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midici's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5 stars
Full disclosure - I binge-watched this on Netflix before running out to the nearest book store and grabbing the first two volumes. I'm not sure if I would have thought to try reading this comic series if not for the show.
The first volume has a lot in common with the first season of the show, but with more. More action, more drama, more villains and an insight into some background they haven't touched on in the show yet.
I liked the spirit of it - this dysfunctional family of people with abilities, brought together by their father's death, trying to deal with the end of the world. The comic is a lot more strange and out there, and the characters don't necessarily use their powers in the same way. Where this first volume goes wide, showing a whole world with its own rules and dangers, the show goes deep. I think that makes a lot of sense. You want your comics to be creative and strange and interesting and fast - but I loved getting to really know the characters in the show, the slowed down introspective of each person, and more information on how they relate to each other.
A few comparison thoughts: Sir Reginald is somehow even more of a terrible person in the comic books. Klaus has much better control and is less damaged (it seems). Rumor's power of suggestion doesn't just affect people - it affects reality itself, which is much more powerful. It's hard to tell in the comic where Vanya's powers start and the experimentation begins. Luthor is both worse off (in terms of body issues) and much better at leading a team in the comic. Diego is a smug asshole in both show and comic, but I'm not sure how the code name Kraken comes in yet - I fully thought they were talking about Ben at first but he gets the codename the Horror instead, which, rude. Five is just as insane as he is in the show. Not nearly enough time-traveling assassins.
Full disclosure - I binge-watched this on Netflix before running out to the nearest book store and grabbing the first two volumes. I'm not sure if I would have thought to try reading this comic series if not for the show.
The first volume has a lot in common with the first season of the show, but with more. More action, more drama, more villains and an insight into some background they haven't touched on in the show yet.
I liked the spirit of it - this dysfunctional family of people with abilities, brought together by their father's death, trying to deal with the end of the world. The comic is a lot more strange and out there, and the characters don't necessarily use their powers in the same way. Where this first volume goes wide, showing a whole world with its own rules and dangers, the show goes deep. I think that makes a lot of sense. You want your comics to be creative and strange and interesting and fast - but I loved getting to really know the characters in the show, the slowed down introspective of each person, and more information on how they relate to each other.
A few comparison thoughts: Sir Reginald is somehow even more of a terrible person in the comic books. Klaus has much better control and is less damaged (it seems). Rumor's power of suggestion doesn't just affect people - it affects reality itself, which is much more powerful. It's hard to tell in the comic where Vanya's powers start and the experimentation begins. Luthor is both worse off (in terms of body issues) and much better at leading a team in the comic. Diego is a smug asshole in both show and comic, but I'm not sure how the code name Kraken comes in yet - I fully thought they were talking about Ben at first but he gets the codename the Horror instead, which, rude. Five is just as insane as he is in the show. Not nearly enough time-traveling assassins.
fedex777's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
charlietheworm's review
2.0
I was honestly surprised by how bad this was.
Don't get me wrong, this story has a lot of great ideas that would have been really fun to explore but instead they're just thrown away. A couple of pages in a character is revealed to be an alien only for it to have no impact at all on anything, and instead going on to talk about how the eiffel tower is actually a space ship, to then give an offhand comment about a character travelling in time.
To call it a story is an exaggeration, its a collection of ideas thrown about without any depth or explanation, nothing that makes you care for any of the characters. The narrative is also hard to follow, switching pov almost every page, and after a while i found myself just skimming through the text to get to the end.
I find it sad because these ideas could have been soo cool to explore, but that is just not what I got. Maybe if the book had a slower pace and was longer, it would be easier to follow aswell as give it time to flesh out characters and plotlines. Either that or a way harsher editor that could have said no to at least half of the ideas that were hastily thrown in.
It was uncomfortable how the female characters were drawn in very sexualised ways, often in revealing clothing (like in underwear or even naked, for no apparent reason) and with very unrealistic body proportions. While the male characters were allowed to come in all shapes and sizes, the women are all super skinny with huge boobs, with the only thing telling them apart being their hair colour. There was also a considerable lack of diversity, all main characters were white, and with a sizeable cast this was something I found pretty disappointing.
