So, a bunch of teenagers play a weird RPG, get sucked into the game, and come back years later missing limbs, innocence, and one of them. Fast forwardSo, a bunch of teenagers play a weird RPG, get sucked into the game, and come back years later missing limbs, innocence, and one of them. Fast forward a couple decades and boom, the game drags them back. It sounds goofy, but the story is mostly bleak, brooding, sad, and memorable.
Gillen nails the mix of clever, sad, and nerdy, while Stephanie Hans’ art is jaw-dropping. Every page looks like it belongs in a gallery :) The characters are great and the writing good.
The middle does slog a bit (too much worldbuilding, not enough momentum), but the last act sticks the landing. Overall, it’s a great story....more
A mixed bag, this one. Fran Galán’s work is gorgeous, and the colors bring the pages to life. There are some strong moments too, especially the humor A mixed bag, this one. Fran Galán’s work is gorgeous, and the colors bring the pages to life. There are some strong moments too, especially the humor and the opening of the story. I liked the main couple and their dynamic. It felt warm and genuine.
But the story didn’t fully work for me. It felt kind of chopped up, like scenes were missing or rushed. Some of the dialogue was a little awkward, and the ending just didn’t land - not bad, exactly, just kind of meh.
Dark Pyramid starts off strong. The first issue is exciting and full of suspense. The idea of a missing live-streamer, a dark pyramid hidden in the AlDark Pyramid starts off strong. The first issue is exciting and full of suspense. The idea of a missing live-streamer, a dark pyramid hidden in the Alaskan mountains, and strange monsters lurking around had me hooked right away.
The art is also really solid. The snow, the cold, the wide, empty spaces - it all looks great. Visually, it's a treat all way through. Writing-wise, less so - after a great first issue, things started slipping.
The story got more typical. Characters started making dumb choices, monsters popping up just because, and some of the mystery fall apart. Parts of it felt rushed, like they skipped over important stuff or expected you to connect the dots with barely any clues. Some things honestly didn’t make much sense. There’s also humor in there - sometimes it works, sometimes it really doesn’t.
It’s not bad overall. It’s a fun, quick horror comic with monsters, conspiracies, and cool ideas. But I kept thinking about how good that first issue was. It gave me hope for something more unique that would really stand out. Sadly, the rest never quite lived up to that.
Surprisingly good. Boxed is a fast-paced sci-fi thriller that feels timely. It follows a government agent tasked with “boxing” dangerous AIs before thSurprisingly good. Boxed is a fast-paced sci-fi thriller that feels timely. It follows a government agent tasked with “boxing” dangerous AIs before they can threaten humanity. He needs to stop Hippocrates, an AI running the CDC, after it locks down lots of people in the name of public health.
Frank’s only hope is Pandora - an AI designed to seduce and manipulate him. And also his ex (kinda) which makes things awkward.
I liked how the story mixed pandemic fears, AI ethics, and cool Greek mythology references. It raises questions about how much power we give AI, and how easily good intentions can turn into control, or worse.
The art’s clean and engaging, with tech and character designs that are clean and easy to follow. It’s grounded sci-fi, and it leaves you wondering if AI can help us, and if we’ll survive when it tries.
If you like smart, action-packed sci-fi with moral gray areas, Boxed is worth a read....more
Dark Empty Void looks great, but the story doesn’t live up to the art. The idea sounds cool - I picked it up expecting a thrilling sci-fi horror storyDark Empty Void looks great, but the story doesn’t live up to the art. The idea sounds cool - I picked it up expecting a thrilling sci-fi horror story about scientists creating a black hole that spits out monsters. That, and the cover was stunning. But the plot is thin and easy to predict. Characters feel flat, and it’s hard to care about what happens to them. The comic often tells you how characters feel instead of showing it, which takes away from the emotional impact. Some scenes feel rushed or confusing, like parts are missing. Others over-explain. In the end, it’s just okay.
Silver Surfer: Black wants to be deep, and it succeeds to some extent. With that said, it sometimes feels like style over substance. Moore’s art is grSilver Surfer: Black wants to be deep, and it succeeds to some extent. With that said, it sometimes feels like style over substance. Moore’s art is great, surreal, and unlike anything else, but it sometimes overshadows the story instead of supporting it. A decent read, overall, but I'm not as impressed as many readers clearly are. ...more
I picked up Skin Police because, frankly, with a title like that, how could I not?
