Alternative Culture: Jack Doe

A Singaporean Comic Book/Graphic Novel

I must confess-- I like reading comics. However, I have not read any Singaporean comic since the Mr. Kiasu series many, many years ago.

When I saw this graphic novel on the shelf in the library, I could not resist the chance to pick it up. After all, if I do not support our local authors and artists, who will?

Opening Shot

The cover art (particularly its black and white colours) immediately hints towards the genre of crime noir, and it is unsurprising that that the story was such.

The story's hero is private eye Jack Doe. As one can tell, Jack Doe is not really his real name, but together with his job, the protgonist inherits the name from his father. Apparently, the pseudonymn protects the protagonist (whose real name is never revealed) and those close to him.

The story begins with Jack Doe being shot in the chest, and as he tumbles down, he recalls the events that led him to such his imminent death. He remembers that he was investigating the death of his good friend Comissoner Blake. The mastermind appears to be his nemesis Judas Black, although more plot twists emerge before we finally get to the conclusion of the story.

However, this being my apologetic/theological/philosophical blog, I want to focus on one part that made me think deeply. That is the concept of the artist who wrote himself into the script.

That sounds a bit like the Christian God, does it not?

I'm not too sure about the author, Shawn Yap or any of his fellow co-authors intended to borrow any Christian themes (the villain is called Judas) for his book, but the concept of God writing himself into our history is one of the cornerstones of Christianity. Even the artist who wrote himself into the book calls himself 'God' at one point.

And the story reveals that the only way for the characters of the graphic novel to be free from the artist's grip on them was to break the flow of the story. This seems to echos the view of the New Atheists (and some past philosophers) that when we finally rid the concept of God, we become truly free.

I wished the book really explored that what freedom really meant. There are suggestions such as when Jack Doe chose to follow the traditions of his father, or when Jack Doe chose to leave his mother. If we chose to be bounded in responsibility are we truly free. I sort of wished that the authors explored this theme further.

A short review

I really like the overall story, and it seems to also borrow from elements of the Batman mythos (one of the villains looks like the Riddler, another like a anoxeric version of Bane. The Gemini twins resemble Tweedledee and Tweedledum).  However, the characters do suffer from lack of development. Jack Doe at times seems like a whiny kid rather than a seasoned detective, and his relationships with his enemies, Comissoner Blake and his friend Cassandra were ill-described.

The art style is simple but effective. However, there are times when the art was a little confusing, expecially in transitions between flashbacks and current time.

Nevertheless, I give this book a 65/100, for a great plot and a philosophical ending.