Reviews

The Walking Dead: The Alien by Brian K. Vaughan, Marcos Martín

reading_levi's review

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4.0

Petition to get Brian K. Vaughan to continue The Alien and eventually link it up with the main story.

dogfood's review

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4.0

„Panel Syndicate“ wurde vor einigen Jahren als ein eBook-Verlag von Comic-Autoren und -Zeichner gegründet. Zwei Besonderheiten zeichnen den Verlag aus. Es gibt keinen Verkaufspreis für die kopierschutzfreien eBooks, sondern eine „Name your price“-Politik – zahle was du willst. Und der Verlag scheint konsequent auf ein displayfreundliches Querformat, statt dem vom Papier gewohnten Hochformat zu setzen.

„The Walking Dead: The Alien“ ist eine Story aus dem Walking Dead-Kosmos, angesiedelt in Barcelona. „The Alien“ steht dabei nicht für „Außerirdischer“, sondern für den „Fremden“, Jeff, einen Ex-Studenten aus den USA, der mit Aushilfsjobs durch die Welt tingelt und beim Ausbruch Quarantäne in Barcelona gestrandet ist.

Jeff gerät in Zombie-Kalamitäten ehe ihn die heimische Claudia da raus rettet. Claudia und Jeff beschließen, aus Barcelona zu flüchten.

Robert Kirkman, Erfinder von „Walking Dead“ sowie die an der Walking Dead-Franchise beteiligten Verlage haben ihr Placet für diese inoffizielle Erweiterung von Walking Dead gegeben.

Es ist von Marcos Marin sehr angenehm gezeichnet. Brian K. Vaughan zieht die Story sehr straight durch (allerdings empfand ich Panel 11 als merkwürdig sexistischen Ausrutscher in einem sonst sehr souveränen Comic).

Marin gibt dem Comic eine gute Textur – sowohl was das katalanische Flair angeht, als auch das schönes Spiel mit Schwarz-Weiß bzw positiven und negativen Flächen. Interessant ist das Layout. Bei manchen Panel-Aufteilungen hatte ich das Gefühl, dass sie im Querformat aufgrund der sehr viel längeren horizontalen Strecken nicht so funktionieren, wie im Hochformat.

Wenn es denn etwas gibt, was man dem Comic ankreiden kann, dann ist es die Atemlosigkeit in Zeichnung und Story. Auf nur 32 Seiten (inkl. Nachwort und Skizzen) bekommt die Atmo wenig Raum zur Entfaltung und entwickelt daher nicht die Wucht, die in ihr drin steckt. Der Comic verkauft sich damit unter Potential. Aber Vaughan und Marin sind in meinem Radar angekommen.

Es ist das was es ist: ein kurzer, höchstprofessioneller One-Shot zu einem Preis, den man selbst wählen kann. Man wird unterhalten, aber der Comic ist zu kurz um einen nachhaltigen Eindruck zu hinterlassen.

helpfulsnowman's review

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3.0

OLDEST trick in the book of comic books (the comic book?):
In the 80's, someone hit on the idea of making any new X-Men that came on board related to Cyclops somehow. Let's give him a brother. Then another brother who was born in spaaaaaaace! Then he'll have a son who he sends to the future for some reason. His dad? Why, a space-faring adventurer, of course!

But what people tend to forget with this is that if characters are related, but that's the entirety of their connection, their biological relation...who gives a shit?

Sure, if your brother is Hitler or Jesus, that'll do. But if your brother is a moderately famous superhero in the world of superheroes? Eh?

Anyway, that's what we get in this volume, and it has no real effect or purpose. It's pretty much based entirely on "Hey, I don't think Rick Grimes ever specifically said he DIDN'T have a brother, right?"

fjordic's review

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adventurous dark hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

I wish there had been time for a little more story, was enjoying getting to know the characters. Tightly written and impactful artwork. 

Cawpile review:
Characters 4
Atmosphere/art 5
Writing/lettering 5
Plot 5
Intrigue 5
Logic/credibility 5
Enjoyment 5

Score 34, 4.9 out of 5 stars
https://bookriot.com/the-cawpile-review-system/

dorothy_gale's review

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3.0

3★: NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING, AND SADLY, ANOTHER T.W.D. DISAPPOINTMENT. The concept combined with my 2nd favorite graphic novelist had SO MUCH potential. I’m holding out hope for only one more TWD spin-off series on paper: [b:Clementine, Book One|58510980|Clementine, Book One|Tillie Walden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1625685340l/58510980._SY75_.jpg|91900920]. Meanwhile, AMC is completely nailing it with their Universe.

And clearly, I’m not the only one who is disappointed. At the time of this review, TWD: The Alien has a 3.65-star average by 805 peeps.

gwimo's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

evanmather's review

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

joshgauthier's review against another edition

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4.0

Having not actually read the Walking Dead comics yet, this is technically my first direct exposure to the world outside of general pop culture knowledge.

A very self-contained story that ties into the larger series, Vaughan and Martin deliver a tight survival tale with strong art, emotional punch, and a character who finally dresses right to face a zombie horde.

Reading it is over in a flash, but it's tightly constructed from start to finish.

snooky16's review

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3.0

3/5

crookedtreehouse's review against another edition

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4.0

I went into this imagining it was a riff of of Kirkman's promised Alien Invasion angle of The Walking Dead. I was not disappointed to be wrong.

This is like the graphic novel version of Fear The Walking Dead, in that it's a story taking place somewhere else in the world that's connected to at least one character in the main story but no characters from the main story appear.

It's a well thought-out short story creafted by one of the best writers somewhat currently writing comics.

I recommend it to all fans of The Walking Dead, or any zombie comic fan who enjoys the character aspects of Kirkman's series. And, of course, any Brian K Vaughan fan.