stephyyy040's review against another edition
1.0
Wanted to enjoy, but I found it impossible to keep characters straight. Even after completing it, I’m still not sure who any of the code names were.
heritage's review against another edition
3.0
November, 1989. Just days before the fall of the Berlin Wall, MI6's number 2 man in Berlin has been murdered, ostensibly because he had just received a list to end all lists. But British Intelligence doesn't trust anyone, let alone their number 1 man there. They decide to send in an experienced yet unrelated officer to uncover what's really going on.
This is my first graphic novel. I must admit, the format threw me a bit, so I had to go through it twice. Overall, it seems to be a fine format for straight-forward action, but not well-suited to twists and turns and multiple characters or narrators. Either that, or the writer and illustrator didn't do their job well enough. It's just a little too difficult to distinguish characters without the benefits of narrative (like in a novel) or with voices (like in a movie).
Having said that, it's a fairly interesting story, and it goes by quickly. Not character-driven by any means, but decent enough. Lots of twists--and that may be the problem. Once we get to the end, it seems like it all boils down to a plot twist looking for a backstory. It's rather unsatisfying for its lack of any depth, yet it was an interesting experience.
I probably won't read anything else by this author as I wasn't sufficiently impressed with this particular one, but the soon-to-be-released movie (starring Charlize Theron and James McAvoy), if done well, could right so many wrongs that it may be worthwhile seeing.
For people wondering about the quality of the story, I'd say it's more Deighton than it is le Carré.
Two issues I had with the story are:
2. That's a HUGE coincidence that Lorraine was the one chosen to go to Berlin.
This is my first graphic novel. I must admit, the format threw me a bit, so I had to go through it twice. Overall, it seems to be a fine format for straight-forward action, but not well-suited to twists and turns and multiple characters or narrators. Either that, or the writer and illustrator didn't do their job well enough. It's just a little too difficult to distinguish characters without the benefits of narrative (like in a novel) or with voices (like in a movie).
Having said that, it's a fairly interesting story, and it goes by quickly. Not character-driven by any means, but decent enough. Lots of twists--and that may be the problem. Once we get to the end, it seems like it all boils down to a plot twist looking for a backstory. It's rather unsatisfying for its lack of any depth, yet it was an interesting experience.
I probably won't read anything else by this author as I wasn't sufficiently impressed with this particular one, but the soon-to-be-released movie (starring Charlize Theron and James McAvoy), if done well, could right so many wrongs that it may be worthwhile seeing.
For people wondering about the quality of the story, I'd say it's more Deighton than it is le Carré.
Two issues I had with the story are:
Spoiler
1. We can surmise who killed Ber-2, but the author doesn't give even a reliable hint. It's up to the reader to do the author's work. One clue would've been nice.2. That's a HUGE coincidence that Lorraine was the one chosen to go to Berlin.
alternbruno's review against another edition
2.0
It is not hideous, but the movie is insanely good compared with this one.
tangleroot_eli's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
Turns out spycraft isn't my cup of violent, paranoid, xenophobic, nationalistic, misogynistic tea anymore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexism, Gun violence, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Violence and Murder
themattacaster's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
sizrobe's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not sure why this got retitled "Atomic Blonde." The protagonist is a brunette and wears a blonde wig for all of 4 pages and there's nothing nuclear in the story. This graphic novel is billed as a spy thriller, but it's not much of a thriller and the spy plot is a combination of boring and confusing. The movie must only be vaguely based on the book, as there's almost no violence.
falsohobbit's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
É bem informativo sobre a Guerra Fria, mas os acontecimentos são meio brandos, passa a sensação de que faltou um clímax pois o desenvolvimento foi mais focado nas instituições do que nos personagens. E também não tem sapatão como no filme o que pra mim foi bem triste. Mas é totalmente noir, pra quem curte pode ser uma boa. Pra mim foi ok.
psykobilliethekid's review against another edition
3.0
I'm expecting the movie to be a lot better than the book cause that was just.... okay. It's not Queen and Country (which is exceptional) but it wasn't what I was hoping. Maybe it was going for more realism with spies during the 80s but I was hoping for more action I guess. Still, makes me hope the movie is better.