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stockytots's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tromatojuice's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
lmcox's review
4.0
"Nowhere Men" surprised me with how good it was, especially since I knew very little about it. It feels like a very smart sci-fi deconstruction of the traditional superhero book - a bunch of people on a space station fall ill with a variety of bizarre effects, effectively giving them superpowers, but the focus is on the technology, culture, and socio-corporate mega-factions that impact the world.
The people on the aforementioned space station all work for Emerson Strange, who in the 70s was part of a group of four men (Dade Ellis, Emerson Strange, Simon Grimshaw, and Thomas Walker) who led a company (and apparently the world) in technological advancement. Their group efforts, which come across as a kind of fusion of the Beatles with early 90s tech start-ups, made science the equivalent of rock and roll. (The authors have said that they were directly inspired by both the Beatles and the story of Apple's origin.) Scientists are profiled in pop magazines, there are groups of punk science enthusiasts roaming the world, and peoples' pop heroes are scientists. One of those four men, Thomas Walker is now missing, considered dead. Dade Ellis is sick, cared for in secret by Strange, and both Strange and Grimshaw are pursuing their own secret projects. Grimshaw might be a little bit evil - he definitely seems like a sociopath.
Given the many threads of the story that follow different groups of people at different time periods, I'm surprised that 1) it was generally clear when and who we were seeing, and 2) there is so much story covered in one volume, and they don't sacrifice setting or character to do it. While I can't remember a single character's name without looking it up, that's just my brain's fault, and I have a very distinct idea of each character's physical characteristics, personality, and relationships. I absolutely adore the fake advertisements and the use of newspaper/magazine article/book excerpt formats to convey both story and world-building elements. So much fun to read, and I can't wait to read more.
The people on the aforementioned space station all work for Emerson Strange, who in the 70s was part of a group of four men (Dade Ellis, Emerson Strange, Simon Grimshaw, and Thomas Walker) who led a company (and apparently the world) in technological advancement. Their group efforts, which come across as a kind of fusion of the Beatles with early 90s tech start-ups, made science the equivalent of rock and roll. (The authors have said that they were directly inspired by both the Beatles and the story of Apple's origin.) Scientists are profiled in pop magazines, there are groups of punk science enthusiasts roaming the world, and peoples' pop heroes are scientists. One of those four men, Thomas Walker is now missing, considered dead. Dade Ellis is sick, cared for in secret by Strange, and both Strange and Grimshaw are pursuing their own secret projects. Grimshaw might be a little bit evil - he definitely seems like a sociopath.
Given the many threads of the story that follow different groups of people at different time periods, I'm surprised that 1) it was generally clear when and who we were seeing, and 2) there is so much story covered in one volume, and they don't sacrifice setting or character to do it. While I can't remember a single character's name without looking it up, that's just my brain's fault, and I have a very distinct idea of each character's physical characteristics, personality, and relationships. I absolutely adore the fake advertisements and the use of newspaper/magazine article/book excerpt formats to convey both story and world-building elements. So much fun to read, and I can't wait to read more.
whitethief's review
3.0
No le entiendo a esto y no me siento enganchado: me gusta el estilo y como que la premisa es intersante pero no voy a estar leyendo reportajes crípticos falsos sobre compañías y sus creadores.
lilfrankybooks's review
4.0
Man, I love Image's mad science books. 4 super-scientists easily equated to the Beatles start a science corporation, things go sideways. A "virus" is unleashed that turns people into unpredictable mutant type things.
patrick_'s review
4.0
Smart and clever wit it's premise of what if scientist were the equivalent of rock and roll stars. Good dialogue and pacing. A little confusing with jumping back and forth in time (and certain character changes) but still very engaging.
namal's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
tapsandtomes's review
3.0
See full review here: http://ilayreading.com/2016/03/03/nowhere-men/
I am intrigued by this comic enough to add Vol. 2 to my TBR. I want to know what happens next–maybe not enough to pay full price for it, but I’ll see if my library has a copy. It was a good read, and one I wouldn’t have heard of most likely, without the bundle.
I am intrigued by this comic enough to add Vol. 2 to my TBR. I want to know what happens next–maybe not enough to pay full price for it, but I’ll see if my library has a copy. It was a good read, and one I wouldn’t have heard of most likely, without the bundle.
will_sargent's review
3.0
It's basically Jonathon Hickman writing the Fantastic Four. I appreciated the overall plot, but I found the constant jumps backwards and forwards in time to be more distracting than cool, and I thought the link between the Beatles and the Nowhere Men to be overblown... there's not much point in referencing popular culture if you're not going to make it a story about popular culture, after all.
Still, it's something new-ish, so I like it.
Still, it's something new-ish, so I like it.