Congress of the Animals
Encyclopedia
Congress of the Animals is a graphic novel
by American
artist Jim Woodring
published on June 8, 2011. The book is Woodring's second book-length comic
set in his fictional world, the Unifactor, and the first to star his most famous character, Frank
.
In the book, Frank leaves the Unifactor, and is thus susceptible to change for the first time.
Congress is the first of Woodring's books set in the Unifactor to star Frank
since "Frank's High Horse", which was completed in 2003. Since the publication of The Frank Book, also in 2003, Woodring's comics output had been sparse, and the only two stories he had produced starred other characters: 2005's The Lute String starred Frank's pets and guardians, Pupshaw and Pushpaw, while 2010's Weathercraft
starred Manhog.
in his first adventure outside of the Unifactor.
Quacky flies by Whim in a balloon. When Quacky taunts him, Whim bursts the balloon with a sharp rock. He tries to lighten his load by throwing out his baggage, some of which lands on Franks property. Frank discovers a croquet
set, and sets up a game with his pets and protectors, Pupshaw and Pushpaw. When pounding in one stake, however, the ground gives out and his home sinks.
A creature offers to rebuild his home. When finished, the creature demands payment, which is unexpected to Frank who, as a denizen of the Unifactor, expects events to balance themselves out. He must take a demanding factory job to pay the creature. At the factory he runs into Quacky. The two plot to escape from the factory by sabotaging one of the machines. They escape to an amusement park and make their getaway in a couple of gondolas. Frank's craft is attacked by a Leviathan
and he is washed up onshore.
On a faraway island outside the Unifactor, Frank discovers a giant statue of himself. While trying to make his way there, he comes across a town of gut-worshippers and undergoes a psychedelic
experience. He leaves the settlement of the gut-worshippers and does battle with a monster, which he defeats. He helps out a number of other creatures to pull a many-faced "agency" out of a pit.
When he finally makes it to the statue, he finds that its resident is a female version of himself. They talk and have tea together, and Frank discovers that his host has a model of his new home, complete with miniature Pupshaw and Pushpaw. The two return to the Unifactor in what remains of the gondola. A mutilated Quacky is back in the Unifactor as well, but Frank passes him by.
Frank and his companion return to his home, where they are happily greeted by Pupshaw and Pushpaw, and they watch a fireworks show.
While in the Unifactor, nothing truly bad can happen to the charactersthe Unifactor will always keep things in balance, and Frank never learns from his actions. However, outside of the Unifactor, Frank, whom Woodring has described as "ineducable" on the cover flaps of Weathercraft
, may become educable.
Whim:Makes only a brief appearance. Taunted by Quacky from his balloon, Whim hurls a sharp stone at the balloon, bringing it down.
Frank
:
, and like Woodring's previous graphic novel
, Weathercraft
, Congress of the Animals was published directly in book form, without being serialized first, and was printed with same design approach as Weathercraft, giving the books the feeling of a series. It appeared about one year after Weathercraft. Some panels of the book were previewed on Woodring's blog leading up to publication.
Woodring says he was able to come out with Weathercraft and Congress of the Animals so quickly as they were both planned out before either being drawn. His next project will likely take a longer time to complete, as it is not yet written.
and shading
done using wavy lines in subtle gradations reminiscent of woodblock printing
. It has an unusually large number of double splashes throughout the book. It is executed in pantomime, as are all of Woodring's works set in the Unifactor. The characters are not meant to be silent, howeverthere is a climactic two-page scene in which Frank converses silently with his female counterpart, conveyed to the reader entirely through gestures and body language.
Frank himself is drawn in an extremely minimalist way, while the backgrounds and other creatures around him are drawn in obsessive detail. This serves to emphasize Frank's navïety and innocenceso that even, when he does wrong, the reader still finds it hard to criticize his actions.
called it "among [Woodring's] most approachable and comprehensible worksa welcome change from last year's hallucinatory Weathercraft."
Sean Rogers, at The Comics Journal
, suggests that, as Manhog in the past has had the opportunity and insight to attempt to better himself (especially in the short story "Gentlemanhog" and in Woodring's previous graphic novel, Weathercraft
), now Frank for the first time may have such an opportunity. The story is more linear than the ones Woodring has drawn in the past, with a clear story arc, less focused on "[t]he mystery, ambivalence, and indecipherability" of his past stories with their "thinness of character and event".
