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peyjturner's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
saidtheraina's review against another edition
4.0
Read this with either [b:Chew|6839093|Chew, Vol. 1 Taster's Choice|John Layman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1283896966s/6839093.jpg|7050578] and [b:Out of the Deep Woods|6954438|Sweet Tooth, Vol. 1 Out of the Deep Woods|Jeff Lemire|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320561252s/6954438.jpg|7189635]
OR
[b:Maus|15196|Maus I My Father Bleeds History|Art Spiegelman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327884972s/15196.jpg|1947012] and [b:Grandville|6660561|Grandville (Grandville #1)|Bryan Talbot|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266811628s/6660561.jpg|6855323] or [b:Blacksad|7342071|Blacksad|Juan Díaz Canales|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275715613s/7342071.jpg|534073].
It was not surprising to read that Alanguilan is a professional inker. His drawings are intensely precise - textured and built with millions of tiny little lines. Beautiful in their exactness. I suspect it was intentional that here, the chickens are drawn more beautifully than the homo sapiens are.
But I get ahead of myself. This is the story of what happened when chickens gained souls. When chickens started being cognizant of the world. It's told from the perspective of one chicken who happens to be an author, and much of the story is told in flashbacks via his father's old journal.
And it is heart-wrenching.
Violence and prejudice and prejudicial violence run rampant in this story. Eventually, chickens are officially recognized to be human, and they fairly thoroughly integrate into world society.
This is a story about many things. About how change happens, and how the world ripples with ramifications when something big changes very suddenly. It's about animal rights, and human rights - and honestly, less about animal rights than you might expect. And more about the other stuff.
Hard to read, in the best possible way.
Oh yeah, and there's a copy of a postcard [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg] sent Alanguilan after reading and loving the first issue of this in the back. So there's that.
OR
[b:Maus|15196|Maus I My Father Bleeds History|Art Spiegelman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327884972s/15196.jpg|1947012] and [b:Grandville|6660561|Grandville (Grandville #1)|Bryan Talbot|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266811628s/6660561.jpg|6855323] or [b:Blacksad|7342071|Blacksad|Juan Díaz Canales|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275715613s/7342071.jpg|534073].
It was not surprising to read that Alanguilan is a professional inker. His drawings are intensely precise - textured and built with millions of tiny little lines. Beautiful in their exactness. I suspect it was intentional that here, the chickens are drawn more beautifully than the homo sapiens are.
But I get ahead of myself. This is the story of what happened when chickens gained souls. When chickens started being cognizant of the world. It's told from the perspective of one chicken who happens to be an author, and much of the story is told in flashbacks via his father's old journal.
And it is heart-wrenching.
Violence and prejudice and prejudicial violence run rampant in this story. Eventually, chickens are officially recognized to be human, and they fairly thoroughly integrate into world society.
This is a story about many things. About how change happens, and how the world ripples with ramifications when something big changes very suddenly. It's about animal rights, and human rights - and honestly, less about animal rights than you might expect. And more about the other stuff.
Hard to read, in the best possible way.
Oh yeah, and there's a copy of a postcard [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg] sent Alanguilan after reading and loving the first issue of this in the back. So there's that.
cseanread's review against another edition
4.0
It's a story about chickens. Literally, a story about chickens. No allegory or propaganda intended....
I'm not sure what my emotions are doing.
It's definitely worth a read. And, from an artistic standpoint, the artwork is gorgeous. So, yeah, four stars for uniqueness, thorough world-building, and good moral critique?
I'm not sure what my emotions are doing.
It's definitely worth a read. And, from an artistic standpoint, the artwork is gorgeous. So, yeah, four stars for uniqueness, thorough world-building, and good moral critique?
readivine's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first Filipino komiks that I've ever purchased and it's pretty symbolic since my tatay is just a sucker for game cocks HAHAHHA and I also heard great things from this! I was pretty blessed and lucky that I got to buy it in our local bookstore because it was the only copy left XD
Elmer may have a pretty ridiculous premise at first but by the time you read it, you'll find a treasure trove of deep-seated trauma and oppression. At the heart of it, this graphic novel reiterates how everyone adapts for the better or for the worse when our survival instincts kick up. This was a moving tale and I definitely recommend this to all Filipino readers out there! Elmer is something that you'd be really proud of.
Elmer may have a pretty ridiculous premise at first but by the time you read it, you'll find a treasure trove of deep-seated trauma and oppression. At the heart of it, this graphic novel reiterates how everyone adapts for the better or for the worse when our survival instincts kick up. This was a moving tale and I definitely recommend this to all Filipino readers out there! Elmer is something that you'd be really proud of.
rudwulf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
wenzy's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! An incredible piece of alternate history and one of the most important pieces of Filipino literature!
jsmithborne's review against another edition
3.0
This was good, and I wanted to like it more than I did based on all the buzz I'd read. Maybe I just wasn't in the right headspace for it.
zaisgraph's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This graphic novel is simply amazing. I was flabbergasted how effective yet simple the story was. In 135 pages, Gerry was able to discuss the struggles of minorities, a little bit of how it is to be a second generation immigrant, accepting and coming to terms with your history and identity, forgiveness and the value of family among dozens of other things.
The drawings were very good, Gerry used some gore to drive his points across. I'm fine with this. The topics brought up in Elmer aren't supposed supposed to be sugar-coated. Minorities die worldwide daily because of bigotry. There are well off children who didn't know how hard things were for their parents. Many people now do not know or at least appreciate the sacrifices of their ancestors for the freedoms they currently enjoy. Learning history is very important. It must be vigilantly protected with accurate recording and constant remembrance because it can be forgotten and worse, distorted.
Life can get ugly, we may ultimately die with plenty of regret. So while we still draw breath, let's lessen the things left unsaid and celebrate what we do have. Let the people who are there for us know that they are loved because things never remain the same. This graphic novel is a thing of beauty. I strongly recommend Elmer.
Read the physical copy.
The drawings were very good, Gerry used some gore to drive his points across. I'm fine with this. The topics brought up in Elmer aren't supposed supposed to be sugar-coated. Minorities die worldwide daily because of bigotry. There are well off children who didn't know how hard things were for their parents. Many people now do not know or at least appreciate the sacrifices of their ancestors for the freedoms they currently enjoy. Learning history is very important. It must be vigilantly protected with accurate recording and constant remembrance because it can be forgotten and worse, distorted.
Life can get ugly, we may ultimately die with plenty of regret. So while we still draw breath, let's lessen the things left unsaid and celebrate what we do have. Let the people who are there for us know that they are loved because things never remain the same. This graphic novel is a thing of beauty. I strongly recommend Elmer.
Read the physical copy.
haewilya's review against another edition
4.0
I love the art. I am not really a fan of alternate earth but it was inetersting and kinda reminds me of Maus (a little bit).