Reviews

Saint Cole by Noah Van Sciver

emilychau's review

dark fast-paced

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

1.75

tomhill's review against another edition

4.0

Contains some of the typical Van Sciver themes: a focus on the psyche of a disappointed male protagonist and his rather bleak, disappointing existence. One of the really interesting things Van Sciver does here is use his artwork to denote the different states of intoxication the protagonist is in throughout the book. Of any Van Sciver book I've read, I think that Saint Cole is the one whose artwork alone was most affecting. Combine that with a characteristic Noah Van Sciver story, and this is really successful, if depressing. And the ending is pretty great: it's one that hammers home the theme of the story as well as offering some clarity to the previously mysterious title.

cjordahl's review against another edition

3.0

I like Van Sciver's work a lot. I liked this book a lot right up until the deus ex machina ending which left me feeling let down and a bit confused. It felt as if Van Sciver just ran out of time or enthusiasm or something. But then I remembered that he did foreshadow the huge sink hole with several references to big potholes in the parking lot, so apparently it was planned. But what's the point? The main character Joe didn't cause it, couldn't have foreseen it, and couldn't have done much about it if he had. Which is entirely unlike the rest of his problems, all of which he causes or exacerbates.

starnosedmole's review against another edition

5.0

A gritty graphic novel that captures a few days in the life of a down-on-his-luck guy in his late twenties. This book makes me want to curl up and read more Bukowski.

bookishjaybird's review against another edition

1.0

I picked this up because the cover and summary seemed pretty interesting and what I got was....not. The main character is unlikable, awful, and a perv. The story itself was depressing, and just left me feeling....gross. The ending was in no way satisfying and just left me regretting ever picking the book up. I know some people DO enjoy books like these, that make you 'think or whatever, but this just was not for me.

glitterandtwang's review against another edition

4.0

Saint Cole is . . . not a saint. Cole is fed up with his dead-end job, frustrated by the tiny apartment he shares with his girlfriend, and is none too happy when said girlfriend invites her mom to stay with them for a few days. His girlfriend and son take off for a few days, leaving Cole alone with her pot-smoking, meth-using mom - and that's when everything really falls apart.

francomega's review

4.0

Story about a young guy who's straining under the pressure to work multiple shifts at a dead-end job to support his girlfriend and newborn son. When he cracks (and, of course, he cracks--this is a story after all), things get dark and very surreal*.

>>>Sorta Spoiler<<<
*Especially the title pun

jonh's review

5.0

well that was fucked up

otterno11's review

3.0

In spite of Noah Van Sciver’s expressive art, this short graphic novel, in the end, felt unsatisfying and a little rushed. Following a week in the life of Joe, a young waiter at a pizza joint trying to make ends meet for his wife and child, Joe starts in a hole and endeavors to dig himself as deeply as he can. On the cusp of a promotion, things start going badly for Joe when his wife’s drug addled mother moves into their tiny, crumbling apartment, and his budding alcoholism quickly spirals out of control. While an all too evocative account of American poverty, Joe’s utter awfulness, his penchant for making the absolute worst decision, made it tough reading. Unlike van Sciver’s series [b: Fante Bukowski|25620711|Fante Bukowski|Noah Van Sciver|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1435193403s/25620711.jpg|45433113], there was little humor to leaven the bleakness of life depicted. The ending seems abrupt with little resolution, I felt. With the build up of tension and the severity of Joe’s actions, the way things conclude feel like a bit of an anticlimax.