DeadEndia: The Broken Halo
Written by Hamish Steele
Published by Nobrow
This is the sequel to the book Dead Endia (review Here)
Summary:
We are once again in DeadEndia, the now rebuilt theme park where Norma, Courtney, and their new friend Badyah have created a new inter-planer hotel for the various angels and devils coming out of the elevator. Meanwhile Barney had moved in with his boyfriend Logan. Strapped for cash, Barney ends up ensnared in a demonic wrestling league. As plots form, a sinister presence is felt as the Angels above take more and more liberties with the law, and the demons unite for a revolution.
Art:
The art is on par with the first book. While there are a few simpler designs and panels, the look and feel is the same, and there are some fantastic drawings, especially the other planes. It's all quite good.
Characters:
The characters are all back, and all of them get expanded and remade, with fantastic character and power growth. Courtney especially gets a lot of focus, and while I may be a bit biased (they're my favorite character) it all works out wonderfully.
Setting:
The setting is the exact same. Though we do get to see more of it, a lot is still kept from us. I would have loved to see more of the planes explored. As always, it's not structure but volume that's the problem.
Plot:
The plot is fantastic. All of the threads come together in an explosive finale that was gut wrenching. I am very exited to see where it goes next. There is a tone imbalance between the first half and the second half of the book, but I remember that being a problem in the first book too. It defiantly works itself up in a logical fashion.
TL;DR:
This book gets so much right. As a sequel, though I would have liked to see more of the world, it delivered with fantastic character and story.
9/10
Island Book
By Evan Dahm
Published by First Second
Summary:
Our story focuses on Sola, a girl from the sun island, thought to be cursed. Years ago a great monster attacked the island, and now Sola travels far from her home in search of what exactly the monster is. On her journeys, she finds various other islands, each taking a different view of the sea, the monster, and her quest.
Art:
The Art is simple, but it has a good style. Cartoony is the wrong word, but it gets across the soft corners and round designs. Each island is given its own color motif that reflects the islanders. The character designs are simple again, but they work. One particular design is fantastic.
Characters:
The characters are pretty simple. Each is an oddity in their own society+. All three of our main characters are outsiders for one reason or another. The three leads work well together. there's nothing especially spectacular about them. Some of the one-off islanders could have used something more. I felt there were opportunities for more.
Setting:
The various islands each act as their own little micro-cosmos. Though some are woefully underdeveloped, each represent a different way of looking at the world and things that can't be explained. The structure of the book lends itself for continued exploration of the world, since more islands could be added. There is a sense that something far older was here, but it isn't gone into depth. A lot of the islands are surface level view of what could be a lot more.
Plot:
The plot of the book, while heavily episodic, is by far the strongest part of the book. The plot isn't really about Sola and friends looking for the white monster, but is more an exploration of different ways of reacting to things that can't be explained. The monster is never fully explained or even revealed, but each culture has a different way of dealing with it. One blames one member of the community, one denies its existence. Another tries desperately to fight it off, while another worships it and tells stories of it. Some merely watch, longingly. I don't think it's an accident that the great monster from the sea is white. It is a primal force, and the book is about how people deal with and explain forces beyond their control.
TL;DR:
The Book is good, but unfortunately I'm not sure I can say it's fantastic. The plot and metaphor present is great, but something is missing. Especially with the setting and characters, there is an awareness of appetite that the book fails to provide. I hope there will be more.
7/10
The Tea Dragon Society
By Katie O'Neill
Published by Oni Press
Summary:
This story focuses on Greta, a blacksmith in training who stumbles upon a rare and lost tea dragon on her way home. When she returns it to its owner, a dragon named Hesekiel, he offers her the chance to learn how to care for tea dragons herself. There she meets Erik and min, two other tea dragon owners, and the four of them slowly grow and learn.
Art:
The art is fantastic. The book is beautifully colored, with an art style that I quite like. The characters are lovely, though the designs are a bit simple in some cases. Panel structure and flow are excellent.
Characters:
The characters are all wonderful, but could use more. They are all interesting and enjoyable, but most of them could use a bit more fleshing out. I would love to learn more about who they are and where they came from, but this doesn't negatively impact the book. If anything it makes me want more.
Setting:
The setting it vague, but it's all it needs to be. There are hints of vast adventures throughout the story, but the plot doesn't go there. Instead we get a small, contained look at a fascinating world with hints of much more.
Plot:
This is a sweet slice of life story. The plot is slow and meandering, but it has its moments. The tea itself is an interesting way for us to learn about these characters. The story doesn't have anything flashy, but it works.
TL;DR:
The one problem I have with the book is that there is so much unexplored. The book is well contained within a fascinating world that I would love to see more of.
9/10
Dead Endia
Written by Hamish Steele
Published by Nobrow
Summary:
Our story stars Barney, who after leaving home finds a place to stay and work at an amusement park with the help of his friend Norma. Turns out the park is actually a gigantic portal to the many angelic and demonic realms, and after a particular incident with a demon lord and Barney's dog Pugsley, the three must keep the park moving as cosmic weirdness unfolds, and odd timeline shattering consequences loam forbiddingly.
