Hilda and Twig Hide From the Rain- Graphic Novel Review

Hilda fans, rejoice! While we may have said farewell to the television series for now, the magic of Hilda's world continues as Luke Pearson has released a new book in the series- his first in 5 years!

In this latest prequel graphic novel, Hilda and Twig live in the enchanted woods outside of Trollberg. When they find themselves caught in a sudden downpour, they seek shelter. They stumble upon a mysterious burial mound, where they encounter a group of quirky creatures who all share stories and speculations about the mound's history, Twig ventures outside and makes an extraordinary discovery: a giant, gentle white snake. The snake, it seems, is a guardian of the mound.. but what is it protecting?

Pearson's signature art style continues to change and evolve, and this new graphic novel is no exception with a stylized Cal Arts look, combined with a super-deformed chibi style. This, once again, brings a fresh and playful aesthetic to the series. Younger Hilda and Twig are absolutely adorable, and Twig's thought bubbles add a delightful layer of humor and insight.

If you're a fan of Hilda, you won't want to miss this latest adventure. Hilda and Twig Hide From the Rain is a charming and heartwarming tale that expands the lore of Hilda's world while introducing new creatures and mysteries. It's a perfect read for both young and old, and a testament to Pearson's enduring talent.

Come Find Me: An Autumnal Offering - Graphic Novel Review

I do love a good anthology series. Over the past few years, I have reviewed Goosebumps, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Love, Death and Robots, Hammer House of Horrors and many more besides on this very website. However, anthology comic books have had a trickier path to follow as the received wisdom has been that there isn’t a market for it anymore… or is there?

I recently started to read Hello Darkness, which is published by those fine fiends at Boom! who seem to specialise in the horror, sci-fi and mystery genres. At the time of writing (Jan 2025) it has 7 issues and seems to be going strong.

When writer and artist Becky Cloonan, who I have followed since Demo days, through to By Chance or Providence, Gotham Academy and, more recently, the multi-Eisner award winning Somna, mentioned that she was working with DSTLRY to create a one-shot horror anthology book called Come Find Me featuring a variety of creatives, my interest was piqued and I promptly ordered a copy from my local comic shop.

With anthologies, variety is a key strength that keeps you interested as you get a diversity of voices, genre-bending and find hidden gems of stories and artists. In this book, there are 6 stories to delight and horrify:

Devil's Trill- A young man becomes fascinated by and opera singer but are his intentions pure? No. No they're not.

Portorium- When grave robbers disturb a corpse, a young lady the penny intended for Charon so he exacts revenge.

Down by the Water- A man struggles to get over the death of his beloved, who drowned. But

Coal and Clover- When a union man is killed by his bosses his wife takes revenge against the company but there is a heavy price to pay.

La Cheta- I'm not gonna lie; I didn't quite understand this story totally. As far as I can make it, in a small village a new teacher comes along and people start to die by some evil presence. I'm not sure if she is the killer or if it's some malevolent other force.

The Warmth of the Hunt- When an intensely passionate relationship falls apart the consequences are fatal.

Obviously, taste is subjective but there were a couple of standouts for me; Portorium by Becky Cloonan, Lee Loughridge and Pat Brousseau, told a Medieval gothic horror tale warning you about what happens when you try to cheat the ferryman, Charon. Over the course of just several pages, you get a chilling tale about what guilt does to the psyche and it's presented beautifully with Cloonan's distinctive gothic style.

The other tale that got me was the mythic folk horror Coal and Clover which looks at the price of exacting revenge. You know it isn't going to end well but the price exacted is too heavy for any parent to bear.

The book is beautifully printed on good paper stock and the colours pop off the page in between the pitch black places. The artwork is consistent brilliant and has a variety of styles, the most impressive for me being Cloonan's and E. M. Carroll's, whose artistry is really something special and appeals to my style.

Overall, I had an excellent hour or so marveling at the artwork and creativity on show here and look forward to other seasons, if that becomes a thing.

Emma G. Wildford- Graphic Novel Review

Whilst scanning the sale section at Forbidden Planet, London, I picked up a hardback graphic novel for £2.99. It wasn't just the price but the beautiful cover art and a blurb promising a globetrotting adventure set within the roaring 20s that won me over. So, is it any good or do I have buyers remorse for a book that costs less than a cup of coffee?

In a time of flappers, jazz, and boundless optimism, Emma G. Wildford, a young woman with a thirst for adventure, embarks on a journey that will change her life forever. Fourteen months after her fiancé's mysterious disappearance on a National Geographic Society expedition to Lapland, Emma decides to take matters into her own hands. Ignoring the skepticism of the society's old guard, she ventures into the unknown, armed with courage, determination, and a notebook filled with her poetic musings.

