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kittyg's review
3.0
This is a fairly new Comic-meets-Magazine style series which Image is putting out under the direction of Brandon Graham. The idea of the series is to include various illustrators and creators from the Graphic Novel and Comic world and allow them to have fairly free reign to just go and do whatever they want to do, write what they like and enjoy making their art in a smaller format than standard, but still filled with fun.
The first story in this is by Emma Rios who is an illustrator I knew from Pretty Deadly. I was excited to get into the story, although it did have a very contemporary feeling, because tonally it's all done in various shades of red. The story follows three characters as they try do discuss changes in their lives and some major issues and problems they've had to go through and face. Equally there's more going on in the wider world which affects them and the things that they are able to do.
I'd give this one a 2.5*s, it's okay and the art is nice enough, but nothing too revolutionary or fascinating. I do think it had potential as it does say 'to be continued' so I will be looking out to see where she next takes the story and if it evolves.
We then move onto a short piece written by Kelly Sue DeConnick who is the Writer for Pretty Deadly and this is a sort of eulogy to Maggie Estep, a friend and big influence on Kelly's life. The piece is interspersed with illustrations from Emma Rios and these really help to catch the eye and help focus the thoughts of the reader on exactly what Kelly is writing about.
I'd say that of all the works this one, being a eulogy, is definitely the most moving. It is a frank and open piece which, even though I hadn't ever even heard of Maggic Estep previously, made me feel as if I knew her and knew who she was. They clearly had a fantastic relationship, and she will of course be missed, and for this all to come through in such a short piece of writing and give me a few chills, well it's got to get a 4* rating!
Then we come to Brandon Graham's piece which is certainly one of the longer ones. He's the creator of the overall magazine and yet the only thing I have read by him is the revised re-vamp of Prophet (which was interesting but kind of weird too). This story is no exception to the 'interesting-but-weird' idea I so far have when it comes to Brandon because whilst I do really enjoy the sweeping images, pale colours and wonderfully imaginative creatures and things he designs, it's a weird story for sure!
The story itself focuses on a Were Wolf and his girlfriend and the fact that they live in this entirely insane world where all the 'people' (I use that word lightly) are kind of nuts! The shapes, tones and layouts are all very cool and confusing. The designs are wacky and yet enticing, and the story is even more batty.
One thing I did love was that Graham does focus on peculiar oddities and actions. He also loves to play around with language and speech which makes the story both fascinating, quirky and full of life. It may not be the most polished or easy-to-follow story I've read, but it's good and I like it and I want to see more of his funny little world (which luckily we will as it says 'to be continued' in number #4 of Island).
Overall I would give it a 3.5*s
Finally we have Ludroe's (who I've never heard of before) comic strip about a 'Dagger-Proof Mummy' (which is indeed as weird as it sounds). It's a story and design style which didn't really appeal to me personally because not only do I not have a strong interest in Gaming or Skateboarding (two of the very major themes of the story) but I didn't love the style that the characters were drawn in either.
I think that the darker tones and the heavy line with over-exaggerated design meant that the story itself was just a 'pow, pow, pow' story and although there were some nice moments of type which felt a little like free-verse, it just didn't work that well as a story for me. I didn't hate it, but it was just ok, only a 1.5* for that one overall.
So, for the first issue of the magazine, I'm intrigued enough to want to continue. There are some excellent scenes and ideas, and it's a fairly random mix of stuff and themes so you never really know what will happen next, but it's great in that way and it keeps it exciting. I do believe that the next few issues will all have different people (maybe some recurring) and so I am really looking forward to seeing where this goes from now on.
A 3*s overall and I'm excited to try out the next two (which are the only ones currently out and which I already own :)
The first story in this is by Emma Rios who is an illustrator I knew from Pretty Deadly. I was excited to get into the story, although it did have a very contemporary feeling, because tonally it's all done in various shades of red. The story follows three characters as they try do discuss changes in their lives and some major issues and problems they've had to go through and face. Equally there's more going on in the wider world which affects them and the things that they are able to do.
