A review by helenareadsbooks
Earthdivers, Vol. 1: Kill Columbus by Stephen Graham Jones

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

EARTHDIVERS vol. 1 is essentially a giant middle finger to colonialism and I’m here for it 🙌🏾 Stephen Graham Jones, Davide Gianfelice and Joana Lafuente have given us a bold and exciting new comic series that sets out to rewrite history. 
 
The concept for this comic is amazing. It’s the year 2112 and the apocalypse has happened. Most of humanity has given up hope, except for a group of Indigenous survivors who have found a way to time travel. They figure the best way to save the world is to change the past by sending someone back to when history took a turn for the worse: the “discovery” of America. They hope that stopping Columbus on his voyage will be enough to change the world for the better. 
 
Collecting the first six issues of this series, volume 1 introduces us to several characters and three plot lines. There’s a lot going on and as a result the book feels too busy and confusing at times. However, this comic is at its best when it uses Indigenous stories and histories to tell this story, and there are several beautiful moments where this happens. This book also puts anger at the forefront (rightfully so) as we follow the main character as he tries to achieve his goal of stopping Columbus. His intense emotions are combined with vivd artwork, and this created a memorable reading experience for me. 
 
This book is brutal but important as it confronts white supremacy and tries to imagine a better world. I admire the courage and determination of these characters—they never lose hope as they fight for a new future. I’m excited to keep reading this series and learn about the new future they create.  
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