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nolansmock's review against another edition
5.0
Extreme pathos. I burst into tears at the last panel. It's both horrifying and touching. I wish there was more but its brevity only makes it more intense. I'm partial to sci-fi that gets in your feelings, so YMMV. The story is sticky, though, and so are the characters. There's an audio drama now? A movie in the works? Sign me up. I want to stay with them just a little longer. Funny how that's one of the biggest themes of the book, now that I think about it...
a2lulu's review against another edition
3.0
Some similar tropes as in Frankenstein, Bladerunner, Ex Machina, etc… but with cloning.
Definitely made me think of David Cronenberg films. I read that this was optioned, I hope the film gets made.
Definitely made me think of David Cronenberg films. I read that this was optioned, I hope the film gets made.
chelseaterrisscott's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
temptershell's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
"Upgrade Soul" Ezry Claytana Danielsa to komiks, który wnikliwie bada tematy dotyczące tożsamości, moralności i konsekwencji naukowych eksperymentów. Daniels, zdobywca nagrody McDuffie, serwuje czytelnikom historię Hanka i Molly Nonnarów, dojrzałego małżeństwa, które decyduje się na eksperymentalną procedurę odmłodzenia ciała i umysłu. Co się jednak stanie, gdy wynik eksperymentu okażą się problemem dla ludzkiej etyki (i estetyki)?
Komiks rozpoczyna się obiecująco, z wizją doktora Kentona Kallose, który proponuje Nonnarom odzyskanie młodości. Z pozoru prosty i kuszący plan, który z każdą stroną nabiera coraz mroczniejszych barw. Czytelnicy śledzą, jak Hank i Molly zmieniają się nie tylko zewnętrznie – ich klony, nazwane Manuela i Henry, są fizycznie zdeformowane, lecz niezwykle zaawansowane intelektualnie.
Daniels zadaje pytania o esencję człowieczeństwa: Czy nowa, "ulepszona" wersja nas samych wciąż jest nami? Jakie prawa mają klony, które dzielą wspomnienia i doświadczenia swoich oryginałów? Czy możemy uznać je za pełnoprawne osobowości? Fabuła "Upgrade Soul" jest przesiąknięta nie tylko naukowym językiem, ale i głębokimi filozoficznymi rozważaniami, które są znakiem rozpoznawczym najlepszych dzieł science fiction.
Wizualnie komiks jest równie porywający. Daniels używa jaskrawych, czasem niemal szokujących obrazów, aby przedstawić kontrast między starością a nowo zrodzoną młodością, między pięknem a deformacją, które wzmacniają emocjonalny rezonans opowieści.
"Upgrade Soul" nie jest lekturą dla każdego – to złożona opowieść, która wymaga od czytelnika zaangażowania i refleksji. Jednak dla tych, którzy gotowi są zanurzyć się w głębokie, etyczne pytania dotyczące przyszłości ludzkości, stanowi on niezwykle satysfakcjonujące doświadczenie. Komiks ten, będąc zarówno thrillerem naukowym, dramatem emocjonalnym, jak i filozoficzną rozprawą, zostawia trwałe wrażenie i skłania do przemyśleń długo po zakończeniu lektury.
Na podstawie zarówno treści, jak i formy artystycznej, "Upgrade Soul" Ezry Claytana Danielsa zdecydowanie zasługuje na miejsce w kanonie współczesnych komiksów science fiction i jest pozycją obowiązkową dla miłośników gatunku.
Komiks rozpoczyna się obiecująco, z wizją doktora Kentona Kallose, który proponuje Nonnarom odzyskanie młodości. Z pozoru prosty i kuszący plan, który z każdą stroną nabiera coraz mroczniejszych barw. Czytelnicy śledzą, jak Hank i Molly zmieniają się nie tylko zewnętrznie – ich klony, nazwane Manuela i Henry, są fizycznie zdeformowane, lecz niezwykle zaawansowane intelektualnie.
Daniels zadaje pytania o esencję człowieczeństwa: Czy nowa, "ulepszona" wersja nas samych wciąż jest nami? Jakie prawa mają klony, które dzielą wspomnienia i doświadczenia swoich oryginałów? Czy możemy uznać je za pełnoprawne osobowości? Fabuła "Upgrade Soul" jest przesiąknięta nie tylko naukowym językiem, ale i głębokimi filozoficznymi rozważaniami, które są znakiem rozpoznawczym najlepszych dzieł science fiction.
Wizualnie komiks jest równie porywający. Daniels używa jaskrawych, czasem niemal szokujących obrazów, aby przedstawić kontrast między starością a nowo zrodzoną młodością, między pięknem a deformacją, które wzmacniają emocjonalny rezonans opowieści.
"Upgrade Soul" nie jest lekturą dla każdego – to złożona opowieść, która wymaga od czytelnika zaangażowania i refleksji. Jednak dla tych, którzy gotowi są zanurzyć się w głębokie, etyczne pytania dotyczące przyszłości ludzkości, stanowi on niezwykle satysfakcjonujące doświadczenie. Komiks ten, będąc zarówno thrillerem naukowym, dramatem emocjonalnym, jak i filozoficzną rozprawą, zostawia trwałe wrażenie i skłania do przemyśleń długo po zakończeniu lektury.
