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chrissymcbooknerd's review against another edition
3.0
I've only read a few of the books, honestly, and I never got past the first season of the show. But, I was still intrigued by the idea of a True Blood graphic novel -- despite the fact that I'm not really savvy in the genre of graphic novels, either.
We begin with an introduction by the creator of the show, who briefly comments on the ever evolving world of graphic novels to adapt to a larger audience. Then, we get the story -- or really, a bunch of stories, since it's pretty much a tale of everyone telling their own tales, to shed light on the characters.
We first see Sookie getting wet in a storm, followed by a few sexual innuendos about her wet t-shirt, of course. A huge octopus/squid creature with an ugly messed up jaw busts into the bar, someone calls it an Oompa Loompa, and then we get a bloody fight and a few "Ghhuhhhhhhhh!"s.
Sookie announces that her big, bad boyfriend Bill will save the day. Then there is more blood, everyone is trapped, SMACK!, DAMN! KHHHCHK! Bill is trapped, Sookie will do ANYTHING to free her hero, and the octopus/squid creature with the ugly messed up jaw comes up with a solution. Everyone will tell their most shameful story, he will feed on the shame and gain strength for himself, then he will channel all of the negative energy into one of the characters, who personally wronged him in the past.
At this point, we get a lot of flashbacks, emotion, glimpses into the past, each of which, I presume, will add a bit of depth to our perceptions of the characters (although I can't say for sure, not having kept up with the show or books). The stories were good -- some sad, some tragic, most intense, and I guess I'll stop here with the play by play so that I don't spoil the WHOLE thing, right?
If you love True Blood, read it. If you've never seen the show or read the books, probably skip it. I'm vaguely familiar with the characters, but I just felt like I was missing something. Save this one for the real fans of the series, I guess!
We begin with an introduction by the creator of the show, who briefly comments on the ever evolving world of graphic novels to adapt to a larger audience. Then, we get the story -- or really, a bunch of stories, since it's pretty much a tale of everyone telling their own tales, to shed light on the characters.
We first see Sookie getting wet in a storm, followed by a few sexual innuendos about her wet t-shirt, of course. A huge octopus/squid creature with an ugly messed up jaw busts into the bar, someone calls it an Oompa Loompa, and then we get a bloody fight and a few "Ghhuhhhhhhhh!"s.
Sookie announces that her big, bad boyfriend Bill will save the day. Then there is more blood, everyone is trapped, SMACK!, DAMN! KHHHCHK! Bill is trapped, Sookie will do ANYTHING to free her hero, and the octopus/squid creature with the ugly messed up jaw comes up with a solution. Everyone will tell their most shameful story, he will feed on the shame and gain strength for himself, then he will channel all of the negative energy into one of the characters, who personally wronged him in the past.
At this point, we get a lot of flashbacks, emotion, glimpses into the past, each of which, I presume, will add a bit of depth to our perceptions of the characters (although I can't say for sure, not having kept up with the show or books). The stories were good -- some sad, some tragic, most intense, and I guess I'll stop here with the play by play so that I don't spoil the WHOLE thing, right?
If you love True Blood, read it. If you've never seen the show or read the books, probably skip it. I'm vaguely familiar with the characters, but I just felt like I was missing something. Save this one for the real fans of the series, I guess!
teanahk's review against another edition
1.0
I wasn't expecting much, but this was pretty poorly done. The art work is hideous throughout and the plot is just silly.
obsessedmuch's review against another edition
3.0
I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm really big fan of books and series so this was interesting to read, but not so good as original story. Pictures are beautiful, especially at the end.
I'm really big fan of books and series so this was interesting to read, but not so good as original story. Pictures are beautiful, especially at the end.
sangloup's review against another edition
4.0
Book Nerd Your Way Challenge 2022
I love the books and I like the series. Thought I would check out the Graphic Novels.
This wasn't too bad. You can tell its definitely leaning more toward the series just because of certain characters still being present. The artwork was really well done, the likeness to the actors was spot on. This one they are all trapped together in Merlotte's facing an old demon.
I love the books and I like the series. Thought I would check out the Graphic Novels.
This wasn't too bad. You can tell its definitely leaning more toward the series just because of certain characters still being present. The artwork was really well done, the likeness to the actors was spot on. This one they are all trapped together in Merlotte's facing an old demon.
vanessakm's review against another edition
2.0
For some background on me, I read the first 8 books in Charlaine's Sookie Stackhouse series until I completely burned out and I've seen every episode of True Blood. It's not the best thing on TV, or even HBO, but it succeeds more often than not at being an entertaining mess (good looking people getting naked-a LOT-doesn't hurt.)
And, damn it. I feel kind of guilty giving this two stars because there were parts of this I liked but really, they could do better. I gather from other reviewers this story takes place between seasons 2 and 3. So after Mary Ann but before Russell Edgington (best TB villain ever, y/y?) A supernatural spirit visits Merlotte's and traps Sookie, Bill, Eric, Tara, Lafayette, Jason and some nameless rednecks-for Star Trek fans, you can think of them as red shirts here-inside and forces them to recount the things they are most ashamed of. I liked Sam's story the best but, then again, it's a story about a dog so of course I would.
