Shaun Tan's The Arrival

In the past, I have not read many comics, much less wordless comics. However, reading The Arrival felt very much like reading a short book. The story was beautifully told using very detailed illustrations. I assume that most of these illustrations are heavily based on reference taken by the artist. The transition between frames is perfectly blended together and creates a story that is easily understood. Using images to tell a story that is based on reality but portrayed in a fictional world is difficult, but Shaun Tan successfully accomplished to display the message of the story clearly. Even during times in the story where he showed memories or stories being told by other minor characters, his purpose was obvious. By changing the hues in the illustrations and the colors of the pages, the reader immediately noticed that something in the story changed and it did not take long before he knew that we were reading into the past. Being introduced to these type of comics has encouraged me to look for more books similar to Shaun Tan's that portray beautiful illustrations and a meaningful story.