Asterios Polyp (Reaction)

       As was discussed in the class, Asterios Polyp is rather noteworthy, even ignoring the story entirely, in that it seems to be exclusively a graphic novel. Even without words, it is abundantly clear that this story could be told in no other medium; the subtleties in the book aren't just afterthoughts, such as the differing fonts for each character's speech, or characters breaking down into their most reflective art styles during arguments. They are integral to the plot of the story; the characters' personalities could not be displayed in an equally detailed fashion in any other medium without drastic alteration of the story. As for the story itself, Asterios Polyp manages to tell a tale which is simultaneously convoluted yet simple; it is the story of a man struggling with his own dual nature, often reflected in his "twin brother." Yet, the dialogue is so dense, the characters' philosophies so complicated yet each so meaningful, that this is a book which demands multiple reads to fully comprehend the scale of the characters' motivations, as well as the innumerable subtleties in the chameleonic art style.