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hsienhsien27's review
3.0
This was received from Netgalley for an honest review
Image comics is probably the only graphic novel publisher I know by name other than Gen Manga. So far, everything I've read from them was pretty good, but of course I will run into one or two volumes that will give me mixed or completely negative feelings. This is one of them and hopefully I'm not the only one.
So the premise is pretty well done, especially with all the phone calls, it reminded me of one of those horror movies I can't remember the name of. It was creepy and I was silently saying to myself, "what happened?" But unfortunately, "what happened?" sort of felt like the theme of this comic itself.
Elle gets beaten up and almost dies in a subway, she's in a coma, and she watches her family mourn for her. She ends up in this sort of purgatory in her mind where she must figure out how to get back into her body. But apparently she's "unique" and she can possess other people if she tries hard enough. She can't figure out why she can't get back and people try to help her, but the people who try to help her seem to be sort of suspicious, and she fights them off. So she needs help to figure this out, but then she doesn't want it at the same time? Then there are the other characters, her family members, some nurses or doctors, and her boyfriend. All of these characters are somehow connected to her and whoever caused this whole ruckus in the first place. The nurses are trying to figure out why is Elle's case of a coma being handled by such suspicious fingers that seem to be avoiding it and doing other little secret stuff and the little brother and mother seem like they're in it too. Then apparently the boyfriend is framed for her coma incident, everywhere you turn there's a freaking twist. I don't even remember exactly what happened.
I'm pretty sure you can do a mystery thriller without five different twists. My biggest problem with this comic was the plot. It was tiresome, forgettable, and the dialogue was just so odd to me. It felt forced and superficial, a bit jumbled up. This comic would probably make a good pulpy novel or the next Pretty Little Liars, just add in a few more girls.
What really saved this was the breathtaking artwork and coloring. The best I've seen so far. Expressive faces and colors that just make your eyes want to melt in admiration. The illustrations deserve five golden trophies. Which is why this got a whole star more than it should.
Rating: 3/5
Originally posted here:http://wordsnotesandfiction.blogspot.com/2015/01/mind-gap-vol-1-intimate-strangers-by.html
Image comics is probably the only graphic novel publisher I know by name other than Gen Manga. So far, everything I've read from them was pretty good, but of course I will run into one or two volumes that will give me mixed or completely negative feelings. This is one of them and hopefully I'm not the only one.
So the premise is pretty well done, especially with all the phone calls, it reminded me of one of those horror movies I can't remember the name of. It was creepy and I was silently saying to myself, "what happened?" But unfortunately, "what happened?" sort of felt like the theme of this comic itself.
Elle gets beaten up and almost dies in a subway, she's in a coma, and she watches her family mourn for her. She ends up in this sort of purgatory in her mind where she must figure out how to get back into her body. But apparently she's "unique" and she can possess other people if she tries hard enough. She can't figure out why she can't get back and people try to help her, but the people who try to help her seem to be sort of suspicious, and she fights them off. So she needs help to figure this out, but then she doesn't want it at the same time? Then there are the other characters, her family members, some nurses or doctors, and her boyfriend. All of these characters are somehow connected to her and whoever caused this whole ruckus in the first place. The nurses are trying to figure out why is Elle's case of a coma being handled by such suspicious fingers that seem to be avoiding it and doing other little secret stuff and the little brother and mother seem like they're in it too. Then apparently the boyfriend is framed for her coma incident, everywhere you turn there's a freaking twist. I don't even remember exactly what happened.
I'm pretty sure you can do a mystery thriller without five different twists. My biggest problem with this comic was the plot. It was tiresome, forgettable, and the dialogue was just so odd to me. It felt forced and superficial, a bit jumbled up. This comic would probably make a good pulpy novel or the next Pretty Little Liars, just add in a few more girls.
What really saved this was the breathtaking artwork and coloring. The best I've seen so far. Expressive faces and colors that just make your eyes want to melt in admiration. The illustrations deserve five golden trophies. Which is why this got a whole star more than it should.
Rating: 3/5
Originally posted here:http://wordsnotesandfiction.blogspot.com/2015/01/mind-gap-vol-1-intimate-strangers-by.html
chmccann's review
4.0
I'm really glad my reading challenge led me to this! It's suspenseful and engaging, and the art is great!
