A Laughing Matter: Exploring Life, Death, and Humor in La Muerte (de Irene Márquez)
"Irene Márquez's Demise: A poignant passage marked by laughter, despair, and amusement"
A walks through life knowing one inevitable truth: we're all bound to kick the bucket at some point. However, Irish comic creator Irene Márquez decided to tackle this morbid fact with a side of laughter in her graphic novel, La muerte (de Irene Márquez).
Featuring 48 tales of varying lengths, this humorous and thought-provoking compilation masterfully explores the theme of death through differing narrative styles, graphic virtuosity, and liberal doses of black humor.
From Graveyards to Laughter: The Journey Begins
The comic opens on a cover that offers a striking and fitting introduction, depicting Márquez's tomb vandalized with graffiti and other remnants. From the outset, this emotional journey promises to take readers on a rollercoaster ride of laughter, poignancy, terror, and entertainment.
Márquez explains, "I wanted to maintain that uncertainty of not knowing what you might find on the next page and feeling all kinds of emotions around this theme." Balancing black humor, clarity, and unpredictability, each story within La muerte succeeds in rendering that unexpected emotional punch.
Black Humor and the Art of Surprise: A Conversation with the Author
But where did Márquez's distinctive black humor come from? "Black humor in general implies making jokes about something that is in bad taste or that implies pain or negative emotions that are not close to laughter in daily life," the author shares. "The idea is to turn something tragic into something comic, to find a situation that can generate a surprise, more or less comic, and placing it along the length of the strip or page."
Intriguingly, we often find humor in funerals and wake ceremonies, which might even raise the question: "...if it's not necessary." Márquez muses, "I think it might be necessary because it always happens. And when it happens, you think: 'Compose yourself, keep a little decorum. That this doesn't go beyond the kind of laughter that should be.' But there's something about death that, despite all the taboos and anxiety it carries, draws us to it—even to convert it into jokes."
The Wellsprings of Inspiration: Márquez's Muses
In telling these diverse stories, Márquez drew inspiration from a myriad of sources, both within and beyond the comic universe. "I'm often influenced by traditional Spanish authors in the realm of humor," she confesses, naming Paco Alcázar among her favorites.
However, for one particular story titled Shōjo, she looked to Japanese girl comics (shojo manga) and light comedies for teenagers as creative wellsprings.
In addition, the aesthetics of Junji Ito's comics provided further inspiration, while the life experiences she encountered along the way contributed significant imagery and narratives. Reading David Lynch's autobiography also played a sizeable role in shaping the comic's creative process and presentation.
A Graphic Journey: Styles, Influences, and the Joy of Drawing
With varying graphic styles and narrative structures populating La muerte, one might wonder if Márquez struggles to maintain a cohesive visual identity. However, "I really like to draw," she insists, "and I always maintain a desire to explore and let myself go."
Márquez revels in the opportunity to assume the clichés of various genres, particularly manga, to playfully manipulate them. She confesses, "I enjoy exploring so much that I would even say I like my style, but I also like to play with it."
While her preferred medium is digital, Márquez reverted to pen-and-paper illustrations for this particular project, finding inspiration in the tactile and personal qualities of traditional drawing.
Education, Experience, and the Power of Persistence
Márquez's time at the University of Granada proved instrumental in her artistic development. Although her previous university lacked a focus on drawing and comics, the master's program at the University of Granada offered her the perfect canvas to grow as a comic artist.
The presence of comic authors, illustrators, and teachers, as well as a sympathetic student body, helped her forge a creative niche, facilitating her development as one of the most intriguing comic creators in modern times.
Despite challenges and setbacks, Márquez's unwavering dedication and passion for drawing brought her to where she is today, and her graphic novel, La muerte (de Irene Márquez), stands as a testament to her indomitable spirit.
- When discussing her creative sources, Marquez mentions being influenced by a wide range of media, including books, such as the autobiography of David Lynch.
- The artistic style of La muerte varies greatly, showcasing Marquez's ability to adapt and experiment with technology, as she often shifts between digital and traditional pen-and-paper illustrations.
- Marquez's unique brand of black humor is inspired by various mediums that manage to turn tragic situations into comedy, often found in the realm of entertainment and art, such as traditional Spanish humor or Japanese girl comics (shojo manga).