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
by American
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
artist Jim Woodring
Jim Woodring
Jim Woodring is a Seattle-based cartoonist, comic book author, artist and toy designer. He also produces fine art works in a variety of other media, including painting and charcoal....
published on June 8, 2011. The book is Woodring's second book-length comic
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
set in his fictional world, the Unifactor, and the first to star his most famous character, Frank
Frank (comics)
Frank is a cartoon character created by American cartoonist Jim Woodring. He is a bipedal, bucktoothed animal of uncertain species with a short tail, described by Woodring as a "generic anthropomorph". When shown in color, his fur is purple...
.
In the book, Frank leaves the Unifactor, and is thus susceptible to change for the first time.
Background
While the book can be read and enjoyed on its own, it is enriched by having experienced Frank's past history in the Unifactor. Knowing of Frank's previous life, in which he suffers no permanent consequences of his actions due to the balancing control of the Unifactor, gives depth to the changes Frank undergoes in Congress of the Animals.Congress is the first of Woodring's books set in the Unifactor to star Frank
Frank (comics)
Frank is a cartoon character created by American cartoonist Jim Woodring. He is a bipedal, bucktoothed animal of uncertain species with a short tail, described by Woodring as a "generic anthropomorph". When shown in color, his fur is purple...
since "Frank's High Horse", which was completed in 2003. Since the publication of The Frank Book, also in 2003, Woodring's comics output had been sparse, and the only two stories he had produced starred other characters: 2005's The Lute String starred Frank's pets and guardians, Pupshaw and Pushpaw, while 2010's Weathercraft
Weathercraft
Weathercraft is a 2010 graphic novel by American artist Jim Woodring featuring his best-known characters Frank and Manhog. It is Woodring's first graphic novel-length work, and like all the other works in Frank's world of the Unifactor, the story unfolds entirely in pictures, with no dialogue,...
starred Manhog.
Overview
The book stars FrankFrank (comics)
Frank is a cartoon character created by American cartoonist Jim Woodring. He is a bipedal, bucktoothed animal of uncertain species with a short tail, described by Woodring as a "generic anthropomorph". When shown in color, his fur is purple...
in his first adventure outside of the Unifactor.
Quacky flies by Whim in a balloon. When Quacky taunts him, Whim bursts the balloon with a sharp rock. He tries to lighten his load by throwing out his baggage, some of which lands on Franks property. Frank discovers a croquet
Croquet
Croquet is a lawn game, played both as a recreational pastime and as a competitive sport. It involves hitting plastic or wooden balls with a mallet through hoops embedded into the grass playing court.-History:...
set, and sets up a game with his pets and protectors, Pupshaw and Pushpaw. When pounding in one stake, however, the ground gives out and his home sinks.
A creature offers to rebuild his home. When finished, the creature demands payment, which is unexpected to Frank who, as a denizen of the Unifactor, expects events to balance themselves out. He must take a demanding factory job to pay the creature. At the factory he runs into Quacky. The two plot to escape from the factory by sabotaging one of the machines. They escape to an amusement park and make their getaway in a couple of gondolas. Frank's craft is attacked by a Leviathan
Leviathan
Leviathan , is a sea monster referred to in the Bible. In Demonology, Leviathan is one of the seven princes of Hell and its gatekeeper . The word has become synonymous with any large sea monster or creature...
and he is washed up onshore.
On a faraway island outside the Unifactor, Frank discovers a giant statue of himself. While trying to make his way there, he comes across a town of gut-worshippers and undergoes a psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
experience. He leaves the settlement of the gut-worshippers and does battle with a monster, which he defeats. He helps out a number of other creatures to pull a many-faced "agency" out of a pit.
When he finally makes it to the statue, he finds that its resident is a female version of himself. They talk and have tea together, and Frank discovers that his host has a model of his new home, complete with miniature Pupshaw and Pushpaw. The two return to the Unifactor in what remains of the gondola. A mutilated Quacky is back in the Unifactor as well, but Frank passes him by.
Frank and his companion return to his home, where they are happily greeted by Pupshaw and Pushpaw, and they watch a fireworks show.
While in the Unifactor, nothing truly bad can happen to the charactersthe Unifactor will always keep things in balance, and Frank never learns from his actions. However, outside of the Unifactor, Frank, whom Woodring has described as "ineducable" on the cover flaps of Weathercraft
Weathercraft
Weathercraft is a 2010 graphic novel by American artist Jim Woodring featuring his best-known characters Frank and Manhog. It is Woodring's first graphic novel-length work, and like all the other works in Frank's world of the Unifactor, the story unfolds entirely in pictures, with no dialogue,...
, may become educable.
Characters
Quacky:Whim:Makes only a brief appearance. Taunted by Quacky from his balloon, Whim hurls a sharp stone at the balloon, bringing it down.