As Emma traverses the harsh Arctic landscape, she confronts both physical and emotional challenges; she learns to navigate the wilderness, face her fears, and embrace her own strength. Along the way, she encounters a cast of intriguing characters, from eccentric scientists to enigmatic locals, each leaving an indelible mark on her journey.

This stunning graphic novel, brought to life by the talented team of Edith and Zidrou, is a captivating tale of love, loss, and self-discovery with one of the most compelling aspects of Emma's story being her exploration of selfloss. This concept, rooted in Slavic and Icelandic folklore, involves a liminal journey to confront one's soul. Emma's quest for her missing fiancé becomes a metaphorical journey of self-discovery, as she grapples with grief, uncertainty, and the complexities of love.

Edith's breathtaking artwork, with its vibrant colors, dynamic compositions, and attention to detail within the city contrasts wonderfully with the stark beauty of the Arctic landscape whilst Zidrou's sharp writing brings Emma's character to life, highlighting her intelligence, resilience, and unwavering spirit. The dialogue is witty and insightful balancing moments of introspection with thrilling adventure.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Emma G. Wildford as it's a universal tale of love, loss, and the power of human spirit, beautifully told through stunning artwork and insightful writing. It is highly recommended and worth well over the £2.99 I paid for it.

Gyo by Jinji Ito- Graphic Novel Review

Junji Ito is known for creating a  sense of unease and creeping dread that is often mixed with body horror. He often bases this in everyday life and the malignant force happens to people, rarely is there a hero who escapes... It's a bit of a downer really but that's what people like about his work. There's often no deus ex machina or hard reset; the world is messed up and that's it -fade to black.

In Gyo, a manga from the early 2000s, we are introduced to Tadashi and Kaori, a young couple who go to the coast of Okinawa. Whilst there they discover a new breed of animal: a walking fish. However, when these creatures and other sea beasts that have evolved start to take over the land the novel's premise, while initially seemingly absurd, quickly spirals into a terrifying exploration of humanity's impact on the natural world.

Sure, the characters are archetypes but Ito uses them effectively to highlight the chaos and desperation of the situation. Kaori's demands and Tadashi's reluctant heroism add a layer of dark comedy to the horror. Kaori is the stereotypical shrill demanding girlfriend who is pretty unreasonable to her boyfriend, at one point asking him to get rid of a walking Great White Shark! Meanwhile, Tadashi is the put upon boyfriend who tries to be the hero but is just an everyman who is overwhelmed by what is happening. Tadashi's uncle is an eccentric scientist who wants to investigate these strange creatures as, after years of early promise with his inventions, he has not been able to fulfill his potential.

What follows is a tale involving World War II, biological weapons and a force that is hard to control. Ito's signature grotesque style is on full display here, with the walking fish and other monstrous creatures becoming nightmarish symbols of ecological disaster. The way he blends elements of horror, science fiction, and historical fiction creates a truly unsettling atmosphere.

The inclusion of the Enigma of Amigara Fault is a nice touch, providing a stark contrast to the sprawling narrative of Gyo. It's a testament to Ito's versatility as a storyteller. Overall, Gyo is a must-read for fans of horror and fans of Ito's work. It's a disturbing, thought-provoking, and visually stunning masterpiece.

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK: Blood, Sweat and Pixels- Book Review

LINK: The Offworld Collection- Book Review

LINK: Shadow of the Colossus- Book Review

LINK: Manga Exhibition at the British Museum

LINK: The Midnight Library and the Idea That You Can’t Go Home Again

LINK: The Transportive Nature of Objects (And the Power of Mini Consoles)

LINK: My One True Gaming Constant in Life- Nintendo

It's Lonely at the Centre of the Earth- Graphic Novel Review

Comics are amazing as they can open our minds to a whole world of imagination. There are many comics and graphic novels which are based on real life and tell us about the human condition and humanity and It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth by Zoe Thoroughgood is one such book.

It's an introspective, relatable and very truthful graphic novel about depression. I haven't felt depressed for many years but this comic did send me back into my memories of my difficult mid to late teens where I questioned everything and wasn't sure of my place in the world. Looking back that was more existential and a feeling of ennui than clinical depression but nonetheless, it felt monumentally overwhelming at the time. Thoroughgood describes her depression as something biological and chemical; 'I am not my depression. But sometimes it's comforting to believe that's all that I am' and 'Even on beautiful days like this one-it feels impossible to imagine a future where I don't kill myself.' When her depression hits it hits hard and the lockdown during the pandemic heightened her sense of isolation.

