Scan barcode
emeraldragon's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
verkisto's review
3.0
One of my favorite superhero stories is Alan Moore’s take on Miracleman, where he deconstructed the idea of the superhero as a god, and took it in a new direction. By making them into gods, he made them human, and he took that idea and used it when he revamped the Swamp Thing and the entire superhero mythology with Watchmen. Since then, more mature comics look back at these ideas and try to incorporate them into their stories, but so far, no one has done it better than Alan Moore himself.
A God Somewhere is a different look on this sort of idea, working in reverse order. Here, we see a normal human being suddenly granted with stupendous powers, and the story takes us through the kind of psychological development that goes along with such a thing. Where Alan Moore handled the idea with grace and a touch of humanity, this one seems to be a bit heavy-handed, and removes many traces of humanity from the story. Think of that issue of Miracleman where Kid Miracleman comes back, and wreaks devastation on the world because he can. Welcome to A God Somewhere.
To be fair, the story isn’t bad, but it seems to attempt ideas grander than what a single graphic novel can contain. Where Moore had several issues with which to cover the subtle complexities of his characters, Arcudi has one single novel, and it covers a long span of time. A lot of it is glossed over, and there’s a significant change in tone as the character goes from helpful and caring to brutal and sociopathic. The change makes sense (it’s just another look at the “What happens when someone becomes a god?” motif), but it’s handled without subtlety, and the story suffers because of it.
Despite all this, I still think it’s a story worth reading. It’s not as good as the sort of thing that Alan Moore created back in his heyday, but it still tackles some intriguing topics, and has a good theme. Just be aware that the word “graphic” has never been more appropriate in the term “graphic novel” as it is with A God Somewhere. This story is not for the squeamish.
A God Somewhere is a different look on this sort of idea, working in reverse order. Here, we see a normal human being suddenly granted with stupendous powers, and the story takes us through the kind of psychological development that goes along with such a thing. Where Alan Moore handled the idea with grace and a touch of humanity, this one seems to be a bit heavy-handed, and removes many traces of humanity from the story. Think of that issue of Miracleman where Kid Miracleman comes back, and wreaks devastation on the world because he can. Welcome to A God Somewhere.
To be fair, the story isn’t bad, but it seems to attempt ideas grander than what a single graphic novel can contain. Where Moore had several issues with which to cover the subtle complexities of his characters, Arcudi has one single novel, and it covers a long span of time. A lot of it is glossed over, and there’s a significant change in tone as the character goes from helpful and caring to brutal and sociopathic. The change makes sense (it’s just another look at the “What happens when someone becomes a god?” motif), but it’s handled without subtlety, and the story suffers because of it.
Despite all this, I still think it’s a story worth reading. It’s not as good as the sort of thing that Alan Moore created back in his heyday, but it still tackles some intriguing topics, and has a good theme. Just be aware that the word “graphic” has never been more appropriate in the term “graphic novel” as it is with A God Somewhere. This story is not for the squeamish.
mlindner's review
5.0
Found at East Bend DPL 9 August 2016
http://marklindner.info/blog/2016/08/12/arcudi-et-al-god-somewhere/
http://marklindner.info/blog/2016/08/12/arcudi-et-al-god-somewhere/
ladydewinter's review
3.0
The story of a man who one day acquires mysterious superpowers. He quickly changes from hero to villain, though, and his friends and family are torn apart in the process.
It's an interesting story and not a bad book, but for me it all happened a bit too fast. The idea that superpowers might lead to feeling disconnected and above humanity is nothing new, and it's an idea that's understandable and worth thinking about, but Eric as a character didn't work for me as, say, Dr Manhattan did in Watchmen. And I have to say that it also was a little too gory for my taste.
It's an interesting story and not a bad book, but for me it all happened a bit too fast. The idea that superpowers might lead to feeling disconnected and above humanity is nothing new, and it's an idea that's understandable and worth thinking about, but Eric as a character didn't work for me as, say, Dr Manhattan did in Watchmen. And I have to say that it also was a little too gory for my taste.
teejayniu's review
3.0
Dark story, but it ultimately fell flat with me. The storyline turns dark rather suddenly and unconvincingly. The ending doesn't have any real conclusion to it either. I liked the art style though.
abetterbradley's review
4.0
This was an interesting take on the superhero genre. What would happen to an average citizen if they survived an accident only to be imbued with superpowers?
vylotte's review
4.0
Very powerful, violent and disturbing. Visits a lot of the same themes as "Irredeemable" without pulling any punches, the gore is turned up to 11. A normal guy wakes up with what seems to be unlimited super powers. What at first is viewed as a godsend quickly becomes a nightmare. And who can stop him?
rickklaw's review
5.0
Exploring the real world consequences of super powers, Arcudi and Snejbjerg expertly reveal the story of super-being Eric Forster through the perspectives of his family and best friend. After a freak accident gives Eric extraordinary powers, he saves the lives of countless people, but quickly morphs into something far more menacing and destructive. Veteran comics scribe Arcudi deftly toys with the characters, slowly uncovering their pasts through a series of nested flashbacks. Snejbjerg's delicate art and brilliant storytelling enhances the script, bringing a vital emotional buoyancy to the tale. The duo successfully re-focuses superhero mythos squarely on the consequences of the decisions propagated by those in power. A God Somewhere ranks among the finest and perhaps the most powerful works of their respective careers so far.
megspeer's review
2.0
Between the weird religious themes and the characters with paper-thin motivations for sometimes-horrendous actions...not so much with this one.
More...