By: Brian Wood Publisher: AiT/PlanetLar Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: AiT/PlanetLar Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 144 Publication Date: September 01, 2000
Product Description: In his debut graphic novel Channel Zero (1999), writer/artist Brian Wood introduced readers to Jennie 2.5, self-styled media activist and symbol of resistance and change in an imprisoned America. She took on the state-run media empire in an attempt to save herself and secure a place in the history books.
Channel Zero Channel Zero. Just the sound of it implies a stark, near-futuristic theme, much like the themes in V for Vendetta. It also has an implication of media. This is certainly true as the premise of Brian's first ever graphic novel is about how media can be an extremely powerful tool for propaganda. Often times, the information given forth by media can and will affect how whole communities think. Also, it touches upon censorship and the subject of free speech in America.
Any of these things sound deep and complex? It is. It is deep and complex. It has so many political and social references to our current and future times that at the end of it all you will feel overwhelmed. The amount of information in this one is huge and you will find yourself having alot to digest along the way. Is this good or bad? To be honest, I have no idea. It touches on so many things that I'm not entirely sure what Brian was going for. Is it about censorship? Yes. Is it about consumerism? Yes. It is so many things and it feels pulled in too many directions, idea wise.
It all revolves around The Clean Act, which supposedly has killed freedom of expression and has caused America to become a sort of pseudo-communist country in which the government certainly knows best. So, no free speech and the things which were deemed 'unholy' by the higher powers are outlawed.
But as you know, the moment the government tries to stamp down on the people, the people start to fight back. In a sense, Jennie 2.5, a self styled media activist, was the one Brian has 'chosen' to represent them. The one who decided to do something, the radical.
The conflict establishes itself. The basic, age old idea of the people VS the government.
Take those ideas, make it as 'techy' and sophisticated as possible, that's what Channel Zero is. Brian has this very cool (sometimes too cool for its own good) style which lulls you into a semi-hypnotic techno geek journey down whatever spiral he spins out of his twisted mind. That's who Brian is, apparently.
If for nothing else other than being thrown head first into an array of political rants, read this book. I bet you will find yourself learning more about the society around you, even though, sometimes, the plot may leave you scratching your head.
Channel Zero my hero! Awsome book, interesting concept and designed really. I would reccommend this book to anyone who loves Brian Wood and other dystopic literature!!
Great At Date of Publication, Prophetic in Retrospective Channel Zero is the tale of a New York art student living in the midst of change for the worse in America. New laws and fears have brought about change in society and leave our bill of rights in bloody tatters on the ground. While many sit down and revel in their safety, protagonist Jennie 2.5 decides to do something about it. Through truly groundbreaking design/comic art, author/artist Brian Wood dumps us off with Jennie as she puts her propaganda plan to wake up the masses into full throttle, only to find out that she's probably in over her head and not necessarily as free of America's faults as she thinks she is.
In addition to Jennie, cameos of other people from other angles are shown throughout the book. Whether in one page bios introducing characters that would be used in future B. Wood comics, or in mini stories, such as that of the activist-assassinating "cleaner" that is only doing her job, Brian weaves a whole world for us to look into that, while primitive at times, is still real enough to scare the hell out of us.
The greatest part of Channel Zero, though, is not it's art, or even it's story. It is it's fallout. Published in comic form back in the 1990s, and in graphic novel for the first time in 2000, this book is a pre-9/11 look into the post-9/11 world. With an oppressive "Clean Act" that is terribly remniscent of the USA PATRIOT Act of the real world, it was as if Brian was trying to warn us of the coming socio-political onslaught.
It's never to late to start listening.
Wow I've never read a book as ambitious as this before. There was every chance for Brian Wood to totally fall on his face, and he flew instead. This, and its prequel, Jennie One, make a FANTASTIC story. Get this NOW, before it's gone.
"Generica" the Beautiful Brian Wood's, "Channel Zero," is a terse, taut, techno thriller on what happens when a facist, authoritarian governmental system replaces Democracy in present day America. The writing is quite exceptional in presenting a mostly believeable scenario (but still somewhat hard to believe that media/info outlets are so completely shut-down and filtered that everyday Americans no longer know what's happening in the rest of the world) on how citizens both cope with the new constraints and eventually rise up to fight back. From start to finish the grim paranoia is effectively conveyed by Wood's masterful black and white illustration interspersed with faux propaganda artwork.
At this price, this book is of great value and not to be missed at all.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
