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2.97 AVERAGE
2.97 AVERAGE
The art is absolutely lovely, as is the use (and lack of) colour. If it's not watercolours, then the artist is *fantastic* with digital effects that makes it look like watercolours. The storyline is a bit strange and awkward-feeling, but it's just getting started, so I'll be reading the next book as well to see what happens.
i like the artwork..nice graphic,but nothing new with the plot.. but i do enjoy reading it in the beginning..and i know its hard to ships ur work, to publish a graphic novel it takes time n tremendous of efforts are needed to
The plot of Makeshift Miracle isn’t a new one. Teenage boy finds naked girl and brings her home. There’s something about this girl, and she needs protection from the boy. Fairly standard opening for a lot of mangas (DearS and Chobits, for example).
The art in this graphic novel is very reminiscent of so many mangas I recall reading when I was younger, with the added bonus of the gorgeous watercolour. I initially put this on my kobo, but when I realised that it was coloured I had to read it at the computer instead where I could look at the beautiful artwork in colour.
Colby was very easy to identify with, even if I’m the kind of person with the blog and the text messaging. However, Colby suddenly changed his opinion about posting things online and having a blog, which made him come across as an unreliable narrator. Iris’ confusion was endearing, but I wasn’t a fan of so much nudity. I get that the trope is for her to be naked, but I would have appreciated the clothing sooner.
I think this was an interesting start, and it posed a lot of questions that will hopefully be answered in the following volumes. The basic premise isn’t original, unfortunately, which made it seem a bit weaker than it could be, but on the other hand, it started to get a bit stronger plot wise near the end of this volume.
I was a little shocked at the lack of character information right off the bat, since that is something I am accustomed to seeing in manga, and not knowing one of the character’s names until you’re skimming through the sketchbook isn’t a good sign, especially if the character has been around for more than just a couple pages.
*Full disclosure, I received a free copy of this graphic novel from NetGalley.*
(Review also available on my blog.)
The art in this graphic novel is very reminiscent of so many mangas I recall reading when I was younger, with the added bonus of the gorgeous watercolour. I initially put this on my kobo, but when I realised that it was coloured I had to read it at the computer instead where I could look at the beautiful artwork in colour.
Colby was very easy to identify with, even if I’m the kind of person with the blog and the text messaging. However, Colby suddenly changed his opinion about posting things online and having a blog, which made him come across as an unreliable narrator. Iris’ confusion was endearing, but I wasn’t a fan of so much nudity. I get that the trope is for her to be naked, but I would have appreciated the clothing sooner.
I think this was an interesting start, and it posed a lot of questions that will hopefully be answered in the following volumes. The basic premise isn’t original, unfortunately, which made it seem a bit weaker than it could be, but on the other hand, it started to get a bit stronger plot wise near the end of this volume.
I was a little shocked at the lack of character information right off the bat, since that is something I am accustomed to seeing in manga, and not knowing one of the character’s names until you’re skimming through the sketchbook isn’t a good sign, especially if the character has been around for more than just a couple pages.
*Full disclosure, I received a free copy of this graphic novel from NetGalley.*
(Review also available on my blog.)
Alright...really 3.5 stars. Why?
Around 2.75 of those stars goes to the artwork. When I say gorgeous, I mean gorgeous. I mean flawless, I mean wonderfully colored and drawn, and I could marry this artwork. I would MARRY it, that's how much I loved it. My eyes were constantly on a trip to Happy-Land while I was reading this book. The characters were beautiful, the clothes and the objects and places were just...geez, beauty. I love the parts as well, where there's grey and there's only the main character colored in and his slight aura, it was just unique.
So...the other .75 is the actual story. >.> I know. I really judged a book by its cover on this one...I mean, it started out fine--the beginning was fine. The whole, "I'm not like those kids who share all their emotions online", I was cool with that. His finding Iris was fine as well, up until well...she started TALKING.
