Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.19 AVERAGE
3.19 AVERAGE
midici's review against another edition
3.0
Ashe is the creator of The Lurker's Guide, a small guide to the ins-and-outs of Amperstad, the flying city she lives in. Some of the information is practical - and some of it is revolutionary. Those in power don't like it when their secrets start to spread on the streets.
While the line-art is very good I do wish it was an inked comic - I wish I could have seen this interesting world in full colour. I'm not sure how solid I found the plot of this volume but I did enjoy a lot of the writing.
While the line-art is very good I do wish it was an inked comic - I wish I could have seen this interesting world in full colour. I'm not sure how solid I found the plot of this volume but I did enjoy a lot of the writing.
mellhay's review against another edition
4.0
Impressed! A graphic novel that kept my attention, surprised me as we went and in the end, keeping me in suspense and a kick butt heroine. I LIKE!
*****FULL REVIEW*****
Ashe is riding, while Tolban flies, around the city with other airships around them. Captain Skold is coming in, requesting permission to dock and asylum on the city after the hit his ship has taken by Vrussians getting to Apmerstam. The Provost is ignoring the request! Even with offer of money and supplies from Captain Skold, The Provost still resists. Captain Skold has something The Provost wants more than service and Ashe learns what it is. Ashe smells a story, and something more and dives into the depths of the flying city to find what it is.
The Provost left me skeptical about her in the last of the podcasts, and here we pick up where I don't trust her again. Ashe knows the Provost has done worse than what she's doing now, making slaves, and she is set on proving it and publishing it.
We do get to see the press page that Ashe publishes. The ACTUAL press page as it's published. This is neat to see her put things in her own words, and gives us the overall feel of what we see in the comic images and statements said by the characters.
We see the famous flying city in black and white. At last! It's awesome to see it after listening to the podcasts. Now I get to see all the different areas of the city I learned of in the podcasts as we follow everyone around to these areas. And yes, each section of town is noted so you know where you are. We see many of the characters: Tolban and his flying, Cardor from the hotel in his dress, and many others finally have a face.
The tattoo's on Ashes arms have all ways been a curiosity for me, here we see early in the book a design, created by someone we know, that is close to that on Ashe's arms. It brings the wonder back to the front of my mind with these similar designs and those on Ashe. What are they doing? How did Ashe get them too? Now I am curious with all that we have learned about the dreadful engine and these symbols, and the hints from Hanner Gatling that Ashe's answers are here as well. All is answered here.
The engine room!!! If you've been following my thoughts on the podcast, you know I've become increasingly curious about this room. What powers the engine? What happens to people down here? Well, it's here! It's all put together right here. I love seeing the secrets of the city, and how they might tie to Ashe.
Oh Ashe! We learn more about her past. We also learn the truth of Ashe's tattoos. Ashe has a nose for trouble, and finds it. Trouble and a great story. She finds herself in many scraps, and I love her for it. One tough lady.
We learn a little saying of kids on the flying city. "Through thick and thin, Through blood and ink, Clouddogs rule, And coppers stink!" The saying even has been adjusted to who they want to say stinks as well. Such world and culture growth here threw pictures and words.
I have to say this story still surprised me with happenings to our friends. Then in the end! Yes, it was a shocker to me to see what happened. I really liked that. Didn't know a graphic novel could hold so much suspense and story to tell. I really liked what I learned here, and the story told.
I do hope we get more adventures of Ashe in the future, and of what becomes of the flying city now.
*****FULL REVIEW*****
Ashe is riding, while Tolban flies, around the city with other airships around them. Captain Skold is coming in, requesting permission to dock and asylum on the city after the hit his ship has taken by Vrussians getting to Apmerstam. The Provost is ignoring the request! Even with offer of money and supplies from Captain Skold, The Provost still resists. Captain Skold has something The Provost wants more than service and Ashe learns what it is. Ashe smells a story, and something more and dives into the depths of the flying city to find what it is.
The Provost left me skeptical about her in the last of the podcasts, and here we pick up where I don't trust her again. Ashe knows the Provost has done worse than what she's doing now, making slaves, and she is set on proving it and publishing it.
We do get to see the press page that Ashe publishes. The ACTUAL press page as it's published. This is neat to see her put things in her own words, and gives us the overall feel of what we see in the comic images and statements said by the characters.
We see the famous flying city in black and white. At last! It's awesome to see it after listening to the podcasts. Now I get to see all the different areas of the city I learned of in the podcasts as we follow everyone around to these areas. And yes, each section of town is noted so you know where you are. We see many of the characters: Tolban and his flying, Cardor from the hotel in his dress, and many others finally have a face.
