Runton, Andy. OwlyTM: Splashin' Around, ed. by Chris Staros and Robert Venditti. Marietta, GA: Top Shelf Productions, May 2005.
Reviewed by Vanessa Raney

Just today, I received a complimentary copy of Andy Runton's primarily wordless black and white comic, OwlyTM Splashin' Around, published for the 2005 Free Comic Book Day*. Though aimed at kids, reading Runton's comic requires some skill even for adults.

For example, to follow most of the dialogues between Owly and his (or her) friends, you need to recognize the linguistically-based symbols that replace words with images while still retaining recognizable cognates. Of the 28 pages that comprise this comic - one in a series of OwlyTM stories, including Owly: The Way Home, Owly: Just a Little Blue, and Owly: Flying Lessons (from backside) - only two pages are dialogue-free (6 and 26), while another page presents entirely in pictures without images standing in for words (16).

Pages that contain words identify the placard "Owly" (1), the "Nursery" (5, 18 ), the "Birdbath Contest" event (9, 18-22, 25), the info. related to Owly and his friend worm's birdbath design (12-15), the "Judge"s (21-23), and the sound of "Knock Knock" (27). Exlamation and question marks indicate specific emotional states (1-3, 5, 7-13, 17-24, 27), and bubbled arrows hint at direction (7, 8, 15). Runton also includes challenges that require reading across panels to get at the intended meanings.

For example, 3-4:1 suggest friend worm fears the shadow in 2:1 that turns out to be Owly on 1:2 (by this time, Runton has tricked the reader into confirming the previous page's misreading). More importantly, friend worm's anxiety concerns the dying flowers introduced in 2:1, but these are not recognized as the objects of worry until 2:2. From this point, Owly and friend worm team up to help the wilting plant.

Another example relates the later exchange between Owly and his friends worm and raccoon. In 3-4:18, they find each other at the event. Then, in 1-2:19, friend racoon says that in half an hour (see the position of the clock's hands in both panels) the prize will be awarded. However, at this point - without knowing that friend raccoon is the event's organizer, much less the Nursery owner - friend raccoon's dialogue suggests something else: his confidence that Owly and friend worm will win. In actuality, friend raccoon is expressing his excitment over the judging.

The above examples are reasons why adults may amuse at Runton's gaming on a cognitive meta-level. Teachers would also find the comic useful in classrooms, especially with image/word-related associations since the images paired form complete sentences. The plays between word and image, however, contribute significantly to the discussion about the relationship shared by them - thereby challenging the dichotomies that place text and image as opposing concepts.

One criticism, though, that may be offered is this: Runton forgets about the flowers. Do they survive? However, noting that detail might be unimportant depending on if you read Runton's comic as an implicit statement about the value of animate life (animals of all types) over that of inanimate life (plants, etc.). The ironic twist at the end also points to the problems of aesthetics/appearances; to understand what I'm talking about, read OwlyTM Splashin' Around!

To check out all the current titles, go to this Page of Top Shelf Productions' Website: http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=561. (Hint: Scroll down to where it says: "Other titles related to Andy Runton:." Then print or copy the list to keep track.) Enjoy!


* Only comics in the OwlyTM serial published for Free Comic Book Day (also noted as FCBD on the Website) are short. Volumes 1-4 range from 120-144 pages.

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