I'm also really mad my reading challenge led me to this! Because evidently the story has been left hanging. It's been over 4 years since the last issue was published, and no sign of further content, but from the reviews, it sounds like the mystery wasn't wrapped up! I can't decide if I want to read issues 6-17, only to be left in suspense. But then again, I might, because this was an entertaining ride.
I'm also really mad my reading challenge led me to this! Because evidently the story has been left hanging. It's been over 4 years since the last issue was published, and no sign of further content, but from the reviews, it sounds like the mystery wasn't wrapped up! I can't decide if I want to read issues 6-17, only to be left in suspense. But then again, I might, because this was an entertaining ride.
morgan_haybook's review
3.0
Loved the dialogue and word montages. I appreciate the attention to detail that each character is given. Good story, but the main character gets a little on my nerves. Too much attitude.
mayarelmahdy's review
4.0
Though the reviews I read implied it was mediocre, I found quite amazing.
The story so far is more interesting in the physical body world more than the subconscious (ghost? soul?) world. but having a wandering soul that can enter nearly dead bodies indicates a good potential.
I found myself very disturbed with Elle's family. You know you hit the bottom when the greatest threat to your life -even after getting viciously attacked- is your own family. I HATE Elle's brother more than the other bad people in the story combined, fingers crossed he get's killed.
The story so far is more interesting in the physical body world more than the subconscious (ghost? soul?) world. but having a wandering soul that can enter nearly dead bodies indicates a good potential.
I found myself very disturbed with Elle's family. You know you hit the bottom when the greatest threat to your life -even after getting viciously attacked- is your own family. I HATE Elle's brother more than the other bad people in the story combined, fingers crossed he get's killed.
squinderella's review against another edition
4.0
Elle wakes up outside of her own body after an apparent attack in the subway. No one is sure who the culprit is or what exactly is happening. Her friends and relatives begin visiting her in the hospital, and it becomes apparent that her relationship with her family is not a happy one. She soon realizes that she is not alone in her comatose "ghost" state. She befriends another patient, Robby, who begins trying to help her remember not only who she really is, but the events leading up to her attack. Meanwhile, another attack occurs on someone that Elle knows and it is clearly not an accident. What is the reasoning behind these?
I really enjoyed Mind the Gap - I like that I am still questioning the innocence of many characters, including Elle herself. The artwork is beautiful and I like the mystery that's going on. I really want to know what happens in the next one!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Mind the Gap - I like that I am still questioning the innocence of many characters, including Elle herself. The artwork is beautiful and I like the mystery that's going on. I really want to know what happens in the next one!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
melanierichards's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this one! Can't wait for volume 2 to come out. I will say, though, for such a photo-realism approach to the art, everyone's face looked the same with different decorations of hair or coloring. This is not a bad thing in some simpler styles (Gingerhaze's/Noelle Stevenson's dots-for-eyes characters) but in such a detailed style I would have liked to see more variation in face shapes, features, and expressions. Everyone kinda-sorta looks like an attractive, 20-something white person. Not asking for caricatures, just more range.
spelingexpirt13's review
3.0
Mind the Gap Volume 1: Intimate Strangers, written by Jim McCann and illustrated by Rodin Esquejo and Sonia Oback, sees a beautiful and wealthy young woman’s spirit detached from her comatose body. Someone tried to kill her but she doesn’t remember who or why, she doesn’t know who to trust in the real world or the one in her comatose mind.
I liked some of the characters but there is so much between them that we don’t know. The mystery element can be fantastic if done well but here it seems a little stilted and forced. The characters just don’t gel together, they seem like there were a few characters that were well thought out together as small groups and then the larger cast were just thrown together with the hope that they stuck.
Read the rest of the review at Bent Spines
I liked some of the characters but there is so much between them that we don’t know. The mystery element can be fantastic if done well but here it seems a little stilted and forced. The characters just don’t gel together, they seem like there were a few characters that were well thought out together as small groups and then the larger cast were just thrown together with the hope that they stuck.
Read the rest of the review at Bent Spines
rogue_runner's review
2.0
Very pretty art, but the story was hardly gripping. Last issue was the most interesting, but the ones before that were just a slog and I had no interest in what was going on really.
But the art was pretty, so I kept reading.
But the art was pretty, so I kept reading.