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simcities's review
4.0
At times the pretentious word choice can be a but distracting, but otherwise the stories are original bits of dystopian fiction. Artistically, the drawings of buildings and people relating to architecture are really the authors strength.
jeffhall's review
4.0
It's obvious, but not trite, to compare the comics of Tom Kaczynski to the fiction of J.G. Ballard. Both share an obsession with human adjustment to a world transformed by science and technology, and if Kaczynski has a more obvious sense of humor than Ballard, it all serves to make his work the more enjoyable. Most of the pieces in this volume originally appeared in the pages of the late, lamented Mome, and it's good to see them collected and enhanced with some previously unpublished pieces. Kaczynski is a unique talent, reminiscent of Dash Shaw, but in no way lacking for his own original voice. This is some of the best work being done in comics day, and well worth reading for anyone who can appreciate the more idiosyncratic end of the medium.
peytonmc's review
3.0
Oscillates between bad J. G. Ballard-inspired acid trip, straight-up Ballard rip-off (100,000 Miles is Crash. It literally contains the phrase "hidden logic." Like when a kid copies off your paper and promises to re-word it but only changes five words), and actually thoughtful and imaginative comics. Really wish this were consistently written as well as it's drawn (certain sections sound like they were written with the Word thesaurus tool). Still worth reading though.
otterno11's review
5.0
One of the most affecting graphic novels I've read recently, "Beta Testing the Apocalypse” is a collection of stand alone stories by Tom Kaczynski that are linked by common threads and themes of modern human existence in the urban world and elements of the sciences, history, architecture, and cosmic dread. From paleolithic microsocieties to the megacities of the 21st century to Martian colonies, the human quest for understanding of the universe is examined with a wit, style, and pure invention that I loved. Kaczynski’s spare character drawings and sharp architectural landscapes has left me with much food for thought, each story exploring another aspect of existence, the cyclopean power of grain silos, the dichotomies of noise and silence. Every story was great, though my favorites were “100,000 Miles,” (an examination of the modern commute and the transit network of the city), “976 Sq Ft,” (the cosmic dread of condos and gentrification) and “Million Year Boom” (a “green” corporation attempts to economize the biosphere). I am still wrestling with how best to express my appreciation of Kaczynski's erudite (I can use that word, right?) comics.
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