Title: Echoes, Vol 1
Author:
Joshua Hale Fialkov
Contributors: Rahsan Ekedal, Troy Peteri, Ryan Cady
Genre:
Graphic Novel, Horror, Crime
Series: Echoes (#1-5)
A
few starting notes:
I
received a free digital review copy of this book via NetGalley.
NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair
and honest reviews.
This looked both cool and creepy.
To be honest, it doesn't really take more than that to draw me in. Cool? Creepy? Yep, I'll give it a shot.
Premise:
Brian's father is dying. What he says next will change everything.
Is it true - the box, the house, the sick trophies? And if it is, if Brian's father is a monster, what does that make Brian?
They share the diagnosis of schizophrenia... could they share this horrible legacy?
Best
bits:
I loved the way that nothing is quite what it seems in this book. You think one thing, and suddenly it's completely flipped on its head, and you're left questioning all of your assumptions.
Brian's schizophrenia is a large part of this - we don't know what, if any of this, is real. How much is he hallucinating? How much is really happening?
The black-and-white artwork helps with this - it gives everything a vibe that's half-classic-horror-film, and half-dreamscape.
It's literally a world that's made up of grey-area - and the confusion is handled wonderfully, playing the reader and leading us through the feelings we're supposed to have at various points.
And you will have some pretty intense feelings with this book. The sickening dread is brought to just the right level to give you that thrill you want from a comic like this.
It's not just the reader's assumptions which are turned on their heads here - it's society's too. Assumptions about the sort of people who would commit a crime, about the sort of people we should or should not trust, are questioned and broken open. And it's incredible.
Not
so great bits:
A lot of people will find this book distressing. There's some sensitive subjects in here - mental health, Alzheimer's, and some hugely unpleasant things happening to children.
The portrayal of schizophrenia is purposely vague and contradictory - because it's here that the 'did he do it?' aspects come in. I personally didn't mind this depiction, but I think some people might find it offensive or distressing.
There's also swearing, blood, gore, and implied violence - the usual cohort of stuff that I feel it my blogger-ly duty to warn you about, just in case.
There's also horror elements. If you don't like horror, then I don't recommend this book.
I would've liked a more conclusive ending, but that's very much a personal thing. There was nothing wrong with the actual ending we have here.
Verdict:
This is a great graphic novel - one that really makes you think.
The artwork is great, and the story drags you along, challenging everything you think it's going to be, and every turn you think it's going to take.
If you fancy something creepy, something challenging, something compelling, then give this a try.
Liked
this post? Try these:
The cover of this book is really... scary. Actually, it makes me think that I wouldn't be able to read this book myself. I do like the idea of the theme of this book being able to match the artwork too. That's pretty clever and you can tell the author has thought a lot about what they're doing.
ReplyDeleteYeah... the dolls are kind of a theme - and this is a horror comic. Probably not one for you ;)
Delete