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spoerk's review
5.0
(got from net galley for an honest review)
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I AM SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS IT ISN'T EVEN FUNNY AND I REALLY REALLY REALLY LIKED IT AND I WANT THE REST TO BE OUT LIKE NOW.
(although i'm slowly getting tired of the trope of "immortals dying coming back to life blah blah blah. but this isn't like Wicked + Divine so that's good...)
People who enjoy Wicked + Divine, Saga, and Capitan Marvel would like this.
AAFEFANKJBGEOIHASCBAKJBGEBAFOUBEBUIFUB
I AM SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS IT ISN'T EVEN FUNNY AND I REALLY REALLY REALLY LIKED IT AND I WANT THE REST TO BE OUT LIKE NOW.
(although i'm slowly getting tired of the trope of "immortals dying coming back to life blah blah blah. but this isn't like Wicked + Divine so that's good...)
People who enjoy Wicked + Divine, Saga, and Capitan Marvel would like this.
hoffnungswolke's review
4.0
Welcome Back, Vol. 1: Help, I'm Alive!!! First things first: I received this book through NetGalley.
It took me forever to finish it, because I really wanted to take my time. With graphic novels/comics, I find myself just flying through them too fast, I really want to make them last longer from now on.
Summary: Mali and Tessa have lived hundreds of different lives throughout time, caught up in an eternal cycle as they take part in a war so old that neither side remembers what they’re fighting for anymore. As Mali wakes up in her newest life, she suddenly becomes self-aware and starts to question everything, especially why she continues to fight. But elsewhere, Tessa is already on the hunt...
I loved this one. I really REALLY loved this one.
I love the whole story, the idea that they lived so many lives, that they keep coming back, just so they can kill each other again and again. THIS IS CRAZY. And kinda cool.
I loved the two main girls Mali and Tessa. I loved Mali's father coming back as a little girl. Those moments where just way too hilarious. I LOVED IT.
I seriously can't wait to read more of this story. I NEED MORE. Soon. FAST. NOW.
It took me forever to finish it, because I really wanted to take my time. With graphic novels/comics, I find myself just flying through them too fast, I really want to make them last longer from now on.
Summary: Mali and Tessa have lived hundreds of different lives throughout time, caught up in an eternal cycle as they take part in a war so old that neither side remembers what they’re fighting for anymore. As Mali wakes up in her newest life, she suddenly becomes self-aware and starts to question everything, especially why she continues to fight. But elsewhere, Tessa is already on the hunt...
I loved this one. I really REALLY loved this one.
I love the whole story, the idea that they lived so many lives, that they keep coming back, just so they can kill each other again and again. THIS IS CRAZY. And kinda cool.
I loved the two main girls Mali and Tessa. I loved Mali's father coming back as a little girl. Those moments where just way too hilarious. I LOVED IT.
I seriously can't wait to read more of this story. I NEED MORE. Soon. FAST. NOW.
carochacord's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: War
sincerelysara22's review
3.0
I really liked this because the story grabs you right from the beginning with its interesting, moody characters, tons of action, and fascinating premise. However, I only gave it 3 stars because I found it confusing at times because nothing is explained and because the art completely changed halfway through. I know comics are drawn by different people sometimes, but the art is very different and I preferred the art at the beginning. I would read keep the series though because I want to know what happens.
rubybastille's review
4.0
So I watched “Old Guard” on Netflix and rather than going to read that book (sorry, Mr Rucka) I re-read another comic about immortal warriors: this one.
The first volume is split between Mali’s and Tessa’s POV, helping us see two different sides of what it means to grow up as a reincarnated soldier fighting a war that’s been going on for so long no one remembers why they’re fighting. Both girls start to question it after years of trying to kill, and/or falling in love, with each other.
So what do you do when you’re part of a crappy system that causes nothing but death and demands obedience without explanation or assistance? Why, you tear it down, of course.
The first volume is split between Mali’s and Tessa’s POV, helping us see two different sides of what it means to grow up as a reincarnated soldier fighting a war that’s been going on for so long no one remembers why they’re fighting. Both girls start to question it after years of trying to kill, and/or falling in love, with each other.
So what do you do when you’re part of a crappy system that causes nothing but death and demands obedience without explanation or assistance? Why, you tear it down, of course.
fungivibes's review
adventurous
fast-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Car accident
lyrafay12's review against another edition
5.0
Punk Rock has made a recent impression on comics recently such as They Are Not Like Us, The Last Band in Town, Black Canary and finally Welcome Back which appears to be a mix of King Fu and Punk Rock. With fantastic art by Claire Roe and Jonathan Sawyer, Welcome is a intense thrill ride of world building and character moments thanks to Sebela's awesome story.
