Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
North 40 is what happens when two small-town knuckleheads summon Cthulu, and everybody in the county develops bizarre powers while they all go mad and start killing each other. It starts off quite strong - Aaron Williams' writing is off the wall and fun to follow, and every single panel of Fiona Staples' artwork is just incredible. However, by the end, the story seems to lose its center, and it all kind of just succumbs to the madness it's trying to describe. Perhaps this is meant to be a big set-up for subsequent volumes. But North 40 doesn't exactly stick the landing, which is a shame, because otherwise, there is an awful lot to love here.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Loved the flavor and as usual, the artist's work - she made gruesome look great. I found the story abrupt and tricky to follow.
Cawpile review:
Characters 5
Atmosphere/art 5
Writing/lettering 4
Plot 3
Intrigue 4
Logic/credibility 4
Enjoyment 3.5
Score 28.5, 4 out of 5 stars
https://bookriot.com/the-cawpile-review-system/
Cawpile review:
Characters 5
Atmosphere/art 5
Writing/lettering 4
Plot 3
Intrigue 4
Logic/credibility 4
Enjoyment 3.5
Score 28.5, 4 out of 5 stars
https://bookriot.com/the-cawpile-review-system/
This was a pretty interesting story. The artistry was there and the action was intense and well thought out. I've heard it compared to the Evil Dead and yeah, it bore some resemblances but it definitely stands on its own. The only criticism I have is that there were a WIDE variety of monsters with little or no connection to each other. Other than the chaotic monsters it was very good.
What should have been an amazing combination of Lovercraftian horror, The Crazies and Heroes (!) never really took off for me. Too disjointed, too many bits of random information stuffed into odd spots of the story, too many bit part characters that you never get to know before they die. A real pity.
Fiona Staples art was the main reason I pick this up.
The second would be because I was hella bored in Pharmaco class.
Only the last chapter had any semblance of a story. The rest were mere snapshots of the gore and eldritch that they can think of. Love the word eldritch, I used to think it was some sort of fairy due to [b:City of Halves|18523130|City of Halves|Lucy Inglis|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406001406s/18523130.jpg|26225844]
The second would be because I was hella bored in Pharmaco class.
Only the last chapter had any semblance of a story. The rest were mere snapshots of the gore and eldritch that they can think of. Love the word eldritch, I used to think it was some sort of fairy due to [b:City of Halves|18523130|City of Halves|Lucy Inglis|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406001406s/18523130.jpg|26225844]
This is a lot of fun. I don't know that all the explanations tied together that well for me, but Fiona Staples' art is what really sells it. The decaying, deforming human characters and the odd monster here and there are grotesque, gorgeous, and sometimes even a little funny. Not sure I'd heard of Aaron Williams before this, but I'd read something else of his based solely on this book.
As always, Fiona Staples's illustrations are absolutely perfect, but the story of North 40 just did not hit for me. It was a weird premise that I would normally be into, but it just seemed incomplete for a single volume.
Interesting concept and I am curious about what will happen next. Though I found parts of it confusing and the relationships between people hard to follow at times.
more of a 3.5, good story, am intrigued enough to read the rest, assuming i can get it down at Ye Olde Book Depository.