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rbixby's review
3.0
Silly, goofy, and weird. Not a masterpiece but enjoyable all the same. In the introduction, TenNapel says he wrote the craziest story he could. I think he succeeded.
nyarasha's review
4.0
Fast read, good concepts and unique vision. An entertaining and heartwarming graphic novel including several original characters. The plot was somewhat simplistic, but that's pretty okay with me for how quickly it was started and ended.
saidtheraina's review
3.0
I consider myself something of a connoisseur of TenNapel's work. And it's interesting to read this, fairly early, work after consuming his later kid- and teen-pitched graphic novels. It clearly took a while to find his audience. This one is aimed at, and stars, adults, but includes many of the traits of his kit-oriented pieces.
There's a government research facility in a small town, charged with opening and cataloging a Indiana Jones/The Librarians/Andy Warhol trove of closed boxes. A spirit gets loose, and starts wrecking havoc. There's a little bit of overt religiosity, a small and weak love story, some yokels, and a fairly dandy symbiotic creature.
A little less graceful, a little more preachy, a little harder to follow in black and white. But I'm glad I read it, as I feel like I've gained a deeper understanding of the auteur.
There's a government research facility in a small town, charged with opening and cataloging a Indiana Jones/The Librarians/Andy Warhol trove of closed boxes. A spirit gets loose, and starts wrecking havoc. There's a little bit of overt religiosity, a small and weak love story, some yokels, and a fairly dandy symbiotic creature.
A little less graceful, a little more preachy, a little harder to follow in black and white. But I'm glad I read it, as I feel like I've gained a deeper understanding of the auteur.
bryce_is_a_librarian's review
5.0
Tenapel has away with these things.
He's a great storyteller, with a strong absurdist sense of humor that never devolves his books into novelty (You start out going, Cowboy's and Robots? and end up saying Cowboys and Robots!). His art though perhaps rough is dynamic, but it's his skills as a writer that really carry him. I defy anyone to read about the short sad life of the Meatman and not immediately want to read everything the man has ever written.
The one Caveat is Tenapel is very much a Christian, and most of his work bears the mark. I can't really imagine this bothering anyone, this isn't the Left Behind brand of assholery masquerading as Christianity. It's not attacking anyone (aside from the notion that atheists are automatically smarter then Christians, something that annoys the piss out of me as well) but he is definitely serious about religion. Indeed there's a moment in this book so bizarre, and moving that I hardly know how to react to it. But if the very mention of religion sets your teeth on edge then this one isn't for you.
He's a great storyteller, with a strong absurdist sense of humor that never devolves his books into novelty (You start out going, Cowboy's and Robots? and end up saying Cowboys and Robots!). His art though perhaps rough is dynamic, but it's his skills as a writer that really carry him. I defy anyone to read about the short sad life of the Meatman and not immediately want to read everything the man has ever written.
The one Caveat is Tenapel is very much a Christian, and most of his work bears the mark. I can't really imagine this bothering anyone, this isn't the Left Behind brand of assholery masquerading as Christianity. It's not attacking anyone (aside from the notion that atheists are automatically smarter then Christians, something that annoys the piss out of me as well) but he is definitely serious about religion. Indeed there's a moment in this book so bizarre, and moving that I hardly know how to react to it. But if the very mention of religion sets your teeth on edge then this one isn't for you.
mattgoldberg's review
5.0
Creature Tech is like someone who manages to cross a highwire, not because he's carefully balancing himself, constantly making sure not to fall. He's the guy who crosses because he's doing it Roadrunner style: moving so fast that he's not even looking down. TenNapel just throws everything at the wall and somehow it sticks. It is absolutely crazy in the best, most delightful way to the point where it can be absolutely sublime. The book just has such unbridled creativity, but never feels self-conscious as much as it's an author just having fun.
And it's so strange to even think that an author can have fun. I'm sure he put plenty of work into his book, but the sense of freedom on the page makes it seem like it all just spilled out to where the question wasn't "Why have a redneck mantid?" but "Why the hell not?" That kind of liberation spills throughout the pages to even the smallest, most enjoyable details like a hellcat demon getting hit by a truck while the baby he's holding gives an adorable smile. It's an effort that looks efortless, and one of the most fun books I've read in some time.
