Describe your thoughts about Siegel's drawings. In what ways did the artist's technique enhance your experience of the story?

Describe your thoughts about Siegel's drawings. What was the effect of publishing them in black and white instead of color? In what ways did the artist's technique enhance your experience of the story?

I thought that the black & white drawings helped set the scene and set the mood. It also helped keep me concentrated on the story, as I wasn't as distracted by lots of color & explosive action as I might have been had the drawings been in glossy color.

The drawings - particularly the background scenes - created a sooty, moody feel. I tend to think of historical events in black and white, so it seemed fitting that the artwork was b&w. I agree with kimk, that it was easier to focus on on the story. I loved the artwork. I thought the people were fine, though I didn't love them as much as the background.

I agree that the drawings were interesting and compelling but for me they were a distraction.

The artwork rocks!! I loved the character's eyes and the ladies were uniquely beautiful. The style of drawing is something you might have actually seen during the era of steamboat. The charcoal and pencil was the perfect choice adding to atmosphere. The artwork is my favorite part!

I agree the artwork was my favorite part. The artist did a wonderful job portraying the characters feelings and moods.

I felt that the drawings definitely helped to set the mood of the story and give it a kind of secretive feel as well.

I did enjoy the artwork in this novel. It was very interesting and left a lot up to interpretation. That being said, I did sometimes have a problem telling certain characters apart. Not sure why, but perhaps it was due to my focus on reading the words more than interpreting the pictures. But I did re-read many pages and scrutinize the drawing in order to help me understand the message of the storyline.

There are so many dimensions in Siegel's drawings. I can't imagine the book in color; to me it's more real in charcoal. I have a copy and feel that I can get lost in each panel, the detail is so great. And the water ... You can feel the wetness of the rain on deck.

I loved the artwork, and the way the faces varied from cartoonish outlines reminiscent of Tintin to very detailed realistic faces. I also liked the way the author used light to focus attention on characters. The black and white drawings made everything that much more dramatic and really set the tone for the entire story.

As my first graphic novel, and one begun with much skepticism, I initially found the drawings annoying. One of the aspects of the reading experience I find so delightful is allowing the writers words to paint pictures that allow me to "see" the characters and setting. The author's imagination and mine are joined in creating my unique experience of the book. Even as I became absorbed in the plot and discovered how much I was enjoying Sailor Twain, I felt cheated by the drawings which forced me into forever seeing Twain as triangle-nosed, bug-eyed cartoon when I would have preferred to imagine my own, more real, version.

That said, I also recognized the fun of noting things that appeared and never referenced like the gradual transformation of Twain's room into an underwater garden that the housekeeping woman refers to as a "bit of a mildew problem."

In the end, I would still choose a traditional novel over a graphic one, but I WILL recommend Sailor Twain to others.