kristinasshelves's review against another edition
3.0
In 2002, eight year old Oliver Flores was having ice cream with his step-father when they were abducted by aliens. The comic then fast forwards to 2019, when Oliver has returned to Earth. We learn where he went and what he experienced as he recounts his story to the police. As the story progresses, Oliver is in a fight for his life and he attempts to understand why he was returned. This series is complete with an interesting spin on Men in Black, aliens, conspiracy and the introduction of a cult. This graphic novel collects issues 1-5 of the comic and ends on a cliffhanger, making me want to know what happens next. I love a good science fiction story and this volume is s good introduction to what can potentially be a great series.
I received a PDF of this title from Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
I received a PDF of this title from Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
nerdontheloose's review against another edition
5.0
Rating 4.5/5
A kid and his step-father go missing while on their night out to get some ice-cream. The case was reported as ‘missing persons’ but after no progress, they both were declared dead by the police. Years later, the kid, now all grown up, returns, claiming to have been abducted by aliens. Now, it’s up to the detective, fishy FBI agents, his mom who believes in aliens, and a cult leader to find out what really happened.
This is a very cool graphic novel with all the alien abduction tropes you’d expect to find from such Crazy alien experiments, prodding up the nose and opening up of the guts for ‘research’ (this particular panel was especially very gory, but in a good way), then there is telepathy, and mind control. The blurb suggests it is based on a true story but idk about that. The illustrations and especially the placement of the panels was really good, and the attention to details was exceptional. I’d be nit picking here, but the human faces looked a bit like aliens too, but other than that, I really enjoyed it.
The story flows in a real good pace, and you’d keep on suspecting every other character that appears. There was a bit of a fun too on the part of aliens (and humans too), for how stupid they can be for someone claiming to be the intelligent species. The ending is a bit rushed and abrupt but makes for a perfect (and a bit predictable) ending to this story.
Thanks to Netgalley, and the publishers for the review copy.
A kid and his step-father go missing while on their night out to get some ice-cream. The case was reported as ‘missing persons’ but after no progress, they both were declared dead by the police. Years later, the kid, now all grown up, returns, claiming to have been abducted by aliens. Now, it’s up to the detective, fishy FBI agents, his mom who believes in aliens, and a cult leader to find out what really happened.
This is a very cool graphic novel with all the alien abduction tropes you’d expect to find from such Crazy alien experiments, prodding up the nose and opening up of the guts for ‘research’ (this particular panel was especially very gory, but in a good way), then there is telepathy, and mind control. The blurb suggests it is based on a true story but idk about that. The illustrations and especially the placement of the panels was really good, and the attention to details was exceptional. I’d be nit picking here, but the human faces looked a bit like aliens too, but other than that, I really enjoyed it.
The story flows in a real good pace, and you’d keep on suspecting every other character that appears. There was a bit of a fun too on the part of aliens (and humans too), for how stupid they can be for someone claiming to be the intelligent species. The ending is a bit rushed and abrupt but makes for a perfect (and a bit predictable) ending to this story.
Thanks to Netgalley, and the publishers for the review copy.
martereadsbooks's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Gore, Blood, Suicide, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
jennmarshall27's review against another edition
5.0
REVIEW: Midnight Vista Volume 1
Midnight Vista is based on a personal and true story from writer Eliot Rahal. Oliver Flores and his stepfather leave for ice cream and are abducted by aliens. Years later, Oliver returns as an adult. He remembers everything except why he was returned. Will the people in his life believe him? Will he figure out why he was returned?
The story is a lot of fun. Alien abduction stories can start to sound the same, but Eliot Rahal adds emotions and humor in such a way that the book is unlike anything I have seen before. Oliver Flores is a child stuck between fighting parents and the first few pages are heartbreaking. Parents are arguing over a custody arrangement not caring that the child is in the other room able to hear it all. The sadness of the book is balanced perfectly with humor. My favorite line in the entire book comes from the “Human Federal Bureau of Investigations”. These agents are so much fun, they are just awkward enough. At one point while talking to the locals the agents say, “Next time we are in town the first round of baked potatoes are on us.” Every once in a while a line is so good that I have to tell everyone. This book is full of them.
