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
Even so, this remains Macbeth, arguably the Bard of Avon’s most durable and multilayered tragedy, and overall, this enhanced...
A pairing of the text of the Scottish Play with a filmed performance, designed with the Shakespeare novice in mind.
The left side of the screen of this enhanced e-book contains a full version of Macbeth, while the right side includes a performance of the dialogue shown (approximately 20 lines’ worth per page). This granular focus allows newcomers to experience the nuances of the play, which is rich in irony, hidden intentions and sudden shifts in emotional temperature. The set and costuming are deliberately simple: The background is white, and Macbeth’s “armor” is a leather jacket. But nobody’s dumbing down their performances. Francesca Faridany is particularly good as a tightly coiled Lady Macbeth; Raphael Nash-Thompson gives his roles as the drunken porter and a witch a garrulousness that carries an entertainingly sinister edge. The presentation is not without its hiccups. Matching the video on the right with the text on the left means routinely cutting off dramatic moments; at one point, users have to swipe to see and read the second half of a scene’s closing couplet—presumably an easy fix. A “tap to translate” button on each page puts the text into plain English, but the pop-up text covers up Shakespeare’s original, denying any attempts at comparison; moreover, the translation mainly redefines more obscure words, suggesting that smaller pop-ups for individual terms might be more meaningful.
Even so, this remains Macbeth, arguably the Bard of Avon’s most durable and multilayered tragedy, and overall, this enhanced e-book makes the play appealing and graspable to students . (Enhanced e-book. 12 & up)Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2013
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: The New Book Press LLC
Review Posted Online: Nov. 6, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2013
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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