Art:
The art is cartoony and colorful. Now, given the summary I gave, that may seem to clash, but in this case it works, lending a whimsical tone to the book as it weaves in the darker elements. The characters are great. They are all varied and expressive.
Characters:
The characters are great! Though I do feel like their mannerisms may feel dated in a few years, I can confirm they talk like young people. All of them are interesting and likable. I especially like Courtney, a devil who also works in the park. What can I say, I like goblin types.
Setting:
The setting is wacky and all over the place, but in a way where everything fits. There are very interesting ideas regarding the overall universe outside the Park. The zaniness can be off putting at times, especially at the start, but it lessens as the book goes on and you get a sense of place
Plot:
The plot gets dark. It's told in short vignettes with flashbacks, but gets more strung together as the chapters go on. It covers some dark topics like rejection, isolation, and fighting against the impossibilities of death. It does lack flow at certain times, with the story being as allover the place as the art.
TL;DR:
This is a really good book. The storytelling and setting may be too chaotic for some, but I loved it.
9/10
The Nameless City: The Divided Earth
By Faith Erin Hicks
Published by First Second
This is the third book in The Nameless City series (reviews Here and Here)
Summary:
The final book in the series, we return to the Nameless city and our main characters Kaidu and Rat. war is impending, and with new leaders in power, everything is unstable. Along with that, The secret of The Napatha, an ancient weapon of great destruction, has been found, and our heroes must infiltrate the palace in a last attempt to stop a war to end all wars.
Art:
The art is still great. The use of color is great, though some scenes look muted. The character design remains great. One thing I only now noticed is that some of the panels seem to go off the page, lacking borders. I'm not sure if this was intentional, but it was odd.
Characters:
The characters are still really good. Kaidu and Rat still have lots of chemistry, and all the other characters are interesting. The villains are also good, but one seems a bit too irrationally evil.
Setting:
The setting is the same. Not much is added here, though I didn't speak about it much in my previous reviews. It's good, contained to the one city. The factions are reasonable and logical, and over all it leaves a few mysteries to think about.
Plot:
The plot is a fitting end to the series, rapping it up well. There are a few moments where the plot is moved forward by a character revealing previously unknown information.
TL;DR:
Now that this series is finished, I'd recommend all three of them.
8/10
Castle in the Stars: The Moon-King
By Alex Alice
Published By First Second
This is a Sequel to Castle in the Stars (review Here)
Summary:
Returning exactly where the last book left off, we return to our five heroes as their spaceship is flung into space. With the schemes of Bismarck planning their demise, the only hope is to find a way back, to make sure that all nations have the knowledge instead of just the Germans.
Art:
The art is still fantastic, with great perspective shots and beautiful vistas. The character designs are still great, save one. One thing that irked me was layout and panel structure. A few pages felt rather cluttered, with too many text boxes clouding the pictures.
Characters:
The characters are all the same, but aren't quite as engaging as last time. The chemistry is still there, but none of them really grow throughout the story. The exception to this is King Ludwig II, having gone from social recluse to mad ideologue. His arc is understandable, but it could have been more, instead being a more generic anti-war message.
Setting:
There has been a major setting shift, and now we're on the moon! It's the moon, but with breathable air and fossils. Not to spoil, but there are some cool things there. Space also makes an appearance, and it's cool.
Plot:
The plot is no longer one of political intrigue, but now is our characters trying to get home, and it doesn't compare. The problems of long explanations and a lot of telling instead of showing return. Overall, the plot is lacking compared to the first.
TL;DR:
This book's story doesn't stand up on its own. It works as a continuation of the series though. The fabulous art and good characters are back, so it's work a read if you liked the first book.
6/10
Home After Dark
By David Small
Published by Liveright
Summary:
Home after dark tells the story of Russel, a kid growing up in 50s/60s USA who moves with his father to California after a messy divorce. There, Russel has to deal with the toxic climate around him, the drunken stupor his father has fallen into, and the constant social pressure of the age. It gets pretty dark in places.
Art:
The art is monochromatic watercolor and pen. It uses simple, jagged lines and few highlights to show the scene. It works well, and also gives the world around the story along with the characters an edge of meanspiritedness that reinforces the characters. The characters are decent, but the art makes them all seem like bad people, which they are for the most part.
Characters:
The characters can be flat at times, but they serve the story well. There are a quite a few characters that are one note and boring, but there are some strong characters here, like Russel's friends. Russel himself isn't the best, but he doesn't do anything out of character.
Setting:
The setting is the suburbs, and the book really gives them that bleak hopelessness they always try to hide. there were a few interesting choices made, but mostly it was boring and bleak.
Plot:
The plot is pretty heavy at times. It deals with a lot of big issues for this time, especially homophobia. The story gets dark fast, with few of the characters getting a truly happy ending. It is not a fun book to read.
TL;DR:
This is a depressing book for sure. Over all, it's good, but not spectacular. I would recommend it if you need a good dose of heavy stuff.
7/10
