DISCOVERING MY 8-BIT STORY
A girl travels through her old Game Boy games looking for her lost cartridges in a visual adventure full of nostalgia in My 8-Bit Story.
“My 8-Bit Story” is the creator’s first personal graphic novel, also a webcomic. It’s a wordless comic about a girl traveling through old Game Boy games, more accurately the games that shaped his life as a youngster. The book was offered on the Lumina Vhox Vol.1 Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign. For my notes on the campaign check “Eyes on Lumina Vhox Vol. 1” Now let’s dive into My 8-Bit Story.
THE CREATOR
“My 8-Bit Story” was written and illustrated by José García. He is a professional storyboard and comic book artist from Mexico and worked on DreamWorks TV and Cartoon Network projects, First Second Books, Heavy Metal, Ankama Editions, and ComiXology originals. ‘My 8-Bit story’ is a tribute to his favorite childhood games.
THE BOOK
My 8-Bit story is a fantasy adventure tale for all ages. The book was printed on high-quality paper in full color with a square bound printed spine and a wraparound UV Spot Gloss semi-soft/hardcover. The books contain 150 pages each. The physical book was published in 2016 by Pildora Studio and Jose Garcia.
MY 8-BIT STORY
A girl travels through her old Gameboy Games on a nostalgia trip. My 8-Bit story is a visual voyage, trying to give you the same feeling as when you first played a game like Mario Bros, Pokémon, Legend of Zelda, just having fun, without minding If the story was any good, or without wondering if it ever had a story at all, just having fun.
As she navigates through the pixelated landscapes of games like Mario Bros, Pokemon, and Legend of Zelda, readers are transported back to their childhoods, reliving the joy and wonder of playing these classic games for the first time.
Still, she also comes across other characters from other entertainment sources such as the cartoons He-Man and, Tiny Toons. She also comes across Mortal Combat Characters.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
In “My 8 Bit Story,” a silent comic created by Jose Garcia, readers are taken on a nostalgic journey through the world of old Gameboy games nicely illustrated. The story follows a girl as she travels through her old Gameboy games, searching for her lost cartridges.
MORE THAN A COMIC
“My 8-Bit Story” is more than just a comic; it’s a visual adventure that captures the essence of what made these games so special. It’s about the simple joy of playing, without worrying about the story or the graphics, just having fun and getting lost in the game world.
Through its stunning visuals and nostalgic themes, “My 8-Bit Story” is a love letter to the games and cartoons that shaped a generation, and a reminder of the power of storytelling in all its forms.
While I recognize most of the characters, my generation is that of the Hannah Barbera cartoons (Looney Tunes), He-Man, Thundercats, Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, Slam Dunk, The Simpsons, and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (just to name a few). Since our parents didn’t have the means to buy the Nintendo game consoles, what they could (barely) afford was the Game Boy and even that was expensive.
I remember playing a little bit of Donkey Kong and Sonic the Hedgehog on a Nintendo 64 that my brother borrowed. Later on, he bought a GameCube where I played a little bit of Resident Evil 4 and GTA.
I wasn’t a good video game player and my younger brother didn’t have the patience to teach me so I didn’t play much on the cube but I remember playing Pokémon on the Game Boy a lot. You also had the Game Boy imitations that came with the game inside instead of having a cartridge. I remember having many of those with the fighting mode including Dragon Ball and Mortal Combat. I had a love-hate relationship with Barbies so I preferred figurines and toys, Teddy bears, books, puzzles, board games, card games, and Game Boy games.
WHAT IS 8-BIT GAME?
Some may be wondering what 8-bit means. An 8-bit game is a video game that uses 8-bit microprocessors for its central processing unit (CPU). These games were popular during the 1980s and early 1990s and are characterized by their simple graphics and sound. The term “8-bit” refers to the number of bits used to represent the color of each pixel in the game’s graphics.
In an 8-bit game, each pixel can be one of 256 different colors, resulting in a relatively limited color palette compared to modern games. Despite their technical limitations, 8-bit games are beloved by many gamers for their nostalgic charm and challenging gameplay.
FINAL THOUGHTS
“My 8-Bit Story” is more than just a visual journey; it’s a gateway to boundless imagination. This would be the 2nd silent comic I got after the “Charlie’s London: From the East Lane to the Limelight” silent edition.
As the young girl’s adventures unfold, readers are encouraged to let their creativity soar, crafting their narratives and scenarios. This makes it an invaluable resource for parents seeking to engage their children in storytelling, rekindling the tradition of Storytime in a fresh and captivating manner.
Moreover, the addition of a black-and-white version of the book, which could also be a coloring book for children, would be a welcome addition for parents who are looking to engage their children in non-digital activities. This will not only provide children with a creative outlet but also allow them to personalize their copy of the book, making it a cherished and unforgettable possession. Imagine a hardcover black and white version as part of a future crowdfunding project, serving to invigorate and expand the fanbase of My 8-Bit Story. How cool would that be?
Hopefully, the book will soon be available to purchase at josegarciaartworks.com. My notes on Egoísta will be published soon. Stay tuned!
Interested in more titles? Check more GRAPHIC NOVELS from the “EYES ON” series wherein I documented my experience with supporting crowdfunded entertainment and shared my notes on the products I received.
My notes are all set. Let me know what you think.
See you on the next page!
