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A review by ravenousbibliophile
The Umbrella Academy, Vol. 1: Apocalypse Suite by Gerard Way
4.0
Blurb: A treat for those who are looking for something off the beaten path when it comes to the super-hero genre.
Review: A significant super-hero/hero trope that has been prevalent through the ages (as Joseph Campbell has elucidated in his work) is the surmounting of obstacles both physical and emotional. How they handle said crisis and obstacles decide the kind of super-hero/villain they become in the future. Suffice it to say that the students of the Umbrella academy have more than a few unresolved issues to take care of. The pace at which the story proceeds is fast, and the skipping between timelines (Past, present and future) never feels excessive or even unnecessary. If anything, it provides you with just enough information about character and circumstance to keep you interested in reading the next page of the story.
The artwork is beautiful and despite feverish activity in some panels, the dialogues are never lost in the drawings. The best aspect in the whole series was the beginning page of every new issue, where snippets of information are given on each of the main characters, and along with information comes the perspective of the person who is responsible for compiling the data. This in my opinion was an excellent way to set the tone and rhythm for every upcoming issue.
My only criticism is that certain character traits simply appear out of nowhere and not all the characters are given adequate development. I hope that as I sink my teeth into volume 2, my criticism will transform into praise.
Review: A significant super-hero/hero trope that has been prevalent through the ages (as Joseph Campbell has elucidated in his work) is the surmounting of obstacles both physical and emotional. How they handle said crisis and obstacles decide the kind of super-hero/villain they become in the future. Suffice it to say that the students of the Umbrella academy have more than a few unresolved issues to take care of. The pace at which the story proceeds is fast, and the skipping between timelines (Past, present and future) never feels excessive or even unnecessary. If anything, it provides you with just enough information about character and circumstance to keep you interested in reading the next page of the story.
The artwork is beautiful and despite feverish activity in some panels, the dialogues are never lost in the drawings. The best aspect in the whole series was the beginning page of every new issue, where snippets of information are given on each of the main characters, and along with information comes the perspective of the person who is responsible for compiling the data. This in my opinion was an excellent way to set the tone and rhythm for every upcoming issue.
My only criticism is that certain character traits simply appear out of nowhere and not all the characters are given adequate development. I hope that as I sink my teeth into volume 2, my criticism will transform into praise.