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rebecca_oneil's review
4.0
I ordered this from OhioLink after seeing it on a recommended list (now I can't recall where!). I'd probably recommend it to teen girls with a dark sense of humor who like Emily the Strange and Rachel Cohn (not for the supernatural aspect, but the spunky girl aspect).
Agnes Quill is a 16-year-old orphan who lives in the strange city of Legerdemain ("sleight of hand") in a curiosity shop that she inherited from her grandfather. As she tries to figure out who she is and where she fits in the world, she discovers that she's inherited something else from her grandfather: the ability to see and communicate with the dead. Just as she's wondering how she'll pay the electric bill when she can't even stand going to school, a ghost shows up and requests her help retrieving a necklace from a tomb. The ghost can see and travel through walls, but only Agnes (the living) can touch things and open doors. Could it be that Agnes has found her calling?
This book is, indeed, an anthology, with four stories illustrated by different artists. I found myself torn between how interesting it is to see different visual interpretations of the same character and city, and how disjointed it is to lose consistency. With the exception of "Lost and Found," illustrated by Raina Telgemeier (The Babysitters' Club graphic novels) in a simple, Herge-like style, I found the artwork's high contrast and dense details to be somewhat difficult to "read."
The final part of the book is a prose Field Guide and journal excerpts that provide further insight into the identity of Agnes. These were some of my favorite parts of the book; they hint at a backstory, more mystery, and some of the lore surrounding Legerdemain. Reading these parts made me hope for more on Agnes and her world.
Favorite quotes:
"Because really, some people just deserve to get eaten by zombies."
"See if I help THEM out when they're dead."
"He doesn't say much, but just knowing he's downstairs in the store is comforting. His is the good kind of quiet."
"It's as if there are layers or levels to the afterlife somehow. I often imagine I can sense the walls between our worlds opening and closing with the shifting of the earth."
Agnes Quill is a 16-year-old orphan who lives in the strange city of Legerdemain ("sleight of hand") in a curiosity shop that she inherited from her grandfather. As she tries to figure out who she is and where she fits in the world, she discovers that she's inherited something else from her grandfather: the ability to see and communicate with the dead. Just as she's wondering how she'll pay the electric bill when she can't even stand going to school, a ghost shows up and requests her help retrieving a necklace from a tomb. The ghost can see and travel through walls, but only Agnes (the living) can touch things and open doors. Could it be that Agnes has found her calling?
This book is, indeed, an anthology, with four stories illustrated by different artists. I found myself torn between how interesting it is to see different visual interpretations of the same character and city, and how disjointed it is to lose consistency. With the exception of "Lost and Found," illustrated by Raina Telgemeier (The Babysitters' Club graphic novels) in a simple, Herge-like style, I found the artwork's high contrast and dense details to be somewhat difficult to "read."
The final part of the book is a prose Field Guide and journal excerpts that provide further insight into the identity of Agnes. These were some of my favorite parts of the book; they hint at a backstory, more mystery, and some of the lore surrounding Legerdemain. Reading these parts made me hope for more on Agnes and her world.
Favorite quotes:
"Because really, some people just deserve to get eaten by zombies."
"See if I help THEM out when they're dead."
"He doesn't say much, but just knowing he's downstairs in the store is comforting. His is the good kind of quiet."
"It's as if there are layers or levels to the afterlife somehow. I often imagine I can sense the walls between our worlds opening and closing with the shifting of the earth."
bananaphive's review
2.0
Disjointed, mixed media vignettes; doesn't really hold attention, almost no character development. Interesting artwork.
tmatlin's review
2.0
I found the concept to be really intriguing, but wasn’t engaged by the actual comic. I wanted there to be more development of the narratives. This may be more an issue because I’m not all that familiar with the genre, however. After reading more comics I may be able to give this a more fair review.
maryehavens's review
3.0
I liked the stories and most of the artwork. Raina Talgemeier illustrated one story!! It was a nice storyline: girl can see spirits and does their bidding (for a fee) or solves a mystery on request. There were a bunch of journal entries at the end that kind of supplemented/enhanced the stories. I can't decide if I like these or not. I will read more Agnes Quill's if they come to the library.
kricketa's review
2.0
Each chapter of this book is a different story about Agnes Quill, who has inherited the ability to communicate with ghosts. Each chapter is also illustrated by a different graphic novelist, which was a cool idea, but it didn't work for me. I felt like I was encountering different characters each time.
I really did enjoy the chapters illustrated by Dave Roman (who wrote the stories) and Raina Telgemeier, of my beloved babysitters club graphic novel revival. I couldn't follow the style of the other illustrators-- while being well suited for horror, they were way too busy, and I found it hard to tell what I was supposed to be looking at- and maybe that's what made those stories lukewarm as well. Whoever did the cover illustration- gorgeous- should have done a whole chapter.
At the end, there are field notes about Agnes and the other characters, and then excerpts from Agnes' diary, which didn't match the chronology of the stories and kind of confused me.
Another thing- at the beginning of one of the chapters (and later in the diary) Agnes has just torched a warehouse full of zombie ex-girlfriends after a wife put a curse on her cheating husband. This sounds like a great story! Why wasn't this one illustrated, instead of only being hinted at?
I really did enjoy the chapters illustrated by Dave Roman (who wrote the stories) and Raina Telgemeier, of my beloved babysitters club graphic novel revival. I couldn't follow the style of the other illustrators-- while being well suited for horror, they were way too busy, and I found it hard to tell what I was supposed to be looking at- and maybe that's what made those stories lukewarm as well. Whoever did the cover illustration- gorgeous- should have done a whole chapter.
At the end, there are field notes about Agnes and the other characters, and then excerpts from Agnes' diary, which didn't match the chronology of the stories and kind of confused me.
Another thing- at the beginning of one of the chapters (and later in the diary) Agnes has just torched a warehouse full of zombie ex-girlfriends after a wife put a curse on her cheating husband. This sounds like a great story! Why wasn't this one illustrated, instead of only being hinted at?
ginnikin's review
2.0
I liked the first story best, although I preferred the art style of the second.
sarahc_98's review
2.0
It was worth reading once, but I don't think I'd pick it up again. I only really liked a couple of stories, to which I'd give 3 or 4 stars.
quinnster's review
3.0
It was a cool story. Agnes Quill can see ghosts and gets hired to help them with their unfinished business. But the art in the first and third stories was too busy for me. Being in black and white sometimes it was hard to discern the details in the drawings.
yayforbooks's review
3.0
A very interesting comic book/graphic novel. There were 5 (I think) different artists. The story was pretty good...