cupcakesrawesom's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you netgalley for the chance to review! Doctor mirage could see ghosts including her dead husband for her whole life and then she couldn't. I really enjoyed this. The storyline was very well done and I enjoyed it. The illustrations and coloring were absolutely gorgeous. I would definitely recommend this to a friend who enjoys comics and graphic novels.
louandlife's review against another edition
2.0
Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What drew me into this book was the cover. It looks really cool and reminiscent to Mass Effect, so I ended up looking up what the comic was about and wanting to read it because the premise seemed cool. However, what I thought I was going to read and what I ended up reading was two very different things. I wasn't prepared for what this comic brought to the table. I thought that it was going to be more sci-fi than fantasy. The story itself is unnecessarily convoluted with an unsatisfying ending. The ending was a cliffhanger but even that was not enough for me to want to read the sequel. I wasn't invested in the characters, and in the end I wanted to finish the comic because I wanted it to end as opposed to wanting to know the ending.
The things that I did like about the comic was the art style and the colouring. I think that those are the best things the comic has to offer. It's beautifully drawn and the colours are eye catching.
I didn't really enjoy reading the comic, and I would not recommend it.
What drew me into this book was the cover. It looks really cool and reminiscent to Mass Effect, so I ended up looking up what the comic was about and wanting to read it because the premise seemed cool. However, what I thought I was going to read and what I ended up reading was two very different things. I wasn't prepared for what this comic brought to the table. I thought that it was going to be more sci-fi than fantasy. The story itself is unnecessarily convoluted with an unsatisfying ending. The ending was a cliffhanger but even that was not enough for me to want to read the sequel. I wasn't invested in the characters, and in the end I wanted to finish the comic because I wanted it to end as opposed to wanting to know the ending.
The things that I did like about the comic was the art style and the colouring. I think that those are the best things the comic has to offer. It's beautifully drawn and the colours are eye catching.
I didn't really enjoy reading the comic, and I would not recommend it.
srishtidear's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jhstack's review against another edition
4.0
A great reboot of Doctor Mirage that speeds by but is a much deeper read that gets into death, the afterlife, and a bit of Egyptian gods/spirits. (e-galley from NetGalley)
dinipandareads's review against another edition
4.0
I admit to requesting this book based solely on the cover alone. The name "Doctor Mirage" rang a small bell but I actually haven't read superhero comics, so I can't speak to how differently or how well her character is portrayed in this new comic compared to previous ones. I will say that I enjoyed the story though!
I loved the illustration style and the color palette of the comic. The artwork has a modernised vintage feel to it that reminds me of all the superhero comics that I never read but always see. The funky neon colors used to depict the landscape of this otherworld hell was like an acid trip and fit the surreal storyline perfectly. I also really loved the issue covers!
Shan Fong or as she's more famously known as Doctor Mirage used to be able to see and speak to the dead, until one day those powers disappeared and with it her ability to see and speak to her husband, Hwen. After another failed attempt to gain access to her powers, a young girl named Grace "lands" on her doorstep claiming that she's been sent by Hwen to tell Shan that she's dead. What follows is a wild adventure into hell, mixed with flashbacks of what led to Shan's death. While I enjoyed the storyline, I do wish that more of the backstory and the Egyptian lore, of which there was a lot, was more thoroughly explained. I know this is a comic and it can't go into as much detail compared to if this was a novel, but it felt kind of disjointed at times--especially when transitioning from the past to present. For example, there were some allusions to events that happened before when Shan faces "The Embalmer" in battle but we never really got into those details in the flashbacks either.
There's obviously going to be a continuation to the story because of the semi-cliffhanger of an ending, but reading this as a 'standalone' also works because the main storyline of Shan coming to terms with her inability to see or speak to Hwen and the other spirits. I'm curious to see more of the connection between the Embalmer and Shan's storylines, as well as how Grace became involved in the story, so I would definitely pick up the continuation of this series when it becomes available!
Thanks to NetGalley and Diamond Books Distributor/Valiant Entertainment for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This comic is out on 18 February 2020.
I loved the illustration style and the color palette of the comic. The artwork has a modernised vintage feel to it that reminds me of all the superhero comics that I never read but always see. The funky neon colors used to depict the landscape of this otherworld hell was like an acid trip and fit the surreal storyline perfectly. I also really loved the issue covers!
Shan Fong or as she's more famously known as Doctor Mirage used to be able to see and speak to the dead, until one day those powers disappeared and with it her ability to see and speak to her husband, Hwen. After another failed attempt to gain access to her powers, a young girl named Grace "lands" on her doorstep claiming that she's been sent by Hwen to tell Shan that she's dead. What follows is a wild adventure into hell, mixed with flashbacks of what led to Shan's death. While I enjoyed the storyline, I do wish that more of the backstory and the Egyptian lore, of which there was a lot, was more thoroughly explained. I know this is a comic and it can't go into as much detail compared to if this was a novel, but it felt kind of disjointed at times--especially when transitioning from the past to present. For example, there were some allusions to events that happened before when Shan faces "The Embalmer" in battle but we never really got into those details in the flashbacks either.
There's obviously going to be a continuation to the story because of the semi-cliffhanger of an ending, but reading this as a 'standalone' also works because the main storyline of Shan coming to terms with her inability to see or speak to Hwen and the other spirits. I'm curious to see more of the connection between the Embalmer and Shan's storylines, as well as how Grace became involved in the story, so I would definitely pick up the continuation of this series when it becomes available!