The art, colors, and letters work in perfect harmony. Clara Meath is able to show so much emotion in the characters. When you see the “agents” for the first time you instantly know that they are not human. Even without their awkward dialogue, they remind me of Men in Black and the alien wearing the Edgar suit. They just don’t look correct. Mark Englert’s work with colors helps guide the mood. When Oliver and his stepfather leave for ice cream everything is soft, but then you turn the page and everything takes on a blinding red. You know that something bad is about to happen. Taylor Esposito is magic with the letters. At the beginning of the story Oliver’s parents are fighting and he is in the living room watching TV. We know that he can hear them fighting, but in the panel, Esposito’s letters keep getting bolder and bolder as Oliver turns up the TV. It was like I could hear the TV getting louder. It was a powerful touch that helped the art and colors tie together to put me in that scene.
Overall, Midnight Vista is a story that you will want to read multiple times. This creative team takes you on a journey that will leave you wanting more.
Creative Team:
Creator and Writer: Eliot Rahal
Creator and Artist: Clara Meath
Colors: Mark Englert
Letters: Taylor Esposito
Published by Aftershock
Midnight Vista is based on a personal and true story from writer Eliot Rahal. Oliver Flores and his stepfather leave for ice cream and are abducted by aliens. Years later, Oliver returns as an adult. He remembers everything except why he was returned. Will the people in his life believe him? Will he figure out why he was returned?
The story is a lot of fun. Alien abduction stories can start to sound the same, but Eliot Rahal adds emotions and humor in such a way that the book is unlike anything I have seen before. Oliver Flores is a child stuck between fighting parents and the first few pages are heartbreaking. Parents are arguing over a custody arrangement not caring that the child is in the other room able to hear it all. The sadness of the book is balanced perfectly with humor. My favorite line in the entire book comes from the “Human Federal Bureau of Investigations”. These agents are so much fun, they are just awkward enough. At one point while talking to the locals the agents say, “Next time we are in town the first round of baked potatoes are on us.” Every once in a while a line is so good that I have to tell everyone. This book is full of them.
The art, colors, and letters work in perfect harmony. Clara Meath is able to show so much emotion in the characters. When you see the “agents” for the first time you instantly know that they are not human. Even without their awkward dialogue, they remind me of Men in Black and the alien wearing the Edgar suit. They just don’t look correct. Mark Englert’s work with colors helps guide the mood. When Oliver and his stepfather leave for ice cream everything is soft, but then you turn the page and everything takes on a blinding red. You know that something bad is about to happen. Taylor Esposito is magic with the letters. At the beginning of the story Oliver’s parents are fighting and he is in the living room watching TV. We know that he can hear them fighting, but in the panel, Esposito’s letters keep getting bolder and bolder as Oliver turns up the TV. It was like I could hear the TV getting louder. It was a powerful touch that helped the art and colors tie together to put me in that scene.
Overall, Midnight Vista is a story that you will want to read multiple times. This creative team takes you on a journey that will leave you wanting more.
Creative Team:
Creator and Writer: Eliot Rahal
Creator and Artist: Clara Meath
Colors: Mark Englert
Letters: Taylor Esposito
Published by Aftershock
lillanaa's review against another edition
4.0
This book was received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was probably one of the weirdest comics I've ever read. That's not really a bad thing, and the art was up my alley, it was just odd. I don't believe for a second this is a true story, I'm not sure why the author is even trying to pass it off as one, but to each their own. I feel like this may continue working, I'm unsure if it's going to continue, but it's... It's cool. Generic, but cool.
