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hanxue's review
1.0
Thank you Netgalley for offering me an ARC of a legacy of violence.
This did not seem to be the right read for me, I'm an avid horror reader and enjoyer of the genre however this comic came off a bit exploitative especially as it was based on the very real Unit 731 which existed during WWII. It seems disrespectful to the survivors and families of the victims who suffered the inhuman tortures in that place.
Apart from that, the killer of this comic was a very random person who came off quite laughably corny and did not relate at all to the story somehow and just seemed there for the shock value, just as the inhuman tortures of real life victims were used for shock value in this comic.
This is not at all what horror readers are looking for in a comic, it could have been done well and respectfully but it ended up to be a waste of time and effort.
This did not seem to be the right read for me, I'm an avid horror reader and enjoyer of the genre however this comic came off a bit exploitative especially as it was based on the very real Unit 731 which existed during WWII. It seems disrespectful to the survivors and families of the victims who suffered the inhuman tortures in that place.
Apart from that, the killer of this comic was a very random person who came off quite laughably corny and did not relate at all to the story somehow and just seemed there for the shock value, just as the inhuman tortures of real life victims were used for shock value in this comic.
This is not at all what horror readers are looking for in a comic, it could have been done well and respectfully but it ended up to be a waste of time and effort.
jkenna1990's review
5.0
Would you like to read a fantastic horror graphic novel! Then look no further! In this we follow our main character, Dr. Nicholas Shaw, who is traveling with a group of doctors to Honduras. He's trying to outrun a traumatic experience but it seems that it's followed him. Or maybe it's something more sinister? Hopefully we'll get some more answers in volume 2!
bookishtrina's review
I really enjoyed A Legacy of Violence, Vol. 1. The image style and word-image relationships and references were superb! The storyline was so intriguing I consumed it in one sitting.
I received a review copy of this book from the author/publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I received a review copy of this book from the author/publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
jhstack's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
confettichloe's review
4.0
I really liked Cullen Bunn’s A Legacy of Violence, and am excited to read further installments in the series! Bunn builds suspense artfully throughout the story, and his pacing is perfect. I was easily drawn into the plot from the very first page. The visual aesthetic of the artwork pairs wonderfully with the dark mystery confronted by the characters, and the composition of different scenes throughout the story was amazing.
Going into the book, I was a little nervous about reading it due to the gore implied by the cover. Many graphic novels I have read that included horror themes seemed to rely a little too much on the gore itself instead of fully developing the plot and crafting an interesting world. However, this is definitely not the case in A Legacy of Violence. The gore included in the story never felt like too much, and each moment of violence added to the storyline in concrete ways. I loved the overall plot, and am already looking forward to the next volume’s release!
Going into the book, I was a little nervous about reading it due to the gore implied by the cover. Many graphic novels I have read that included horror themes seemed to rely a little too much on the gore itself instead of fully developing the plot and crafting an interesting world. However, this is definitely not the case in A Legacy of Violence. The gore included in the story never felt like too much, and each moment of violence added to the storyline in concrete ways. I loved the overall plot, and am already looking forward to the next volume’s release!
reads_vicariously's review
2.0
The kills are gory and the art is fine, but overall the story is kind of boring. Someone is killing people to get the doctor's attention. One doctor has a traumatic past and may know more about what's happening than he realizes. It also hinges around the elusive "unit 731", a fact that is repeated ad nauseam throughout the volume. None of the characters are really developed and I'm not invested enough to uncover the mystery. Definitely not Cullen Bunn's best writing.
hngisreading's review
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
sal_tinajero's review
4.0
I received a free e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios!
CW: blood and gore
This graphic novel was a fun mix of slasher and whodunnit on a larger scale than I was expecting. Given the book being short, I was at first concerned pacing would be an issue. Thankfully, it wasn’t at all. I was able to linger in strange, uncomfortable moments for just the right amount of time. I also thought we would’ve faced one or two murders max, but this kill count is already getting pretty high after the first installment.
The art was perfect for this book. The illustrations and coloring left just enough to the imagination for you to fill in the blanks, and I particularly am a sucker for black-and-white flashbacks. I still have a few questions after reading this, but nothing that will stop me reaching for the second volume.
Overall, if you’re looking for a macabre read with some stand out gruesome moments, this is the book for you.
CW: blood and gore
This graphic novel was a fun mix of slasher and whodunnit on a larger scale than I was expecting. Given the book being short, I was at first concerned pacing would be an issue. Thankfully, it wasn’t at all. I was able to linger in strange, uncomfortable moments for just the right amount of time. I also thought we would’ve faced one or two murders max, but this kill count is already getting pretty high after the first installment.
The art was perfect for this book. The illustrations and coloring left just enough to the imagination for you to fill in the blanks, and I particularly am a sucker for black-and-white flashbacks. I still have a few questions after reading this, but nothing that will stop me reaching for the second volume.
Overall, if you’re looking for a macabre read with some stand out gruesome moments, this is the book for you.
howlinglibraries's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Cullen Bunn's works tend to be a bit hit-and-miss for me, and sadly, this one was a miss. It felt like I was getting the middle of a story that was missing the beginning and never effectively worked its way back to explain what was happening, or why. I did get a bit more interested in the backstory by the end of this volume, but it ended so abruptly that my interest fizzled out and I probably won't continue the series.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Child abuse
librarianryan's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a gruesome and very graphic novel. It is not for the faint of heart. It is a graphic, graphic novel, full of bloody body horror. This book takes place at various time periods time. In 1966, and in two different 1985 within two weeks of each other. In 1966, as a child, Dr. Shaw found a film strip about something called unit 731. We don’t know what that was. In 1985, in Atlanta strange murders were taking place and it sent Dr. Shah way from the hospital and into the arms of doctors without borders. While in Honduras, the same type of gruesome murders are happening again. The reader is treated to knowledge of someone who wears a punisher type mask and he has nefarious and evil plans, but no idea why. Dr. Shaw has run away from what happened in Atlanta just to find out it’s happening again and unit 731 keeps coming up. This is only 90 pages and there’s not enough to tell you what is happening. However, it’s enough to get you intrigued to say I need a volume two. I want to know what’s going on because certain characters aren’t what they seem and who is the man behind the basket, and what happened to Dr. Shaw. I need to know!