Set in a future where people started cloning to get around a fertiliI picked up Skin Police because, frankly, with a title like that, how could I not?
Set in a future where people started cloning to get around a fertility crisis, it turns out three out of four of these clones eventually snap and turn into hallucinating, bloodthirsty killers. The world needs a special task force to hunt them down, and that’s where Agent Eckis comes in. He's part Judge Dredd, part veteran who’s seen too much. He’s teamed up with a rookie, and together they shoot their way through conspiracies, moral dilemmas, and some very bad days.
It’s stylish, chaotic, and quite smart. The art is great and gritty, the colors pop, and when the clones start “popping” too, it’s intense.
Exceptional. Asterios Polyp is intellectual, witty and visually stunning. Written and illustrated by David Mazzucchelli, it follows Asterios, an arrogExceptional. Asterios Polyp is intellectual, witty and visually stunning. Written and illustrated by David Mazzucchelli, it follows Asterios, an arrogant, middle-aged architect who has built a career on theories rather than actual buildings. When his life falls apart, he’s forced to confront the mess he’s made of things.
It blew me away. Asterios Polyp is a stunning example of what graphic storytelling can do. Mazzucchelli plays with the very idea of storytelling. The art style shifts depending on the characters’ personalities, but it’s more than that. The form is essential to the story and I don’t think this story could be told in any other format.
The plot is quite simple, since it’s a story about love, failure, and the ridiculous ways people try to define themselves. Asterios is a bit of a jerk - he’s arrogant and distant - but that’s what makes him interesting. His relationship with Hana, a much more grounded and less intellectual character, is great and perfectly portrayed. I’m not a romance reader, but their love story got to me with how raw and real it felt.
Asterios Polyp is a reminder that graphic novels can do things no other medium can. It’s also one of the best things I’ve ever read.
A pretty awesome run if it weren't for the inclusion of Matt's brother and his plotline. Not a fan. It changes nothing, I'm starting Vol. 2 today :)A pretty awesome run if it weren't for the inclusion of Matt's brother and his plotline. Not a fan. It changes nothing, I'm starting Vol. 2 today :)...more
Yoon-Sook Namgung can see glowing blue or black strings connecting people. Blue strings show who’s having sex and black ones connect a murderer w3.5/5
Yoon-Sook Namgung can see glowing blue or black strings connecting people. Blue strings show who’s having sex and black ones connect a murderer with their victim. Handy for solving crimes, awkward for dating.
I liked the concept more than execution, but I had a good time, anyway. The writing is mostly solid, with a few eyebrow-raising moments. The art is downright gorgeous, the dialogue is snappy, and Yoon-Sook is an entertaining lead, even if she doesn’t have much depth beyond her cool pink hair and snarky attitude. The mystery lacks suspense a bit. Most of the time Yoon-Soon walks into a room, spots a string, and case is closed, which isn’t the most thrilling detective work.
Other than that, String is a fast-paced, visually stunning ride with a killer premise. Slightly flawed when it tries too hard to be edgy but worth reading. ...more
Matt Lesniewski’s The Freak is a weird, brutal little story about a guy so ugly that people literally attack him on sight. He moves to the city hopingMatt Lesniewski’s The Freak is a weird, brutal little story about a guy so ugly that people literally attack him on sight. He moves to the city hoping for a fresh start, but nope - same deal. When someone steals his only possession (a shovel), he sets out to get it back, and things spiral from there.
The black-and-white art is impressive - tons of detail, lots of grotesque faces - but sometimes so packed that it’s hard to tell what’s going on. The story starts off feeling like a revenge tale, then turns into something more abstract, but it never fully lands. It’s grim, strange, and while it has some cool ideas, it doesn’t quite stick the landing. Still, if you like your comics bleak, bizarre, and just a little off-putting, it’s worth a look....more
Matt Kindt’s Mind MGMT is one of the most mind-bending, paranoia-inducing, and brilliant comic series out there. It’s a story about a secret orga4.5/5
Matt Kindt’s Mind MGMT is one of the most mind-bending, paranoia-inducing, and brilliant comic series out there. It’s a story about a secret organization that has spent decades manipulating reality, controlling minds, and shaping history from the shadows. That’s right-every conspiracy theory you’ve ever dismissed? Turns out, they were all true.
I'll write a longer review once I finish the series. ...more