I'm gathering IDW (the land of licensed content comics) and HBO mandated the characters must above all else resemble their TV counterparts, which is logical but gives the art a waxy mannequin-like feel. The coloring is also too heavy-handed. As the art is noticeably better in the flashback sequences, I tend to believe corporate meddling is to blame instead of the creative team. The story is a cool idea but the execution is silly. Way too many hackneyed side conversations and blithe mouthing off to a monster that just killed half of the bar, not to mention almost killing a vampire.
One thing that was good: Tara is significantly less annoying on the printed page. In my house, a Tara-centric scene is a scene that gets fast forwarded over. DVR's rule.
I've often looked at this series in my local comics shop but I've never actually thrown down for an issue. I might read another TPB from the library to see if this gets better.
And, damn it. I feel kind of guilty giving this two stars because there were parts of this I liked but really, they could do better. I gather from other reviewers this story takes place between seasons 2 and 3. So after Mary Ann but before Russell Edgington (best TB villain ever, y/y?) A supernatural spirit visits Merlotte's and traps Sookie, Bill, Eric, Tara, Lafayette, Jason and some nameless rednecks-for Star Trek fans, you can think of them as red shirts here-inside and forces them to recount the things they are most ashamed of. I liked Sam's story the best but, then again, it's a story about a dog so of course I would.
I'm gathering IDW (the land of licensed content comics) and HBO mandated the characters must above all else resemble their TV counterparts, which is logical but gives the art a waxy mannequin-like feel. The coloring is also too heavy-handed. As the art is noticeably better in the flashback sequences, I tend to believe corporate meddling is to blame instead of the creative team. The story is a cool idea but the execution is silly. Way too many hackneyed side conversations and blithe mouthing off to a monster that just killed half of the bar, not to mention almost killing a vampire.
One thing that was good: Tara is significantly less annoying on the printed page. In my house, a Tara-centric scene is a scene that gets fast forwarded over. DVR's rule.
I've often looked at this series in my local comics shop but I've never actually thrown down for an issue. I might read another TPB from the library to see if this gets better.
puzumaki's review against another edition
3.0
This was a short vignette that forces most of the main characters to tell some dirty secrets. No plot development, but it's worth the read if you enjoy the TV show characters (and probably the book characters as well, although there's short stories available that fit that storyline better).
faithdarlingbooks's review against another edition
2.0
If you're missing True Blood this is a short little fix, but it wasn't really a great graphic novel. It wasn't much of a story. If this were an episode of the show, it would be all flashbacks to things in the characters lives we hadn't really seen before... makes for kind of a boring read. I think I'll read the next one, to see if it gets better, but this one in itself wasn't really what I was hoping for.
paperbackstash's review against another edition
4.0
Being a True Blood show and Sookie Stackhouse book fan, of course I jumped at the chance to borrow this from my pal. The artwork is colorful, rich, but some images were a little too vague in the face, especially for the background cast, while other profiles were dead-on.
Big thumbs up for the realistic tone and dialogue of the characters.
As for the plot, it's slightly silly but it fits a volume one for True Blood fans and accomplishes what it sets out to do -- gives fanboys and fangirls everywhere a chance to learn a deep dark secret about their favorite cast members. The secret has nothing to do with revealing characters for the book, but it does dig deeper into the televised show as a separate entity.
It feels different from the TV show, disconnected somehow, so that it doesn't further it much for fans for the storyline. All of them are in at Sam's bar one night when a mysterious creature walks in, where they must reveal an intimate secret they never told anyone about to satisfy their debt with it. Their is no major, central plot to the book, more of a character revealing and deeper inspection of those people have fallen in love with from the show.
Honestly most of the stories weren't terribly exciting. Almost all were from childhood moments, and each ended with a therapeutic gathering of the group reassuring the person it wasn't really their fault. If you're a big fan you'll want this one for completionist sake. If you're a casual viewer or only read the books, this colorful graphic novel will do little to rouse your interest.
Big thumbs up for the realistic tone and dialogue of the characters.
As for the plot, it's slightly silly but it fits a volume one for True Blood fans and accomplishes what it sets out to do -- gives fanboys and fangirls everywhere a chance to learn a deep dark secret about their favorite cast members. The secret has nothing to do with revealing characters for the book, but it does dig deeper into the televised show as a separate entity.
It feels different from the TV show, disconnected somehow, so that it doesn't further it much for fans for the storyline. All of them are in at Sam's bar one night when a mysterious creature walks in, where they must reveal an intimate secret they never told anyone about to satisfy their debt with it. Their is no major, central plot to the book, more of a character revealing and deeper inspection of those people have fallen in love with from the show.
Honestly most of the stories weren't terribly exciting. Almost all were from childhood moments, and each ended with a therapeutic gathering of the group reassuring the person it wasn't really their fault. If you're a big fan you'll want this one for completionist sake. If you're a casual viewer or only read the books, this colorful graphic novel will do little to rouse your interest.
foxwrapped's review against another edition
2.0
Eh, kinda flavorless. But inoffensive enough if you are a fan of true blood, I guess. It felt like, well... the real stories are on the TV show so... let's not put anything too game changing in the comic? Which is boring. I was kinda hoping for some stuff from the books, but it doesn't have any of that at all. Which is fair, but I thought a comic book would be a great way to bridge some of the differences/gaps/blah blah blah between the show and the books... oh well.