I guess this is a character study, of sorts. I think Hermann is a character who is often reduced into a trope: the stuffy, grumpy professor, in constant disdain of Newt’s free spirit. Things like him asking to be addressed as Doctor Gottlieb have led to him being reduced to a stuck-up killjoy. But there are reasons people have these preferences. And in the end I’d argue that Hermann wanting to be addressed by his full title is him attempting to accomplish the same goal as Newt’s tattoos. It’s not all about sounding or looking impressive. It’s about taking claim of an important part of you, and asking others to acknowledge it.
Okay but this is like, painfully beautiful to me because right here is where we see the essence of their relationship? Like they aren’t even in the full shot (which typical-but also metaphor, they’re so under-appreciated smh) but god damn it, they’re having their own little private convo and for once we see Hermann is actually being ANIMATED around people ( and for who, ding ding ding- that’s right-Newt!) and Newt looks nearly contemplative (bordering on indignant) and there’s so many fucking levels of communication they’re exchanging in a single glance, no words, no gestures even but head tilts and eyes like DAMN- (there’s something annoyed and also weary as hell, yet almost playful between that glance and a ‘you tried- who knows how social interaction is supposed to work, beats me’ w/ a side of ‘I told you so’ and/or ‘best let it go, schatz, he’s just not a scientist.’ kinda look on hermann’s face )and so utterly comfortable with each other and also knowledgable of one another I’m going to absolutely cry, for fucks sake.
Each image is selected based on a particular artwork that is mentioned in the chapter (such as the Dali or Doré illustrations), an image I found particularly visually striking from the chapter (such as the catacombs, or the sea rocks), a particular location that gets mentioned (Hannibal Chau’s golden palace, the bar in Tokyo) or an image that seemed otherwise relevant or useful for the audience to see going in (the concept art of Newt’s Drift, the conical map of the levels of Hell). Then I slap the title and author on them because ‘graphic design is my passion’ and off we go! Tumblr only allows nine images at a time last I checked, so I figured this was a good time for a retrospective. Ch. 10 goes up Monday, I’m very excited to share it with you!
Avelera 