xan_van_rooyen 's review for:

Black Orchid by Neil Gaiman

5.0

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This is an odd one for me. Usually I adore Gaiman's graphic novels because the stories are so nuanced and layered and awesome, but I have to admit that with Black Orchid the art trumps the story. While the story is good, it didn't quite blow me away quite like I was hoping - the problem is that The Sandman has set the bar extremely high and I find myself disappointed when inevitably drawing comparisons. The art, however, is some of McKean's best and I was utterly absorbed by the imagery, almost to the point where I could have done without the text bubbles and followed the story pictorially instead. So, a well-deserved 5 stars to McKean for this one!