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michaildimdrakomathioulakis's review against another edition
4.0
English text follows:
Τούτ' είν' η πρώτη ιστορία απ' το σύμπαν των "Άγριων Καρτών" που διάβασα κι ομολογώ ότι την βρήκα αρκετά ενδιαφέρουσα, ώστε να προσπαθήσω στο μέλλον να διαβάσω τόσο τα σχετικά βιβλία του Μάρτιν, όσο και τα υπόλοιπα γκράφικ νόβελ.
Η ιδέα ενός ιού που μεταλλάσσει τους ανθρώπους, δίνοντάς τους ιδιότητες που τους ταξινομούν σε ομάδες ονοματισμένες απ' τα φύλλα της τράπουλας (οι "Άσοι" με υπερδυνάμεις, αλλά "φυσιολογικοί" σε εμφάνισι, οι "Τζόκερ" παραμορφωμένοι, για παράδειγμα), είναι ιδιαίτερα εμπνευσμένη!
Είναι αλήθεια πως σε κάποια σημεία η συγκεκριμένη ιστορία είναι λίγο τετριμμένη και προβλέψιμη, αλλά το σχέδιο είναι εξαιρετικό κι η όλη αίσθησι πολύ θετική. Πιστεύω, μ' άλλα λόγια, πως είναι μια καλή εισαγωγή στον κόσμο των "Άγριων Καρτών"!
This is the first story from the "Wild Cards" universe that I've ever read, and I admit that I've found it a very interesting one, so as to try in the future to read both the relevant books by Martin and the rest of the graphic novels.
The concept of a virus that transmutes humans, giving them characteristics which classify them in groups named by the faces of the (traditional) playing cards (for instance, "Aces" have superpowers, but remain "normal" in appearance, "Jokers" have deformities), is a particularly inspired one!
It's true that some points of this specific story are somehow trite and predictable, but the design is excellent, and the whole feeling very positive; in other words, I believe it's a good introduction to the world of the "Wild Cards"!
Τούτ' είν' η πρώτη ιστορία απ' το σύμπαν των "Άγριων Καρτών" που διάβασα κι ομολογώ ότι την βρήκα αρκετά ενδιαφέρουσα, ώστε να προσπαθήσω στο μέλλον να διαβάσω τόσο τα σχετικά βιβλία του Μάρτιν, όσο και τα υπόλοιπα γκράφικ νόβελ.
Η ιδέα ενός ιού που μεταλλάσσει τους ανθρώπους, δίνοντάς τους ιδιότητες που τους ταξινομούν σε ομάδες ονοματισμένες απ' τα φύλλα της τράπουλας (οι "Άσοι" με υπερδυνάμεις, αλλά "φυσιολογικοί" σε εμφάνισι, οι "Τζόκερ" παραμορφωμένοι, για παράδειγμα), είναι ιδιαίτερα εμπνευσμένη!
Είναι αλήθεια πως σε κάποια σημεία η συγκεκριμένη ιστορία είναι λίγο τετριμμένη και προβλέψιμη, αλλά το σχέδιο είναι εξαιρετικό κι η όλη αίσθησι πολύ θετική. Πιστεύω, μ' άλλα λόγια, πως είναι μια καλή εισαγωγή στον κόσμο των "Άγριων Καρτών"!
This is the first story from the "Wild Cards" universe that I've ever read, and I admit that I've found it a very interesting one, so as to try in the future to read both the relevant books by Martin and the rest of the graphic novels.
The concept of a virus that transmutes humans, giving them characteristics which classify them in groups named by the faces of the (traditional) playing cards (for instance, "Aces" have superpowers, but remain "normal" in appearance, "Jokers" have deformities), is a particularly inspired one!
It's true that some points of this specific story are somehow trite and predictable, but the design is excellent, and the whole feeling very positive; in other words, I believe it's a good introduction to the world of the "Wild Cards"!
pam_sartain's review against another edition
4.0
the story was a little confusing, but it made a bit of sense at the end! it felt like there was a lot of story missing from before the start of this one!
trike's review against another edition
3.0
It’s always nice to visit the Wild Cards universe and I enjoyed this story. The one big fault for me was that Croyd Crenson, aka The Sleeper, seems really over-the-top violent in this incarnation. I suppose that can be handwaved away due to his unique power — every time he goes to sleep he transforms into something else — and the way he deals with it, by popping enough amphetamines to levitate a horse, but he went for punching every time he had a choice. Croyd is one of the original Wild Card characters, both fictionally and in terms of the books, so I’m pretty familiar with him. Just feels somewhat out of character, is all.
Wild Cards is probably the darkest of the superhero universes, very much in the film noir/hardboiled detective vein, and this story about the physical dangers and emotional ramifications of the virus as well as taking the cure (the “trump card” virus) is right in line with that darker style.
