There is such a magical comic. Its painting style is not to say pulpy, but it is also ugly. Its action design is not to say bad, but it is rough. Its use of storyboard and is not to say messy, but it can be seen at a glance that it is amateurish. The excellent features of ordinary comics are all on the sidelines here.
It’s as if the author was just painting for fun and was completely too lazy to work on his brushwork.
From the plot point of view, it actually tells you a history of the development of astronomy in a serious manner. At first glance, it sounds like an old scholar.
But don’t rush to curse, because it is such a messed up comic that won the second place in the 2021 Comic Awards , "This comic is really amazing!" 2022》The second place in the male chapter , and The Manga Grand Prize of the 26th Osamu Tezuka Cultural Award and so on...
It is -
"About the Movement of the Earth"
What makes this comic with many problems possible? It has won these awards and received unanimous praise from readers on Douban. It can even be said to be extremely high praise.
The answer is - pattern
If you look at the style and settings alone, this comic should be of a type that is difficult to get into at the beginning. Its background is in the Kingdom of P under the rule of the C religion in the 15th century. If combined with history, it should belong to the period from the late Middle Ages to the middle of the Renaissance , when Christianity still imprisoned the minds of the general public.
This P Kingdom is a country that believes in God and the theory of heavenly movement (i.e. geocentric theory ), and pursues Theology is a country that rejects astronomy. Its two major characteristics reflected in the comics are: theocratic supremacy and opposition to the theory of earthquake.
The reason is very simple. The C religion believes that the earth was created by God. What God created is the most perfect, and everything around us should revolve around the most perfect earth.
To this end, they cited a large number of famous quotes as evidence, such as Aristotle or Ptolemy, who used logic to explain theology, and used various perceptual and rational means to consolidate the theory of heavenly movement in the hearts of the people. status. If someone does not believe it, he will be handed over to the official "Heresy Inquisitor" .
And our male protagonist Rafael is a "smart man". At the age of twelve, he not only has excellent grades, but also knows very well how to live in this world with ease as a person.
He loves stargazing and astronomy, but when asked what subject he most wants to study, he will answer without hesitation "Theology" . He shows off his talent carefully to impress others, is modest enough to gain rapport, and lies just enough to avoid trouble. Observe words and colors and judge the situation. If
follows this path, he will gain a good reputation and status and become a real winner in life.
Until that day, when his adoptive father asked him to go to prison to pick up an old friend who had just been reformed, the trajectory of all his lives quietly changed.
The man's name is Hubert, and he is a loyal supporter of the earthquake theory. He spent half his life to prove that the earthquake theory is the truth of the universe, and used a torn mouth and a disability to prove the atrocities of the "Inquisitor".
Hubert saw the astrolabe and observation records on Rafal's waist at a glance, so he asked Rafal in a threatening manner to help him continue his research in secret to counter the theory of heavenly movement pursued by the C cult. .
Rafael is a smart man, he would not have agreed originally. But when he followed Hubert to the secret location and saw the stars in the sky, when Hubert pointed out Orion's belt to him, and when the two people's thoughts collided with each other, he was suddenly fascinated. .
Hubert asked him: "Do you think the truth you believe in is worthy of the beauty of this sky?"
Rafael could not tell. Because he has been stargazing all year round, he knows very well that there are major flaws in the theoretical system promoted by Cult C. Hubert also struck a chord while the iron was hot and expressed his conjecture to the young man in front of him:
"Maybe the earth is moving, and it has two kinds of motion at the same time, namely 'rotation' and 'revolution'." This - that's it. It's the earthquake theory.
At first Rafal did not believe in Hubert's theory, and he also keenly pointed out the shortcomings of the "earthquake theory" theory. However, when he accidentally slipped to the ground and watched the stars in the sky and the mountains in the night falling forward, he suddenly understood the theory called "About the Movement of the Earth" .
