Reviews
The Other Side: An Anthology of Queer Paranormal Romance by Melanie Gillman, Kori Michele Handwerker
caedocyon's review
4.0
more of a 4.5 than a 4 tbh. it's an anthology, not every story will be perfect, but there are SO many very, very good ones, they make you forget the forgettable....
EMMA-FZR 400RRSP: one of multiple "befriending/making out with the ghost of the inanimate place or thing" stories, but this one is about a butch and her motorbike. Win.
Halo: lovely art, sad and philosophical
Pulpit Point: made me cry and then laugh out loud two panels later, and then I had to reread it all again. SO GOOD.
Rabbit Stew: lovely art, and so atmospheric.
Third Circle Pizza: great idea!!! one of the most original in the book. also, really good art!! fuckin cute characters!
Tierra Verde: also one of my favorites, although i kept thinking it was over because it could have ended perfectly on either the fourth to last or second to last pages, which made the landing a bit bumpy. the art is incredible, though, and the idea, and I loved loved loved the characters and setting. so, uh, yeah.
Bare Bones: OK, yeah, another seducing the spirit of the place story, but really well done. I also liked that the main character is lowkey a trans guy but it's not mentioned-mentioned because it's not important to the story.
EMMA-FZR 400RRSP: one of multiple "befriending/making out with the ghost of the inanimate place or thing" stories, but this one is about a butch and her motorbike. Win.
Halo: lovely art, sad and philosophical
Pulpit Point: made me cry and then laugh out loud two panels later, and then I had to reread it all again. SO GOOD.
Rabbit Stew: lovely art, and so atmospheric.
Third Circle Pizza: great idea!!! one of the most original in the book. also, really good art!! fuckin cute characters!
Tierra Verde: also one of my favorites, although i kept thinking it was over because it could have ended perfectly on either the fourth to last or second to last pages, which made the landing a bit bumpy. the art is incredible, though, and the idea, and I loved loved loved the characters and setting. so, uh, yeah.
Bare Bones: OK, yeah, another seducing the spirit of the place story, but really well done. I also liked that the main character is lowkey a trans guy but it's not mentioned-mentioned because it's not important to the story.
panelparty's review
4.0
3.5 rounded up
Like all anthologies, there are some really great stories in here and some real duds - I think the most successful ones end on the starting of the relationship. There are a few where people are trying to cram way too much into a few pages, and then out of nowhere its like 'oh ok ur a hot ghost should we just be in love now?'
Like all anthologies, there are some really great stories in here and some real duds - I think the most successful ones end on the starting of the relationship. There are a few where people are trying to cram way too much into a few pages, and then out of nowhere its like 'oh ok ur a hot ghost should we just be in love now?'
missprint_'s review
2.0
Uneven like many anthologies but generally good and upbeat. Unfortunately also very indie so hard to get into the hands of the readers who need it most D:
mx_madster's review
5.0
Everything about this is great. My only qualm (and it's tiny) is that there are a *lot* of ghosts and relatively few other things. But still. New favorite comic ever.
trans_ishtar's review
4.0
Ahhhh, I loved this! My favourite stories were Ouija Call Center, Shadow's Bae, and Pulpit Point. So sweet and cute!
ljrinaldi's review
4.0
This is a fun volume of short cartoon stories that are paranormal with a queer theme. Some are better than others, of course, but a good, fine collection. We have ghosts falling in love with humans. Humans falling in love with vampires. One cute one was a woman trying to contact her lover from beyond the grave, and he doesn't want anything to do with her, so the Ouiji Call Center intermediatry pretends to be her ex. There is a haunted motorcycle. There is a haunted house that doesn't want to be fixed up. And there is even a haunted microwave.
All great fun, and as the introduction says, back in her day, there were no queer books out there, but there were paranormal, and that was close enough.
I think there was originally a kickstarter, but is now generally available.
All great fun, and as the introduction says, back in her day, there were no queer books out there, but there were paranormal, and that was close enough.
I think there was originally a kickstarter, but is now generally available.
emmylux7's review
2.0
Rating: 2 1/2 out of 5 stars
The main thing this anthology has working against it is quantity over quality. Out of the 12 stories featured only 4 captured my attention enough to want to look up these other authors works. The rest felt rushed, too short, & underdeveloped. Despite this, I love that these are all stories written by queer authors/artists. If anything I hope these stories helped a younger queer reader feel less alone; & more anthologies like these continue to be made.
The main thing this anthology has working against it is quantity over quality. Out of the 12 stories featured only 4 captured my attention enough to want to look up these other authors works. The rest felt rushed, too short, & underdeveloped. Despite this, I love that these are all stories written by queer authors/artists. If anything I hope these stories helped a younger queer reader feel less alone; & more anthologies like these continue to be made.