Na podstawie zarówno treści, jak i formy artystycznej, "Upgrade Soul" Ezry Claytana Danielsa zdecydowanie zasługuje na miejsce w kanonie współczesnych komiksów science fiction i jest pozycją obowiązkową dla miłośników gatunku.
Przyjemność 3,8/5
Styl: 4,5/5
Historia: 4,7/5
Ocena 4,31/5
jessep's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Powerful. I can tell I'm going to keep thinking about the concepts brought up here.
What matters most? Potential? Capability? Experience and memory? A normal physical body?
We say happily that an infant has 10 fingers and toes. How devaluing is it to have 9? What does that mean to folks who aren't "normal"?
What matters most? Potential? Capability? Experience and memory? A normal physical body?
We say happily that an infant has 10 fingers and toes. How devaluing is it to have 9? What does that mean to folks who aren't "normal"?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Medical trauma
tophat8855's review against another edition
4.0
Do you like Black Mirror? Do you want Black Mirror episode to be in graphic novel form? Here’s your book!
Very well done, great story and art. Uncomfortable at times because that’s how science fiction works. Makes you think of all the important questions: what makes a person themselves? Is it their personality? Their memories? Can we beat death?
Not for kids.
Very well done, great story and art. Uncomfortable at times because that’s how science fiction works. Makes you think of all the important questions: what makes a person themselves? Is it their personality? Their memories? Can we beat death?
Not for kids.
geekwayne's review against another edition
5.0
'Upgrade Soul' by Ezra Claytan Daniels is a wild ride of a graphic novel. It also manages to address some interesting issues along the way like identity, aging, and what makes us human.
Hank and Molly Nonnar are celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary. Hank buys them an unusual present. A chance to be on the ground floor for a medical procedure that could rejuvenate them and extend their lives. What happens instead is that they wake up in hideous parodies of human bodies. Then they find out there is more. They've been cloned, but the original Hank and Molly need to stay close. As the days go by, the clones get stronger and smarter and Hank and Molly grow more feeble. There are other surprises along the way, but I dare not spoil them.
What a weird read. When it was over, I couldn't stop thinking about it. The art is unusual, but fits the story very well. The story and the topics bring up are interesting for a graphic novel. At the heart is a story of technology and pride, but also this aging couple who just want to live a little longer.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Lion Forge, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this unusual graphic novel.
Hank and Molly Nonnar are celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary. Hank buys them an unusual present. A chance to be on the ground floor for a medical procedure that could rejuvenate them and extend their lives. What happens instead is that they wake up in hideous parodies of human bodies. Then they find out there is more. They've been cloned, but the original Hank and Molly need to stay close. As the days go by, the clones get stronger and smarter and Hank and Molly grow more feeble. There are other surprises along the way, but I dare not spoil them.
What a weird read. When it was over, I couldn't stop thinking about it. The art is unusual, but fits the story very well. The story and the topics bring up are interesting for a graphic novel. At the heart is a story of technology and pride, but also this aging couple who just want to live a little longer.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Lion Forge, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this unusual graphic novel.
lsparrow's review against another edition
3.0
so many ideas and questions about what makes us who we are, what are the limits of science. kind of morbidly interesting.
livlamentloathe's review against another edition
5.0
oh man oh man oh man oh man
Got halfway through, was affronted that this was so close to “Living with Yourself,” with 100% less Paul Rudd. Then I realized this was published first so the affront faded. I think most of my thoughts would be spoilers.
The ending is just awful. Hopeful. But the misery experienced along the way… it can’t have been worth it. Molly and Hank were so strong. I’m giving it 5 stars cause I can’t pinpoint a better way to end it or even a better idea for this story at all. It was well wrapped. Well written. Fucked up beyond imagining but poignant.
Got halfway through, was affronted that this was so close to “Living with Yourself,” with 100% less Paul Rudd. Then I realized this was published first so the affront faded. I think most of my thoughts would be spoilers.
The ending is just awful. Hopeful. But the misery experienced along the way… it can’t have been worth it. Molly and Hank were so strong. I’m giving it 5 stars cause I can’t pinpoint a better way to end it or even a better idea for this story at all. It was well wrapped. Well written. Fucked up beyond imagining but poignant.
hectaizani's review against another edition
4.0
Everyone ages, but one elderly couple learns of an experimental procedure that could restore their youth. A massive donation secures them the right to be the human test subjects. Naturally, there is a problem and the results are wildly different from what they expected. Instead of their physical bodies being rejuvenated they end up with cloned copies. Cloned copies that were halted early in the developmental process so they are unfinished and disfigured. Yet the clones are intellectually and physically superior to the originals. So, the question is can they coexist?
The concept is superb and quite unique asking some nearly unanswerable questions about identity. The execution was a little confusing because of the flashbacks and jumps in the timeline. The art style is striking and well drawn. Overall, a well crafted and disturbing science fiction story that will appeal to readers who like complex philosophical concepts in their comics.
I requested a review copy from Net Galley in return for an honest review.
The concept is superb and quite unique asking some nearly unanswerable questions about identity. The execution was a little confusing because of the flashbacks and jumps in the timeline. The art style is striking and well drawn. Overall, a well crafted and disturbing science fiction story that will appeal to readers who like complex philosophical concepts in their comics.
I requested a review copy from Net Galley in return for an honest review.