This accidental slip opened the magic box of teenage desire. After returning home, he tried to deduce Hubert's theory, but he didn't expect that the calculation would get out of hand once it started. Rafael, who has been stargazing all year round, gradually realized that perhaps the "earthquake theory" is the truth about the movement of celestial bodies and the best interpretation of the stars in the sky.
The earthquake theory is worthy of this beautiful night sky. Best theory.
But in that era, this research was so dangerous. To deny the theory of heavenly movement is to deny C-religion and deny God. Rafael would not know this. He asked Hubert why he continued to study at the risk of his life. Hubert told him:
"A life that is not terrible lacks essence.
If you really believe in the perfection of God's creation, how can you accept it willingly? An imperfect theory."
He asked Hubert if he didn't think it would be foolish to sacrifice his life for such an uncertain and possibly wrong theory. Hubert told him:
"It doesn't matter, no. Correct does not mean meaningless. "
In this way, just because of his strong thirst for knowledge and pursuit of truth, the young Rafael began to study the theory of earthquakes. It's a pity that their behavior has already been noticed by a dangerous person, that is Heretic Inquisitor-Novak.
When Novak stood in front of him holding Rafael's research manuscript, the boy was so shocked that he was speechless. He thought he was about to be taken to trial and tortured, but before he could even utter a complete explanation, Hubert appeared in the darkness.
Hubert took the blame for the young man. According to the laws of Cult C, those who are judged as heretics for the second time are destined to be executed. Before leaving, Hubert handed his pendant to Rafael, and then died happily.
After Hubert was burned to death, Rafael thought hard about the meaning of the pendant. Soon, he solved the mystery left for him by the other party and found the legacy left by Hubert - all the theoretical research on the theory of earthquakes.
In the letter left by Hubert, he hoped that the visitor would burn all his hard work here. In fact, even a man as determined as Hubert has a crack of uncertainty in his heart. He is not afraid of death, but he is afraid that the truth cannot be explained or recognized.
However, this gap was filled by Rafael. The young man put on the necklace and secretly made a vow:
"From now on, I will make the earth move!"
In the days that followed, Rafael became even more obsessed with studying the theory of earthquakes. At the same time, he also became more cautious and careful.
He disguised himself as the most devout C believer, and often burned a large number of calculation manuscripts in order to leave no trace. Because he knew very well that what he wanted to inherit and carry might be something that could truly point the way forward for mankind, and also represent the greatness and unyieldingness of human intelligence.
Even in the process, he has been burdened with more dangers and a more uncertain future. But as Hubert once said to him, a life that is not terrible lacks essence.
It's a pity that no matter how cautious Rafael was, he never imagined that the person who betrayed him in the end was actually his adoptive father who loved him deeply.
When Novak came to the door again, Rafael understood everything instantly. Fortunately, he hid the research results in advance and left a letter for future generations. This time he went to trial calmly, just like Hubert's calm back at that time.
In fact, Rafael did not have no room for change at this time. If he could declare his break with the earthquake theory at the court hearing, not only would he be able to escape unscathed, but his qualifications for going to college in the future would not be affected. Novak knows very well that Rafael is a smart man, and he will definitely make the choice that a smart man should make.
But this time, Rafael tore up the declaration in front of the court and said firmly:
"I want to believe in the earthquake theory!"
Novak didn't understand why the twelve-year-old boy in front of him would rather pay A young life must give up a great future to believe in a heinous heresy. And Rafael just told him calmly:
it was because of "intellectuality" and "touching" .
Intellect comes from the desire for truth, and the emotion comes from Hubert who sacrificed his life for righteousness.
Under Novak's surprised gaze, Rafael smiled and drank the poisoned wine, just like the former Socrates without compromise. In the end, the twelve-year-old boy leaned against the wall alone, his clear eyes chasing the beautiful night sky until his death, as if penetrating the thick prison wall, looking up so religiously.
And this scene happened in the 62nd chapter of the comic... Chapter 4.
