A gritty neonoir tale with a brisk and often compelling storyline.
A former cop investigates the disappearance of a billionaire’s daughter on the moon in this SF graphic novel by writer Crater and artist Couceiro.
In an alternate-reality version of 1997, the space race with the Soviet Union led to colonization of the moon. The United States came out ahead in the end, with their people living in glowing lunar cities under domes of glass. However, the settlements are riddled with crime, often involving a new drug called Stardust and social outcasts known as “Darksiders,” who are often former Soviets. Billionaire CEO Robert Brooks is a leading proponent of the moon outpost’s rugged capitalist ethos, and when his 9-year-old daughter, Penny, is kidnapped, private investigator Daniel Schwinn is put on the case. He used to be a shining star in the Lunar Defense Services, but he went off the rails after his daughter died in a horrific accident. He’s been scraping by as part of the force’s cleanup crew, but he’s brought back into the fold when all the other leads in Penny’s case dry up. He quickly learns there’s a much bigger case at play than a simple kidnapping for ransom. Soon, Schwinn is drawn into the depths of an underworld that he thought he despised. The graphic novel’s explosive conclusion answers many of the story’s original questions, but it also appealingly opens the door for further sequels. Couceiro’s illustrations are atmospheric and detailed throughout, supplementing the text by providing necessary context. Crater’s plot proceeds at a fast pace that generally works quite well, but there are several elements that would have benefited from additional explanation. A similar issue affects the action sequences, which move almost too quickly, and could have used a bit more suspense to make their payoffs more effective. The hardboiled tone is well executed and provides a familiar genre tether for mystery fans.
A gritty neonoir tale with a brisk and often compelling storyline.Pub Date: June 17, 2025
ISBN: 9781545817841
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
Review Posted Online: May 7, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
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
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