I know theyre not biologically related but the incest plotline is still very icky. On one page Allison tells us her daughter calls Luther her "uncle on the moon" and on the next page Luther and Allison are kissing. Just eww, why did it have to be there at all?
Now, was there stuff I actually liked? yes.
The art style was interesting and kept me engaged even through pointless fightscenes. It was also quite interesting to see where stuff in the adaptation came from. I liked to see the small details like number 4s' tattoos being the same in both versions or how certain settings were scarily accurate.
Even with the small things i did appreciated, the book overall was not my favourite by a long shot. I really wish it was better because it had the potential to be great.
My time reading this was not very enjoyable but im still happy i gave it a try. I don't think im going to continue reading the series.
Don't get me wrong, this story has a lot of great ideas that would have been really fun to explore but instead they're just thrown away. A couple of pages in a character is revealed to be an alien only for it to have no impact at all on anything, and instead going on to talk about how the eiffel tower is actually a space ship, to then give an offhand comment about a character travelling in time.
To call it a story is an exaggeration, its a collection of ideas thrown about without any depth or explanation, nothing that makes you care for any of the characters. The narrative is also hard to follow, switching pov almost every page, and after a while i found myself just skimming through the text to get to the end.
I find it sad because these ideas could have been soo cool to explore, but that is just not what I got. Maybe if the book had a slower pace and was longer, it would be easier to follow aswell as give it time to flesh out characters and plotlines. Either that or a way harsher editor that could have said no to at least half of the ideas that were hastily thrown in.
It was uncomfortable how the female characters were drawn in very sexualised ways, often in revealing clothing (like in underwear or even naked, for no apparent reason) and with very unrealistic body proportions. While the male characters were allowed to come in all shapes and sizes, the women are all super skinny with huge boobs, with the only thing telling them apart being their hair colour. There was also a considerable lack of diversity, all main characters were white, and with a sizeable cast this was something I found pretty disappointing.
I know theyre not biologically related but the incest plotline is still very icky. On one page Allison tells us her daughter calls Luther her "uncle on the moon" and on the next page Luther and Allison are kissing. Just eww, why did it have to be there at all?
Now, was there stuff I actually liked? yes.
The art style was interesting and kept me engaged even through pointless fightscenes. It was also quite interesting to see where stuff in the adaptation came from. I liked to see the small details like number 4s' tattoos being the same in both versions or how certain settings were scarily accurate.
Even with the small things i did appreciated, the book overall was not my favourite by a long shot. I really wish it was better because it had the potential to be great.
My time reading this was not very enjoyable but im still happy i gave it a try. I don't think im going to continue reading the series.
drridareads's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the season 2 of Umbrella Academy like the 1st season was okay I like it but the second season just had me hooked. And I wanted more so I picked up the comics it was based on.
I wouldn't stay disappointed. More like not really for me. I like backstories and fully fleshed characters. I do however have to say I liked the route the first comic took in terms of Vanya (Victor now) causing the apocolapyse it was way more eerie with violins. And I don't care for the additional Season 1 character of that guy they date. So I liked this one just not as much as I had thought I would.
★★★
I wouldn't stay disappointed. More like not really for me. I like backstories and fully fleshed characters. I do however have to say I liked the route the first comic took in terms of Vanya (Victor now) causing the apocolapyse it was way more eerie with violins. And I don't care for the additional Season 1 character of that guy they date. So I liked this one just not as much as I had thought I would.
★★★
cgrayson's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
2.0
This one was pretty bad. It was so all over the place that I had no idea what was going on, or who was who. I definitely wouldn't recommend this one.
leandrache's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
allygatr's review against another edition
4.0
I read this after watching the Netflix show buttt I enjoyed it. it is fun to see the differences between the two media and what the directors/producers decided to keep and alter
edit: I just read some other reviews and I do agree; the storyline wouldn't be easy to follow had I not already watched. downside of the book is there is no epic soundtrack
edit: I just read some other reviews and I do agree; the storyline wouldn't be easy to follow had I not already watched. downside of the book is there is no epic soundtrack
that_glitter_chick_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is the first installment of the umbrella academy series. This gritty antihero hero story is captivating and will suck you in till the end. The show strays from the comic but not in a way that is unpleasant!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, and Mental illness