in conjunction with one another. Author and cartoonist Scott McCloud addresses this phenomenon in his own graphic novel, Understanding Comics. The below panel shows an example of the combinations of pictures and words and how together, more meaning can be evoked. 

Panel Example from As the World Burns

This panel shows various animals exposing the many greedy mistakes and detrimental decisions of humans and society as they explain how many common everyday practices are killing the earth and it's creatures. Instead of just reading these examples as a list of words on a page, the pictures of each animal create more feeling and emotion because we are now envisioning the precious animals of the planet and just what is at stake. As the World Burns might seem like a cautionary cartoon tale of something that takes things to the extreme, but there is a haunting truth to it. The idea of aliens eating the remainder of the Earth in exchange for gold may sound like a far-fetched fictional concept, but sadly its not as crazy as it seems. It ultimately boils down to humans being the cause of their own self-destruction, the planet, and animals as we know it… something that is happening daily unless serious action is taken and some real changes are made. As the World Burns reveals an important and honest message that EVERYONE needs to hear. Are you willing to make the change? Is selfishness and wastefulness going to continue to be our demise? At what point does the world stop turning and begin burning instead? 

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