Yes, in episode 4, the first protagonist died. What follows will be a spiritual inheritance lasting several generations and a relentless pursuit and dedication to the truth that transcends time, life and death. This is also why, even though it is a comic about science, it seems to be very popular.
If there is anything in the comic "About the Movement of the Earth" that can really move me, it is probably the desire for discovery and the unremitting pursuit of truth that the protagonists of the past generations have when they look up at the stars. Even at the time, this truth was not solid enough.
The sky has always had a very special meaning for humans. It is an image, it is unknown, it is distant, and it is also the destination that many yearn for. When people look up at the night sky and start thinking, "intellectual" will bloom with infinite brilliance at this moment.
This search for truth has nothing to do with a person’s dignity, age or beauty. Intellect is an innate talent of human beings. It can exist in the brains of wise men in seminaries, or in the swords of brave men in the resistance; it can exist in the choices of nomadic girls, or in slums. The beggar's head.
It is the light spot in the eyes of scholars, the broken neck bones of the ignorant, the remaining ashes after the incineration of heretics, and the concession of the elders after their struggle. It will always be there as long as someone is looking for it.
But if the comics only know how to depict the sacrifices made by those who pursue the theory of earthquakes, the perspective will be a bit monotonous. What is valuable is that even conservatives such as Novak who adhere to the theory of heavenly movement and maintain the rule of C religion, such as Novak, have wonderful portrayals and struggles.
I think this is because truth and human nature have always been inseparable.
It is precisely because of the weaknesses in human nature that truth is more valuable.
After the collision of ideas, the value can be reflected.
Just like what Rafael said in Novak's hallucination:
"All people born in this era, even if they hate each other to the point of killing each other,
are still partners who created the same era."
And As it is said in the plot:
"Perhaps it can be refuted and revised before it is truly worthy of being entrusted."
Although this statement is somewhat vague, the truth comes from contradictions and arguments. No one should be absent from this long questioning process.
The ending of the last EX chapter of the comic is a stroke of genius, re-reflecting the previous stories. The
EX chapter should be a parallel universe. At the beginning, Rafael did not come into contact with the Earthquake Theory, so naturally he did not die.
But in the days to come, when he grew up, he could even kill the father of the student Albert with his own hands in order to learn about seismic theory.
Although the earthquake theory is indeed correct, what is the difference between Raphael and the concept of "people who are not my religion must have different minds" and the heretic inquisitor?
There is a sentence in the comics that is the best explanation for this kind of behavior:
"With truth as a shield, violence will accelerate."
In the history of mankind, there has never been a shortage of those who committed violence in the name of truth. Examples of things.
It can be seen that the author not only sees the emotions of those who pursue the truth, but also digs out the things hidden behind those "truth-seekers" and combines them well with the plot.
He is not only reflecting on the opposite of truth, but also reflecting on something about truth itself. When thoughts begin to be authoritative, everything will inevitably move toward arbitrariness. At this time, doubt should be allowed.
When Albert grew up, he was shadowed by his father's death, but he finally decided to return to the path of pursuing the truth after confessing.
On the last page of the comic, he is facing the sun, with a question mark appearing above his head - this is the beginning of possessing intelligence and obtaining the truth.
By the way, the Albert of this universe is in line with the real world. There is indeed a person in history, but he is not very famous.
However, he later taught a very famous student. This student overturned Ptolemy's theory and proposed the heliocentric theory. He is Copernicus . I think it doesn't matter whether the ending of the question mark
is considered complete or not.
The important thing is that as a reader, when you feel the meaning this comic brings to you, when you think about what Rafael in this world is thinking, when you want to know what this Rafael is going to do, and what What kind of impact did it have on Albert...
You have guessed, questioned, and thought. Intellectuality now exists in your mind, and emotions can be placed and continued.
At this moment, I think, maybe we are not much different from those great sages. At least for this moment.
