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dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The characters aren’t fully likable which is the point. But I found the book to be doing something very interesting with an original story. After spending semester studying Frankenstein adaptions I found this one to be missing something, but I may feel different if I continue with reading the other volumes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Gaslighting
These are all things that appear in the book this book is shedding light on racism, police violence and brutality, and a child is murdered from police violence.
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Good concept, but I think I would have enjoyed it more as a book or maybe a longer form comic series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Police brutality
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
FAVORITE QUOTE: “Who benefits from your ignorance?”
Another graphic novel assigned to me in my Literature & Medicine class. This book is a “continuation” of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and explores concepts of medicine, social injustice, and enviromental terrorism. The art style reminded my A LOT of The Walking Dead comics, and the use of color is really unique and engaging. In 180 pages LaValle and Smith have created a story that encompasses so many important ideas, made palatable by the inclusion of a story we’re already familiar with. I gave this graphic novel an overall rating of 3.5 stars simply because of the abrupt ending. I’m aware this is the first installment of a series, but I think Lavalle could’ve ended in a “cleaner” manner.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a very interesting take on the themes of humanity and hubris that Shelley explored in the original Frankenstein. I would have gladly spent more time reading about how race and racism affect people's perception of humanity and compassion (especially in America) and about the intersection between science/the pursuit of knowledge and capitalism. But maybe it's a characteristic of the more visual medium (I don't have much experience with graphic novels, so I wouldn't know) or a consequence of the shorter length of the story, a lot of the themes felt very heavy-handed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Racism, Police brutality
Moderate: Animal death
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Blood
Moderate: Death, Hate crime, Racism, Police brutality, Grief
Minor: Pregnancy, Deportation