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The nature of the medium of comic books is conducive to crafting a divine or noble fool character, thanks in part to the presence of variability in a seemingly deterministic, linear narrative. Many modern comic book authors have taken full advantage of this variable universe, and have incorporated the Dostoevskyan idiot into their own works.
Many modern comic book characters both resemble and outright personify the noble fool. This particular model of comic book character tends to be of a genre called "alternative fiction," which stems from the movement against the popular superhero demographic. Consequently, these characters often bear distinctly anti-heroic traits. These characters interact with time in a similar manner as the Dostoevskyan idiot. It would seem that the comic book is predestined, since the narrative is linear and square-by-square, but instead, principal characters arguably enjoy variable fates. Variability is accomplished through the use of montage, and by using space instead of time to create this montage. Variability also ensues when a comic book reader creates metaphors for himself or herself. And because montage can be used to create an illusion of motion, an illusion of time is in turn created. The audience takes an active role in the creative process. Consequently, it can be argued that time, motion, and creativity are all indicative of a chaotic element. Room is created for chance. The argument for chaos in comic books is reiterated through the concept of "informational entropy." Dostoevsky included "noise information" - extraneous details and dangling plot threads seemingly unrelated to the central theme. In comic books, the audience provides noise in the spaces between panels; readers provide extraneous details and chaos itself. As in a Russian novel, the noble fool at times seems to be doomed or ill fated. Charlie Brown will always miss the football, no matter how he tries. But the possibilities for failure, rejection, and social ostracizing are endless. In conclusion, the comic book is a seemingly deterministic medium. Characters seem to be fated. But because comic book time works differently, noble fools are given an opportunity to interact differently with time. The fool himself is the noise, he is the variability, and he is paradoxically a personification of chance. The medium is left as dangling and open as possible, and many authors have thus taken advantage of the medium, effectively making use of the potential for variability, and allowing their characters to interact with time and chance in surprising ways. I AM FORTUNE'S FOOL! Other writings |