No way in ANY world is her just waking up completely naked, taking a shower like it's nothing, teleporting like's nothing, cooking like it's nothing, having a conversation like it's nothing, seeing a tree just grow from the middle of the living room...you get the idea. I did NOT like the second half. I mean, I appreciate the need for a second book immensely, but I feel like at least a TINY bit more should have been given. And the dialogue...oy vey. I don't get why he's so calm...and will his "friend" have any importance later on? I felt like the main character was a bit too anti-social for his own good...maybe that's why he needs Iris? I don't know...but frankly, that's my impression on the first book. I need a second, and soon.
Umm, due to the IMMENSE nudity (come on dudes, fan-service has a limit, you don't have to push it to the extreme. We get it--purity and all that jazz--COVER HER UP SOONER), I won't suggest this for younger than 8th grade, and it depends on the reader's individual maturity. I think that it'd be best for high-school. We'll appreciate the art and the storyline a bit better I suppose.
Around 2.75 of those stars goes to the artwork. When I say gorgeous, I mean gorgeous. I mean flawless, I mean wonderfully colored and drawn, and I could marry this artwork. I would MARRY it, that's how much I loved it. My eyes were constantly on a trip to Happy-Land while I was reading this book. The characters were beautiful, the clothes and the objects and places were just...geez, beauty. I love the parts as well, where there's grey and there's only the main character colored in and his slight aura, it was just unique.
So...the other .75 is the actual story. >.> I know. I really judged a book by its cover on this one...I mean, it started out fine--the beginning was fine. The whole, "I'm not like those kids who share all their emotions online", I was cool with that. His finding Iris was fine as well, up until well...she started TALKING.
No way in ANY world is her just waking up completely naked, taking a shower like it's nothing, teleporting like's nothing, cooking like it's nothing, having a conversation like it's nothing, seeing a tree just grow from the middle of the living room...you get the idea. I did NOT like the second half. I mean, I appreciate the need for a second book immensely, but I feel like at least a TINY bit more should have been given. And the dialogue...oy vey. I don't get why he's so calm...and will his "friend" have any importance later on? I felt like the main character was a bit too anti-social for his own good...maybe that's why he needs Iris? I don't know...but frankly, that's my impression on the first book. I need a second, and soon.
Umm, due to the IMMENSE nudity (come on dudes, fan-service has a limit, you don't have to push it to the extreme. We get it--purity and all that jazz--COVER HER UP SOONER), I won't suggest this for younger than 8th grade, and it depends on the reader's individual maturity. I think that it'd be best for high-school. We'll appreciate the art and the storyline a bit better I suppose.
Really nice story. I read it in one sitting. As soon as I finished i picked up the next one from the library.
Jim Zub took inspiration from anime and manga to tell this story, but I guess his inspiration was only surface-level because the end result is extraordinarily generic. Too bad, I like Jim Zub. The only positive compliment I can give this book is that the coloring is excellent.
Beautifully illustrated and a few good musings about yearning but in general lacks story and content. Hopefully the next volume fleshes the story out a little more because this one was lacking.
The artwork is amazing and was the reason why I picked this book up. Very impressive!
The story....meh. It is an interesting concept, but the dialogue needs some serious improvement. Colby's thoughts were great and I had no problem 'hearing' his voice as I looked at the pictures. When he opened his mouth, however, the dialogue was cringe-worthy.
But, it took less than 20 minutes to read and I could stare at the pictures all day. If there is more, I don't mind putting up with bad dialogue and mediocre plot to get to see more of the art.
The story....meh. It is an interesting concept, but the dialogue needs some serious improvement. Colby's thoughts were great and I had no problem 'hearing' his voice as I looked at the pictures. When he opened his mouth, however, the dialogue was cringe-worthy.
But, it took less than 20 minutes to read and I could stare at the pictures all day. If there is more, I don't mind putting up with bad dialogue and mediocre plot to get to see more of the art.