Like I said, the art was really up my alley. It's surreal, but not in an indistinguishable way that some of these artsier comics have. I was a fan of the general vibe it gave off, and the colours were perfect for what they were trying to do. On that note, though, it was a little difficult to look at sometimes. There was a lot of extraneous gore that was a little off-putting for me personally.
All in all, a decent comic, if you like alien cult stuff it's probably one to pick up!
This was probably one of the weirdest comics I've ever read. That's not really a bad thing, and the art was up my alley, it was just odd. I don't believe for a second this is a true story, I'm not sure why the author is even trying to pass it off as one, but to each their own. I feel like this may continue working, I'm unsure if it's going to continue, but it's... It's cool. Generic, but cool.
Like I said, the art was really up my alley. It's surreal, but not in an indistinguishable way that some of these artsier comics have. I was a fan of the general vibe it gave off, and the colours were perfect for what they were trying to do. On that note, though, it was a little difficult to look at sometimes. There was a lot of extraneous gore that was a little off-putting for me personally.
All in all, a decent comic, if you like alien cult stuff it's probably one to pick up!
etienne02's review against another edition
2.0
2,5/5. An alien abduction comic, a premise to please me for sure but that unfortunately didn't deliver in the execution. The ambiance, the style, the characters everything was okay, but nothing good enough to grip me and hold me thigh!
rachelsreads_'s review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
I was hooked from beginning to end! This graphic novel takes you for a ride! Heartbreak, fear, action, justice, wonder, and belief are what you get from this ride. I’m amazed at just how immersive and well constructed it is. The strong narration had me rooting for Oliver the whole time and on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. It does a fantastic job of switching from memories back to the present and other perspectives. I never thought I could be frightened of alien “human” agents but the artwork and dialogue makes this fright so! Overall, this was a serious and heavy graphic novel but the brief instances of humor balanced it out to add to the experience of this book! I ended it disappointed that the assumed 6th part isn’t out yet.
I was hooked from beginning to end! This graphic novel takes you for a ride! Heartbreak, fear, action, justice, wonder, and belief are what you get from this ride. I’m amazed at just how immersive and well constructed it is. The strong narration had me rooting for Oliver the whole time and on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. It does a fantastic job of switching from memories back to the present and other perspectives. I never thought I could be frightened of alien “human” agents but the artwork and dialogue makes this fright so! Overall, this was a serious and heavy graphic novel but the brief instances of humor balanced it out to add to the experience of this book! I ended it disappointed that the assumed 6th part isn’t out yet.
mouseg's review
3.0
The art feels very classic comic book style. This is your standard alien abduction story. A young boy gets taken and then comes back years later. His mother is a fierce mama bear who wants to destroy the aliens for taking her son. I was enjoying the story until religion was brought in and I felt like I was reading about a Scientology cult. This fell apart at the end.
ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
rachelsreads_'s review
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
I was hooked from beginning to end! This graphic novel takes you for a ride! Heartbreak, fear, action, justice, wonder, and belief are what you get from this ride. I’m amazed at just how immersive and well constructed it is. The strong narration had me rooting for Oliver the whole time and on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. It does a fantastic job of switching from memories back to the present and other perspectives. I never thought I could be frightened of alien “human” agents but the artwork and dialogue makes this fright so! Overall, this was a serious and heavy graphic novel but the brief instances of humor balanced it out to add to the experience of this book! I ended it disappointed that the assumed 6th part isn’t out yet.
I was hooked from beginning to end! This graphic novel takes you for a ride! Heartbreak, fear, action, justice, wonder, and belief are what you get from this ride. I’m amazed at just how immersive and well constructed it is. The strong narration had me rooting for Oliver the whole time and on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. It does a fantastic job of switching from memories back to the present and other perspectives. I never thought I could be frightened of alien “human” agents but the artwork and dialogue makes this fright so! Overall, this was a serious and heavy graphic novel but the brief instances of humor balanced it out to add to the experience of this book! I ended it disappointed that the assumed 6th part isn’t out yet.
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