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floubert's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mc_stjohn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
jennystout21's review against another edition
5.0
A breathtaking, epic work of horror. Alan Moore (with artist Eddie Campbell) weaves a tapestry of fact, rumor, and metaphysical philosophy in "From Hell", a graphic novel about the Jack the Ripper murders. Moore uses a very unlikely Ripper theory (that Queen Victoria's personal physician, William Gull, was the Ripper and was working on orders to kill a group of sex workers who happened to be aware of a very embarrassing secret about the Royal family) as the basis for a story that as much about the chaotic nature of human evil and the fluidity of time as it is about the Ripper murders.
"From Hell" will stay with you long after you read the final chapter, and will likely haunt your dreams.
"From Hell" will stay with you long after you read the final chapter, and will likely haunt your dreams.
mezzosherri's review against another edition
2.0
The renowned graphic novelization of the royal/masonic theory (now discredited) explaining the Whitechapel murders. I wanted to be able to rank this higher than I did. I understand that the work's ambition, topic, scope, and historicity all mark it as a game changer for the genre of graphic novels. Nevertheless, it was a deeply unpleasant reading experience, and I'm not just saying this because of the tough subject matter. Instead, I find the work to be deeply flawed: the effort to show off the historical research results in long wandering sections of only half-relevant exposition; the desire to make some sort of larger point about the Ripper crimes as emblematic of the nature of evil results in an incoherent historical bricolage; and the explanation of masonic history and ritual is so overdone as to make me want to scream at the book "William Gull, just STFU!"
And then there's the limitations of Eddie Campbell's art work. I assume the decision for black & white pen drawings was intended as an atmospheric gesture. Alas, the actual effect of this was a surfeit of cramped, hard-to-make-out text in speech bubbles, almost impossible-to-distinguish-from-each-other characters, and impeccably-researched-yet-somehow-unrecognizable settings. Finally, the depiction of the Ripper's mutilations read more as exploitative torture porn than as any sort of commentary on/subversion of society's fetishization of violence against women.
And then there's the limitations of Eddie Campbell's art work. I assume the decision for black & white pen drawings was intended as an atmospheric gesture. Alas, the actual effect of this was a surfeit of cramped, hard-to-make-out text in speech bubbles, almost impossible-to-distinguish-from-each-other characters, and impeccably-researched-yet-somehow-unrecognizable settings. Finally, the depiction of the Ripper's mutilations read more as exploitative torture porn than as any sort of commentary on/subversion of society's fetishization of violence against women.
fowlermillbabe's review against another edition
2.0
I keep trying to read graphic novels. I shouldn't.
howiedoowinfam's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
carlosmover's review against another edition
5.0
Intensa novela gráfica sobre "Jack el destripador", una obra obligatoria para todos los riperólogos (de inglés «riper», destripador) por su excelente y extraordinario trabajo de documentación, haciéndose patente en pequeños detalles de la historia y sobretodo en el extenso apéndice final, en el que se cuenta viñeta por viñeta de donde se ha tomado cada referencias, a modo de bibliografía.
El arte tiene una fuerza y una expresividad acorde con la historia, sirviendo como soporte en algunas escenas para colgar la atmósfera sórdida de los barrios bajos de Londres, y en otras con un fin más artístico permitiendo que la imagen describa lo que de otra manera con palabras no sería capaz.
Si tienes oportunidad de disfrutarla, no lo dudes.
El arte tiene una fuerza y una expresividad acorde con la historia, sirviendo como soporte en algunas escenas para colgar la atmósfera sórdida de los barrios bajos de Londres, y en otras con un fin más artístico permitiendo que la imagen describa lo que de otra manera con palabras no sería capaz.
Si tienes oportunidad de disfrutarla, no lo dudes.
herrkelm's review against another edition
5.0
fantastic read. it felt like I was reading a tale similar to David Fincher's Zodiac. I never saw the movie that this book is based from, and I hear it's nothing close, so I shall remit myself to only this wonderfully crafted tale
ldickol's review against another edition
4.0
This book was horrifying and utterly intriguing. It has the typical Alan Moore technique of causing the reader literary whiplash in the best way possible. I struggled initially with the pen art but grew to appreciate it. The amount of historical research that went into this book appears astronomical. Definitely a book I'd love to revisit.
ewg109's review against another edition
3.0
I'm pretty sure I suck for not loving this. The art was underwhelming, the pacing beleagured, and the whole thing was just a bit much.