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A review by mollywetta
A Flight of Angels by Todd Mitchell, Holly Black, Alisa Kwitney, Rebecca Guay, Bill Willingham, Louise Hawes
4.0
With gorgeous illustrations and a compelling story, this is easily my favorite of all the graphic novels I have (thus far) read.
No fewer than 5 people read this while I had it checked out. Mister BS loved it. My sister loved it. My friend pointed out that Rebecca Guay is known for illustrating magic cards, and he and his girlfriend loved it.
The story opens as a group of magical creatures discover a wounded angel in the forest. Because they are unsure of what to do about the angel, several of the assembled creatures offer a story about angels as testimony on their nature so the tribunal can determine its fate.
I always love the idea of frame stories, and this one is well-executed. Each tale presents a different version of angels, and each is unique and fascinating. Each story told within the frame was left open to interpretation and seemed to only hint at deeper meaning, which fit the theme well.
I’m a fan of stories that explore angel mythology, so I was drawn to the subject matter. I especially liked the twist on the classic interpretation of Adam and Eve. The ending managed to surprise me, and that’s always a welcome reading experience for me.
The artwork is lush and detailed, so even if angels aren’t your thing, any fantasy lover will likely enjoy the drawings. They are detailed and each story features a unique style. While tasteful, there is some mild nudity, so I might not suggest it to younger teens or those who I know have more conservative parents or are averse to that kind of thing, but feel it’s generally appropriate. (And I include this personal assessment not because I think it’s a big deal, but because people often use Google search terms that lead me to believe they are looking for this type of information, so I figure I might as well include it).
The text is sparse, and there is always a clear distinction between in story and frame story text, so even as a novice graphic novel reader, I didn’t get confused. This is a great introduction to graphic novels for those curious about the form but looking for something that isn’t about superheroes.
No fewer than 5 people read this while I had it checked out. Mister BS loved it. My sister loved it. My friend pointed out that Rebecca Guay is known for illustrating magic cards, and he and his girlfriend loved it.
The story opens as a group of magical creatures discover a wounded angel in the forest. Because they are unsure of what to do about the angel, several of the assembled creatures offer a story about angels as testimony on their nature so the tribunal can determine its fate.
I always love the idea of frame stories, and this one is well-executed. Each tale presents a different version of angels, and each is unique and fascinating. Each story told within the frame was left open to interpretation and seemed to only hint at deeper meaning, which fit the theme well.
I’m a fan of stories that explore angel mythology, so I was drawn to the subject matter. I especially liked the twist on the classic interpretation of Adam and Eve. The ending managed to surprise me, and that’s always a welcome reading experience for me.
The artwork is lush and detailed, so even if angels aren’t your thing, any fantasy lover will likely enjoy the drawings. They are detailed and each story features a unique style. While tasteful, there is some mild nudity, so I might not suggest it to younger teens or those who I know have more conservative parents or are averse to that kind of thing, but feel it’s generally appropriate. (And I include this personal assessment not because I think it’s a big deal, but because people often use Google search terms that lead me to believe they are looking for this type of information, so I figure I might as well include it).
The text is sparse, and there is always a clear distinction between in story and frame story text, so even as a novice graphic novel reader, I didn’t get confused. This is a great introduction to graphic novels for those curious about the form but looking for something that isn’t about superheroes.