A fast-moving and entertaining supernatural graphic novel.
Four experts tackle a mystery in the forests of Kasbro County, and what they find is far weirder than they could ever have imagined in Tobin’s graphic novel.
The action commences with a bang, literally, when a decrepit house collapses. Dead at the scene is Olivia Boucq, a surveyor investigating strange geological activity. After Olivia’s funeral, the other members of her team—Mason Bryke, Kokoro Eto, and Jess Waynelle—are questioned by the sheriff, filling in readers on the backstory: Various disasters in the local Broke Tree Valley area have killed hundreds of people over the centuries, but none have been seriously investigated until now. The trio proceeds to get very drunk and share memories; Jess confesses that she and Olivia were in a relationship. Things take an unexpected twist with the return of Olivia—or a walking-dead version of Olivia, seemingly placid but on some kind of mission. Now, her friends must protect this strange new Olivia and figure out where it is she needs to go. They are visited by innumerable other members of the undead (none as aware or poised as Olivia), who guide them all toward a mysterious “mammoth” figure. There are plenty of unexpected scrapes along the way, and much palpable heartache and pathos as Jess tries to hold on to her connection with her girlfriend (“I miss you, Olivia. I miss you so much”). This graphic novel collects five single comic book issues into one taut and compelling story that combines elements of black comedy, horror-thrillers, and an X-Files paranormal vibe. Enticing images by Susini and robust, lively dialogue provide a solid base from which the intricacies of the story unfold. The visual presentation is contemporary and sleek in its layout—easy to read and optimized to propel the narrative forward. The artistic style varies slightly to reflect scenes depicting playful banter, freaky horror, or romantic flashbacks. The tone is irreverent and the content is quite adult, including a lot of drinking, swearing, and violence.
A fast-moving and entertaining supernatural graphic novel.Pub Date: Jan. 14, 2025
ISBN: 9781545815908
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
Review Posted Online: Nov. 27, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A clever and timely conversation on reclaiming identity and acknowledging one’s full worth.
Superman confronts racism and learns to accept himself with the help of new friends.
In this graphic-novel adaptation of the 1940s storyline entitled “The Clan of the Fiery Cross” from The Adventures of Superman radio show, readers are reintroduced to the hero who regularly saves the day but is unsure of himself and his origins. The story also focuses on Roberta Lee, a young Chinese girl. She and her family have just moved from Chinatown to Metropolis proper, and mixed feelings abound. Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane’s colleague from the Daily Planet, takes a larger role here, befriending his new neighbors, the Lees. An altercation following racial slurs directed at Roberta’s brother after he joins the local baseball team escalates into an act of terrorism by the Klan of the Fiery Kross. What starts off as a run-of-the-mill superhero story then becomes a nuanced and personal exploration of the immigrant experience and blatant and internalized racism. Other main characters are White, but Black police inspector William Henderson fights his own battles against prejudice. Clean lines, less-saturated coloring, and character designs reminiscent of vintage comics help set the tone of this period piece while the varied panel cuts and action scenes give it a more modern sensibility. Cantonese dialogue is indicated through red speech bubbles; alien speech is in green.
A clever and timely conversation on reclaiming identity and acknowledging one’s full worth. (author’s note, bibliography) (Graphic fiction. 13-adult)Pub Date: May 12, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-77950-421-0
Page Count: 240
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: Feb. 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Using modern language, McDonald spins the well-known tale of the two young, unrequited lovers. Set against Nagar’s at-times...
A bland, uninspired graphic adaptation of the Bard’s renowned love story.
Using modern language, McDonald spins the well-known tale of the two young, unrequited lovers. Set against Nagar’s at-times oddly psychedelic-tinged backgrounds of cool blues and purples, the mood is strange, and the overall ambiance of the story markedly absent. Appealing to what could only be a high-interest/low–reading level audience, McDonald falls short of the mark. He explains a scene in an open-air tavern with a footnote—“a place where people gather to drink”—but he declines to offer definitions for more difficult words, such as “dirges.” While the adaptation does follow the foundation of the play, the contemporary language offers nothing; cringeworthy lines include Benvolio saying to Romeo at the party where he first meets Juliet, “Let’s go. It’s best to leave now, while the party’s in full swing.” Nagar’s faces swirl between dishwater and grotesque, adding another layer of lost passion in a story that should boil with romantic intensity. Each page number is enclosed in a little red heart; while the object of this little nuance is obvious, it’s also unpleasantly saccharine. Notes after the story include such edifying tidbits about Taylor Swift and “ ‘Wow’ dialogs from the play” (which culls out the famous quotes).Pub Date: May 10, 2011
ISBN: 978-93-80028-58-3
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Campfire
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2011
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