A vibrant, delightful tale of life, death, and all the amusing stuff that comes after.
Two English brothers, one dead and one alive, face off against a powerful, otherworldly group in this debut graphic novel.
After their father dies, Tibbs and Victor Baz inherit the bulk of his vast estate. They’re set for life, only Tibbs suddenly and inexplicably dies the same day as the reading of the will. He awakens in Terra Mortuum—he’s now gray and mostly skeletal but still wearing his snazzy trench coat and red scarf. He quickly earns a gaggle of posthumous friends, from Slimy Bob to whip-smart pilot Ada. But the afterlife, even with a bureaucracy and an established city like “Necro England,” is confusing and chaotic. This may stem from the Brotherhood of the Watch, a nefarious organization with chapters in the afterlife as well as the mortal world. The group, it seems, wants Tibbs and Victor’s deceased father, who oddly hasn’t shown up in Terra Mortuum. Victor and some allies, including his mother, search for his dad’s body while fending off red-cloaked Brotherhood members. As Tibbs and pals look for answers to the afterlife’s perplexities in northern Terra Mortuum, both brothers have a chance to stop a sinister plan already under way that threatens many. Howell’s story isn’t always easy to follow, though the plentiful exposition eventually clarifies most of it. But the quirky novel is consistently funny, sporting witty dialogue and visual gags. Historical figures, for example, crop up in Terra Mortuum, including Shakespeare, who turns out to be a jerk and a mean drunk, and Hitler, who offers unexpectedly sound advice. The characters, too, especially in the afterlife, display plenty of personality, like Clyde, who tends to yell whatever pops into his head. The author’s artwork also shines. Although most people in Terra Mortuum appear monstrous, their comically animated faces give them immense charm. Similarly, violent turns rarely seem intense, as even explosions burst with bold, lovely colors. The story ultimately winds down, delivering a sublime visual and narrative denouement.
A vibrant, delightful tale of life, death, and all the amusing stuff that comes after.Pub Date: April 29, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5255-9257-7
Page Count: 216
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: Jan. 13, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Even so, this remains Macbeth, arguably the Bard of Avon’s most durable and multilayered tragedy, and overall, this enhanced...
A pairing of the text of the Scottish Play with a filmed performance, designed with the Shakespeare novice in mind.
The left side of the screen of this enhanced e-book contains a full version of Macbeth, while the right side includes a performance of the dialogue shown (approximately 20 lines’ worth per page). This granular focus allows newcomers to experience the nuances of the play, which is rich in irony, hidden intentions and sudden shifts in emotional temperature. The set and costuming are deliberately simple: The background is white, and Macbeth’s “armor” is a leather jacket. But nobody’s dumbing down their performances. Francesca Faridany is particularly good as a tightly coiled Lady Macbeth; Raphael Nash-Thompson gives his roles as the drunken porter and a witch a garrulousness that carries an entertainingly sinister edge. The presentation is not without its hiccups. Matching the video on the right with the text on the left means routinely cutting off dramatic moments; at one point, users have to swipe to see and read the second half of a scene’s closing couplet—presumably an easy fix. A “tap to translate” button on each page puts the text into plain English, but the pop-up text covers up Shakespeare’s original, denying any attempts at comparison; moreover, the translation mainly redefines more obscure words, suggesting that smaller pop-ups for individual terms might be more meaningful.
Even so, this remains Macbeth, arguably the Bard of Avon’s most durable and multilayered tragedy, and overall, this enhanced e-book makes the play appealing and graspable to students . (Enhanced e-book. 12 & up)Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2013
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: The New Book Press LLC
Review Posted Online: Nov. 6, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2013
Lush visuals bring this thoughtfully constructed tale to life.
Wondrous visitors encounter a desperate pocket of humanity.
Lori, a white orphaned teen who’s finally been adopted after bouncing around various foster homes, awakens to discover that nearly everyone has disappeared. The rapture? Maybe. She runs into her classmate Annette, who has brown skin and curly black hair, and they partner up to scavenge for food. The pair tries to evade several threats, such as the large Wolves and a gang called The Dogs. Supernatural Giants arrive, seemingly from space, speaking an impenetrable language of “musical chiming and weird bass-rhythms.” Lori and Annette then meet Beatrice, an older white woman who shares important observations about the Giants and Wolves. The tone of the story then subtly shifts from post-apocalyptic desperation to one that’s somewhat playful. After a certain point, a visual element that appears early on takes on clear significance and meaning in the context of the story at large, offering a subversively humorous twist for readers to consider and a creative element that deviates from other alien invasion narratives. Hans’ artwork and paneling fill each scene with wonders. An interaction with a giant sees the red, violet, and pink figure standing against a bright, otherworldly white-and-blue backdrop with dark contours. Elsewhere, Lori and Annette pause at night as they behold ominous shadows, their foggy breath forming clouds, and they hear a “KRRNCH” sound. The quick-moving plot wraps everything up neatly.
Lush visuals bring this thoughtfully constructed tale to life. (character designs) (Graphic science fiction. 14-adult)Pub Date: Nov. 12, 2024
ISBN: 9781534387072
Page Count: 104
Publisher: Image Comics
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2024
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