The tattoo's on Ashes arms have all ways been a curiosity for me, here we see early in the book a design, created by someone we know, that is close to that on Ashe's arms. It brings the wonder back to the front of my mind with these similar designs and those on Ashe. What are they doing? How did Ashe get them too? Now I am curious with all that we have learned about the dreadful engine and these symbols, and the hints from Hanner Gatling that Ashe's answers are here as well. All is answered here.
The engine room!!! If you've been following my thoughts on the podcast, you know I've become increasingly curious about this room. What powers the engine? What happens to people down here? Well, it's here! It's all put together right here. I love seeing the secrets of the city, and how they might tie to Ashe.
Oh Ashe! We learn more about her past. We also learn the truth of Ashe's tattoos. Ashe has a nose for trouble, and finds it. Trouble and a great story. She finds herself in many scraps, and I love her for it. One tough lady.
We learn a little saying of kids on the flying city. "Through thick and thin, Through blood and ink, Clouddogs rule, And coppers stink!" The saying even has been adjusted to who they want to say stinks as well. Such world and culture growth here threw pictures and words.
I have to say this story still surprised me with happenings to our friends. Then in the end! Yes, it was a shocker to me to see what happened. I really liked that. Didn't know a graphic novel could hold so much suspense and story to tell. I really liked what I learned here, and the story told.
I do hope we get more adventures of Ashe in the future, and of what becomes of the flying city now.
ogreart's review against another edition
3.0
It was not a bad story. It just didn't feel like a great one to me. I thought it was a little rushed. Maybe if it had more development it would strike me as being better.
sjeckert's review against another edition
3.0
It was an okay read, but I didn't really connect with much of the story. I don't know if I'm missing something, but it just felt too superficial and out-of-nowhere. I might have been able to forgive it if the art was more engaging, but even the art style was just meh and difficult to follow. I had a lot of trouble figuring out what was actually happening from the drawing style. Writing-wise, Ashe could have been more interesting, but there wasn't much to her other than "ooo, tough girl! who's a journalist!" So? I didn't understand her relationships and her motivations were not fleshed out very well. There's a lot more that could have been done. I understand there may not have been room in this novel, but then maybe it shouldn't be just this novel. Maybe it should have been two. Or maybe it should have been longer. I really would have liked it to be a bit longer if it could just have strengthened the characters to something that made more sense. Don't get me wrong, parts of the story were entertaining, and I was really interested in what was going on with the Provost and Ashe...actually, that's the story I wanted. This one was a bit dull and what I really wanted to know was what actually happened in those flashbacks. TL;DR: was an okay read, but nothing to get too excited about.
crowyhead's review against another edition
2.0
Ok, the beginning 3/4 of this book are delightful, and the artwork's a lot of fun -- not always 100% spot-on, anatomically, and sometimes people's faces look a bit misshapen, but overall it looks great. Very Indiana Jones or Prince Valiant-but-better, somehow. The setting's fun: a flying city ruled by an evil woman known as the Provost. And the main character is a spitfire young woman named Ashe who runs an underground newspaper and has a head of red dreadlocks. What's not to love?
Well, the ending, for one. And it's driving me crazy because I want to complain about its stupidity at length, but I don't really want to spoil it. Just suffice it to say that the main character had a method in her hands for fixing something horribly wrong with her city, and she very nearly kills everyone and then they're saved by... some kind of unforeseen third method that there was no hint would work. It made me want to bite someone.
Well, the ending, for one. And it's driving me crazy because I want to complain about its stupidity at length, but I don't really want to spoil it. Just suffice it to say that the main character had a method in her hands for fixing something horribly wrong with her city, and she very nearly kills everyone and then they're saved by... some kind of unforeseen third method that there was no hint would work. It made me want to bite someone.
sepia_witch's review against another edition
4.0
I'm torn between giving this 3 or 4 stars. I really enjoyed the strong female protagonist and even loved the female villain. I really wanted to explore more of the Provost's character (female antagonist). I wanted to know more about her motivations and her relationship with the mysterious assassin. I also want more of the protagonist, Ashe. I find both women to be compelling characters. However, I felt the male characters to be a little flat and needing a little more dimension. The plot was good but I felt some was missing near the end and more information needed to be doled out. Also, not a story issue but an art issue. I wanted some color! Don't get me wrong I enjoy black and white. Visually some color, even minimal, would have been nice. Just something to make the artwork pop and draw your eye to page.
akmargie's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting world, sort of steampunk meets western vibe. Art could be a little stronger. Story also seem a little rush and the ending abbreviated. Loved the lead character Ashe. She had spunk.
aprilbooksandwine's review against another edition
3.0
The Battle Of Blood And Ink by Jared Axelrod and Steve Walker is a steampunk graphic novel that takes place on a floating city called Amperstam and is an interesting read to pass the day away with. The Battle Of Blood And Ink explores the freedom of press and the risks of telling the truth in a gilded, brutal world.
Read the rest of my review here link goes live 7/1/12
Read the rest of my review here link goes live 7/1/12