An intriguing graphic novel featuring a story of corporate irresponsibility with supernatural themes.
A young woman seeks justice for the exploited workers of her town in this graphic novel, written by Mulligan and illustrated by Pyrink.
The story begins at a funeral in Richland, Washington, where the late Jared Fleming’s husband, Van, and daughter, Ali, are delivering eulogies to their departed loved one. In these speeches, they both allude to mysterious illnesses that the townsfolk have been experiencing, and to the fact that Jared’s death was unnatural. After the ceremony, Jared’s coworker, who calls herself Jane, reaffirms this theory to Van, noting that Jared may have died due to cracks in a local tunnel. Ali becomes determined to find out more before she must return to college. Over the summer, her friends, Brett and Shannon, worked at the same company that Jared did, and they confirm that the company violated multiple health and safety regulations—specifically regarding the handling of toxic materials. They believe this contributed to Jared’s eventual death from cancer, as something similar happened to Shannon’s uncle. They also provide Ali with a lead via a group called Hanford Connect, made up of former employees of the company who dedicate themselves to pursuing restitution for wronged families. After several suspicious occurrences, Van and Ali conclude that Jared’s spirit is still with them—a fact that readers have known for some time, as his translucent presence often lingers at the margins of scenes. The novel concludes on a cliffhanger, suggesting that Brett has had an encounter with a very different kind of supernatural being while getting pizza. Overall, Pyrink’s art is well suited to the horror/suspense genre and its subject matter, and their characters all feel distinctive. Mulligan’s narrative excels at laying groundwork for an ongoing series while stoking odd mysteries, as when characters allude to previous encounters with a witch. However, a tangible antagonist never fully emerges, aside from one unnamed character who never confronts the heroes directly. Nonetheless, the overall theme of seeking accountability for exposing employees to hazardous working conditions is one that will resonate with many readers.
An intriguing graphic novel featuring a story of corporate irresponsibility with supernatural themes.Pub Date: Oct. 29, 2024
ISBN: 9798990848849
Page Count: 110
Publisher: Highpoint LIT
Review Posted Online: Nov. 27, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A clever and timely conversation on reclaiming identity and acknowledging one’s full worth.
Superman confronts racism and learns to accept himself with the help of new friends.
In this graphic-novel adaptation of the 1940s storyline entitled “The Clan of the Fiery Cross” from The Adventures of Superman radio show, readers are reintroduced to the hero who regularly saves the day but is unsure of himself and his origins. The story also focuses on Roberta Lee, a young Chinese girl. She and her family have just moved from Chinatown to Metropolis proper, and mixed feelings abound. Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane’s colleague from the Daily Planet, takes a larger role here, befriending his new neighbors, the Lees. An altercation following racial slurs directed at Roberta’s brother after he joins the local baseball team escalates into an act of terrorism by the Klan of the Fiery Kross. What starts off as a run-of-the-mill superhero story then becomes a nuanced and personal exploration of the immigrant experience and blatant and internalized racism. Other main characters are White, but Black police inspector William Henderson fights his own battles against prejudice. Clean lines, less-saturated coloring, and character designs reminiscent of vintage comics help set the tone of this period piece while the varied panel cuts and action scenes give it a more modern sensibility. Cantonese dialogue is indicated through red speech bubbles; alien speech is in green.
A clever and timely conversation on reclaiming identity and acknowledging one’s full worth. (author’s note, bibliography) (Graphic fiction. 13-adult)Pub Date: May 12, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-77950-421-0
Page Count: 240
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: Feb. 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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