Writer/Artist: Al Davison
Publisher: Active Images, Los Angeles, CA, 2003
Perhaps the most difficult task of any autobiographer is to draft the abstract---emotions, feelings, and anything in his mind which cannot be seen. In The Spiral Cage, Al Davison attempts to do just that, creating a conceptual portrait of his struggle with spina bifida, a condition which “leaves you paralyzed from the waist down, and can also leave you with brain damage.”
While I never go to the comic shop to look for the surrealistic works that “strive to break out of the conventions of genre” as Alan Moore states in his introduction, this work definitely stands out as being a history of a man’s struggle. Not a chronological one, in succession of his life’s events, but looking at the connection through the whole.
As a writer, Davison says very little compared to the length of the work---most of the telling relies on the art. This, unfortunately, is where the book runs into some problems conveying emotion. Since Davison presents this book in black and white, he must rely on the light and dark properties of certain caricatures to achieve his goal. The style and quality change so frequently that there is little to grasp onto when it comes to finding what is going on, and hard to decode the complex emotional tellings of the author.
Nevertheless, Davison does show a mastery of certain styles, drawing things realistically at times, then drastic, then “cartoonish”, truly contrasting different periods of his life. It ironically does very little to tell of overcoming spina bifida, but more about the evils of prejudice, and the desire to achieve one’s dreams. Any reader looking for a unique perspective on life’s lessons will cherish this for generations.
Davison is quick to establish himself as being caught in a “spiral of his own DNA.” Hence, the degeneration of the disease is meant to take him a piece at a time, eventually causing his death. Any struggle to overcome death is worth noting, but perhaps the way it is achieved is what is so “warm and innovative” about this book, as famous cartoonist Will Eisner notes. Even as a young boy, the need to stretch beyond himself, in an attempt to see things as they truly are, strengthens not only the physical aura of Al Davison, but also his outlook as a simplistic entity.
When he is very young, Davison asks his mother where his reflection (as in a mirror) goes when he’s not around. This is truly the precedent for the book. Even as Davison is tormented by his classmates, and society itself as a “cripple”, he finds himself on par with others, and never thinks twice about his condition.
Because of his struggle with certain Christians early in life, he finds it necessary to attain a Buddhist outlook, frequently practicing meditation. This is another facet of this book, as Davison explains the spiritual nature of himself as a human, rather than a victim of his condition. It is this combination of factors that makes the work so appealing---it is not a tragedy of a struggle, but more the presentation of encouraging traits such as wisdom, wonder, and the need to see the world through another’s eyes. It truly is different through those of Davison’s.
Any work which is derived from the abstract is ambiguous in receipt to all but the author---this is no different. Davison’s style is something which needs to be deciphered, and in doing so, we truly gain an understanding of one man’s struggle to find himself in his weaknesses. The best lessons to be learned from this are for the reader to see their reflection in Davison, and how they mirror against his will to go beyond himself. It is truly a remarkable experience, this graphic novel, even if it is difficult to decipher at times.
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