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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
This is a pretty great, quick little trade of a book that plants indigenous roots in future that is very much an allegory to current indigenous struggles, as it relates to the Yukon, specifically. But also issues that encompass all of Canada, such as residential schools.
In it, heroes Crow & Wolf must combat a bombastic colonizer buccaneer. While the comic is pretty straight forward and has a unique visual style I like, I really loved how there are two indigenous dialects unique to the Yukon used throughout the script. Unfortunately, sometimes the translations for each word are very small and, depending on the background, are very difficult to discern.
However, it’s a straight forward story and a visual medium, so typically it’s intuitive what the translation will be regardless. This is fantastic and fun; kids and teenagers should love this. And at the end there is a few pages dedicated to the story and intent of the story and the places and inspirations it comes from. There’s also a glossary at the back. Solid stuff.
In it, heroes Crow & Wolf must combat a bombastic colonizer buccaneer. While the comic is pretty straight forward and has a unique visual style I like, I really loved how there are two indigenous dialects unique to the Yukon used throughout the script. Unfortunately, sometimes the translations for each word are very small and, depending on the background, are very difficult to discern.
However, it’s a straight forward story and a visual medium, so typically it’s intuitive what the translation will be regardless. This is fantastic and fun; kids and teenagers should love this. And at the end there is a few pages dedicated to the story and intent of the story and the places and inspirations it comes from. There’s also a glossary at the back. Solid stuff.
A really great book that would fun to look at with a kid. Translating the language was a bit hard sometimes with the red on black text though.
really well done book, the illustrations are wonderful. I'm particularly a fan of the wood grain space background and the design of the warriors suits.
having to read the translations of the words really slowed down my reading of these comics in a really refreshing way - I usually blast right through comics/graphic novels but I was forced to take my time which make me appreciate the words and art even greater.
I would definitely recommend
having to read the translations of the words really slowed down my reading of these comics in a really refreshing way - I usually blast right through comics/graphic novels but I was forced to take my time which make me appreciate the words and art even greater.
I would definitely recommend
Indigenous futurism and language-reclaiming give the rather simple storyline a kick of cool. The Southern Tutchone words peppered in (with translations footnoted in) feel a bit clunky at first, but by the end readers are really catching on to the words and don't need the footnote-translations much at all. I just wish I had an audio reference to make sure I got the pronounciations and emphasis right!
The story is a fairly simple standard sci-fi tale of warrior partners fighting their devious enemy and his cyborg-sasquatch henchman, with clear allusions to colonialism and residential school 'abduction and assimilation', but if you don't know about that, it still stand up as a sci-fi story suitable for a child audience (though adults can read it, too).
The story is a fairly simple standard sci-fi tale of warrior partners fighting their devious enemy and his cyborg-sasquatch henchman, with clear allusions to colonialism and residential school 'abduction and assimilation', but if you don't know about that, it still stand up as a sci-fi story suitable for a child audience (though adults can read it, too).
A bilingual, language revitalization comic, with native-futurist storylines incorporating mythology and metaphor of the experiences of the First Nations tribes in the Yukon territory. Great ambition, and a fine achievement, with a visual style matching that of traditional artwork from the region. Super pleased to see this get wide distribution, and I'm eager to follow Pauls' work.
This was a super cool read! The artwork is beautiful, the use of half tones and patterns are wonderfully done. While I found the translations a little hard to read at times I really appreciated them being there so I could follow along to the story. This is such a neat project, would love to see more like it!
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
In a rich exploration of sci-fi colonialism, white supremacy, and language restoration, Cole Pauls has created an out-of-this-world (literally!) comic book featuring two Southern Tutchone space fighters with revved up traditional fighting instruments. I just loved this--it was half-filled with a language I didn't know (with helpful footnotes on every page), and by the end of the comic, I could recognize the most frequently used words without having to double check that what I was reading was correct. A great idea for Pauls to use language restoration alongside a visual medium--it makes it so much easier to comprehend and remember.
And the art style. It reminded me of home, of the Pacific Northwest, which features a lot of native artists and artwork. But even more interesting was where the similarities lay for the characters. The evil pioneer looks strangely similar to that of the cyborg sasquatches, which makes me want to do a close reading of it...so far, what I can come up with is that it is the white man who is the true "savage", but it could also say that it is the colonization of one's self (is that a thing?) that later creates supremacy. I don't know, I'm just spitballing here. I just thought that the similarities were striking and uncanny, and maybe, perhaps, meant something.
Overall, this was such a fun ride. In the back are original sketches and an essay describing what everything means to the uninformed reader (like me!). Definitely unlike anything I've ever read, and for that alone, it's a fantastic and necessary read.
Review cross-listed here!
And the art style. It reminded me of home, of the Pacific Northwest, which features a lot of native artists and artwork. But even more interesting was where the similarities lay for the characters. The evil pioneer looks strangely similar to that of the cyborg sasquatches, which makes me want to do a close reading of it...so far, what I can come up with is that it is the white man who is the true "savage", but it could also say that it is the colonization of one's self (is that a thing?) that later creates supremacy. I don't know, I'm just spitballing here. I just thought that the similarities were striking and uncanny, and maybe, perhaps, meant something.
Overall, this was such a fun ride. In the back are original sketches and an essay describing what everything means to the uninformed reader (like me!). Definitely unlike anything I've ever read, and for that alone, it's a fantastic and necessary read.
Review cross-listed here!
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a cool comic conceptually and I think it's fairly well executed. It's a bilingual comic and translations are provided, but the words are introduced gradually and in context so it's pretty easy to recognize the words by sight. There are a few translations missing a tag/highlight. Also "space" is used both in English and translated and it's unclear why
I do wish that there was a pronunciation guide
The stories are well executed. The first issue is a retelling of a traditional story. The 2nd is a clear allegory for residential schools and they do a great job of introducing it and turning a previous villain into a sympathetic character. The 3rd is based on true events in Yukon.
C - 8, A - 10, W - 9, P - 8, I - 10, L - 9, E - 8
I do wish that there was a pronunciation guide
The stories are well executed. The first issue is a retelling of a traditional story. The 2nd is a clear allegory for residential schools and they do a great job of introducing it and turning a previous villain into a sympathetic character. The 3rd is based on true events in Yukon.
C - 8, A - 10, W - 9, P - 8, I - 10, L - 9, E - 8
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced