Scan barcode
A review by raforall
Victor Lavalle's Destroyer, Volume 1 by Victor LaValle
3.0
The start of what I hope will be a long running series that will allow us to explore more of these characters. This is compilation of first 6 issues and it does feel a little rushed on character development- heavy on plot. However, I think this is because LaValle did not get commitment to keep the story going. I hope he is allowed to though because in his other work, his development of amazing characters is the best thing about his prose. Personally I am a character driven reader, but I still enjoyed the story quite a bit.
Using Frankenstein as the frame, LaValle tells a very modern story of revenge, race, science-- basically it takes a classic story and makes it VERY MUCH about right now. I think it many ways it is much scarier than Frankenstein because it keeps the themes of the original but strips the historic feeling of it. There is no denying it is about today and that is terrifying.
I do love the backstory on how the monster comes into our times. It literally begins with a splash. This book will appeal to fans of the original, and comics fans, and LaValle fans. With the 200th Anniversary of Frankenstein being celebrated all this year [2018], many readers are seeking out Frankenstein adjacent titles. This is a great suggestion.
The art has very much a comic book feel-- like a super hero novel. Personally, I prefer a less comics style, but I totally get why the artists did this. It makes what is a deep, literary story a bit more accessible to a larger group of people.
Three Words That Describe This Book: reimagining a classic, revenge, monsters [real and supernatural]
Readalikes: Of course Frankenstein, but specifically, I would urge you to read the New Annotated Frankenstein by Les Klinger. I have a full review here: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2017/08/what-im-reading-booklist-horror.html
But this is also a good read for fans of other monster graphic novels. This one reminded me of the American Vampire series by Snyder. That series is also based off of preexisting material [historical events] and features monsters both human and not. I have a review of the first one n the series here: http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/2010/11/review-american-vampire.html
In terms of another horror novel that takes a well mined trope and brings it up to the present, addressing current political and social issues with a focus on action, I would suggest Jonathan Maberry's Joe Ledger series.
Using Frankenstein as the frame, LaValle tells a very modern story of revenge, race, science-- basically it takes a classic story and makes it VERY MUCH about right now. I think it many ways it is much scarier than Frankenstein because it keeps the themes of the original but strips the historic feeling of it. There is no denying it is about today and that is terrifying.
I do love the backstory on how the monster comes into our times. It literally begins with a splash. This book will appeal to fans of the original, and comics fans, and LaValle fans. With the 200th Anniversary of Frankenstein being celebrated all this year [2018], many readers are seeking out Frankenstein adjacent titles. This is a great suggestion.
The art has very much a comic book feel-- like a super hero novel. Personally, I prefer a less comics style, but I totally get why the artists did this. It makes what is a deep, literary story a bit more accessible to a larger group of people.
Three Words That Describe This Book: reimagining a classic, revenge, monsters [real and supernatural]
Readalikes: Of course Frankenstein, but specifically, I would urge you to read the New Annotated Frankenstein by Les Klinger. I have a full review here: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2017/08/what-im-reading-booklist-horror.html
But this is also a good read for fans of other monster graphic novels. This one reminded me of the American Vampire series by Snyder. That series is also based off of preexisting material [historical events] and features monsters both human and not. I have a review of the first one n the series here: http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/2010/11/review-american-vampire.html
In terms of another horror novel that takes a well mined trope and brings it up to the present, addressing current political and social issues with a focus on action, I would suggest Jonathan Maberry's Joe Ledger series.