Reviews

I'm so sorry Scott Snyder. I just lost interest about halfway through. I think it's a really cool concept. The idea of different "veils" you can choose to see the world through, but I can't find myself understanding or being interested in the conflict or characters. Loved your Batman work though <3

indeedithappens's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

larakaa's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No

2.75

vermilious's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

saramarie08's review against another edition

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4.0

In a world full of filtered realities known as "veils", Sam Dunes is an ex-investigator who must take on a challenging case - figure out an apparent suicide of his ex-wife, which he believes could have been a murder in an altered reality. He receives a clue in the mail, and suddenly other entities are after him, wanting what he now possesses. Sam reconnects with many of his criminal underworld contacts to bring himself deeper into the twisted world of black veils, virtual realities deeper inside other realities, and the elite that manipulate everything others can see and believe about their worlds, all while staying just a bit ahead of the actual police who are investigating everyone involved.

Read the full review, and find more graphic novel reviews, at The Graphic Library.

frasersimons's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

In the future, after a pseudo WW3, in which America was in a war with China, but their technology betrayed them (presumably because it was infiltrated/manufactured by them?), everyone uses a thing called Veils, a hybrid reality that allows people to apply filters to the world. There is no working class, just robots that do labour, and the super rich. Otherwise, just people squeaking by, unable—unwilling—to see the world for what it is. Sam is a detective who uses the “clear” filter, allowing him to see the world for what it is. Typically, he investigates men cheating on their wives. Beyond the usual, veils make it so a variety of cheating on partners exists.When his ex turns up dead, however, he begins to infiltrate a conspiracy that goes to the heart of Veils, and what they are capable of in society.

There’s some cool worldbuilding and a good, pseudo noir style narration, given Sam’s profession. There are some really great moments but the ending undermines some of the moments, as a couple a bit too incredulous for me, given the reveal around them later on. The artwork is great, it’s cyberpunk, really being about stratification of class and high tech, low life.

Considering I created a tabletop role-playing called The Veil, also about hybrid reality, also cyberpunk, you could say Clear was always going to be really appealing to me, and so it is. I find hybrid reality fascinating and the themes of cyberpunk some of the most compelling. I also tend to like noir stories. If not for the kind of clunky late reveals, this absolutely would have been a 5 star read, for me.

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