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alanglois's review
2.0
Love Christopher Moore, but I just couldn't enjoy the story in this format. Not enough story.
theangrylawngnome's review
2.0
Started writing a long review but then decided to deep six that and simply go with: What the hell was Moore thinking? Wow.
creepysnowman's review
2.0
Having just come off reading (okay, listening to - but it was unabridged) Moore's "Fool" - I was in the mood for more of his manic, madcap voice.
I'm also a graphic novel junkie, and will give most stories a good benefit of the doubt if they're accompanied by serial artwork - it's two creative minds for the price of one!
So, this was disappointing.
The story was flat. I appreciated the set up, though. The world is invaded and destroyed by the dragon-like "Griff", which is done well enough - if not a little rushed. In fact, the whole story felt rushed. It's like Moore figured if he was doing a graphic novel, it would just have to be the one and then done. So we get what, in the Marvel / DC world, a six month story arc crammed into one issue.
He does himself a service by relating the end of the world by limiting his characters to two sets of young people: (Loser guy + hot girl) x2, carry the wannabe.
The dialogue, as has been noted, is fairly generic and feels like all the catchphrases of Moore's novel protagonists crammed into four characters. If the bubbles weren't stuck to the right character's head, you'd have to guess who was saying what - there's nothing in the tone to tip you off. And what the hell is with Moore and the word "fucksocks?"
Also, I'm going to be in a minority here, but I found the artwork to be kind of insulting - especially Mo, who in her setup is a smart, witty video game designer, is drawn like a thirteen year-old's vision of a "bad girl", and some of the pin-up poses and panty shots (not to mention the nearly full-on orgasm she gets from touching a big gun) are just gratuitous. The male characters remind me of "Poochy" from the Simpsons - a focus-group "cool kid".
I'd recommend Moore fans stick to his books.
(But I REALLY wanted to like this. Boo.)
I'm also a graphic novel junkie, and will give most stories a good benefit of the doubt if they're accompanied by serial artwork - it's two creative minds for the price of one!
So, this was disappointing.
The story was flat. I appreciated the set up, though. The world is invaded and destroyed by the dragon-like "Griff", which is done well enough - if not a little rushed. In fact, the whole story felt rushed. It's like Moore figured if he was doing a graphic novel, it would just have to be the one and then done. So we get what, in the Marvel / DC world, a six month story arc crammed into one issue.
He does himself a service by relating the end of the world by limiting his characters to two sets of young people: (Loser guy + hot girl) x2, carry the wannabe.
The dialogue, as has been noted, is fairly generic and feels like all the catchphrases of Moore's novel protagonists crammed into four characters. If the bubbles weren't stuck to the right character's head, you'd have to guess who was saying what - there's nothing in the tone to tip you off. And what the hell is with Moore and the word "fucksocks?"
Also, I'm going to be in a minority here, but I found the artwork to be kind of insulting - especially Mo, who in her setup is a smart, witty video game designer, is drawn like a thirteen year-old's vision of a "bad girl", and some of the pin-up poses and panty shots (not to mention the nearly full-on orgasm she gets from touching a big gun) are just gratuitous. The male characters remind me of "Poochy" from the Simpsons - a focus-group "cool kid".
I'd recommend Moore fans stick to his books.
(But I REALLY wanted to like this. Boo.)
glennisleblanc's review
2.0
I haven't read any Christoper Moore in a long while and I decided to give this one a shot. It was an interesting idea but I really didn't care for how it unfolded. Some of it seemed way too easy for everyone involved but of course the humans have to win in the end right?
alexctelander's review
4.0
Bestselling author Christopher Moore got to know Ian Corson some time ago, as they began working on the screenplay for his book, Coyote Blue, but the movie never happened. Years later Moore got this idea for a story that could best be told through the medium of the graphic novel. The image he had was of attacking alien dragons from outer space. He finally got together with his friend, Ian Corson, and they wrote The Griff.
Moore and Corson don’t spend long telling of the invasion, but before you know it, most of the world has been wiped out, as these terrifying dragons wreak havoc. There are of course some survivors, who are our intrepid heroes. In New York there is Mo, a geeky Gothy gamer; Steve, a skateboard wielding dude; and Curt, who has some sort of complicated history with the military, but knows a lot of stuff. They begin making their way south, to Orlando where there is a downed spaceship and hopefully the secret to stopping these alien vermin. In Florida there are two other interesting characters: Oscar, who spends his days dressed as a squirrel, and Liz, a killer whale trainer from Ocean World, who have their own plan.
Once the main story is grasped, it becomes quite predictable with some obvious characters, but it is nevertheless an entertaining read with some good jokes and character banter, as well as some great artwork of alien dragons destroying our planet and killing people.
Originally written on August 15, 2011 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews and exclusive interviews, go to the BookBanter site.
Moore and Corson don’t spend long telling of the invasion, but before you know it, most of the world has been wiped out, as these terrifying dragons wreak havoc. There are of course some survivors, who are our intrepid heroes. In New York there is Mo, a geeky Gothy gamer; Steve, a skateboard wielding dude; and Curt, who has some sort of complicated history with the military, but knows a lot of stuff. They begin making their way south, to Orlando where there is a downed spaceship and hopefully the secret to stopping these alien vermin. In Florida there are two other interesting characters: Oscar, who spends his days dressed as a squirrel, and Liz, a killer whale trainer from Ocean World, who have their own plan.
Once the main story is grasped, it becomes quite predictable with some obvious characters, but it is nevertheless an entertaining read with some good jokes and character banter, as well as some great artwork of alien dragons destroying our planet and killing people.
Originally written on August 15, 2011 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews and exclusive interviews, go to the BookBanter site.
roseslug's review
2.0
Not what I'd expect from Chris Moore - dull, ordinary. Big holes in the story, characters fairly flat. Meh.
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