Other than the Croyd thing it’s a solid story, as is the short follow-up tale about two young Jehovah’s Witnesses assigned to Jokertown. One freaks out while the other embraces empathy. Nothing worldshaking, but solid.
The art is well-done, too. No complaints there.
Wild Cards is probably the darkest of the superhero universes, very much in the film noir/hardboiled detective vein, and this story about the physical dangers and emotional ramifications of the virus as well as taking the cure (the “trump card” virus) is right in line with that darker style.
Other than the Croyd thing it’s a solid story, as is the short follow-up tale about two young Jehovah’s Witnesses assigned to Jokertown. One freaks out while the other embraces empathy. Nothing worldshaking, but solid.
The art is well-done, too. No complaints there.
ambermarshall's review against another edition
4.0
The Wild Card virus deals a random fate: you die, you become a deformed Joker, a superpowered Ace, or a lousy-powered Deuce (something like turning jello into motor oil I think was the example someone in the story mentioned). The Trump virus is a gamble, a reshuffle, a discard your card and draw a new one. You might go back to normal or you might die.
This story follows a high-schooler who becomes an Ace after an outbreak at his school that killed his little brother. It also follows The Sleeper, an Ace who changes form every time he sleeps, and his search for who killed a nurse friend (and occasional lover) of his who supplied him with uppers to keep him awake.
I got this in a Humble Bundle a while back and just got to it. That's why I'm starting partway into the series. It's somewhat standard superhero stuff with the twist of a virus causing the changes instead of a puberty-triggered genetic factor, gamma rays, radioactive arachnids, etc.
I did like how it explored some survivor's guilt, how being an Ace isn't always great, how taking the Trump cure isn't really a no-brainer. I was intrigued by The Sleeper and I assume he's better explained in other volumes because I'm only really guessing how his power works based on what I read here. The motivation of [antagonist] to spread the Trump virus around was interesting and I'm wondering if it was due to all they'd seen and experienced in their line of work.
I think I read a Wild Card story in some other collection and it was decent. I wouldn't mind reading more (especially in graphic novel form).
This story follows a high-schooler who becomes an Ace after an outbreak at his school that killed his little brother. It also follows The Sleeper, an Ace who changes form every time he sleeps, and his search for who killed a nurse friend (and occasional lover) of his who supplied him with uppers to keep him awake.
I got this in a Humble Bundle a while back and just got to it. That's why I'm starting partway into the series. It's somewhat standard superhero stuff with the twist of a virus causing the changes instead of a puberty-triggered genetic factor, gamma rays, radioactive arachnids, etc.
I did like how it explored some survivor's guilt, how being an Ace isn't always great, how taking the Trump cure isn't really a no-brainer. I was intrigued by The Sleeper and I assume he's better explained in other volumes because I'm only really guessing how his power works based on what I read here. The motivation of [antagonist] to spread the Trump virus around was interesting and I'm wondering if it was due to all they'd seen and experienced in their line of work.
I think I read a Wild Card story in some other collection and it was decent. I wouldn't mind reading more (especially in graphic novel form).
woahno's review against another edition
3.0
Shout out to r/fantasy and the book bingo reading challenge. I am trying to fill squares right now and I don't think I would have read this otherwise. I borrowed this graphic novel using the Libby app on my phone and I discovered that reading them on your phone is way cooler than I thought. The guided cinematic view switching between pictures and dialogue boxes is well done. Without that feature I do not think I would have enjoyed this reading experience nearly as much.
The story here is tightly plotted and the cliff hanger chapter endings are great to keep you blazing through this novel. This was my first entry into the Wild Cards world and it was intriguing. The story itself is a bit out of my usual readings as well as, so it wasn't just the format that was new for me.
The constant card themes are used well. The different super powers people have in this story are largely interesting and different. The detective story on top of it is the real draw for me though. It brings in the over arching story and allows for that cohesive tightly plotted story I mentioned before. While this wasn't good enough for me to be interested in more Wild Cards stories I think i will try more graphic novels in the future.
The story here is tightly plotted and the cliff hanger chapter endings are great to keep you blazing through this novel. This was my first entry into the Wild Cards world and it was intriguing. The story itself is a bit out of my usual readings as well as, so it wasn't just the format that was new for me.
The constant card themes are used well. The different super powers people have in this story are largely interesting and different. The detective story on top of it is the real draw for me though. It brings in the over arching story and allows for that cohesive tightly plotted story I mentioned before. While this wasn't good enough for me to be interested in more Wild Cards stories I think i will try more graphic novels in the future.
brandt's review against another edition
4.0
A great addition to the Wild Card series. Provides a great visual of the Wild Cards world. Great artwork. We have new characters along with a few old ones. I only wish that there would have been a connection to the current trilogy at the time. Not a big one, more like a passing mention. Just to help connect the comic to the reboot book series. On that note it would have been good to either have some of the characters or the events of the comics mentioned in the future books to make the comic less of a stand-alone.
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