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thisisstephenbetts's review against another edition
1.0
Just kinda disappointing really. Everything was just a touch flawed, and the combination of those flaws really sink this book. It's undoubtedly ambitious, but in this case it couldn't save the comic.
The art is very attractive, but is not clear enough. This means, for example, that the jarring juxtapositions (of small town life and war) don't work well. Similarly the characters aren't distinct, and the sense of location is poor. This all makes the plot hard to follow.
The actual comic-craft - the selection and pacing of panels - is off. The timing seems wrong, and the things that are shown in the panels seem slightly odd choices. Again, this just makes the story too much work to follow.
The dialogue is sparse, and I think perhaps is supposed to be naturalistic, but ends up sounding awkward. This part could have worked without changes, but with the confusion caused by the other flaws it didn't.
The plot itself is interesting, and the themes are worthwhile (if a little too worthy). But again problems with pacing, and the temporal jumps, and some unexpectedly unrealistic parts at the end... well, it just wasn't handled very well.
It's a shame, as I think there could have been a good comic lurking here. The comic is certainly ambitious, but unfortunately in this case that was not enough to make it enjoyable.
The art is very attractive, but is not clear enough. This means, for example, that the jarring juxtapositions (of small town life and war) don't work well. Similarly the characters aren't distinct, and the sense of location is poor. This all makes the plot hard to follow.
The actual comic-craft - the selection and pacing of panels - is off. The timing seems wrong, and the things that are shown in the panels seem slightly odd choices. Again, this just makes the story too much work to follow.
The dialogue is sparse, and I think perhaps is supposed to be naturalistic, but ends up sounding awkward. This part could have worked without changes, but with the confusion caused by the other flaws it didn't.
The plot itself is interesting, and the themes are worthwhile (if a little too worthy). But again problems with pacing, and the temporal jumps, and some unexpectedly unrealistic parts at the end... well, it just wasn't handled very well.
It's a shame, as I think there could have been a good comic lurking here. The comic is certainly ambitious, but unfortunately in this case that was not enough to make it enjoyable.
radicaledwardiv's review against another edition
3.0
I’m such a fan of Nate Powell- Although this one is not my favorite I did enjoy the artwork and the story enough.
yoteach87's review against another edition
1.0
I had a really hard time keeping track of who was who. A lot of the young boys would have similar faces and statures of their friends and so would read a page or two thinking it was about one boy when it was another. It would also flash forward very, very briefly and flashback again leaving me a few panels behind in understanding the chronology of the story.
anzuk's review against another edition
1.0
I don't know what I had in mind when I requested Any Empire. That it would be a cruel but yet funny comic book? That it would be about some kids having the adventure of their lives? Maybe. Nevertheless, I have to tell you that I'm awfully disappointed.
The look of the book is amazing; the art is beautiful and the inking is very well done. My problem doesn't lie here though. It's the story that made me not enjoy reading the novel. It's cruel and very strange. I reached a point when I was simply scrolling and looking at the images just for the sake of completing it.
I don't know who I would recommend this graphic novel to. I sincerely have no idea. If you're curious though, you can give it a try. Who knows, maybe you'll like it.
The look of the book is amazing; the art is beautiful and the inking is very well done. My problem doesn't lie here though. It's the story that made me not enjoy reading the novel. It's cruel and very strange. I reached a point when I was simply scrolling and looking at the images just for the sake of completing it.
I don't know who I would recommend this graphic novel to. I sincerely have no idea. If you're curious though, you can give it a try. Who knows, maybe you'll like it.
laurensalisbury's review against another edition
4.0
Though I really dislike comparing an author's various works, I have to say: This works for me on a level that Swallow Me Whole did not.
The fantastical-realism was intriguing here. The way Powell illustrates the unabashed violence and brutality of his characters in their younger years and the way that violence, both enacted and witnessed, influences their adulthood is gripping and tragic. I found myself gripped with great and bracing myself for a resolution of tears, therapy, almost forgetting the fantasy element at play. Despite this factor, the book plays out much more realistically than this traditional resolution of healing and absolution. Powell creates a world we can both touch and feel, while allowing that life isn't always all "real."
The fantastical-realism was intriguing here. The way Powell illustrates the unabashed violence and brutality of his characters in their younger years and the way that violence, both enacted and witnessed, influences their adulthood is gripping and tragic. I found myself gripped with great and bracing myself for a resolution of tears, therapy, almost forgetting the fantasy element at play. Despite this factor, the book plays out much more realistically than this traditional resolution of healing and absolution. Powell creates a world we can both touch and feel, while allowing that life isn't always all "real."
jeremiah042's review against another edition
3.0
It would probably be a great book if I was smarter.