After reading Creature Tech, I was a little surprised to learn that TenNapel was an anti-gay bigot because the book is very much about acceptance and not prejudging others. I wish he had taken his own advice rather than carry the darker sides of his evangelical beliefs. Thankfully, I can differentiate art from artist, merrily go about my day, and tell you to read this book.
One more note: in both the foreward and afterword, the possibility of adapting Creature Tech into a movie is mentioned, and while I could see it happening, a movie wouldn't do it justice. Not everything needs to be a movie. It works great as a graphic novel. TenNapel makes the point in the afterword that it's more in line with a Saturday morning cartoon show, and I can absolutely see that. The continuing, wacky adventures would be a perfect fit, and in a world where some daring executive at Nickelodeon gave a greenlight to Invader Zim, maybe Creature Tech could find a home as an animated series. I'd certainly watch.
And it's so strange to even think that an author can have fun. I'm sure he put plenty of work into his book, but the sense of freedom on the page makes it seem like it all just spilled out to where the question wasn't "Why have a redneck mantid?" but "Why the hell not?" That kind of liberation spills throughout the pages to even the smallest, most enjoyable details like a hellcat demon getting hit by a truck while the baby he's holding gives an adorable smile. It's an effort that looks efortless, and one of the most fun books I've read in some time.
After reading Creature Tech, I was a little surprised to learn that TenNapel was an anti-gay bigot because the book is very much about acceptance and not prejudging others. I wish he had taken his own advice rather than carry the darker sides of his evangelical beliefs. Thankfully, I can differentiate art from artist, merrily go about my day, and tell you to read this book.
One more note: in both the foreward and afterword, the possibility of adapting Creature Tech into a movie is mentioned, and while I could see it happening, a movie wouldn't do it justice. Not everything needs to be a movie. It works great as a graphic novel. TenNapel makes the point in the afterword that it's more in line with a Saturday morning cartoon show, and I can absolutely see that. The continuing, wacky adventures would be a perfect fit, and in a world where some daring executive at Nickelodeon gave a greenlight to Invader Zim, maybe Creature Tech could find a home as an animated series. I'd certainly watch.
suspiciouspinecone's review
2.0
I have dubiously shelved this in the 'christian.' I don't really know if it belongs there or not.
Anyway, this whole story was absolutely insane. Just total chaos. It was great. The positioning of the only female character, on the other hand, was immensely suss.
EDIT
Ok, the longer I think about this, the less ok I am with the positioning of the female protagonist in this book. First up, addressing her as a woman: she was there just to be a woman. Only a character for the protagonist to love and save, with no agency of her own. I hate that. It's pathetic and bad writing. Now, for her as a disabled character: I also hate it. I actually hate it more. So yeah, I'm taking two stars off for this.
CW: demons, ableism, violence
Anyway, this whole story was absolutely insane. Just total chaos. It was great. The positioning of the only female character, on the other hand, was immensely suss.
EDIT
Ok, the longer I think about this, the less ok I am with the positioning of the female protagonist in this book. First up, addressing her as a woman: she was there just to be a woman. Only a character for the protagonist to love and save, with no agency of her own. I hate that. It's pathetic and bad writing. Now, for her as a disabled character: I also hate it. I actually hate it more.
Spoiler
She was born with a crippled hand, and by the end of the book, the male protagonists uses some magic water to 'heal' it. And he did so without asking her if that is what she wanted. And yeah, it sure seemed like she'd want it 'healed,' but he didn't ask. I honestly find it horrifying to imagine having something about my body changed against my will. I mean it, if I had recently lost my legs, I'd want to know if someone was going to magically heal them, instead of just waking up one day and their back. It's creepy.CW: demons, ableism, violence
ajworkman77's review
5.0
Love, love, love this author. His graphic novels read like movie story boards. So interesting, the stories never go where you think they are going to go. There is also great character development, which is hard to do when your story is 85% pictures. Read this author!