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chasehoffman's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
buj's review against another edition
5.0
Went into this blind and came out pleasantly surprised. When a story about grief is told with care and is placed in a genre like sci-fi with its own set of rules that you can follow or break, well...man, I'm just a sucker for that. The story felt real, despite the Twilight Zone-esque feel, and as usual, Jeff Lemire's black and white art and layouts really took this story to the next level. I could see myself rereading this one in a few years and enjoying it just as much.
jennykeery's review against another edition
5.0
'The Underwater Welder' is the best graphic novel I have read so far. The sketchy style of the artwork complements the strange otherworldly feel of the narrative perfectly, and the characters are very human and memorable - Jack and Suse will stay with me for a long time. I think Lemire really captured the lonely, alien feeling of being underwater for a prolonged period of time and used this atmosphere in a really creative, interesting way. I think the introduction (written by Damon Lindelof) is spot on in describing it as 'the most spectacular episode of 'The Twilight Zone' that was never produced'. I recommend it very highly!
mebbs's review against another edition
5.0
Really beautiful storyline of a man who is haunted by the ghost of his father's death. Simple, haunting and uniquely illustrated.
aqilahreads's review against another edition
2.0
i am quite confused in the storyline - its really strange & i really did my best to see whats the hype. unfortunately it just didnt work out for me. but i have to say that its really great to see comics on bereavement. but the metaphors used were too complex for my poor brain so it didnt execute the connection that im supposed to have with the story.
jameshowlett's review against another edition
3.0
Jeff Lemire çok iyi bir öykücü ama maalesef çizerliği için aynı şeyleri söylemek zor. Gönül isterdi dört yıldızı yapıştırayım ama bazı karelerde gerçekten hayretlere düştüm. Çizimden not kırmak zorunda kaldım.
bukushelves's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kaleovens's review against another edition
3.0
Tragic and beautiful, it doesn't quite pull off the eerie heights it's going for.
leslie_d's review against another edition
4.0
[my summary]...
You may hear/read Twilight Zone when people speak about Jeff Lemire’s The Underwater Welder, and much of that has to do with the paranormal aspect (“travelling through […] a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind.”–Twilight Zone), the black and white—and I suspect the tinge of horror to the mystery. There is that intonation of fear, but I found the sadness the more engulfing emotion. Jack has a life, a loving wife and a child on the way, and yet he is haunted by something that would jeopardize everything. Or has it been in jeopardy and Jack is finally go to search it out and confront his past aka his father. But will he have run out of time (an oxygen) in the attempt.
The story is more image than text, and Lemire is exceptional in silence and sequence. The rough line work is part of the characterization. He doesn’t draw pretty people, smooth and unlined and shiny. The subtle echoes between the grown son and the father have an organic substance and play with the reader’s visual read. The boundaries between present and memory and that internal landscape Jack enters are a rippling in the water. Lemire is smooth without edging clever into confusing. He keeps us as off-balanced as his protagonist while yet experiencing that strange lucidity that is effecting Jack Joseph throughout The Underwater Welder.
The use of the occupation, the sea, the setting…Jeff Lemire is a craftsman. The imagery, (of which I adore the womb/birth imagery the most), the metaphors, the echoes, that pocket watch. The earnestness carved from a working people’s life. Lemire has that indie quality without the loftiness and his wit is in the sense of astonishment when the story is closed. Lemire is quiet and he sneaks up on you. He is a marvelous storyteller.
recommendations: young people could read this, but I think it finds its greatest impact with the older crowd, especially those experiencing/anticipating fatherhood–w/ anxiety or no. for those who find pleasure in the craft of comic storytelling. and if you haven’t tried Essex County, do.
L (omphaloskepsis)
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/comic-the-underwater-welder/
You may hear/read Twilight Zone when people speak about Jeff Lemire’s The Underwater Welder, and much of that has to do with the paranormal aspect (“travelling through […] a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind.”–Twilight Zone), the black and white—and I suspect the tinge of horror to the mystery. There is that intonation of fear, but I found the sadness the more engulfing emotion. Jack has a life, a loving wife and a child on the way, and yet he is haunted by something that would jeopardize everything. Or has it been in jeopardy and Jack is finally go to search it out and confront his past aka his father. But will he have run out of time (an oxygen) in the attempt.
The story is more image than text, and Lemire is exceptional in silence and sequence. The rough line work is part of the characterization. He doesn’t draw pretty people, smooth and unlined and shiny. The subtle echoes between the grown son and the father have an organic substance and play with the reader’s visual read. The boundaries between present and memory and that internal landscape Jack enters are a rippling in the water. Lemire is smooth without edging clever into confusing. He keeps us as off-balanced as his protagonist while yet experiencing that strange lucidity that is effecting Jack Joseph throughout The Underwater Welder.
The use of the occupation, the sea, the setting…Jeff Lemire is a craftsman. The imagery, (of which I adore the womb/birth imagery the most), the metaphors, the echoes, that pocket watch. The earnestness carved from a working people’s life. Lemire has that indie quality without the loftiness and his wit is in the sense of astonishment when the story is closed. Lemire is quiet and he sneaks up on you. He is a marvelous storyteller.
recommendations: young people could read this, but I think it finds its greatest impact with the older crowd, especially those experiencing/anticipating fatherhood–w/ anxiety or no. for those who find pleasure in the craft of comic storytelling. and if you haven’t tried Essex County, do.
L (omphaloskepsis)
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/comic-the-underwater-welder/