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misterfix's review
3.0
Though I love most of Brian Wood's work this one felt incomplete and unsatisfying. Yes I understand that it's an ongoing series as 'Lone Wolves' continues the tale but I was still disappointed with how this series ended.
That said, the art is wonderful and feels appropriate and the story is believable - I am just waiting for it to... take off? I hope to update give the next series a review of four or five stars as there is a lot of potential here and it is certainly timely. The hints of where the main character's story arc will go bode well.
That said, the art is wonderful and feels appropriate and the story is believable - I am just waiting for it to... take off? I hope to update give the next series a review of four or five stars as there is a lot of potential here and it is certainly timely. The hints of where the main character's story arc will go bode well.
crookedtreehouse's review
4.0
My least favorite television series trend of the 21st century is ensemble shows with no redeemable characters. I was two seasons into It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia before I found it unwatchable. I can stomach The League in small doses, but I don't really enjoy it, even though it's fairly well written.
I am very worried that, even though I enjoyed this first volume of Briggs Land, that I'm not going to be able to find anyone to root for as the series continues.
The protagonist is a woman who has decided to fight her incarcerated White Supremacist husband for control of their family and the land they occupy, which is off the grid in The United States. While she seems to be the least problematic member of her family/cult, and MIGHT be on a journey of a redemption, she is definitely a person who has spent her entire adult life profiting off racism. Not the casual racism that many Americans profit off without thinking about, but rich KKK CEOs funneling money through Nazis racism. And it is unclear in this volume whether or not she's in ay way reformed. Sure, her actions come at the expense of other White Supremacists, but is it because she's evolving her beliefs or merely because she wants to be America's Next Top Racist?
Exploring that in the next volume will decide if I want to continue reading this series.
I am very worried that, even though I enjoyed this first volume of Briggs Land, that I'm not going to be able to find anyone to root for as the series continues.
The protagonist is a woman who has decided to fight her incarcerated White Supremacist husband for control of their family and the land they occupy, which is off the grid in The United States. While she seems to be the least problematic member of her family/cult, and MIGHT be on a journey of a redemption, she is definitely a person who has spent her entire adult life profiting off racism. Not the casual racism that many Americans profit off without thinking about, but rich KKK CEOs funneling money through Nazis racism. And it is unclear in this volume whether or not she's in ay way reformed. Sure, her actions come at the expense of other White Supremacists, but is it because she's evolving her beliefs or merely because she wants to be America's Next Top Racist?
Exploring that in the next volume will decide if I want to continue reading this series.
raynerayne's review
3.0
The story's good, the art is decent*, but I'm finding it really hard to give a fuck about the characters. At the end of the day, they're all shitty people -- and not just run of the mill shitty people... these people are white supremacist racists who're basically squatting on land. Now Grace talks a good talk 'bout how when she first married old Jimbo she was seventeen and naive and thought they were going to go live in the woods and be self-sufficient and how she didn't agree with the violence/hate/racism, blah blah blah. That came after, she says. But how believable is that, really, to an audience?! Especially when Gracey-poo's already been with him for twenty odd years already? She sees it getting out of hand now? Why now? Seems a little sloppy of the writer(s?) to skim over that bit, when Grace is supposed to be the closest thing this series has got to a conscience. She stayed with him after he tried to assassinate a president and took their not-even-ten-yet son with him to get the job done... I guess we'll see, but I don't think I'm going to be too impressed with revelations of Grace's motives any time soon. Plot and characters moving along smoothly otherwise, as one would hope with a political drama/family saga like this -- it'll do well on TV.
Here's a great example of why I'm so suspicious of Grace's intentions/why I don't buy what she's trying to sell. She says: "This isn't society. This is Briggs Land. It's supposed to be better."
I pose the question: better for who, Grace? Straight White Christians? What about no hate, no violence, no racism, Grace? Is she on some "separate but equal" shit? I just wanna know what angle she's playing, because seems to me right now the tune she's humming ain't all that different from the one her hubster's singin' in state prison...
*Personally, I think the artist really needs to learn how to differentiate between characters -- some look damn near unrecognizable between panels. This is a comic book! You need recognizable characters. Half the story's in the art. The male detective and Grace are the two the artist seems to have the most trouble with, in my opinion. I'm still not sure if the male detective is supposed to be part black -- I'd think his race would be important since he's investigating white supremacists and all, he could be risking his life... but the artist wants to make him look white in some panels, possibly mixed in others.
I'm conflicted. It's a good story. But is it really what we need right now? A white supremacist utopia that's been up and running since the Civil War? A story where the bad guys win? Where there are no "good guys"? I get it, I get it, comics were never meant for that. Forgive me for wanting a little bit more heart, a little bit more meat on the bones of this flimsy, lifeless carcass.
Here's a great example of why I'm so suspicious of Grace's intentions/why I don't buy what she's trying to sell. She says: "This isn't society. This is Briggs Land. It's supposed to be better."
I pose the question: better for who, Grace? Straight White Christians? What about no hate, no violence, no racism, Grace? Is she on some "separate but equal" shit? I just wanna know what angle she's playing, because seems to me right now the tune she's humming ain't all that different from the one her hubster's singin' in state prison...
*Personally, I think the artist really needs to learn how to differentiate between characters -- some look damn near unrecognizable between panels. This is a comic book! You need recognizable characters. Half the story's in the art. The male detective and Grace are the two the artist seems to have the most trouble with, in my opinion. I'm still not sure if the male detective is supposed to be part black -- I'd think his race would be important since he's investigating white supremacists and all, he could be risking his life... but the artist wants to make him look white in some panels, possibly mixed in others.
I'm conflicted. It's a good story. But is it really what we need right now? A white supremacist utopia that's been up and running since the Civil War? A story where the bad guys win? Where there are no "good guys"? I get it, I get it, comics were never meant for that. Forgive me for wanting a little bit more heart, a little bit more meat on the bones of this flimsy, lifeless carcass.
glitterandtwang's review
4.0
Not sure where this series is going, but damn if Grace Briggs isn't one hell of a compelling main character. I'm usually not one to pick up fictional stories about white separatists (and it's nice that Grace is painted as committed to communal living but not racist beliefs, as she'd otherwise be impossible to sympathize with
Also, RPL is stepping up its comic/graphic novel collection game. Finally!!!
- Even better on rereading it along with the second volume.
Also, RPL is stepping up its comic/graphic novel collection game. Finally!!!
- Even better on rereading it along with the second volume.
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