Through its varied art styles, including collage, manga, super deformed as well as videogame style like pixel art, we get to connect to her moods and feelings. Thoroughgood is effective at being self-deprecating but also brutally and harshly critical of herself and her process.

I enjoyed the graphic novel and, even though some parts were heartbreaking, I liked the honesty and earnestness of her writing.

Ojingogo- Graphic Novel Review

Utterly surreal and slightly abstract with elements of Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz, Gulliver's Travels and much from the world of manga, Ojingogo is a not your average graphic novel tale. The story is about a young girl, her pet chibi-octopus and her sentient camera, which is stolen by a malevolent octopus/humanoid creature. At least, that's what I think happened as the book had very little to no text and is presented with a surrealist bent. As a fan of David Lynch and Jodorowsky, I'm used to art that challenged and confounds but even this didn't help in understanding the story too well. I think, author and illustrator Matthew Forsythe, like Lynch, is all about creating a mood and evoking feelings of wonder and bewilderment so you strap in and enjoy the absurdist journey.

The illustrations are beautifully drawn with fine lines and lots of use of blank space to let the characters pop. The drawings seemed to be inspired by South Korean and manga art; cute big eyes and some interesting creature designs. There were a couple I thought that could be turned in plushie toys so you get an idea of the aesthetic.

This One Summer- Graphic Novel Review

This graphic novel is like an ode to those everlong summers of the past, where the holidays seemed to stretch on forever and the possibilities and promises of the future seemed endless. The power of nostalgia is strong in this comic as writing and art team Jillian and Mariko Tamaki create a believable scenario where
Rose and her family head to the beach for the summer, as they always do, but things are tense in the family as Rose's mum is suffering from deep depression whilst her father is feeling the strain of keeping the household positive. Meanwhile, Rose and her regular holiday friend Windy, get involved with a teen pregnancy drama whilst watching horror films.

It is poignant and wistful, carrying the memories of summer beach holidays when everything was possible, nothing much actually happened and time seemed to stand still. The artwork is incredible- beautiful blue washes and an amazing mix of the detailed and the impressionistic- and the story is sad and realistic. The story and the art go together perfectly.

The demographic for the book is hard to pinpoint as it uses words like slut, rape, abortion, blow job, porn, boobs etc so it's quite fruity with its language but I know, from working at a couple of youth centre for over 10 years, that actually many tweens do talk like this so it is lifelike.

Overall, I'd recommend the book as it captures the fleeting moment we have all had our lives so well. Additionally, the gorgeous blue brushlike art flows, stunningly capturing the spirit of the summer; it make you *feel* the place you've never been to. The Germans calls this fernweh which means farsickness and it’s the concept of feeling homesick for a place you’ve never been or could never go. This book made me feel that and it captures the mood so well.

This One Summer- Graphic Novel Review

This graphic novel is like an ode to those everlong summers of the past, where the holidays seemed to stretch on forever and the possibilities and promises of the future seemed endless. The power of nostalgia is strong in this comic as writing and art team Jillian and Mariko Tamaki create a believable scenario where
Rose and her family head to the beach for the summer, as they always do, but things are tense in the family as Rose's mum is suffering from deep depression whilst her father is feeling the strain of keeping the household positive. Meanwhile, Rose and her regular holiday friend Windy, get involved with a teen pregnancy drama whilst watching horror films.

The book is beautifully presented with a blue brush-stroke style.

The demographic for the book is hard to pinpoint as it uses words like slut, rape, abortion, blow job, porn, boobs etc so it's quite fruity with its language but I know, from working at a couple of youth centre for over 10 years, that actually many tweens do talk like this so it is lifelike.

The book captures the fleeting moments we have all had on our lives so well. The gorgeous blue brush-like art flows and stunningly capturing the spirit of the summer; it make you *feel* the place you've never been to. The Germans calls this fernweh which means far-sickness and it’s the concept of feeling homesick for a place you’ve never been or could never go. This book made me feel that as it captures the mood so well; it is a definite recommend.

LINK- The Offworld Collection

LINK- Three Shadows- Graphic Novel Review

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- The Future Starts Here: An Optimistic Guide to What Comes Next- Book Review

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK: Let’s All Create a ‘New Normal’.

LINK- An English Geek in Saudi

LINK- The Mysterious Cities of Gold Retro Soundtrack Review