"The Arrival" by Shaun Tan

For the majority of people, the thought that comes to mind when hearing the phrase "Comic Book" would probably be a book that is anywhere from a single page comic strip like those in the Sunday newspaper to a 200 page novel filled with tiny pictures and featuring at least one main character, with their only way of communicating their thoughts and words through the use of speech bubbles. The Arrival by Shaun Tan, however, is an interesting departure in style from the usual norms of the comic book world.

What sets The Arrival apart from other works is that there is not one single speech bubble ever used throughout the piece. Like the classic silent movies of old, all of the thoughts and emotions are expressed by the actions of the characters. This is a wonderful departure since the majority of comic books heavily rely on its use of dialogue, sometimes greatly hindering both the art and story and potentially boring the reader. But in The Arrival the story is not tied down by any dialogue and we the readers are able to understand what is going on with the main character with its art alone. Shaun Tan's art is fantastic and extremely detailed. Shaun is able to paint an epic fantasy world that is filled with wonderful environments, characters, and creatures that, while fictional, feel as if they are truly alive and could spring out from the pages at any moment. If I could compare the art to anything, I would say that it reminds me of many of the works of various Renaissance artists like Leonardo Da Vinci.  The story is completely told through the drawings and its characters to such a degree that the reader is left completely captivated and entranced with story, able to understand everything quite clearly. The shading used is also outstanding. It is used perfectly in capturing the raw emotion of the characters and both the happy time and the tragic times that they face.

The story follows a man as he and his family immigrate to a new land in an attempt to escape a great evil. As he waits for the rest of his to join him in the new country, the man encounters numerous people who kindly help him adjust to his new way of life and share their own experiences that led them to immigrating themselves.

The Arrival is a wonderful piece of literature that separates itself from other similar works. It details the life of an immigrant quite well and shows that there is always a place where you are welcomed, no matter where you go. I feel that many people will be able to relate to this piece, especially those who have experienced or are currently experiencing the same things here in the real world. With our world currently being bombarded by some kind of evil in every country, it allows anyone to relate to it in some way and gives one hope that we are not alone and that together, we can live in a peaceful world.