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billyjepma's reviews
610 reviews
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I don't know how to say this without sounding disparaging, which I don't intend to be, but the story feels like something you'd find in fan fiction. That's not usually something I mind, as those tropes are popular for good reasons, but they didn't click for me in this context. Despite my misgivings about the story around them, I'm still invested enough in the cast of fresh-faced heroes to want to see where they go next.
If this were a standalone series, I would be more forgiving, probably, but I'm also not sure how compelled to continue I'd be. As part of an ongoing storyline I'm already significantly invested in, it's disappointing. It makes me question more than ever whether the choice to have Phase 2 of The High Republic as a "prequel" series was the best, especially since this first outing has yet to establish a solid direction for the rest of the stories moving forward. I'm obviously in for the whole shebang, so I'm ready and willing to be proven wrong, but the momentum and investment I had in Phase 1 of THR have yet to translate over so far.
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and War
Minor: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
But yeah, I still really liked the volume. Cool monster, Dell’edera’s art continues to improve (the sun-soaked landscapes are a welcome change of pace from the murky darkness of earlier outings), and I remain, as ever, a sucker for those small-town-on-the-brink-of-extinction vibes that Tynion is so good at using.
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Animal cruelty and Pedophilia
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Moderate: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Caspian’s backstory section might be the standout specifically because it deviates from the familiar elements the series is famous for. But outside that single section, he drifts into the background and practically disappears from the story. The number of ideas in the story is great; they just lack the same focus Lewis usually brings to his writing.
But even then, there’s no denying how effortlessly enjoyable this is. It is fun to see the Pevensies as slightly older and more experienced, with Edmund being the standout, having undergone the most dramatic character arc previously. Their dynamic feels natural, and their playful banter and bickering are the best. I was especially fond of the Dear Little Friend they encountered. I almost wish more time was devoted to hanging out with them in the woods. That entire section is so cozy, and I love how much of Lewis’ writing is generally really good at capturing the vibe you get as a kid when you’re hanging out at a fire pit. It’s the best.
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I don't think Chiang's interpretation of these characters is all that surprising, but I consider that a positive, especially considering how many of these Black Label miniseries' have struggled. Having four issues to work with versus the usual three also helps and should definitely be the standard the label uses moving forward. I respect that Chiang kept his iterations subtler, as it allows him to piggyback off what we know of these characters, which also helps his characterizations feel more organic. That's a lot of words to say that I loved a lot of what Chiang did here.
His art is also reliably excellent, the coloring especially. His illustrations strike a good balance between playful and mature, but the colors make the book's visuals soar. There's so much volume to the pages Chiang turns out, from the vibrantly dense environments to the specific expressions of the characters—this is a gorgeous book. Consider this a 4.5-star book and one I can absolutely see myself revisiting.
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, and Police brutality
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The very concept of a single-location murder mystery in a spaceship is enough of a hook to get me. If you’re willing to be patient, Thompson’s storytelling delivers on and exceeds the expectations of that initial conceit. I love the themes stitched into the plot, appreciate how they exist analogously to the story, and pay off in simultaneously rewarding and frustrating ways. Which is a good thing in my book because the themes Thompson introduces are too big and, in some ways, too abstract to have a proper resolution. I appreciate that he lets his characters (and, by extension, his reader) sit in that vaguely uncomfortable space. Take away the headiness, though, and you still have a simmering thriller that feels like the twisted love child of Seven, The Martian, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, with some tasteful hints of a Hercule Poirot caper mixed in for good measure.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Child death, Racial slurs, Cannibalism, Colonisation, and Classism
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
”He’s just a ghost. A ghost dressed in weeds.”
Alright, I think I finally understand why so many people are obsessed with Swamp Thing. I love reading Alan Moore because it feels like reading a classic gothic novel nobody talks about. He’s weird, creative, not afraid to be mean, and has an inescapable empathy that keeps his stories somehow hopeful despite the darker pessimism he seems drawn toward. He finds humanity in monsters, monsters in humanity, and watching him explore the fragile lines between the two in these stories was a treat. I had to pace myself because of how strong of a punch each issue hit me with.
And there’s that art—moody, gorgeous, grotesque, romantic, deliriously vibrant. It’s unreal how impressive just about every page and panel are. Some of the “action” scenes, if you can call them that, aren’t always easy to follow, but that’s a minor thing when so much of the comic feels like a psychedelic, phantasmagorical art piece. I can’t wait to read the rest of this run.
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
3.5
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The setup we get is interesting, though, and the book ends on a note I’m eager to see continued in the next book. Yee may have gotten off to a more sluggish start with this, but I’m confident it’ll pick up.
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Alcohol