I'd give this one a 2.5*s, it's okay and the art is nice enough, but nothing too revolutionary or fascinating. I do think it had potential as it does say 'to be continued' so I will be looking out to see where she next takes the story and if it evolves.
We then move onto a short piece written by Kelly Sue DeConnick who is the Writer for Pretty Deadly and this is a sort of eulogy to Maggie Estep, a friend and big influence on Kelly's life. The piece is interspersed with illustrations from Emma Rios and these really help to catch the eye and help focus the thoughts of the reader on exactly what Kelly is writing about.
I'd say that of all the works this one, being a eulogy, is definitely the most moving. It is a frank and open piece which, even though I hadn't ever even heard of Maggic Estep previously, made me feel as if I knew her and knew who she was. They clearly had a fantastic relationship, and she will of course be missed, and for this all to come through in such a short piece of writing and give me a few chills, well it's got to get a 4* rating!
Then we come to Brandon Graham's piece which is certainly one of the longer ones. He's the creator of the overall magazine and yet the only thing I have read by him is the revised re-vamp of Prophet (which was interesting but kind of weird too). This story is no exception to the 'interesting-but-weird' idea I so far have when it comes to Brandon because whilst I do really enjoy the sweeping images, pale colours and wonderfully imaginative creatures and things he designs, it's a weird story for sure!
The story itself focuses on a Were Wolf and his girlfriend and the fact that they live in this entirely insane world where all the 'people' (I use that word lightly) are kind of nuts! The shapes, tones and layouts are all very cool and confusing. The designs are wacky and yet enticing, and the story is even more batty.
One thing I did love was that Graham does focus on peculiar oddities and actions. He also loves to play around with language and speech which makes the story both fascinating, quirky and full of life. It may not be the most polished or easy-to-follow story I've read, but it's good and I like it and I want to see more of his funny little world (which luckily we will as it says 'to be continued' in number #4 of Island).
Overall I would give it a 3.5*s
Finally we have Ludroe's (who I've never heard of before) comic strip about a 'Dagger-Proof Mummy' (which is indeed as weird as it sounds). It's a story and design style which didn't really appeal to me personally because not only do I not have a strong interest in Gaming or Skateboarding (two of the very major themes of the story) but I didn't love the style that the characters were drawn in either.
I think that the darker tones and the heavy line with over-exaggerated design meant that the story itself was just a 'pow, pow, pow' story and although there were some nice moments of type which felt a little like free-verse, it just didn't work that well as a story for me. I didn't hate it, but it was just ok, only a 1.5* for that one overall.
So, for the first issue of the magazine, I'm intrigued enough to want to continue. There are some excellent scenes and ideas, and it's a fairly random mix of stuff and themes so you never really know what will happen next, but it's great in that way and it keeps it exciting. I do believe that the next few issues will all have different people (maybe some recurring) and so I am really looking forward to seeing where this goes from now on.
A 3*s overall and I'm excited to try out the next two (which are the only ones currently out and which I already own :)
slayerkinney's review
4.0
Tengo ganas de darle un beso a Emma Ríos por I.D. y por lo bonito y pequeño y grande y brillante que sabe contar historias. Y quiero leer más. Y Railbirds sólo me ha hecho llorar un poquito.
mossyforest's review
5.0
I finally read it and got sucked in and lost for 2 hours. This book is fantastic! Island is a monthly anthology magazine put together by Emma Rios and Brandon Graham featuring comics, art and writing by a variety of people. It is a little pricey bu at over 100 pages per issue you get your money's worth. The stories featured really hooked me in as did the very different styles of art work. There is other more contemporary art featured as well as a written piece by Kelly Sue DeKinnick. I don't know if I can afford to pick it up every week but I will be keeping an eye on it. Well worth dipping into if you are curious.
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