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neffcannon's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
oliviak07's review against another edition
3.0
I was not entirely sure what to expect from Ira Marck's, "Shark Summer". A graphic novel that is equal parts coming of age, as well as nostalgia for the summer blockbusters of our youth, "Shark Summer" is amusing both for the plot and the illustrations.
There were times where the plot seemed to jolt forward, much like a well-loved VHS tape, and either dialogue or action sequences were skipped. It caused the climax of the story to feel disjointed and or escalated, and not for the benefit of the reader. Yes, there were hints along the way as to the true nature of Martha's Vineyard's legend of the phantom shark. However, one feels as though it could have benefited from a steadier flow of sequencing.
Those observations aside, Marck's numerous homages to the 1975 film, "Jaws", were a delight. Whether you are a film buff, or only screen the movie on AMC during the Fourth of July weekend, you will recognize the finely placed details throughout the crew's journey around the island. My personal favorite involves a certain, top-secret prop.
Given Marcks's admiration of cinema, I am looking forward to his 2022 graphic novel, "Spirit Week", which takes inspiration from the 1980 film, "The Shining". It also appears that Elijah makes a cameo in this GN, and if so I am certain he will discover haunting gems for his cinematography reel.
There were times where the plot seemed to jolt forward, much like a well-loved VHS tape, and either dialogue or action sequences were skipped. It caused the climax of the story to feel disjointed and or escalated, and not for the benefit of the reader. Yes, there were hints along the way as to the true nature of Martha's Vineyard's legend of the phantom shark. However, one feels as though it could have benefited from a steadier flow of sequencing.
Those observations aside, Marck's numerous homages to the 1975 film, "Jaws", were a delight. Whether you are a film buff, or only screen the movie on AMC during the Fourth of July weekend, you will recognize the finely placed details throughout the crew's journey around the island. My personal favorite involves a certain, top-secret prop.
Given Marcks's admiration of cinema, I am looking forward to his 2022 graphic novel, "Spirit Week", which takes inspiration from the 1980 film, "The Shining". It also appears that Elijah makes a cameo in this GN, and if so I am certain he will discover haunting gems for his cinematography reel.
toonyballoony's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
chrissiemwright's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
awelsh's review against another edition
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
alexandrac's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
shewritesinmargins's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
ginaperry's review against another edition
5.0
I loved every page of this graphic novel - and can't wait to read it again! As a New Englander of a certain age, I obviously loved the setting and crossover into THAT infamous island and movie shoot, but I think that's sort of a great bonus. The setting is beautiful and varied. The characters are complex. The mystery has lots of great twists and turns. And it's a great friendship story. Really, there is something here for everyone. I picked up this book because I started taking the author's skillshare class, which I would also highly recommend to illustrators.