Scan barcode
A review by alannajane
Cosmic Detective by David Rubín, Jeff Lemire, Matt Kindt
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 stars.
I really enjoyed this graphic novel, and read it through in one sitting. The illustrations and colours used perfectly set the tone for this gritty, otherworldly noir detective adventure. The characters are fun, and the storyline well-timed.
It certainly contains ongoing tropes that I am trying to avoid these days by reading work from more diverse authors. The gender/patriarchal stereotypes are so strong that it had me rolling my eyes, and wondering if this was written for a 1950's audience! The big strong male detective, with a loving stay-at-home wife and mother to his children (or he at least thinks he has), a helpless kidnapped pregnant woman, an elderly female archivist, and lonely male mortician.... it really is too much. I sincerely hope that the younger generations of artists can rise up with a vast range of diverse representation on all fronts, and steer away from playing out the same tired tropes that ableist, white supremacist, patriarchal, capitalist systems have spoon-fed us for far too long.
For the art's sake, which I believe to be very strong, I will give this graphic novel a solid 3.5 stars.
Huge gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher, Image Comics, for an eARC of this graphic novel in exchange for my (probably far too) honest opinion.
I really enjoyed this graphic novel, and read it through in one sitting. The illustrations and colours used perfectly set the tone for this gritty, otherworldly noir detective adventure. The characters are fun, and the storyline well-timed.
It certainly contains ongoing tropes that I am trying to avoid these days by reading work from more diverse authors. The gender/patriarchal stereotypes are so strong that it had me rolling my eyes, and wondering if this was written for a 1950's audience! The big strong male detective, with a loving stay-at-home wife and mother to his children (or he at least thinks he has), a helpless kidnapped pregnant woman, an elderly female archivist, and lonely male mortician.... it really is too much. I sincerely hope that the younger generations of artists can rise up with a vast range of diverse representation on all fronts, and steer away from playing out the same tired tropes that ableist, white supremacist, patriarchal, capitalist systems have spoon-fed us for far too long.
For the art's sake, which I believe to be very strong, I will give this graphic novel a solid 3.5 stars.
Huge gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher, Image Comics, for an eARC of this graphic novel in exchange for my (probably far too) honest opinion.