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talestoldtall's review against another edition
3.0
Pros: thought-provoking, fresh concept
Cons: artwork during action, cussin' merfolk
I saw Steve Orlando at a NYCC panel and his book seemed just crazy enough to check out. This is a reverse-Atlantis story, wherein the Atlanteans are an advanced race of merfolk while humanity is struggling in the stone age.
As outlandish as that sounds, this book is pretty rich. The Atlanteans have established a society fiercely divided by class and engaged in constant war. This volume focuses on a sect of anarchists seeking independence. This book raises questions about the true cost of freedom and whether or not it's at all possible. The characters are introduced nicely here, developing slowly. While it's a sort of slow drip, I'm definitely interested to learn more.
My only complaints about this book are about the art and the dialogue. The art, while usually great to look at, isn't crisp. During action scenes it's often difficult to make out exactly what's going on. And the Atlanteans' dialogue sounds just like any modern-day human would. It seems out of place that a prehistoric fish-man would know what a motherfucker is, and really pulls you out of the story. Some world-building as far as culture is concerned would have been appreciated.
However, I'll still be picking up the next volume as there's plenty to enjoy here.
Cons: artwork during action, cussin' merfolk
I saw Steve Orlando at a NYCC panel and his book seemed just crazy enough to check out. This is a reverse-Atlantis story, wherein the Atlanteans are an advanced race of merfolk while humanity is struggling in the stone age.
As outlandish as that sounds, this book is pretty rich. The Atlanteans have established a society fiercely divided by class and engaged in constant war. This volume focuses on a sect of anarchists seeking independence. This book raises questions about the true cost of freedom and whether or not it's at all possible. The characters are introduced nicely here, developing slowly. While it's a sort of slow drip, I'm definitely interested to learn more.
My only complaints about this book are about the art and the dialogue. The art, while usually great to look at, isn't crisp. During action scenes it's often difficult to make out exactly what's going on. And the Atlanteans' dialogue sounds just like any modern-day human would. It seems out of place that a prehistoric fish-man would know what a motherfucker is, and really pulls you out of the story. Some world-building as far as culture is concerned would have been appreciated.
However, I'll still be picking up the next volume as there's plenty to enjoy here.
geekwayne's review against another edition
2.0
'Undertow Volume 1: Boatman's Call' is a story about Atlantis. It seems like it should be high adventure, but strange art and a confusing story bogs it down.
The story jumps around, but color choices in the art sort of help to keep that straight. There is a spaceship that needs to be investigated and a strange amphibian humanoid that must be hunted and found. This leads a group of explorers to the surface. They make an odd sight with their helmets full of water so they can survive. There are political machinations and powerful beings capable of violent actions. But there are too many plot points and eventually it just kind of sinks into the mud. By the end, I just didn't care and that's no way to end a graphic novel.
It has all the right ingredients, but probably just too many of them. The art is confusing and muddled and I didn't care for it. I did like some of the character and costume designs, but the art doesn't help clarify the story. I'm having a hard time recommending this one.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
The story jumps around, but color choices in the art sort of help to keep that straight. There is a spaceship that needs to be investigated and a strange amphibian humanoid that must be hunted and found. This leads a group of explorers to the surface. They make an odd sight with their helmets full of water so they can survive. There are political machinations and powerful beings capable of violent actions. But there are too many plot points and eventually it just kind of sinks into the mud. By the end, I just didn't care and that's no way to end a graphic novel.
It has all the right ingredients, but probably just too many of them. The art is confusing and muddled and I didn't care for it. I did like some of the character and costume designs, but the art doesn't help clarify the story. I'm having a hard time recommending this one.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
blatanville's review against another edition
4.0
Incredibly imagined science fiction. As a political parable, it works well and makes its point without being blunt or artless.
The visual art is edgy and dynamic, but I occasionally had a hard time figuring out which character I was looking at.
The visual art is edgy and dynamic, but I occasionally had a hard time figuring out which character I was looking at.
iffer's review against another edition
3.0
I thought that the ideas and characters in Undertow were interesting, and I liked the textured art, but the combination of the textured art and the number of color palettes used, and the frequency with which they changed, didn't really work for me. To me, the colors produced a visual mud that made the art chaotic and hard to digest.
I think that the inversion of land and water is interesting, as well as the exploration of social ideas, such as the balance between comfort and true freedom, and the tenuous balance of a fringe group who has set out to create a better society through sharing a common vision.
I think that the inversion of land and water is interesting, as well as the exploration of social ideas, such as the balance between comfort and true freedom, and the tenuous balance of a fringe group who has set out to create a better society through sharing a common vision.
readerrachelle's review against another edition
1.0
I'm unsure whether this was a low quality resolution in the copy I received, regardless I found the art style and colour palette to be lacking in this graphic novel. Often the art and the colours interfered with the readability of the text, with the plotline already difficult to follow in places, this was a serious detraction.
I found the plot lines difficult to follow as several were introduced in quick succession and not adequately separated. The author needed to take more time with world building and communicating these fundamentals to the reader.
This graphic novel would be more suitable for those who often enjoy mindlessly violence and not those interested in the political aspect promised in the blurb.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I found the plot lines difficult to follow as several were introduced in quick succession and not adequately separated. The author needed to take more time with world building and communicating these fundamentals to the reader.
This graphic novel would be more suitable for those who often enjoy mindlessly violence and not those interested in the political aspect promised in the blurb.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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