Prompt/background: WE3 is a graphic novel the humanities class read in its entirety about three pets (dog, cat, rabbit) that were weaponized by the government, therefore losing most of their identity since they were turned into cyborgs. The novel follows their journey as they try and find themselves again after escaping the facility that stripped their individuality. In this expanded slack post, the class was tasked with answering the following questions:
1. What do you think distinguishes "animal" and "human?"
2. If you had to select one panel (from the comic) that is particularly important for understanding We3, which one would it be and why? --> in order to understand this more easily I'd advice to read the comic.
Extra notes: If you decide to read this comic, please be advised there are many disturbing scenes throughout the novel that may be upsetting to some readers.
NO. 1
Regarding physical characteristics, humans and animals are similar in that we both can move and think, yet we do so in different ways. The difference is that a human brain is more developed than an animal's. We can solve complex problems, feel elaborate emotions, and speak more complexly with various language structures. On the other hand, humans and animals can feel sorrow and happiness, but we may express it differently or feel it for longer/shorter periods. Mainly, though, it's human language and the complex ways in which we communicate with each other. There is also more sophistication in our vocabulary; what helps us most with that is the ability to travel and speak to people from other cultures in possibly different tongues. Think about it this way, if you were born into a town and only stayed in one place with the same people for the rest of your life, intending to survive and get food on a daily basis, your language would be distinguishable from another person who has had exposure to many cultures. Animals don't have the luxury of being able to get on a plane or take a road trip to another state or country arriving there in a matter of hours. Most animals, instead, must focus on gathering enough food and building shelter to protect themselves from a harsh winter. Therefore, they have to stay in the safety of their group. Something else to keep in mind is the fact humans compare animals to themselves when conducting tests on animals instead of acknowledging they are different species. In many instances, we may need to take into account that because there is such a variety of species that inhabit the planet, not each one will respond the same to a test conducted amongst multiple types of animals. Nevertheless, the comic took this idea and went into more detail. It expanded the contrast between animals and humans more by polarizing humans and animals from each other to the point where the animals are robot-like and emotionless in their process of being converted into cyborgs. Therefore, we had more differences than similarities from the dog/ rabbit/ cat in that case.
NO. 2
I chose panel 4 on page 86, where Bandit or "1" has just found Roseanna and says, "We3 Gud", "Gud dog", "home now". This panel is important to understanding We3 since they are the point at which the character's differences are set aside. The reader is shown the long lost humanity throughout the comic being revived, and that it is, in fact, able to be rescued, and whether it be through a small or big action, it still is essential to help the comic come full circle. What stood out to me the most was the phrase "home now". On the page itself, there is so much that happens emotionally where the reader gets a sense of relief upon Bandit's reunion with Roseanna, but then comes immediately an impending sense of sadness and, in a way, enmity towards the soldiers who instantly accidentally killed her. But I decided on this particular panel because it's that one moment in the comic where everything is okay for once. There is no hostility towards the animal robots; instead, there is a short-lasting sense of belonging and endearment with the words "home now". For Bandit, his home was not a place but a people's. His loving connection to Roseanna contradicts with the material put on him, which in this case was the metal encompassing him to make the dog a killing machine. It highlights that materialism causes hostility between the two species versus the strong connection formed when humans accept animals as they are and do not infringe those human attributes upon them. It's also interesting to me how the artist illustrates this drawing with great detail, specifically with Bandit's facial expression and how it's zoomed in to depict his tranquility in being accepted for who he is and treated compassionately mercifully.
