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mattlibrarian's review
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
carsonbarson's review
4.0
Amazing artwork, and pretty strong social commentary! The examination of gentrification and red-lining through the lens of a horrific sci-fi tale about a sentient house that ensnares its residents body-snatchers style was a top-notch choice.
My only complaint is that I wish it was a little longer, or even spent a little more time focused on the characters as they were all done really well and I wanted to see more from them!
My only complaint is that I wish it was a little longer, or even spent a little more time focused on the characters as they were all done really well and I wanted to see more from them!
libeerian's review
3.0
The story and art didn't quite sync up in this book, unfortunately. I've enjoyed other works by these two, but it was kind of like when two musicians collaborate on a song that's just okay. I could see what each person brought to the table, but would rather read their solo stuff instead.
jestintzi's review
I really like Ezra Claytan Daniels' writing, he does a really great job of packing big stakes into somewhat intimate feeling stories, which he does here. I like Ben Passmore's work as well, but he excels at illustrating and so this team is pretty stellar.
I thought this was a pretty fun story, though I think the way it was marketed as a "gentrification" book kind of made me on the look out for that, and I'm not sure that really sticks out as the thing this book is about to me? Maybe I'm missing something, but I kept trying to figure out how the "horror" at the core of the book was tied to that, and I didn't really piece that together very cleanly. So I'd maybe recommend going in without too much of a thought about what it'll be "about", as it's a fun and creepy story.
Not sure where I exactly land at the end, but I think that I definitely was (naturally) comparing it in my head to UPGRADE SOUL, which I really really dug, but which is obviously a much deeper and grand piece. This book definitely has very different stakes, but is one I'd definitely recommend people check out. Hope these two team up on something again in the future!
I thought this was a pretty fun story, though I think the way it was marketed as a "gentrification" book kind of made me on the look out for that, and I'm not sure that really sticks out as the thing this book is about to me? Maybe I'm missing something, but I kept trying to figure out how the "horror" at the core of the book was tied to that, and I didn't really piece that together very cleanly. So I'd maybe recommend going in without too much of a thought about what it'll be "about", as it's a fun and creepy story.
Not sure where I exactly land at the end, but I think that I definitely was (naturally) comparing it in my head to UPGRADE SOUL, which I really really dug, but which is obviously a much deeper and grand piece. This book definitely has very different stakes, but is one I'd definitely recommend people check out. Hope these two team up on something again in the future!
ripavengers's review
4.0
undecided on 3.5 stars or not but im rounding it up anyway.
I loved the colours in this it made everything so much easier to focus on. i appreciate how quick and easy the story flowed i had never really seen pages that length before. i think the aspects of the story around race and class were very real and shocking because it was just no surprise that a white middle (?) class woman would treat her black best friend who moved to a lower class area like an aesthetic. i enjoyed the horror of the story but i felt like something was just a bit lacking but overall not bad.
I loved the colours in this it made everything so much easier to focus on. i appreciate how quick and easy the story flowed i had never really seen pages that length before. i think the aspects of the story around race and class were very real and shocking because it was just no surprise that a white middle (?) class woman would treat her black best friend who moved to a lower class area like an aesthetic. i enjoyed the horror of the story but i felt like something was just a bit lacking but overall not bad.
lukasash's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
nica00's review
4.0
Art ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Story⭐️⭐️⭐️
The punk comic style art & the colouring were so very appealing, but i don’t think it conveyed the monster & gore horror aspect of this story well-in either a realistic or satirical way.
I was totally on board with the themes of gentrification, white privilege, and science manipulated for profit & political gain, but unfortunately the dialogue did not allow the complex story to delve deeply enough to make me care. I really enjoyed this graphic novel, but it could have been so much more. The whole thing came off kinda glib.
The punk comic style art & the colouring were so very appealing, but i don’t think it conveyed the monster & gore horror aspect of this story well-in either a realistic or satirical way.
I was totally on board with the themes of gentrification, white privilege, and science manipulated for profit & political gain, but unfortunately the dialogue did not allow the complex story to delve deeply enough to make me care. I really enjoyed this graphic novel, but it could have been so much more. The whole thing came off kinda glib.
francy_pants's review
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0