Thanks to NetGalley and Diamond Books Distributor/Valiant Entertainment for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This comic is out on 18 February 2020.
carroq's review against another edition
5.0
Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There is something about Doctor Mirage that I really enjoy. She is a play on the TV psychic stereotype that claim they can speak with the dead, but Mirage can actually do it. This story picks up at a point where she has lost the ability to see/speak with the dead and she is trying to reclaim that power, so that she can reconnect with her husband who passed away a few years ago. A young woman seeks out Mirage and together the two of them go on a journey to restore Mirage's abilities.
At top of the list of things I enjoyed about this book is the art. The coloring in particular is great. I do enjoy the layout of some of the pages and the way the artist captures Mirage and the other characters. The colors do well at intensifying the story and highlighting some of the weirder aspects of what is happening. The writer seems to nail Mirage's personality. And the conflict fits the character perfectly. I would put this among the top books that Valiant has put out in the last year or two.
There is something about Doctor Mirage that I really enjoy. She is a play on the TV psychic stereotype that claim they can speak with the dead, but Mirage can actually do it. This story picks up at a point where she has lost the ability to see/speak with the dead and she is trying to reclaim that power, so that she can reconnect with her husband who passed away a few years ago. A young woman seeks out Mirage and together the two of them go on a journey to restore Mirage's abilities.
At top of the list of things I enjoyed about this book is the art. The coloring in particular is great. I do enjoy the layout of some of the pages and the way the artist captures Mirage and the other characters. The colors do well at intensifying the story and highlighting some of the weirder aspects of what is happening. The writer seems to nail Mirage's personality. And the conflict fits the character perfectly. I would put this among the top books that Valiant has put out in the last year or two.
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The first volume of this series isn't a stand-out piece to me, but I think it’ll be absolutely loved by many other readers. The mystery behind Doctor Mirage's loss of her power to see the dead combined with the action of the story make it interesting. The art style is a ton of fun, and I love the way Hell and the Egyptian mythos characters are depicted. I'm not sure what didn't quite capture me about this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence
Mentions and description of a school shootinglizbethandthelifeinbetween's review against another edition
3.0
I recieved a copy via NetGAlley fore review purposes.
I have to say I'm not really leaning one way or another. I enjoyed this book, but that was about it. The premise is interesting and art and character designs are really cool. they have the old comic-style vibe but with bright colours and it feels very modern. I also love the touches of the camera directions going on like as if every scene was a scene in a movie and we were privy to the director's thought. It was a very unique concept and I wonder if there's some cool overarching reason for it that might be explored in later installments.
I have no previous experiences with this character so I can't say if this a good sequel/revamp/rewrite or whatever but I do think this is something someone would really enjoy, just mot me. Because the backbones and meat are definitely there, it's not my favourite type of meat.
I have to say I'm not really leaning one way or another. I enjoyed this book, but that was about it. The premise is interesting and art and character designs are really cool. they have the old comic-style vibe but with bright colours and it feels very modern. I also love the touches of the camera directions going on like as if every scene was a scene in a movie and we were privy to the director's thought. It was a very unique concept and I wonder if there's some cool overarching reason for it that might be explored in later installments.
I have no previous experiences with this character so I can't say if this a good sequel/revamp/rewrite or whatever but I do think this is something someone would really enjoy, just mot me. Because the backbones and meat are definitely there, it's not my favourite type of meat.
sleepydoe's review against another edition
3.0
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! All the following opinions are my own!
Doctor Mirage is something of a superhero Marvel-es que story that primarily deals with grief and how it can make you go to extremes that are not good for you. The main character, Shan, is a witch and she's someone who can see through the veil. She's lost her husband and she tries to bring him back to life. One day, however, soemthing happens and the dead, whom she's so accustomed to living with, in a way, all disappear. Lost in this new, familiar yet unfamiliar world, Shan tries to reopen the portal that kept her connected to the afterlife for so long. It doesn't go as planned but a young girl shows up at her door and tells her something that tilts the world she knew on its axis.
Now, on the surface, this is the kind of story that is 100% my jam, but there was just something about this book that didn't click. The art style was fine, but not my favourite, and the characters were only sort of okay. A lot of the plot was kind of overcomplicated and pointless and I really wish there had been a more linear and straightforward story there. Of course, this is the first volume in the collection so I'm excited to see how they take this forward! It wasn't too bad, but definitely not my favourite graphic novel reading experience!
Doctor Mirage is something of a superhero Marvel-es que story that primarily deals with grief and how it can make you go to extremes that are not good for you. The main character, Shan, is a witch and she's someone who can see through the veil. She's lost her husband and she tries to bring him back to life. One day, however, soemthing happens and the dead, whom she's so accustomed to living with, in a way, all disappear. Lost in this new, familiar yet unfamiliar world, Shan tries to reopen the portal that kept her connected to the afterlife for so long. It doesn't go as planned but a young girl shows up at her door and tells her something that tilts the world she knew on its axis.
Now, on the surface, this is the kind of story that is 100% my jam, but there was just something about this book that didn't click. The art style was fine, but not my favourite, and the characters were only sort of okay. A lot of the plot was kind of overcomplicated and pointless and I really wish there had been a more linear and straightforward story there. Of course, this is the first volume in the collection so I'm excited to see how they take this forward! It wasn't too bad, but definitely not my favourite graphic novel reading experience!