Scan barcode
geekwayne's review
4.0
'Orphans Vol. 1' by Roberto Recchioni with art by Emiliano Mammucari is a collection of the first three issues of the series, but each issue is over 100 pages, so this collection weighs in at 352 pages.
An attack from space hits the Earth and leaves behind a group of orphaned children. They become the best hope to strike back against this interstellar enemy. The problem is that the enemy is very stealthy at hiding and attacking, but the Orphans are pretty good at what they do. Each issue starts with more of the attack on Earth, more of the training/breaking of the young recruits, then catches up to the future as this elite team tries to get revenge for Earth.
It's a quick read, but it's a huge graphic novel. The story is compelling and I liked the characters. Don't fall for any particular character, because sacrifices get made along the way. The art is really clean and quite good. The story feels like Starship Troopers, Ender's Game and Halo all mixed together. That means I liked it quite a lot.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Lion Forge, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
An attack from space hits the Earth and leaves behind a group of orphaned children. They become the best hope to strike back against this interstellar enemy. The problem is that the enemy is very stealthy at hiding and attacking, but the Orphans are pretty good at what they do. Each issue starts with more of the attack on Earth, more of the training/breaking of the young recruits, then catches up to the future as this elite team tries to get revenge for Earth.
It's a quick read, but it's a huge graphic novel. The story is compelling and I liked the characters. Don't fall for any particular character, because sacrifices get made along the way. The art is really clean and quite good. The story feels like Starship Troopers, Ender's Game and Halo all mixed together. That means I liked it quite a lot.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Lion Forge, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
zare_i's review
5.0
Sergio Bonnelli's comics are works that have left very big marks in my youth. What they manage to do very well is to merge whole bunch of things from various other stories and produce a book that will keep you spellbound 'til the very end. If you do not believe just look at Nathan Never (including spin offs), Mr. No, Martyn Mystery and Dylan Dog to just name the few.
Orphans series (volume 1 here collects first three issues) is a mix of Starship Troopers, Ender's Game and Orphanage series by Robert Buettner.
After unknown alien enemy incinerates the Earth and causes death of 20% population, Earth governments decide to strike back. In search of good candidates they start with picking up survivors of the attack that are young and without any relations - in other words orphans.
What follows is story told through two viewpoints: one, linked to events of recruitment of orphans and their training that is merciless and aims to weed off the weak, and other one that is set years in the future where aliens are identified and newly formed Earth forces start the counter attack.
Characters of orphans and their instructors are given beautifully. Do note, as few reviewers mentioned already, that story describing training days is more about characters, their inner fightings and the way kids generally see the world around them (world is definitely different when one is young). Story about the invasion is more action oriented and (at least in this volume) there is not much character development. In any case I am sure that follow up volumes will continue the more detailed story of our heroes.
Please note that this is book where people die, there is not much of a happy endings, except what merriment our heroes can extract from their every day activities. They are maltreated by their instructors with a single purpose - to make them a formidable force able to cope with unknown danger from space.
Art is truly great, I would especially like to point out the coloring. It is is exquisite. This is a book in a format that might be confusing to readers that did not come across it before- every page is split across two panels, there is not that much dynamic on the pages (like panel in panel etc). It is very much reminiscent of the golden age comic strip.
Great read and great adventure. Cannot wait for volume two.
Highly recommended.
Orphans series (volume 1 here collects first three issues) is a mix of Starship Troopers, Ender's Game and Orphanage series by Robert Buettner.
After unknown alien enemy incinerates the Earth and causes death of 20% population, Earth governments decide to strike back. In search of good candidates they start with picking up survivors of the attack that are young and without any relations - in other words orphans.
What follows is story told through two viewpoints: one, linked to events of recruitment of orphans and their training that is merciless and aims to weed off the weak, and other one that is set years in the future where aliens are identified and newly formed Earth forces start the counter attack.
Characters of orphans and their instructors are given beautifully. Do note, as few reviewers mentioned already, that story describing training days is more about characters, their inner fightings and the way kids generally see the world around them (world is definitely different when one is young). Story about the invasion is more action oriented and (at least in this volume) there is not much character development. In any case I am sure that follow up volumes will continue the more detailed story of our heroes.
Please note that this is book where people die, there is not much of a happy endings, except what merriment our heroes can extract from their every day activities. They are maltreated by their instructors with a single purpose - to make them a formidable force able to cope with unknown danger from space.
Art is truly great, I would especially like to point out the coloring. It is is exquisite. This is a book in a format that might be confusing to readers that did not come across it before- every page is split across two panels, there is not that much dynamic on the pages (like panel in panel etc). It is very much reminiscent of the golden age comic strip.
Great read and great adventure. Cannot wait for volume two.
Highly recommended.
sarag1701's review
5.0
This was one I didn't think I'd enjoy. And yet, I really did. I was expecting a bit of Starship Troopers hurrah kind of brainwashed military love from this and was really ready to sink my teeth into understanding the critique of the military system once again. But this was not that kind of story. This story really is just a story about orphans who are forced to fight and it's amazingly well done.
The art is lovely and even though this is arguably one of the quickest graphic novels I've zipped through in a while, it is really well done.
I'll be sinking my teeth into Vol 2 shortly.
The art is lovely and even though this is arguably one of the quickest graphic novels I've zipped through in a while, it is really well done.
I'll be sinking my teeth into Vol 2 shortly.
ljrinaldi's review
3.0
This started out well enough. One fifth of the world is wiped out by something alien, and children are left behind without parents, thus they are orphans, which the army picks up and trains. We follow a group of those children found in Spain, of which one is a) a girl and b) an American. She is the only girl in the group. They are then dumped “Lord of the Flies” style, somewhere that they have to find their way out of, on their own.
That was the start, and for that, I would have given this whole volume four stars. But from there, the kids are put into the military, and it kind of goes downhill from there. Bang bang, shoot shoot, and no more character development. I know, I know, action and adventure graphic novels aren’t about character development, and such, but that is what I read them for. I have never been too interested in the bang bang, hit hit side of comic books and graphic novels.
So, if that is what you enjoy, the action, then this would probably work for you. And who know, perhaps volume two will see more of these characters developed.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
That was the start, and for that, I would have given this whole volume four stars. But from there, the kids are put into the military, and it kind of goes downhill from there. Bang bang, shoot shoot, and no more character development. I know, I know, action and adventure graphic novels aren’t about character development, and such, but that is what I read them for. I have never been too interested in the bang bang, hit hit side of comic books and graphic novels.
So, if that is what you enjoy, the action, then this would probably work for you. And who know, perhaps volume two will see more of these characters developed.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
ashleyreadstoomuch's review
4.0
I really liked the art of this graphic novel. The story was interesting and I found it fast paced and action packed. I would definitely be interested in reading more of this series.
More...