Comics are an experience. Beyond just the passive
interactivity of reading, the way we perceive a book is changed in often subtle
ways by lettering, style, and packaging. Iconic art (that is, art that less
realistic and as such easier to identify with, to oversimplify) is often more
indicative of work aimed at younger readers, which is silly because being able
to identify with something is in no way a kids-only thing. It’s the same with packaging;
if your book is being presented in a way that is more fun, it’s often for kids.
Pranas T. Naujokaitis (prahn-us no-you-kite-us)
has created a name for himself by ignoring that completely, creating work that
is a nice mixture of family friend and grown-ups only, and packaging his books
in ways that are both excited and unique.
One of the things that blows me away about almost everything
Pranas produces how his books are presenting. Even his earlier work, like Beard does this – that particular book
is held together by the nose, and folds open to shave off the beard from the
cover. He created a three foot long cloth scroll comic, entitled Ghost. Each of the three volumes of his Monster Town series collects three tiny
books held together by a monster head. His most recent work, Sack Lunch and the upcoming Laffy Meal, includes several different
stories that all occur simultaneously split into a few small books that are put
together in a bag (or sack), with each book being a different element of the
meal – sandwich, fries, raisins, soda. All of Pranas’s work sets itself apart
and catches the readers interest immediately with this creative packaging, and
continues to be worth it thanks to his cartooning skills.
Pranas’s work ranges from comics about beards to lunch, with
stories intended for both the adults and children in us all (and actual
children, for that matter). After Pranas noticed that children were attracted
to his style (a problem with Beard,
which is full of foul language), he decided to start Balloon Toon Books,
through which he produced three hardcover books so far - Dinosaurs in Space, The Totally Awesome Epic Adventures of Br
ave Boy Knight, and The Radically Awesome Adventures of Animal Princess, all intended just for kids. Similarly, Monster Town is super kid friendly, with each story focusing on a different monster resident of monster town and a new lesson. Recently, Pranas has been contributing backup stories and variant covers for Boom! Studios’ Bravest Warriors and Adventure Time as well.
The things Pranas makes are and excellent example of the
unique and interesting things that comics lend themselves to. His refusal to
adhere to one format or package, as well as the sheer quality and style of his work,
has made his work incredibly fun and exciting. I thoroughly look forward to his
future, both to what Pranas will present the comics world and what he will do
himself.
