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jess_mango's review
3.0
In the South, Myers runs the speakeasy that he inherited after his father died. He has trouble with cops for transporting booze in a dry county and is running out of options to keep the speakeasy open. He needs funds and assistance. He comes in contact with his estranged mother, who abandoned the family when Myers was little. His mother remarried the leader of a strange church and it turns out Myers has a half sister. Myers visits the church and sees that they have some bizarre occult rituals. Will this help him keep the speakeasy? Should he get involved?
This was a twisted little take that definitely had a downtrodden Southern feel. Myers really has no hope and is looking for anyway to find help. The last 1/3 of the book was a bit fuzzy to me and it wasn't entirely clear to me what was going on, but perhaps that was intentional.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
This was a twisted little take that definitely had a downtrodden Southern feel. Myers really has no hope and is looking for anyway to find help. The last 1/3 of the book was a bit fuzzy to me and it wasn't entirely clear to me what was going on, but perhaps that was intentional.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
livlamentloathe's review
2.0
I’ll reiterate what most reviews say: I liked the start! It seemed to be about a young man who lost his father to suicide, struggling to uphold the legacy of a blue’s bar his family has always run. Cops pick on him cause the county is dry (and they can) then try to show up to drink later.
But then the second half dissolves into a supernatural cult that makes no sense. New characters are introduced just to die within the cult. The reasoning is vague. His sister is important to the cult but I don’t know why? I don’t understand the ending at all. And the chains led me to believe the cult may have been involved in his father’s death? Maybe?
I don’t fucking know. There was barely any setup before the cult was revealed and then it was the climax of the book but nothing had even been resolved? I don’t know how it ended. Did Myers even live?
But then the second half dissolves into a supernatural cult that makes no sense. New characters are introduced just to die within the cult. The reasoning is vague. His sister is important to the cult but I don’t know why? I don’t understand the ending at all. And the chains led me to believe the cult may have been involved in his father’s death? Maybe?
I don’t fucking know. There was barely any setup before the cult was revealed and then it was the climax of the book but nothing had even been resolved? I don’t know how it ended. Did Myers even live?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Murder
geekwayne's review
3.0
'The Down River People' with story by Adam Smitha and art by Matthew Fox is a graphic novel about how weird some families can be.
When Myers dad died and left him with his bar, The Flatbed, Myers thinks he can run it since he kind of has already anyway. A run in with the local police on a booze pick up leaves him desperate and about to lose the business. Then his estranged mother and her strange husband step in, and Myers finds himself with all kinds of new trouble.
I liked this story. It definitely took some odd twists along the way. I did like the main character and his barfly/musician friend. It just takes too long for this story to get interesting. The art also wasn't my favorite.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from BOOM! Studios and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
When Myers dad died and left him with his bar, The Flatbed, Myers thinks he can run it since he kind of has already anyway. A run in with the local police on a booze pick up leaves him desperate and about to lose the business. Then his estranged mother and her strange husband step in, and Myers finds himself with all kinds of new trouble.
I liked this story. It definitely took some odd twists along the way. I did like the main character and his barfly/musician friend. It just takes too long for this story to get interesting. The art also wasn't my favorite.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from BOOM! Studios and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
brandonadaniels's review
5.0
Went in to this one cold and I recommend you do the same.
That said, if you need a bit more, then I’ll say that this is a rare kind of comic. It’s slow, quiet, and cinematic. The writer, Adam Smith, has a great ear for dialogue. It starts out as a small slice of life drama. And then, towards the end, it takes a turn. The structure and pace are unconventional. It feels more like a prestige tv show or a slow burn art house horror movie. The art by Mathew Fox is incredible, but understated. It’s more about mood and storytelling than realism or scope.
There are a lot of complaints about the ending on here, and while I agree that the last few pages could have used a little more clarity, the climax that most are calling too confusing is perfectly constructed; anymore would have gotten too silly. The climax builds to a frantic level of chaotic emotions, and anyone wanting that to pause for an exposition dump needs to stick to superheroes. This is a great book for those that liked True Detective Season 1 but wanted it to get a bit weirder.
That said, if you need a bit more, then I’ll say that this is a rare kind of comic. It’s slow, quiet, and cinematic. The writer, Adam Smith, has a great ear for dialogue. It starts out as a small slice of life drama. And then, towards the end, it takes a turn. The structure and pace are unconventional. It feels more like a prestige tv show or a slow burn art house horror movie. The art by Mathew Fox is incredible, but understated. It’s more about mood and storytelling than realism or scope.
There are a lot of complaints about the ending on here, and while I agree that the last few pages could have used a little more clarity, the climax that most are calling too confusing is perfectly constructed; anymore would have gotten too silly. The climax builds to a frantic level of chaotic emotions, and anyone wanting that to pause for an exposition dump needs to stick to superheroes. This is a great book for those that liked True Detective Season 1 but wanted it to get a bit weirder.
dame_samara's review
4.0
This started in a very grounded place and it DID NOT stay there. It yeeted itself into a level of crazy I wasnt expecting.
First and foremost this is a story about grief. But outside that it is a trip that honestly can only be experienced.
Is it about some form of mental illness? Is it about cults? I dunno it's your call to make.
First and foremost this is a story about grief. But outside that it is a trip that honestly can only be experienced.
Is it about some form of mental illness? Is it about cults? I dunno it's your call to make.
drewwoodworth's review
4.0
Super solid sophomore effort from these guys. They tried to add a little more story/intrigue than their previous effort with a religious cult storyline and I felt it worked fairly well. The character slice of life stuff still works really well, but I almost enjoyed the duo tone artwork of their previous book more than this full color affair. Still way above average artwork, though. I think I understood the final scene, but I did have a couple of questions. However, that’s kind of how this team works: they make the reader do a little work to pick up on the subtleties of the narrative.
bkwrm1317's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
2.5
Didn’t love, picked up on a whim at the lib/liked the description.
Did like the art, but the story was lacking quite a bit for me/didn’t resolve enough by the end (and I read a lot of speculative fic).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Suicide
the_sassy_bookworm's review
3.0
⭐⭐ ⭐-- It was okay
This took me a while to finish because I couldn't read it on my tablet (writing too small). It was an okay read. I don't read too many comic/graphic novels, so this was definitely out of my comfort zone. Like I said, it was okay. The story was interesting enough, but seemed to move very slowly. And I found a lot of it confusing.
This took me a while to finish because I couldn't read it on my tablet (writing too small). It was an okay read. I don't read too many comic/graphic novels, so this was definitely out of my comfort zone. Like I said, it was okay. The story was interesting enough, but seemed to move very slowly. And I found a lot of it confusing.