Persepolis and Epileptic

I have never read a "graphic memoir" so to speak, and really enjoy the depths both of these works were able to traverse. In White's article he says, "that narrative discourse serves the purpose of moralizing judgments." I think these works would support his thesis. Persepolis argues for a different world view of Iran and Epileptic argues for an understanding of incomprehensible diseases; while at the same time coping with issues of identity, family, and suffering.

Epileptic and Persepolis both stick to black and white but the effect is different. What is the significance of the different effects created by black and white in these two works and how does it add to there storyline or mood?

Persepolis employs very cartoonish drawings and never employs fully realistic drawings. It also keeps to a simple black and white format with very little shadowing. It is a linear story and allows the reader to be drawn into that world completely. The black is not a looming threat or a depressing tone (pg. 52). It is simply performing its function as a background, color of clothing, etc. It allows the focus to be on the storyline and makes it that much more translatable to the masses.

Epileptic also uses cartoonish drawings but also uses some realistic drawings and that is a ton of shadowing throughout. In this book the darkness seem ominous, desolate, and insatiable. Page 42 uses just blackness to show the doctors and the reader immediately knows its bad. On page 113 it seems to be trying to swallow Jean-Christophe and on page 122 you can see how the shadow use can add a dark tone on a character.

So in Epileptic the darkness is there for a very specific reason. What is the significance of darkness being so ominous and looming?

The way I saw it, darkness was a symbol of sickness. And not just Jean-Christophe's sickness but also to the subsequent sicknesses of the family. His mother is haunted, his sister severely depressed, and David contains a rage (maybe from inability to express his feelings or save his brother). If seen in this way it can represent a visual balance of Characters vs. Darkness. It threatens to engulf every person and one must not succumb. Towards the end (pg 144) Jean-Christophe is shown as in all black. He is unable to fight of this Epilepsy and the visual rendering impacts the reader on a very symbolical and emotional level.