You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Fun, wonderfully drawn graphic novel with a unique storyline. Quirky young woman attempting to open her second restaurant is presented with magical mushrooms that can erase any mistake. Fill in the blanks for the kray shit that ensues! Concept was unique, it dragged on and got a little repetitive for me. Also- the main character was an adult in the story but was drawn like a teenage girl to me - found it distracting.
It started out so good, but the ending was like, whatever.
First off, [a:Bryan Lee O'Malley|16807|Bryan Lee O'Malley|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1211297899p2/16807.jpg] is one of my favorite artists/authors working in the business right now, and this book blindsided me in the best way possible. It's been four years since his last book, [b:Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour|7904429|Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour (Scott Pilgrim, #6)|Bryan Lee O'Malley|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348186871s/7904429.jpg|11165674], has been on the shelves; so much so that four out of the entire six-volume series has been reissued into a glorious, full-colour hardcover editions (a far cry from their old paperback manga setting). So, to see this book on the shelf, an entirely original story come (almost) out of the blue, is one of the best surprises I've ever had this year. Seconds is about Katie, who, like it says on the book jacket, seems to have it all at such a young age by opening up a second restaurant after being an incredibly successful head chef in her first one. However, after a series of unfortunate events, her successes lose a little of their luster. It's during this period of stress that Katie meets an unusual character (complete with glowing hair) who gives her a notepad, a mushroom, and the premise that drives the entire book:
1. Write your mistake.
2. Ingest one mushroom.
3. Go to sleep.
4. Wake anew.
And so, Katie is given a second chance at the night before. However, and here's the main conflict of the story, she gets a little impulsive and a little greedy. What happens next, to steal from my own personal hero [a:Scott McCloud|33907|Scott McCloud|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1231113775p2/33907.jpg], is an adorable, haunting, funny, and beautiful story, told by an experienced storyteller and shown by an artist who has had four years and six books to shape his style into one that's definitely more mature and solid than his last work. The detail, the colour, the character design and backgrounds are far and away a step up from his older works. His narrative is a lot tighter too, being able to blend realistic characters into an equally realistic plot with several elements of magical realism, all the while bringing both laughs and terrors into the fold.
In short, I dig this book, I really do. So, unless [a:Kaoru Mori|13022|Kaoru Mori|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1371245497p2/13022.jpg] or [a:Yoshiyuki Tomino|164524|Yoshiyuki Tomino|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-09ae6e5eb554f8a5ab0515c05488ea34.png] decides to drop an entirely new story, I'm already ready to call Seconds my pick of Best Graphic Novel of 2014.
P.S.: And I don't say this just because I work there, but Barnes & Noble edition of the book is pretty rad and more accessible to us mere mortals not able to come to SDCC 2014 to pick up the exclusive version that they're selling there. Other than that, any version of the hardcover's pretty solid as a book too, if you don't mind the price.
1. Write your mistake.
2. Ingest one mushroom.
3. Go to sleep.
4. Wake anew.
And so, Katie is given a second chance at the night before. However, and here's the main conflict of the story, she gets a little impulsive and a little greedy. What happens next, to steal from my own personal hero [a:Scott McCloud|33907|Scott McCloud|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1231113775p2/33907.jpg], is an adorable, haunting, funny, and beautiful story, told by an experienced storyteller and shown by an artist who has had four years and six books to shape his style into one that's definitely more mature and solid than his last work. The detail, the colour, the character design and backgrounds are far and away a step up from his older works. His narrative is a lot tighter too, being able to blend realistic characters into an equally realistic plot with several elements of magical realism, all the while bringing both laughs and terrors into the fold.
In short, I dig this book, I really do. So, unless [a:Kaoru Mori|13022|Kaoru Mori|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1371245497p2/13022.jpg] or [a:Yoshiyuki Tomino|164524|Yoshiyuki Tomino|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-09ae6e5eb554f8a5ab0515c05488ea34.png] decides to drop an entirely new story, I'm already ready to call Seconds my pick of Best Graphic Novel of 2014.
P.S.: And I don't say this just because I work there, but Barnes & Noble edition of the book is pretty rad and more accessible to us mere mortals not able to come to SDCC 2014 to pick up the exclusive version that they're selling there. Other than that, any version of the hardcover's pretty solid as a book too, if you don't mind the price.
Enjoyable, beautiful drawings, a bit of a rushed ending.
I read this book in Seconds! Just kidding, I did read it in a few hours in one afternoon, however. It was a really fun read and his art is adorable. I don't want to be spoiler-y, so I'll just say I definitely laughed out loud at a panel his fans will enjoy.
Edit: Or as I was just reminded the art is adorable, but also really detailed in some parts, really good stuff.
Edit: Or as I was just reminded the art is adorable, but also really detailed in some parts, really good stuff.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A story involving time-traveling do-overs, house spirits, and the restaurant world. The art is adorable and expressive, as O'Malley likes to give us. Great read.
