#riceboy

Hello; I made the webcomic RICE BOY 20 years ago; I am premiering a big video essay about that on Twitch, Sunday June 14 at 9pm EST if you would like to come by. Starting a preliminary curated music pre-show thing at 8pm EST

Vattu as a webcomic is so much, from a colorful reimagining of the roman empire and the various tribes it subsumed to a modern day critique of imperialism in all its forms. Its lovingly detailed, beautifully shaped, and wonderfully real. It doesn't hold your hand in trying to have a single character deliver an objective exposition to explain the state of the world, and instead introduces you over the course of over 1200 pages to a rich series of cultures and people who all have their own foibles, hang ups, secrets and shames. Its an amazing story, one I've adored reading from around 2012 to 2013, and I'm endlessly thankful Evan Dahm puts it out.

Its art is colorful yet clear, with as much a love for architecture as there is for the savannahs and plains that come before them. Every page of Vattu is beautiful in an almost effortless way. It doesn't overwhelm with detail, relying instead on clean coloring and wondefully restrained shading to make crystal clear scenes. There's a variety of outfits, from the simple cloths and tokens of the War-Men to the wonderfully inspired armor and dresses of the Sahtans. It feels like every detail in an outfit is considered not just by the artist, but by the people who choose to wear the outfits.

What I love most about Vattu (a statement that might very well be a lie in 20 minutes, but its the thing I love most about it right now) is how much it discusses identity. If a flute player from the country comes in and sees an orchestra perform, how should the flute player react? Amazement at the coordination and the bombast on display? Horror at how far they've taken his humble music? Shame at how much worse he is then some of these grand players? There are a whole litany of responses, and Vattu has many characters go through this kind of struggle. What do I want to be, what does the state that tries to control me want me to be, and where is the middle ground? How can I be myself and not die? And at what point is that price not worth paying? Its heartwarming, heartwrenching, terrifying and wonferful to read all in one. If you aren't already, read starting from the page linked. That'll be page 1, and its worth going on the amazing ride of Vattu with as little information as possible to enjoy it.

while we’re at it here’s two later iterations of the covers from the previous post... These are wraparound images, and were made initially for a Finnish translation of Rice Boy (only the first book was published). The book is apparently still available?? this was long long ago and was a weird thing to happen.

Writer: Evan Dahm / Artist: Evan Dahm / Iron Circus Comics

Riceboy is described as a “naïve, impoverished, little person. No arms or legs. Lives in a stump. Surely not a threat.”

Yet, the hero’s journey makes the call and the adventure of a lifetime waits for no one. In short, Rice Boy lives a simple and idyllic life in the mystical land of Overside until he’s called upon to fulfill an ancient prophecy.

What you need to know is that Riceboy is the tiny and reluctant hero. He is joined by, aided by, tossed by, and hunted by an electric number of creatures on his journey across the vast and fantastic world of Overside. There’s “The One Electronic” who becomes a sort of mentor to him, attempting to explain a great idea in their first meeting. There’s Gerund, a new friend who happens to find and lose him several times before it is over. There are battles to be fought, wizards to impersonate, paths to walk upon, lots of funny bits and many, many tears to shed in his travels to far and scary and amazing places.

The art just POPS on the pages with color! It is never over the top, instead, a welcomed addition to all the new characters you meet with each new set of pages you read. Speaking of characters: everyone and everything from the frog kingdom to machine men to tree guardians to giants and machine critters make our acquaintance. Riceboy who is so unbearably cute with his simple character design has a full cast everything and everyone under the sun to compliment his journey and you will quickly find yourself emotionally invested in their struggles and triumphs the longer and longer you read.

For those who may be intimidated by the size of this offering: with five books in total that make up this tome of 400+ pages, I just have to assure you–please don’t be! Seriously. This is not a book you want to miss based on something as silly as that. The lore of this universe that the narrative is set in does come slowly, bread crumbs here and there yet you’ll still be engaged. In fact, I sat down and read some 180 pages in–forgetting myself and be enthralled by the happenings on.

 @ripopentheuniverse  reviews Riceboy by @evandahm     

Work of Evan Dahm (Rice Boy, Vattu comics) goes with:

Dead Can Dance - Opium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zReWPjreJzI