Frank
Frank (comics)
Frank is a cartoon character created by American cartoonist Jim Woodring. He is a bipedal, bucktoothed animal of uncertain species with a short tail, described by Woodring as a "generic anthropomorph". When shown in color, his fur is purple...
:
Creation and publication
The book was published in the United States by Fantagraphics BooksFantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, magazines, graphic novels, and the adult-oriented Eros Comix imprint...
, and like Woodring's previous graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
, Weathercraft
Weathercraft
Weathercraft is a 2010 graphic novel by American artist Jim Woodring featuring his best-known characters Frank and Manhog. It is Woodring's first graphic novel-length work, and like all the other works in Frank's world of the Unifactor, the story unfolds entirely in pictures, with no dialogue,...
, Congress of the Animals was published directly in book form, without being serialized first, and was printed with same design approach as Weathercraft, giving the books the feeling of a series. It appeared about one year after Weathercraft. Some panels of the book were previewed on Woodring's blog leading up to publication.
Woodring says he was able to come out with Weathercraft and Congress of the Animals so quickly as they were both planned out before either being drawn. His next project will likely take a longer time to complete, as it is not yet written.
Style
The book is done in Woodring's trademark black-and-white penwork, with hatchingHatching
Hatching is an artistic technique used to create tonal or shading effects by drawing closely spaced parallel lines...
and shading
Shading
Shading refers to depicting depth perception in 3D models or illustrations by varying levels of darkness.-Drawing:Shading is a process used in drawing for depicting levels of darkness on paper by applying media more densely or with a darker shade for darker areas, and less densely or with a lighter...
done using wavy lines in subtle gradations reminiscent of woodblock printing
Woodblock printing
Woodblock printing is a technique for printing text, images or patterns used widely throughout East Asia and originating in China in antiquity as a method of printing on textiles and later paper....
. It has an unusually large number of double splashes throughout the book. It is executed in pantomime, as are all of Woodring's works set in the Unifactor. The characters are not meant to be silent, howeverthere is a climactic two-page scene in which Frank converses silently with his female counterpart, conveyed to the reader entirely through gestures and body language.
Frank himself is drawn in an extremely minimalist way, while the backgrounds and other creatures around him are drawn in obsessive detail. This serves to emphasize Frank's navïety and innocenceso that even, when he does wrong, the reader still finds it hard to criticize his actions.
Reception
Edward Kaye of hypergeek.ca called Congress of the Animals the best work of his career and "a strong contender for graphic novel of the year, if not the decade", and Ned Lannamann of The Portland MercuryThe Portland Mercury
The Portland Mercury is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Portland, Oregon. It serves to chronicle the ever-changing Portland music scene, and generally includes interviews, commentaries, reviews, and concert dates...
called it "among [Woodring's] most approachable and comprehensible worksa welcome change from last year's hallucinatory Weathercraft."
Critics' interpretations
Typically of Woodring's work, Congress is layered in metaphorical meaning and rewards repeated reading.Sean Rogers, at The Comics Journal
The Comics Journal
The Comics Journal, often abbreviated TCJ, is an American magazine of news and criticism pertaining to comic books, comic strips and graphic novels...
, suggests that, as Manhog in the past has had the opportunity and insight to attempt to better himself (especially in the short story "Gentlemanhog" and in Woodring's previous graphic novel, Weathercraft
Weathercraft
Weathercraft is a 2010 graphic novel by American artist Jim Woodring featuring his best-known characters Frank and Manhog. It is Woodring's first graphic novel-length work, and like all the other works in Frank's world of the Unifactor, the story unfolds entirely in pictures, with no dialogue,...
), now Frank for the first time may have such an opportunity. The story is more linear than the ones Woodring has drawn in the past, with a clear story arc, less focused on "[t]he mystery, ambivalence, and indecipherability" of his past stories with their "thinness of character and event".
Foreign editions
| Translations | ||||
| Language | Title | Publisher | Year | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French French language French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts... |
Frank et le congrès des bêtes | l'Association L'Association L'Association is a French publishing house which publishes comic books. It was founded in May 1990 by Jean-Christophe Menu, Lewis Trondheim, David B., Mattt Konture, Patrice Killoffer, Stanislas, and Mokeït, who left soon thereafter... |
2011-04-29 | |
External links
- Video preview
- 10-page preview from Fanatagraphics Books' website
- Rudick, Nicole. "The Mind of a Worldly Man Is Like a Fly": A Jim Woodring Interview part 1 2 3 4. The Comics JournalThe Comics JournalThe Comics Journal, often abbreviated TCJ, is an American magazine of news and criticism pertaining to comic books, comic strips and graphic novels...
. June 27, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-28