My own flaw is that its far too short of a trade.
My own flaw is that its far too short of a trade.
theresidentbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
Usually, I veer far away from science fiction/fantasy anything because it generally bores me, but Welcome Back had two items in its favor. First, it had a great premise: two soldiers being reborn for hundreds of years in order to kill each other. It had a very Killing Eve to me, and I was sold. Second, it was written by Christopher Sebela, who wrote the terrific crime thriller/romance Heartthrob. I couldn't put Heartthrob down, and so Welcome Back got a chance when I was able to get it for free on Kindle Unlimited (rip my membership).
I stand by what I thought originally: the premise is fascinating, and Sebela is a great writer. Unfortunately, I think Welcome Back has too many ideas and not enough consistent pacing/characterization. I found the "waking up" process to be particularly confusing and not well developed. Add in the shadowy organization, Mali's step-dad who was a serial killer/one of the reborn, and Tessa's entire tragic backstory, and you get too many puzzle pieces that never get put together. I wish Sebela had focused the story more tightly on Mali and Tessa: their cat and mouse game, their tension, and their history. That is where the storytelling here shined, and I particularly loved the last issue. If the story continues on in that vein in the second volume, it will be infinitely more satisfying.
If you're interested in cool fantasy/sci-fi concepts with assassins who fall in love , I'd recommend Welcome Back.
I stand by what I thought originally: the premise is fascinating, and Sebela is a great writer. Unfortunately, I think Welcome Back has too many ideas and not enough consistent pacing/characterization. I found the "waking up" process to be particularly confusing and not well developed. Add in the shadowy organization, Mali's step-dad who was a serial killer/one of the reborn, and Tessa's entire tragic backstory, and you get too many puzzle pieces that never get put together. I wish Sebela had focused the story more tightly on Mali and Tessa: their cat and mouse game, their tension, and their history. That is where the storytelling here shined, and I particularly loved the last issue. If the story continues on in that vein in the second volume, it will be infinitely more satisfying.
If you're interested in cool fantasy/sci-fi concepts with assassins who
thoughtsonbooks's review against another edition
3.0
In a nutshell:
What great fun! I enjoyed reading this and am totally looking forward to where this story can and will go from here.
Story:
Mali and Tessa are two soldiers, bound in an endless war, being born and killed in an endless spiral of hatred and futility. We meet them in 2015 on their colliding trajectories of fate. There really is not much more to say about this premise except that I found it kickass and thought it worked really well for this story. I hope future issues will delve more into this war and what it means and where it can go from here.
The best part of this volume, for me, were hands down the characters. I loved Tessa and Mali and everybody they interacted with. The relationships made sense and worked really well for the story told.
Artwork:
I loved the artwork, especially in the beginning. I think the character look particularly badass in a stylized, over-the-top but still grounded in reality way and I absolutely adored that choice. Even after the chance in artwork, it still looked perfectly fine for me - but it lost a bit of the kick it had in the beginning, particularly when it comes to Mali. My absolute favourite part though was the clever use of colour. The pink and the green used worked brilliantly to make the art pop and to tell the story in a subtle way as well.
Edit: Having thought about it some more, the story wasn't quite strong enough to stick with me - so I am down-rating it to three stars.
____
I recieved an arc of this book curtesy of NetGalley and BOOM! Studios in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for that!
What great fun! I enjoyed reading this and am totally looking forward to where this story can and will go from here.
Story:
Mali and Tessa are two soldiers, bound in an endless war, being born and killed in an endless spiral of hatred and futility. We meet them in 2015 on their colliding trajectories of fate. There really is not much more to say about this premise except that I found it kickass and thought it worked really well for this story. I hope future issues will delve more into this war and what it means and where it can go from here.
The best part of this volume, for me, were hands down the characters. I loved Tessa and Mali and everybody they interacted with. The relationships made sense and worked really well for the story told.
Artwork:
I loved the artwork, especially in the beginning. I think the character look particularly badass in a stylized, over-the-top but still grounded in reality way and I absolutely adored that choice. Even after the chance in artwork, it still looked perfectly fine for me - but it lost a bit of the kick it had in the beginning, particularly when it comes to Mali. My absolute favourite part though was the clever use of colour. The pink and the green used worked brilliantly to make the art pop and to tell the story in a subtle way as well.
Edit: Having thought about it some more, the story wasn't quite strong enough to stick with me - so I am down-rating it to three stars.
____
I recieved an arc of this book curtesy of NetGalley and BOOM! Studios in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for that!