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christiana's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this! I'm ready to go right into the next volume!
iceberg0's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful opener to what looks to be an intriguing story
rick_k's review against another edition
3.0
Rust is a dieselpunk graphic novel which is a little bit Iron Man and a bit Astro Boy. During The Great War allied forces created mechanical soldiers and aerialists with rocket packs. They won the war and a generation later the machines are slaves used for farming and industrial tasks. In the first volume of Rust we are introduced to Roman Taylor, a wheat farmer struggling to provide for his family. He is repairing an old mechanical soldier to help around the farm when a boy with a rock pack, Jet Jones, crashes through his barn. Jet is vary helpful around the farm, but also quite mysterious.
The Goodreads synopsis describes Rust as a "high-octane adventure", but despite the clever pun alluding to the dieselpunk theme, the story is really more contemplative. Simultaneously telling the story of the war and the struggles on the farm most panels are devoid of dialogue and action. I do think the characters are likable with some depth worth exploring. The mystery aspect has some promise, while the immediate storyline with Jet seems pretty straight forward, the overall history of the war and man's relationship with the mechanical men is intriguing.
The character art is somewhat inconsistent, but has some very strong panels. The mechanical drawing is excellent. Each of the mechanical men are beautiful and menacing and the motorcycles, tractors, and trees are artfully rendered. The coloration is sepia-tone with very nice smoke, clouds and motion blurs which adds great depth and energy to the story. The volume I have is hard-bound with a cloth-wrapped, embossed cover with foil and printed inlays. The paper and print quality are both excellent. Archaia has published a high quality product for a promising story.
The Goodreads synopsis describes Rust as a "high-octane adventure", but despite the clever pun alluding to the dieselpunk theme, the story is really more contemplative. Simultaneously telling the story of the war and the struggles on the farm most panels are devoid of dialogue and action. I do think the characters are likable with some depth worth exploring. The mystery aspect has some promise, while the immediate storyline with Jet seems pretty straight forward, the overall history of the war and man's relationship with the mechanical men is intriguing.
The character art is somewhat inconsistent, but has some very strong panels. The mechanical drawing is excellent. Each of the mechanical men are beautiful and menacing and the motorcycles, tractors, and trees are artfully rendered. The coloration is sepia-tone with very nice smoke, clouds and motion blurs which adds great depth and energy to the story. The volume I have is hard-bound with a cloth-wrapped, embossed cover with foil and printed inlays. The paper and print quality are both excellent. Archaia has published a high quality product for a promising story.
saidtheraina's review against another edition
4.0
Personally, I came away from this with a bit of a shrug.
But when I told my teen bookclub that most of this book was made up of an epic battle between a giant robot and a boy with a jetpack on his back, the room got seriously excited.
The illustrations are notable for their color - all in browns (ahem, rusts). It's the story of a world where robots were developed for battle in maybe WWI. And now combat robots are an accepted part of life (although most of this volume takes place on a rural farm).
This is merely the introduction of a much larger story.
And it seems to be a story that kids respond to.
Which is what really matters to me.
But when I told my teen bookclub that most of this book was made up of an epic battle between a giant robot and a boy with a jetpack on his back, the room got seriously excited.
The illustrations are notable for their color - all in browns (ahem, rusts). It's the story of a world where robots were developed for battle in maybe WWI. And now combat robots are an accepted part of life (although most of this volume takes place on a rural farm).
This is merely the introduction of a much larger story.
And it seems to be a story that kids respond to.
Which is what really matters to me.
thegoodmariner's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty great start to a series. This is what the Rocketeer could be if it didn't suck.
ali_brarian's review against another edition
5.0
The art and color palette of this GN are awesome. The author definitely sets up a great story and leaves me wanting to know more about Jet's Iron Man-ish machine chest implant thinger and why all of the machines are still programmed to kill. The whole dusty, mechanical feel of this graphic novel series is different but extremely intriguing. I can't wait to read more.
sillypunk's review against another edition
5.0
I recommend anyone who enjoys graphic novels (and even those who don't) to pick up this beautiful book. The artwrok, story and idea are just absolutely brilliant.
lorathelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This is seems to be a great start to an awesome new graphic novel series.
joshgauthier's review against another edition
4.0
Volume 1 of "Rust" is a simple but remarkably well-done story. With its diesel-punk setting, sparse storytelling, and antique color scheme, the different elements of this story come together quite well to make the whole. The scope is simple - focusing on Jet Jones, his efforts to escape his traumatic history with war, and the family that takes him in. The themes of family, identity, and trauma are resonant and there is enough suspense and menace in the background of the story to keep things interesting.
While the simplicity of the story is part of its effectiveness, it also is the main weakness. There are times in the story where too little seems to happen, leaving a plot that is ultimately rather thin for the size of the volume.
However, this is my only real complaint, and the simplicity of the plot doesn't really stop me from enjoying the story. On most counts, "Rust" is a solid story that could appeal to readers of all ages.
While the simplicity of the story is part of its effectiveness, it also is the main weakness. There are times in the story where too little seems to happen, leaving a plot that is ultimately rather thin for the size of the volume.
However, this is my only real complaint, and the simplicity of the plot doesn't really stop me from enjoying the story. On most counts, "Rust" is a solid story that could appeal to readers of all ages.
mark_lm's review against another edition
4.0
Very attractive art work and intriguing story. Apparently, judging by the graphic novel section at B&N (the last of the bookstores), many of these are written as a series - so there is about 10% of a plot line in this volume 1, and these hardbound, admittedly beautiful, graphic novels are about $20 each.