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austinstorm's review
1.0
I like horror but thought this was pretty tedious. The art style was difficult and the book spent a lot of time on character details and speechifying that messed up the pacing for me. I like slow punctuated by shocks, but I wasn't invested enough in the characters or world to hang through the long in-between bits.
the_rita's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
katiecatbooks's review
4.0
Suspenseful. Dark. Historical.
Story: Jack Garron is an old man with only one arm. He tells everyone he lost his arm in the war. Even his family doesn't know the truth. Set in 1916, Jack tells the story of how he ran away from home to hobo the railways and find his father. But instead he finds a nightmare.
Language: Much of this graphic novel is set in tans and browns and blacks and sepias, fitting to the time period. With around 5-6 blocks per page, the art is top notch, with shadowed faces and haunting backgrounds. There is not a lot of gore in this book, but there is a lot of suspense and terror.
Characters: Our lead character is Jack, a runaway in search of his father. He plays the fiddle to earn money and carries a photo of his musician father with him in his wallet.
I read this by day, so didn't get the right atmosphere this book deserves, but I'll definitely keep an eye out for more by the author.
Story: Jack Garron is an old man with only one arm. He tells everyone he lost his arm in the war. Even his family doesn't know the truth. Set in 1916, Jack tells the story of how he ran away from home to hobo the railways and find his father. But instead he finds a nightmare.
Language: Much of this graphic novel is set in tans and browns and blacks and sepias, fitting to the time period. With around 5-6 blocks per page, the art is top notch, with shadowed faces and haunting backgrounds. There is not a lot of gore in this book, but there is a lot of suspense and terror.
Characters: Our lead character is Jack, a runaway in search of his father. He plays the fiddle to earn money and carries a photo of his musician father with him in his wallet.
I read this by day, so didn't get the right atmosphere this book deserves, but I'll definitely keep an eye out for more by the author.
mhuntone's review
4.0
Short horror graphic novel and man was this great! Creepy, spooky, well told, with fantastic art!
impressionblend's review
3.0
3.5 out of 5 stars
My obsession with Scott Snyder continues. I have to say though, I expected a bit more from Severed after reading some of his other comics. The story and the way it was told reminded me of those spooky stories kids and teens tell around a campfire. It was interesting, and I liked the way it flowed, but in the end it lacked some kind of depth for me. I wasn't particularly attached to the characters either, though I did like a couple of them. Loved the art though, and the spooky atmosphere this comic creates. If you're looking for a quick creepy story - check this one out!
My obsession with Scott Snyder continues. I have to say though, I expected a bit more from Severed after reading some of his other comics. The story and the way it was told reminded me of those spooky stories kids and teens tell around a campfire. It was interesting, and I liked the way it flowed, but in the end it lacked some kind of depth for me. I wasn't particularly attached to the characters either, though I did like a couple of them. Loved the art though, and the spooky atmosphere this comic creates. If you're looking for a quick creepy story - check this one out!
leelah's review
2.0
[b:Severed|13482575|Severed|Scott Snyder|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1332112766l/13482575._SY75_.jpg|19016198] will always be a missed opportunity for me.
Snyder has the ability to sell me story twice : once through comic, and second time in afterward/preview piece when he writes about how he got inspiration, central theme,some anecdote from his life. He has a great pitch talk...it works for me (cue to his latest, [b:Wytches #1|23112254|Wytches #1|Scott Snyder|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412869355l/23112254._SX50_.jpg|62230318].
In Severed, we learn, that creative team was after "primal fear, rooted in reality."
Setting and killer who tricks children in order to eat them, I assume, is loosely based on Albert Fish, the man whose nature of crimes earned him the most fantastic nicknames in history (also known as the Gray Man, the Werewolf of Wysteria, the Brooklyn Vampire, the Moon Maniac, and The Boogey Man).
And this was the main draw for me, the "rooted in reality" part.
And this is the reason why I ended up disappointed. I liked it *because* it was not supernatural; because cannibal is the stuff of terror, but not the stuff of fantasy. Primal fear at its best!
So, why ruin it and make The Salesman supernatural being at the end?
I liked the simplicity of premise, hated the resolution.
Snyder has the ability to sell me story twice : once through comic, and second time in afterward/preview piece when he writes about how he got inspiration, central theme,some anecdote from his life. He has a great pitch talk...it works for me (cue to his latest, [b:Wytches #1|23112254|Wytches #1|Scott Snyder|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412869355l/23112254._SX50_.jpg|62230318].
In Severed, we learn, that creative team was after "primal fear, rooted in reality."
Setting and killer who tricks children in order to eat them, I assume, is loosely based on Albert Fish, the man whose nature of crimes earned him the most fantastic nicknames in history (also known as the Gray Man, the Werewolf of Wysteria, the Brooklyn Vampire, the Moon Maniac, and The Boogey Man).
And this was the main draw for me, the "rooted in reality" part.
And this is the reason why I ended up disappointed. I liked it *because* it was not supernatural; because cannibal is the stuff of terror, but not the stuff of fantasy. Primal fear at its best!
So, why ruin it and make The Salesman supernatural being at the end?
Spoiler
He was already old at the time he met Jack and tried to trick him. By his tattoos we can tell he was doing this for a long time. If by stretch of imagination I can buy he survived their culmination... apparently, 40 y later he is still alive and threatening. :|I liked the simplicity of premise, hated the resolution.